Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-10
CHIEF JUSTICE CHASE.
Brief Sketch Of the Career of HoL.
Salmon p. Chase.

9eAAAAe@ Ne@aNf
"
The Hon. Salmon Portland Chase,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court OF
the United States, whose death was an
nounced Wednesday, was born in
Cornish, New Hampshire, on the 18th Of
January, 1893, and was therefore some
thing over slxty-fve years old at the time
Of his death. His father, ,Ithaman Chase,
died when the future statesman was but
IL years of age, and he thereupon went
to Cincinnati, Ohio, to live with his uncle,
Rev. Phllander Chase, first Protestant
Episcopal Bishop Of that Diocese. He
subseQ aently removed with his unele's
family 10 Worthington, In the same
State.
Salmon there prepared for college and
entered the junior class at Dartmouth
Mass College In 1924, and graduated
there in 1925. He went thence to Wash
ington, where his uncle, Hon. Dudley
Chase, then Senator from Vermont, pro-
cured for him position as principal Of
classical school. While thus engaged,
he also studied law 10 the office Of MIR.
Writ, Attorney General Of the U. 8.
under John Quincy Adams, and at the
conclusion of his studies, was admitted
10 the Washington bar, and returning 10
III A9~t VI Ao1V NC NOhiAhtNtt0
the practice of law, winning high repute
In the profession.
He entered politics as a Wing with
rather slack allegiance 10 his party, but
soon assisted In the formation Of the
Liberty party and became noted for a
number Of great legal efforts in defence
OF citizens charged under the fugitive
slave law with harboring slaves. Not
withstanding his pronounced anti-slavery
views, however, be subsequently became
closely allied to the Democratic party.
Still be was not at home there and took
active part In calling the "Free Territory
Convention" which gave birth to the
Free Soil' party which supported Mar.
lin Vas Buren for President aud Charles
Francis Adams for Vice President in 1915
In 1919 there was a dead lock in the Ohio
| Legislature In the election of U. s.
Senator; the Wings and Democrats
were equally divided, while the Free
Sellers held the balance of power. The
two Free Sellers gave the organization
Of the House TO the Democrats on the
condition that they would join them in
electing Mr.. Chase Senator, and they did
SO. Mr.. Chase was at that time In ac-
cord with the Democratic party gu all
subjects except those arising out of
slavery, and 50 voted during this term.
The nomination Of Mr.. Pierce, In 1850,
and the approval of the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise by the National
Democratic Convention caused Senator
Chase TO withdraw from that party, and
be supported the Independent Democratic
Party, which nominated John z. Hale
for President. Gu the rise Of Know
nothingisin, In 1854, Mr.. Chase strongly
opposed it., but curiously enough a year
later WAS nominated by the Native
American Party for Governor OF Ohio,
with view to gaining the support of the
Democratic Free Sellers. Il succeeded,
and he was elected and serv. d until 1857.
The Republican party was boru during
his term lin 1850, and In 1857 Mr.. Chase
became its candidate and was again
elected Governor. In 1850 he was elected
as a Republican to The United States
Senate, aud took his seat 10 that
body 10 1861. At the National Re-
/ publican Convention in 1869 he was
one of The principal candidates for th,
Presidential nomination. After Mr.. Lin
coln's election he rendered the position o.
Secretary Of the Treasury to Senator
{ Chase, and he accepted, resigning his seat
f 10 the Senate on March 9th. OF his
career as Secretary Of the Treasury
1t Is useless 10 speak. On all ques-
l tons Of financial policy men differ SC
c widely that It must be left for q
/ later generation to decide whether or not
the finaucial policy Of this government
. during the rebellion, was the best possible
] one. Il, at least, raised the money ne
c cesssry 10 carry on gigantic war, and
e the Treasury Department, which aros,
to dignity aud Importance II had neyei
hafa - a -
7 consummate ability aud uuquestioned In.
f tegrity.
g Mr. Chase resigned the seeretaryshlJ
IN 1854, differing somewhat, 1t was un
u derstood, from the course Of the admins
a tration. aud his friends made an earnes
e but utterly unsuccessful effort in s64 Il
b. have him nominated for the Presidency
\ Notwithstanding the personal antago
nism developed between Mr.. Lincoln ant
d Mr.. Chase, on the death Of Chief justice
# fancy, In 1854, the President appoint
e hr. Chase to that position, and he con
tinued 10 hold It to the time Of his death
though be never lost his ambition for tn
D Presidency
Ia He presided as Chief Justice over tn
Senate sitting as a High Court of I'm
parchment for the trial Of Andrew John
son President Of the United States. an,
by bis decisions there and ou the Lega
IT Tender question in which as Chief Justic
le be condemned bis own policy as SeIetar,
- OF the Treasury, be widened the growiui
- breach between himself and the Republl
lie can party, and in 1865, the fourth year o
lie bis Chief Justlceship, be was a candidate
10 for the Democratic nomination for tn
"A Presidency, aud though many of ths
- party would never believe II, would hay
u been nominated but for Vallaudigham'
~ springing the name of Seymour on tn
OF Convention. He has been in poor healtl
=, for some time, but his sudden death wa
utterly nnexpected.