The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-19
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM CHIEF
JUSTICE CHASE.

why jefferson Davis vrial was DeIayed-Is
the Chief-Justice Ambitiouse-Neyer for Im-
mediate amnesty.
From the NJ Y. Tribune TO-DAY.
WASHINGTON, Sept. IS, 1s7O-The following letter
from Chief Justice Chase has already attained such
publicity that am fully warranted in transmitting
it to you for publication. At the same time it Is
proper that should advise you OF my uncertainty
as to whether the persons who have already given
it out for publication elsewhere had received the
proper authority Of the writer for this of pri-
TO THE Hon. T. w. CONWAY.
My Dear Sir:-I have received your kind letters,
and am much obliged for the information they con-
vey. am particularly touched by the proofs they
afford Of the attachment and confidence of the
colored people. have always said that to possess
the true affection and respect OF the poor and the
oppressed is worthier object of ambition than any
official position, even the highest In that ambition
am glad TO know S am not n key 70 be dsap
that have been credited with more ambition for
place than feel. Not that | possess any uncom-
mon indifference to the qualification derived from
distinction, but, to me, great place has always
seemed chiefly valuable as great opportunity for use
No one can foresee the future Congress has ad-
ourDed, and the members have gone home to confer
with their constituents When they return pre-
sumo they will take hold of their work vigorously.
Opinions differ as to what is best to be done. On
one point there is little real division. All seem
agreed that the reconstruction policy OF Congress
must be ardently pursued and that the earliest pos
relations, upon the basis of universal suffrage and
equal rights, is most desirable. feel more anxiety
on this point than any other, because, this point
once secured, all Others may be reckoned as Sc
cured. The rights of labor, and the interest Of
labor. are at the basis Of all sound policy, and
nothing is important to theirs the right to vote
| for the aborer. Sincerely yours,
| PSI have never advocated universal sufrrage
| and immediate amnesty to all. | have said that
| universal suffrage would reconcile comprehensive
lenity with tranquility and prosperity. / would
have no more dsfranchisement after the complete
| establishment of universal suffrage than is abso-
lutey necessary to secure the new order OF things
and the new State constitutions against overthrow
| Those lately in rebellion have no more right to
| destroy the country by ballots than by bullets.
AS to the trial of Jefferson Davis, the amount and
kind of Misrepresentation is astonishing. The facts
OF irving anyo NV sG s s n o
| duty as Judge, honestly and faithfully, turning
neither to the right nor the leit( While military
| Of the war, and anybody could be tried by military
commission, no Justice of the Supreme Court could
lasted from before the surrender of Lee, in April
1865, till the final suppression Of the Rebel
lion was pIrHoSclamed proc in 1866 Meantime,
changing the Circuits, had deprived the
Southern States, and jurisdiction was not restored
until March 1857, @ when ~, Congress @ 9 passed IS the
1867, neither the Chief Justice, nor any other JUS
tice, could try anybody in Virginia Any editor Of
any newspaper would have as much right. At the
| time the act OF March, 1867, was passed, the
Supreme Court was sitting in Washington, and the
Chief Justice was bound to be there, but he wrote to
come down and join him in holding the Court, as
soon as the supreme Court adjourned in May. JEFF
| trct Judge and bailed in May, before the Supreme
| Court adjourned. This seems to have been done
| by sort OF consent, and it was done without any
| conference with the Chief Justice, and was a mat
| ter of which he had no control. The counsel on
both sides were informed by the District Judge that
| the Chief Justice would come in few days;
and if trial had been deflred on either
side, it could have been then had in that
adjourned term having been appointed to be
held at Richmond on the 18th OF November, the
Chief Justice caused the parties to be notified that
he would attend at that time, in order that the trial
might take place, If parties were willing He did
accordingly attend but the parties we're not ready.
| This was in November, 1851. Since then the Chief
Justice has been obliged to attend the Supreme
Court at Washington. one thing Is certain there
has been no term at Richmond since the
capitulation OF Lee, which the Chief Justice
could have attended, at which he has not at
tended; and another thing is clear, that the trial OF
Jefferson Davis might at any time have taken pace,
that is, since his capture in May, 1885, either by
military commission, when military commissions
were being held for the trial OF Offenders under the
authority OF the President, or by court held by the
District Judge. The Chief Justice, therefore, Is in
sense or IN the least degree responsible for the
| delay which has taken place. Until last May he
! could not try him, and since then he has always
| been ready. 3. 7. CHASE.
| Washington, Jan. /, 1868.