Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-07-02
Wendell Phillips OPINION of Chief Justice
Chase.

seen VII hultfiCb, uuu htJo TINS 10 u
ready felt by the Radicals.
Wendell Phillips OPINION of Chief Justice
Chase.
From the Anti-Slavery Standard
Fdciis descensus Arerni, of which we
may take as counterpart, if not free
translation, the old saying, "Hell is
paved with good intentions" Scotland
hints the same truth in her proverb, "A
Haggis (pudding), God bless her, can
charge down hill" There's never any
trouble in getting downward when man
longs for it. Among our wishes there is
always one Aaron's rod which finally
devours all the rest Mr.. Justice Chase
wishes to be an abolitionist, hut he longs
TO be President. This longing is his
Aaron rod. He wishes to advocate uni
versal suffrage and payment of the ma
tional debt in gold. But he longs to OUT
bid Pendleton before the Democratic
Convention. See how reluctantly, like
the Jew under King Johns pincers, he
parts with his teeth to save his gold |;
parts with his professions (he never had
any principles) to save his chances of
nomination. At tho outset what lavish
waste of excellent indignation on the
part OF his friends when some tell tale
correspondents limited the possibility of
his accepting Democratic nomination
SIS thy servant dog that he should do
this thing?' But all that yirtuous horror
could not rub out of the public thought
/, thai" damned spot" SO in due time the
Cincinnati Gazette states, with Chase
like, ponderous, semi-ofiicial dignity, that
doubtless Mr.. Chase would accept such
nomination if the Democratic party
would come to him and plant itself on his
platform. Then his tempted, restless
virtue waits awhile to see what the party
will do. That lazy, good.for-nothing
manifests no disposition to-wash and
put on clean garments. Precious time
is running fast to July A. So somebody
is found, or imagined, to give the impa-
tient Judge an opportunity to come down
a little in his price. He let's it be known
that if universal suffrage can be secured
and gold payments pledged, be will meet
the Democrats with recognition of State
sovereignty and grant Of universal
amnesty. For awhile this is standing
offer. But the keen instinct of the Dem
ocratic rank and file saw a negro hid
under this nice meal. Spelling negro
with two g's is the Alpha and Omega of
American democracy. Mr.. Chase might
have learned the gospel of Col. Benton
a dozen years ago, aud found it, besides,
enlarged upon in the "Epistles of Mas
by" Slowly the truth dawned on him.
1t wes clear the party could never come
up to him. What then 2 Cousin, said
the Duke Of Bedford to the drunken
Duke of Norfolk, lying in the mud,
Cousin, ! can't lit you up; but l will
do the next best ihipg-Ill lay down with
you" So now we have the last bid
Pendleton and Chase neck and neck.
The platform with which Mr.. Chase 6
private secretary is authorized to tempt
rebellion, North aud South, is:
lst No mention of finance. Belmont 6
and Brick Pomeroy's guns both spiked.
I'd. U iversal amnesty demanded,
pledged as q necessity.
3D.. Universal suffrage recommended
% TO the States.
4ih. Congressional reconstruction de-
nouneed.
Now, Deacon Bascom, Of the Corners,
il you and Postmaster Nasty want the
play Of Hamlet with that part omitted
Chase without his record; The big wig
without the judge-you have it
Reputation, is il, TO pay in green
backs2 Well, what is il, then, to repu-
diate ones whole life ? Gentlemen Of
the Fourth Of July Convention, if you
will nominate Chase there will be no need
TO horrify the world BY mentioning repu
dia'iOn 10 your platform. Your candi-
date himself is such an embodied repudi
alton as will satisfy Brick Pomeroy
Rhett, PendIeion, and all their fellows.
Men say the Chief Justiceis selling bis
soul for this empty chance Of nomiua-
ton. No, gentlemen, he has no soul "a
sell That went to its place long ago
when Margaret Garner went up from be.
meath the gurgling waters Of the Ohio Il
bear witness against American democ
racy and American piety as she had seer
them ia the bastard and selfish face o.
the Ohio Governor Since then onlJ
"ihs empty sheath Of man" hal
hauu'ed the Senate chambers, benches
and Presidential conventions, a. dear
misefs hsunt the treasure for which theii
souls were sold.
II Mr.. Chase could hsve pledged th'
Democratic party 70 Republican primer
pies be wcaid have rendered noble ser
vice 10 the csuse Of liberty. We havl
loneed FOR the last Eve years 70 see a.
honest and earnest man NJ. Chase !