The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-20

1
the two officers deem due our friendly relations r.
communicate Ii determination 70 You IN Advance Th,
so1 .he more especially proper as in May, 1885,
ana ms only for few months and have reason to be
eve the place has since become more agreeable e
you from your ir'snd' very respectfully,
/ JAMES c. VAN DYKE, Esq.
Mr. VAN DYKE Mr. BucuAyAN
n, PHILADELPHIA, March, 10, 1860
NY DEAR SiR-Your letter me, under date OF the lath
instant, is this morning received in which You inform
me mar the duties Of the collector of important por
intimately connected that quite impossible for them
70 conduct the public business with regard the
suss o ,neres,s while they are in state Of
| DIG all personal sod official intercourse with
each Other" and that for this reaion ii has
peen hnelly resolved 10 make change ia accordance
with the views OF the Secretary OF the Treasury the Se-
cre;ary OF The Interior and the Attorney General re-
gtet eat your leuer 10 markea Prvaie, since coming
From The President With whose appointment have been
honored, and concerning, as IL does, my Official conduct
should not be expected 10 treat such OF course
have 10 objection 70 oner 10 the determination the
part OF the standardization TO make the proposed change
but you VIII, trust excuse in not alo wing the
| impression 10 20 abroad that this change Ia re.
CURED because the personal political relations
existing between the Collector of the Port and myself have
ever prevented, on my part the proper dschar 90 cia
uutes or that such relations have any conicted
with tue public interests. That such change not con-
Ioue0 ~ these considerations Is fairly nierable from
ne TACT that the personal aud political relations which
present exist between the Collector of the Port and my
seE are precisely the same they the time Of
my appointment, and when az your personal soca alton
accepted the Office, and the they hs1 bscn
with the fun knowledge OF the administration for nearly
one year previous 10 that appointment Ny relations wth
the Collector, have frequently inoS med You In CON
versaon and by letter, are the reeut OF my unwiing
ness TO approve the conduct OF the Collector in bis
granncs abuse Of the patronage Of the federal govern
nen VIII view to control the wishec OF the people in
tneir primary local elections This in conformity with
your owl Just views as expressed IN times past when In
tS is4ssi ana lsil-45, 1t was supposed thar
The same power was used TO prevent your political sd
yancement, have always disapproved and dscounte
nancea 20 the extent OF my ability The banding together
oy collector 0! Customs G.. the entire force Of subord
nate federal officers: The Necessities of many of whom
q Il compel them 10 yield their convictions
threats Of REMOVAL and the controlling O; the political
appointment, are iniriDgements OF the rights
OF he people, violation Of the democratic spir. of0ur
institutions, and at all nes dangerous to the purity and
perpesuity OF en- elective government And in justnca-
top OF course, have 10 Say, in spirit of the utmost
kindness good feeling TO yourself personally that
desire for Office nor fear Of removal could induce
far 10 forget my self respect or iorego NY rights as c
,zen as to yield even Silent arquescence in the conduct
OF the gentlemen who, in this respect, has grossly
abused the federal patronage in this State This has been
heretofore the Of diversity OF opinion between the
Collector ana myself. An additional mas arisen
be the principal matter Of complaint refer to he fact
that, within few weeks when the subject brought
to my notice by cizan OF Philadelphia, expressed my
dsappropson O. the conduct OF the Collector OF the Port
Gf correctly reported to meg In paying TO persons pro-
iessedy employed in the revenue service large salaries
out OF The pubic treasury when Il is sal! that such per-
sons notorously do nc. discharge the duties OF their ap
pointment, but either devote their time to other
business callings engaged in the discharge of
lower rate Of salary Tnis have Considered 70 be- ia
direct violation Of Jaw and treasury regulations aud
as subjecting all wlo we're lno.ing.S concerned
pliance with my official obi 10 the rovernment
and with the confident beisi that my conduct in such
matter would meet the approval Of country and the
government have aso to state that in octcber 1859,
party issues though hostile to the dicson o. the coec
tor Of the Port, was no. approved by you could not
that there nothing that had occurred lessen your
confidence to you to desire change but the
contrary wish was that would continue in the posi-
ton; the time expressing desire that should be
friendly senai and political relations with the Col
lector which said was impossible. 1t s also for th!a
that the given for my removal Ia 10
the mere unac countabe for since then NOTHING oc
Cured to change my official relations with the officers as
Philadelphia, except be that arising from official
ce Of the report OF the improper payment OF salaries by
the Collector, TO which have alluded, and 10 regard
which have expressed my opinion, that upon inorma
ton properly laid District Attorney could refuse to
terrain prosecution. have already written to the
proper department for information; but whether
have as 'h1 ngs Been sustained aSs all The The 1
ant not having pressed further investigation Having
made this state nlent with view OF placing the OF
have only add that all the papers and documents my
possession belonging TO the United States, will be ready
Tor delivery 70 my as soon as he may be des
mated and duly qualified am, sir with assurances OF
my persopal regard, respectfully, your friend and ODE
dent servant, J. c. VAN DYKE,
To THE PRESIDENT. Atty. for U. S., E D. OF Pa.
