Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-05-14
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE.

The announcement of the death of the
distinguished Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States made in this is
sue of the CHRONICLE, will be received
with surprise and regret throughout the
nation. Though for some time in feeble
health, his sudden death was not antici-
pated,
Salmon Portland Chase was born in
Cornish, New Hampshire, January 18th,
1908. The death of his father in
1917 caused the son to move to Ohio,
then far West to secure the kindly
guardianship of his uncle Philander Chase,
who was then the Protestant Episcopal
Bishop of the State of Ohio. In 1926, he
graduated from Dartmouth College and in
the following winter opened a select school
for boys in Washington, where he was
honored with the patronage of Clay, Writ
and Southland. While teaching young
Writ he read law with the distinguished
advocate William Writ, and after COM
pleting his studies returned to Cincin-
natl, Ohio, in 1880, to practice his profess
ion. The advanced views of Mr.. Chase on
the slavery question and the zeal with
which he espoused the Anti-Slavery cause
brought him at an early age as lawyer
into historic cases. In his first case before
the Courts of Chic in 1887 in defending
colored woman claimed as a fugitive, he
denied the power of Congress to enforce
upon State Magistrates any duties or pow
ers in fugitive slave cases. Though bitter
" assailed at that time his position was
afterwards affirmed in q decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States.
In later cases of the same nature he con-
tended that slavery was local institution
that existed only by virtue of local legisla-
ton, and that Congress had no power to
nationalize it. He was an earnest and able
leader of the original liberty party and
met with its friends in State and National
Conventions. In February, 1910, Mr..
Chase was chosen a Senator in Con-
gress by the Democracy OF Ohio,
which then took open and advanced
grounds as an enemy to slavery. In 1852
when the National Democratic Conven-
ton nominated Pierce upon COM
promise platform, Senator Chase renounc-
ed his allegiance to it, and wrote to Benz
F. Butler a letter favoring an independent
Democratic party. Out of the Kansas-Ne-
braska struggle grew the Republican par
ty, of which Mr.. Chase was an original
member. On the issues above referred to-,
he was twice chosen Governor of Ohio
1855 and 1857. In 1860, he was a candidate
before theChicago Convention for President,
but was defeated by Mr.. Lincoln. On the
accession of the latter to that high Office,
Governor Chase was made Secretary OF
the Treasury. He proposed the issue of a
national currency during the war and was
then known Familiarity as "Old Green
backs" He discharged the trying and re-
sponsible duties of Finance Minister with
signal ability and success. Upon the death
of Judge fancy, Secretary Chase was APP
pointed by President Lincoln, Chief Jus.
tice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, a position he held at the
time of his death, greatly honored for his
ability and high character as jurist.
His public life briefly recited above Gov
ers the most important period of our ma
tional history, and throughout it Judg,
Chase was universally recognized as al
able, honest and faithful public servant
Ifin the later years of his life when some
what overtaken with disease he betrayed al
undue ambition to become President, it i
part of his life we can afford to forget il
view of his brilliant and incorruptible pub
| lie career.