The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-01-19
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

We attach but little eredence generally tC
spicy gossip and tart scandal dished up so pro
fusely by epistolary cooks in Washington, but
when statements affecting the integrity o
high officials are put forth in detai'-witl
names and circumstances it is well that the
people should be made acquainted with them.
The correction is easily made when they are
false With this {. PLANTATION Of the feeling
| that prompts us we give the following for what
| it is worth:
| DARING ATTEMPT TO ROB THE UNITED STATES OF
$4,000.
is the exclamation of the "National Dem
ocrat," over the following extraordinary let
ter:
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2Sth, 1854
I can send YOU some rich facts in relation to
an effort made by Forncy, Cushing, and the
President. to force Secretary Guthrie TO sur
render. illegally, $4,000 of the United States
money into the hands of the prOprietors of
the Union at the close of the last session
of Congress. the House passed n resolution
increasing the pay of the employees of the
House twenty per cent. Under this resulu-
ton Judge Nicholson and Forney put in near
~ s2n0o0 extra pay ms public printers But
Secretary Guthrie refused 70 allow it, as it
did not come within the intention of the res.
olution of the House. Upon this, Forney
went to the President, who Immediately wrote
n note to Guthrie. asking him to open the case
until he could obtain the opinion Of the At
tornsy General. This request was complied
with, and Gushing wrote out long argument,
fortified by corrobora:ing opinion from. a
distinguished politician of Alabama. With
these decisions Forney again called on the
Secretary aud demanded the $50, 900: but the
old Kentuckian still refused, even without
stopping to read Cushings long rigmarole.-
Said he, 81 am as good lawyey us Mr.. Cush-
ing; but this is not question of law at all; it
il simply question Of fact and of the inten-
tions of the House in the resolution" At
this Forney took fire. and his language was
so far insulting that Guthrie brought his
sledge hammer fist down upon the table as
he exclaimed, "Well, III be id if l pay
it,
Forney went again to the President and
told him that "Old Guthrie says he Will he
ID if he will pay that money" when the
President flew into rage, shifting the
table with bis fist, and exclaimed, "l'll be id !
if he shnnt pay it," lie instantly dis patched !
note to Guthrie. asking him to call at the |
White House on the matter of the money |
due The Union" The Secretary Immediately |
obeyed the summons, and, after some little |
talk, said MIR. President, ! an your officer,
but still | am responsible, to some extent for |
the conduct of my department, and to pay |
this money would not only damage my char
acter. but it is opposed to my sense Of right.
1t viii give me great pleasure to resign, either
voluntarily or on receiving letter request.
ing my withdrawal from you"
This bold stand taken hy the Secretary put
Fcrney, Gushing and the President TO their
trumps. Congress was to meet in twenty days,
and to allow Guthrie to resign at that time,
under such circumstances, would be opening
a breach which it would be impossible to close,
The matter was therefore put off until the end
oil the present Congress These are facts with.
out establishment or exaggeration.
AN lNSIDER.