Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-01-21
Mr. Cushing and the Chief
JgSticesd:p.

SeStAISsAsPs
The chair of the Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court of the United States
yet remains vacant. Hon. Caleb cush- |
ing came near the honored place. At
the eler, nth hour the question Of his
attachment TO the National cause, when
the Southern Confederacy was organ
lied was raised. An investigation was
instituted, which revealed a paper or
letter written by Mr.. ushIng to JET
ferson Davis just after his election as
chef ofiicer of the Co.federacy. Tie
letter recommended man, who, because
of bis rebel proeiivities, resigned po-
sition be held under the National Gov
ernment to join the fortunes Of the
South, as one worthy OF a place in Mr..
Davis's government. This is the letter
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1861.
DEAR SIR Mr. Archibald Roaue, for
the last Sax or seven years a clerk in
the Attorney General. office, desires
from ME letter of introduction to you.
and he desires it not in view of sntici-
patI4g administrative fayors, bu; that
he NAV have the honor of your person
al Intercourse. Of this | take pleasure
in assuring you he is emineutly worthy
\ Southern man by birth, fanlii,, and
affection, he has carefully snd ably DIS
cussed IN Mr.. Debow's ReUlew and
other Southern works the lame ntabie
events which have been gradually un-
oernining and have at length over
thrown the American Union. Whilst
a practical man, he is also a ripe and
accomplished scholsr, with, indeed, pre-
dominant literary tastes and habits. In
the discharge OF bis cfii:ial duties he
has combined in a singular degree the
rurest integrity and most enlightened
intelligence with modest contentment
in bis lot, having more than once de-
cimed Offices Of more couspicuOu. en-
p!oyment in the public service. lie
now resigns his present Office from sen
;imen,s of devotion TO that which a.one
he can feel to be his country, namely,
the Confederate States, from one of
which (Texas) he was appointed.
most heartily commend him as
gentleman and man to your confidence
and esteem, and | am, with the highest
consideration, your obedient servant,
&. CUSHING.
HoN. JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President of the Confederate States.
The letter was clear enough to Indi-
cate the indefinite position Mr.. Cushing
occupied 1t gave him a foothold in
the Confcderacy without endangering
his standing in the old government
Whichever won he was secure in. IN
common language, he was on the fence,
ready to get down on either side. Mr..
Davis had the letter filed in the ar
chives of the Rebel government, and If
his efforts to break rp the old govern
ment lad been successful, doubtless
Mr.. Gushing would have become star
of the first magnitude in its armament.
The fa;es, however, deereed otherwise,
and when the aforesaid archives be-
came the property of the United States
Government, the letter was found, but
was not revealed to the public until Mr..
Gushing came under nomination of
President Grant before tue Senate for
confirmation for Chief Justice. Its
publicity could only point ou; one rule
Of action for the Senate, namely, that
of rejection ef the nominee. The plea
santer course was, however, pursued,
aud Mr. Cushing's name was Withdrawn
by tho President, who had not been IN
formed, previous to the nomination, of
the existence of the letter indicating
DIR. Cushing's Indefinite position on
national affairs
The Republican party and the people
of the United States do not desire TO
have : partisan occupy the seat Of hief
Justice of the Republic. They are
clear and definite on that point. They
are also clear and definite in their de-
sire that the man for that position shal!
be one who is Enthusiastically committed
to the system of Northern civilization
as distinguished from that of Southern
civilization.