Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-15
The Chief-yustissship.


=
. That the appointment of Salmon p. Chase
to the chief seat in the Supreme Court Of
the United States would be received by us
with more than ordinary pleasure, it is hard
ly necessary TO say, for the high estimate in
which we hold his Intellectual and moral
qualities have never been concealed. In
that pleasure very large proportion Of the
people will sympatbize, we know. On this
point we are not left 10 conjecture, nor TO
the ordinary deduction that ipssmuch as
BAR. Chase has for manyyears filled positions
OF high responsibility and trust, always with
honor to himself and With the popular ap
probation, that therefore his farther ad-
yancement must be looked upon with favor; 1;
for we know from the testimony of men i'm
partial peculiarly fitted to form a correct
estimate Of the popular Judgment, and whe
have recently Travelled widely over the
Northern States, that it was universal and
foregone conclusion among thoughtful and
loyal meD that the vacant Chiei-J ustlceship
should be given to Mr. Chase. That the
President has thought fit to so bostov this
office ID therefore properly matter Of pub
lic coHgrstulation, and Mr.. Lincoln will re-
ceive the thanks of the country that his
Judgment is so perfectly in accordance With
the popular wish. q. -.
Mr. Chase was known for his eminent le
gal attainnents asd his high standing at the
bar long before he rose to any political dis
tiDctioD. From this, indeed, his course in
early life cnt him off completely, for he so
identified himself with the Abolitionists of
quarter Of century ago and more, that
political advancement was then impossible.
But it was not merely the humauitarian as
psct of the question that induced him thus
early to identify himself with the anti
Slavery party; he discerned that in the
growth of the Slave Power, and its constant
encroachments upon constitutional liberty,
lay our future danger, and that out OF this
little cloud, seemingly then not bigger than
a mans $ hand, was to come the tempest that
was to try the strength and endurance Of our
republican, form OF government In the
course of time political parties came to him,
and while his early principles have never
been forgotten or denied, he as a popular
representative. as Governor, SeHstor.
powerful candidate for the Presidency. and
as Il Cabinet Minister, has led the advanced
column Of the steady progress Of popular
love Of Liberty, and true Republican Gov
ernment, which has SO far carried the enstloD
triunphantly through the most trying and
terrible wal the world has ever seen, waEed
on the cesrest issues ever accepted by any
people. To no man in tho country, proba-
! bly,, has constitutional law, its relations to
! the absolute rights Of the citizen and the
reserved rights of States, been subject Of
seyerer and deeper study than to Mr, Chase.
The natural bent of his intellect and the
habits of his lite have alike fitted him foI
judicial position. In the coming events
when the Civil and Military powers have
done their part, there will still remain an
important work for the Judiciary to do in
the reconstructien of the Union, and in set.
/ Ting upsn q sure foundation those great
| principles upon which the Republic is to be
rebuilt. To no hands could it be 50 safely
intrustsd as to those of Mr. Chase. 1t was
not merely proper that the new Chief d Us
| tice should be man learned in the law II
| was absolutely essential to the perpetuity OF
the Government that he should also be .
statesman of wide and comprehensive views,
/ and one whose mind is habituated to the
contemplation and study OF the new order
of events which are crowding so tbickly
upon Hs. Never since the Union was fern
ed has the sffice Of Chief Justics required
more varied or more eminent qualities o
head aud heart; never has the appoint
iment to that distinguished position needec
more careful consideration, or demanded I
wiser adjustment Of all the relations in
volysd in the selection. In the choice h
has made, Mr.. Lincoln has bestowed it upo
the man who ameng all his compeers, stand
out, by common assent, as best fitted By ma
ture and education to fulfill its duties.