Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-05-28

OvERTUREs TO CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE.
$50 far as is known the first posit;yn.
declaration of Chief Justice Chase i'm
the matter was made on thursday of lase
week, to committee from Democrats.
organization in Philadelphia. The con-
mittee consisted of John Welsh. lasA
candidate against Judge Kelley. ana
Assessor Frazier, a former Republican
who went to the PHILADELPHIA Conven.
ton, subsequently swinging round. the
circle with johnson, and has since acted
with the Democrats. They arrived in
the capital Wednesday, and next day
OBTAINED an interview wit MIR. Chase.
when Frazier said:
| Mr. Chief Justice-We have called
upon you as members of the Citizens ).
Conservative Association of Pennsylva-
MIA, OF which ex- Gov. johnson is Presi-
dent, for the purpose of consulting Won
in reference to the use of your name sas
the peoples Conservative candidate for
the Presidency. We believe. SIR. that
the mass of the American people are
now looking to you as the man who is
to lead us out of the great difficulties,
we are now in. The American people,
are now turning to you, that you
prosperity. We believe, Mr.. Chief
Justice, that with you as standard
bearer of all the people now in opposi-
ton to the radically revolutionary
measures of the Republican party, we,
can sweep the country from ocean to
ocean. We hope, sir, you will give this.
matter yourfavorable consideration. and
soon come to see thatyou can serve your-
country much more efficient as President
OF the United States than in the Office
You now fill with SO much ability.
VI Ii 10 vs.
stantialiy as follows:
Gentlemen! am personally gratified
to meet you and make your acQuaintance.
Nor am less gratified for the kind feel
ing you express for me; but t must
frankly say to you, my position asChief
justice OF the Supreme Court forbids
my entering into politics, and am thus
debarred, and very properly So. from
mingllng IN the politics of the day.
But, Chief Justice as am, feel I en-
the servant of the people, and should
they call me to preside for four years
over the destiny of our country, I
doubtless would feel it my duty to COM
ply. Understand me, I am no candi-
date for the office-an Office that. at
best, is anything but agreeable, and one
that. at present, is especially vexatious
and annowing. .,t,
To this the committee replied: s.But,
MIR. Chief Justice, although you are not
a candidate for the Presidency, and are
doubtless averse to assuming SO great
a responsibility, yet, sir, if the people
turn to you, as they certainly will, as.
their deliverer, do you not feel that it
would be yoar duty to help them? What
we now want is peace and prosperity, a
permanent reconstruction of the South;
for, until we have the South restored
we can have no peace-until we have
accomplished a complete restoration OF
all the States of the South, the
business interests of the country will
continue disorganized, and financial ruin
will sooner or later be our doom.' ~
The Chief Justice replied briefly that
he was in the hands of the people, and
although not desiring the Presidency,
yet if the people called him to serve
them in higher and more arduous
sphere, he would doubtless comply. He
felt. perhaps no man more keenly, the
deplorable condition of our country, and.
il there was anything he could do.to re-
store confidence to having peace with all
its blessings, and calm the passions of
the people, that he would freely do.