The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-27
LETTER FROM CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE 10 A scurwsss

The following letter was written In April last BY
Chief Justice Chase to Mr. ii. w billiard OF Georgia
being drawn out by published letter from Mr.. Hi
lard, declining TO be candidate for Congress, but
WAsHrgGToN April ~, 1903.
DEAR SrR-Sone days since received from
known hand paper containing letter or yours,
which read with great interest.
Ny acquaintance with you when We were both In
Congress--you In the House and | IN the Senate-was
very slight but, slight rs IL was. take occasion
from II 10 write you few lines suggested BY your
letter.
Ever since the war closed have been very anxious
for the earliest practicable restoration" OF tho
other States OF tho Onion. adopt your own state
ment of the problem 10 be worked out because
have never been other than States within the Union
since they became parties TO the federal government
and that the failure to maintain their assertions Of
left them states still within the Union"
The point on which probably diner from you ~
this--the people for whom and through whom these
States were 70 be organized ct the close OF the war
were not as think. the same people a. those who
existed In them when the war began
class II it NAV be 40 called to recognize that fact
and its legitimate and, indeed logical consequences.
and the convictions OF large maoritics In the states
which adhered to the national government In re-
spect to H. caused most Of the trouble OF the last
nave not time to 20 at large into this subjcct hut
| may say briefly that emancipation came 10 be re
garded by these majoritics as military necessity:
camation OF emancipation 10 maintain the enamel
patcd people In the possession and enjoyment OF the
freedom 1. conferred; that to this end the amend
ment to tho constitution prohibiting slavery
throughout the United states was proposed and rat
fed; that, becoming freemen, the emancipated
peoplc became necessarily citizens, and that.
a. citizens. they were entitled TO be consulted
In respect to reorganization and 20 the means
or selfprotection by suffrage This IL very BRIEF,
but, think, perfectly correct statement OF what
be called, for the sake Of brevty the Northern
view OF this matter. 10 would, perhaps be more cor.
rprl North au1 south. USING
tho word ioyal "a distinguishing the masses who
support the national government from the masses
who opposed IL during the war.
Now the particular matter to which wish 10 draw
youf attention ~, whether policy and duty do not re-
meaning thereby the educated aud cultivated men u
the South, whether property holders or not TO nc.
ccpt this view fully and act upon IL.
II 1t possible to doubt that. had this view been
cepcd ana acted upon three years ago, after the sur
render OF Lee aud Johnston, the Southern states
would have been richer to-day by hundreds OF mil
lions than they are, and that long ago universal am
ncsy and the removal OF all disabilities would have
prepared the hearts OF nien on both sldes for real
Union Can II he matter or question That tue cot
ored voters, finding IA the educated masses true
friendsblp, eyinced By fun recognition OF their
gladly given TO those clnsses substantially their old
lead IN affairs directed now. however, to Union and
not 10 disunion; ~ the benefit OF all and not cxclu
sively to the benefit OF a class7
observe Shat you say thai the .attempt TO carry
on the government with the privilege OF universal
suffrage incorporated as one OF its elements Is iun
OF danger.- Danger is the condition OF all
governments, because no form OF government
insures Wise and henehcent administration. But
1 beg you to consider. Is there not q greater
danger without than with universal sunrsgef
You cannot make suffrage less than universal for
the whites and viii not the attempt TO discriminate
excite such jeaouses and III feeling viii post
pOne 10 q distant future what seems essential
namely. the restoration oil general good VIII and the
bringing into lead " the educated men and INC nen
OF property aud 30 securing the best and moss nehc
fcial administration or affairs for az clascS "as ~,
universal huiIrage aud universal amnesty anu ~
viii be well. Can sou. my dear str devote yvusa
powers ~ better work than complete ressvlp'i""
THIS basNt yery truly and respect ulty yon.l,
Mr. HgyRy ~. uILrGAHD.