New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
THE LATE CHIEF JUSTICE.
EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS SHOWING HIS
POSITION IN 1868.

EXTRACTS FROM PRIVATE LETTERS SHOWING HIS
POSITION IN 1853.
Col. William Brown of NichOlasville, Ky,
has published In The Cincinnati Commercial several
letters written him by ChiefJustee Chase in 1868,
which throw important Light upon the laters position
upon the questions 0f that campaign. From the rst
these dated April 29 1868. the following extracts are
taken:
have ceased. rs told you to have any aspirations
connected with the Presidency. II seemed TO
position highly desirable for sne opportunities OF useful
ness It afforded; Indifferent 10 iis distinctions.
But am almost surprised % ind how cOntentedly
have seen the preference Of the Republicans a upon
Gen Grant, aud how little / am troubled by any
lingering desire for the place. You doubtless
notice the talk there ia about uniting al
the opponents of military ascendency ana nIitary
commission candidate, and making me that
candidate But have idea, with my known princl-
pies and convictions IN respect 10 restoration On tle
basis O universal suffrage as well az universal amnesty
that there viii any such unite uDOn me- and am very
that snail not seek any nomination from any
party. don't want any Office enough for that and IN
deed, If could now do so with prOpnety would prefer
resign the post hold 20 being seeker Tor any other
From another letter dated Sept o. 1868 the following
extracts viii be OF interest showing the ChefJustces
attitude toward Gov Seymour and Gen. Grant:
Iregretted nothing speech except rs tone and
tenor coucerning Gov Seymour. / was sure when the
platform wac adopted and interpreted on the vital
question OF the stability OF fOrcbe suDveslOn OF the
ana nomination OF Gen. Blair, that nearly all
the Republicans and very many Ol the Conservative,
who anxious unite with the Democrats IN oppOsi
ton To the extreme OF the Republican leaders.
wOuld be constrained 70 the support OF Gen Grant But
it not and is not my belief that Gov Seymour desired
this issue made or that he wished the nomna-
ton for himself have seen nothing IN his acton which
makes question the sincerity or us declared wishes Tor
different and for another candidate. Hardly any
man would have resisted the approaches made 20
him by Convention which seemed 10 De, ana perhaps
was unanimous nearly so. demanding his
to his nomination That he did not resist may be
deplOred public grounds but my friends should not
COMPLAIN 1 had no claim on Democratic convention
representing wnat may be called the Oidne Democracy
The nomination proposed only as means of unit
support OF the ticket those in general sympathy
with that Democracy on other issues that nave arisen
since the war but who were as much as ever IN favor
OF securing the enfranchised people all the rights OF
and citizens, the best, II not the only means of
restoring order and prosperity TO the south by their
action and by the Blair portion OF the platform
especially the Convention refused that union. Ts IT,
fuaal be regretted. Dat II u not matter ~ COM
plant. Gov. Seymour, / am confident desired It. l
blame nODOdy-nO Democrat Who thinks other issues
paramount in Importance 10 that OF poace
and the universal suffrage, for supporting
Gov. Seymour, and no Republican or Conserya-
ye thinks peace ana reorganization on the basis Of
justice for ALL and suffrage 70 secure justice paramount
all other issues, for supporting Gen Grant THESE
yndioate their position, and at the same time.
do full justice the abilities satesmanshp patriotism,
and pure private character Of Gov. seymour The for
mer can maintain theirs without aspersiOn upon Cen
Grant aud with full acknowledgment Of the services
he has rendered IN his military capacity.
people of the late Slave states. whether white black
from election OF Gen. Grant will De realized. think
they Will be- at least ia part. Reconstruction IN the
features which approve, well In those winch
disapproye, will probably become liked aud per
manent facts under MS administration. l incline
90 think also that he Will favor the re-
moval OF all disabilities imposed by the Four
teenth Amendment In other respects my fears OF the
results election stronger than my hopes But
II Will be great thing to have universal suffrage under
the new Constitution assured and all disabilities re-
moved. Ia this way only and in candid acceptance or
this way, the southern states Ia ny Judgment look
for sure prosperity.
This from later one of Oct IS. bears on the same
question: ana shows also his attitude the question Of
negro suffrage:
ismy uudoubting belief that assaults on Gov. Sey-
rnour do no good anybody out both unwtse and
unjust | have never doubted that he erred IN con-
sefng 70 be nominated upon the platform OF the New
York Convention without expressing any dissent from
the dOgmas reconstruction which II put fOrth, ana
sil more in accepting that nomination without any
such dissent after revolutionary construction gwen
10 h by the nomination OF Balr fresh from the pubica
non Of MS BrOadhead letter But the error one which
might easily be committed by Onein Gov SEYMOUR posi-
ton aud think tnat 10 warrants the rcprOaches
which have been directed against him. Judge Pierre
nont has made the true between Seymour and Blair
and Grant and COlfaX. He analyses it well when he
avs that IL Is an between Blair ana Revolution
and Grant and Peace. leaving Seymour anu COlfa1
almost wholly Of sight lne0se 10 you with this
copy OF Judge PerrepOnis speech. You viii doubtless oe
struck as was with the account Of the conversation be-
twe. MIN and Grant and the declaration Of Grant that
.'h feelings sentiments entirely opposed 10 negro
suffrage" hope that having made enough progress
during become glad OF negro enlistment
(which certainly could never say, he has made pro-
gress enough since ana will make enough hereafter
10 see in the south" the whole people OF the South
rood citizens" all good ctzens, Of Whatever com
pexion or nativity ana in securing the rights OF all by
the suffrage OF all, something else than giving them
(hat Is the white people OF the SOUTH negro Suffrage