Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-04-22
SALMON p. CHASE.
BY MRS. HARRIET BErcnER STOWE.


When future generation shall be building
the tombs of our present prophets, and adorn-
ing the halls oil the Capitol with the busts of
men now too hard at work to be sitting to the
sculptor, then there will be among the marble
throng one head not inferior to any now there
in outside marks oI greatness--a head 10 which
our children shall point and say "There is the
fnancer who carried our country through the
great slavery war!"
Not small thing that 10 say of any man ;
for this war has been on a scale of magnitude
before unheard Of in the history of wars. 1t
has been, SO 10 speak, fabulous and tropical
war, war to other wars like the great Cafor-
MIA pine TO the bramble of the forest. A thou
sand miles of frontier to be guarded, fleets to
be created, an army TO be organized and con-
stantly renewed on a scale Of numbers past all
European expelience-an army, too, for the
most part of volunteer citizens accustomed to
generous diet, whose camp fare has been kept
at a mark not inferior to the average Of living
among citizens at home. And all this was to
be effected in no common times.
1t was to be done amid the revolutions Of
business the disturbances of trade and manu-
facture now turning into new courses; the
breaking up of the whole system of cotton ag-
ricuure, by which the greatest staple Of the
world was produced. These changes convulsed
and dSarranged financial relations in all other
countries, and shook the civilized world like an
earthquake.
1t is not to be wondered at that merely in
sular paper, like the London Times, ignorant
OF all beyond the routine of British and cont-
mental probabilities, should have declared us
madmen, and announced our speedy bankrupt
cy. How paternally did it warn us that we
must not look to John Bull for funds to carry
out such extravagances How ostentatously
did all the old banking-houses stand buttoning
their pockets saying, Don't come to us to
borrow money!" and how did the wonder grow
when the sun rose and set and still new levies,
new fleets new armies When hundred thou
sands grew to millions, and still there was no
| call for foreign money and government stocks
stood in the market above all others in stabili-
ty! One thing, at least, became plain, that
whatever might be the case with the army, f.
nancially the American people had leader who
united them TO man, and under whose guild
ance the vast material resources Of the country
moved in solid phalanx to support its needs.
When blade does good service nothing is
more natura. than to turn and read upon it the
stamp that tells where and by whom it was
fashioned and so when we see the quiet and
serenity in which our country is moving on un
der its burdens, we ask, whence comes this mar
who has carried us so smoothly in such c
storm?
America is before all other things an aglicul
tural country, and her aristocracy whether o
talent or wealth, generally trace back their ori
gin to farm and the case of Secretary Chase
| will not be an exception.
Ii is one of the traditions of Dartmouth Col
lege that old President Wheelock, in one of his
| peregrinations, once stopped in the town %
Cornish, n. H.. place where the Connecticut
river flows out from the embrace of the White
Mounteins Here he passed night at a farm
house, the dwelling of Samuel Chase, patriar
chal farmer, surrounded by seven sous as fine
strong and intelligent as those of Jesse of old
The President used his visit to plead the caus
Of a college education for these fine youths t.
such good purpose, that five of the boys, Il
wit, Salmon, Baruch, lieher, Dudley and Phi
lander, became graduates OF Dartmouth Col
lege. Two remaiaed to share the labors of th
farm, one of whom was the father Of Secretar
Chase.
All the boys thus educated attained NOR
thar the average mark in society and some Il
the highest distinction. Dudley Chase was on
OF the most distinguished lawyers and poit,
clans OF New EnglaGd-a member of the Unit
ed States Senate, and for many years Chiefejus
lice of Vermont. |, is said that he was so en-
thnsiastic a classical scholar that he carried
Greek Homer and Demothenes always in h,
pocket, for recreation in intervals OF publi
business. He lived to a patriarchal age, an OBJ
ect of universal venelaliOn. Salmon Chase
another brother, was a lawyer in Portland, tn,
npk n oyI pI lpafl Of hat shn1h hnr
lie died suddenly, while pleading in Court, il
1906, and in memorial OF him our Secretar,
received the name of Salmon Portland al hi
BIRTH which occurred in 1905 The youngcs
of the graduates, Philander Chase, was the wei
known Episcopal Bishop OF Ohio and Illinois
He was the guardian under whose auspices The
education of Salmon =. Chase was conducted
After graduating at Dartmouth in 1926, h
went with his uncle to Ohio, and became there
after identified with the West in his future ca
reer.
He pursued his law studies in Washington
under the auspices of Writ. Always self-reli
ant, he maintained himself the while by teach
ing select classical school, having under hi
care the sons of Clay, Writ and others.
1929 he was admitted to the bar, and in 1873
located himself in the city of Cincinnati
; No place could have afforded a finer an
more agreeable position to a rising young mar
A newly settled city, having yet lingering abou
it some of the wholesome neighborly spirit c
r recent colcny-with an eclectic society draw
from the finest and best cultivated classes c
! each of the older States, there was in the gen
eral tone Of life breadth of ideas, liberalt
and freedom which came from the consortir
7 together of persons of different habits of ly
; ing. Mr.. Chase soon gained the familiar en-
tree Of all that was worth knowing, and wa
received with hosptabe openness in the bes
+ society. His fine person, his vigorous, ener
} getic appearance. and the record OF talent an
, scholarship he brought with him, secured him
r very early the patronage of the hest families
) and valuable and extensive practie... His IN
, dusiry was incessant and his capabillty OF sus
, tained labor uncommon, as may he evident fror
! the fact that besides the abors of his office, b
found time to prepare an edition of the Stat
, utes of Ohio, with notes, and history Of tn
t State, which is now standard authority in tn
5 Ohio courts.
In the outset of Mr.. Chase's career, he, lik
! Charles Sumner, and every rising young Amer
l lean of his time, met the great test question c
the age. To Mr.. Chase it came in the form
an application to plead the cause of poo
black woman, claimed as fugitive slave. Fo
a rising young lawyer to take in hand such
cause now would be only road TO popularit
and fame. But then the case was far Other
wise.
If the abolition excitement had stirred u
- III luuA q,