Political
Caleb Cushing's Signed Handwritten Eulogy for Marquis De Lafayette He Delivered in the U.S. House of Representatives
CALEB CUSHING (1800-1879) & (MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE). Massachusetts Statesman, Lawyer, Author, United States Representative and U.S. Attorney General under Franklin Pierce.
February 25, 1839-Dated, Autograph Manuscript Signed, "C. Cushing," 1 page, measuring 9.5"x 6.5", (at Washington, DC), being his Eulogy tribute to Lafayette delivered in the House of Representatives, Choice Extremely Fine. (Note - Marquis De Lafayette died on May 20, 1834.) This original Handwritten Eulogy is penned in rich brown ink on early period wove paper. There is some light marginal toning and one small 1" edge tear at top, overall being in excellent overall quality with nice eye appeal. Here, the noted United States Representative Caleb Cushing of Massachusetts writes, in full:
"Regard him in the New World as a youthful leader of the armies of independence; follow him in Europe amid the opening splendors of the French Revolution, the favorite of an admiring nation; accompany him, driven into exile by factions he could not control, to the dungeon of Olmute; contemplate him, withdrawn from the blighting allurements of the Empire to the shades of La Grange, or issuing thence only to rebut the usurper; study him as one of the trusted leaders of a constitutional Opposition; or behold him once more the arbiter of his country's destiny, at the epoch of the Three days: & you see in all the changes of such a life, in either hemisphere, in camps or in councils, in prosperity or adversity, but one man ever before you, -- ever the same ardent lover of liberty, - ever the same unwavering supporter of public order, ever the same firm & disinterested patriot, ever the same generous, conscientious, frank-hearted, honorable, true-minded -- La Fayette. ---
(Signed) C. Cushing, - House of Representatives - 25 February 1839"
A truly remarkable, original historic document of memorial and tribute which is written entirely in Caleb Cushings own hand, and delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives.