National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-14
MR. CNSHTNG.

III
shed at the. developments made by the
snemies of Mr.. Gushing. The most drastic
crutiny of his past record finally produced
/, private letter, written for the purpose of
,erving the interests of personal friend,
The criminality of which, if there be any
crime attached to 1t, is to be found in the
hct that it was addressed to JEFF Davis, at
Montgomery, Ala, when that individual
vas about to begin his career of treason as
he President of the Southern Confederacy.
The date of the letter was in March, 1851,
Sefore any overt act of treason had been COM
nitted against the Government. Itrequires
but slight knowledge ofaffairs as they existed
1t that time to find much to excuse the act.
There are many men now in power as lead
,rs of the Republican party who did more
ihan this, and who subsequently, when the
ssue of war was forced upon the country
~ the insult to the flag. followed MI. Cush-
ng's example and offered their services in
oval support of the Government 1t was
It this time that even Mr.. Lincoln hesitated
bout reinforcing Major Anderson at Fort
Sumter; that Horace Greeley, through the
New York Tribune, shouted 'Let our way
ward sisters depart in peace - that Gen.
5cott thought that the inevitable result of
die situation would be q division Of the
country into three parts and that Stephen
4. Douglas doubted the policy Of using
he coercive authority of the General
Government to overcome the threat
med rebellion of the South. The
people were excited, the public mind was
unsettled, and not one man in thousand
believed that war would follow. Mr.. Cush-
ng had but recently passed through most
rying political ordeal, when as the pre-
siding officer of one of the most remarkable
political conventions ever held in this coun-
ry, he had been called upon to sever many
I'D and valued friendships. The tenets Of
ais previous political belief had been based
lpon theories as old as the Government it.
,elf, and had been shared by two-thirds Of
he men who lead the Republican party to-
lay. 1t required the rude shock, Of the
vet of firing upon the flag to awaken
aim, as it did others. to q due
appreciation of the peril of the nation. The
,eaceable separation taught by such earnest
lbolitionists as Horace Greeley in Novem-
Der, 1860, was accepted as among the prob
abilities of the time. But, as we have said,
when the stern alarm came, Mr.. Gushing
lid not falter. The sophistries and decep-
ions which had previously disguised the
of the rebel leaders were ex-
posed. The country was amazed at their
ludacity, and recovering from its amaze,
nent rushed to the contest, during the
progress of which Mr.. Gushing was emo
Dled, like many men of lesser light, TO
Ihow his patriotic devotion to, the country
with the most sturdy integrity.
We claim, for these reasons, that we can
not consistently retract one word we have
aid in commentator of his nomination.
If the contents of the letter had been known
to us weeks or months ago, it would not
have Influenced us against him. He sppears
70 us to-day as he did yesterday, as pre-
man to be trusted in the high
est and most responsible position. In these
lays of fraternity and good feeting, when
we have granted unqualified amnesty to
bloody handed rebels, and when we have
exalted even the Vice President of the Con-
sedcracy to envied prominence, We cannot
lfford to remember such trifie against such
l man as Mr.. Gushing. 1t is impossible at
Ibis time to give the full text of the letter
referred TO; but that it really Was .
rifle compared with the acts of other men,
and which has been exaggerated into IN
warranted significance, we do not hesitate
70 assert. The personal friend in whose
service it was written was native of the
South, and was returning to that section
under conscientious conviction, no doubt
that duty called him thither. 1t was nat
ural act to write such letter, and kindly
one. Not one of the many thousands of
people who may impulsively condemn it
this morning would have refused to serve o
friend under similar circumstances. Con-
and politicians of every grade, pri-
vate citizens. and, in short people Of every
kind, were separating from each other at
that time with mutual regrets or with mu-
;ual recriminations. When the act is
analysed, not in the light of partisan zeal
Or under the promptings of personal in
crest. itappears to have been q passing
courtesy, the omission of which would have
been inexcusable. Surely if no greater
rhine than this casual deed of friendship
an be laid at his door, Mr.. Cushing's pun
shment should be light. indeed.