Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-12-28
SALMON P. CHASE,
HEP JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATE
A Biographical Sketch.
By WILLIAM t. cooGEsHALL-

Salmon Portland Chase was born
at Cornish, New Hampshire, January
18th, 1908. His father died when he
was nine years of age. and three years
later, Salmon was sent to Worthing.
ton, Ohio, where he lived with his
urele, Pbilander Chase, then Episco.
pal Bishop of this State. The Bish.
op having accepted the Presidency OF
Cincinnati College, young Chase be-
came a resident of that city. He had
been a studious boy, both in New
Hampshire and Ohio, and he was soon
promoted to the Sophmore Glass OF
the College, over which his uncle pre-
sided He remained, however, not
more than year at Cincinnati, when
he returned to his mothers home,
then at Keene, New Hampshire, and
in 1924 entered the Junior Class OF
Dartmouth College. He was known
as an industrious student of exem-
plary character, and in 1926 was grad
uated with distinguished reputation.
Soon after he opened classical school
for boys in Washington, and gave in
struction to the sons of Henry Clay,
William Writ, and other men then
distinguished. While conducting-his
school he pursued the study of law,
under the direction of William Writ,
and in 1928 was admitted to the bar
of the District of Columbia
In the spring of 1880. Mr.. Chase re-
turned TO Cincinnati, and has ever
since been q citizen of Ohio. While
a young Attorney, with good pros
poets, but without pressure of busi-
ness, Mr.. Chase prepared for publica-
ton in three octave volumes, an edi-
ton of the Statutes of Ohio, with full
aEnotations and references, and a pre-
liminary sketch of the History OF the
State, which is now received az au-
thority 10 the Courts. Through the
reputation acquired by this work, and
by close and successful attention TO
business, Mr.. Chase gained valuable
practice. He was employed in lmpor-
tant cases, requiring wide range of
knowledge and new lines of argu-
ment. In 1887, as counsel for COL
ored woman, arrested as a fugitive
from Slavery, he disputed the power
ei Congress to impose any duties or
confer any powers on State Magis.
trates, in fugitive slave cases-a posi-
ton which a decision Of the U. s. Su-
-preme Court afterward sustained
The same year, having been employed
as counsel for James G. Birney, who
was arrested for harboring Negro
slave, Mr.. Chase argued, before the
Supreme Court of Ohio, that Slavery
isiocal, dependent upon State law for
maintenance, and therefore that the
person alleged to have been harbored
having been brought into he State
of Ohio, By the individual claiming to
be her master. was of right, and in
fact free. In 1S40, Mr.. Chase, asso-
ciated with VIM. 81. Seward, was de-
fendsnt's counsel in the we'll known
Van Zandt case, before the Supreme
Court of the United States. In an
elaborate argument, which was pub
lished and attracted much attention,
he then contended that by the ordi-
nance of 1887, no fugitive slave from
service could be reclaimed from Ohio,
unless there had been an escape from
one of the original States-that it was
the clear understanding of the franz
ers of the Constitution, and of the
people who adopted it, that slavery
was to be left exclusively to the dis
posaI of the several States without
sanction or support from the National
Goyernment-and that the clauses in
the Constitution relating to persons
held TO service was one of compact
and conferred no power OF legislation
on Congress. In otter efforts at the
bar, and by his position in the polit-
ical movements Of the country, Mr.
Chase rendered significant his hostil-
ity 10 the naturalization of Slavery.
Previous to l84l he had not been
identified with any political party
He supported General Harrison for
the Presidency, but disappearing of
hi, inaugural, and of the course of
the Tyler administration in regard to
the subject of Slavery, Mr. Chase
united in a call, made in lS41, for a
of the opponents of Sla-
very and of Slavery extension, which
assembled at Columbus in December
OF that year, and organized the Lib
erty party of OHIO. 1t nominated a
candidate for Governor, and ADOPTED
an address4o the people, written by
Mr.. Chase, which was one OF the first
expositions Of the political movement
against Slavery extension. When, in
lS43, National Liberty Convention
was assembled at Buffalo, Mr.. Chase
was an active and influential member,
and having been subsequently, on
several occasions, the public exponent