Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-06-17

that impeachment has not thus far proved a
success, coupled with belief that l have
done something to prevent its being success.
l have not been partisan of impeachment
certainly but have not been a partisan on
the other side As presiding officer over the
trial my conscience testifes that have been
strictly impartial and am sure that any
one who reads the report will say SO. Indi-
vidually | have my convictions and opinions,
but | have seldom given utterance to them.
Indeed, do not think that the case, in any
of its aspects, has been the subject of con-
versation between myself and more than four
or five senators, and then only casually and
briefly. No senator will say that | have
sought to influence him. The real ground
of denunciation is that l have not been a
partisan of conviction and this denuncia-
ton l am willing to bear. They may de-
nounce and abuse me and read me out of the
party, if they choose. l follow my old
lights, not the new. | neither expect nor
desire to be candidate for Office again. 1t
would, however, crafty me exceedingly If
the Democratic party would take ground
which would assure the party against all at
tempts to subvert the principle of universal
suffrage established in eight, and to be estab-
lshed in all of the southern constitutions.
Then, think, the future of the great cause
for which | have iabored so long-would
be secure, and [ should regret my absence
from political labors. SALMON p. CHASE.
The Herald is quite capable of manufactur-
ing such a letter as the above but the inter
nal evidence is in favor of the genuineness
of the communication. The unequivocal
declaration, in the letter of Judge Chase ad-
herence to the principle of universal suffrage,
has proved rather damaging to the Chase
movement among the Democrats, and some
papers, before quite warm in their advocacy
of the nomination of Mr.. Chase, have grown
suddenly cool. That Mr.. Chase has not sur
rendered his convictions, that the only Just
and righteous basis of government is equal
rights for the people, is gratifying to those
who once had faith in him as the great cham
pion of the principles Of freedom. There is
corroborating evidence of his fidelity to this
principle. in the following report of in
terview which the Judge recently had with
a colored person, who came up to Washing
ton to inquire of the Judge in respect to the
stories ahoat concerning him. The Judge
said:
- He had always been an anti-slavery man
and always expected to be; he had never
..
IN Ohio. neither of the great parties could
elect senOtor without the aid of the liberty
party. The Democrats made proposition
to its members, and agreed for their support
TO repeal the black laws and elect a free soiler
to the United States Senate. He was him.
self elected that coalition, and the bill
repeating the black laws passed as he had
himself drafted it. He had not gone down
to them-they had come up to him If his
friends placed him in a similar position now,
he was in their hands.
There is little doubt from the letter, and
this reported talk that, if the Democrats will
take him as he is, the Chief Justice is ready
to be taken. But we have no hope that so
good thing is to happen to the country as
the conversion of the Democratic party to
universal suffrage, or 10 faith in Mr. Chase |
as candidate. The party is in reality too |
much under the control of its past preiudices |
and its illiberal politics, to rally to the snip |
port of statesman who holds to the one |
principle. which, more than any other, now
distinguishes between the Republican and |
Democratic parties. We should be glad.
md the country would be benefited. if both
parties could agree to let the people govern
Ill the states in the Union, and drive out
IF politics all prejudice against race or color
This would leave the people to give their I'M
divided attention TO the financial problems
hat now press for a solution, and which are
seriously delayed by the necessity Of fighting
,ver again the old battles of freedom and
ustice against oppression and injustice Re
construction ought to have been settled by
his time, and would have been settled. and
Is dead as an issue for the future as the ma
ional bank, if President johnson had not
lung himself in the way of speedy and
ust restoration of order to the South and
he Democratic party for partisan purposes
rave aided him in his factious opposition TO
congress, for the very purpose of keeping
he old prejudice against the negroes alive as
he sure bond to hold the party together
f that bond could be now severed the work
before the country would be infinitely light
med, and as Judge Chase says, - the future
# the great would be secure But
nothing short Of miracle can work such
in the Democratic party.
If Judge Chase is still pressed as a candi-
late by the Democrats, IL VIII De mainly as
diversion against Pendleton, and not with
my serious purpose of nominating him
Meanwhile other candidates, like Hendricks
If Indiana, or Gen. Hancock, or Horatio
seymour, will be quietly worked for, to be
brought forward at the proper moment in
he convention when other candidates have
'een disposed of Thus a double purpose
will be served candidate obnoxious to
many Democrats will be killed off, and the
Chase men, who, unless the Judge were kept
n the field, might become demoralized and
surrender to Grant, may become SO far iden-
ifed with the Democratic party, as to fall
,asily into the support of whatever candidate
s selected.