Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-28

thOse who had fought gallantly In our ranks,
% keep the Jewel Of Liberty In the family Of
Freedom. -
A year later this suggestive inquiry deepeusd
into a settled conviction. On the evening ofllth
April 1855, In response 10 the congratulations of
the eltigens Of washing gton over the fall Of Rich
mond, the President read from the portioo Of the
White House a carefully written speech, 10
which, referring 70 the Louisiana Reorganization,
at is unsailSfnetory 70 some 10 know The elee.
tive franchise II not given 70 the cOlored man.
wonid myssn prefer that II were now conferred
on Intelligent eolored men, aud on those who
serve our cause aA aoldierH.f
Such were Mr. Lineoln'a = views, expressed with
all the doliberatlon OF grave political mani
festo, throo days before his death. Fortunately
there is authentic evidence that they remained
unchanged 10 the end. .'
In tho midst Of the general eeataey Of the re.
loieing over the surrondeI OF Joo'a army, the
following letter, never before published, was
addressed BY Chief justice Chase to the Prcsl.
dent:
-..aH."f BALrfnoRR, April II, 1895.
MT DEAR sra. Whom all mankind are eongrAt-
ulaiihR you, ono voice. heard or not, IL Of little
account; butI add mine.
am very anxious about the future, aud most
about the principles which arc to govern rcor.
ganixation for, as these principles are sound or
unsound, 30 will be the work aud Its results.
You have no time 10 read II long letter, nor
have time 10 write onoi 80 will be brief.
And hrst ~ 10 Virginia. By the action of every
| branch Of the Government, we Ars committed 10
the recognition and maintenance Of the State
| organization Of which Governor PloTpont II tho
head. Yon know all the facts, and recsPitulation
would be useless, There will bo pressure for
the recognition Of the rebel organization on con
diton Of the profession Of loyalty II will be far
easier and Wiser, in my Judgment, to stand by
| the loyal organization alruady recognized.
Aud next ~ 10 the other rebel States.
The ehslsst aud safest way seems " mo 10 be
The enrolment Of the loyal citizens without regard
10 complexion, aud encouragement and support
| Of them In the reorganization Of state govern :
meuts, under constitutions securing suffrage to
all citizens OF proper age aud uncOnVictod Of
| crime THIS you know, has long been my Op'n
ion. Il h eohArfned by observation, moro aud
more. ".. frsH. . -g.s. ..
This way Ia recommended by %. simplicity
la1illiy. Apd, aboyp ALL Justice. II Will be here
amer countod equally a erinlo aud folly u ID,
eulOrcd oyaists of the rebel shitos are Ten to IN,
control oi restored rebels, not likely, Ia thai
case, to he ellhor wise or just until taught both
wlsdom and justice by now calamitlos.
Til" application Of this principle to Louisiana
N made somewhat dlnicult by the organization
which has already taken place bat, happily
| tho Constitution authorizes tho Legislature "a
extend the right OF sufragei and II is not 10 b.
| doubted that, on u suggestion from the national
authorities that Its eNtonSlOn 10 oOlOred citizens,
on equal terms with white ritlEcnS IL believed ~
be ssscHtiAl 10 tho future tranquility Of the
country, rs we'll ~ Just In itsolf the Legislature
will promptly act in ths desired direction.
What reaches me Of the condition of things Ia
Louisiana, impresses me strongly with the be.
lief that this extension will be Of the greatest
benefit 10 the whole population.
| The same result can Be secured In Arkansas by
/ an amendInont of the state Constitution, OF, what
| would be better, think, by new Convention,
| the members of which should be elected by the
loyal citizens, without distinction ot color To
all thh other States tho general principle may be
| easily applied. 10 I'...0. ... .''..
InOst respectfully, but most earnestly com
mend these matters 20 your attention. God gives
you great place and great opportunity. May
He guide you ia tho use Of them -
| | noticed this morning your proala nation
| closing the ports, aud WIS glad 10 soc II. | pre-
sumo tho law Of forfeiture was well considered
aud also tho effect Of discrimination Rganbt for.
elgn vessels. ''
| 7 MoHtreapeclfully aud truly yours,
To tho ptosident. &, y. CHAsE.
AHOTItRa LKrrKR PR0M aIR. CHASE TO NM LIEoOLN
The nsxi day the Chief Justice Addressed IN,
Prvhdont again on the same rublcct:
DAIrIAORg, ApTil IL
DRAR sRi The American Ut this morning con
tainS your speech of last evening Seeing thai
you say something on tho subject Of my letter /,
you uyesterday--reOrganlEAl On--and refer ,lhougl
Without nAinlng mo, TO tho suggestl0pA made Ii
rcla,lohto the amnesty proclamation, when 70,
brought Il before the heads OF Departments I will
add Home observations TO what have abroad,
WTitten ...'....Tr 49,. -....- H., f.., ~
/ recollsot the suggestions you mention 10!
Impression Is that tbsy were IN writing. Their
:
| | I think was not In writing Ittsdlstinct In m,
I memory, though d0ubtless forgottsn by YOU
was An bJeotion to the rostrietlon Of participa
tiOn In reorganization TO persons having the quail
IheauOns Of voters under the laws in force Jus
before rebellion. Ever since QUE stiuns of recon
Htruetlon have been talked about II has been an,
opinion that colorsd 10y ought 10 be Allowe
TO participate In III and Il was because OF thll
opinion that was anxious to have this quostioI
left omen aid not however, say much abou
the restriction, was The only ono who Vxprosss,
a wish for its omission, and did not desire /,
seem pertinaoiouS. .t-0 .-.-'. |.~I'
! You will remember, doubtless, that the frs
order ever issued for enrolment, with view /
: reorganization, went to General shenley an
directed the enrolment Of all loyal citiIehs; an,
| suppose that since the opinion of Attorney 0Sn
I eral bates, no one eonnaeied with your AdiniRiH
lTAtion has questioned tho citizenship of frpo col
7 oTed men more Than that OF free white men
/, The restriction IN the Amnesty Proclamatio
, operated ~ a revocation Of the order Of Genera
/ wSdiSa 70 any particular plan Of fssoastrustlou
] hoped that The reflection and observation wOul
satisfy you that the restrielion should not be ad
! hered TO. ! fully sympathiIe With your desir
for The restoration OF the Uni0n by the change q
/ rebel slave States into Union FREQ States, an
was willing, " could not get exactly the pla
I I thought best to take the plan you though bes
and trust 10 the fnture for modification
Know you attach much importance 10 the Nd
, mission ~ Louisiana, or rather 10 her right
reprrsontailon h Congress, a. loyal stats In ~
Union, II l am not misluiormed, there
| nothlng ip The way except the lndiHposluQn (
her Legisiaturg 10 give proof satisfactory olioy
} atty ~ Gsnme,ent guarsnlee o. ssfe.y and Jn.