National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-15

streets, AZ wnlcn place All persons nSVanG ouSs'
ness relations with the paper will call. Due
notice viii be given of the removal OF the
business department to the new REPUBLICAN
building.
THE CHRONICLE FORGERY
cd, In other columns THE nnrninG we give
"the startling letter" published in the
Chronicle of yesterday. purporting TO be
signed by Caleb Gushing, and recommend
ing to Jefferson Davis one Archibald Roanc,
can efficient officer, having had seven years
experience in the ordnance department at
Washington" In the same connection we
print the genuine letter of Mr.. Gushing to
Mr.. Davis, dated March 20, 1861, intro
ducing to Mr.. Davis Mr.. Archibald Roane,
for 'six or seven years clerk in the At
torney Generals Office" who desired a
letter of introduction to Mr.. Davis, not in
the view of political favors, but for the pur-
pose Of personal intercourse with Mr.. Davis.
Any intelligent reader, at q glance, will
note the difference between the genuine and
the forged letter, and will detect at once
the character and motive of the forgery,
which is as base and wicked as any libel
ever perpetrated by the most reckless enemy
against any political opponent. q.
So far as the genuine letter admits the
overthrow of the American Union, as il ap-
peared to the writer in March, 1851, it was
q fair subject of criticism and for explana-
ton, and might properly be adduced as an
objection to the confirmation of Mr.. Cush-
ing as Chief Justice. The answer Of it is
that it was written before the fall of Sum-
ter, prior to which time the leading Demo
Gratis of the country, and many Republicans,
were in favor of exhausting all possible
means of conciliating and reconciling the
South to remain in the Union. The num-
Der of those who, up to the 18th of April,
1861, advocated large. if not degrading. con-
cessions to the South as means Of prevent
ing civil war, but who, after the commence
ment of hostilities, were outspoken, I'M
swerving and patriotic laborers and fighters
On the Union side, is too great for enume-
ration. But when the rebels inaugurated
civil war by firing on Sumter Mr.. Cush
ing, with hundreds of other Democrats and
conservative citizens, rallied at once to the
defence Of the Union. and now are to be
tested only by their conduct since the war
commenced. Since 1851: Mr.. Gushing, by
three Presidential votes, for Mr.. Lincoln
and for General Grant, and by his political
affiliations, associations and acts, has iden-
tilted himself unmistakably with the radical
Republican party, and is no more to be
condemned for his record anterior to April,
1851, than is Senator Morton or Senator Lo-
gan
His letter to the President requesting the
withdrawal of his name as Chief Justice
shows in plain and truthful language how
utterly and wickedly false are the charges
of disloyalty which have been 50 lavishly
heaped upon him during the last week.
: 2. But the question with which we have
now to deal is, not whether Mr.. Cushing's
genuine letter could properly be used as an
argument against his confirmation, but
whether the Chronicle newspaper was justi-
fed, in the course of its reckless crusade
against Mr.. Gushing. in committing bold,
palpable forgery foT the purpose of making
Mr.. Cushing's letter appear to be the intro
duc.ion to Mr.. Davis of military officer
qualified to fight for the Confederacy against
the Union cause in the approaching conflict.
Mr. Gushing, in fact, introduced harmless
clerk, Mr.. Roane, in the Attorney Generals
Office, who desired, not patronage and en-
ployment, but the pleasure Of Mr.. Davis
acquaintance; not an army officer. nor
fighting man, but 'tripe and accomplished
scholar, with predominant literary tastes
and habits; man of modest contentment
in his lot having more than once declined
Offices of conspicuous employment in the
public service" The forged letter Of Mr..
Harlan and Mr.. Corkhill makes Mr.. Roane
an efficient officer" of 'tseven years' ex-
perience in the ordnance department, who
will be of special service" to Mr.. Davis.
The anlmus Of the forgery is apparent.
As a simple letter of introduction to Mr..
Davis of a clerk in the Attorney Generals
Office, Mr.. Cushings letter was simply in
discreet 1t was necessary for the purposes
of the Chronicle to makeit something worse,
and therefore its publishers have forged
Mr. Cushing's signature to document
which sends to Mr.. Davis can efficient
officer in the ordnance department." to be
of Especial service to the Confederacy in
the coming warm other words p treason
able letter, which was forged and published
in the Chronicle yesterday, and Immediately
sent by telegraph throughout the country.
We cannot find language to characterize
the dastardly wickedness of this inexcus-
able forgery. The New York Sun was
capable of such forgery for the purpose Of
attacking General Grants administration,
but that Mr.. Harlan, lately minister of the
Gospel and United States Senator, only re-
Gently called upon to defend himself from
the charge Of having received bride from
the Union Pacific railroad Of 80 600, snd
Mr. Corkhin, who is presumed TO be re-,
spectacle, intelligent and truthful because
he is the son-in-law of Mr.. Associate Justice
Miller, should have resorted to this attack
upon the loyalty Of Mr.. Cushing. seems in
credible Did Mr. Harlan write the forged
lctterf Did Mr.. Corkhill write the forged
letter: Who authorized or inspired 1T
We await an answer.