Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-14

merit that it at once superseded all others Of
the kind. and is still received as authority
in the courts.
But more valuable to the struggling law,
yer were the rer utation it gave him, and
the lucrative practice that followed, Soon
after he was invited to the post of solicitor
of the bank of the United States in Cincin
natl. One of the city banks followed in rec
ognition of his merits, and he was speedily
on bis way to fortune.
In 1887 an event occurred which deter.
mined his whole subsequent career. 1t wal
the well-known fugitive slave case of thai
year, in which he appeared as counsel and
delivered an elaborate argument in contro
verting the authority of Congress to impose
duties or confer any powers on State magis.
trates in fugitive slave cases. This position
he has since sturdily and consistently main.
tanned, and his holding has, at later date
been confirmed by the Supreme Court of the
United States The point held by the young
Ohio Titan was that the law of 1898 relative
to fugltlves from service was void, because
having no constitutional warrant. The same
year he defended James G. Birney in the
Supreme Court of Ohio, for harborlng fu-
gltive, in an argument in which he took the
ground that slavery was local and dependent
| on State law, and that Ohio being free
State. all rights of a former master to service
were annulled within its jurisdiction. From
this date on the legal side rather than the
phllanthropic, as represented by Garrison,
Wendell Phillips and others, he takes his
place in history as leading exponent OF
progress in this direction. In 1888, in a
newspaper review Of the action of the State
of Ohio Judiciary Committee, he reafirmed
his ground, and held that alleged slaves had
the right of trial by jury, and that it could
not be dislodged.
The famous Van Zandt case before the Su
preme Court of the United States came on in
1916, and developed him with still more
emphasis, besides bringing him into associa-
ton with the late William H. Seward, who
by but little precedes him in the neurological
10 this case he took the ground that no slave
could be reclaimed from the soil of Ohio IN
der the ordinances of 1897, except on proof of
an escape from any OF the original st ties
which them formed the Union.
Prior to 1871 he had taken little interest
in politics. In 1910 be supported Harrison :;
but, convinced that no effective opposition
to slavery was to be had at the hands of
either party, he united in 1871 in a call for
a convention of the opponents of slavery and
slavery extension. Previous to this date he
had voted with one party or the other as
seemed best suited 10 the fur lherance OF his
views. In conjunction with few brave
spirits he now set to work to create new
political force, and hence d ties the organIza-
slon OF the liberal party in Oaio, aud the
publication of an address to tbs electors,
written f,y himself and emhodying his views
and prime pies.
10 1917 be was member of the second
berty Convention; in 1913 he was princi-
puy instrumental 10 bringing about the
Free Terrltor al Convention, which met in
August at Butftio
February -, 1919, now fortY-0ne years of
age, he was elected TO the Senate of the
Unted ates, receiving the whole vote OF
the democratic numbers Of the legislature,
but diSlncly announcing that while be CO.
inclde1 with the democrats IN their general
views 10 event Of their taxing prO-slavery
position, ne should abandon them, which he
did IN 1892, taxing issue with the platform
o the Baltlmbre CJlventIon that nom lase
Pierce. He earnestly opposed the Kansas
Nebraska bill, aud made his greatest sena-
torial sp ech ag4l nst that measure.
In 1856 he WIS elected Governor of Ohio
and received second election to that Office
in 1857.
At the Chicago convention of 1860 he was
urged by the Ohio delegation strongly as
candidate for President and at every succeed
ing Presidential campaign his name has been
prom inently before the public as a possible
candidate and one of great strength.
Mr.. Lincoln in 1861, selected him as Sec
rotary of the Treasury, and to him we owe
the green-back and national bank currency
of the present time. His financial policy
was a success, whatever criticism may be
made upon it, and Mr.. Chase never rendered
SO great service to the country as in the time
he was at the head of the Treasury.
In December, 1864 he was appointed by
President Lincoln to succeed Judge fancy as
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Much has been said of his desire to become
P President, but while this was, no doubt his
great ambition, he has never done other than
honor to the exalted judicial position in which
he was pllced. To great Office he added
the light of great and pure name.
Services were held Saturday in New York
and the body was then taken to Washing ton
where funeral services were held Monday.