Broken Glass: Caleb Cushing & the Shattering of the Union

497 Pages·2005·2.435 MB·English

by  John M. Belohlavek

broken glass
CivilWarintheNorth
SeriesEditor,LesleyJ.Gordon,UniversityofAkron
AdvisoryBoard
WilliamBlair,PennsylvaniaStateUniversity
PeterS.Carmichael,UniversityofNorthCarolinaGreensboro
StephenD.Engle,FloridaAtlanticUniversity
J.MatthewGallman,UniversityofFlorida
ElizabethLeonard,ColbyCollege
ElizabethVaron,TempleUniversity
JoanWaugh,UniversityofCaliforniaLosAngeles
b r o k e n
g l a s s
S
Caleb Cushing & the
Shattering of the Union
John M. Belohlavek
The Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio
Tomyfamily,friends,andcolleagues
Foryourconstantsupportandencouragement
(cid:2)2005byTheKentStateUniversityPress,Kent,Ohio44242
Allrightsreserved
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber2005015651
isbn978-0-87338-841-2
ManufacturedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Belohlavek,JohnM.
Brokenglass:CalebCushingandtheshatteringoftheUnion/
JohnM.Belohlavek.
p. cm.—(CivilWarintheNorth)(cid:3)(cid:2)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
isbn-13:978-0-87338-841-2(pbk.:alk.paper)
isbn-10:0-87338-841-0(pbk.:alk.paper)
1. Cushing,Caleb,1800–1879. 2.Legislators—UnitedStates—Biography.
3.UnitedStates.Congress.House—Biography. 4.Politicians—Massachusetts—
Biography. 5.Massachusetts—Politicsandgovernment—1775–1865. 6.United
States—Politicsandgovernment—1815–1861. 7.MexicanWar,1846–1848—
Biography. 8.Diplomats—UnitedStates—Biography. 9.Diplomats—China—
Biography. 10.Attorneysgeneral—UnitedStates—Biography.
I.Title. II.Series.
e415.9.c98b195 2005
973.5(cid:3)092—dc22
[B] 2005015651
BritishLibraryCataloging-in-Publicationdataareavailable.
Scontents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
1 TheViewfromHighStreet,1800–1826 1
2 ForeignAdventuresandCongressionalVentures,1827–1834 25
3 WhigStarRising:ThePoliticsofAntislavery,1835–1837 57
4 BattlingtheBritishLionandtheAmericanFox,1837–1840 88
5 TylerandtheCorporal’sGuard,1841–1843 114
6 TheRoadtoChina,1843–1844 150
7 TheWarriorofManifestDestiny,1845–1848 181
8 TheDoughfaceDemocrat,1848–1853 210
9 ThePowerBroker:AttorneyGeneral,1853–1857 242
10 TheMostUnpopularManinNewEngland,1857–1861 283
11 FromMassachusettsExiletoWashingtonInsider,1861–1869 316
12 TheDiplomatReemerges,1869–1879 342
Conclusions 369
Notes 384
Bibliography 459
Index 473
This page intentionally left blank
Sacknowledgments
like most of my colleagues who have dedicated a quarter-century of
ourlivestothestudyofAmericanhistory,Ihavestumbledacrossawide
variety of fascinating characters—both the colleagues and the historical
personages. The nineteenth century is particularly colorful, offering a
never-ending supply of individuals who contributed in ways large and
smalltomakingtheUnitedStatestheliberaldemocracyandworldpower
it has become. One such individual, the somewhat opaque Caleb Cush-
ing, appeared repeatedly on the historical stage and in ways that seemed
tomatter.Whythen,thequestionarose,istherenoscholarlybiography
of someone who had spentvirtually an entirelife in public service?Aca-
demics,includingmyfriendsandassociates,admittedhisimportancebut
dismissedhimwithabackofthehandasaparty-switchingpariah.(Inmy
state,Florida,however,suchmovementiscertainlynotregardedassinful
or proven to be politically fatal.) What some historians deem ‘‘opportu-
nistic’’ or ‘‘unprincipled,’’ others see as ‘‘flexible’’ or ‘‘compromising.’’
Surelythen,Cushingdeservedfurtherinvestigation.
MystudyofthecontroversialNewEnglanderbeganmorethanadec-
adeago,onlytobeinterruptedbyachallenging,butrewarding,adminis-
trative stint. While the time lost delayed the publication of this volume,
the advantages garnered by advancing research technology more than
compensated. Even so, extended visits were necessary to the Library of
Congress (home to the core of the voluminous Cushing papers) and the
Historical Society of Old Newbury in Massachusetts. The recently re-
tired John McDonough, himself an expert on the Cushing documents,
contributed mightily to my initial research at the LC. Although Mc-
Donough will be missed, the torch has been picked up by a very able,
helpful,andcooperativestaff.WhiletheLibraryofCongresswasfamiliar
research turf, Newburyport was not. Information on Cushing appeared
in local nooks—the Public Library and the Customs House Museum—
wherededicatedstaffmembersaidedthisstudybypointingoutunantici-
pated collections and nuggets of information. Even more rewarding was
the welcome contact with the talented staff of the Cushing House, Jay
