Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-17
CHASEANA.


est, both as a historical reminder and because 1t
illustrates in a striking manner the nature and
disposition of the two men. 1t will be remem-
bered that during Lincoln's administration
there was cabinet crisis, which led to the
resignation OF their Office by the distinguished
heads Of the Departments of State and the
Treasury. Rumor Of course magnified the cir
cumstance and its probable consequences, and
II seemed to be necessary to make through the
medium of the press some authentic or semi
official statement OF the case, in order to satisfy
the public mind, which was considerably ex-
cited on the subject. This memorandum Mr.
Seward proceeded to draw up, after consulting
with Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Chase; and, true to
his diplomatic and courtier like nature, it was
worded as follows:
1.-The President on Saturday acknowledged
the reception OF the designations Of the Secre-
tary Of State and the Treasury, and informed
the m that after due deliberatiOn he had come
to the conclusion that an acceptance Of them
w0u ii be Incompatible with the public welfare,
and therefore requested them to resume their
respective functions. The two secretaries
promptly answered that they had returned to
their respective departments in obedience to
his command"
No command" to, or obedience" from the
imperious Chase. He took the paper and
struck out the last sentence, inserting in its
steal the following:
I" The two Secretaries have accordingly re-
sumed their places as Heads Of their Depart
ments."
And in this modified form the announcement
went to the public.
1t has been commonly supposed and often
charged by his opponents that all of Mr.. Chase's
appointments were made with a view to his own
ultimate promotion to the Presidency. This is
doubtless true of most appointments made by
any offcer whose ambition may be in that direc-
ton; but ii is not so generally applicable to the
appointments OF Mr.. Chase as it has been the
fashion to suppose. At least, his first aim was
always to secure good officer. File may have
been and doubtless often was mistaken in men;
but, whatever his motives of policy may have
been, it is quite certain that efficiency in office
was always q prime consideration with him.
The writer was once asked by Mr.. Chase, while
Secretary Of the Treasury, for advice concern
ing the filling Of a somewhat important office,
for which there were a number of applicants,
and especially as to the character and standing
OF the several candidates and their endorsers.
After carefully examining all the papers, we
were constrained to say, that, while the appli-
cants were good men in the ordinary sense OF
that term, yet none of them seemed to be ute
up to the requirements of the Office.
'What am to do?" asked Mr.. Chase. "The
Office is an important one, and needs a first
class man to ill it properly"
We took the liberty Of saying substantially:
There is a man in the district who is thoroughly
competent and honest; who would fill the Office
with credit to himself and satisfactorily alike to
the public and the government but the appoint
ment would doubtless be an unpopular one for
the time being. He is not much liked person.
ally, and his appointment would revive old pre-
Of the different aspirants.
81 don't care whether 1t wonld be popular
appointment or not. was his quick response.
"what 1 want is good officer. Who is the man
you refer to?'
'Mr. G--,of P ;" we answered. giving the
name of a gentleman who probably had never
thoug ht of filling that any other office, and
who had on the other hand warmly endorsed
one of the other candidates.
''Would he accept it?" We thought he
would, in view of all the considerations in
volved. "Mr. Schuckers," said Mr.. Chase,
turning to his private secretary, ''send a dis
patch to Mr.. G., asking him whether he will
accept the Office" The office accepted, and
our estimate of the man was fully verified by
the fact that he held his place without stain or
complaint, so far as we could learn, through
three different administrations.
In another case the merits and claims of two
car didates for the same Office were 50 evenly
balanced that Mr. Chase called on q personal
friend, who was acquainted personally with
both applicants for his opinion in the prem
Uses.
" They are both good men," was the response,
"but think Mr.. - ought to be appointed"
"why?"
"Well, in the first place, he has been a life
long friend of yours, and" -
Being friend OF mine is no reason why he
should have Office" broke in Mr.. Chase. "L Let
the other man be appointed
The order was carried out, greatly to the
modification of the friend, who thought
he saw here an opportunity to reward years
of faithful and perhaps unpopular devotion.
In one view of the case this line Of action in
q high official is hard to justify; but, SO NOR
bidly sensitive was Mr.. Chase to charges of IA
voritism, that it not unfrequently happened
that he erred in the other direction and often
did actual injustice to his friends.
Mr.. Chase's will, which was made not very
long before he died, is quite short and simple in
form, and names Hon. Henry ID. Cooke as sole
executor. 1t has not yet been offered for regis
try, but it is understood that he leaves s10,O 900
to Dartmouth College, N. H.; 10000 to WILDER
IOfcc nNcIsity, OniO, SO,UU 10 MS niece
Mrs. Aud; his portrait of Chief Justice Mar
shall, by Peale, to the United States, to be
placed in the Supreme Court room, and the re-
mainder of his estate equally between his two
daughters, Mrs. Sprague and Mrs. Hoyt. 1t is
thought his estate will aggregate something less
than 500 COO, which is not much of fortune to
leave, as things 60 now a-days. But he left his
children what few men leave, and what no
money can buy-a stainless reputation.
1t is not generally known, we presume, that
Mr. Chase was the last of his line. Yet such is
the fact. Although he had six or seven broth
ers, 1t so happened that none of them had male
issue, and all died before the Chief Justice.
And as he died leaving no son, it follows that
the line and name Of Chase, so far as his fathers
immediate branch of the family is concerned.
became extinct with his death.
IFor TIE Evening Star.
Lines ON the Death Of Chief Justice
Chase.
BY MRS. n. j. ROBERTSON.
Crown his brow with immortelle
Fold his hands upon his breast;
Whisper softly, 1t Is well