The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-16
cush,ng,s Letter to the President.

The following is the letter of Caleb Cush
ing to Grant, inrelation to the objections
to him for Chief Justice:
SIR Animated by a sense of profound
gratitude for the honor you have done me
in nominating me to the high office of Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States, and perceiving that cOntinu-
ance of my name before the Senate may
be cause or occasion of inconvenience to
yourself or your political friends there, |
respectfully request you to withdraw the
nomination. Permit me to add that the
charges OF disloyalty to the Union aud Con-
stitution which have been brought against
me in this connection are utterly destitute
of foundation in truth or fact. | indig-
nantly repel the imputatiOn. All the time
anterior to the commencement of hostili-
ties in the Southern States every act of
my political life in whatever relation OF
parties, was governed by the single domi-
nant purpose of aiming to preserve the
threatened integrity of the Union, and to
avert from my country the calamity of its
disruption, and of consequent fratricidal
carnage. How could such q purpose be
promoted otherwise than by political assO-
citation or personal intercourse with citizens
of different States, including those of the
States professedly disaffected to the Union?
Should the only possible means of laboring
to prevent civil war be stigmatized as dis
loyal to the Constitution But, immediate
" on the occurrence Of the first act of hos
tility to the Union in the State of South
Carolina, | toek my stand with the Union
and its Government; l have publicly an
nounced my adhesion to them in the most
unequivocal terms | rendered my SER
vices to the Government in the field, or in
any other way which might testify my Fl
deity to it,and have continued from that
day to this, as well in official as unofficial
action, to tread in the path of unswerving
devotion to the Union, whether during the
actual progress of hostilities against it or
in the subsequent events of its recOnstruc-
ton and successive amendments of Consti-
tuition, rendered necessary by the changed
conditions and relations of the several
States of the United States and of their
respective inhabitants. The recent amend
ments of the Constitution, each and all OF
them as they were in turn adopted, and the
legislative acts for their enforcement and
for the accomplishing of reconstruction, haG
my cooperation and adhesion, and | have
supported them constantly, if not in pOlit
lCdl AOi my comparatively
served habits of life afforded neither occa
sion nor opportunity, yet in legal opinion O.
in the courts, and in counsel, or in discus
sion with the officers of the Government
members of Congress and private persons
entertaining the same general respect 70
those amendments as for the provisions G
the Constitution; and also rendering spec
ial observance due to them rs just and nee
essary incidents Of the reconstruction
the Union. While my nomination was I'll
dergoing consideration in the Senate,
would have been unbecoming for me
speak in explanation of my acts or III
opinions, but now, with relative indifference
to whatever else may have been said, eitl
or honestly or maliciously, to my prelude
it belongs to my sense of public duty, al
it is my right to reaf6rm and declare tn
have never in the long course of not i
active life, done an act, uttered word,
conceived a thought of disloyalty to Il
Constitution or Union.
! have the honor to be very respectful
Signed G. CUSHING.
WASHINGTON, Jan, IA, 1874.