h a bright red ribbon for a
necktie.

General Cushing had great qualities, but he was not a great man. He
had immense capacity that he could use in aid of others, but he lacked
ability to mark out a course for himself, or he lacked tenacity or
purpose in pursuing it. His ambition had no limits, and he would
swerve from his personal obligations in the pursuit of place. In my
administration he was made a judge of the Supreme Court of the State,
and upon an understanding that he would retain the place. During the
few months that he was upon the bench, he gave promise of success, but
upon the election of President Pierce, he could not resist the offer of
a seat in his Cabinet. As Attorney-General he did not add materially
to his reputation, but his opinions are distinguished for research and
for learning. The nomination of Pierce was promoted by the officers
who had served in Mexico. Previous to the Democratic Convention of
1852, Gideon J. Pillow came to Boston, and he and General Cushing
visited Pierce in New Hampshire. They also called upon me and laid
open a scheme in which they invited me to take a part. It was in fact
a project for an organization inside the Democratic Party, by which the
action of the party should be controlled. First, a central
organization composed of a few men self-constituted; next a small
number of assistants in each State who were to organize through
confidential agents in the counties, cities and large towns. All these
agencies through newspapers and by other expedient means would be able,
it was thought, to control the party nominations, and the party policy.
I had then declined a renomination to the office of Governor, and I was
able to say with truth, that I intended to retire from active
participation in politics. I declined to consider the subject further.
Whether or not the scheme was matured, I have no knowledge.

That campaign and his transfer to Pierce's Cabinet led Cushing to adopt
the views of southern men upon the slavery question, and his unwise
speeches and letters interrupted his success, finally, and at a moment
when success was most important to him. In the autumn or early in
December, 1860, he made a succession of speeches at Newburyport which
were calculated to promote the views of the Secessionists. At about
the same time he wrote a letter which was read before the Republican
Senatorial Caucus, when his name was before the Senate for confirmation
as Chief Jus