The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-09
The Presidency.

The friends of Judge CHASE are not in
clined to forbear to press him for the Prcsi-
dency Notwithstanding he has cried to
them "Entreat me NOT The New York
SIN, which has declared itself against Ge-
neral GRANT for reelection, has with equal
frankness intimatcd its preference for the
Chief Justice. The editor of that paper
hears of letter Mr.. CHASE has written to
q citizen of New York On the subject Of the
Presidency, and after earnest solicitation
is permitted by the gentleman to whom it
was addressed to publish it. We copy it
below;
"NaRRAGANsETT, August II, 1869.
"Ny Dear Nr. Briggs,-lour note of
the 10Th, after a rather long journey,
reached me here yesterday.
81 should be very glad to see you and
talk Wit: you on any subject but politics
DR.. Bailey used to say that of Bunyan's
Pilgrims he represented Christian and ]
Hopeful. | am still hopeful. When l was
younger, and thought that if largely trusted
by the people could do good service to the
country, should have been glad to have
been so trusted. Now am older, and not
1T all satisfied that, if in q higher place, |
could do any better than those now cXcr-
cisinr executive functions do, | am more
than content to let aspiration alone. My
hopes are in others.
lit amuses me to hear Of Chase move
ments here and there. | don't believe
there are any such. AS far as locality is
given to them III Maryland, know there
are none; for spent two or three days in
Frederick this week, and should have heard
of them if any existed I don't believe a
bit in them elsewhere.
eff can only perform with reasonable
satisfaction to my own conscience, and to
the opinions Of those best qualified to judge,
the duties of my present position, shall
I'LL the largest measure Of my present am
bition. | want nothing whatever Of a
political character, and desire that my name
may be dissociatcd hereafter in mems
minds with all political action. If this il
too much to expect, let me hope, at least
that no friend of mine will lend any coun-
tenance to such absurd nonsense as that &c
which | have referred.
eve are coming to New York next week
to attend the wedding of Miss Susie Hoyt
ut Astoria, next Thursday. II we remain
long enough to see anybody, will let you
know OF my whereabouts.
''Sincerely your friend,
S. p. CHASE.
James 4. Briggs, Esq.
Assuming that this letter was never in
tended for the public eye, the editor Of the
!SUn contends that it clearly establishes the
sincerity of Judge CHASE; and that he
really desires and intends hereafter tC
"hold himself aloof from politics, and &c
"devote his whole mind and heart to his
duties as the head of the Supreme Court
But the editor proceeds to argue that this
sincere desire on the part of Judge CHASE
will only "serye to render him more
formidable as candidate" Assuming
that it is "all over" with General GRANT,
and that his administration has been "a
failure" the Sun goes on to declare that If
the Chief Justice will resign his seat on
the bench nothing could well prevent his
being chosen President in 1872 but, y
adds that paper, "if he remains Chief
Justice he does well to resign all serious
thought Of the greater Office
This, indeed, puts the Chief Justice in a
dilemma. The sincerity Of his acithdra,cal
from politics makes him formidable, but
he must prove himself inSinccre in this
withdrawal by resigning his Office and en-
tering the political arena, in order to be
elected to the Presidency! A strange piece
OF strategy, and one the Chief Justice will
hardly approve.
There will be assuredly several moves on
the chess-board by the aspirants to the
Presidency, and the formidable nature Of
the efforts that will be made will depend
very much upon the course of General
GRANT. We have steadily declared our
faith in the liberality and fairness of his
disposition, and if that shall be manfally
and firmly in the ascendant in his adminig-
tration We doubt whether any serious op-
position can be brought against him for q
second term. General GRANT should rule
n e