Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-07-15


profession bereft of its brightest orna-
ment.
Abraham LIneoIn's Last Letters from Chief
w Justice Chase.
BALTIMoRE, April IL, 1S65.-MY DEAR
SIR:-When all mankind are congratu-
lating you, one voice, heard or not, is
of little account; but / add mine.
L am anxious about the future; and
most about the PRINCIPLES which are to
govern reorganization; for as theseprin-
[ciples are sound or unsound, so will be
the work and its results.
You lTavp no time to read a long let
ter. nor have / time to write one; so j
will be brief. ISIS i = ( ist1 =
And first, as to Virginia. BY the ac-
ton OF. every branch of the. Government
we are committed to the recognition and
maintenance of the State organization
of which Governor PieIpont is the head,
You know all the facts, and recapitula-
ton would be useless. There will be a
pressure for the recognition of the Reb-
ell organization, ON co .dition of the pro-
fession of loyalty It will be far easier
and wiser, in my judgment, to stand by
the loyal organization already recog
niZed.
And next, as to the other Rebe
States. r.tA
The easiest and safest way seems Il
be the enrolment of the loyal citizen.
without regard TO complexion, and en-
couragement and support of them in the
reorganization of State Governments
under constitutions securing suffrage II
all citizens of proper age and uncOnvict
ed of crime. This, young now, has lone
been my opinion. tits confirmed b,
observation more and more.
This way Is recommended by its sim
plicity, facility, and above all, justice
1t viii be hereafter counted equally 1
crime and folly if the colored loyalist.
of the rebel States are left to the contro
of restored rebels, not likely, in tina
case, to be either wise or just, unit
Taught both wisdom and Justice by new
calamies.
The application of the principle tt
Louisiana is made somewhat difficult by
the organization which has already ia
ken place; but, happily, the Constitu
tion authorizes the Legislature to ex-
tend the right of suffrage; and &c is not
to be doubted that, ON a suggestion
from the national authorities thatits ex-
tension to colored citizens, on equal
terms with white citizens, is believed
to be essential to the future tranquil
ity tof the country, as well as just in it.
self, the Legislature will promptly act in
the desired direction. What reaches
me of the condition of things in Lou1si
ana impresses mestrongly with the be.
lief that this extension will be of the
greatest benefit to the whole population.
The same. result can be secured IN
Arkansas by an amendment to the State
Constitution, or, what would be better,
L think, by a new Convention, the MEM
bers of which should be elected by the
loyal citizens, without distinction of
color. TO all the other States the gen.
eral principle may he easily supplied
i most respectfully but most earnest
ly commend these matters to your at
tention. God gives You a great place
and a great opportunity. May He guide
you in the use of them &2fS sAA~S1A
noticed this morning YOUR proclaim
alton closing the ports, ld was glad to
see it.. j presume the law of forfeiture
was well considered, and also the effect
of discrimination against foreign vessels.
Most respectfully and truly yours,
To the President. s. p. CHASE.
The next day the Chief Justice adj
dressed the President again ON the same
subject: se-4 ~ I"
ss BxIhlsIoER,April 12-DRAR Sm:-The
American of this morning contains your
speech of last evening. Seeing that you
say something on the subject of my let
ter to you neutrality-suspicious.
and refer, though without naming me,
to the suggestions made in relation to
the amnesty proclamation, when you
brought it before the heads of the De-
partments, Twill add someobseryations
to what / have already written.
i recollect the suggestions you men
ton; nv impression is that they were in
writing. There was another which you
do not mention, and which, i think was
not In writing. IT. distinct IN my
memory, though doubtless forgotten by
you. 1t was an objection to the restric-
ton of participation in reorganization
to persons having the. qualifications of
voters under the laws in force Just be-
fere the rebellion. Ever since questions
of reconstruction have been talked about,
it has been my opinion that colored
loyalists ought TO be allowed to parti-
cipate in it; and it was because of this
opinion that. / was anxious to have the
EquestiOn left open. / did not, however,
say much about the restriction. / was
the only one who expressed q wish for
omission, and did not desire to seem
pertinaoious. sggf ~
You will remember, doubtless, that
the first order ever issued for enroll
mept, with q view 90 reorganization,
went. to Gen. Shepley, and directed the
enrolment of all loyal icitizens; and ]
suppose thai. since the opinion of At
torney- General Bates, no one connect
ed with your Administration has ques-
toned the citizenship of free colored
men, more than that of free white men.
The restriction In the amnesty proclaim
/ a IL inn aT a