Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-29
Nnion aud 1ispat eh.
WEDNESDAY,. APRIL 20. Isss.
Largest Circulation in City and state.
CHASE AND THE PRESIDENCY.

| CHASE AND THE PRESIDENCY.
A Significant Lettcr-Mr. Chase's As
| pfFations and POsiIOn-Ts not an
| Impeacher and FaVOrs Universal
Amnesty-WOuld Accept Chicago
| or New York Nomination Upon a
| Declaration of Sound Principles
The Cincinnati Commercial has been
recognized as the organ Of Chief Justice
Chase. Its senior editor, Mr.. Murst Hal
stead, is now in Washington, ard writes
very significant letter to his paper, which
may be regarded as a by-authority expo
sition Of the views and purposes of the
Chief Justice. Accepting the letter in this
light, we give the reader the benefit of
what Mr. Halstead says, as follows:
WAsHINGToN, April "a, 1S6S.--Some of
the leiter-writers, dating at Washington,
assume 10 hive authority 10 say things for
Mr.. Chase. The authority that they have
consists wholly, | presume, in having heard
or heard Of his frank declarations that he
is not concerning himself about the next
Presidency, and is not, indeed, prepared to
indorse, in full, the policy in national af-
fairs Of either of the political parties into
which the electors of the United States are
divided. A great deal Of injustice has been
done Mr.. Chase by the popular impression
that he has a longing and active sOlicitude
TO become the President of the United
States This impression grows out of the
fact that for many years his name has been
prominently mentioned in connection with
a - ~ .f ba of
that Mr.. Chase has been ambitious to serve
his country as her Chief Magistrate, be-
lieving il TO be reasonable thing that a
citizen familiar with public affairs and
capable of executing them should aspire
90 the highest place in official life-to the
position affording the largest opportunities
for usefulness.
1t is untrue, however, that there has
been any unseemly development of this
am biton on the part of Mr.. Chase. 1t is
untrue that he has been aggressive and
eager in efforts to place himself before the
people "a the candidate for ihe first Office.
He has many warm friends, and some of
them have been iniudicious, and the re-
sponsibility for indiscretions in which he
has had no part, has been charged upon
him 10 his disadvantage. The public sense
Of his fitness for the Chief Magistracy,
which is the secret of his candidacy, was
never stronger than it is now, and it is not
confined TO either political party, or to any
section of the Union II pervades the
whole country and if the managers of the
Republican party organization felt just now
that they could afford to nominate, as their
standard-bearer in the coming Presidential
campaign, the wisest and strongest represen-
tative man of the principles Of liberty
and equal rights for all citizens, the invio-
late integrity of the Union and pre5eGya-
ton Of the national faith-if they were
convinced that it would be safe to take up
the most competent and experienced of
American statesmen, and follow his leader
ship in this summers contest, the nomina-
ton at Chicago would as certainly be given
Mr.. Chase as il is certain to be given Gen.
Grant The Radicals have, however,
heaped difficulties in the way of Republi
can Huocess in this, destined 20 be the most
momentoas and critical of struggles for the
political mastery in this country and il is
decided by their overruling instinct of
expediency, and the pressure of moderate
men, that they must take Grant, whose
military glory will give, it IL calculated,
the strength that they have lost in politi-
cal follies. Chase was not at any time the
candidate of the ultras, nor was Grant; and
the names Of the men the headstrong ex-
tremiats would have preferred if they had
not felt their power waning, are no longer
mentioned.
That Mr.. Chase is not in thorough accord
with the Republican party or organization,
as il is now conducted, has been very
positively stated, aud il is true. la the first
| place he "a not an impeqcher, and that is now
| the highest test Of partisan tidelety. Then
| he believes in the doctrine of universal
amnesty and impartial suffrage, and that
| that is the true and sure and safe basis of
! reconstruction He is then Of opinion that
| there should be an end of restrictive lel.is-
laton aud military rule in the South. He
| believes, too, that the Southern masters are
making a lameniable mistake in declining
political fellowship with the freedmen
| that the most certain and speedy exit from
their troubles would be found in wisely
concilating the blacks aud making them,
n they might be made, the faithful friends
of the South, which needs but kindly re-
lations between the races and the return of
peaceful industry 10 stand up redeemed and
regenera;ed. presume that if such
miracle should occur as that Mr..
Chase were nominated by the Re
publicans at Chicago, or Democrats
at New York, for the Presidency, upon a
platform that was in his Judgment a decla-
ton of sound principles, that he would not
decline the nomination. ] am sure he
would not decline 10 cooperate with any
of his iellow-citizeHs who were, in his
opinion, taking a course that would pro-
mote good will among American citizens
and heal the wounds of the nation. But
| Judge Chase is not expecting any such
miracle, and ia discharging his high du
| ties unvexed by vain ambition. He is in
perfect health and cheerful spirits, aud
bears in his person the promise of many
| years Of eminent capacity. That his long
and varied public services distinguished
| 10y the highest order Of ability, and his
| spotless private character, eniiile him TO
consideration as our first citizen, is a pro-
position so plain that il will hardly be dis
| puted. And the time may come when the
people will recognize, in the selection of a
Chief Magistrate, the expediency Of prin-
| ciples that are clesI and competency
proved by experience. Perhaps | ought
| 60 add-and will DO it, at any rate-that
| this ia not an authorized statement con
corning Mr.. Chase that it was not sug-
gested, aud il not IA the least, tniicipated
hy him.
THE elephant Romeo, whose subjugation.
after some months of quasi independence,
we mentioned recently, Is not so thorough
! 10 1 L..