The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-11
(FrOm the Tribune
SUMNER AND CHASE.
The Chicf JustiCcslIp.

The following paragraph is going the
rounds of the journals
"reminiscences of Mr.. Sum-
rcr crowd the papers. The last is from
Caleb Lyon, who gives some recollections
on the Senator's life in Washington
among them this ''Soon after Chef-Jus-
tice Taney's death he showed me card
from the President, upon which was
written
"Hon. Charles sumner-The vacant Chief
JustieeShip Is placed at your disposal;
! He then said There was a time when
this office would have been the realized
dream of my youth, but now it must motif
cannot he. The breach between Mr.. Chase
and the President is growing wider and
wider, and this will close it. No personal
sacrifice is too great, nor can anything
tempt me to desert my post The repub-
lican party must remain intact until It's
mission is fulfilled" 1t is well known
that only the great Senator'S persislency
accomplished the appointment of Mr..
Chase, after tedious delay from October
to December. Mr.. Chase through life re-
manned unconscious of Mr.. Lincolns offer
and of Mr. summers refusal.
Mr.. Lincoln was not of the formal cut"
of politicians. certainly, but it seems high
/ ly improbable that he ever rendered the
great Office of Chief-Justice to Mr.. Sumner
or any other gentleman, in the cxtraordn-
AIRY way stated in the above extract. As a
/ historic fact, no communication at all pass
/ ed between Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Chase on
the subject until after the nomination was
made in view of which, and the greatness
of the occasion, it is not likely that Mr..
Lincoln used less Formally than if he had
extended to Mr., Sumner an invitation To
state dinner.
On the 10Th of February last Sunday
spent an hour and Il half with Mr.. Sumner
in his library at Washington. He seemed
in unusual good health and spirits, and
talked unwearyngly during the whole time
was with him. Among other things he
gave me this account of his connection
with Mr. Chases animation to be chief
justice
He said that-so near rs he could then
remember the middle Of may, 1864,
Mr.. William l.. Hodge, who had formerly
been an assistant secretary of the treasury,
called upon him at about l0l o'clock in
left Mr.. Reyerdy johnson, that Mr.. John
son had just come from the house of Mr..
Chief-Jusice fancy ; that the Chicf-Jus-
tice was IN ertr6miS, and could not possibly
survive until morning. Mr.. Sumner SAID
he felt this to be intelligence so direct and
of so important kind that, although he
was pressed for time, he al once went to
the President. He told Mr.. Lincoln what
he had heard and OF his great interest in
the choice Of a successor The President
said he anticipated Mr.. Summers thoughts
and wishes. you have come he said,
"to speak of Mr.. Chase" Mr.. Sumner re-
piled that he had come for that purpose.
MIR. Lincoln then put into question the
thought uppermost in his mind "lf | ap-
point Chase will he give up politics and the
presidency p In reply to this Mr. sum
ner told the President of conversation he
had not long before had with Mr.. Chase,
in the course of which Mr.. Chase said that
if he were allowed an untrammeled choice
between the presidency and the chief jus
ticeship he would choose the latter. This
was said without reference particularly to
either place, but in the course of some free
and friendly talk upon the relative desir-
ability of political and judicial positions.
This seemed to please the President very
much, and he said that he would send to
Chase next morning and have an under
standing with him on the subject Mr..
Sumner objected TO this because, he
said, "it will not do for the President to
have any communication with any one
touching appointment to this great place
which the most malignant enemy could
torture into a corrupt understanding The
President instantly saw the propriety of
this, and acquesced in it, but said his mind
was settled upon tue appointment of Mr.,
Chase. So fixed was he that he proceeded