The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-06-10
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE ON TIE SITUATION.

WASHINGTON, June 2, 1868.
The opinions and political status of no public
man in the country are of such Importance at this
time are those of the Chief Justice, both Oh &C
count of his high character and position, and IN
view of the Presidential campaign and its compll-
cations, and the very possible event OF his close
connection Herewith. Mr.. Chase comments
freely on men and measures so freely, in fact,
that no less parsonage than the General of our
armies, as late as Saturday, sharply criticised the
remarks that the Chief Justice thought fit to make
on the course of the Republican party, and in re-
gard to the nominee for the Presidency. Through
friend who enjoys intimate relations with Mr..
Chase, am enabled to present through the Herald
some of his views, which, it will be observed, are
of striking originality and Of extraordinary impor
tance
The Chief Justice declares that he is not can
didate for the Presidential nomination he does
not seek it, and does not want it, lie is grateful
to his friends and the people for their recent mani
festntions of respect and confidence in the use of
his name for that high Office, but his position and
inclinations would not admit of his accepting it
excepting the nation was in the utmost peril. And
under no circumstances would he assume such
responsibility at the sacrifice of his honest con-
victions.
The Chief Justice frankly admits that the Radi-
cal party and himself differ widely in their views
and as parties are now organized, he is for the
Democratic party. He differs from them upon
only one point-that of universal manhood suffrage.
He is agreed with them on all other of the great
issues incidentally he remarked, if he were
elected by that party to the Presidency, while he
would certainly carry out their policy faithfully,
he would labor to make the party one of perma-
nent usefulness.
In the opinion of the Chief Justice, the dcplora-
BILE condition of the Southern States demands not
only the proper consideration of Congress, but
also material aid from the General Government.
The war has been ended for three years, and those
States should be in practical relations with the
Government. There is no constitutional authority
to hold them in subjugation, and if there were, it
would be alike unwse and unjust He favored
the enfranchisement of every white man in the
South and removing the political disabilities of
every man in the nation He thinks freedom and
manhood suffrage should be an unquestioned
right, but he controverts the idea that any other
power than the States themselves can confer 1t.
lie holds that the General Government has no col. .
troll the question, and that The power rests IN
the States, where alone it should reside
The Chief Justice would remove the political
disabilities imposed the people of the South by
the fourteenth amendment. But as those States
as now organized will undoubtedly ratify it, he
proposes general amnesty as mode of relief,
and also as an net which would tend towards the
reconciliation of the two sections Furthermore,
he regards this as absolutely necessary, as tho
rovisions of that amendment exclude thousands
from office, both under the Government and the
States, and this will lead to complications which
should be avoided.
Mr. Chase urges that the most liberal did should
be extended to the South in improving their rail-
road system, and also their nayigatls rivers. He
thinks aid should be given to repair the levees on
the Mississippi, build new ones wherever they are
required, even from Cairo to the Gulf. That the
millions of acres of land which would be reclaimed
in the valley of the Mississippi by udicions levee
system would quadrupls the producing powers of
that section, and add correspondngy to the wealth
and prosperity of the country.
Mr. Chase strenuously urges the early return to
specie payments. He believes it could be done
without damage to any interests, and in COM
parativey short period of time it would not matter
whether the bonus wcro paid in greenbacks or
rod as the public credit would be reestablshed,
and greenbacks be worth par value.
Mr.. Chase condemned in strong terms the trinl
of citizens ny military commissions Ill time OF
peace He regards it as an arrogant assumption
of power most dangerous to the country, and
thinks it should not be tolerated. The Chief JUS
tice made no reference whatever to the McArdle
case but his opinion, as recorded in the celebrated
Milligan case, admits of no doubts as to what they
are.
Mr.. Chase expressed the hope that if Mr.. John
son should reorganize his Cabinet he would appoint
aproper proportion of its members from the South
crn States.
In the course of his conversation lie deprecated
the course Of Congress, especially of the iouse oil
Representatives. fle considers their assaults on
the judiciary and other Legislative acts unwlse, and
calculated to arouse the distrust and embitter the
animosities between the different sections.
In reply to question, Mr.. Chase said the par
doning power was certainly constitutional perog-
alive of the President, and Congress had no power
10 abridse it-Cor. NcU York Herald