Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-05-09

not sufficient to save him against the pref
udice of the court, but the argument OF
Chase was heavy blow to slavery, show
ing the unconstitutionality Of the slave
law of 1898, and leading the way in the
war against it, In 1s41 he united in a
call for an anti.slavery convention in Co
lumbus. In that Convention was organ
lied the Liberty party of Ohio. In 1916
he was the chief mover for convention
which met at Cincinnati that year. He
prepared an address which was adopted
by the body. in which he took the most
radical ground against slavery. In 1S47
he was active in another Liberty conven-
ton, and in 1848 was prominent men,
Der of the Buffalo Free Soil Convention,
the platform of which was drafted by his
hand. In 1S49 ne was elected United
States Senator from the State of Ohio for
six years. At the end of his term he was
elected Governor, and reelected in 1857.
While in the Senate he held fast to his
anti-slavery opinions, opposing the Kan
sas Nebraska bill with ability. When
Mr.. Lincoln came to occupy the Presiden-
tial chair, he called Mr.. Chase to seat in
the Cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury.
In that capacity he displayed great ability,
supplying the means to defray the enor-
nous expenses of the war, and at the
same time remodeling the financial system
of the government. Our national banks
and national currency owe to him their ex-
istence. In 1864 he resigned his place in
the Cabinet, to which Hon. VIM. P. Fes-
sender was appointed, and in December of
that year was appointed by President Lin
coin Chief Justice Of the United States
Supreme Court to fill the vacancy made
by the death of Mr.. fancy.
After accepting this position, which he
held until his death, Mr.. Chase became
estranged from the republican party.
That he had hopes of being its candidate
for the Presidency, and that he keenly felt
the disappointment when others were pre-
| lcIIcu W IT'LL dAu CuC AOhoi ohPpOu away
from his grasp which he had coveted there
is no reason to doubt This it was which
led him to be more than sympathizel
with Andrew johnson, to be regarded
with distrust by former political friends
and to be prominently mentioned ant
strongly supported in 1868 as the candi
| lat &c %lo &c Hor ociAonf En,
his course since his detection he received
the condemnation of most of the origina
anti-slavery men. 1t was felt that it wa!
not in keeping with the record of his pas
life, that the motive which prompted his
abandonment of the political organization
with which he had been identified was moi
worthy of his character, that it was selfish
and personal. The same cause which has
led many of our leading men to abandon
their party-disappointment in their as
pirations for the Presidency-was that
which led Salmon p. Chase astray.
Other than this he leaves noble record.
His private life was pure, his active, po-
litical life spent in righteous cause, his
success such as may furnish a stimulus to
youth in the pursuit Of honor. 1t is re-
markable that those who have done as
well AS he should be goaded by ambition
to depart from the straightforward path,
but it is only one of the many proofs which
we have that great men are not without
their faults. For his anti-slavery course,
and for the work which he did as Secre-
tary of the Treasury, Salmon p. Chase
deserves the deepest gratitude and re-
speet of his countrymen. while his private
virtues and accomplishment will be long
to his honor.