Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-04
THE RADICAL WAR ON THE CHIEF
IEGFTCE


The connection of Chief Justice Chase
with rumors Of collu sion with the
friends Of the President to defeat the
object of the impeachers, and the politi-
cal gossip it has given rise to, doubtless
had its origin with the Radical leaders
The story was started in order to lay a
foundation TO charge that the judicial
iinpartiality they fear Judge Chase would
exhibit, was, in reality, Partially for
the accused, corrupt in its object; and
by this means to break its force, and
shield the villainy they meditated.
The New York World of the lst inst
says
The managers Of the impeachment came
into sharp collision with the Chief Justice,
yesterday, by vehemently disputing his
claim to decide, in the first instance, ques-
tions Of the admissibility Of evidence. But
the managers did not wait for this occasion
before depIoying their hostility. General
Butler honted the Chief Justice in his open
ing speech, and went out of his way to
make a wanton, gratuitous, and most in
decorous assault on his judicial character.
The passage is so remarkable and 80 insult
ing that it formed fl prelude to the scene
in the Senate yesterday. We quote from
Buffers opening speech: "When er parte
GARLAND was decided, the country lUas jttst
emerging from a conflict Of arms, THE PASSIONS
AND EXCITEMENT OF WHICH HAD FOUND
THEIR WAY UPON THE BENCH, AND SOME
OF THE JUDGES, JUST COMING FROM OTHER
SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND FROM
THE BAR, BROUGHT WITH THEM OPINIONS
BUT | FoRBEAR. | AM THREADING ON
DANGEROUS GROUND. Time has not yet Idid
its softeRing and correcting hand long enough
upon this decision 10 dIiOw me further to COM
ment upon IL in this presence.
In this indecent passage of his opening
speech, Gen. Butler arraigns the Chief
Justice for his conduct in the Supreme
Court, and, after attributing his judicial
opinions to unworthy motives, ostenta-
tiously restraints himself as if he could
make the arraignment a great deal more
severe if the prophecies of the occasion
did not forbid. The fling at "judges just
coming from other service of the govern
ment,' was obviously meant for Chief Jus.
tice Chase, the only member of the Su-
preme Court to whom that description can
apply. He was accused of having been
biased in his judicial action by the passions
and excitement which he brought with
him from political life, and told to his face
that it was only the forbearance of the
speaker that exempted his conduct as a
judge from more scathing criticism. Be-
sides this direct and most impudent per
sonal insult, Gen. Butler in his opening
speech made more covert and indirect as
sault on the Chief Justice, by contending
that the tribunal over which he is presiding
Is not in any sense a court, but only the
Senate. The Chief Justice has, from the
beginning regarded and treated it as a
court, and has repeatedly called it "court
for the trial of an impeachment"
There seems to have been a foregone de-
termination to bring on rupture with the
Chief Justice by disputing his authority
and belittling his Importance. What thew
probably aimed to prevent was a constant
spectacle of the decisions of the Chief
j ustice being overruled by partisan court,
which would PROSTATE public confidence in
the fairness of the tribunal. But thew
must accept this peril or abandon all hope
of seeing an end of the trial. Their wanton
insults to the Chief Justice, and the open
and secret aspersion of his motives, betray
The managers keen sense of danger. They
Ieei that the proceedings of the court will
have no moral weight in public estimation.
unless they can destroy the character of
he Chief Justice, and cause it to be.thought
hat his expected differences with the court
proceed from corrupt or sinister motives.