New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-06
SUMNER AND CHASE.
THE CHTEF-JUsTICEsHIP


MR. LINCOLN AND Mr.. SUMNER. IN WHICH Mr..
CUAsEs NOMINATION WAS AGREED uPOS-hR
SUMMERS OWN STATEMENT A FEW WEEKS BE-
FORE HIS DEATH.
To me Edttor Of The tribune.
SIR: The following paragraph il going tho
rounds Of the Journals
"reminiscences OF Mr.. Sumner crowd tho
papers The last Caleb Lyon. who gives some
recoecons of the Senator's life in Washington-among
them this =" Soon after ChlefJus'ice Taneys death ne
showed me card from the President upon winch W."
Hoy CHARLIE. srxsER: The ChetJa'iee'o J. PLACED
Ho then said There time when this Off "a would
ms S Sot t"s Se Te Mr. cha
and the President growing wider and wider ana tnis
will close No personal sacrifice Is too great. nor can
ything tempt to desert my post The RepuSlicap
party remain intact until IT'S mission Is fulfilled
II Is we'll known that only the great senator persist
ency accomplished the appointment OF Mr. Chase aief
q tedious delay from October to December; Mr. CHASE
offer and Of Mr.. Summers refusal"
Mr. Lincoln was not Of the "formal cut" OF politicians,
certainly, but IL highly improbable that he ever
rendered great office OF ChiefJustce TO Mr. Sumner
any other gentleman, the extraordinary way stated
In the above As historic fact, no communi-
cation at all passed between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Chase
on subject untIiaftert;he nomination was made In
view Of which and the greatness OF the OCCASION u
not likely that Mr. Lincoln used less Formally than II
he had extended Mr. Sumner an invitation to State
dinner.
and half with Mr.. Sumner in his library at washing
ton He seemed in unusual good health aud spirits and
talked unwearyingly during the whole time was with
him. Among other things he gave me this account OK
his connection With Mr. Chases nomination ~ be Chef
Justice:
He said that-s0 near he could then remember
about the middle May, 1864, Mr. William L. Hodge,
who had formerly been Assistant Secretary OF tho
Treasury, called upon him about 1Oi o'clock in tho
evening. Mr. Hodge said he had just left Mr. Reverdy
johnson; that Mr. Johnson had just come from tho
house Of ChieJustce fancy; that the Chef Justice
was in ertremts and could not possibly survive unti
morning. Mr. Sumner said he felt this to be intelligence
SO direct and of important kind that, although he
was pressed for time he went to the Prcs dent
He told Mr.. Lincoln what he had heard and OF
his great interest the choice OF q successor.
The President said lie anticipated Mr.. sumners
thoughts and wishes. "You have come" he said'
q" to speak OF Mr.. Chase" Mr.. Sumner replied that
he had for that purpose Mr.. Lincoln then
put into question the thought uppermost IN his nina
at I appoint Chase will he give up politics and tho
Presidencyp In reply to this Mr. Sumner told tho
President Of conversation he had not long before had
with Mr. Chase. in the course OF which MI Chase SAID
that If allowed untrammeled choice between
the Presidency and the ChlefJusticoship, he would
choose the latter. This was said without reference
particularly either place, but In the course OF some
and friendly talk upon the relative desrabiity OF
political and judicial positions This seemed To please
President very much he said that he would send
to Chase next morning and have an understanding
with him the subject Mr. Sumner objected TO this
Because" he said, it will never do for the President
TO have any communication with any one touching ap"
pontment to this place which the most malignant
enemy could torture into a corrupt UNDERSTANDING
The President instantly the propriey OF this AMI
ac1uesced it, but said his mind settled upon tho
appointment of Mr. Chase. so fixed was he that bo
proceeded to canvass for In the Treasury,
ul.rlv NJ fyn gent
| Hooper Of Boston and John Sherman Of Ohio.
Mr. Sumner said 1t after o'clock In the morning
the interview between himself and the Presidens
came to end. 1t happened, however that Mr. fancy
rallied and lived till the 18th Of October, 1864 ME- sum
ner said that Immediately upon hearing OF Mr. Taneys
death he wrote to Mr. Lincoln recalling their converse
| ton in the preceding May. 81 wrote three severh
tines he said, "urging appointment OF Mr. Chase.
told the President how important 1t was to have
ChiefJustce who friend OF liberty by early ana
constant convctlon who did not require to DO con-
verted by arguments Of counsel expressed, In my
last letter. regret that the appointment had
not been made on the evening OF ChiefJustce Taneys
funeral as promptitude like that would have been In
spring expected no answer TO any OF my letters
he said, and got none"
then mentioned Mr.. Sumner fact which had como
TO my knowledge about the time 1t happened. At
gathering OF young gentlemen In Boston one evening
few days before the nomination made. Mr. Robert
Lincoln the Presidents SOU asked whether, IN his
opinion, Mr.. Chase was likely 10 be chosen. Young
| Lncolns reply was curious: 1.-THE relations existing
between my father and Mr.. Chase he said are those
OF armed neutrality" observed to Mr.. Sumner that
thought this sounded marveously like Mr.. Lincoln Mr.
Sumner said certainly did have IN 1t something charac'
terstic but, he went to say, don't believe Mr..
Lincoln ever used 1t connection with Mr. Caase and
| the Enthusiastically. After the appointment was
made went to see the President and congratulated
him on his action aud told him approved ny tho
country. In the course OF our conversation Mr. Lincoln
said he had wavered IN his intention TO nominate
Mr. vacancy occurred during his Presidency
from the night OF our interview on the subject 10 INC
preceding May until the nomination was finally made
This latter observation OF the President seems To dispose
effectually of ,he alleged offer to Mr. sumner even
not disposed OF by the lneredbity Of the
method of making It, MI sumner re,nassaG 70 ~. ~
this interview In speaking OF the esrangement
the President and Mr. Chase, that Mr. Lncolns steady
adherence TO his determination TO nominate MT Chase
In the face OF great opposition and appeals TO his per-
sona feelings, was a conspicuous instance oi tue mag
| uanmity OF his mind. 49,
| MT Sumner was a generous man in respect Of his
friendships but he was stu sufficiently an esotst 20
preserve the evidence OF splendid an opportunity OF
personal advancement II such opportunity ever
power 1t certainly would not be to h discreas
some letters written Mr. Fessenden and Mr. Stanton
both members OF Mr.. Lincoln's Cabinet Whine the APP
in allegiance, cOrrobOrate Mr.. sum- ci
| statement of Mr.. LncOln's unwaverng purpose From
one OF those of Mr. Fssenden PLAN that Mr. h,d
personal communication with the President on the sub
ect II was the 10th OF October eight days
after the death Of ChefJastice Taney y, tnnk there
| pointment His friends need feel no uncasnes-. lie
| PRESIDENT said TO me, OF his accord, i
| have no: forgotten our conversation, but as
things were going on well, he thought it best not 70
make any appointment or say ANYTHING about u uhti
the a!ae!51s Sele over" On the Ign 81 Novem ;
| her no wrote again !" fave no tca5t Mr. Chase VIII
be ChnfJuscc have neither seen nor Gca.I anS
thing to indicate change in the presde Hoyemtr
uunsv Mr. stanton wrote, on the l9th OF an III
si,h characterstic roughncss: Your experipcc noa
taught you the newspaper reports arr al es
wan7fed nv knayes fools to feed on lhs II osp.
c,aiiy true in respect OF Cabinet changes anu ln
J~siiceshp MY belief Is that the appolhtin.us
,n CHEZ, Justice will offered to Mr.. Chase u y
- AIr aaa NNA a