Mr.. BUCHANAN TO Mr. VAN DYKE.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1850.
My DEAR SRI reply to your favor Of the 10th inst
received yesterday for the purpose Of staa that
quite at liberty to my letter of the 14h inst though
il had not been marked ''Private" Irepeas emphs,i
caly that this letter presents my reasons for making
q change in the office Of District Attorney. NY ex.
reluctance to do what might be disagreable you
has prevented from addressing you at earlier pc
rod aud this although your official superors ia the d
Of
the public interests required such change Ihad hoped
although almost against hope, when last collected you TO
remain in Office that your personal regard for myself If
nothing else would eventually induce you to modify your
hostility against the Collector TO such degree to induce
you to hold personal and official intercourse with him
corning your respective public duties Had this been the
it's all should have required In this hope AN
sorry to say have been entirely disappointed shali
part with you with deep and sincere regret and at the
present moment entertain no feelings toward you and
yours except those Of hearty good will From your
friend. very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN.
JAMES c. VAN DYKE, ESQ.
Mr. VAN DYKE TO Mr. BUCHANAN.
PHILADELPHIA, March "a, 1850.
Ny DEAR SRI have the honor 70 acknowledge the
cep the 2st inst OF your letter under date the 18th
inst Before receiving your communication Of the l4tn
inst. had been furnshed with no intimaton from
self personally, or from any member OF your admins
traton that the personal relations existing between
the Collector Of the Port and myself were such in
terfered with the proper discharge of my official duties.
These relations, oistasteful as they may have indeed
been have, however, upon occasion been allowed by
my self stand in the way OF that official intercourse
winch the PUBIC interests required 1our CouVersalods
with me as well as your letters to this subject,
have invariably referred to the subject In its political
aspects, and as affecting the management OF internal
party politics, in which / have always considered
every citizen fully competent TO Judge of his own course
without the assistance OF q Collector Of Customs.
THIS especially the in our last conversation,
to which you have REFEREED and in which you will no
doubt upon reflection remember that official duties and re-
ators mentioned Your only request at that time
that would not interfere With the Collector in his
management OF the then approaching campaign TO elect
delegates TO State Convention called for the purpose
OF nominating Governor and sending delegates to the
Charleston National Convention And the only
in which ever had any Intercourse with any other
Der OF the Administration touching this matter
1885, when the Attorney General, in conversation, in
formed that, in his opinion, the good Of the party
required union and concert Of action among ali the
federal officers. This conversation referred only to
unity 10 the management Of internal party poll
tics, and had special reference to the judi
cial Nominating Convention. The OF his
conversation complete Indication amoug
the federal officers OF character which did receive
my approval for have always regarded ouch cornona
tons in conflict with the doctrine OF State rights
terpreted by the democratic party, and have believed
them n