Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-22
THE PRESIDENTIAL INTRIGUING
OF GRIEF JUSTICE CHASE.

One Of the most brilliant Of English
essayists in describing q tumultuous and
demoralized era in British politics, says
of Lord Chatham "The Secretary stood
alone Modern degeneracy had not
reached him" The one man in this coun-
try who, Of all others, in these discordant
times should hold himself farthest aloof,
and scrupulously protecting his official
garments from polluting political contact,
deserve the same high praise, is Salmon
p Chase, Chief Justice Of the United
States 1t seems, however, that the de-
generacy we have suffered is so thoroughly
ingrained, and its faint so all-pervading,
that public virtue is almost extinct and
that the deflement has even touched the
Supreme ermine. 1t has been clearly APP
parent for several years that Mr.. Chase
has been an active aspirant and intrigu-
ant for the Presidency; nor has the
dignifed and delicate position he holds,
as the first Judicial m agistrate, cooled in
the least the coyetous fever Of his ambi-
ton. lie is one of the most callous and
calculating Of our public men and the
country need not be surprised to perceive
within the next six months, that under
meath the ample and flowing robes of the
Chief Justice, he has been secretly shut
fling the Radical cards, and holds the
winning hand for the Presidential nomi-
nation by that party next year
We are not prone to regard the loose
talkoG the New York Herald upon pub
lie men and affairs, as either reliable or
significant but an article in that pa
per Of the 18th inst, in relation to Presi-
dental intrigues, and the movements of
Judge Chase, contains much that is true,
and that may prove him to be master of
the situation among Radical aspirants.
The Herald describes the extensive and
intricate meshes of our national bank
system, of which Judge Chase as Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, was the author, and
Of which, il is intimated, he vet holds the
clue. 1t recounts his adroit tactics in
disposing of rivals, and the bold and
nearly successful game which he played
in the attempted supplanting Of Mr. Lin
coin in 1864 1t declares that he is yet
liz the pursuit of the object of his ambi.
ton, by the same means; and that his
influence has been felt in recent public
occurrences. to an extent that would not
be suspected 1t adds
Nor do his successes in mastering the
Radical situation stop here In the very
outset his management and displacement
Of Mr. Seward as a rival aspirant was a
mastery achievement, though he did not
succeed in the attempted removal of Sew
ard from Lincoln's Cabinet. Nor must il
be forgotten that upon the heels of Lees
surrender Mr.. Chase, in a Southern mis-
sionary tour, secured a pre-emptive claim
70 negro suffrage. Backed up by this
power in the South, and supported by Mr..
johnson passively, and by Secretary Nc
CulloCh actively, in his financial system.
Mr.. Chase may surely be pronounced mas.
ter o fthe Radical situation a; Washington
as matters now stand. His most dangerous
rivals. in their popularity and in their
claims upon the public gratitude, have
been set aside or neutralized by knocking
their heads together. The negro vote of
the South, in the next place is a great Rad
ical card, and this belongs to Chase by
right Of pre-emption. But all these ad- .
vantages gained are only secondary 10 the
stupendous political power pledged to Mr..
Chase in the financial system which he
put in motion, and which the Administra-
ton is pursuing rs zealously as il also
pledged 10 Its designer for the success.
sion.
From the historical events recited, all
neatly dovetailing together, and all con-
sistently working TO the benefit Of Mr..
Chase, we may safely conclude that he has
the Republican convention Of 1865 fairly
within his grasp, and that his defeat therein
can be achieved only by chain Of events
in the interval 10 next spring wholly un-
looked for by Mr.. Chase and his Radical
assistant managers.
s-------------------
THE MAGGOTTY PARTY.
4 Col;r,.,s, ,,,-.,sr,r,, ant nf the CnrinC-