The Washington union., 1857-11-20
THE HON. CALEB CUSHING.

1t IL with great satisfaction notice that this distin.
guished gentleman has f don't mistake) been chosen
member of the Massachusetts, legislature for Newbury-
port Mr. Cushing is not only learned lawyer, but
profound urst vesed in all the great principles of inter.
national law, is sufficiently proved by the mastery
opinions he gave while acting in the highly responsible
station of Attorney General of the United States He is
what is important in this connexor statesman Of
great experience public life Of enlarged and lib
eral knowledge, Of calm yet esoue temper ndustri-
and pcrseveng Of clear and comprehensive intel
ect in all requiring the exercise of judgment and
discretion. x
1t were much to be wished think, that more such
should ondcnd to give their attention and services
in State legislatures which in general greatly de-
ent in talents and experience, and require both pre-
cept and example to prevent their running into those
travagant errors and eccentrctes of late 80 frequently
exhibited in their proceedings The misfortune is how
ever, that does become distinguished at
home than he begins to look abroad for wider sphere
action. He aspires to q seat in Congress- or to some
high official honor he prefers filling subordinate sta
ton in the general government to being leader in his
State, and is the very antpodes to the lustrous
Roman who had rather be the first man in the village
than the second In Rome.
Surely it is not beneath the dignity of any to
ercise controlling influence in powerful State to be
the first among his feow-citigens and in great meas
ure give direction to the action of the legislature
which Is in fact the founta4 of power that spreads
and pcrvades the entire policy of the Union 1t is from
thence that the action of the general receives
its first impulse and direction and the who wieds
controlling influence at home which felt throughout the
Union, to my mind, occupies much higher position
than mcmbor Of Congress or a cabinet minister In
short, If we trace effects to causes, shall invariably
find that the governing principle in free State ia not
the pinnacle, but the foundation of the edifce The
wethercoek at the top may show which way the wind
blows, but has nothing to do with its direction. Public
stations should be sought from higher motives than per-
sonal ambition pecunary gan and every citizen should
consider it his duty at sacrifice of interest
convenience to accept Office not because it Is honorable
profitable but because he his best services to his
country when called upon TO make the sacrifice But
these obsolete ideas, and smell OF mortality.
As object of ambition the leadership of State
legislature not beneath the attention Of any man.
ever high his preensions In public station can le-
gtimate personal influence If directed by patriotism and
integrity be benefcisy exercised is uzcess to
deny because the examples every day staring us in
the ce that the general character Of State legisla
lures not high it in the earlier stages Of our
political existence 1t has unqucstionably gradually de-
croratcd both in talent and integrity owing to various
causes among which the unwlingness Of men who
would do honor to the station to share In the contempt
which has gradually and dcservcdy been incurred by the
conduct Of too many Of these bodies and the total want
of confidence in their integrity not only legislators
but private citizens This has been partly owing to
that pernicious system of special legislation which has
srcwed the path of the legislator with temptations be-
yond the standard of human integrity to resist
and placed in the hands Of tho legislature tho mesns of
conuping itself as well as Others.
Be- the what they may, the effects sufficient
ly evident. The legislative power in not few of the
States has fallen into the hands Of inferior men, many Of
them too ignorant to know when they doing wrong
and who neither comprehend their rights their du
ties Others who may know better greatly wanting
In that integrity essentially requisite in exposed
to great temptations and at tine time encouraged
by the certainty of mpunity at least from legal punish
ment The first are at all times liable to be misled by
arful interested mcn the second often succeed in
misleading Others and 1t Is question somewhat difficult
TO decide which Is the most fruitful source Of evthat