The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-03
NO. 396.
INV SENATOR CHASE RUINED HIMSELF.


The Milwaukee Free Democrat reprints q
paragraph from a Wisconsin paper, compli-
I,onting highly the recent argument of BYRON
p,rsE against the constitutionality of the Flu
sitiys Slave Act but expressing great regret
hat his unfortunate idiosyncrasies Of opinion
.bould close against him other eminences which
oars and study would 90 well st him to
sdorn u and under the caption Running ones
.slf-a Case in Point," relates an incident in
tbe life of Senator Chase, as follows:
aTbe earliest Anti Slavery argument of Sem
oto- Chase, Of Ohio, which was thought worth
bo;nu printed, was defence of the colored
,ron9n MATILDA, claimed as a fugitive from
sIsverv. In that argument delivered in March,
,sq7 he used this language: HE was arguing
tbs enthusiastically Of the Fugitive Slave
Act of 1893
al look with confidence to the Judiciary of
.bs country. | feel assured, that though my
,oasoning may fail to convince this court, other
conrts and perhaps this court, at another time,
e not now, will pronounce this act UNcoNsTT-
-,.rroyAL. REPUGNANT TO THE ORDINANCE OF
10Y sUBvERsIvE OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES
cr CIVIL LIBERTY, AND, THEREFORE,, NULL AND
VOID :,
porsa but it was the period of ultra Anti-Abo-
Lion ascendency in Cincinnati, and he looked
!, vain for single friendly face. There were
f-sndlv faces and friendly hearts there, as the
iptpre proved, but he did not know it. All
oround everywhere there were scowling looks,
IS if be was promulgating treason. Many
honest people no doubt really thought so, and
IN their hearts believed that their scowls upon
hin were required by patriotism and duty.
Afser he had closed his argument, as he passed
cut through the crowd, nobody greeted him
with friendly cheer, or even congratulation
TIA: he had made creditable argument. One
1,n. lrk only fell upon bis ear, which came from
veteran politician. 'Well,' said he, there
goes promising young man, who has ruined
himself forever
1T so happened that among his auditors at
ts:s time was young medical student, at
tending lectures in Cincinnati. MIR. Chase did
10. know him, and, except as the advocate of
The cause, he did not know Mr.. c. Shortly
sT,erwards he went abroad, and spent several
years in Europe, qualifying himself for pro-
fossional career. Finally he returned, and en-
tered into practice in one of the counties OF
Ohio Mr. Chase pursued quietly the practice
Of the law, never changing the opinions he
af0NeQ DeiOre the COuIt VI OViuuson &for, o0-
71cating them before the Supreme Court OF the
United States, and finally making them the
basis also Of his political action.
in lS4S, the medical student was elected
member of the Legislature of Ohio. His name
vas Norton s. Townshend He was Demo-
crat, but an Independent Democrat. 1t 30
happened that the Old-Line Democrats had not
. minority in the Legislature, and OF course
could not elect one of their own number to the
Senate, without coalition with the Wings.
Rather than do this, they preferred to elect a
Democrat unshackled by their national party
ties Townshend proposed MIR. Chase, and the
result was his election. The primary and con-
rolling reason for Townshends preference OF
Nh Chase, was his argument in the Matilda
case and the independence of character which
he thought it displayed.
az Senator Chase was ruined by his advoca-
cy of the same views Mr.. Paine has presented
there are a great many who would like to be
ruined in the same way. And though seat
in the Senate, as at present constituted, implies
more of duty and self denial than of pleasure
aid honor, Jet, no doubt the Argus regards il
as ore of prominent honor and Importance
from which Byron Paine's argument will ex,
.luda him ,