The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-06
Mr.. Chase Declines.

his defence. &ts5 ~ r@5
Mr.. Chase Declines.
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Journal of Commerce says: i
aIlearn from what deem good authori-
"ty that Judge Chase has fully decided 10
avoid all future political complications
"and that he will, at no distant day, com
amunicate to his friends his determine
"tion to decline all aspirations tor the
presidency" II
We trust that this report may turn out
TO be true. It is q blot upon republican
institutions for the Chief Justice OF the
highest court in the country to be caba all-.
ling with political conspirators, and soiilng
his gown in the muddy pools OF partisan
politics. If Mr.. CHASE has really sacri-
feed his ambition for the Presidency, and
determined to devote himself for the rest
of his life to the duties Of the high Office
which he holds, the country must profit BY
the charge. No southern State, no south
ern man, no Democrat even, expects JUS
tice at the hands of Radical judge who
is looking to Radicals for promotion. MI.
CEASE is one of the ablest lawyers in the
country. He is, too, man of great abili-
ties as q statesman. His speech in the
Senate upon the Kansas. Nebraska bill,
when that bill was under discussion, though
among the first delivered, contained every
good point and every sound argument
brought out in the whole course Of the
debate. His arguments in that body were
always upon higher plane than those of
his Republican associates. But his man.
agement of the finances of the Federal
Government during the recent war was
his greatest triumph. The Federal cause
owes its success more to Mr.. CHASE than
to General GRANT, General SHERMAN, or
any other man outside of the Confederate
States. In his earlier and better days he
was States-rights Democrat. No one
ever had clearer perception Of the
relative rights of the States and of the
Federal Government than he then had.
He even talked strongly while Governor
of Ohio of resisting by force the execu-
ton of the fugitive slave law. If the
truth could be ascertained, it would doubt
less be found that he has not changed his
opinion as to these rights ander the Consti-
tuition, but holds different theory as to
the present relative rights of the States
and the United States because the CoDsti-
tuition has been disregarded and the Fede-
raj Government actually changed from
one of limited to one of unlimited powers.
He merely "accepts the situations" as we
of the South do. Lord Chancellor THUR
Low was once waited upon by highly
respectable delegation of Presbyterian
elders and clergymen, who protested
against some of his acts, complained of his
decided Partially to the established
church, and inquired whether the Presby-
terians were not entitled to greater privi-
leges. "Get your id church established,
and will do all can for it," was the sub.
stance of Lord THURLow's reply. We
imagine that Mr. CHASE is man Of like
mould. Whatever the trainers of the
Constitution might have intended, and
however far the Federal Government has
oversteppe the bounds assigned to it by
that instrument, yet the fact is that its
omnipotence is established" by force of
arms and unconstitutional legislation.
Get your States-rights doctrines estab-
Rshed," says Mr.. CHASE, "and I will re-
spect them." He has no idea of fighting
single handed against what is called the
law of the land.
Nevertheless, Mr.. CHASE, if he has no
longer any political aspirations, will here
after be in a much better frame of mind
than heretofore to preside upon the trial
Of Mr.. DAVIS and of Mr.. JOHNSON and of
the MoARDLE case. His vision will be
clearer as to the meaning of such shreds
and patches of the Constitution as are
still left for the protection of personal
rights, and his mind will not be obscured
by ambitious longings after place and
power. He will not be compelled,
Like scurvy politician,
10 geem to see the things he sees not"
We have not yet read the communica-
ton which he on Wednesday addressed to
the Senate, and therefore we know not
whether it is the fruit Of repentance and
q desire to do his first works over
again or not. The mere fact, how.
ever, that he had the independence to ad-.
dress that conclave Of distracted par
tissns upon such subject argues that
he no longer expects promotion at their
hands. The ground that he is said to as
sumo relative to the difference between
the Senate, as such, and the high Court
Of impeachment, had been previously
taken, We believe, by some of the Demo-
cratic senator's. In fact, the telegraph told
us yesterday that he was undoubtedly in
accord with the dispassionate Republi-
cen statesmen" Of the Senate, whoever
they may be. He thinks, no doubt, that
he himself. as presiding officer, ought to be
consulted In regard to the rules which are