The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-03-18

W itl tuc SlnHic CAcCptlOu Vi MT. Au'
ans, | never met gentleman, in Con.
gress or out, whose fund Of information
was so extensive, copious. and exact as
that Of Mr.. Cushing. He writes and
speaks most Of the languages of modern
Europe with the facility, purity, and pre-.
cision of the accomplished native, and he
is thorough classical scholar as well
Mr.. Gushing came to Washington when
quite young, and his appearance wa:
more youthful than his years, Although
a gentleman Of great personal lirmness
his bearing was modest, subdued and
dcierential. lie spoke readily enough
and with uncommon accuracy but he
prepared whatever he had to say with
great care, and generally wrote hi:
speeches out at length He appreciated
the importance of being exact in hi.
statements, and regular consecutive, anc
logical in argument lie was superior
to the weakness often exhibited by mcr
Of distinguished ability of protesting tC
speak from the inspiration Of the moment
In fact, he was free from af'ectation o.
every kind, and never denied or concealed
the labor bestowed On oral efforts. Some
times he read his speeches, and OCCASION
ally when discussing questions to which
he had given much study, he spoke with.
ont notes or any evidence ofpreparation
Early in his first session he read q care,
fully written argument on n subject o.
more than ordinary interest. The great
ability displayed, and his appearance o.
extreme youth, attracted general interest
1t so happened that his views ran coun
ter to those Of most of the Western mem
bers, and old Ben Hardin Of Kentucky
a coarse rude man of great inteliectua
vigor, likcned by John Randolph to a
Kitchen knife sharpencd on brick bat, >
replied TO him in Il strain in which invec
tive was mnglcl with argument, anC
which was intentionally offensive anC
cutting. He evidently supposed Gushing
to be mere book-worm-a man Of thu
closet-whom he could silence by sar
casm.. lie knew Cushing's speech hac
been written out, and thought harsh
impromptu reply would crush the young
man. But to his astonshmeut the re-
joindcr made on the spur of the moment
turned the tables, and the House, which
had heartily enjoyed the vitupcrativc clo
quencc of Hardin, relished still more
Cushing's tlrt and effective answer. liar.
din flew into a passion, intimatng u re-
sort to the code duclo, and assuming
that New England man would not re.
spon1 to IL demand for satisfaction, said
gentleman who did not recognize the doc.
trine Of personal responsibility should be
specially cautious and reserved in thcii
language If their own principles or the
sentiments OF their constituents prevented
them from according satisfaction, certain.
ly they should not give offence. Cush.
ings reply was admirable in tone, and
unanswerablc in its defiant protcstation
He spoke with ilucncy, with great ANNA.
ton, and carried the House With him
from the start. lie was not responsible
for the sentiments Of his constituents. mol
should he be governed by them in per.
soma! matters II, should avoid giving
offence to honorable members, not from
apprehension of diSagreeable consequcn.
ces, but from considerations Of self-respect
and what wa> due TO his peers in the
House While he should not intention.
ally wound the feelings of anybody, he
should exact Instant repafation when re,
marks were made derogatory to his char.
acter or injuriogs 10 his feelings. From
thai time forth Mr. Gushing was treated
with marked respect and iorbearanco il
all personal discu.Sion7.-Hayper'S Mag
a-iRc.