New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-09
ys.E NEW CREEP JUsTsCE.

rssG NEW CaERF JUSTICE.
Five years ago, had any one suggested
sALMoY p. CHASE as TIE probable successor
Of Roger Il. fancy in the most responsible ana
eminent position of Chief Justice Of .he United
States, he would have been regarded as in need
Of straight Jacket. The cha'm thai separated
tae late from the present incumbent OF tha'
station is wider tban that SPANIEL by The
twenty-years' sleep of Zip Van Wrinkle TO which
he las down loyal subject Of KIM G'orse ana
awokc a fellow citizen Of President Warrington
The death Of Judge fancy during TIE night
following The popular vote whereby Maryland
was made Free state marked the clos, o. an
era; On. accession Of Judge Chase ma-hs tire
commencement o. another. Tho passing away
OF the one, the opening Of the other, occurin the
midst Of a gigantic civil convulsion "hih has
piled the earth with IT, slain and filled tie SKY
with the smoke OF If. conlagrationS; bit we
need not doubt that the angry clouds OF 'attlc
and havoc viii soon be iliumined b. The bon
OF Cancellation and peace.
The unanimity and heartincss whercwith SoY
ChaseS appointment has been welcomed aguo
a general apIrecist OH Of tho changed atti'u'c 81
orr country-flr more general than had pre-
yiousy been realized. The climor ana cash
OF parties in oar late Presidential contest 1--we
given place to general conviction that Imla
tial Liberty is hencoiorth 20 be the fundamental
law Of the Republic: hence the instructive lcr-
cep.on tAat Gov. Chase is the very man for
Chief Justice. For more than twenty yeas,
he has not only believed but proclaimed tiGt
Liberty in Our Union is the general ard perua-
ucut rule, Slavery The local and transiiory e.
ceniion. He 50 held when to affirm vital faith
in the Rights of Man a. Man was to BID ado
to all hope OF political power or honor3: he has
continued so to hold until, through the madness
Of the Slayeholdng interest, Il has become pos
s;ble to love and uphold Impartial Freedom
without thereby mourning ostracism orpfo''rIp-
ton. His present position adds another TO the
visible, tangible announcements 10 faith ID he
Right, and in the present, palpablc sc'iyily Of
Divine Justice in the affairs OF mankind.
The position of Chief Justice has been filed,
since il was created by the Federal Corsiitl-
ton, b. fur persons, namely. /. John Jag o!
New-York; p Oliver Ellsworth OF Connecticut;
8. John Marshall OF Virginia; 4. Roger Il. Ia
ney Of Maryland. M3ssri. jag aud Ellsworth
were respectively nominated by Wa .5,on;
and each resigned after serving for . lev yeas
only; Judge Marshall was nominated by JOIN
Adams Just before his retirement from the pr So
dency; and Judge fancy by Gen. Jackson N
the later half OF his second term. Marshall
took the office in bis maturcr prime, and he'd It
over thirty. four years dying in 1t at tho rpc ago
Of co; fancy accepted it when nearly TO,
get held it almost thirty years, dying Chief jGs-
tice at the ripe age of -. As Ellsworth lied
TO be ~ and Jay TO be %, the office may be
deemed favorable TO longevity. ana We
may revercntly hOpe that It's now incumbent
has many years Of yigor and Usefulness before
him.
Gen. Dig, in his late able letter to the War
Democrats OF our city, gave emphatic uucrance
10 the widely felt regret that conspicuous ability
i, now less commonly associated with Office then
in tho early years oil our hatiphai c1iSlch'h' II
is well that the post OF Chief Justice should eS-
hibit a signal exception 10 this remark; ami
that, as all who have hitherto filed il have been
cmnently capable as well az personally blame
less citizens their successor in this crisis should
be conicsscdly one Of the very ablcs, and pu7ess
of American jurists and statesmen. And, among
the many strong and good men who were eligible
10 this postion. tho choice ot the President
could have fallen upon none ADLER or worthier
than Salmon L. Chase.