Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-15
ISG'S NOMINATION.
The Onictal Correspondence I'm the
Case,


| The Onictal Correspondence I'm the
| Case.
| As stated in yesterdays STAR the President
| yesterday sent a message to the Senate with
drawing the nomination OF Hon. Caleb Cush-
| ing TO be Chief Justice.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
was couched in these words:
"Since nominating the Hon. Caleb CUSHING
f0r Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the
United States information has reached me
which ind uces me To withdraw him from no mi.
naiiUn rs the highest judicial officer OF the Coy
eminent, and do, therefore, hereby Withdraw
he said nomination.
Appended TO the above message was the fol-
lowing:
AFTER signing the above withdrawal | have
received from the Hon. Caleb Gushing whose
nomination Il Is proper to say was made with
out his knowledge, n letter requesting the with
drawal OF his name, copy of which is here
with attached"
The following is
MR.. CUsHING's LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
To the President:
Sir: Animated by thesense of profound graft
tude for the honor you have done me in nomi-
mating me, without previous knowledge on NV
part, TO the high office of Chief ustice of the
Supreme Court of the United States, and per
ceiviDg that the continuance of my name before
the Senate may be the cause or occasion of IN
convenience TO yourself and yeur political
friends there, respectfully request you to with
draw my nomination.
Permit me to add that the charges of disloy-
atty to the Union and the Constitution, which
have been made against me in this connection
are utterly destitute of foundation in truth or in
TACT. Indignantly repel the imputation. In
all the time anterior to the commencement of
hostiliies in the southern states every act of nv
political life, in whatever relation to parties,
was governed by the single dominant purpose
of aiming to preserve the threatened integrity
of the Union, and to avert from my country the
calamity of its disruption and consequent fratri-
cidal carnage. How could such purpose be
promoted otherwise than by political association
or personal Intercourse with ctiZ of different
states, including even those of states professedly
disatfected to the Union? Should the ONLY
possible means OF laboring to prevent civil war
he stgmatzed as dislOyalty TO the Constitu-
ton? But Immediately on 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; | publicly
announced my adhesion to them in the most
unequivocal terms; / repeatedly rendered my
services to the government in the field or in any
other way which might testify my fidelity 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 hostili-
tes against 1t or IN the subsequent events OF its
Reconstruction, and OF the succsssiv We amend
ments OF the constitution rendered necessary by
the changed conditions and relations of the
several states of the United States and of their
respective Inhabitants. The recent amendments
of the constitution, each and all OF them as
they were in turn adopted, and the legislative
acts Tor their enforcement and for accomplish
ing reconstruction, had my cooperation aud ad-
heslon. have supported them c1nstantly-if
not in political debate, tor which my compare
lively reserved habits OF life afforded neither
occasion nor Opportunity, yet In legal opinions
or IN the courts, and in counsel or discussion
with officers of the government, members of
Congress, and private persons, entertained the
samedsenera respect tor these amend ments as
for other provisions OF the constitution and also
rendered the special observance due to them as
the Just and necessary incidents of the recnn
struction of the Union.
While my nomination was undergoing con-
SHERATON before the Senate it would have been
unbecoming for me to speak in explanation of
my acts or opinions; but now, with relative in
difference to whatever else may have been SAID
either honestly or malicIOusly, to my preiudice
political convictions, and It is INV right, to re
AfhIm and declare that have never, in the long
ourse OF not inactive life, done an act, ut
tered word, or conceived a thought of disIov-
atty TO the constitution or the uniol.
have the honor to be, very respectfully.
&. CUSHING.
Washington, January II, 1874.
Late yesterday the injunction of secrecy was
removed by the Senate, and the above CORES
poDdence given to the press.
THE CUSHING DAVIS LETTER.
The following is an exact copy OF the letter
written by Gen. Cushing to Jefferson Davis In
1861. This letter was found by clerk among
the rebel archives at the War department, and
Immediately taken to the Secretary of WAR
who laid 1t before the President. As has ZEN
already stated, it was read by Senator Sargent
in executive session, who declares that the first
Information he had of its existence was COM
municated in an anonymous note 1t will be
observed that it differs materially from the let
ter purrortiDg to be a copy Of the Cushing
Davis letter printed yesterday:
WASHINGTON, March 20, 1861.
DEAR SIR Mr.. Archibald Roane, for the
last Blk or seven years a clerk in the Attorney
Heneral's Office, desires from me a letter Of in
PRODUCTION to you; and he desires it not in the
view of anticipating administration favors but
that he may have the honor of your personal in
teTc0urse. or this, take pleasure In assuring
you, ne is eminently worthy. A Southern man
by birth, family and affection, he has carefully
studied, and ably discussed in Mr.. DeBow's
Review" and other Southern works, the la
mentable events which have been gradually I'M
uermining, and have at length overthrow the
American Union. Whilst a practical m an he
ls also ripe and accom- plished scholar, with
indt ed, predominant literary tastes and habits
In the discharge OF his official duties he has COM
oined In q singular degree the purest integrity
and most enlightened Intelligence with modest
contentment in his lot, having more than once
declined offers of more conspicuous em ployment
In the public service. He now resigns his pres.
ent office from sentiments of devotion to that
which alone he can feel to be his country
namely the Confederate. States, from one o.
whlch tfexas) he was appointed. l most heart
lily commend him as gentleman ana a mantJ
your confidence and esteem. And am, with |
the highest consideration, your ebedient ser
want, C. CusHfNa
Hon. J.6erson Dacts, President Of the Confederate
States.