The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-12
Cushing for Chiaf-Lustice.

Had Caleb Cushing been the original
nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court to take the place of Chase, there
might have been some criticism more or
less severe, on the part of the press and
public. The behavior of Mr.. Gushing at
che Democratic Convention of 1860 has not
been forgotten, nor has his retirement since
then from party politics served to obliter-
ate in the minds of the friends of Stephen
A. Douglas the meanness OF his subseryl- |
ency IN the administration of James Buch- |
anan. A Massachusetts pro-slavery Dem |
ocrat, the broad and conservative position
of the Little Giant was too much OF a
concession to the Abolitionists to suit this !
pattern of New England BourbOnism, and
he bolted the Charleston Convention-over
which he presided-along with Yancey and
Sldell. Such and similar recollections
would have been brought out had Gushing
been the Presidents first choice for Chief
Justice But the escape the country has
made from having Williams will enable it
10 accept Caleb Gushing without regret, if
not with thankful acknowledgements. We
would not have President Grant reduced
to the necessity of making another choice,
unless assured that he would keep going
from bad to good instead of from bad to
worse. Besides, Caleb Gushing is a man
of eminent intellectual abilities, of rare le
gal and judicial requirements, and, SO far
as we know, of unquestioned personal in
tegrity. He is IA years old He has been
Justice of the Massachusetts, State Su-
perior Court, was Attorney-General under
President Pierce, and was one of three, in
in 1866, to codify the laws of the United
States. He has been the unofficial legal
advisor of many administrations, and in
point of law learning is probably inferior
to no man in the nation. As an arthOr, or
ator, and jurist, he stands high, and his
opinions from the bench will do no discred-
it to the ermine of the distinguished bench
to which he has been elevated.-S. LOUIS
Republican.
This nomination will excite surprise, as
it was supposed that the mission to Madrid
would satisfy even Mr.. Gushing S ambition,
While Mr.. Gushing is man OF far greater
mental calibre, judicial culture, and ability
than Atty. Gen. Williams, he is by no
means the best man who could have been
chosen to fill the high station for which he
has been nominated. 1T may well be
doubted whether man who has spent the
greater part of long life in manipulating
State Legislatures and the National Con
gress in the interests of his clients, is fitted
the nation. His ability acknowledged, there
is little to be said in his favor Neverthe-
less, it is better nomination than could be
reasonably expected from the present Chief
Executive. Chicago Times
Mr.. Gushing is a man of ability, ofgreat
requirements, ofripe and varied experience
and of considerable eccentricity. He has
been cOnfessedly one of the ablest lawyers
Of tho nv for IlIa Intnl-
lectual status is unquestiOned. His knowl-
edge and experience in the affairs of the
Government for half century are hardly
surpassed by any person now living. The
objections to MIR. Gushing are his age and
garrulousness He was born in 1900, and
is now in his 74th year. Physically he is
well preserved, and can yet speak AID
write with vigor and fue1cy. His book de-
molishiue Lord Chief Justice Cockburn il
proof of tiuency, while his law suit agains
Fernando Woods dog attests his septuage
marian vigor. There is a law of the United
States which permits any Judge of thu
Supreme Court to retire upon a pension
upon reaching 70 years of age. This Law
has been complied with by Judges erie
and Nelson, both of whom have since died
If Mr.. Gushing be confirmed, he will begi
his judicial career at an age advanced sey
eral years beyond that at which the la'
contemplates his voluntary retiremer
from the Bench.
While there may be grave doubts as to til
propriety of making Mr. Gushing Chic
Justice, there was none as to his eminer
fitness as Minister to Spain He has bee
familiar with the history of Cuban affail
ever since the first troubles from the An
erican filibusters commenced. He is a
quainted personally with the men who col
stitute the Government of Spain. He h;
ability and diplomatic experience, is We
versed in international law, and has I'll
respect and confidence of the Spaniard
He was well qualified to take charge ofo,
complications with Spain, and to bring the
to satisfactory settlement. We fear Il
n President has chosen an Indifferent Chic
Justice and lost frst-class Minister
Spain. Iii to be regretted that the Pre-