Washington telegraph., 1855-01-24
From fhe Cor. Of n ]. Nat. Denocrat.l
Interesting from Washing gton-Oueer Story
OF Tierce and Guthrie

OF IISrCS and GCthr1e.
| can send you some rich facts in relation to an
effort made BY FoTney. Cushing, and the Presi-
dent. TO lorce Secretary Guthrie To surrender il
legally. 100000 of the United States money into
the hands of the pTop.eiors Of The Union At
the close OF the last session OF Congress. the House
passed resolution increasing the pay OF the en-
plOyees OF the House twenty per cent. Under this
resolution judge Nicholson and iorney ut in
nearly 100000 extra pay as public printers. But
Secretary Guthrie refused to allow it. it did not
come within the intention OF the House.
Upon this Forney went TO the President who
immediately wrote note TO Guthrie, asking him
to open the until ne could obtain the opinion
Oi the Attorney General. This request was COM
piled with. and Gushing wrote out long argu-
ment, fortified by corToborating opinion from
distinguished politician OF Alabama. With these
decisions FoTBey again called on the Secretary
and demanded the 100000: but the old Kentuck-
ian still refused even without stopping to read
Cusbi1g's long rigmarole. Said he Il am as good
lawyer as MF- Cushing; but this is not a question
of law at ALL it is simply question of fact and of
the intentions OF the House in the resolution At
this FOrney took fire. ard his language was so far
insulting, that Guthrie brought his sedge- ham,
mer fist down on the table as he exclaimed
Well, will be ID ii pay itn
FOrney went again to the President and told
him that odd Guthrie says he will be id if he
will pay that money" when the President few
into rage, shifting the table with hi fist and ex-
claimed. 'Fll be d d il he shan't pay it, He IN
stantiv dispatched note 10 Guthrie. asking him
to call at the White House on the matter oI the
money due the Union The Secretary immedi-
ately obeyed the summons. and. after some little
talk, said, Mr. President, am Your officer but
still am responsible, 10 extent for the con-
duct of my department, and to pay this money
would not only greatly damage my character, but
1t Is opposed TO my sense OF right. 1t will give
me great pleasure 10 TesigL, either voiuntarly y
or on my receiving letter requesting my with
dTawa from YOU"
This hold stand taken by the Secretary put For
ney, Gushing and the President to their trumps.-
Congress to meet in tx euty days. and to al
low Guthrie 10 resign at that time, under such
circumstances, would lie opening breach which
It would be I'M possible TO close. The matter was.
therefore. put OF until the end OF the present Con-
STess. These are facts without embel.ishmeGt or
exaSgeration.
The \. Y. Herald adds the following:
According 20 the statement of our informant.
after the President had sworn that the bill Should
be paid, and after be had tried the legal knowl-
ledge upon the subject OF Caleb Cushing to no
purpose Secretary Guthrie was sent Tor 10 come
Overto the White House and over he wen. The
President asked him H. fortified as he was by the
written opinion OF the Attorney General. he could
not pay over the money! Guthrie promptly re-
p'e- 10 sii o' q Gem Ol III was nov dGtIoT
lZed By Congress, III TGy Judgment; but. Mr. PTe>-
dent your object may * attained IN another way.
You may remove ue- CT viii resign. whichever
10 you may le deeued most advisable; but ] can
moi. by Cod as Sec!eteTy oi he Treasury, allow
the money 10 lie lait oh. no. no replied Gen.
Pierce, seo-h:ng'l- -uo resignatiou-nothin- %.
the kind meant loj5ins oi tie kind. on are.
perhaps nSht. We VIII ief tire matter rest ior
tne present. And so Guilrie stalker out OF the
White House tae sIctor, duI 30 t-e victor BE-
longs -ae >r.is"