The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-11-16
Reply Of Hon. @. @. Bronson 10 Secre
tary Guthrie's last Letter.
New York. October 81. 4

4
Sin: VI YOU had been content, IN youl
letter Of the osd instant, with announc
ing my removal IRON oilite, il would
have been the end Of our correspond.
cnce on that subject. ButIas you have
attempted to assign reasons for the pro.
ceoding, | have something to say in re-
ply.
you deny the right Of The CoINctor
! TO act without Instructions from your
department, in any case. This doc
trine is entirely new; for in much the
! iargor part IF tirr business &c the Gus.
tom House, the Collector is guided by
j tne revenue laws, aud has always act
ed without instructions IRON the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury. II is ONLY in
special cases, where the law is uf doubt.
tul construction, or the duties of the
I. Collector have not been fully prescrib-
ed by law, and where the Secretary has
dispensing power, that lie has been
authorized to issue instructions to Col
lectors. And none Of these have anv
thing to ,lo with the appointment er of
iicers Of the Custqms. On hat head,
the rights and duties Of both Secretary
aud Collector have been prescribed by
Congress, aud neither can control the
other when acting in his appropriate
sphere.
", as you appear to suppose. the Col
lector can do nuthing without instruc-
tons from your department., the bust
ness which is now transacted in the
Custom House in a single hour, could
not be accomplished in month You
have evidently set too high an esti-
mate upon the extent of YOUR powers.
The reason which Won have assigned,
Tor this sweeping claim Of authority, il |
as extraordinary as the claim itself. |
Your words are, where the depart
ment IS not expressly empowered to
give Instructions 10 suboriinates, il |
has the authority to do so, as inherent
IN The power to remove refractory Of
tlcer New, as read the Constitu>
ton, the Secretary Of tie Treasury has
no power to remove Collector, how
ever refractory he may be. The pow
er Of remoyal, as well as appointment.
Is vested in the Presidents. You will
do well then to Look for some better
reason than the one YOU have assigned.
Tor an unlimited authority over Collec, &
tors in the selection Of their agents.
You think it singular that a gentle
man OF my legal requirements and ex. l
perienee should fall into the error of
assuming that the Collector appoints ;
the varions persons employed in the
Custom House--Some with the appro
val oil the Secretary, and some on the ,
sole authority Of the Collector. Sim !
galar as this may appear to YOU, il is
he course which has been uniformly
pursued since the foundation of the /;
government. Weighcrs, measarers,
suagers and inspectors have been ap-
pointed BY the Collectors, with the an !
,rQval Of the Secretary while clerks.
,orters, bargemen. laborers and others. /
lave been appointed BY The Collector ,
lone. 1t has not only been 50 under
III former Secretaries of the Treasury.
'ut during your own time. All nv II
Jerks, porters, cartmen, laborers, &C.. j
ave been appointed without consult !
ne you IN any form; and Won never {
animated doubt about the propriety 1
1 tins course until You deemed it ex- a
'edlcnt To interfere in the local poli- :
les Of New York. !
Still YOU insist that the clerks and i
-