Year: 1868




the Fourth OF July.


CHASE AND THE SOUTH.


Platform of the Southern Delegations In Re-
anrd to Chase's Observation-Disclosures Let.
ter from Hon. C. G. Langdon, of Alabama.


From the Mobile Register, June 25.l
To THE EDITOR OF THE REGISTER:-


Since my appointment as delegate to the New York
Convention have had several letters from old friends
in the interior Of the state, similar to that given
below, and others kindly asking my opinions and
preferences on the subject. Not having time TO
answer in detail all these letters will you do me the
favor to publish the following correspondence The
letter to me not having been intended for publication
withhold both the name and residence OF the author
Yours, &C., u u LANGDON.


-, Ala. June TO- 1868.


DEAR SIR-I notice with pleasure your appoint
ment as delegate to the Democratic Convention at
New York on the Fourth Of July. l confess see
other names on the list OF delegates In whose pru
dence and discretion l have no cOntdence-just
such men as brought us into our present elk"
and such men cannot extrfcate u.s. They are badly
balanced, refuse expedency, run everything into
the ground, claim ali or nothing. Nothing but full
boOded democrat will do them for President. Now,
an old line whig, wish, as an individual and one
of your constituents, to give you my views.


There Is no man Of the old democratic party who
can beat General Grant at the present time. The
South would much prefer Mr.. PendetOn II he could
be made available, but his cOmmittal on the cur
rency question viii cause his failure. Chase Is the
only man who divide the republican party, and,
In my opinion, the only one we can elect. He can
draw or such portion of the conservative republi-
he Is the man for the work. The mass OF
the old line wings in Ohio and the North
west, and even in the New England d,,! States,
tell me wherever meet them. They say, "Run q
conservative man and we will all support him."
They claim to be tired OF the extreme radical party
and want to leave its ranks but not for copper
head. II Chase Is not run we are badly whipped.
He Is O very able man-indeed, has no superior In
ohity-and III he stands where rImOr
TO wit, in favor OF general suffrage. but holding that
the States have the power to regulate the matter,
this is all we want. We must go back to Old consti-
tutOna times by degrees. Chase can 'bust up" the
radical party For the present let him have the four
we can lay him aside and take another man. These
views are held by many OF our best citizens. You
see there is dsquetude IN the radical ranks In Con-
gress, but they will be unit against a copperiead:
But If Chase is nominated he will draw of One-third
OF the party. am, my dear sir, very truly your
friend,


MY DEAR SIR-Your letter OF the 10th instant, CIV
ing your ''views' on the nomination Of q candidate
fOr the Presidency, has been received and have
given the subject that earnest and anxious consider
alton that | feel Its importance demands. Having
always been OF the same political faith you, and
entertaining for your opinions the profoundest re-
spect, 1t is with extreme regret that find myself
now differing with you on question that consider
OF vital importance to us OF the South. cannot
agree with you in regard to the expediency OF nom
mating Judge Chase for the Presidency; and beg
that you will bear with me while state fully. and in
all sincerity and frankness the reasons which COM
pei me to oppose his nomination.


In the first place, Judge Chase was an original
abolitionist-one OF the EXTREMIST Of the extreme
men North who are directly responsible for all the
woes that have befallen our country For ut least
twenty years previous to the he was the able,
constant earnest and consistent advocate OF the
abolition Of slavery and by his commanding talents
and cool persstency exercised an influence. upon
the public mind beyond that OF any other member Of
his party. Indeed, 1t has been remarked that 'he
furnished brains for the party" With his course
AalI
posed to critcise 1t further than remark that as
member Of Mr. Lncolns Cabinet, he never lost sight
OF his favorte purpose, the abolition Of slavery But
when at last the war closed and the darling object of
his life was accompshed-when slavery was hope
lessy destroyedwhat was the course Judge Chaser
Not. content with the mere abolition Of slavery,
he then set to work TO establish NEGRO equalityr
(which by radical practice, means negro suprem-
acy), and became the first volunteer missionary in
he made the tour OF the South for the express pur-
pose. and no Other OF setting in motion the bali Of
NEGRO surage." His associations during that tour
were almost exclusively with negroes. His mission
being to negroes, he Of course had use for people
o. any 9,ner me .eyewed @ negro troops ad
evees for the benefit Of negroes. In all his speeches
negro suffrage was the theme The negroes were
told they were entitled to 1t, exhorted to demand It
and promised the protection OF the government.
He was the nrst voluntary champion OF negro
Suffrage, and ] hold that there is no man
living who has done so much towards fixing
this foul curse upon us Of the South Judge Chase
But 1t IL said that although he Is In favor Of negro





power TO regulate the matter. and you say ths Ia all
we want" I cannot agree with you. In the nrst
place this modification OF his views has taken place
since he failed TO get the nomination from the radical
party which IL OF itself quite suspicious. But with
me II matters not. can never support man who
IL In favor Of the principle. This Is the great prac
cal question OF the day with u.s. and the man whom
support must be incorporating In his opposition
to the principle OF negro surageto everything that
looks to recognition OF the political equality Of the
negro race.


During his tour South Judge Chase spent few
days in Mobile, and while here q was enacted
which the white men who saw IL will never forget.
II was public review by Chase Of the negro troops
numbering several thousand The Confederate army
had been disbanded; the soldiers had laid down their
arms and returning TO their homes under the solemn
assurance from the vctors OF protection, were pre-
pared In good faith to renew their OF fidelity to
the government OF the Union We were disarmed
and helpless. And Judge Chase sat proudly on his
horse, at the intersection Of St. Francis and
Royal streets, surrounded and guarded by half q
dozen generals or the victorious army with their re-
spectve stafs all In gtering attire while ten thou
sand negro troops passed Royal street In review.
Our former slaves now composed the triumphant
army that was to be used to complete our subjuga-
told The scene was calculated and intended to re-
mind OF our helpnessness, our humiliation, our
degradation. II was wanton, heartess, cruel, cow
ardly insult. witnessed the spectacle; saw the self
complacent, exultant smile that played upon the
cold face Of Chase the ten thousand negroes were
passing In review. shall never forget the scene.
The humiliation sank deep into my soul. My dear
sir, do not ask me to support Judge Chase.


Again, 10 Is now certain that Alabama and the
other southern states, with their negro constitu
tons are to be put through the solemn farce al
admission into the Union. Negro representative
will take their seats In the Congress OF the Unet
states from Alabama; the negro constitution which
the people Of Alabama rejected-a constitution tina
men besides and enfranchises our former slaves
IA 10 he forced upon us. We will soon perience al
the reallties Of negro domination. The loaaation