Washington sentinel., 1854-01-06
CONGREss-JUDGE BRONsON-THE
UNION.

of Representatives on Tuesday last by Hon.
Mr.. Cutting, of New York, came up for consid-
Grafton on Wednesday:
Whereas, publications have appeared in the
public prints purporting TO be copies OF a cor
respondence between the Secretary OF the lrea-
sury and Greene C. Bronson, the late collector
of the customs for the port of New York re-
lating to te s,fljeet Of Tie unfortunate iiciSioA
IN tie democratic party IN Ne,c York the dis,
tribution of offices 'aD,ong tie different sections
Of Tie payfy,' and III which, after referring 10
that portion ofHe party 10 1chieh M. Bronson
adhered, the Secretary of the Treasury ex-
pressed an expectation that the collector would
'recoghize the other portion gf'Hie party in the
only ,ray that rouid carry coaoicti0R ruth H.
which publications consist of alleged letters from
the Secretary of the Treasury to the collector
aforesaid, bearing date respectively the third,
fourth, and twenty second days of October last,
and of letters from the latter to the former,
last.
Aud achereds in the newspaper called the
Daily Uaioa,' of Wednesday, the twenty eighth
of December last, it is stated by authority
that the removal of Mr.. Bronson was the act of
the President, who freely shoulders the entire
responsibility and justifes his act, not merely
upon the ground of alledged official insubordi-
nation, but upon the further distinct ground,
that the late collector had 'prostitued his office
for political ends, and otherwise abused his
official trust for party purposes therefore,
"Resolred, That the Secretary of the Treasury
be- and he is hereby, requested to communicate
to this House a copy of the correspondence
above referred to, (if any such there BEL and
of any other letters that may have passed be-
tween himself and Greene c. Bronson, the late
collector of the customs for the port of New
York, relating to the subject matter aforesaid.
After some debate between Mr.. Cutting, Mr..
Clingman, Mr.. Bissell, and Mr.. Jones, of Ten
nessee, these resolutions on motion Of Mr.. Orr,
were laid on the table by vote Of lO4 yeas,
&C nays.
This vote against Mr.. Cuttings resolution
will we doubt not, be heralded by big and lit
tie papers, to the public, as triumphant vim
dication of Mr.. Secretary Guthrie and his in
reference in the State concerns of New York.
We say his interference an the State concerns
of Ne,o York. 1t will not be denied, we pre-
sumo, that he wrote his first letter to the Col
lector, and then removed him from office, with
the view and purpose of affecting the State
elections, then and there about to be held.
This was indirect, circuitous, unwarrantable,
but very effective interference. However let
that pass.
We say it will doubtless be claimed as
triumphant Congressional verdict, in that excit-
ing feud of Guthrie against Bronson, about
which SO much has been said and written. 1t
is no such thing. 1t does not touch the merits
of that controversy. II is as far from being
a vindication of Mr. Guthrie and his advisers,
or directors in that matter, as it is from being
a condemnation Of Judge Bronson.
With like views, and as warm disapproba-
ton OF that whole proceeding as Mr.. Cutting
has, with the same high estimate of Judge
Bronson, in any character in which he can be
vewed-with the same earnest desire to see
him yindicated, and his relentless enemies and
prosecutors rebuked, and rebuked with the ut
most severity--we yet differ from Mr. Cutting
in one thing. We are sorry to differ in any
regard, but since there is a difference, we will
state it.
We do not think that the House of Repre-
sentatives has jurisdiction over the subject in
the form in which it was presented Congress
does not sit as legal tribunal to try actions
of SANDER Congress does not undertake to
decide on questions and contests between man
and man. 1t does not claim power to settle
controversies between individuals and the press.
Secretary Guthrie removed Judge Bronson.
His reasons for the removal were alleged.
The removal and the alleged reasons for it
went before the public. The first was warmly
disapproved, the last were heartily despised.
The persecution Of Judge Bronson gave to Mr..
Guthrie notoriety. 1t gave to Judge Bronson
an enviable fame. The controversy between
these two gentlemen. elected on the part Of the
Secretary, a dogged obstinacy--a bull dog
pertinacity, and rough independence. 1t
elected, on the part of Judge Br3nson, those
highest attributes of the genteman--unpre-
tending simplicity and undertaking courtesy.
1t also brought out the highest powers Of mind.
The first, is Secretary of the Treasury. The last
10 HOW IL pam ScHtieudn ne SCOiHtu 10 Iolu
Office, when Office ceased to confer dignity, and,
with the spirit Of Roman, he resisted dicta-
ton, even from men in place, power and au-
thority. He is an Israehte indeed, in whom
there is no guile"
The whole nation was put in possession Of
all the facts in the case, and of the letters that
passed between these gentlemen. In the State
of New York the bulk, body and majority Of
the democracy decided against the Secretary
We doubt not that yet greater majority Of the
nation, could they express their opinions by
vote, would give the same decision.
Butour contemporary, the Washington Union,
seeing the Judge officially PROSTATE, came a few
days since to give one final and finishing blow.
It brought new charges-it raked up offences
unheard of before. This is plainly matter
between the Washington Union and Judge
Bronson, and which viii come off conqueror,
IS not for moment to be doubted. The more