Connecticut western news., 1879-01-08
Death; of Caleb Cushing.

Gen. Cushing died at his home in New buryport, Mass, January 2d. He was born in Salisbury. Mass, January IT, 1900. He graduated at Harvard college at the age of seventeen, was admitted to the bar and began practice in 1925. In that year he was elected representative from Newbury- port to the lower house of ths Massachu- sets le gislsture, and in 1926 became mem- Der of the State senate. In 1929 he visited Europe and remained abroad two years. On his return he published "Reminiscences of Spain' in two volumes, showing minute acquaintance with Spanish history and lit eraturs. Thls was followed by his ''Re- view of the Revolution in Europe" In 1888 he again took his seat in the Massachu- setts House of Representatives. and in 1884 was sent to Congress from his district, be- ing reelected for four consecutive terms. He was nominated by President Tyler, in ls4s, Secretary of the Treasury, but wss not confirmed by the Senate. The Presi- dent, however, sent him to China to nego- tiate a treaty, service he successfully per- formed, and on his return was again elected to the State legislature. A bill to equip Massachusetts volunteers for the Mexican war having been defeated in the legislature. he furnished the necessary funds and was appointed Colonel of the regiment. and went with it to Mexico in 1S47. He was attached to Gen. Tsylor's army, and was soon promoted to be Brigadier General. While in Mexico he was nominated by the Democratic party for Governor of Massa- chusetts, but was defeated. In 1850 he was again elected to the legislature, and al SO chosen the first Mayor of Newburyport and reelected in 1851. The next year ht was appointed justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, @ place he filled til 1853, when he was appointed by Presiden Pierce United States Attorney General. re- tir1ng in 1857. He then served three sue cessive years in the Massachusetts legislar ture. He was President of the Democrat ic national convention at Charlestown, 5 C., m April. 1860, and in June of the con- vention in Baltimore that nominated Johr c. Breckinridge. In December 1860, ht was sent as 6 commissioner to CharlestowI by President Buchanan to make arrange ments about Fort Sumter, but hIs mission failed. He supported the war for the Un ion, but occupied no official position. II 1872 he was one of the counsel for tn, United States for the Geneva conference or : the Alsbams claims. and in 1878 published . book in which he sharply criticized th' conduct and character of Sir Alexande Cockburn, the British arbitrator. In 1877 he was appointed Minister to Spain, and il 1874 he was nominated Chief Justice of th United States, but, owing to popular disap proYal of the nomination, it was withdraw He entered upon his mission to Spain, an' among other things succeeded in obtainln damages for the execution of several Amer ican citizens captured on the Virginius Soon after he returned, and has slnce beer engaged Tn practicing law. He refused tn Butler Democratic nomination for Attor ney General of Massachusetts at the lat election.
 Gen. Cushing was a man of remarkabl attainments and ability, but failed to com mand the full confidence of his country men. He was 8 born lawyer and diploma tist, but when men of moral integrity wer sought he was passed by. For years be fore the war he was in sympathy with tb secessionists, and though he subsequent
 took the side of the Union and rendere good service as counsellor of those Ii authority at Washington, be dallied so lon with the enemy as to place himself on rec ord as the writer of treasonable letter Jeff Davis after the opening of hostilitiet the disclosure of which made his coDfrma ton as Chief Justice impossible. His opir ions as Attorney General are among tn abiest that ever came from that office, an the literary excellence of Pierce's message was probably due to hls supervision. H vas engaged in very many important Hugs tons, but it must be said that few men of hj capabilities have left so little of permanen literary value, or so completely failed t attain the rank among public men to whIc hs seemed naturally entitled. Har3or Post.