Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-14
OFFICIAL rMpRopRrErY.

ofthe United States, it touched nothingnot as
spotless itself Among other painful evil
dences Of the degeneracy of the times, the
American people are made to feel that it has
now fallen upon shoulders which will bring
it 10 contamination. Chief Justice CHASE
has given no evidence, either before or since
his induction upon this high sphere of duty,
that he possessed the comprehensive and
balanced intellect-the varied and profound
jHridical acquirements-or that severe and
serene sense Of justice which distinguished
his illustrious predecessors and the country
may well blush to see that one so evidently
inferior in these great and essential require
ments in the first Judge Of the land, is con-
stantly seeking occasion to obtrude upon the
public notice qualities which show him posi-
lively unfit for the position, and emitting no
opportunity 10 bedraggle the robe which
JOHN MARSHALL adorned by the wearing,
in the foul mixture Of fanaticism and party
politics by means of which he raised himself
to the eminence he enjoys.
We are sensible Of the sacredness which
should invest the character of the Judiciary,
and are reluctant TO assist in revealing the
blemishes which mar the character of one
whose daily personal and official life should
scrupulously seek to entitle him to all the
respect and reverence which such station
demands but, if the nation is to be called
to regret that its supreme judicial magis-
trate is dishonoring the personnel of Ameri-
can Jurisprudence, and defling the wool
sack by hcentiOus participation in the
political intrigues and combinations of this,
the most licentious and corrupt era in
American politics, it is the fault of Chief
Justice CHASE and not of the Independent
journalist whose sense of duty calls him to
expose and rebuke it.
For his arraignment and condemnation
one need not review his political career an
tecedent to his Judicial elevation, marked
as it is, we think, with more than the ordi-
nary share of errors, not to say crimes,
which distinguished political characters have
been and may be guilty of; for it is of COM
mon observation that frequently men who,
in the fierce jousts and struggles Of the po-
litical arena have been guilty of acts which
fair and Just criticism would be forced to
condemn as lacking in principle have, when
lot al 20, 10 oh 80,
and exhibited impartiality, uprightness,
and a devotion to the great princi-
piles Of right which are there to be ex-
pounded and applied
These, in the case Of the present Chief
Justice, fragrant as they are, might be
overlooked, if his subsequent deport-
ment gave any evidence of this salutary
reformation. One might forget that
commencing political life, as he did, an
ultra Democrat, he forsook his party Or
ganization and coalescing with the anti
slavery faction then having accidental power
to control an election, accepted high Office
and turned his face in the direction of a
policy Numerically opposite to his every
previous profession. He might ignore his
action at a later date as Governor of Ohio,
when in the service of the same party to
which he had sold himself, he openly averred
at Columbus and Cleveland, extreme State
sovereignty doctrines, stopping only at the
very verge of State resistance to the execu-
ton Of Federal law passed in pursuance of
a plain provision of the Constitution. He
might forbear TO contrast this course with
the prominent part which be bore in the late
action Of the Government in putting down
and furnishing men for the practical applica-
ton of these same State rights principles.
He might refrain from abiding TO the awk-
ward attitude in which he is now placed in
regard to State prisoners who may be placed
before him for trial for that very offence,
and the unmanly equivocation he has en-
ployed in the discharge of his duty in that
regard. He might close the record of the
abortive Peace Conference in the earlier
part Of 1861, and condone in Mr.. CHASE the
unpatriotic and uncompromising spirit with
which he there wrought against every plan
for adjustment; the cold atrocity with which
he secuted every appeal for peace from both
sections of the country; the audacious hardi-
hood with which he bounded on the then
halfuuleashcd dogs Of war; the imperturba-
BILE sang yfroid with which during the war he
witnessed the desolation he had done so
much to produce; and the scarcely less
than devilish zeal with which he sought TO
intensity the strife, and to intermix in the
" hell-broth Of this nations troubles every
element of mischief conceivable TO soul
less and scheming partizan who found in the
fanaticism of some, and the frenzied patriot
ism of others of his countrymen, the mate
rial for his selfish ends. All these, and more
which need not be enumerated, might be
pardoned and committed to the sealed book
of the past, If, since ascending the august
tribunal ofiustice, this man had manifested
an appreciation ofthe proprleties and solemn
responsibilities of the post But he has not,
and hence the shameful spectacle he pre-
sents.
Instead of preserving the reticence upon
political topics practissd by his predecessors,
so eminently becoming his delicate and dig
nifed Office, he has travelled over the coun-
try and addressed popular assemblages Of
all colors, and on all occasions, upon the
most exciting and distracting questions of
the day, seemingly forgetful that he might
be required to sit in official judgment upon
them, and apparently reckless ofeverything
but the advancement of party interests. He
has 50 demeaned himself that his name,
coupled with political intrigues and aspira-
'tf@n-~ -. a.Sward in the mouth Of tAe-Bo--
hemians who infest the capital and the
larger cities. The first judicial officer of
the Government, he enters the cabals of the
yirulent enemies ofthe first executive officer,
and is a leading spirit in movements which
have, we know not what of future trouble, in
contemplation. Called few days since to
address religious body under the manage
ment of a company of ladies, he utters few
platimdes Of cheap gospel, and then in vio-
lation Of all taste and decorum introduces
Al. E;..J D:ul.. h;n 81 81, ;r.,,,~,...s Il 4,