The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-23
CALEB cusH1Se's LETTER TO THE PRES

IDENT.
The following is the letter of Caleb
Cushing to the President:
"SIR-Animated by a sense of pro-
found gratitude for the honor you have
done me in nominating me for the high
Office of Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States, and perceiv-
ing that the continuance of my name be-
fore the Senate may be the cause or oc-
casion of inconvenience to yourself or
your political friends there, l respect
fully request you to withdraw the NOM
ination. And permit me to 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 in fact I Indignantly repel
the imputation. In all the time anter-
ier to the commencement of hostilities
in the Southern States every act of my
political life, in whatever relation TO
parties was governed BY a 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 consequent frairi-
cidal carnage.
''How could such purpose be promo
ted otherwise than by political associa-
ton or personal intercourse with citi-
zens of the different States, including
States professedly disafected to the I'm
ion? Should the only possible means of
laborIng to prevent civil war be stigma
tIzed 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 Car
olina, took my stand with the Union
and its Government. I publicly an
nounced my adhesion to them in the
most unequivocal terms. I rendered
my services to the Government, in the
field or in any other way which might
testify my fidelity to it, and 1 have con-
tinued 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 prog
ress of hostilities against it, or in subse-
quent events-its reconstruction and the
successive amendments of the Constitu-
tion, 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 for their
enforcement and for accomplishing re-
construction had my cooperation and
adhesion, and | have supported them
constantly, if not in political debate,
for which my comparatively reserved
habits of life afforded neither occasion
nor opportunity, vet in legal opinion, or
in the Courts, or in council or discussion
with officers of the Government, mem-
bers Of Congress and private persons. l
entertain the same general respect for
these amendments as for other provis-
ions of the Constitution, and also rem
dering special observance due to them
as just and necessary incidents of the
reconstruction of the Union.
"While my nomination was undergo
ing consideration in the Senate it would
have been unbecoming for me to speak
in explanation of my acts or my opin-
ions, but now, with relative Indifference
to whatever else may have been said,
either honestly or maliciously, to my
prejudice, it belongs to my sense of pub
lie duty, and it is my right to reaffirm
and declare that 1 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 the Union. / have the honor to be,
every respectfully, &c. CUSHING"
The President, in his message to the
Senate transmitting the above letter,
says the nomination of Mr.. Cushing was
made without the latter's knowledge.
CUsHING's LETTER TO JEFF DAVIS.
The following is copy of Caleb
Cushing's letter to Jefferson Davis:
"WAsHINGToN, March 20, 1861.
"DEAR SIR-Archibald Rowan, for
the last six or seven years clerk in the
Attorney Generals Office, desires from
me letter of introduction to you, and
he desires it not in view of anticipating
administrative favors, but that he may
have the honor Of your personal inter
course. OF this 1 take pleasure in as
SURFING you he is eminently worthy. A
Southern man by birth, family and af-
fection, he has carefully studied and
ably discussed in Mr.. DeBow's Review
and other Southern works, the lamenta-
BILE events which have been gradually
undermining, and have at length over
thrown the American Union.
"While practical man, he is also a
ripe and accomplished scholar, with, in-
deed, predominant literary tastes and
habits. In the discharge of his official
duties he has combined, in singular
degree, the purest integrity and most en-
lightened Intelligence, with modest
contentment in his lot, having more than
once declined offices of more conspicu-
Gus employment in the public services.
He now resigns his present Office from
sentiments to that which alone he can
feel to be his country, namely the Con-
federate States, from one of which
(Texas) he was appointed. l most
and man 10 your confidence and es-
TEEN; and am, with highest considera-
ton. "Your ob't servant,
G. CUSHING.
"HoN. JEFFERSON DAVIS, President
Confederate States"