Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-16
MR.. CUSHINTS WITHDRA WAL.

MI. ICOAiNu WI hAAA n<AI'
The withdrawal by the President of the
nomination of Caleb Gushing for Chief
Justice was step necessary after the de-
velopments made at the senatorial caucus
to consider it. II was useless for his
friends to contend against the facts thus
presented. His learning and ability
weighed nothing in the scale when it was
found that he was disloyal in the rebel
lion.
The evidence presented showed that he
was on terms of intimacy with JEFF Davis
after the latter was elected President Of
the Southern Confederacy, that he adj
dressed him by the latter title in letter
written March 81, 1861, in which he rec
commended to Davis friend Of his who
left clerkship at Washington on account
Of his southern opinions, and also spoke
of the Union as being broken up. This
letter was written ii is true before hostili-
ties commenced, but the Confederacy was
organized, Davis was President, and the
letter was in perfect sympathy with the
rebel cause. In addition to this proof Of
Cushing's sentiments before the war, an
other letter written in 1862 was read at
the caucus, by which it appeared that his
opinions were the same then as before the
war commenced, and bitterly opposed to
the course of the government Senators
Sumner, Boutwell, and Conkling men,
toned some facts which led them to be-
lieve that he was not disloyal, among
which was the fact of speech made in
Newburyport in 1861, also the knowledge
they had of him in their intercourse. But
the letter to Davis in 1861, and to Marcy
of New Hampshire in 1862, were witnesses
SO powerful against him that no defence
could be made.
When President Grant nominated Mr..
Gushing for Chief Justice, he of course
knew nothing ofthe letters since produced,
but believed that like good many other
democrats who opposed the republican
party until the war actually began, Mr..
Cushing had given his support to the gov
eminent when war was inaugurated, and
Is now in full accord with the republican
party, in relation to the reconstruction
measures, the amendments to the eonsti-
tuition, and all other measures growing
out of the war. This was the opinion Of
the Massachusetts senators and other re-
publican senators who supported Mr..
Cushing. There is abundant proof that
men who were democrats before the war,
were trusted and firm supporters Of the
government after the rebellion began,
men like Grant, Stanton, Dix, Holt, and
with such as these no doubt Cushing's
supporters classed him. But it is now
evident that Gushing is not entitled TO be
ranked in such company. The man who
could write to jefferson Davis less than
one month before Sumpter was fred upon
n friendly letter, and speak of the Union
as destroyed, manifested too close an ALI
ance with the enemies of the government
to be considered loyal at that time; and
his letter Of 1862 confirms the opinion that
his sentiments had undergone no change
then. Had he pursued decided, unwav-
ering, consistent course. AS Stanton did,
in defence ofthe government, there would
not have been question raised as to his
soundness and therefore lis fitness to fill
the position of Chief Justice And beside
showing what Mr.. Gushing was in rcla-
ton to the rebellion, the developments
hare also gone to prove that there is an
unsoundness in his character which dis
qualities him for the chief of the Judiciary
To have been on intimate, confidential
terms with traitors, while pretending to
be In harmony with the loyal men of the
country, is not state of things consistent
with high and honorable character, Snch