The sun., 1873-05-08

and THOMAS COHwfN. lie cOnsc-
qucntly fell behind some Of his associates
on the STATE ticket. In 1867 he was again
elected Governor, and with greater unan-
nifty than in the previous contest. Dur
ing the four years he occupied the Excru-
tive chair his administration WAS marked
hy high Intelligence, strict integrity, broad
aud comprehensive views of state and
national politics, aud devotion to the cause
of freedom.
On the lst of JHuiary. 1890. Mr.. CuAsE
ceased to he Govcrnnr, and he was cut oi
cflGc till the following winter, when hc
was again elected to the Senate for six
years and took his scat on the day Of Mr..
LiNCoLN's Inauguration as President in
March, 1861. Immediately after this he
was appointed Secretary OF the Treasury.
He was urged for this Office by his friends
all over the country, and especially by the
Democratic aud Abolition elements OF the
Republican party. He accepted it with
exirCnc reluctance and many mis-
giyings. lie did not like to rclin-
quish his Senatorial chair. wherc he
could play n somewhat independent
part, FOR seat in the Cabinet, where he
must ofitine' yield to the opinions and ca
prices of others. Moreover, rs he said to
some of his confidential friends at the time,
questions of finance had never been among
his favorite studies, and he forcsaw the
great conflict with the South in which the
Government would have to expend vast
sums tf money, and he shrank from as
sumIug the responsibility of devising the
ways and means OF carrying on one of the
most terrible and wasteful wars in all his
tory. But nj the earnest solicitation of
his friends ne took the onerous Office in
the darkest and most perilous hour the
country had ever seen.
We will not stop to speak of Mr. CHAsE's
financial administration. Suffice II to say
that during the four years of the war the
Government raised more money than all
the nations of Europe ever raised liI any
-four consecutivc years Of their history
aud tho how and s5f u long time past one
currency has answered to carry the trav-
ellcr from Maine TO Louisiana, and to moot
the demands of commerce from the Attain
tie coast to the Pacific ocean and that
very much of all that IL good in these
wonderful achievements is due To Mr..
CHASE.
Mr.. CHASE resigned from the Treasury
Department in the fall of 1854, and on the
9Th of December was appointed by Mr..
LiN,oLS Chief Justice OF the Supreme
Court of the United states His position
as Secretary of the Treasury was one OF
great anxiety and toll, He was there com
PEELED to test new problems i'll finance, and
70 raise sums of money that would have
seemed fabulous TO the greatest OF his pre-
dercssors. When he went upon the bench,
he had been ont of the practice Of the law
almost wholly for the sixteen years which
had interviewed since he first entered the
Senate. He was now TO tread new paths
and to deal with novel questions of
the gravcst importance arising out OF
the rebellion and the reconstruction
of the insurgcnt states. He has been on
the bench eight years and half His ju-
dicial duties have been discharged with
fidelity, integrity, and decorum. II il be
said that he has not shone conspicuousiy a.
jurist, and has doubtless fallen below
some of his predecessors, IL must be re-
mcmbcrCd that he entered upon the Office
Of Chief Justice long after he had ceased
10 practise his profession, and while bend
ing under the weight of declining years
and impaired health.
We Will not now enter upon any extend
cd estimate of Mr.. CHASE's character. His
tory will undoubtedly place him among
the leading American state-m"n of his
time. He rendered great services TO the
cause of freedom, and was the friend of
the negro race through long and active
life. Hrs whole country had his best ex-
ertious through the prrllous period OF the
rebellion, and the scarcely less turbulent
era of reconstruction. Posterity Will re-
gard him n having deserved w"il OF the
American people.
Mr. CHASE was intensely ambitious. HI
long had his eye upon the Presidency and
was unwilling to abandon the struggle FOR
the glittering prize even after he had pm
on the judicial robes. In the race of ambi
tion he was 80 eager that he was some
times accused of selfshness and even dema
gogism; but though doubtless fond o
forming coalitions for his own advance
ment. he was never suspected of DIS
honesty, while his hands were unquestion
ably free from the stain of corruption.
Through life he was n religious man. an
died with firm belief in the cardinal doc
trncs Of the Christian faith.