Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-02
Anecdotes of Public Men.
GENERAL CALEB ousHING.-BY COL. ].
w. FoRNEY.

raised under the treaty of Washington
to adjust questions arising out of that
convention will attract more notice than
the senior counsel of the American men,
bers, Caleb Gushing of Massachusetts.
Born on the 18th day of January, 1900,
and therefore on the verge of ~, he is,
for his years, one of the most vigorous
intellects in the world. His long career
OF more than half century has been
singularly varied. A graduate of Har-
ward College in 1917, subsequently tu-
tor of mathematics and natural phIloe6-
ply, he studied law at Cambridge, and
settled at Newburyport, still his Massa-
chusetts residence, to practice the profess
sion which he formally entered in 1922.
In 1825-26 he served in the Legislature
of the State, and 1929 visited Europe
and published on his return Reminis-
censes of Spain" a delightful book, and
profound review of the revolution in
France He was also one of the favor
ite writers of the old North American
Review. In 1S33-34 he was again elect
ed to the Legislature, and was repre-
sentative in Congress from 1885 to 1S43.
Appointed by President Tyler, Commits
sioner to China, he negotiated an impor-
tant treaty. On his return, in 1S46, he
was again elected to the State Legisla-
ture. In 1847 he was chosen colonel of
volunteers in the Mexican war, and was
afterward made Brigadier General by
President Polk. In 1850 he was elected
for the fifth time to the State Legislature
and in 1851 made a Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Massachusetts,. When
President Pierce was elected Caleb Cush-
ing was made his attorney general, and
at the end of his term he returned to
Massachusetts was again elected to the
Legislature. He was President of the
Democratic Charleston Convention in
1860, TO nominate President, and in
July, 1866, was appointed by Andrew
johnson one of the three commissioners to
codify and revise the laws of the United
States. When he accepted the post of
American counselor to the commissioners
under he English treaty he was an ad-
vocate of the Mexican government be-
fore the United States and Mexican
claims commission. Few men living can
point to such an experience-few are
better qualified by varied requirements
and personal address to cope with the
ripe and thorough statesmen sent by
Great Britain to Geneva.
Gen. Cushing was, for long time, one
of the ablest of the Whig leaders; and
when John Tyler severed his connection
with that party he and Henry A. Wise,
and one or two others, constituted what
was called the Tyler Guard in the House.
After that he gradually changed his
course and became as prominent leader
of the democrats. At present, without
any special party notwithstanding
reached what Mr.. Sumner calls "the
Philosophic Age"-he devotes himself
to law and literature. 1t is not denied
that he is frequently employed at the
Department of State, and no doubt by
other Departments in the preparation of
important papers. | have heard him at
dinner table conversing in French,
Spanish, English and German. His
style of speaking is exceedingly fascin.
ating.
Some eighteen years ago l was present
at an oratorial combat between him and
Jefferson Davis, at Newark, N. j., where
President Pierce halted on his way to
the opening Of the Crystal palace at
New York. They were we'll matched.
Davis had the reputation of being one
of the most graceful of Southern debat-
ers, but he found more than an equal in
the Massachusetts, dialectician. AS a
newspaper writer he is unsurpassed.
While was one of the editors of the
National Democratic organ during the
administration of Pierce, Attorney Gen.
eral Gushing, although deeply immersed
in the business of the department, hard
ly let day pass without sending me an
editorial on some subject, and he fire.
quently aided me on the Washington
Chronicle. He was at home on finance.
on law, and especially on foreign ques-
tions. In society he is delightful. Ex-
ceiling in conversation, his "reminiscences
are original and graphic 1t is very in
teresting to sit by and hear him talk of
the characters of the past without ha-
tired or prejudice. A man of large wealth
inherited and self earned, widower
without children, fond of labor, of match
less eloquence as practitioner in the Su-
preme Court of the United States, he is
also a great student-devourin every
new book as it comes out, novels includ-
ed, and remembers everything he reads.
His health is good, his activity remark
able. his habits temperate. Invited ev-