Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-12-11
[WHOLE NO. 1863.
Letter From Chief Justice chsss.
MS VIEWS ON POLITICAL ArrAiRs

| Lsuos fFVH S"0s ss~sssv S"sss'
| his VIEWS ON POLITICAL ArrAiRs
The following letter vas written in
April last, by Chief Justice Chase TO don.
ii. w. Hilliard of. Georgia. being drawn
out by . published letter from Mr.. Hill
lard declining 10 te candidate for Con-
gress, but giving his views Of political af-
fairs; fae sfaa.,s ga 3s,..ss j. SGD.
81, wAsHiNoros. April q, 1865,
DEAR SIR: Some days since received
from an unknown hand paper containing
letter Of yenrs, which 1 read with great
interest. sise lef1hAt -sf - t34ir
My acquaintsuee with you when We
were both in Congress--you in the House
and in the Senate--wss very slight; bat
slight as il was take occasion from it to
write you afew lines, suggested BY your
letter.
Ever since the war closed have been
anxious for the earliest prscticsble "resto.
ration Of the States of the South to their
proper relations TO the other States of the
Union. l adopt your own statement Of
the problem to be worked out, because ]
agree with you in the opinion that those
Estates have never been other than Stster
within the Union since they became par
ties TO the Federal Government, and that
the failure to maintain their assertions Of
Independence in the conflict of arms which
followed left them States still within the
Union"
The point on which probably differ
from YOU is tbis: The people for whom
and through whom these States we're to be
organized at the close of the war, was not,
as L think the same people as that which
existed in them when the war began.
In my judgment the refusal Of the pro-
prietary-elass, if il may be so called, TO
recognize this fact and its Legitimate and
indeed logical consequences, and the con-
viciions Of large msjoriiies in The free
States which adhered to the national gov
ernuent in respect to 1t, caused most OF
the trouble Of the last three years.
have not time TO 60 at large into this
subject; but may say briefly that emsB-
cipation came to be regarded by these ma.
joriiies as military necessity; that the
faith Of the nation was pledged by the
proclamation Of emancipation to maintain
the emancipated people 10 the possession
and enjoyment Of the freedom il conferred;
that to this eud the amendment Of the
Constitution prohibiting slavery through
out the United States was proposed and
ratified; that, becoming freemen the eman-
cipa,ed people became necessarily citizens,
aud that as citizens they we're entitled 10
be consulted in respect 10 reorganization,
and to the means Of self.protection by snf-
frags This Is n very brief. but think a
perfectly correct, statement, Of what mny
be called, for tho sake Of breyity, the
Northern view OF this matter. II would,
perhaps, be more correct to call IL the 10y
al view North and South, using the word
loyal us distinguishing the masses who
support the National Governmentirom the
masses who opposed II during the war.
Now, tho particular matter TO which
wish TO draw your attention IL, whether
policy and duty do not require the class
which have called proprietary. meaning
thereby the educated and cultivated men
of the South, whether property holders or
not, to accept this view fully and act up
on IL. snt 4ifts
Is II possible 10 doubt that, had this
view been accepted and acted upon three
years ago, after the surrender Of Leo and
johnson, the Southern States would have
been richer to-day by hundreds Of millions
than they are, and that long ago universal
amnesty after the removal Of oil disabili.
ties would have prepared the hearts OF men
on both sides for q real Union. Can II be
a matter Of question that the colored vot-
ers, finding in the educated classes true
friendship, eviuced by full recognition OF
their rights aud practical acts Of good
will, would have gladly given to those
classes substantially their old lead In af.
fairs, directed now, however, to Union and
not to disunion; to the benefit Of all, and
not exclusively to the benefit Of a class?
observe that you say that the "at.
temp,s to carry on the Government with
the privilege of universal suffrage incor.
poraled as one Of lis elements Is full Of
danger" Danger IL the condition Of all
governments because no from Of govern.
ment insures wise and benehcent admin
istrntion. But ] beg you to consider, 10
there not q greater danger without than
with universal sufTrage2 You can not
make suffrage less than universal for the
whites, aud will not the attempt to discri'
inmate excite such jealousies aud ill.feel-
ing MS will postpone to distant time what
seems 80 essential, namely, the restoration
Of general good win aud bringing into
lead the educated men aud the men OF
property. and SO securing the best and
most beneficial administration OF affairs
for all classes. Take universal suffrage
and universal amnesty, and oil will DO
we'll. Can you. my dear sir, devote your
iue powers 10 better work than complete
restoration on this bassY
Very truly and respectfully, yours.
3a = - aanasa :. L. CHASE.