WilliamsonandNancyThurlow,andtheveryabledirectorsanddocents,
vii
ledbytheunflappableMaeAtkinson.TheCushingHouseisajewel,and
theseindividualsreflectarealcommitmentanddemonstratethetruepo-
tential of local history. I owe them a debt of gratitude not only for the
access to their Cushing collection but for their ongoing hospitality and
cooperationinresolvingissueslargeandsmallonthisproject.
Cushing papers are also housed in numerous other libraries, and I
wouldberemissinnotthankingthestaffsatthePeabody-EssexMuseum,
Duke University, the University of Virginia, and Stanford University
(withspecialappreciationtoSteveAndrews)fortheirprofessionalismand
assistanceinprovidingmaterialseitherpersonallyorbycopy.
Biographersneedtalentedbuttoughcritics.Thisvolumehadthegood
fortune to benefit from the critical pens of scholars who contributed
mightilyintermsofstyle,grammar,context,andcontent.PaulBergeron
(the ‘‘Ragin’ Cajun’’), David Morgan, Gary Mormino, and Roger Trask
readalengthymanuscriptinitsentirety,andPaulDosal,NatJobe,David
Kennedy,HarveyNelsen,andJasonVickersmadeequallyimportantcon-
tributions by sharing their views on particular chapters. Their expertise
undoubtedlyimprovedthequalityofthisworkandsavedtheauthorfrom
those dreaded moments of embarrassment.Regrettably, I can not blame
themforanyproblemsorerrorsinfactorinterpretationthatremain.
Finally, my family, friends, and colleagues deserve special mention.
They have endured my prolonged ‘‘visit’’ with Caleb Cushing and suf-
fered(generallypolitely)throughinterminableCushinganecdotes.My
wife,Susan, appliedtherightamounts ofaffection, patience, andunder-
standing to see this historian through his lonely quest; and my sister,
Judy, encouraging and helpful, maintained her steady support from her
outpost in New England. Kathy and Ray Arsenault, Lynne and Gary
Mormino, Joyce Haines, and Earl Whitlock cared enough to make the
pilgrimage to Newburyport ‘‘in search of Caleb.’’ The lobster, fried
clams,andgoodtimeswerebonuses.
Through the years, at conferences and conventions over coffee or
bourbon, friends and colleagues have expressed their interest and good-
naturedlyofferedadviceandsupportforthisproject.Whilethehistorical
vehicle canonly have onedriver, ithasbeenwith pleasureandgratitude
that so many caringpeople havebeen alongfor theride. Thisvolume is
dedicatedtoyouasasmalltokenofmythanksforthatongoingfriendship.
viii acknowledgments
Sintroduction
in a neighborhood of expansive Victorian homes, the three-story,
Federalbrickmansion appears almostoutof place—older,morevenera-
ble in shape and style. Its stately, shuttered elegance commands our re-
spect,perhapsforitssenseofpermanenceorthenotionofthehistorical
secretsthatrestwithinitswalls.Theaddress:98HighStreet,Newbury-
port, Massachusetts, once the home of Caleb Cushing. A quick step
through the sidedoorimmediatelyplaces thevisitorintothe early nine-
teenth century, surrounded by paintings, furniture, and artifacts that re-
flect a bygone New England. The hardwood floors and flowered
wallpaper of the unpretentious public rooms suggest a gentility that un-
doubtedly mirrored the wealth and taste of the inhabitants. The private
areasstirwarmeremotionsoffamily,community,andcitizenship.Twist-
ing stairways and backdoors hint at childhood mystery. The manse se-
duces and satisfies. Is the appeal in the obvious grace and sophistication
that bespeak the entire home inside and out? Or does the structure in-
trigueby thesurprisingarrayof endlessrooms—eachwithits ownstory
to tell? Is the lure in the whole or the sum of the parts? So, too, with
CalebCushinghimself.Howcanhebebestunderstood?Shouldwefind
greatervalueinthe‘‘whole’’—theexpansiveandvisibleaccomplishments
of the public servant whose life and activities paralleled the transforma-
tion of New England and the nation? Or is it more rewarding to study
the ‘‘parts’’—the dazzling and compartmentalized mind of the private
manwhoseeruditeandperplexingspeechesandwritingsearnedhimboth
widespreadacclaimandcensure?Suchisthechallengeandappealforthe
biographer.
Historical biographyremains acontroversial and vexatiouselement of
contemporary literature. Postmodernist scholars, joined by those who
viewbiographyaselitist,oftendisdaintheapproach,especiallywhenthe
subjectisadeadwhitemale.Historiansrevelinthedebateoverwhether
‘‘truth’’ can be found, especially in individual diaries and letters, and
whethersuchaninvestigationistaintedbytheverynatureofthematerial.
Simultaneously,thepublicdevoursbiographyforthedramaandintrigue,
passionandhumanityofferedinthelifeofoneindividual.Bookstoressell
ix