Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-07-03
Interview With Judge Chase.

Interview With Judge Chase.
THE TERMS ON WHICH HE WILL RUN FOR
PRESIDENT.
A correspondent, for whom the Brook
lyn Union vouches, writes to that journal
from Washington:
Soon after the Chicago Convention,
had occasion to call again on the Chiei
Justice. Immediately on entering the
room, was struck with his strange man
ner, and the unusual aspect of counten-
ance with which he had been accustomed
to greet me. That dignifed composure,
that blandness and serenity which ever
rested so gracefully upon his manly pres
euce, was gone. Nervous, excited, al
most pettish. | hesitated making the oc-
casion of my visit known, and should
more hesitate now, had not his subsequent
course given full warrant to the expression
of private interviews. When a great man
fails us-when the nations representative
separates himself from his friends, they
have right to know fully and exactly
why. That is just to him and fair to
them.
During the interview allusion was very
naturally made to the Chicago nomination,
in the result of which he expressed him.
self as having no interest. ''He had been
Republican once, but they had gone
from their principles, and had read him
out of the party. 1t had got new leaders,
men who opposed it while he himself was
struggling for its organization. He had
done more for the party than a regiment
Of men who had read him out of the party
They had taken the reins into their own
hands; and now it mattered but little to
him what they did, bF
Seeing the direction in which his re
marks were drifting, and wishing to avert
the plunge down that precipice, inter-
rupted abruptly:
"But Chief Justice Chase can never be
anything but Republican"
I'm not a Republican" he said, coldly,
and then, qualifying, added, II am not a
partisan at all. | was a Democrat in my
younger days. was elected to the Unit
ed States Senate as Democrat, with anti
slavery, abolition principles"
Still wishing to draw him back, re-
marked:
"You had many friends who would have
supported you had you received the NOM
iDation at Chicago"
To which he replied:
''Yes, know had, but they have read
me out Of the party, and have chosen an
other leader"
Again interrupting, being determined
to force him to adhesion to the great par.
ty cfprogress and freedom, 1 said, earnest
ly:
nBut YOU Sill not 90 to the Democrats;
YOU can never ac. with that party as now
organized; never, certa'nly, with its pres
e IL animus-its hatred OF he negro; Its
denunciation of reconstruction; rs opPo-
sition to all great and good moral meas.
ures. You, honored sir, could never finG
home feeling ana sympathy there. You
could never become co worker with your
life long political cnemies-men who hold
nothing in common with you. Most as
suredly, you could never consent to be-
come the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency"
Without manifesting any unwillingness
to continue the conversation, he seemed
throughout nervous and 6dgety. His
countenance had not that cheerful, genial
smile upon it that used to play so grsce-
fully over the face of the model American
statesman. tie turned over file after file,
and seemed disconnected, as though he
had poor case, and had failed to make
his point. Taking up paper from one
side of his table and laying it down upon
the other, he said straightly:
If they would accept Of my principles
as their platform, | would i shall not
give up my doctrine ofequal rights. They
must take that. | shall hold to the re.
construction measures; they are right and
constitutional drew up the bill-tbe
second one--lhough / did not have in the
military. l would have managed the
affairs with civilian officers, and called in
the military as they were needed. If I
could get them to indorse these principles,
that woald settle them forever"