The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-03-27


That many leading men in the Demo
cratic party are serious in their talk about
nominating Chief Justice Chase for the
Presidency on the Democratic ticket is
not to be questioned; but that this has
been done without consulting the views of
the Chief Justice, we are able to state is
equally true. To use Mr.. Chase as the
candidate of that party would require
radical change in his principles or in the
principles Of the men who now represent
the Democratic party of this country.
There is, of course, no ground for suppo-
sing that Mr.. Chase would surrender his
lifelong principles for the sake Of the De-
mocratic nomination, or even for the sake
of an election. Neither is it to be sup
posed that the Democratic party will slide
upon Republican platform in order to Sc
cure his acceptance of nomination. The
talk, therefore, only shows the desperate
condition Of the party. Had they any
well-grounded hope Of success under any
other leadership, Mr.. Chase would be the
last man in the country they would look to.
In the approaching presidential cam
paign there will be two overShadowing is
sues-viZ., Reconstruction and the Fl
say that the strongest desire Of Mr.. Chase's
life is to see the southern States brought
back on the general policy present OF the
reconstruction laws, one of which laws he
framed. The only difference between Mr..
Chase and the Republican members OF
Congress on this question of RECONSTRUCT
ton was with reference to the military fea-
lures of the laws. Upon this point he has
not changed his mind, but in all other re-
spects he is in strict accord with the Re-
publican party.
He is now, as he always has been,
strong advocate of impartial suffrage ; and
if we could suppose it possible to secure
for him q nomination in the Democratic
Convention it would be necessary for that
party to adopt the reconstruction laws OF
Congress, 1cjth the exception Of the military
features, and including negro suffrage.
Those who believe that the Democratic
party are likely TO make this forward
movement, and plant themselves squarely
upon Republican principles, may talk with
some show of consistency about the Chief
Justice as the candidate of that party.
One thing is certain, and for thiS statement
zoe haze the highest authority, that if the
Democrats run Mr.. Chase they mast come
to hin, and stand upon his platform. lie
,oiN not 90 to them.
In regard to the financial question, MI.
Chase agrees in the main acith the eastern
portion Of the Democracy. That is to say,
he is in favor Of paying the debt honestly,
as was intended when it was created, and
of observing in good faith every pledge
made by the Government to its creditors.
He is in favor of approaching the value OF
greenbacks, and not Of depreciating them
by further issue; and when greenbacks
shall, under his policy, become equal to
gold, then there will be no question about
the kind Of money in which the debt
should be paid.
The policy of the western Democracy,
however, is radically different from this /;
and if MIR. Chase should be nominated as
the Democratic candidate, the a0eStern
theory of imitation and reputation aooold
haze to give eray to the policy to ochich ne
have referred.
1t NAV further be stated that Mr.. Chase
has given no encouragement whatever to
the leaders who have been using his name
in this connection. If, however, the De-
mocratic party should nominate him on
his own platform, the points OF which we
have indicated, he ocould probably accept,
though he has never said as much.
The public who may know the character
of the Democratic leaders, and the princi-
Piles they are contending for, can judge
from what has been said as to the prospects
of Mr.. Chase becoming Democratic can
didate for the presidency. If he should,
by any possibility, be placed in that posi-
ton, the only issue in the approaching cam
paign ecou!d be simply that Of men; viz.
lually the platforms OF the Republicanand
Democratic parties would be the same.