The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-14
The secretary or the Treasury.


woman or protect his own personal honor, and hers.
The Secretary or the Treasury.
Until Mr., Guthrie was called by the President (says
the Detroit Free Press) to preside over the most i'm
portant department Of the general government the peo
pie only knew him eminent citizen Of Kentucky
distinguished lawyer, and democrat Of answering
integrity. Not having before occupied commanding
position Of his State, his antscedents and char
actersiios not familiar 10 the great mass of the
citizens OF the Onion. President Pierce not only
have known him, and known him WELL but he must
also have had and adequate conception Of the
kind Of in whose hands ii desirable the keys of
The treasury should be placed No ordinary could
in junclure like the present. successfully administer the
duties Of the Chanceorshp OF the Exchequer. No
binary manasde from the courage necessary to correct
the thousand abuses that had crep into the
service, and the ability indispensable to anayze the
tariff system as to make enlightened recommendations
Congress touching its revisionwoud be equal to the
task OF taking the treasury, with its thirty millions OF
surplus, under his supervision, and safely guarding il
against the Entertainments OF the thousand and har
pies who like many burglars, stand ready force it
and bear away the spoil. No ordinary could with
stand the un due temptations The mendacious abuse
and the malignant, assaults, that have successfully been
resoed to by steamship spectators and systematic plum
derers who have looked upon the surplus
much accumulated treasure for their benefit for the pur
pose OF leading driving the Secretary into acquescence
in their schemes. Incorruptbs integrity, unbcnding
6rmness and an unalterabe determination TO maintain
the public interests essential prerequisites in the
incumben. OF the Treasury Department.
Gen. Pierce did not mistake his man. MIR. Guthrie
combines in singular degree, those characteristics
which qualify him for position that few statesmen
competent to FILL His standard of official integrity is not
less high than his standard OF moral integrity He regards
the faithful performance Of public trusts just obga
tory AZ the performance OF private trusts He looks up
on the public moneys not less sacred from spoliaon
than private moneys. He has more respect for the
public plunderer than for the who plumbers his
neighbor.
10 because OF these characteristics that the Secretary
Of the Treasury has been the object Of unsparng abuse
and obloquv at the hands Of those, and their hireng
presses whose game Of depletion OF the public treasury
he had eHectually blocked When the Croswells and
the Laws and the BENEFITS found with whom they had
OF wholesale plumber must prove abor,ive-when they
discovered that James Guthrie was and officer
with whom they could not tamper-ther rage knew no
Albany Argus and the wreched sheets that bay at their
beck. opened their batteries upon Mr. Guthrie Then it
was that they presented the alternative the Presdeni
OF dissolution Of his cabinet or the breaking down OF
his administration Then il that Cooley opened the
foodgaies Of his dirty waters, which found 81 sewer
through the columns Of the Albany Argus. II turned
out that the President firm the Secretary, and
the dissolution OF the cabinet and the breaking down of
the administration have been discovered to be jobs Of a
larger magnitude han the New York gentry supposed
But Mr.. Guthrie Is not only faithful public officer,
but his management OF the treasury shows him 10 be
consumma,ey able man. His late report is Of the
most mastery documents that emanaied from that
branch of the public service. II has exiored praise
from his enemies. His general conduct of the finances
his looping of useless expenditureshs adjustment OF
sinecure oces-his reorganization OF the revenue sys-
tenn his enlightened views OF the reduction Of the
arif-alI attest him among the very sbee, OF the
who have held the same Office under the government
In his execution OF the laws he evidently knows neither
friends nor foes consequences lie has corrected abuses
in high places as well in los; and even now be ia
insisting that the members of Congress shall return to
strict observance OF the law in respect TO their own pay
Crave senator's denied their per diem until their sec
retary shall comply with the strict acquisitions Of the
subueasury law.
Mr. Guthrie has but 10 adhere 10 the same prnc Piles
and practice that have governed his Official conduct thus
far, TO secure the wamest appreciation OF the country
The coniumey that has hitherto been heapsd upon him
will rebound to his praise That he reved by the lean
and hungry hounds that swarm the capital - the best
possible evidence that he is faithful to his trusts
Comiag Canvass In North Carolina.
Daring the sammer Of 1854 Gays the Wilmington Jour
nar be fought in this State, not simply the old
party battle between wings and democrats Tor ascend
dency in North Csrona--that contest has been pretty
fully decided and few fears for the result, Of renewed
siruggle need be entertained the whg party has
been compelled BY the progress Of pablo opinion, TO
abandon poaton after position. until democratic policy