Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-01-21
]. H. KEYEs, Editor and Proprietor
THE NEWS.
The Chief Justiceship.

TuC VulGI y us C1C0Skup.
On January 18th a caucus of Republican
Senators was held at Washington, at which
the nomination of Caleb Cushing for Chief
Justice was discussed, and after a short de-
bate vote was taken to test the sense Of the
caucus, and only eleven votes were cast for
Cushing. Senator Sargent, of California, then
produced a letter from Cushing to JEFF Davis,
of which the following is a copy-repeated
from memory only, bnt gives the main points,
though possibly out of their order:
s'MY DEAR FRIEND This will introduce to
you my friend, Abraham Powers, who has
been clerk in one OF the departments here for
six or seven years. He leaves the service
here on account OF his opinions, and beng
southern man by birth and education, and
devoted to what he regards his country, the
COnfederacy. He has been contributor to
Debows Review. and is fully acquainted with
the questions which undermined and have
now broken up the American Union. l COM
mend him to your favorable notice as man
who is worthy of your confidence. e.
(Signedl CALEB CUSHING.
The reading produced an immense sens
ton. Those who had defended Gushing
looked blank and amazed. Lewis, OF Virginia,
cried out to learn whether the political disa-
bilities of Caleb Gushing had ever been re-
moved. The caucus was for the time broken
up, and the Senators were in confusion, talk
ing the matter over, and asking again for
points. At last order was restored, when it
was at once decided, without opposition, that
the Judiciary Committee should wait on the
President and ask him to withdraw the nomi
nation of Mr.. Cushing, on the ground of cor
respondence with the enemy during the rebel
lion. The gentleman thus commended to
Davis was clerk in the acknowledgements
Office under Caleb Cushing. With this letter
he went to Montgomery, and on the strength
of the letter he was made Chief of the Confed-
crate States Produce Bureau, and served in
that capacity in the Confederacy. Although
the Senate has confirmed Gushing as Minister
to Spain, the universal opinion is that he will
not be allowed to SAIL and that the President
will revoke his commission.
at later caucus, the matter was discussed
in all its bearings, and Senator Sargent Re-
viewed the public life of Gushing to the pres
ent time, ana said that his confirmation
ought Eot TO be thought of for moment
Mr.. Boutwell, and other friends of Cushing
urged his confirmation. The letter of Cush-
ing to Davis caused the President much I'M
easiness, and he at once concluded to with
draw the nomination, and accordingly caused
the following to be sent to the Senate, to-
gether with the letter of Cushing to Davis, as
the ground on which the nom ination is with
drawn
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January IA, 1874.
To the Senate Of the United States:
Since the nomination of Caleb Cushing, of
Virginia, to be Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court OF the United States, information has
reached me which induces me to withdraw his
nomination for the highest judicial official Of
flee in the Government. US. GRANT.
short time before the Presidents Secre-
tary started for the Capitol, the following let
ter was received by the President from Mr.
Cushing.
SIR: Animated by a sense of profound
gratitude for the honor you have done me in
nominating me to the high Office of Chief JUS
tice of the Supreme Court of the United States,
and perceiving that a continuance of my name
before the Senate may be the cause or occa-
sion of inconvenience to yourself or your
political friends there, respectfully ask you
to withdraw the nomination. Permit me to
add that the charges of disloyalty to the Union
and Constitution which have peen broueh hit
against me. in this connection are utterly des-
titute of foundation in truth or fact. in
U1SuduUly I0ptl tuc HpuUdtlOu. LII dill Tie
time anterior to the commencement ct hostlli-
ties in the Southern States every act OF my
political life in relation to parties was gov
erned by the single dominant purpose OF
aiming to preserve the threatened in
tegrity of the Union, and to avert from
my country the calamity Of its disruption
and of the consequent fratrlcldal carnage. How
could such purpose be prompted otherwise
than by political association or personal inter-
course With citizens OF different states, in
Guiding those of the states professedly disaf-
fected to the Union? Should the only posi-
BILE means of laboring to prevent civil war be
stigmatized as disloyal 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 it's Government.
publicly announced my adhesion to them in
the most unequivocal terms. [ rendered my
services to the Government in the field. or in
any other way which might testify to it, and
have continued from that day to this, as
well in official as unofficial action. to tread in
the path Of answering devotion TO the
Union, whether during the actual progress OF
hostilities against it, or in the subse-
auent events of it's reconstruction and the
successive amendments of the constitution,
rendered necessary by the changed condition
of the several states of the United States and
OF the respective inhabitants. The amend
ments to the constitution, each and all OF
them, as they were III turn adopted, and the
legislative acts for their enforcement, and for
accomplishing reconstruction, had my COOP
GRAFTON and adhesion, and I have supported
them constantly, if not in political debate, for
which my comparatively reserved habits of
life afforded neither occasion nor opportunity,
yet in legal opinion or in tie court
and in council, or in discussion
with officers OF the, government,
members of Congress and private per-
sons, [ entertained the same general respect
for these amendments as for the other provi-
sions of the constitution, and also rendered
the special observan ce due to them as just
and necessary incidents of the reconstruction
of the Union. While my nomination was I'M
dergoing consideration in the Senate it would
have been unbecoming for me to speak in
explanation OF my acts or opinions, 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
public duty, and it is my right, to reafirm
and declare that have never, in the long
course of not inactive fife, done an act, ut
tered word, or conceived a thought of dis
loyalty to the Constitution Or the Union. 1
have the honor to be very respectfully,