The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-23
The Defeat of Cushing.

been sent TO the Senate, a strong op-
position to him in many influential
circles, which arose from belief
that, inasmuch as he had been wa
vering and unfaithful as politician,
he might prove to be unreliable as
Chief Justice. But-more than
ANYTHING else-that which sealed his
doom, was the unearthing, from the
rebel archives, of letter which he
had written to JEFF. Davis, recon-
mending young man as tit per-
son for position under the Confed
crate Government. We gi"e be-
low the particulars Of the with
drawal of his name-including the
action of the Senate caucus before
the Presidents intention of with
drawing Cushing's name was made
known, and Cushing's letter to
Grant, and also his letter to JEFF.
Davis, which brought about his dis
comfture. We copy from the
Washington correspondence Of the
Cincinnati Commercial:
| WASHINGTON, January 14.-In view
of the action of the Republican Senator
| ial caucus yesterday evening, in opposi-
ton to Caleb Cushing, the President
called Cabinet meeting to-day which
met at half-past IL, all the members be-
| ing present to consider the subject of the
Chief Justice.
| Mr.. Cushing sent letter to the Pres
| dent asking the withdrawal of his name
for Chief Justice, and the Presid ant has
acted accordingly.
| The following is the message with
drawing the nomination of Gushing:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 14,'74
''To the Senate of the United States:
| "Since the nomination of Caleb Cush-
| ing to be Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States, information
has reached me which induces me to
withdraw his nomination for the high
est judicial Office in the Government.
| "U. S. GRANT"
THE CAUCUS THAT SLAUGHTERED CUSH-
| ING.
The following particulars in regard TO
| the Republican caucus, yesterday, have
| been ascertained: The last forty or fifty
minutes of the morning caucus were al
most wholly occupied by Mr.. Sargent in
detailed review of Mr.. Cushing's pub
| lie life from the time of President Ty-
Ter down to the present day, which he
severely criticised, arguing that confirm
alton ought not to be thought of for
moment. Calls were then made for
vote, but Mr.. Boutwell, expressed de-
sire to reply, and and the caucus accord
ingly adjourned to give him and other
friends of Mr. Gushing such opportunity.
| Between II and l o'clock Mr.. Sargent
received an intimation from an undis-
puted source that letter damaging to
Mr. Gushing had been discovered in the
rebel archives, and leaving the Senate
| Chamber, he went at once to the War
Department to obtain it, if possible. He
was informed by Adjutant General
| Townsend that an order from the Secre-
| tary of War would be necessary to au-
thorize the furnishing of the desired
copy, and Mr. Sargent proceeded 10 the
Executive Mansion, where Secretary
| Belknap was attending a meeting ,if the
Cabinet, and, with the President, at the
time, consulting the very document in
question.
| General Belknap made Mr.. Sargents
request known to the President, Who at
once said it should be complied with, as
the newly discovered letter was one
which it eminently befitted the s. nate to
have and take into consideration. A
certified copy having been handed 10 Mr..
Sargent, he returned to the Capitol in
| time for the afternoon caucus.
Mr.. Boutwell, took the floor, accord
ing to agreement, as soon as the caucus
was called to order, and made speech
of some length in favor of Cushing. and
was followed by other friends of Cush-
| ing. Mr.. Sargent reserved the import
ant letter with view to allow every
| thing to be said in support of CuShing's
confirmation that could be said by any
one present, before putting an end to the
discussion by producing the document.
Finally he obtained the floor and read
and commented upon the letter, being
listened to with the closest attention.
| The result upon the caucus has been al
ready described.
When the President read the le't ter of
| Cushing to JEFF. Davis he at once con-
cluded to withdraw the nomination of
Gushing, and caused communication to
| be written to the Senate for this purpose.
The President, before he nominated
| Cushing, knew that this gentleman had
taken States rights views of the ques-
tions which agitated the country just
previous to the breaking out of t'.e late
civil war, but when Fort Sumpter was
fired upon Cushing made a patriotic
| speech, and offered his services in mill
itary capacity to assist in putting down
the rebellion. Other gentlemen had,
| like Gushing, declared their opinion that
the Government had no right TO coerce
State, yet when hostilities resulted they
were actively on the side of the Union;
but now that this letter to Jeffersoa Da-
Wis had come to light, stating so broadly
disunion views, the President, notwith-
standing his appreciation of Cushing's
legal attainments, resolved to withdraw
his name, apprehensive that his opinions
as expressed in the past, might injurious
ly affect decisions in the Supreme Court
| in the event of his confirmation as Chief
Justice The President called an extra
Cabinet meeting to-day, which continu
ed for nearly two hours, during which
the subject of the Chief Justiceship was
considered.
A short time before the Presidents
private secretary started for the Capitol,
long letter from Cushing. through
General Butler, was received by the
President, in which the writer thanks
the President for his kindness and inn
partiality in nominating him for the
great office; and as if in contradiction of
numerous charges against him from
newspaper and other sources, expresses
his conviction of the propriety of the
several amendments to the Constitution
added since the late civil war, and in
conclusion asks that his nomination be
Withdrawn from the Senate.
The President detained the private
secretary and added to the messag ge of
withdrawal a postscript stating that since
the message was yesterday written he
had received letter from Mr.. Cushing,
a copy of which he inclosed, deeming it
an act of justice to that gentleman to
lay the same before the Senate. A. 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 accom-
panied by Cushing's letter to Jefferson
Davis, as grounds on which the nomlna-
ton is withdrawn, and also letter of
Cushing to President Grant, to which
reference is above made. The original