Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-01

With the single exception OF Mr.. Adams,
whose fund of information was extensive,
copious, and exact as that or Mr.. Cushing. He
writes and speaks Lost OF the languages of
modern Europe with the facility, purity, and
precision OF the most accomplished native, and
he is a thorough classical scholar as WELL Mr.
Cushing came to Washington when quite young,
and his appearance was more youthful than
personal drmness, his bearing was modest.
subdued, and deferential, He spoke rapidly
enough, and with uncommon accuracy; but he
prepared whatever he had to say with great care,
and generally wrote his speeches out at length.
He appreciated the importance of being exact
in his statements, and regular, consecutive,
and logical in arrangement and argument.
ne was superior to the weakness often exhibited
speak from the inspiration Of the moment, In
fact, he was free from affectatiOn Of every kind,
and never denied or concealed the labor be-
slowed on oral efforts. Sometimes he read his
speeches, and occasionally, when discussing
questions to which he had given much study, he
spoke without notes or any evidence of prep
aration. Early in his first session Mr.. Gushing
read carefully written argument on a subject
OF more than ordinary interest. The great abl
ity displayed, and his appearance of extreme
youth, attracted general interest. 1t so hap.
pened that his views ran counter to those of
most of the western members, and old Ben
Hardin, of Kentucky, a coarse, rude man Of
great intellectual vigOr, likened by John Ran
bat" replied to him i'm a strain i'm which
invective was mingled with argument and
which was Intentionally cutting and offensive.
He evidently supposed Gushing to be a mere
boOkworm-a man Of the clOset-whom he could
silence by sarcasm. He knew Cushing's
speech had been written out, and thought a
harsh impromptu reply would crush the young
man. But to his astOnishment the reiOinder.
made on the spur of the moment turned the
tables, and the House, which had heartily en-
joyed the vituperative elOQuence of Hardin.
relished still more Cushing's tart and effective
answer. Hardin few into a passion, intimating
a resort to the code duello and assuming that a
New England man would not respond tO a de-
mand for satiefactiOn; said gentlemen who did
not Recognize the doctrine Of personal respon-
sibility should be specially cautious and reserved
IN their language. II their own principles or
the sentiments Of their constituents prevented
them from according satisfaction, certainly they
should not give Offense. Cushing's reply was
admirable in tone, and unanswerable in its
ds hant protestation. He spoke with fuency,
with great animation, and carried the House
with him from the start He was not RESPONSE
bic for the sentiments of his constituents, nor
should he be governed by them in personal mat
tiers. He should avoid giving offense to honor
able members, not from apprehension of dsa
Eeeabie consequences, but from considerations
Of self-respect and what was due to his peers of
sound the feelings Of any body, he should ex-
act instant repair alton when remarks we're made
derOeatOry to his character or injurious to his
feelings. From that time forth Mr.. Gushing
was treated with marked respect and fOrbear-
ance in all personal discussiOns-From s.Recol-
lections of an Old Stager, )" in Hdrper's Magazin.
for Feb,u0ru,