The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-05
Important Interview with Chief
Justice Chase.
From tho ' evolution.

u.
following interesting and valuable account
If long conversation with Judge Chase, is
onc Of the most respectable and influential
members Of the bar of Illinois, formerly Of
Massachusetts,. His statements cannot but
command the deepest attention in every
rart Of the country.
PETERSBURG. VA, November 81, 1868.
Editors Of the Revelation
| came from Washington to AQUA creek
On the same boat and occupied the same
srat in the cars yesterday with Chief JUS
ticc Chase. Introducing myself as An at
tornev from Illinois and member of the
bar Of his court, I drew him into CONVEX
sation by interrogations upon variety OF
national questions. found him very talka-
tive indeed, and willing to express his
opinions upon most subjects which I intro
diced. In regard 10 impeachment, he said
Johnson was probably impeacbable, and
when called to preside over the high court
which was 10 try him he hoped and ex-
pected that it would conduct itself in be.
coming manner, and with that dignity and
judicial decorum which ought always, and
had always heretofore, characterized great
State trials, but that the senators occupied
their usual seats instead of being seated on
the right and left Of the pres siding judge
rs the supreme judges and as other SEN
atcs have done in the trial Of impeach
ments; that senators did not conduct
themselves like judges, but read newspapers,
wrote letters, and rallied at Johnson as
Johnson had rallied AT the Senate that they
denounced Johnson as the greatest criminal
Of the age during the trial, when that was
the very question which they had sworn
impartiaily TO try : that sitting as a Senate
they made the rules by which to govern
aud conduct the trial, when All this should
have been deferred until after the organi-
zstion Of the court that had the trial been
conducted with due regard to formalities
and usages becoming 10 grave and reverend
senators sitting as judges in such case,
that whatever had been the judgment rem
dered, the moral effect would have been ia
vorabe. He said that articles might have
been drawn under which johnson would
probably have been convicted that the
reason why such articles were not pre-
sented was that certain men high in Office
and in the Republican party were as deep
in the mud as Johnson was in the mire
that Mr.. Stevens confessed that this was the
fact.
In reply TO q question, Mr.. Chase said
that he did not regard General Butler as
the attest of the impeachment managers
that Butler had great intellectual power,
hut was good deal of an Old Bailey law
yer; that Wilson of Iowa or Mr.. Bingham
we're Buffers superiors as sound lawyers
and statesmen. He said that he did not be-
ieve the stories about the personal dis
IS off
his personal integrity had ever come TO his
knowledge while acting as Secretary OF the
Treasury.
Speaking of General Grant, Mr.. Chase
said, Now you have got your President,
what are you going to do with him?
replied, Better INQUIRE what he is going
to do with us?" adding, /" Is he in sympa-
thy with the Republican party on negro
suffrage ?" Mr.. Chase said, I don't know
any more about General Grant than you do.
| 90 not think he is personally in favor of
negro suffrage, but l do not think he will
oppose the wishes and acts Of the party.
lie thought General Grant was a man Of
great practical Judgment III military mat
ters He did not agree with those who
asserted that he was merely q fortunate
man. Would take rebel general for
President if he had repented. Sudden
conversions, he would admit, were to be
distrusted they might be unlike St. PauPs
in every other respect. lie preferred the
financial part Of the Democratic platform
10 the Republican platform in that re-
spcct. Said it would be Reputation to
insist upon paying the tIve.tWenties issued
under the act Of February, 1862, in
crcenbacks. | told him that | wrote the
fourth resolution of the Republican plat
form, against Republication. He said that is
good resolution. He said he was opposed
to consolidating the national indebtedness
into long loan. Was in favor Of paying
the deb; rs quickly as possible, in gold.
The people will pay up the debt or repudiate
i. If the bonds were to be changed, he
vas in favor Of a short loan. Did not care
whether the new bonds were exempt from
taxation or not. 1t would make no real
difference to the people. That taxation
would necessarily increase the rate Of in
tcrcs; il tie bonds remained N the country.
Taxation and low interest would drive the
bonds out Of the country, and thus drain
OF all the specie. Was in favor OF a return
70 specie payment. No need Of diminishing
the volume or changing the character Of
the currency to effect this.
In reply TO a question, Mr.. Chase said he
vas glad he was not nominated by the De-
mocrars on the platform which they adopt
81. lie could never have accepted plat
form. opposed to the rights of the negro.
he lid to; say that he would not like to be
President. II he could have done so, would
hive been glad to have accepted the Demo
cratic nomination and stopped the crusade
Of the party against the negro. This would
have been good thing for the whole coun-
try. Being on his way to Richmond to
hold court, asked him when he expected
to try jeff Davis. lie replied that he did
not know when jeff. Davis would be tried.
That the Government had control Of jeff.
Davis and was responsible for the delay.
That he had always been ready to try him.
lie did not know why Davis had been al
lowed to 20 off to Europe.
laskcd the Chief Justice what he thought
q the proposed amendment to the Constl-
tuition to confer equal suffrage upon the cltl-
lens IF al the States. He said he had
nothing 10 do with il, but thought it would
lie as we'll TO leave that matter with the
States. | express ed the hope that the word
maze rs well as the word tohtte would be
lett out CT the amendment if it should be
submitted to the States for adoption. MIR.
0t"se said il could never pass Congress
with the word male left out. He, person
ally, would be glad to sec the experiment OF
.rMae suffrage fairly tried. remarked
mat ne was generally supposed to be
friendly to the woman's rights movement.
lie SAD he certainly had no objections 10