The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-01-25
SENATOR CHASE.


Observing that several presses in Ohio are
enthusiastically calling for the nomination of
Senator Chase, as candidate for the Office of
Governor in that State, we transfer to our col
umns the following SKETCH furnished by one of
his classmates to the Boston Irareller, one Of
the editors Of which was also classmate of
his. q.
"Salmon p. Chase was born at Cornish n.
H., in 1903. His father died while he was
quite young but, though the means of the
family were not AMPLE that did not prevent his
fifteenth year, he entered a college in Ohio, of
which his uncle, the late Bishop Philander
Chase was President Two years after, he be-
came a member of the jupior class in Dart
mouth College, and completed his course with
that class in 1926. Though one of the Youngest,
and with the disadvantage of being a late conner,
he ranked among the first six or eight at his
graduation. And that, though he was rather
"a miscellaneous reader than a student, spend
ing but small portion of his time on the class
studies, and but moderately ambitious of
high rank in college. Had he been with the
class from the first, and applied himself with
half the closeness of some to the studies as
signed, or had all remained together year or
two longer, he would probably have distanced
most of their number.
Mr.. Chase is remembered as an,dgreeable
companion, lover of fun, of the strictest in
tegrity, and high sense of honor, which pre-
served him from everything vicious, while some
others were tempted to their ruin.
1T has been no surprise to his classmates
that he has become distinguished. SO far from
it, the expectation was, that should he live
many years, he would not die unknown. There
were not only his strong intellectual traits, and
moral qualities, and religious principles, deeply
implanted in the latter part of his college
course, to justify the expectation, but his very
nature and all his movements showed that,
however careless then, he would be something
in the world. 1t was not like him to boast of
what he meant to be, or to do, but just like
him to become what he has.
"On leaving college, dependent on his own
exertions, with nothing to aid him at starting,
Mr.. Chase went to Washington, where he had
an uncle in the United States Senate. For
time he was engaged in teaching children of
some of the most distinguished men there,
among them those of William Writ, in whose
Office he studied, and in whose family he was
familiar. In the spring of 1880 he was adj
mitted to the bar, and went directly to Gin
cinnati, where he commenced, and has since
continued, the practice of his profession. The
first two years there, he has sometimes repre-
scented as spent to little purpose; but he could
not have been an idler, however it may have
been as to the business of his profession. He
then determined to do, himself, for Ohio, what
was done about the same time by committee,
appointed by the Legislature, for Massachusetts,
revise the Statutes of the Commonwealth. In
about three years AFTER the work was published
in three volumes, favorably received by the
Legislature, and brought him at once into de-
sirable notice throughout the State. His bust
ness increased rapidly. Eight or ten years
SINCE he argued an important slave case before
the Supreme Court at Washington. / repem-
! Der having seen the argument in print, ana TO
have thought it one of great ability. Since his
election to the Senate of the United States, six
years ago, his deeds have been well knows and
done him honor.
alt is much to be regretted that Mr.. Chase
should not be continued in the Senate beyond
one term. The knowledge of public STAIRS
and the experience gained in that time You'd
enable him to exert an influence not POI sible
to one, though of equal ability, without sucA ex
perience Men of like integrity, noble bekring,
and devotement to the business of his st-tion,
are not so numerous that one of them car well
be spared from the councils of the natich, in
our times. 1t is not, however, the people of
Ohio, but her party politicians that have given
his place to another. Were the question ,.OU
to be decided, that other would not succeed to
his seat in the Senate.
"Mr Chase stands six feet and two inches,
perfectly erect and finely proportioned, and was
said, the last session, by letter writer at FASH
ington, TO be the most noblelooking man in
the Senate. He is fit, every inch Of him. to
be n President" q.