The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-12-29
The Chief Justiooship,

The Chief Justiooship.
Next to the Presidency the position Of
Chief Justice Of the Uuiicd States is the
most important undrcsponsiblcs srcquiring
the best legal acumcn, the loiticst patriot.
ism; aud the purcst motive, bcsidcs de-.
cisione OF character, aud the most cxat.
cd virtue. Upon tho ability and worth
Of the occupant of that grave rcslonsi.
bility depend, in the greatest measure,
liberties aud interests Of people; il is
therefore the duty of every intelligent
patriut IN guarding, ns well his indiyidu.
al rights MS the public security to scrutin.
izc the character aud exercise tho attain
mcnts vi the man who must either Cxali
or dcbasc the loflicst OF human functions.
| While, therefore, we will not undertake
To comment upon the fitness Of the pres.
ent appointment, We deem il not unin.
tcrcsting to the public TO give concise
biography oi the man who is about TO as.
sumo the judicial crminc.
Salmon Portland Chase wns born in
Cornish, New Hampshire, on the 18th of
January, 1908. He graduated at Dart
mouth College n,lS29, aud soon after re-
moved 10 Washington aud opened
classic school for boys. During the
same year he was admitted To the bar OF
the District OF Columbia. In his legal
studies he was under the direction OF
William Writ. In 1890 Mr.. Chase re-
moved To Cincinnati and ut once com.
mencCd the practice of law. Up to the
year 1912 he confined himself exclusive
lv la tl.t ,rAsaspItpn nT hi
SDd during that time he was Engaged
upon several cases of more than local in
tercsr. For Instance, he gained much
reputation in an Argument before the
Supreme Court of Ohio. in the defense Of
james G.. BIrnry, prosecutor under u
Stu,c law for harburiug a slave, aud also
"a newspaper ventilation of the report of
the Jud ciary Committee Of the State OF
Ohio, against the triul of alleged slaves
by Jury. In 1894 lie was appointed so.
licitor It the Buuk Of the United States
in Cincinnati, and soon after one OF the
city banks.
In is4l Mr.. Chase took a bold stand
in politics. IN the fnmc year ho pre-
pared an uddrcfs on behalf of the friends
of liberty, ireland and Repeal in Gin.
cinnali, to the Loyal National Repeal
Association in Iceland, in reply to let
ter from Daniel O'Conneli. in June,
lS45, in convention held in Cincinnati,
he figured us chairman OF the committee,
and prepared an address in which be ad
vocatcd the formation of n party unequiv-
ocally resolved upon the den1tiOnaliz,.
tiun and destruction OF the sluvr power.
ln lS4T Mr.. Chase was n member Ot the
second National Liberty Convention
In ls4s he prepared call Tor free ter
rtory State Convention ut Columbus, and
was supported by three thousand signcrs.
Out of this convention sprung one OF u
national character which met in Buffalo
the following August. Mr. Chuse was
President OF the N1tiopnl Conventions
AMI ulso member Of its Committee on
Resolutions.
On the 22d OF February, ls49, h. was
chosen Senator of the United States,
from Ohio receiving the unanimous vote
Of the Democratic memlers of the State
Legislature ard those free soil members
who favored ID emncratlc views. Snbsc-
quently, disappearing of the action Of the
Baltimore Convention of 1852, he with
drew from the party aud advocated, IN
letter TO Mr.. Is +. Butter, the creation
of an independent Democratic pnriy.--
| He prepared platform, which was
adopted by the Pittsburg Independent
Democratic Convention, Of 1859. The
acts ni Mr.. Chusc in his Senatorial Office
are not forg lttcn. In 1856 he opposed
al =, ......I 80 th., Nakr,s L q. z Kauaaa hin
He cndcavored to show the necessity Of
alternating the government from its init
macy with the sluve power. Ilc favored.
government aid in he grent work Of CON
Meeting the Atlantic aud Pacific oceans
by means Of railroad. He also favored
free homesteats to be granted out OF the
public lands TO actual settlers not pos
sessed Of other laudS, IL numerous
other matters he took the same conspicu.
Gus position
In July, 1855, Dir. Chase wns nomnot
ed by The opponents Of the Nebraska bill
aud Pierce administration for Governor Of
Ohio, and WINS elected. In his guberna.
toria oflice he was particularly useful in
establishing the finances Of the State OF
Ohio on firm basis. At the expiration
Of his first term Governor Chase desired
to retire from office but was re-nominat,
ed and reelected. During his second
term nc submitted an elaborate investiga
ton Of the finances and resources o.
Ohio, and suggested measures for the
better security Of the treasury. All these
met the appreciation Of the State Leg
islaturc, and were adopted. Gov. Chase's
second term Of Office expired in lS6O'.-
Upon the formation of the cabinet Tor the
present administration. Ex.Gov Chase
was appointed Secretary OF the Treasury,
and was the author Of the present sys'
tenn OF government finances. Owing to
causes unnecessary to explain, Mr.. Chase
resigned his secretnrvship June 80, Of the
present year. And during tha, time he
has taken nc prominent part 10 national
affairs. During the late Presidential
campaign he advocated the principles Of
the Republican party and the election Of
their. candidate. sa..- -'
Mr. Chsse is styled by some the sixth