St. Mary's beacon., 1858-06-10
Letter from judge Mason.

Letter rom judge Mason.
We give place in our present issue to the fol-
lowing letter, addressed by Hon John Thom-
son Mason, Collector Of Customs for the Port
ofBaltimore, TO Chapman B. Briscoe, Esq. for
n,crly of this county and now Clerk in the
Custom House, Baltimore. The letter itself
sufficiently explains the reasons for its n''isi;~
ton in our columns.
L1,ai.~aOre, My l7h, 1853.
~ DEAR SIR:
1our letter, in reply to the request previously
made by certain gentlemen "f st. Mary's coun-
ty, that you should be removed from the office
you now fill in the Custom House, because Of
your opposition, ut the last election, to the
Democratic nominated ticket for that county
has been maturely coE3idcrcd.
In view Of the peculiar circumstances Of this
particular case, and because of the fact that
II is the first case of the kind that has occurred
have declined to grant the request. have
also been led to this conclusion in part because
Of my unwillingness to connect the official pO-
Sition which hold, with the domestic cOntro-
versies that at this time unhappily divide our
friends in ST. Mary's county, aud with the pc
culiar merits of which ! am unacquainted.-
friends of long standing, and of the highest
character, ON both sides Of this family quarrel,
il must BE- an extreme case that could induce
me, as public officer, to take part with either.
Besides. since you have been in office, you have
been attentive to your duties, and your deport-
ment, in all respects, has been becoming and
honorable.
While upon this subject, will avail myself
of the occasion to make few general observa-
lions indicating what my future course shall
bel i'm regard to Whist | understand TO I've the
obligations Of persons holding political Office,
in reference to party nominations and party
movements generally.
Both yon and J. in accepting the official po-
sitious we now fill, have committed ourselves
to abide by, and support the nominations OF
our marty. when made according to itS usage.
We each hold our place Icy the force. of party
organizations and nominations, and VIC are
therefore not only bound, as party men, but
ssoroVv bound rs much to support the system
when others arrto be benefited by its opera
lions. As If we ourselves expected tn receive its
advantages. Those who are unwilling TO re-
cogpizc this principle ought not to consent to
be the recipients Of the fruits Of conventions
ne .cho lires Iy the srord, ought TO be riting to
perish Ly the srord, Is principle quite As aP-
plcablc to those who hold political office, as to
any other class.
The reason assigned by YOU for not support
ing the action Of your county convention, to
wit. that Won did not regard it rs the true ex-
preston Of the will Of the Democratic party, is
subverSive of all efficient party organ'zatlon.-
Ifeyery man is to require the action OF con-
yentions. and all other party movements, to
conform to his standard of policy and taste, it
would readily be seen that no party could hold
together. If YOU and were to disregard our
party .fealty because certain persons, Objection
able 10 us. were TO be elevated, how could we
complain. If others were to repudate their party
obligations because we had been preferred to
them or their friends? In my Judgment, the
true rule for party man to observe, and espe-
cially ono who holds political office, Is to stand
by the action Of his party, as long as he has
faith in its principles and confidence la the IN
tcgrity of those who may be selected Ia enforce
those principles, and not to attempt to thwart
its action upon minor or even impOrtant points
because they do Tot conform to his peculiar
Aotinns or tastes. When our faith in measures.
and our confidence in our leaflcrs, are GoLe, IL
4 time then 10 look out for some new party
But in thus shaking OF our allegiance to our
former party, we should also disrube ourselves
Of its Offices, for 70 tsTR tails upon ones party,
and vet hold on to its offices, is not exactly
good policy or good morals, in my Judgment.
These remarks, Of course, only relate to per-
sons who recognize party organization, and
are willing 10 accept iss fruits. To those who
pursue the course, alike honorable, Of total in
dependence Of all party movements, my re
marks can have no application. They vote foE