Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-21

Brownlow that he thought Senators
| from the South ought to be willing to ac-
| cept Cushing upon the endorsement of
Sumner and himself. When the caucus
assembled after the evening adjournment
Of the Senate, the friends of Mr.. Cushing
opened the subject by earnest appeals in
his behalf Senator Boutwell, urged the
confirmation of the nominee. upon the
grounds of his fitness for the place and his
devotion to the great principles sealed by
the overthrow of the rebellion. Senator
Conkling followed in the same view. AZ
ter these champions had finished, Senator
Sargent, of California, arose with the air
of man who had serious duty to per-
form.
THE REsURRECTED LETTER.
He said that he had from the begin
ming opposed Cushing's confirmation, be-
cause he doubted his fitness for the place,
but that to-day he had succeeded in UNI
earthing evidence, which proved him not
only UNIT for the reasons generally stated
in the press, but for the more important
reason that he had been reasonably dis
posed to his Government. He then pro-
duced and read letter written by Mr..
Gushing, March Goth, 1861, to Jefferson
Davis, completing the final conspiracy at
Montgomery to overthrow the Govern
ment' The letter introduced young man
named Roane, who had been a clerk in one
of the Governmental Departments in this
city, and also a private secretary of Mr..
Cushing's. The letter in substance stated
to Mr.. Davis, that the young man had
concluded to "ioin his own people''-he
was native of North Carolina-"for lie
knows, as yOu and IknoW Mr.. Davis that
the Union of the States is severed and the
Government destroyed" 1t was for let.
ter very similar to this, that Jesse d.
Bright, of Indiana was expelled from the
Senate in 1851. He had introduced to jeff.
Davis a man who had improved fire arms
to sell. The Cushing letter was found
among the archives of of the Confederacy
bought in the spring of 1872, for $4,000.
An anonymous letter was sent to Mr. Sar-
gent this morning, telling him that such
letter could be found among those archives.
He went this morning and secured it.
HOW THE READING WAS RECEIVED.
It's reading fell like thunder clap the
Senators. For a moment, the astonishment
was so great as to prevent word from be-
ing spoken. Then Senator Boutwell, said
he was free to confess that he had not un~
derstood Mr.. Cushing's record and of
course had never known of any such
correspondence with Jefferson Davis.
Senator Lewis, of Virginia, on the
suggestion of Senator .Brownlow,
who was about the first Senator to oppose
the nomination, then said that before the
Senate could confirm the nomination it
would have to remove his political disa-
bilities, for after writing such letter he
could never take the test oath. This thrust
was received with loud laughter. Senator
Carpenter violently denounced the letter
and its author. Senator Cameron, who
had been for confirmation, came out open
ly against it. The caucus informally re-
solved itself into groups to discuss the
letter. Astonishment was so great that
hot 70
was finally agreed that the Judiciary Com
mittee should wait upon the President and
submit the letter to him for his considera-
ton. They have done so, and the nomi-
nation will doubtless be withdra wn before
this reaches your readers.
REPRESENTATIVES, AsToNIsHED.
The news is not yet generally known,
even 10 members of the House, but among
those who have heard it, it is the subject
of establishment, and generally of salts
faction, that the old trimmer has at last
been caught. 1t is thought fortunate
thing that the letter has been unearthed,
| as it removes all difficulty from the Presi-
dents way of withdrawing the nomina-
| ton, and IL secures the country from a
| great danger. The result is fearful blow
| upon Ben Butter. He has rather been
willing to assume the imputed response
bility of the nomination. Ilearn tonight
|
IDENTIFY told his friends that Cushing was
to be the Chief Justice. England had
promoted her Chief Counsel before the
Geneva Tribunal TO be Lord Chancellor,
| and it was suggested to the President that
1t would be proper thing for him to hon.
rim the same.way his leading Counsel.
But when the nomination was brought
before the Cabinet, such strong objections
were urged that he relinquished his plan
Williams was then nominated. Cushing's
| second nomination was made because, in
his legal ability the President saw the
chief objection to Williams would be met
BLOw TO TUTLER.
But Butler has rather ehamploned thii
nomination, and the inglorious end of i
will prove a blow TO him. The same, in
qualified degree, is true of Senator Conk
ling.
The names now mentioned in connec
! ton with the Office are mostly WesterI
r men, but who will succeed him is not n~p
{ known. a. ). X.
MEMPHIS ALDERMEN ON THEIR MUSCLE
5 A General KNOCK down aud Drag-Out Pre-