The Van Buren press., 1874-01-20

/ the moor, according TO agreement, as
soon as the caucus was called to order,
and made speech OF some length in ia
vor of Gushing, and was followed by
other friends of Gushing. As heretofore
stated, Mr.. Sargent reserved this mpor
tant letter with view to allow every
thing to be said in support of Cushing's S
nomination that could be said by any one
present, before putting an end to the dis
cussion by producing the document. Fl
nally he obtained the floor and read and
commented on the letter. being listened
to with the closest attention. The result
upon the caucus has been all eady de-
scribed When the President read the
letter of Gushing to jeff Davis he at once
concluded To withdraw the nomination
of Gushing, and caused communication
to be written to the Senate for this pur-
pose The President, before he nomina-
ted Cushing, knew that this gentleman
had taken State rights views upon the
questions which agitated the country just
previous to the breaking out Of the late
civil wal; but when Fort Sumter was
fred upon Cushing made patriotic
speech, offering his services in a military
capacity to assist in putting down the re-
bellon. Other gentlemen had like Cush-
ing, declared their opinion that the gov
ernment had no right to coerce State,
but when hostilities resulted they were
actively on The side of the Union, but
now that this letter to jeff Davis has
come TO light, stating so broadly disun
ion views, the President, notwithstanding
his appreciation Of Cushings legal at,
tainments, resolved to withdraw his name,
app, ehensive that his opinions as ex.
pressed in the past, might injuriously af
feet the designs Of the Supreme Court in
the event of his confirmation as Chief
Justice
The President called an extra Cabinet
meeting to- day; which continued nearly
two hours, during which the subject Of
Chief Justice was considered. A short
time before the Presidents private Secre-
tary started for the capitol, long letter
from Cushing, through Gen. Butler, was
received by the President, in which the
writer thanks the President for his kind
ness and partiality in nominating him for
the great office. And as ifin contradc-
ton Of the numerous charges against
him from newspapers and other sources,
expresses his conviction on the propriety
of several Of the amendments to the con
sttution since the late civil war, and, in
conclusion, asks that his nomination be
withdrawn from the Senate The Prtsi-
dent detained the private Secretary, and
added to the message a with travail post
script, stating that since the message
was, yesterday, written, lie had received
a letter from Cushing, a copy Of which he
inooscd, declining it, and as an act Of
justice to lay the same before the Senate.
As soon as the postscript was written,
the private Secretary left the Executive
mansion, for the purpose OF delivering
the message to the Senate The message
is accompanied 10y Cushing's letter to
Davis, as grounds on which the nomna-
ton WAS withdrawn, also the letter Of
Gushing TO the President, of which ref
ence is above made The original letter
of Gushing to Davis is in possession of
the War department Senator Sargent
has copy Of it, which he procured by
virtue OF his senatorial privilege, and
which was exhibited by him to the eau
Gus.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is.
TIE CHIEF -JUsrICEsnIP
The excitement il regard to the Chief
Justiceship does not run as high to. day
as it has done, and about the only qucs
ton now is whether or not the President
will roeedc from his present attitude AMI
ask Morton TO name some man whom the
Senate will confirm At all events the
grim lndianan is master of the situation
now and those who know him know how
difficult is is to dislodge him from a
vantage ground once gained. Ifany body
has the remotest idea where the execu-
tive lightning will strike next he is better
posted than the representative Of the Re.
publican.
MORTON AND GRANT.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.
There seems to be no new feature Of
startling interest in the situation here to.
day-nothing indicating an immediate
widening Of the breach between the Pres
ident and Senator Morton, nor any pros
pect that it will be healed. The Pres
dents strategy in this case will be a rep
ctition Of his military management in the
Wilderness. That is, he will endeavor
to turn the flank OF his enemy, after fail.
ing to dislodge him by direct assault 1t
may be implicitly depended on, however,
that both the President and the Indiana
Senator are thoroughly in earnest, and
there are few men who have SO little
nowlcdge Of the two men as TO suppose
that either will yield unless he lets go for
for an instant to get better hold There
has been no such encounter OF Titans in
our political history, as this set to be
tween these two determined men. What
has already transpircd will form but q
very tame preface to the history of the
next three months, unless the President
shall develop submissive qualities which
no one has ever yet ascribed to him.
Lest there may be misrepresentation, it
should be stated that the antagonism be.
tween the President and the Senator is
not ye:, at least, of a personal nature.
And it must also be said that Senator
Morton does not admit that there is any
breach at all But this is Of no conse-
quence, because it is his policy, for oh.
vious reasons, to dtsclaim any antagon-
ism on his part in order to throw the
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