Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-15

plause especially that portion declaring
THAT the industrial interests of all sections
were so closely connected that no one could
suffer without the others. A Committee
on Credentials was appointed, Col. b. w.
Feroble, of Georgia, Chairman. The Con-
vention adjourned till two p. ii. Col.
Lewis 3. Thomas, of Iowa, is here. The
States are generally represented. Many
members of Congress are delegates, among
them Senator Sherman, Representatives
Poland, White, of Ala, and others. These
delegates have credentials from the Cover
nors of their respective States.
A Divided Committee.
The House Committee on Elections will
make three reports on the Western II
ginia contested election cases, none of which
will be signed by majority of members.
Five members sustain the legality OF the
October election, two the August election
and three hold that neither election was
valid. The remaining three members of
the committee entertain views differing
from the others.
Outstanding legal tenders are 1881, 49,
600.
Cushing TO the President.
The following is the letter of Caleb CuSh-
ing to the President;
Si--Animated by a sense of profound
gratitude for the honor you have done me
in nominating fer the high office of Chief
Justice of the United States, and perceiying
that a continuance of my name before the
Senate may be the cause or occasion Of in
convenience to yourself and to your politi
cal friends, therefore respectfully request
you 10 withdraw the nomination, and per-
NIT me add that the charges of disloyalty
to the Union and constitution which have
been brought against me in this
connection are utterly destitute of
| foundation in truth or fact. l
Indignantly repel the imputation. In all
the time anterior to the commencement Of
| hostilities in the Southern States, every act
of my political life in whatever relation OF
parties, was governed by single dominant
purpose of aiming to preserve the threat
| ened integrity Of the Union, and avert
| from my country the calamity of its dis
| ruption and consequent fratricidal carnage.
How could such purpose be promoted
otherwise than by political association or
personal intercourse with citizens OF differ
| States, including States profeSsedly dlsaf-
| fected to the Union? Should the only pos
sible means of laboring to prevent civil
war be stigmatiSed as diSloyalty to the
| Constitution? But Immediately on the
occurrence of the first act of hostility to
| the Union being struck in the State OF
South Carolina, took my stand with the
| Union and its Government. lpublicly an
| nounced nv adhesion to them in most I'M
equivocal term. rendered my services to
| the Government IN the field or In any 9th
er, wayi which might testify my fidelity to
| IT. and have continued from that day to
| this, as well in official as unofficial
station, to tread in the path Of
answering devotion to the Union,
whether during the actual progress Of hos
! tilities against il or in subsequent events.
| Its reconstruction and successive amend
ments of the Constitution were rendered
necessary by the changed condition and re-
lations of the States of the United States,
and of their respective inhabitants. Re-
| cent amendments of the Constitution, each
and all of them, as they were in turn
| adopted. and legislative acts for their en-
forcement and for accomplishing recon-
struction, had tmy cooperation and adhe-
sion, and l have supported them constantly,
if not in political debate, for which my
comparatively reserved habits Of life afford
ed neither occasion nor opportunity, yet IN
legal opinion or IN courts, or in council or
discussion with officers of the government,
members of Congress and private persons.
| entertain the same general respecs for
these amendments as for other pro-
visions of the Constitution, and also
rendering special observance due TO them
as Just and necessary incidents of recon-
| structiOn of the Union. While my nominal
ton was undergoing consideration in the
Senate il would have been UnbecOming for
me TO speak in explanation of my acts OF
nv opinions. but now, with relative IN
difference to whatever else may have been
said, either honestly or maliciously TO my
prejudice, it belongs to my sense of public
duty, ard it is my right to reatiirm and de-
clare that have never in the long course
of not inactive life, done an act, uttered {
word or conceived a thought of dislOyalty
to the constitution or Union. / have the
honor 10 be, very respectfully,
G. CUSHING.
| The President in his message to the Sen
ate transmitting the above letter, says the
nomination of ilr. Gushing was made with
out the latter's knowledge.
Cushing TO JeG, Davis,
The following is a copy of Caleb Cush
ing's letter to Jefferson Davis:
| Washington, March 20, 1S61.-Dear sir
Mr.. archibald Boone, for the last six o.
seven years a clerk in the AttOrney-Gen
erals office, desires from me letter of in
PRODUCTION to YOU, and he desires it not il
view of anticipating administrative favors
but that he may have the honor of you
personal intercourse. OF this l taxi
pleasure in assuring you, he L
eminently worthy, q Southern man by
birth, family and affection. He has care
fully studied and ably discussed in Mr.
DebOw'S RerielC and other southern works
the lamentable events which have beer
gradually undermining and have at length
Overthrown the American Union. Wills
a practical man he is also a ripe and &C
compliShed scholar, with indee,
predominant literary tastes ant
habits. In the discharge of his Officia
duties he has combined to a singular degre
the pureSt integrity ard most enlightened
intelligence with modest cOntentment il
his LOT, having more than once declines
offers of more conspicuous employment il
the public services. He now resigns hi
present Office from sentiments to tina
F which alone he can feel to b
: his country, namely, the COnfederat
States, from one of which (TeXas) he wa
appointed. l most heartily commend hin
as a gentleman and man to your conf
dence and esteem, and / am with highes
consideration your obedient servant,
G. CUSHING.
Hon. Jefferson Davis, Pres't Confederat
, States.
T0IISIANl