The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-18
The Position OF Chief Justice Chase
Correspondence or the Cincinnati Commercial
iRepubllcan1

&c
man came to New York last week. &c
put up at the Metropolitan in a quiet way.
but as the Herald, World, and other Jour.
nails, have made his name prominent in
connection with the late elections. he was
soon surrounded by friends DESTROYS of
seeing him, and the curious, anxious to
hear what he had to say touching the late
disasters in the political field.
Judge Chase, as you arc we'll aware, is
more OF statesman than 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 reason to be
alarmed or ashamed of his utterances. He
saia that there was nothing alarming or
olsheartenlng In the late defeats. The old
Whig party, the Democratic party, and the
old Free-soil party, had oil in their time
suffered defeat without in any way impair
ing their vitality. That it was popular
error to suppose that parties were not as
necessary to free people as 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 foundations 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 it coufesScs
Judgment to a shame that will cling to US
forever.
The late defeats could be attributed, in
some measure, to the overwecning conf
dence in our strength that made us indif-
lerent to our duty and prone to quarrel
among ourselves. 1t was providential that
this evil had come to us now, when our
loss was barren victory to our enemies
Next year, when the real contest comes
on, the American people would awaken to
The danger, and trust would be re-
posed, as heretofore, in the hands Of the
thoughtful, the prudent, and, above ALL
| the patriotic.
These were brave words, and of great
comfort to the friends Of Judge Chase.
Some one called his attention to Senator
Wadc's late exposition made through
your Journal. The Judge laughed, and
said he ought to be assured Of Ben.
Wadc's friendship, for he not only as
serted but swore to it.
1t is little singular that a man who has
been before the public as much as Salmon
p. Chase should be so misunderstood. He
| is in no sense of the word what is popu-
larly understood as Radical-that is, a man
| whose feelings run away with his better
judgment, and who goes to extremes more
from impulse than conviction. Judge
Chase is, by temperament, @ conservative,
and Il he advocates extreme measures, 1t
is the result Of purely mental process.
Thus, for example, when abolitionism was
q disgrace and an abolitionist was regarded
as half-crazy fanatic, a limited number
Of men were of that organization from an
excess of feeling. Their good hearts moved
joined this little band, and became promi-
neHt, but was careful to explain that while
he commiserated the condition Of the IN
fortunate negro, he was moved to active
opposition to the exclusive class of white
aristocrats who owned the negro, and
| threatened the liberty of all.
was with Salmon P. Chase in this, and
saw great deal Of him at the time /
mention. / have not been intimate with
him of late years, and cannot, therefore,
speak authoritatively Of his views. But
vii. venture to say that you are nearer
right in your estimate Of his present polti-
| cal status than Senator Wade, who so rea-
Oily calls him Radical of his own school.
| will go further, and assert without fear
of contradiction from those who know him
hest that inctoad OF siding with stevens,
Sumner, and Wendell Phillips, in their de-
mand for confscation and hanging, he,
after securing equal political rights to the
negro of the South, favors Cancellation,
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 common country
and brothers Of the North.