The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-02
Chief Justice Chnse,s Record.


Our statement some time since, to the effect
that Chief Justice Chase had "pulled in har-
ness" with every party in existence for thirty
years past has encountered numerous denials
from Democratic sheets, which have asserted
that he has always acted with them except on
the slavery question. The well informed
Washington correspondent of the Syracuse
Journal wTites--
prominent Republican, long associated
with Mr.. Chase in the Liberty party and Free
Soil movements, has given me some facts
relating TO Mr.. Chase's Democracy, which are
of interest," at this time:-
Mr.. Chase's first Presidential vote was cast
in 1886, for General Harrison, a Wing, run
ming against Van Buren,, Democrat.
In l840 he voted for Harrison.
In 1914 he voted for James G. Birney, no.
minee of the Liberal party.
In lS4S he voted for Martin Van Buren,, in
the Free Soil combination against Taylor aud
Cass.
In 1862 he supported John p. Hale, nomi-
nee of the Free Sellers.
In 1856 he supported John G. Fremont.
Since, he voted for Lincoln.
In lS49 he was elected Senator from Ohio
by combination between the Free Sellers and
Democrats
In 1867 and and 1859 he was elected Cover
nor of Ohio by the Republicans.
The Presidential disease he now has so
badly, is chronic, and continued for many
years. Certainly as far back as 1947 he had
an acute attack. AT that time, and ever since,
his chief efforts seem to have been to turn
towards some sort of coalition whereby he
would reach the leadership of a strong party.
In 1851 he was in Cleveland when the Free
Soil leaders were preparing for their Conven-
tion at Pttsburg, and strongly urged upon
them coalition with the Democracy. This,
too, in spite of the fact that the party was
fully committed to the infamous Fugitive Slave
Law.
Afterwards, when the Know Nothing move
ment assumed large proportions, Mr.. Chase,
then in the Senate, tried his utmost to per-
suade the venerable DR.. Bailey, editor of the
National Era, to throw the great weight of his
paper and personal influence in favor of the
Know Nothing party. The object was to
make the Free Sellers controlling influence,
and, as Mr.. Chase stated, thereby n Ike him
their candidate for the Presidency. DR..
Bailey was so importuned by the ambitious
Senator that he had almost to quarrel with
him in order to stop the annoyance.
AT any time thereafter Mr.. Chase was ready
to enter combinations with any party that could
give his ambition fair chance, He hankered
chiefly after the Democracy, probably because
he knew they were as unscrupulous as he him
self appears to be.
1t is hardly necessary to recall the facts of
Mr.. Chase's desire to let the South 60 ia
peace, until the indignation of the people
was too great forEauy popularity to withstand.
Later in the conflict there is little doubt
Chase would have consented to a recognition
of the Confederacy rather than continuance of
the war.
When Hon. Martin f. Conway, of Kansas,
made his second speech in the House, virtually
declaring the war a failure from the anti
slavery standpoint, and at the close, Offering
resolutions looking toward peace, at the ex-
pense of dissolution, know from Mr.. Conway
himself, that both speech and resolution were
submitted to Mr.. Chase, and its delivery ad-
vised by him. When it fell flat, Conway was
deserted by all the pseudo-radicals, who had
egged him on.
When the movement was pending to bring
Chase forward against Mr.. Lincoln in 1864,
campaign life OF the Secretary of the Treasury
was prepared under his own supervision. A
strong point in this document, was quite an
elaborate attempt to prove Mr.. Chase to have
been an original Democrat, before that party
became utterly pro-slavery.