New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-25

On Thursday last, the Hon. Caleb Gushing was
honored, on his return from serving Gen. Pierce as
Attorney General to his home at Newburyport,
Mass, with public reception, and signalized the
occasion by speech, which we transfer TO the
columns ofTHE TRIBUNE. Mr.. Gushing is an able
man. and it is always well to know in what light
the memorable events of the age present them
selves to, or are presented,by, such mind as
his. He is one Of those who cannot comprehend
how Conscience should have any voice IN public
concerns; and it is well for those who are differ
emily organized to study the Goddess view OF a.
fairs. if only that they may be prepared to shun
the practical issues to which it leads. Mr. Cush-
ing has borne Harlequin'S part in politics, and
it is but natural that, in his eyes, everybody
should seem to have been constantly playing the
whirigig 1t is the old case of the inebriate fan
cying everybody else dcplorably drunk. Don't
ven see" inquired man in this unfortunate con-
dition Of his friend Indignantly demonstrating
against his stolid embrace of the lamppost, that
1.-THE whole square is revolving | am waiting
"fur my door to come around
Mr.. Gushing is unjust to Massachusetts. She
never did resist the extension Of our National area
per Sc. She has resisted, as she ought to have re-
sisted, its extension by the arts OF flLbusters IN
subseryency to the plots and interests OF slave
breeders Massachusetts, never seriously doubted
that Louisiana, Florida, Texas, California, would
be advantageous acquisitions, if they could be hon.
estly. peacefully, consttutionaly obtained. She
objected to that system of "Stand and deliver"
which between individuals is termed robbery, but
among nations territorial acquisition. Massachu-
setts condemned Gen. Jackson's lawless conquest
of Florida. She condemned the successful fill
mastering Of Sam Houston in Texas, as Mr.. Cush-
inc condemns William Walkers unsuccessful fill
busterine in Nicaragua. Mr.. Gushing practically
believes that God is on the side Of the heaviest
csnnop." and hence that q crime that has tri-
umpbed has BY success been transfgured into vir.
tue. Massachusetts, remembers that sentence
apanst an evil work is not always executed
speedily and waits in faith that conscientious re-
gard for the rights Of others, and especially of the
feeble and exposed can never be truly accounted
weakness or perversity. Mr.. Gushing taunts
Massachusetts, with thefact that she has generally
been ont of favor at Court and under the heels of
power; Dut WDeu ncI sio"'"' H'i 'u"e"'ioh, hci
intelligence thrift, wealth and general comfort are
compared with those Of the rival commonwealth
which have usually overridden her-say Virginia,
or either Carolina-she has no reason to recOil from
the scrutiny.
Mr.. Gushing is of course amazed that Msssachu-
sets should be siDgulsrly sinterested-governed
"bv ideas rather than BY mere nterests'-Mr.
Cushing way being VIGOROUSLY the opposite Of this
He professed to go zeaOusly with her in her resist
ance 10 the hiah.banded usurpations of the Money
Power by Gen. JacksOn-hs 81 mere interests then
recurring him TO identify himself closely with her
feel;pos and impulses, devoid as he was of any
feeling or impulse but such as bis "mere interests"
inspired. Now be sees nothing in her glorious
resistance 10 the Union of the Purse and Sword
but devotion 10 the banking ascendency of Philade-
pbia, So with the Sub-Treasury contest-so with
the great question of the present day. AT such
a time" as the present, says the ex-Attorney-Gen-
..eral, the public mind Of Massachusetts stands
still and grows passionate over the question
4. v,betb.r certain black men are citizens of the
1" United States or not
No. Mr.. Gushing, that is not the question, and
YOU will never appreciate Massachusetts,, however
v,u NAV profess 10 do So until you can state her
position more Justly than this. 1t is not the status
of certain black men" that she for but that
the laws she upholds shall be just and equal-that
they shall not rudey refuse protection and redress
I, the de,rised and down-trodden because they are