New-York tribune., 1874-01-14
THE OHIEF-JUSTICESHIP
ASTOUNDING DEVELOPMENTS.

ASTOUNDING DEvELOPMENTS-
TUE SENATE CAUCUS AMAzRD AT EVIDENCE OF Mh'
cusHIsG's DIsLOYALTY DURING THE wAR-mR
CosKIING's RESOLUTION APPROVING THE NoMI-
NATION PROMPTLY AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED
DowN-ruE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE INSTRUCTED
TO ADVISE THE PRESIDENT TO WITHDRAW THE
NOMINATrON-A LITTER FROM MR.. CUSHING TO
JEFFERsoa DAyLs-HIs oFFENsE SIMILAR TO THAT
on xssK d. BRmHr-THE PRESIDENT CRITICISED
voR NOT WnIIDgAWISG MR. CUSiiiNGS NAME
BEFORE.
fny rgIYGRAPH TO TBs rRfpUSyI
w.ou,xcroS Ian. i3-Presldent Grant thought
N make Cbief-Justice of Caleb Gushing. ard has
Loaf h;s new Minister to Spain The developments
m,de in tbe c,uc,s of Republican Senator's, to-day,
were of tho most astounding character. ana CaoD
Cusbipe stands to night convicted OF the oense iOr
which Josse ID Bright was expelled from the United
States Senate in 1862 The President IL shown TO DO
guilty Of allowing days session OF the senate 10
pass after having learned the damaging iacts' with-
out Fastening to withdraw his name, ana senators
of high rank in the Republican party are more tn"h
suspected of defending the nomination aiter tnoy
knew chat the Presidents second choice Tor the OK
ated office of Chief-Justce had been in commuhi-
cation with the President of the Confederate STATES
There arc many remarkable things in connection
with this whole proceeding iii the Cushing mattor'
Never before since the oldest Senator had seat ih
the Chamber did party caucus meet TO CONSIDER
nomination mado by the President. All Executive
nominations have heretofore been invariably con-
sidered by the Senate in Executive session, ana In
presence of tho whole body. and no former effort
can be recalled of an attempt to use the party ma
cbnery Co force men to vote for the confirmation Oh
a man whom they thought unfit for the position TO
which he was nominated. The caucus yesterday
morning was ostensibly called to consider tho order
of business, but those who requested 1t intended
that matter of graver Importance than the deciS-
ion whether one bill another should DO hrst con-
sidered, should be the topic of debate.
Senator Conkling who, during his six years term
had seen the caucus rule 40 successfully. determined
to crack the party whip over the heads Of his point
ica associates and bring them up. against their Dest
Judgment, If necessary to vote for Mr. CushiDgs
confirmation. He moved resolution. yesterday
morning that it was the sense of the caucus tnat
tho appointment ought to be approved. ms gave
rise 10 most excited debate Although no senator
knew what was discovered to day, many OF them had
grave doubts of Mr.. Cushing's political soundneSs,
and they could see why ne should be hoDored
by the Republican party. He was no influential
leader either in State or nation, backed aby large
marty. and whose defeat would ALLEVIATE friends. He
had no warm friends who pressed his name, except
Gen Butler, whose dictatiOn tho Senate would
scarcely brook; Mr.. COnkng. who has led the party
more in the past than he is likely to in the future;
Mr. Sumner who has been drawn TO him by sym
pathy of tastes and the companonshp OF scholars;
Mr. Boutwell, Secretary Fish. and few others.
Wby should the Republican Senate who had not
been driven by any caucus to confirm the fTcsdehtS
fayorite MI Williams. be forced TO vote for man
whose republicanlsm was doubtful ana I'D Whoih
the party owed nothing, having paid literally an
casb for whatever legal services he had rendered 1t
The debate was resumed at the adjourned meet
ing of the Caucus this morning with renewed vigor'
Mr. Conkling saw Mr.. Morton quietly but effectively
working on tho other side. and doubtless DREADED
the possibility that his great rival for the leadership
might be more successful than he. Mr.. Edmunds'
who wond naturally be supposed to be on the other
side stood up in favor of the nomination. IL was
hard for him TO admit that his COMMITTEES was guilty
of an error in reporting so hastily and without con-
sderation this important nomination. Mr. Bout
we'll was also on the side of the defense stormy
time is reported and it was cut short only by the
arrival of the hour of tho Senates meeting.
To-days session of the Senate was short one. but
its brief hours were employed by Gen. Butler, who
still labored with Senators in the VAIN attempt 10
win them over to his friend. After speech on tho
finances by Mr. Frenghuysen. Clerk Mcpherson
opportnely appeared at the bar OF the House with
resolutions announcing the death OF James Brooks
and Representative Foster of Michigan. Ihis
afforded good excuse for an early adjournment,
which was carried after short enlOges by Senators
Fenton and Ferry of Michigan. The Senate Cham
ber WAS soon deserted by Republican Senators, and
the doors were closed on the third caucus ON the
Cushing nomination.
Since the morning adjournment Senator Sargent,
through whose objection the nomination had gone
over on Friday, and who had taken the wind ont of
Mr. Boutwelrs sails in the morning by reading
letter written by Mr. Gushing in 1862, to friend in
New Hampshire. denouncing the war in regular
yallapdigh style, had obtained from the rebel
archives the document that sealed the fate of the
candidate 1t was passed about from hand to hand
and read by Senators with blank amazement AS the
debate proceeded and Mr. Cushngs friends urged the
nassape of Mr. Conklings resolution. Mr.. Conkling
himself saw it, it is reported, and holding it up to
the light OF the window read its contents. Then he
made last appeal, making no reference to the let
ter Disloyalty in Southern man, who went with
bis State. in Mr.. Conkings sight. made him
traitor and no man in the Senate can picture 80
yividly ss he the awful sinfulness OF Southern
Rebels But for q citizen Of Massachusetts to be IN
communication with the President of the Con-
federacy at the time that he stood in conhden-
tal relations with the Federal Government, and to
recommend the appointment OF q man Dy
Jefferson Davis, did not disquaify him from
sitting on the Supreme Bench if the President NOM
mated him for the high Office Of Judge.
Mr.. Conkling would naturally be supposed to
have been the first to withdraw his resolu-
tion. butt he did nothing Of the kind and it
WAS left for Mr. Sargent to read the letter aloud in
the caucus. That decided the question. 1t fell like
a bombshell in the emidst Of the camp. Senator'S who
had beon urging confirmation looked each other
blanky in the face, and knew not what to say. One
Parnhlican asked Il Mr. l,ushn disahil-