The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-07-18
Anecdotes Of James Guthrie.

WITH PIERCE came James Guth-
wv rie, the Kentucky Anak, with
leviathan shoulders, and six feet and
half of height. Son of famed Indian
fighter, himself fatboat hand and cattle
drover in youth, Once, in a characteris-
tic Kentucky affray, he received shot
from political opponent which confined
him to his bed for three years. He
brought to the Treasury boldness, sagaci
ity, and handwriting which no man
can decipher, One day he sent a letter
to friend in Baltimore. The next morn
ing its recipient appeared in the Depart
ment, and handed back the missive. ''.
"Mr. Guthrie" said he d" can't make
out one word of your letter but the sigma
ture, so 1 have brought it for you to trans
late" s..'.
The Secretary knitted his brows, and
puzzled oyer 1T for some minutes. At
last he gave it up. ,.6....,..t ..s,.s......
(" Hang me if / can read it either. l
have forgotten its exact contents, but [
know what wanted to see you about
Sit down and I'll tell you" .......
Guthrie was a walking cyclopedia Of
the Treasury. He knew more details in
each branch than the subordinate special
ly charged with them. His intuitions
were like lightning. Old clerks insist
that after hearing the first sentence he
toresaw all that man was going to say
to him, and tell droll stories of his Sleep
ing through long conversations and then
waking up and answering each point ex-
actly as if he had heard it. They aver
that he would run over hundred letters
awaiting his signature, and throw aside
each one containing a mistake Of phrase
or figure just as the cashier goes through
pile of bank-notes and filings out coun-
terfeits. r,s... ., .....rr...... r.tu.i .
The moldy archives contain two bits of
paper which illustrate not only Guthrie's
character, but the contrast between two
Presidents. While Jackson was in the
White House, he requested that the ac-
count of one Of his special friends might
be paid The Fourth Auditor refused to
pass it, insisting that as a sworn account
ing officer he could not overlook its irreg-
ularity and illegality. When that an
swer was reported to him. Old Hickory
instantly set back the original document,
with this Endorsement ON the back
i.t Let the Presidents fat be obeyed -
nmr. '.f .n" ANDREW JACKSON"
The account was paid forthwith. m
During Pierces administration, Con
! gress passed a law increasing twenty per
cent the salaries of fGovernment employees
Nicholson, the Public Printer, presented
his account, with this additional percen,
age. Guthrie rejected it on the ground
that he was contractor,not an employee.
Nicholson went for help to his friend the
President. He indorsed the paper:olr
"This account seems to me correct
and, in my judgment, it ought to be paid
4 FRANKLIN PIERCE"
I Then it was handed back to the Seer e.
tary. Guthrie, in a rage, replied: ''s.
i"TcH the President it is not correct
]. and I'll be dAd if I pay IT," "E'177''I '"'
Nicholson, fancying he foresaw thf
| Cabinet officer beheaded, reported this
. rash response to the Executive But that
amiable chief only'answered :ol'i1 n'.I'J
"Did Guthrie'say that Then DOM
think he toiU pay ithi7I never knew him
a to give up after putting his foot down"
4 -GarRered Sheaoes. sf, 10 G1hn gao 20
WI a. f|U n d. ~ I . \ n I.