, 1873-05-24
!. THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE
Letters Showing His Position In
1868.

Although there was wido dvorsity
OF ngo and positfou betweon tho Chief Justice
and myaolf, yot know that I enjoyed his fullest
confidence and friondslip from 1861 until tho
day Of Ills doath. I llaye rcason to bollevo that
lo said and wrote moro to mo about Ills oonnoc-
tlon with the New York Convention, tlan ho did
to any 0thor porBon. I am aHaro OF tho TACT
that many Rcpublioans, once admirors OF tho
ohiet Suafeo have done inlngtiso TO nm lar,6o 9o.
Ills lifelong. professions for tho Presidential
honor. Nothing is further from tho truth. His
whole oo1rao was digniaed, statoamanliko. ana
ennoblea by fcolilg Of pure patriotism md de-
That he wnntea to DO rre.sdont is traoi but his
ambition waa not dictatod by selfish lovo OF
powor, but by an carneat desire to elevate pub
lie opinion to LIS own high plane Of Thought;
you four lettera from him: YOU can o1ofclse
wrltten undoF the Tel Of privacy, and 2.., n9 one
aa seen them anye mya'H ,r 90 moi n0s peGre.
propriety f I IN ma%nr tho4a 'Sa pio fhey expsess
at least. his heartfa1b and sincere opinion,
Ind llo boon elevated to the Ohiof .Afagiatrate'a
position, humanity would not have found In him
IN onemy, NOT. tho Republican party an oppo-
nent to It's principles. He WAS friendly to tho
do not boleve over doubted the wlHdom and
necessity OF the reconstruction taWs.
You will perceive, from his communication, m
intense desire to Shield Mr. Seymour from all ns-
sarlta tint Wero made upon him. Notwitlatand-
ing many proofs Of Mr.. Seynour'a treachery and
cowardce that wero made. public at the time,
NIr. Chaso mover believed it, md sought by all
meana in his power to protect him from personal
attack.
As you, also, wore o persona friend to Nfr.
Ohnso, you can Judge butter than ] chi OF tho
propriety Of publishing the incloscd letters. and
/ loayo tho 1natter to your Judgment. You're
n,oBt respectfully. WAi. BnowN.
III. uA1sTEAD, Esq. :.,.=
WASHINGTON, Apr! %, 1868.
Mr. DEAR COLONEL: have very litt1o time,
as you will readily in,aginc, for correspondence,
and muat be quite q g., brief in my reply to your
It Hooms quite ccrtain-to go to another part
Of your lettar-that the Southern Btates will
now ratify' tho Fourteenth Articlo-onough Of
them at least to mako 1t q part Of tho Conatitu"
revoked their ratiAcations, but thoir votes arc
supplied by those Of Iowa and Nebraska, making
Twenty-Five ratifying States in all. The number
required iB twonty-eght, aud six moro aro 1locos
III process Of restoration shall ratify, tho NUM-
ber will bo complete.
Thon, as you suggest, no ono within tho Dis
ability Section Of tho Article can hold Office,
conatitutionally, in any State. If disabled can
diaatoa .prcsont themselves and are eloctod,
cations. Tho best remedy, as believe, iB tho
removal Of tho disabilities If this is not al-
}owoa, Congress- must provide anothor.
am very sorry, to observe the reluctance Of
tho white voters to giyo the right Of testimony
to colored poraons. I think tint Judge Swagno,
In tho civil rights case whicl wa8 he1ora him nt
Louisvillo, decided that colorod testimony is as
admissible as white. I ahonla be astoniehea
object to it, 1t did not remember wfat strug~
Es ss IL 9hg to s b se beb It, t. do ts
tho better for all interests. honor Col. Hroch-
inridgo for his manly and wise stand In favor
of it.
have ccaHed, as told yon to hare my nspi-
rations connected with the Presidency. It onco
seemed to mo. a position highly desirable for tho
opportunities Of usefulness it afforaoa nor was
Indifferent to its distinctions. But am almost
| surprised to find how contentcdlyI hayo seen
tho preference Of the Republicans fall upon Gen.
lingering desire for tho place. You doubtlcsA
notice tho talk there is about uniting Ill the op-
ponentB Of military ascendlncy and military COM
| mission on ono candidate, and making mo that
candidate. But have no ides, with my known
principles and convictions III reapeot to roatora-
ton on the basis Of universal suffrage aH vol as
universal amnesty, that there will any euch unite
upon me, and nm very sure that shall mol
| sock eny nomination from any party I don't
want any Office enough for that: and, indeed. il
to resign the post hold to being seeker fol
my other.
an none the 1ess grateful to you for your
strong friendship. Should what some paper
tion take place under circumstances Which wotlt
make it my duty to accept 1t, aud should succes'
attend it-what succession OF unmatched chick
| ens lit may be in my power to prove bette
tlan can otherwise low value it. Whethe
or no, it will always bo pleasant to me to ahos
| NV nsnHa of it In auy f1tfinr wnv EinrGrn1,
youts h. L. Ol1AsF.
:NAnnAaANsEr1, Sept. 2, 1soe*
Mr. DEAN COLONEL: Your welcome lette
reached ME hore. thank you most heartily 70
your noblo aud generous defense Of my motive
aud actions. The friendship and confidence Q
truo and bravo men like yourself is worth NOR
to me than any political honors.
am sorry 1 do not sec the path Of 'politica
duty for myself quito % clearly ia Jou hay
soon your own; and ! cannot help rcgrettin
your quotation OF what you understood me +
Sly Of the duty Of patriots in tho eyont Of reao
tionnry aBcendhncy In New York.
have no recollection Of the language use
by mo in o,1r various conversations but I das
nay that expressed tho opinion Tint nearly a
the Republicans and many Of the Conservative
who desired my nomination would vote for Cor
Graut il tie Now York Convention should ado1
platform and make nomiuatione indicating
purpose to overthrow, by national action, tt,
governments and constitutions established
the South under the neoonstructlsn aGts: J.. !
citizens would yoto for Gen. Grant on lliB ON
platform, Il Lot uB haye peace," trusting al
| believing IN him, rather thal i'll tho party whle
nominated him.
moro than should have gaid, aud moro thun
was in the habit OF saying. Aud If I expresat
J any personal feeling OF my own, il must lla'
boon That, III the ovout referred to, ! should fe