The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-25

nation as chief justice. He was sustained
in this regard by a favorable report of
George H.. Edmunds. Of Vermont. was
chairman, made in the afternoon Of the
day upon which the nomination was re-
ceived by the Senate.
The height of General Cushing's ambi-
tion-the goal for which he had studied
and labOred for scores OF years-waS with
in his reach; the cup had been offered TO
him, and yet was to be dashed from his
lips by the action of one who had cher
ished an old-time enmity and never for
gave. and. this being the opportunity for
revenge. availed himself of IL. The hour
being late when the committee reported,
a motion to adjourn, made by Senator
Aaron A. Sargent, of California, who had
just entered the Senate chamber, was IA
vorably entertained. General Cushing had.
in the early days, been the head and front
of a movement which caused Mr.. Sar-
gent. at that time editor of a newspaper
in N~ewburyport, Mass. TO emigrate To
California. and so the next morning this
long-cherished feeling found vent. The
Washington Chronicle. of which Senator
Sargent was the largest STOCKHOLDERS, came
out with flaming headlines. proclaiming
General Gushing a 'secessionist' and 'reb-
ell and. therefore. unfit to be chief Justice
and to pass upon the fifteenth amendment
TO the Constitution of the United States.
General Gushing was nominated as a
resident of Virginia. In 1871 he purchased
an old homestead In Fairfax county. Nir-
ginia. a few miles from the Chain bridge.
which he used as a place to retire in the
afternoon and nights from his arduOus
work and to entertain his friends. who
were legion. diplomats of all nationalities
statesmen and newspaper men from all
in Virginia with the intention of becom-
ing "A citizen of that State and also with
making himself available as a candidate
WHY HE WITHDREW.
1.-The fact that he had become a resident
and voter in Virginia gave some strength
to the contention of his enemies that dur
inc tho war ha uac n srabal hnt the whole
matter finally simmered down TO his hav-
ing been chairman of the Democratic ma
tional convention at Charleston, $. G. in
1860, and having written a letter of recon-
mendation for his former private secre-
tary to Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi,
who had been secretary of war while Gen.
Gushing was attorney general in the Cabi-
net of President Franklin Pierce.
However. the matter was so persist
emily kept before the public by the papers,
which were controlled by Senator Sargent
that, notwithstanding the favorable report
OF the Judiciary committee on the 18th OF
January, 1874, General Gushing determined
to have his nomination as chief justice
withdra wn. That afternoon he returned
from 'Glebelands.' his place in Virginia,
where he had been to recuperate for sew
eral days: and said to me:
Mr.. Cowie, / have been sitting on the
hot stove long enough. Please write a let
ter to the President. requesting him TO
withdraw my name as chief Justice
Il protested, knowing how much he de-
sired the position and fully believing. as
the President and nearly all his friends
did. that he would be confirmed il IL came
to a vote in the Senate. General Cushing
was firm. the letter was written In no un-
certain language, and on the next DAY his
name was withdrawn, and that OF MOrri-
son II. Waite. of Ohio. was sent to the
Senate and a~fterward confirmed. As 10 his
being a secessionist. no one who knew his
history and wished 10 state the truth
would for a moment assert it,. After Fort
Sumter was fired upon he rendered his
services 10 Governor Andrews, of Massa-
chusetts. by whom they were refused. on
account OF General Gushing having been
president OF the Charleston conventions;
but TO show the Inconsistency OF the Gov
errors action, he accepted the services OF
Benjamin +. Butler and appointed him
general OF volunteers, although he had
been a member of the same convention.
General Cushing was the daily associate
and adviser of such men as Charles sum
ner. Roscoe COnkling, Hamilton Fish. Viii
liam T.. Chandler, George 5. Boutwell,, dur.
ing all the war and for years after. 1t is
hardly 10 be presumed that they would
nave chosen for their intimate friend one
who was liable TO be charged with treason.
There is no doubt in my mind but that
General Cushing, after his return from
Spain. where he went and fulfilled his
mission. died of a broken heart in 1879. at
Newburyport. Mass. His habits had been
so correct and abStemiOus. an early riser.
light eater and plenty Of exercise. that ne
should naturally have lived 10 be a cen
tenarian.
General Cushing's clothing was often
the subject for many "A newspaper article.
couple of sizes too large. a cloth cap with
large ear-laps. and an old-fashioned blue
cape. He frequently said 10 me: BY the
time these newspaper men get to pe as
old as 1 am they will consider comfort be-
fore fashion. Often he had two or three