The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-06
The Chase.Sumner Political Movement
Social War Threatened.

The Chase. Sumner Political Movement
Social War Threatened.
The real purpose of Chief Justice
Chase letter TO his friends in the West
urging the organization Of a new party
and the obiectof his mission South, are
daily becoming more apparent. The
more the mystery is unravelled the
more manifest the mischief which
his schemes will produce. The asser-
ton in his speech to the negroes OF
Charleston that he was no longer IN the
councils of the administration might,
without supporting evidence, have been
passed over as q mere flourish OF words.
But unfortunately for the Chief Justice,
he has left us no opportunity to place
that charitable construction upon 1t.
The whole tenor of his speech was that
of a firebrand gratuitously thrown into
a difficult and complicated question
AS bold as it appeared at the time, &C
cumulatiDg eviderce proves II to have
been made after due deliberation and
not at random, without forethOught It
seems that his combinations were made
before he left, and his tour through the
canebrakes, cotton and rice fields OF
the South was only a part Of grand
scheme for the promulgation OF ideas
which he and his associates imagined
would place him in the Presie c ltlal
chair at the close Of Mr.. JOhusOn.s
term. With that one idea, prompted
solely by an inOrdinate ambition, he
sets himself up in opposition to the gov
eminent, and promulgetes theories ana
dogmas which, if followed up in the
same spirit, VIII plunge the whole
Southern country into a social war more
dreadful in its results than the rebel
lion which has so suddenly collapsed.
Nor is the Chief Justice the only
public man engaged in this mischiev-
Gus work. Senator Sumner, Yho in his
public career has given unInlstaEable
proof that he was the possessor Of but
one idea, has boldly entered upon a
like crusade, and arrayed himself
against the President, evidently acting
with an understanding with Mr.. Chase.
As soon as Mr.. Johnson assumed the
reins of the government, Mr. Sumner
made an effort 10 control his official
action and secure his assistance IN car
ryi0g on this appendix warfare 10 the
abolition question, and thus plunge the
country into sangulnary social war
Finding it impossible to draw Presi-
dent johnson into his schemes be al
once plants himself in opposition. A
letter was cooked up, purportlng TO
come from colored men in North Caro-
lina. addressed to Senator Sumner,
which enabled him to place himself on
record and lay the foundation for an
nti-administrstion movement To
this Mr.. Sumner replied in the follow
ing style, under date Of
WASHINGTON, May l3, 1865
Gentlemen-I am glad that the cItl-
zens of North Carolina are ready 70
take part in the organization of gov
ernment. It is unquestionsbly their
right and duty.
1 see little chance Of peace and tran,
guilty in any rebel State unless the
rights of all are recognized without dis.
tinction of color. On this foundation
we must build
The article from the New York
Herald) on recousructi0n to which YOU
call my attention proceeds on the idea
of slavery, that persons with a white
skin are the only ''oitizens. This Is a
mistake.
AS YOU do me the honor to ask me
the proper stand for you 70 make, 1
have no hesitation in replying that You
must insist on all the rights and priyl-
leges Of citizen. They belong to you,
they are yours; and whoever under
takes to rob you Of them is a usurper
and an imposter.
CT course you viii take part in any
primary meeting for political organlEa-
ton, open to citizens generally, and
viii not miss any opportunity to show
your loyalty and fidelity.
Accept my best wishes, and believe
me. gentlemen, faith fully yours,
CHARLES SUWEE
This letter, although short, is explic-
It and unmistakable in It's meaning
! Its purpose is evident to the most cas-
ual observer. knowing, as he must q,
the time. thst the President held that
the question of conierring the privilege
l OF suffrage upon the colOred people oi
I the So1th rested exclusively with the
| States, he endeavors to stir up feud
| and create a dissatisfaction among TIM;
class. Like tie speech Of Chief lstic=
/ Chase. its whons tendency ls TO iuclte
! the negroes 20 insurrectiOu by giving
them the Impression that the govern
! ment is against them. There IS not O
/ word In the communication COUNSEL
ing obedience or respect 20 the laws Of
/ the government They ask for dIrec,
ton, and he, in response, couusels them
TO take part in the organization Of the
/ government that ii is their right and
duty. In the face Of the fact that there
/ IA no law in their State or IN tae constI
/ tuticn of United States recognizing
/ that right, be tells them that ia Sc who
| oppose tnem are usurpers and I'm
/ posters-thus giving the negroes the
! cue 70 engage IN riots and insured
! tions in the face and teeth Of the law
As well as couneiling opposition 10 the
A administration. What else can such
aching lead 70 but a bloody socia
war between the races in the south
Suppose, for instance, that Mr. sum.
ner should advise the colored people
Of the State Of New York-who are eZ
cluded from heright Of suffrage by the
property clause in our State COnstitu
tion-that they had right 70 vote SAINT
as all Others, who could for p momen
doubt the evil intent OF such adylc6
There could be but one result If th,
class referred 70 attempted 10 fol.oF
/ the direction. Such advice would bl
considered an effort 70 justify the ne
gro to resist sll who endeavoFed 70 pre-
Vant their exercising the elective fran
ehise. Senator sumner has just .