The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-27
Chief Justice Chase, ths Democratic Party
and tue ssNew Departure"

Chicf Justice Chase, tho Democratic Party
and the ssNew Departure
The new departure of the Northern de-
mocracy, though generally recognized as a
party necessity, is still, TO some extent, in
VOWED in mystery, particularly in reference
| to the late c. L. Vallandigham, as the pioneer
| in the movement How did it happen that
! he, of all the democratic leaders, was Sc
lected to break ground in the acceptance Of
| the three new amendments to the national
constitution, and by what influences was he
chosen for this bold undertaking? We think
the mystery is solved in the simple declara-
ton that this new departure was contrived as
movement in the interest of Chief Justice
Chase, looking to the Presidential Democratic
Convention of 1872. We are strongly in
clined to this belief from the intimate polit-
cal relations which have existed between the
Chief Justice and Mr.. vallandigham since
1868, and because we think it can be shown
that in and since the Tammany National Con-
vention perfect understanding between these
two men has guided the movements Of both
looking to the Presidential game of the best
foot foremost.
First, as an evidence of the 'happy &C
cord" existing between the Chief Justice and
Mr.. Vallandigham in 1871, we submit the fol-
lowing letter from the former to his Ohio CO.
laborer in grateful recognition Of the first
practical step taken in this new departure -
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 90, 1871.
MY DEAR SIR have lust reau the resolutions OF
the Montgomery County (OhiO) Democratic Conven-
marks and those Of Mr. Conk You have rendered
great service to your country and the party-at
least such IS my Judgment May Coo bless you for
the movement contemplated by the resolutions is
the restoration OF the democratic party to Its ancient
platform of progress and reform. know you too
well TO doubt your courage or your fidelity TO your
convictions. Very truly yours, 8. p CHASE.
Hon. U. L. VALLASDIGHAM.
Here, ii will be observed the Chief Justice
becomes enthusiastic in his gratitude. ''You
have rendered great service to your country
and the party. May God bless you for it."
The movement is altogether agreeable to Mr..
Chase, because it brings him and the de,noc-
racy together again on the same platform ''of
progress and reform" after separation of
quarter of a century on the negro question. 1t
may be fairly assumed, too, that Mr.. Chase,
in this prompt and grateful approval of this
new departure of Mr. vallandgham, wished
to be identified with it as a party man, and
that his object was to be ahead of all the other
democratic candidates for the White House in
giving this forward movement his hearty sup
port. Doubtless he knew all about it in ad-
vance of any other democratic candidate from
al NIT Val.
landgham on the subject; for we all know
that the movements Of parties and of govern
ments and dynasties are managed by few
wire-workers behind the scenes.
Mr. Chase in this aforesaid letter, says of
his trusty Ohio friend 81 know you too well
to doubt your courage or your fidelity to your
convictions. There could be no doubt of this
fidelity, for had it not been tried and proved
in the Tammany Cow ention of 1868? In that
Convention Mr.. Pendleton was the favorite of
Ohio and the West against the field; but he
was not the favorite Of Mr.. Vallandigham.
Between Pendleton and Vallandigham, in fact.
the relations existing at that time were some
what like the relations which now exist be-
tween Senators Fenton and Conkling, of this
State. 1t is the old story. Pendleton aspired
to be the head chief of his party in Ohio, and
Vallandigham aspired to the same position,
aud the State was not big enough for both of
them, just as the New York Custom House to-
day is not big enough to hold both Murphy
and Greeley. Conspicuous, then, and heartily
active in behalf Of the nomination of Mr.. Chase
by the Tammany Convention, was Mr.. Vallan-
dgham. Failing, however, to bring the old
Bourbons to this new departure with repub-
lican for candidate, Mr.. yallandigham
rushed through the nomination Of Horatio
Seymour, thus completely cutting out Pende-
ton, and thus leaving the field open for the
West and for Mr.. Chase on q new departure in
1872.
We suppose that all this was understood be-
tween Mr.. Chase and his Ohio chief engineer
from 1865 to 1871. Unfortunately for the
Chief Justice, then came the untimely death
of his shrewd, courageous and trusty friend.
Mr. Pendleton, in Ohio, thus comes again into
the foreground. As for Mr.. Chase, he missed
bis opportunity in 1868. Then, If the Tam
many Convention had nominated him, even on
the Wade Hampton platform, the glorious
Union war record of Chase would have neu-
tralized those ugly resolutions, and many re-
publicans would have supported him. We
have always suspected that even Greeley, with
''three sheets in the wind, during the Tam
many ballotings, would have gone for Chase as
tue democratic candidate against Grant as the
republican nominee. But since 1868 the course
of the Chief Justice in the Andy Johnson i'm
parchment trial, and his opinions on his own
legal tender act, and his position in the Tam
many Convention, all taken together, have
operated to cut of all his former republican
friends and followers, without gaining him the