Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-06-05
Democtatic OvertIres 10 thicr Jus.
tice Chase.


So far as known the first positive
declaration of Chief Justice Chase in
this matter was on Thursday of last
week to a cemmittee from o Demo-
cratic organization in Philadelphia.
Ihe committee consisted of John
Welsh, last candidate against Judge
Kelley, and Assessor Frazier, a for
mer Republican, who went into the
Philadelphia convention, subsequent
ly swinging around the circle with
johnson, and has since acted with
the Democrats. They arrived in the
city Wednesday, and next day OBJ
tanned an interview with Mr.. Chase,
when Frazier said:
Mr.. Chief Justice: We have
called upon you as members of the
Citizens Conservative Association of
Pennsylvania, of which Ex-Governor
johnson is President, for the purpose
of consulting you in reference to the
use of your name as Peoples Conser-
yative candidate for the PRESIDENCY.
We believe, sir, that the mass Of
the American people are now looking
to you as the man who Is to lead us
out of the great difficulties we are
now in. The American people are
now instinctively turning to you that
you may lead them to peace and pros
perity. We believe, Mf. Chief-Jus-
tice, that with you as standard-bearer
of all the people now in opposition to
the radically revolutionary measures
of the Republican party, we can sweep
the country from ocean to ocean,
We hope, sir, you will give this mat
ter your favorable consideration, and
will soon come to see that you can
serve your country much more eff
GENTLY as President of the United
States than in the office you now fill
with so much ability"
JUDGE CHAsE's REPLY.
To this the Chief-Justice replied
substantially as follows:
"GENTLEMEN: l am personally
gratified to meet you and make your
acquaintance. Nor am / less graft
fed for the kind feeling you express
for me; but / must frankly say to
you, my position as Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court, forbids my enter
ing into politics, and l am thus de-
barred, and very properly so, from
mingling in the politics of the day.
But, Chief Justice as / am, feel
am the servant of the people, and
should they call me to preside for
four years over the destiny of our
country / would feel 1t my duty to
comply. Understand me, / am nc
candidate for the ofiice-an office that
at best, is anything but agreeable
and one that, at present, is vexatious
and annoying"
THE COMMITTEE URGENT.
To this the Comiiiittee replied -
''But Mr.. Chief Justice; although you
are not candidate for the Presidency
and are doubtless averse TO assuming
SO great a responsibility, yet; sir, II
the people turn to you, as they Ger
tainly will, as their deliverer, do yo,
not feel that it would be your duty tt
help them? What we now want Il
peace and prosperity, a complete ant
permanent reconstruction of tn,
South for until we have the South
restored, we can have no peace-un
til we have accomplished a complet,
restoration of the States OF the South
| the business interests of the countr,
will continue disorganiZed, and finan
cial ruin will sooner or later be on
DOOM"
The Chief Justice replied briefly
that he was in the hands of the peo
pie, and although not desiring tn,
Presidency, yet if the people callet
him to serve them in II higher anC
more arduous sphere, he would doubt
less comply. He felt, perhaps NJ
man more keenly, the deplorable con
dition of our country and If there was
anything he could do to restore con.
fidence to having peace with all ii,
blessings and calm the passions o
the people, that he would freely do.
The Chicago Times, which took