Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-28
An Old.Time cabinet Omcer.

Secretary Bristows very evident de-
termination to correct some OF the
abuses that have crept irto the Treasury
Department, recalls to our mind an
anecdote related of one Of his predeces
sors. Hon. James Guthrie, who, like
himself, was native Of Kentucky. and
serves to illustrate what manner OF men
we had for public officers in those days:
AT about the close of the session Of
Congress in the spring of 1854 a resolu-
tion was passed by the House after con
siderable debate increasing the pay OF
its employees twenty per cent. Judge
Nicholson and Mr.. Forney, who we're
then the proprietors OF the Washington
Union, put in claim for nearly $40, 900
extra pay as public printers. This
Guthrie refused TO pay, contending that
il did not come within the meaning oil
the resolution. Upon this Forney, In
high state of excitement, repaired forth
with to the White House and informed
President Pierce of Guthrie's fiat refusal
to consider the claim. Pierce wrote
to the Secretary, asking him to keep
the case open until he could
obtain the opinion OF the Attorney Gen.
eraI Caleb Cushing This command
was complied with, and Gushing wrote
ont formidable argument-formldsble
in length-fortifying it with corrobo-
rating opinion written by prominent
Southern politician, and, armed with this
heavy artillery, Forney again called
upon Guthiie and sought to induce him
to give up the twenty thousand dollars
The old Kentuckian still refused, even
without waiting to wade through Cush
inp's exhaustive aud exhausting opin'
ion. and said to the importunate Forney,
~ am as good lawyer as Mr.. Gushing
ia but this is not a question OF law at
ali; it is a question of fact and OF the In
tention of the House in the resolution.
Forney. becoming highly incensed, re
nlied in language so far from courteous
hat Guthrie. Strengthening himself in
his chair and bringing his sledge ham mer
fist down upon the table with such force
as to make the clerks in that part of the
treasury building think that the light
ming had struck the edifce, exclaimed,
Mr.. Forney, I'll be id il | pay
it," OFF went Forney in great haste and
in an angry mood to the President, and
repeated to him the conversation. 1t
was then Pierce's turn to warmth OF
feeling, which he did, declaring
with considerable vebemence that
he would compel Guthrie to pay the
amount in dispute. He Immediately
dispatched note to him, asking him to
cali at the White House as he wanted TO
see him in regard to the money due
the Union" The Secretary promptly
obeyed the summons, aud after q little
conversation on the subject, said; "Mr
President, ! am your officer, but still
am responsible to some extent for the
conduct Of my department, and to pay
this money would not only greatly dam
age my character, but would be contrary
to my sense of right 1t will give ms
great pleasure to resign, either volunta
rily, or on receiving letter from you
requesting my withdrawal from the cabi
net.
Forney, Cushing and the Presiden
we're put to their, trumps by this bolC
stand. Congress was to meet in few
weeks, and to allow Guthrie to resign a
that time, and under such circum
stances, would be opening breach tia
would be hard to close. They wisely
concluded, therefore, to put the matte
of until a more favorable time. Wha
disposition was finally made Of the mat