Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-19
From the Syracuse Journal.
Mr.. Chase and the PresidencY-Eiis views
Party.

rIr. Chase and the Presidency-ais views
OF Party.
WASHINGTON, June, 1868.
Reference has quite often been made of
late to the advice given by the Chief JUS
tice to leading colored men from the
South.
James H Harris, of North Carolina, is
we'll known as one of the ablest and most
active Republicans in the South. He was
recently offered a unanimous nomina-
ton to Congress in the Raleigh district,
but declined because he thought it would
have an injurious effect in the North.
On Thursday last, after his return from
Chicago, he called upon the Chief Justice.
Like other leading men of his race, he
had often consulted with Mr.. Chase. Sew
eral intimations had been given him of the
surprise the Chief Justice felt because he
had not called as usual. Soon after the
ordinary civilities were exchanged, Mr..
Chase began to talk on politics by asking
how they felt down South.
Mr.. Harris replied, "that many of the
Republicans were feeling rather bad, and
that they were uncertain of the future, es-
pecially since the failure of impeachment. {"
"How is that :? " asked Mr. Chase.
81 shall speak frankly to you," replied
Mr.. Harris, if you will allow me, MI
Chief Justice. The truth is, that we not
only fear the effect of impeachment, but
we fear much more divisions among our
friends. We are told, Mr.. Chase, that you
yourself are engaged in a movement for
the organization of a third party. We
have always felt the highest regard for you,
and there was time when we had hoped
to sec you the Republican candidate. We
saw no other party hat that, and cannot
now"
Mr. Chase replied very emphatically that
he "never had any thought of organizing
third party movement had never been
consulted thereon, and would not consent
to run on one"
Harris then tolG him that there was a
great deal of talk about his being a Demo
cratic candidate, on q platform of universal
amnesty and universal suffrage.
In substance Mr.. Chase replied that he
had always been an anti-slavery man and
always expected to be that he never had
gone down to any man or party. In 184S,
in Ohio, neither of the great parties could
elect a Senator without the aid of the
Liberty party. The Democrats made a
proposition to it's members, and agreed for
their support to repeal the black laws and
elect Free Soiler to the United States
Senate. He was himself elected on that
coalition, and the bill repeating the black
laws passed as he had himself drafted it.
He had not gone down to them-tney had
come up to him. If his friends placed
him in q similar position now, he was in
their hands.
He also said that, as was stated, he had
always been opposed to impeachment, con-
sidering it wrong and ill-advised, whether
in principle or policy. For this he had
| been grossly abused. Abiding to reports
| in neWspaDers he stated that he had not
been in the White House for many months
In response to a fear expressed by Mr..
| Harris that the division in the Senate
might prevent the Southern States being
admitted to representation if the President
vetoed the bill, the Chief Justice was en-
phatic in assuring the North Carolinian
that, IN his opinion, The President ao0uId n0l
veto any such bill. He then passed on to a
defence of Mr.. Johnson, declaring that he
could not be charged with opposing the Re-
construction laws, and asked Mr. Harris if
good commanders had not been selected ?
The latter referred to Hancock. to which
the Chief Justice said he thought the Gen,
eral did wrong at New Orleans.
Senator Ross came in while Harris was
present and an introduction took place
the Chief Justice presenting him as a mar
who refused q unanimous nomination tC
Congress. Harris said in doing so he heIC
only the good of his race in view. Ross
said that he had heard of him and should
have been glad to have seen him on the
floor of the House. He further remarked
that this was meant seriously, though h
was charged with being a renegade to par
ty and freedom, and that it would yet b.
found who was the true man.