Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-05
H n. THOMAS,
An AnnrrIoN Thar Is NOT NOBLE.

Chief Justice Chase seems determined
20 be president. He made a high bid to.
day for the radical vote. In abiding 70
the powers OF congress over the question
Of reconstruction, be said congress pos
sessed the entire power, including that OF
c0nhscatiOn, and that, should there be q
q slip upon the present reconstruction
acts, he bad no doubt n law cOnfscating
southern property would be passed. This
is certainly 8 step forward Of the position
occupied by the chief justice while hold
ing his circuit court In the state Of North
Carolina. Then he recognized the rights
Of the southern states under the consti-
tuition. de now seems to be stealing
Mr.. Stevens thunder, and talks outside
Of the constitution about confiscation
without trial and conviction. Mr.. Chase
has evidently the inside track and be is
determined 10 hold it Washington Cor.
Boston Post.
ROGER b. TANEY was appointed Chief
Justice by General JACKSON, in consid-
Grafton Of his services as Secretary Of the
Treasury, in removing the public de-
posts from the Bank Of the United
States and il was feared that his psrti-
Ianship would soil the ermine. But he
WA 3 great lawyer, and he became at
Onc the great judge, ~ pure and disin-
terested and impartial as HARDwICKE
or Holt or SOMERs. IL was not long
until al, even the men bitterly preju-
diced, admitted that his elevation to the
Chief Justiceship wa well deserved and
from the day when be took his seat upon
the bench, be was never known 10 inter
NEEDLE in politics.
Mr. Chief Justice CHASE Ia, in private
life an estimable man but by his singu-
larry eensuTsbie course since be became 8
Judge, he has repeatedly disgraeed the
ermlne he wears and never more 50, II
the above statement be true, than 10 de-
claring in advance his opinion upon the
validity Of the reconstruction acts, and
Of the proposed measures Of c~ondscation.
If he has done what is here attributed
30 him, he has committed a grave Of
fence, for which be deserves impeach-
ment. MOI il there anything that can
more dishesrten = true lover Of constltu-
tional liberty, (which cannot long exist
without an independent and impartial
judiciary, than to know that the highest
judicial officer Of the Government de-
clares in advance what his opinion
Is as 70 the grayest questions that can
be presented to 8 court, and which
are certain 10 come before him
20 he adjudged. To advance his opin-
il advance upon such questions, for
the purpose Of Strengthening his claims
As 3 candidate for the Presidency Is, as
every honest and just man must admit,
unworthy aud dishonOrable act.
Egs.y sutton has the right 10 demand
that the judge, like the juror, who is to
try his case, shall not have committed
against crime, and shall be open
Ia conviction by argument.
A degDotism, with An upright and IN
dependent Judiciary, may be telersble,
md men may under it possess the most
,sIusble rights of frsemen. A corrupt
n p~reiudiced Judiciary makes 3 demo-
Government absolutely intoler-
II the Chief Justice has no respect
his Office he ought at least to respect
in,asll And fit is possible that 3 nom
-, sor the Presidency can be So
or his prospects for it Improved, by
- a violation Of proprietyr that
- "a shock the moral sense Of any !
Rsdlcslism viii prove itself to
, - hl,terest curse and direst calamity .
- wFleh God can aaiet and disgrase c
soupty.