New-York tribune., 1870-09-19
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM CHIEFJUsTICE
. CHASE.

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM CHIEF Et-JCslACE
TT. CHASE.
Way JEFFERSON DAvIs's TRIAL WAS DELAYED
is THE CHIEF-JUsTICE AMBITIOUS !
NEVER FOR IMMEDIATE AMNESTY.
.... WASHINGTON Sept. Is, 1870.
The following letter from Chief-Justice Chase has
already attained such publicity that am fully war
ranted in transmitting it 10 yOu for publication Az
the sse time il is proper that should advise you
of nv 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 use of private letter.
TO tRe Hon. T. W. CONWAY.
Ny DEAR SIR: have received your kind letters, and
am much obliged for the information they convey am
particularly touched by the proofs they afford OF the at
tschment and confidence Of the colOred people have
always said that possess the affection and true respect
Of tho poor aud the oppressed is YOrher object OF am
bton than any official position, even the highest In
that ambition glad to know am not likely to be
disappointed. may be mistaken, but really believe
that have been credited with ambition for place
than feel Not that possess any uncommon indifier
eAoe the qualification derived from distinction but
me- great place has always seemed chiefly valuable
great opportunity for useful service
No one can foresee the future Congress has ad-
tourned, and the members have gone homo
20 confer with their constituents. When they
return 1 presume they will take hold OF their work
vigorously Opinions differ to what is best 10 be DONE
ON one point little real division. All agreed
that the Reconstruction policy of Congress must be
denty pursued and that the earliest possible restora
toD of tho Southern States their old relations upon
the basis Of Universal Suffrage and Equal Rights, is most
desirable. feel more anxiety this point than any
other because this point secured al others may
bs reckoned secured The rights of labor and the in
terest Of labor the basis of all sound policy and
nothing is important to theirs the right TO vote FOR
che labOrer. Sincerely yours, S. p. CHASE.
p Il new ad Universal Suffrage
Immediate Amnesty TO All. have said that Universal
Suffrage would reconcile comprehensive leny with tran
Quillity and prosperity l would have no more dis
reimbursement after the complete establishment Of Uni
verssl Suffrage than is absolutely necessary TO
The order Of things and the State Constitutions
against overthrow. Those lately in rebellion have
right TO destroy the country by ballots than by bull
4ets
the trial Of Jefferson Davis the amOrnt and kind
OF Misrepresentation is astonishing The facts sim
pes neither shun the responsibility of trying
anybody. (My purpose is TO do nv duty as Judge,
honestly and faithfully turning neither to the right
the left) While military authority supreme in the
South an incident Of the and anybody could be
tried by military commission Justice Of the Supreme
Court could properly hold Court there. This state Of
things lasted from before the surrender of Lee in April
1866 till the final suppression of the Rebellion pro-
claimed. in 1866 Meantime, in July, 1866, an act Of
Congresa by changing the Circuits, had deprived the
Justices OF the Supreme Court Of jurisdiction In the
Southern States, and jurisdiction was not restored until
March 1861 when Congress passed the necessary act OF
from July 1885, to March, 1851. neither the
ChiefJustce, any other Justice, could try anybody
IN Virginia. ANY editor OF any newspaper would have as
much r ght. at the time the act of March, 1851
passed he Supreme Court was sitting in Washington
aud the Cbef-Justice bound to be there but ne
wrote 70 the District Judge at Richmond Va. that he
would come down and Join him in holding the Court,
the Supreme Court adjourned in May Jefferson
Davis however brought before the District Judge
and baed In May before the Supreme Court adjourned.
This to have done by of consent, and
done without any conference with the ChieJustoe,
and was a matter Of which he had no control. Tie
counsel on both sides informed by the District
Judge that the Chef Justice would come in few days
and trial had been desired either sdo it could
October 1867 an adjourned having been appointed
~ be held at Richmond the 18th of November the
Chef Justice caused the parties to be notified
that ne would attend at that time, in order
that the trial might take place. II parties were willing
We dd accordingly attend. but the parties not
ready This was IN November Since then the Chief
g,ce has obliged TO attend tie Supreme Court at
WssangtOn. One tABg is certain. there has been no
term "a Richmond since the captuation Of Lee which
Chief Justice cOHd have attended at which he has
n1 atended and another thing clear that the trial Of
Davis might any time have taken place, that
is since his capture May, 1885, either BY military
i.lpn. when military commissions were being held for
Cue M n % offenders under the authority Of the Prcsi
dent 90 10y court held by The District Judge. The Chief
Justice therefore, is or in the least degree
responsible for the delay which has taken place. Until
Ia, 5y no could not Try him. and since then he has al
Sty5 been ready. :. T. CIAsE'
Wilmington, Jan. !, 1868.
NrtTN-I, II -CTTpN