Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-05-24
Chief Justice Chase and the Trial OF jefferson
Davis.

We stated in 2n article day two since in re-
ference to the trial of Ex-President Jefferson Da
Wis., that Chief Justice Chase had shown an evil
dent disposition not to preside at the trial. We
had seen it stated that possibly his position a
lawyer and politician previous to the war might
be quoted against him Judge, as he was con-
sidered as thorough believer in and teacher of
the most ultra States rights doctrines Mr.. Davis
himself. In confirmation of this fact, the Cincin-
natl Enquirer of late date furnishes some very
Richmond Dispatch. The evidence was brought
out as follows
The Cincinnati Commercial was formerly the or
gan of Judge Chase, but declined to follow him
into the Radical camp, and now sustains Presi-
dent johnson. One of its correspondents, who is
declared to be ga gentleman well known as one of
the leading and most talented Republicans in
Ohio, has volunteered to assist the Commercial
and has supplied it with evidence from the record
to convict Judge Chase of gross inconsistency not
to say Hypocrisy We quote from the letter of
this distinguished Republican the following state
ments:
The true of the persistent efforts of certain po
ticians the Radical school prevent the trial of Jer
Davis before civil tribunal is, that such trial
would make patent to the public the fact that in regard to
the doctrine of State rights upon which Jefferson Davis
justified secession and against coercion by the Gener
expressed opinions on Electrically plaforns.'
ADVISED
slave States rather than resort armed coercion which
in lat Of the State gs me 9a n Me-
reports 1872 to the celebrated Obern fugitive
in 1889 reported Ninth Ohio State Reports when
Governor of Ohio. through the Attorney General p
prisoners convicted of violation
from the Cleveland jail aud openy declared that he would
against that of the Supreme Court of the United States
even if it resulted in collision with the General Govern
men ro ~, t,,v r t,o Chief touches the
subject Of Dayiss trial SO gnsery it is well to examine
writ of GbedS corpus had been made returnabe before
the judges at Columbus the 25th of May 1852 The
day previous May d immense convention assembled
at Cleveland where portion OF the prisoners were con
fined in Jail"
After describing the meeting, this most talen
ted Republican " 1--WE like to cite good authority
proceeds to quote froma speech made to the crowo
by Mr.. Chase, who was then Governor of Ohio
as published the next dayin the Cleveland Herald
Mr.. Chase said
I do not wish to say, is proper for to say
is left to the court to determine is matter
between them the people and God will only say VIVA
Ohio remains as sovereignty and 30 long as am Chic
the Of her courts shall be @ d
sighted resisted but long as represent the sover
eighty of State will that the process OF State
courts shall not be inerferred with, but shall be fully
: forced When am called upon to act
will act. Immense appiause.l In con
cuding he had not given uterance to all he wished tC
say but what he had said he willing to live by and te
die by" ~
This speech was, of course, censured by those
persons who we're in favor of executing the fugi
. tive slave law To which censures the Ohio Stat.
Journal, published at Columbus, and speaking il
behalf of Governor Chase replied as follows
GAS for the carping criticism Governor Chase
need only he simply declared his determination to dc
his duty Executive Of the State of Ohio To
the Judgment Of the Supreme Court executed We
mo doubt he viii make good his word whenever the
present ITSELF