Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-29
Chief Justice Nicholson on the Political
Situation.

IN the midst or MS arduOuS duties OH Gne
Supreme Bench, our Chief Justice finds
time to take part in the political discus
5ions of the day.
He has right to make known his views,
but if a Republican in similar position
were to do so, he would be charged with
dragging the judicial ermine in thedirt."
AS considerable inquiry has been made
for the letter. owing to the reference made
to it in Sundays CHRONICLE, we give it
in full.
1t was written to a gentleman in West
Virginia who sent to Mr. Nicholson copy
of the Parkersburgh platform. The letter
called from the Herald Nicholson's nomi-
nation for Vice President.
The letter is as follows:
COLUMBIA, Tenn, August 6, 1871.
W. C. Church, Esq:
DEAR SIR have examined with care
the printed copy of the platform on which
the friends of Chief Justice Chase propose
to present his name to the National Demo
cratic Convention for nomination to the
Presidency. You are aware that since the
people of Tennessee called me to the posi-
lion which | now occupy as Chief Justice
of the State, have deemed it my duty to
abstain from all political movements, and
20 devote my whole time to my official
| trust. The judgment, therefore, which [
shall express as to the Chase platform, and
| its acceptability to the Southern Democra-
cy, will rest much more upon my general
views as to the Southern character and
southern sentiment than upon any knowl-
edge on these subjects acquired within the
| asst twelve months.
1 regard the principles and policy laid
Town in the resolutions on which you ask
my opinion as eminently sound and orthO-
lOX, and those only on the success of which
we can hope to prevent our Government
rom becoming a confirmed central despOt-
| ism. Relying upon my knowledge of
southern character and sentiment, | have
no doubt that the great body of the South
4rn people would cordially support Chief
| Justice Chase or any honest statesman
landing upon this platform.
DO not think that the o.'thern Demo
| Gratis have any decided preference as to the
| persons to be nominated for President and
| Vice President. They look to the conven-
| ion for the selection of two honest states
man, with the adoption of sound Demo-
| cratic platform, and on such ticket there
| will be substantial unanimity. | think
can safely add that Chief Justice Chase. by
| lis UfL1n6SS, luUep elueUC6 ana ABILITY In
| he discharge of his official duties, has Sc
cured the decided confidence of the South
ern Democracy.
But, if / am not much mistaken in the
Southern sentiment, it is the general i'm
| preston that the selection of candidates
ought to be made by the Northern Demo-
| Gratis, and that the Southern Democrats
| would neithersuggest nor advocate any pre-
| ferences for the nominations to be made
| This course is indicated as wise on the
part of the Southern Democrats, because
| of the conviction that there exists in the
Northern mind a jealous suspicion of
Southern statesmen, which would render
| 1t lmprudent in them to take any promi-
nent part in indicating or selecting candi-
dates
For the same reason I think the South
ern Democrats are prepared to acquiesce
generally in the nomination of both can
| dldates from the Northern States Indeed,
it would not be easy to find in the South
ern States statesman fitted for either po-
slClOn whose connection or sympathy with
the late civil war would not cause his nom
inatiOn to become ground of weakness to
| the ticket l give it to Won ne nv iudg-
ment that the Southern Democrats i'm gem
eral deem it their duty in the present state
of political affairs to await in silence the
action of their, Northern friends having
| full confidence that they will adopt such a
| platform and make such nominations as
will command the cordial support and CO.
operation of the Southern Democracy.
Very respectfully,
A. o. P. NICHOLSON.