Northern Star, And Warren And Bristol Gazette

The election of member of Congress from Essex North District, has been a matter of nearly as much controversy as our Rhode-Island quarrels for office.

Caleb Cushing, Esq. of Newburyport, a lawyer and member of the Senate of Massachusetts, has, it would seem, the last two or three weeks, been involved in considerable perplexity. The history of the affair is this: Mr. Cushing was a candidate for member of Congress from Essex North District, against Mr. Varnum, the present incumbent.

The Boston Statesman had or some weeks rather favoured the pretensions of Mr. C. notwithstanding he, as well as Mr. Varnum, was known to be a decided friend of the administration. Two or three weeks ago, the editors of the Statesman received a communication, signed a "Democrat," recommending Mr. Cushing in very strong language, and containing some expressions unfavourable to the supporters of the Administration in New-England. By a comparison of the handwriting of the communication with some of Mr. Cushing's in the possession of the editors of the Statesman, they suspected that the communication was written by Mr. C. himself. Thinking the course taken by him a dishonourable one, they made known their suspicions in the Statesman. Mr. Cushing immediately, in the papers, denied being the writer of the article referred to. The editors of the Statesman, nevertheless still doubted; and to satisfy them that they were mistaken in supposing the writer to be Mr. C. they required that the real author of the communication, should re-write it in their presence, and make affidavit that he and not Mr. Cushing was the author. And the matter rested for a short time.

Early last week, it appears, that a person went before Samuel E. Sewall, Esq. of Boston, and before him wrote the communication in question, and the same person made affidavit acknowledging the authorship of it. Mr. Cushing also made affidavit that he was not the author. Subsequently, Mr. Cushing requested Henry Orne, Esq. as a magistrate to take the affidavit of Mr. Sewall, who testified that a person came before him and wrote the communication and made the affidavit as above stated. The communication as written in presence of Mr. Sewall, was attached to this affidavit, and Mr. Orne was satisfied with comparing this with the original communication that they were both written by the same hand. Mr. Sewall's affidavit with Mr. Orne's certificate of it, was published. Doubts were still, however, entertained and expressed. It was remarked that the sex of the writer was not indicated in the affidavit of Mr. Sewall, he having there stated, that "a person" came before him, &c.: and it was suspected that a lady in the family of Mr. Cushing and nearly connected with him, was the writer. Mr. Orne, to satisfy himself whether he had been made an instrument to mislead the publick in relation to an affair in which he felt no particular interest, went to Mr. Sewall, and stated the reports abroad, Mr. Sewall neither acknowledged or denied that there was grounds for these rumours. These circumstances were related by Mr. Orne in a note to the editors of the Statesman which was then published. The statement of Mr. Orne was made about the middle of the week. Those who are acquainted with the political and private character of Mr. Cushing, and the manner in which circumstances of this kind are calculated to affect his standing, must be surprised, that, having gone thus far, he still permits his constituents to doubt of his innocence. It is proper to add that several affidavits were made and published at the request of Mr. Cushing, by the writers of other communications, recommending Mr. Cushing as a candidate for congress; but these having no direct bearing on the main question, are to be regarded of course as altogether irrelevant. They were taken with a view to contradict reports that Mr. Cushing was the author of all the communications, in the papers, recommending him to the electors of his congressional district. Thus the matter rests: and the gentleman who would shine in the councils of his country, is willing to be believed at least indirectly concerned in an attempt to puff himself into notice.

After all, it is extremely difficult for us to see any shoots from those seeds of modesty, which are said to have been planted in the human breast by the Creator and Ruler of the universe. It is to be feared that they generally fell on stoney ground, or that an unlucky thorn choked the tender blade, and totally extirpated the plant.