Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-23

lore Dr.f I0uey's Deatns ana what AZ
ter it---The Subsequent Pressure and
its EGects---The OhIO:DeIegatIOn and
its Embarrassments. -s
Special Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazettel
WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
Now that the appointment of Chi eff Jus
tice Is made, the question recurs, HWas
there ever any doubt about it2n
GAn occasional correspondent" to whose
views hsbitually defer, not less out of es-
teem for his former standing il the pro-
fession than for his present high official po-
sition, lately found occasion to say, in the
| Gazette:
"There wass time when the appointment
Of Mr.. Chase as Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court seemed highly probable. It
is not true, however, that the President has
expressed any intention of rendering the
place to the Ex-Secretary. He has no COM
mitment whatever in regard to that ap-
pointment. The chances of Mr.. Chase Ger
tainly have not been improved by the in
dustrious little faction which has already"
etc, ETC., etc.
The covert arguments against Mr..
Chase's appointment that followed need no
notice. The President has sufficiently ans
wered them; but There is one error Of fact
in the above extract so grave as even yet
to require correction.
THE PRESIDENTS HcoE1uTMEETs."
The President had Commitments in re-
gard to that appointment" and the facts
connected with them are very greatly to
his credit. The Chief Justiceship is po-
sition so august (''the first Judicial posi-
sAsz ii-as tho -Ezaniaa Pest
ftly calls It, that the details connected
with an appointment to it, are of historic
al value. I propose, therefore, to tell in
brief just what the Presidents Hcommit-
ments" were in this matter of nominating
the man whose decisions are to shape the
reconstruction of the Union on the basis of
Impartial Freedom, and to mould the juris-
prudence Of this Nation-let US fervently
hope-wen nigh to the verge of the Twen-
tieth Century.
TO A NEW ENGLAND SENATOR.
One night last winter-just about the
time the agitation on nomination or renom-
ination for the Presidency. was at its hight,
Chief Justice Tszey was supposed to be
dying. A distinguished New England Sen
ator went to the President at very late
hour of the night, to bear him the news of
so momentous an impending event. The
conversation at once turned upon the sp-
pointment that, next morning, might give
Freedom the control of that ancient bull
wark of Slavery. Mr.. Chsse's name was
mentioned, and the question was discussed
at length in all its bearings. The Senator
retired with the distinct assurance from the
President, that Mr.. Chase should be asked
to ascend to the vacant seat.
But powerful stimulsnts were employed,
and Chief Justice Tsney revived. The con-
test for the nomination to the Presidency
continued; Mr.. Chase fually withdrew, new
complications arose and he retired from the
Cabinet, and the name of David Tod was
sent to the Senate as his successor.
TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE sEN-
ATE.
Few will fail to recollect that the Fl
nance Committee of the Senate, headed by
Senator Fessenden himself, Immediately
waited upon the President to demonstrate
against the acceptance of Mr.. Chase's res
ignatioD, and to represent the danger to
the national credit it involved. ThePres.
/
tween Mr.. Chase and himself; explained
that he had accepted the resignation be.
cause they had point of mutual embar-
s-Ssl.lsa4El ilI- -Ghsir OrOial relations, which
could no longer be overcome or sustained
and added, that such was, nevertheless, hi!
probation saf Mr-. Chasa,s abilities and no.
sition that, he should offer the place Of Chiei
Justice to him, if it should become vacant
at any time during his Administration.
Such are the known statements of the
President, voluntarily made before the elec.
tion, and before the death Of Chief Justice
Taney.
| COMMITMENTS AFTER TANEY's DEATH.
Since the latter event, and prior to the
pressure that began to bedeveloped for Mr.
Chase with the gathering of the Congress
men, I reckon no less than hVedistinct oc
casions on which the President said to g!
many gentlemen, one of them cabinet ofH
Ger, the Others all prominent public men
that be Hintended to appoint Mr., Chase t.
the Chief Justiceship,, or still stronger
words 10 the same effect.
THE CHATTERABoUT OTHER CANDIDATES
Mean time tan industrious little faction
of bitter personal enemies Of Mr.. Chase hac
been filling all the avenues of public opin
ion with the game OF bluff. "Mr. Stanton
was to be appointed" HJudge Davis was II
be promoted" "Mr. Chase's friends nov
gave up" at was perfectly certain that
under no circumstances could Mr.. Chase b
appointed" "1he contest lay between
Judge Swayne and William N. Evsrts
with Montgomery Blair fayoring the for
mer, iuOrder to get an associate justiceshil
for himself" The telegraphers to the dai
" press, the conduct Of many of whom il
the matter was throughout sufficiently dis
creditable to warrant all the virtuous thing
which the newspapers that can't sfforC
Washington correspondents are constant
" saying against them, allowed themselVe
TO be used to keep up this constant chat
ter; until, when Ocngressmen began t.
come in, they were thoroughly alarmed.
THE PRESSURE FOR CHASE AND VIII
MADE IT.
A pressure for Mr.. Chase was at one
spontaneously developed which has scarce
" parallel in the history Of executiv
appointments. "I observe" said tn
President Hthat most of the gentlemen
who were warm friends of mine as sgains
Mr.. Chase for the Presidential nomination
are now equally warm friends of Nj
Chase for the Chief Justiceship." Illinoi
was Eolid fer him-so was Missouri. Th
Iowa delegation waited upon the Presiden
in a body TO urge him. Senators Sumne
snd Wilson were instant, in season an
out of season. So were leading Pennsy
vanisns and New Yorkers. "In Indians
Mr., President" said Henry 8. LAM