The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-03-18
MARCH lS, 1864.
The JeferSOnian Democrat
JULIUS o. CONVERSE, Editor.
ONO, FRIDAY, MARCH is, 1861.
Mr.. Chase and the Presidency.

The following letter from Hon. Salmon
p. Chase, announcing his withdrawal as
a candidate for the Presidency, will be
read with peculiar interest (:
WAsBisGrcN, Match 5, 1854.
MY DEAN STR In reply to a friendly
letter from you. ! wrote you Niefly not long
ago, about tho wishes, expressed by many,
thSt my name might be fovoraLly regarded
by the People in their next choice of q
Presidents; and closed by saying that, should
our friends in Ohio manifest a preference
for another. ! should accept their decision
With tho ready acquiesccnco due from one
who has been already trusted aud hCnorod
By them beyond merit or expectation,
Tho recent action of tho Union Nom.
bers Of our Legislature indicates such "a
preference. Ii becomes my dutv. thero-
tore-and | count 1t more II privilege than
a duiy-to ask that no further cousidera.
tiOn bo given to my name.
IL was never moro Important than now
That all our efforts ind all our energies
should be devoted To the suppression OF ,hc
Rebellion, and TO tho restoration of order
and prosperity, on solid and suro founda.
tons OF Union, Freedom and Impartial Jus.
tico; and l earnestly urge all with whom
my counsels may have weight, to allow
nothing to divide them, while this great
work, In comparison with which persons,
aud even parties, are nothing, remains un.
accomplished.
Cordially your friend.
s.. Z. CHASE.
Hon. JAMES c. HALL, Senate Chamber,
Columbus, Ohio.
II doubts have been entertained by any,
IN regard to the patriotism Of MIR. Chase.
this letter, so noble and timely, ought
serely to dispel them. Ii is such a letter
as, under the circumstances, we had rea-
son to expect from him, in view Of his
character and anlecedents, and it reflects
far more honor upon him Than could a
nomination aud election to the Presidency
II won through the efforts Of designing
partisan friends. We have never be-
lievcd that Mr.. Chase would pursue or
counienance any course inconsistent with
patriotism, or with his official relations to
the President. On the contrary, though
entertaining a preference for another, We
have deprecated the harsh criticisms
Of his motives in which some of our
contemporaries have INDUCED, as impolitic
and unjust and that they were so must
now be conceded by all. Mr.. Chase is
too nagnanimous, too wise and toe
patriotic to allow his personal ambition
to prove a detrimeDt 10 the country, in
times like these and hence he asks that
as the people OF his own State evidently
prefer another for the Presidency, no
further consideration be given TO his name.
In his former letter TO Senator Hall, TO
which ~allusion is made 10 the above, he
says:
"If | know my own heart. | desire
nothing so much as the suppression OF
Tho Rebellion and the re establishment of
union, order and prosperity on sure md
safe foundations, and / should despise
myself if felt capable Of allowing any
personal objects to influence me to any
action which would eiTec. by one iot or
title injuriously the accomplishment Of
those Objects"
No man is more worthy Of the confidence
and esteem Of the Nation han Salmon p
Chase. As a statesman, he is %unexcelled
if not unequalled, in ability by any living
American ; while his liberal and compre
hensivc views, his sterling integrity ant
his patriotic devotion entitle him to tn
very highest consideration OF the people
Ohiois now, more than ever, proud Of him
and, though preferring another, from mo
tives which he cannot regard as u%nlriend
ly or ~disrespectful to himself, but the jus
ticc Of which he must admit, when tn
time shall come for n change of Admins
t%ralion, she will seek TO crafty his hon
orable ambition all the more cordially be
cause Of his present modest and u~nselis
Difference 10 her wishes.