The evening Argus., 1866-04-24
A NATIONAL CALAMITY AND DIS
GRACE.
Chief Justice Chase.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

There was very general feeling at the time OF
Mr.. Chase's appointment to the cnieI !aaseship
of the United States that bis legal attainments
were not such as to qualify him for the great
Office, and that life spent in feverish political
struggles had spoiled him for the dispasslonate
and impartial investigation OF truth But it was
hoped, even by those who liked and trusted him
least, that he would endeavor, by patient study
to prepare himself to render learned Judgment,
and, by rigid Remuneration of partisan preludices,
to give honest ones.
Is was presumed, very naturally, that the
measure of his ambition would be filed when be
found himself the occupant OF the highest judi
cial seat in the land the seat in which Jay, and
Rutledge, and EIlswor, h, and Marshall, and Taney
had won fame far more precious than any which
can be conquered in the strife OF the hustings,
or conferred by the fieeting breath of popular
applause. But Mr.. Chase has disappointed eve
rybody. Instead of betaking himself to study
and esehewing politics, be signalized his entrance
upon judicial life BY making tour through the
south, in which he was not sparing of stump
speeches.
On his return from this journey he delivered a
harangue at Dartmouth college, in which, while
he freely admitted the mental in capacity Of the
negroes, and conceded that their moral defects
were more striking than any positive virtues
which he had discovered among them, he yet
claimed that they should have votes> every one
of them, and without delay-because thev had
the physical power to thlo them into the bal.
lot-box, where they were needed to perpetuate
power in the hands of the republicans. The
end, which he regarded as one Of paramount i'm
portance, in his Judgment justified the means
which he acknowledged were extremely bad
We refer anybody who doubts the possibility oi
chief justice of the United States indulging
IN such talk as this to his speech, as reported al
the time IN all the prominent journals of the
country.
He has not nended his ways since the meeting
of congress, but has given infinitely more atten-
tion to the schmes of the radicals on it's floor
than to the causes argued in his court He is
conspicuous in their secret councils he ia no.
torous the chief adviser Of those in opposition
to the president, and his comments upon current
politics have become SO cheap that newspaper
letter-writers record personal interviews with
him on the latest radical trick and the last scur
rilous fling of Mr.. Stevens at Andrew Johnson.
He has even sought confdant in Mr.. Tilto,. ot
the New York Independent whose talent for re-
failing the gossip of the capitol makes him q
most desirable listener. Meantime, he has posi
lively refused to do bis duty, and has been
guilty of plain denial of justice. for which hi
ought to be impeached, in declining to hold cour
in Virginia and give Jefferson Davis the speed,
and impartial trial assured to him, and all othe,
prisoners in bonds, by the constitution of tbei,
country.
We observe that Mr.. Chase is again on tn,
stump-hence these remarks His last spsect
was to a female association in New York ant
was devoted to the exposition of the civil right
bill, and the necessity of following it up with ne
gro suffrage. 1t was the harangue of a dema
gogue throughout-an appea! to passion and pre
judice, in which argument and reason wer,
ignored. Fancy any one of MIR. Chases grea
predecessors throwing Oh his Judicial robe, for
saking his high seat, and joining pot-house wranr
lers on equal terms to advocate the devices of
political party. Fancy Marshall at ward meet
ing, or Taney ON the balcony of hotel, biddip,
for the cheers of crowd. The study and ,h
courtroom engrossed the hours of those pur
and useful lives. But Mr.. Chase finds the hlaz
of the torchlights pleasanter than the flicker o
midnight oil, and the gossip of living demago
CUES more congenial than the recorded wisdom
of the dead sages of the law.