Caleb Cushing jecting honors and stations in this courtly and splendid world, but descending to no low arts to obtain honors; one not of haughty carriage, nor who puts slights upon other men esteemed below him; a man of no pomp nor pretense, of grave simplicity, of an ancient freedom and integrity of mind. I was, a little while ago, in the old town by the river Merrimac, where his home was all his life, and there heard him spoken of by many, old and young, and by all not only with pride but with affection; and, after all, to whatever heights of honor one may climb, and however widely soever his name may be known and honorably mentioned, it is the good opinion and the good word of those among whom his life or the greater part of it is spent, of his fellow townsmen and his neighbors, that are the truest testimony of his desert, and the most to be valued praise wherewith he can be crowned.
Charles Levi Woodbury, in a letter written October 1, 1879, expressed similar views : — I regard as one of the most pleasing and im pressive incidents of his political career the warm affection and esteem he received from the citizens of Newburyport. Without regard to party politics, time and again they sent him to the legislature because they believed his experi ence, judgment and knowledge were more im portant than his political affiliations. It is honorable to their independence as it is also creditable to his uprightness and integrity, that such rare evidence of good citizenship on the part of constituents and of agent should be furnished in Newburyport.
Cushing was esteemed by Newbury port as few citizens of any municipality have ever been esteemed. She de lighted to honor him, sent him six times to the legislature, twice to the Senate, twice elected him Mayor, and at his death held elaborate memorial services in his honor. Indeed he was always understood and appreciated by Newburyport, where he
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was "the first citizen." If any com munity was qualified to sit in judgment upon his worth and integrity as a man and citizen it was the city of Newbury port. It is convincing evidence of the rectitude of his life and character that during his long, eventful and stormy career, in which political animosities found free expression, he was held in such high honor and esteem by his fellow townsmen, regardless of their political affiliations. Cushing, being human, undoubtedly had his faults. He had ambition, "that infirmity of great minds," if that be a fault. But it is our duty to make a just estimate of the man and of his best traits. I say his best traits, for I be lieve, as was said of John Wells, a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, in a memorial address delivered before this club, that "Every one should be meas ured by his best traits," and the only judgment "we are entitled to pass upon another is based upon his life's best fruit. If a tree yields but one perfect pear, we know that represents its capability, and that under proper conditions of soil and temperature and light it would produce all perfect pears." Cushing was great in intellect and character and rendered services invaluable to his country. He received his death summons like a philosopher, and was buried at New buryport by the side of his beloved wife. A modest headstone bearing this in scription marks his grave : — In memory of Caleb Cushing, Son of John N. and Lydia Dow Cushing, Born in Salisbury, January 17, 1800; Died in Newburyport, January 2, 1879.
