The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-25

An Interview with ChIef Justice Chase
.-.IIIA status ON ReeonAtruetIon..-
What he said about the late EIee-
tionr.
A New York correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial called upon
Chief Justice Chase. during that gen.
tleman's recent visit to New York, and
thus chronicles the impressions result
ing from the interview:
Judge Chase, AS you are well aware,
Is more OF statesman than u politician,
and was never known to be smooth with
his enemy and polite with his friends.
He spoke very freely and frankly on
late events, and his friends had no rea-
son to be alarmed or ashamed OF his
utterances. He said that there was
nothing alarming or dIsheartening in
the late defeats. The old whig party,
the democratic party, and the old free
soil party had all, in their time suffered
defeat, without In any way impairing
their vitality. That II was q popular
as necessary to u free people MS any
part OF constitutional government.
That the only difference between. defeat
now and defeat in the past was TO be
found in the grave questions now at
issue. They went not only to the foun-
dation of the government itself, but
carried shame or good repute In their
solution. This very fact should make
us hopeful, and save US from absurd
panic. The American people will not
abandon an organization that has so
proud record in the past, and SO much
responsibility in the future, when, by
so doing, 1t coniesses Judgment to
shame that will cling to US forever. The
late defeats could be attributed in some
measure, to the eoverWeeniug confidence
in our strength that made US inditfer-
ent to our duty and prone TO quarrel
among ourselves. 1t was providential
that this evil had come TO us now,
when our loss was a barren victory to
our enemies. Next year, when The real
contest comes on, the American people
would awakento the danger, and trust
would be repOsed, as heretofore, in the
hands of the thoughtful, the prudent,
and, above all. the patriotic.
II is a little singular that Il man who
has been before the public as much as
Salmon p. Chase. should be SO misun-
derstuod. He is i'll no sense OF the word
what is popnlarly understood as raGi-
cal-that is, q man whose feelings run
away with his better judgment, and
who goes to extremes more from Im-
pulse than conviction. Judge Chase is,
by temperament, Il conservative, and II
the result of a purely mental process.
Thus, ior example, when abolitionism
was disgrace, and an abolitiOnist was
regarded Hs a hHlf.CraZY fanatic, limi-
ted number of men were of that organi-
Zation from an excess of feeling. Their
good hearts moved them 10 pity for the
slave. Mr.. Chuss Joined this little
band and became prominent, but was
careful to explain that while he COM
miserated the condition the unfortu-
nate negro, he was moved to active OPP
position 10 the exclusive class of white
aristocrHts who owned the negro, and
threatened the liberty OF all.
1 was with Salmon p. Chase in this,
and saw a great deal OF him at the
time mention. i have not been inti-
mate with him of late years, and can
his views. But / will venture to sny
that you are nearer right in your esti-
mate OF his present political status
than Senator Wade, who 80 readily
calls him radical OF his own school.
/ will go further, and assert, without
fear OF contradiction from those who
know him best, that instead of siding
with Stevens, Sumner, and Wendell
Phillips, in their demand for contisca-
lion and hanging, he, alter securing
equal political rights to the negroes of
tho South, iAVorS cOnciliutiOn, and
would seek, by the kindest measures to
heal the wounds of war, and make of
the southern people what has never yet
been done-citizens of IA common conn
try, and brothers of the North. While
on the subject, let me add that the Bit
ter opposition to Judge Chase comes of
his well-known purity of character.
Were he President there would be an
end 10 fat Jobs and national extraVa-
gancs. That is all. sr-rr