The sun., 1873-05-10

ders by Mr. CHASE in the crisis of the war
was an effort made with the laulablc pur-
pose of reducing the rate of interest on the
now loans required. II did not attain this
object, whilc il had the effect, in con-
nection with dissatisfaction with the mill
tary situation, to rapidly advance the pre-
MUM on com, an effect which Mr.. CHASE
was warned against, but which he refused
To believe beforehand. But this, and the
legal-tcndcr measure, in its application to
prc;ixisting contracts. were mere incl
dents OF his general financial policy.
While we take exception to them, Others
do not. The policy itself was broad and
statcsmanlike. IL carried tho country
majcstcally through the war. II paid
the nations debts. IL has astonished tho
world by its success. Some of its leading
features are to-day adopted by three mill
lions of British subjects on our northern
frontier. The financial prosperity of the
country under the system Of grecnbacks
and national bank notes has been carried
TO fabulousheight; and so cuamorcd has
the whole nation become of II, that IL IL
impossible at present TO get tho popular
appro,a nj even FOR any modification OF the
system, though such modification has
long been considered desirable and nccos-
sury by ts author. This ia II result which
might well satisfy thc highest ambition Of
the gr,atc-t of nuCuricrs.
OF MI CuA.r's cnrrc rs chief Justice,
We may say it has been comparatively
briCf and part of il has been cloudcd bv
Illness. Bat without any long training
~ n LAWYER in great cascs, his clear and
robust intellect was esteemed by Mr.. LIN
CorN rs alto,iing an ample reason for hls
elevation TO the head of the court; and
thut opinion has been fully justified by
the event. In every respect he has
been mnstcr Of his place. In the
Impeachment case of President JoHN-
soN all fclt the presence of a control
ling mind and will, which 10 large cx-
tent shaped the character and result OF
that memorable trial. The dignity of the
chief Justices bearing on that occasion,
hts rcsolutC and impartial purpose, and his
lofty aim in behalf of what he deemed
sound law and exact justice, were fully
recognized nc the time, and it will bo long
before their memory Is oblitcratcd.
In trunsacting tho general business of tho
court Judge CHASE manifested those rare
uliilltilNlTullNt IOWtiS lIul U1hlhtu
whole life. They belonged 10 the char
actcr Of his understanding. IL was his
nature 10 direct. His mind leaned forward,
50 10 speak, to give tone 10 and exercise
! control over whatevcr came within the
sphere Of his action. He emitted force.
resolution, ana energy. The business of
/ his court wns thus under the iinpulro Of
/ these qualities, and its action has cOrrc-
, spondcd.
/ His leading opinions in court were
mainly on question, connected with ma
/ tona' affairs, questions touching the REIN
tons and powers OF tho rcbellious States,
/ the limitations of military authority, the
ler'Il-tcnder question, and others uf u kin
diri character. On all these subjects his
. iuirn"ut- wcrc marked by tho high Quuli-
/ ura Of the stat, srnan ~ woll a. of the
/ iuu-t, aud they nNori mqu.suoiahlc
/ proof Of Lis clear and lofty intellect and
| broad and accurate perception If the do
minds pt las position Is the cNpouudcr oi
| both law aud equity. For lac had always,
/ IN all thu relations of life, stern sonse of
/ Justice, into whose service he brliov cd in
/ pressing the lnw whonovcr oss,bl". He
/ gained his carIi,-t rcnown as lawyer
| from such coryictiori.
Mr.. CHASE became United states sem
| ator from Ohio in lsiN Mr.. SEWARD wns
/ chosen in the same year. But while their
sentiments did not materially differ on
the slavery question, there was u variance
in their political position. Mr.. FEW
ARD represented the Old Whig party,
and aimed 10 preserve its organiIa-
tion. Mr.. CHASE was the representative
OF the Liberty party, 50 called, and the
! special advocate - anti-slavery ideas in a
| political organization established TO rem
der thcm practical in administration.
| With Mr.. SEWARD the same id.as were
| of more sentimental cast, and took on
no Immediately bclligorent attitude. Mr..
! CHASE was thus an object of even greater
hostility on the part of the shareholders
/ than Mr., SEWARD. He stood alono, the
| representative aud champion of his party
| in the Senate. Perhaps Mr.. JONI =.
| HALE of New Hampshire, who had been
chosen Senator in lSt6, might claim tho
! honor OF holding similar position; hut n
was prtIim,ncntly Mr. CHASE who was the
object Of the vindictlvc wrath of the slave
holding party All thoir strong ndlgua-
tion trn frat on him. For he claimed 90
be the enemy Of slavery itsolf, and not
mcr"ly "f a. agEr H--,on-. IIis speeches on
the -ubrVt were not frequent, but thpy
! we're always ter ~, pa,sionlcss, and logical.
lie Wos not, like some other auti-slnvcry
men, regarded IA q moro fanatic, but as a
much more dangerous Antagonist. IIo wa.
considered au cnsmy 20 be feared, since he
aimed 10 undorm ne ana overthrow slave, Y
by logical and practical processes, and not
| by sentiment OF doclnmution, His po4i-
tion ~ senator was an arduous and trying
one. lie stood outside of what was termed
thu healthy political ORGANIZATIONS,
and was taboo.d completely by pro-
slavery intolerance, and, ~ far "a pos.
elhla, ignored IN tie business OF legislation.
II was deliberate ana offensive ostracism
of which he was every day made 10 focl the
weight. Yet no bore hims,lf with dignity,
hsver allowing himself 10 be betrayed
into unseemly alteration, which his
adVersaries aimed always TO provoke.
His conduct as n senator under these
embarrassing circumstances forms one of
the most marked passages In his life. lie