The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-08
GkeGrtelliqeater.
meath or CbIef Justico Chase.

the paralytic attack year or so ago, Mr.
CuAsEs health has been fair, and but
day or two ago 1t was announced that b
was preparing 10 spend the summer II
Colorado. In his death the country lose
one Of It's foremost men, whether we eati
mate him by the greatness and inessma
bic value Of his public services, or by hi
peerless ability as a statesman and jurist
Two of his contemporaries and co-worker
N the overthrow ol American slavery
have gone few months telore. While
each may have excclled Mr.. CHASE in
some special traits, 1t is doubtful whether
either was his equal in the graceful and
harmonious proportions Of intellect which
crowned him as one Of the greatest and
best balanced minds of his age. And
while Mr. SEWARD and Mr.. GREELEY are
more intimately associated in the public
mind with the carly struggles against
slavery, Mr. CHAsE's services in the same
cause began as early and were scarcely
less ettecdve-certainly not less coura-
geous-Lhsn theirs. As the advocate in
the Courts defending the cases Of fugitive
slaves, as the defender Of FREQ territory
before the people or in the Senate, the
anti slavery cause had no braver nor abler
champion up the close of the controversy
IN 1860 than SALMON p. CHASE. His
whole record in this respect does him i'm
perishab!e honor, and rebukes the parti'
san mesuness which In later years has
sought to blacken Mr.. CHAsE's fame by
charging him with unfaithlulness 10 the
principles Of personal liberty which the
best years OF his life were spent In de-
lending
Nor were Mr.. CHAsE's services during
the war less valuable to the country or
less creditablc to himself Certainly this
government has never had such minist.
er OF finance since HAMILTON, II in him.
Having Just been reelected to the Senate,
Sir. CHASE gave up the place more highly
valued by oil men of his endowments
Ihsu any other in the governmental
ways excepting One-and undertook the
formidable task imposed by the needs Of
the Treasury. The government was just
entering upon struggle whose end
nobody could foresGe, with bankrupt
treasury, and a,lsck ot confidence, inspired
by the cowardice and treacherY that had
invironcd and permeated Mr.. BUCHAN.
ANS administration that made it almost
hopeless 10 borrow without enormous
sacrifices. Money was the prime need oi
the government. The war could not be
prosecuted or the Union maintained with
out 1t. Mr.. CHASE began by borrowing 10
small sums, not abroad but at home. He
rejected all offers which required TOT
great sacrifice. II was not long till con-
fidence began 10 grow, and until by the
use or such aids as Mr. CHASE had the
wisdom to employ all the money the gov
ernment could use-enormOul as the
sums wcre-pOured into the treasury from
the willing golfers Of our own people.
The fnancieriug Of the treasury under MIR.
CHASE has been the admiration Of all en-.
lghIened countries. In one sense sue.
cess in tue war depended on it. That
success resulted from combination OF
elements, no one Of which could have
been spared; but no one OF them
was more fundamental or essential than
well filled treasury. While CHASE
raised the money and STANTON organized
/, into armies, and the General who now
gets all the glory commanded them, each
was essential TO the result, but none more
50 than he whose unequalled genius
brought out from It's timid hiding place
tho money which the others used. lfMr
CHASE had never done anything but ad-
minister the United States Treasury dur
ing the war, his fame would be secure.
His career as flnAncier, was some
thing OF marvel. He had been educated
Ior the law, and had spent his earlier life
IN Its practice. Yet he grasped the most
intricate problems OF finance, aud solved
them with success that could hardly
have been improved on Il he had spen
his lie In such studies His services II
that departmest did not end when he re-
tired from 1t, for he had organized, and hat
seen successfully inauguratedr the ma
uonAl banking system, the most admir-
able system that has ever had an existence
in this country or perhaps In any other
In the higher though lesS conspicuous
psCe at the head Of the national judicl'
Ary,Mr. CHASE bore himself, as he always
did In every post to which he was called,
with an ability and dignity that did hon
oF to the place; which may be equallcd
but cannot well be surpassed. He has
b!an accused ofau ambition for the pres.
iiency. The charge is nota very griev.
Jus one Il we'll founded. The ambition ID
an honorable onei and it would be better
Tor the country than 1t is II the same am
bIlIon never afflicted men less qualified
ty education, by experience and by ma
ture, 10 flll the place. 1t is one OF thr
mISIortunes Of this people that such
man as SALMON p. CHAsE-S man o
such peerless eudowmenls ot mind ant
yraces Of person, cannot be elected to fl
the nrnalhantial chair Yni fnr anch 1