Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-07-10
MG&GeGJI0Ug.
SlGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
SAMUEL CHASE, OF MARYLAND.

Samuel Chase was born on the seventeenth day
| april, l74l, in Somerset county, Maryland. His
father was a clergyman of the protestant episco-
| Pal church, and possessing an excellent education
himself, he impaired such instruction to his son
III the study of the classics, and in the common
branches Of an English education, as well fitted
hlm Tor entering upon professional life. He com
nlenced the study oflaw at the age eighteen years.
under MessTs Hammond and Hall of Annapolis,
who stood al the head of their profession in that
section of the province. AT the age of twenty he
was admitted to practice before the mayor s
court; and at twenty-five he became member
| OF The bar, and was allowed to practice in the
| chaneery and other colonial courts He located
| a. Annapolis, where he soon became distinguish
ed as an advocate, and one OF the most successful
lawyer in the province.
| At The early age of twenty years Mr. Chase
was chosen member of the Provincial Assembly,
and there his independence of feeling and action in
matters OF principle greatly offended those time
serving legislators who fawned at the feet of the
royal governor. There he first gave evidence of
that stamina of character which he afterward so
strongly manifested when called upon to act amid
| the momentous scenes of the Revolution
| The Stamp Act aroused the energies of his soul
to do battle for his country's right, and he was
among the first In Maryland who lifted up voice
ard hand against the oppressor. He became OBJ
noxlous to the authorities of Annapolis, and they
attempted, by degrading epithets to brush his ca
gle spirit while yet fedging. But their perse-
| cuton extended his noteriety, and he soon became
popular with the great mass of the people
| Mr.. Chase was one OF the five delegates TO the
first Continental Congress, in 1874, appointed by
| a convention of the people of Maryland. He was
also appointed by the same meeting, one of the
Committee of Correspondence" for that colony.
| These appointments made him obnoxious 10 the
adherents 10 royalty, yet their good opinion was
the least thing he coveted In the General Con
gress he was bold and energetic, and even at that
I i
early day. he expressed his sentiments freely IN
( favor of absolute independence. This feeling,
however, was not general IN the colonies, and the
| people were desirous of reconciliation by right
/ eous means, rather than independence.
! MIR. Chase again elected to Congress IN
! 1775, and with his usual zeal, he active In
promoting every measure for Strengthening the
military force OF the country, then concentrated
in the vicinity of Boston. He wasalso adelegate
in 1916, and in the meanwhile he had used his
growing influence and popularity to the uttermost
in endeavoring to have the Maryland convention
remove its restrictive instructions by which its
delagetes prohibited from voting in favor of
/ independence. This restriction a calling
yoke for him to bear, and he was very restiff un-
der it.
| Early in the spring Of 1916, he appointed
one of a committee with DR.. Franklin and Charles
| Carroll, to go mission to Canada, the chief
| object of which was to effect concurrence, in
| that province, with the movements in the other
]
failure, and his return 10 his seat in Congress
he found the subject of Independence before that
/ body He warmly in favor of the measure,
and to his great Joy and satisfaction, Maryland
ltei her restrictions and left her representatives
free TO vote as they liked. MIR. Chase OF course
gave his vote for the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, and signed the instrument with a willing
hand
He continued member of Congress until IT'S
and was almost constantly employed in the duties
of most important COMMITTEES. Some OF these
were of a delicate and trying nature, yet ne
allowed his senSibility to control his Judgment
| shake his fTmness of purpose His private af-
4 fairs demanding his attention, Mr.. Chase with
drew from Congress toward the close of 1878.
and ne resumed the practice Of his profession in
/ Annapolis. He was engaged but little IN public
affairs for several years and it was not until 7SS
about ten years after he retired from Congress,
that he again appeared IN the arena of the politi-
cal world. He was then appointed Chief Justice
of the criminal court for the newly organized
judicial district of Baltimore. He was that year
chosen member of the state convention of Ma
| rylaId called to consider the ratification of the
Federal Constitution, and about the same time he
received and accepted the appointment of Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. In
1896 President Washington nominated him
Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States,
which nimination canliTmed by the Senate
He held the office about fifteen years, and no man
ever stood higher for honesty of purpose and in
/ tegrItY of motives, than Judge Chase NOtWlth-
standing the Eancor of such party feeling as dared
TO charge President Washington with appropria-
ting the public money TO his own private use, did
all in its power TO pluck the ermine from his
shoulders, yet his purity beamed the brighter, as
the clouds grew darker, aud he lived to hear the
the last whisper calumny fit by like bat in the
morning twilight. His useful life terminated on
the nineteenth day of June 1911, when he was
/ in. the seventeen year of his age.
/ Juoge Chase was man of great benevolence
o. telling and in all his walks, he exemplifed the
baa,. ties of Christianity, of which he was sin
ceTe nroraSsor. AT the time ofhis death he was
,,,5I,,,;car, IN St Paul's church in Baltimore
the na~isb Of yybI,lh, when he was child, his
father had pastrol chan re.