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

The death of Chief Justice Salmon p.
Chase removes from the stage of life ono
of the most distinguished citizens of the
country. For several years he had been
a sufferer from the effects of a paralytic
shock, but he appeared latterly to have
been improving in health. The hopes
raised, however, that his life might be
spared some years more have been disap-
pointed. On Tuesday the 9th. he was
stricken down by paralysis, at the home
of daughter in New York, and there
breathed his last on the 7th.
Mr.. Chase was born in New Hampshire
in 1908. His father was d farmer, not in
the best of circumstances, belonging to
family well educated, with more brains
than money. The mother was Of Scotch
blood, of sound sense and thrifty habits.
The son was named Salmon Portland
Chase, for an uncle named Salmon, a
lawyer settled in Portland, who died in
stantly in that city while pleading q case.
When the boy was fourteen years old,
an uncle in Ohio, Philetus Chase, known
as the Episcopal Bishop Of Ohio and ILL.,
nois. took the lad home with him and fit.
ted him under his own instruction for col.
lege. After being fitted he entered Dart
mouth college, whence he graduated will
q web trained mind but empty pockets
The law was his choice for a profession
the study of which he pursued in Washing
ton, d. c., supporting himselfin the mean
time by teaching select classical school
His legal studies were under the direction
of Writ. In 1880 he was admitted to the
bar and immediately went to Cincinnati
to establish himself in practice. His frs,
days were days of poverty and discour.
agement, but perseverance brought its
reward after while, giving him business,
fame and fortune. His first case before
the United States Court, whose highest
place he filled at death, was in 1884. In
1887 he defended James G.. Birney. Il south
ern abolitionist, before the Supreme Court
of Ohio, who was prosecuted forkarboring
a slave. Birney had been mobbed, his
printing office sacked, the types thrown
into the river, while in the city negro
houses were burned and their occupants
shamefully maltreated. In the midst of
other business he found time to prepare an
edition OF the statutes of Ohio and histo-
ry of the State, which is yet a standard
authority in the courts Of Ohio.
Thus early in his career Mr. Chase be-
gan his warfare with the slave power.
There in the courts of Ohio, defending the
slave and the abolitionist, he became in
structed in the evils of slavery and pre-
pared to become lis deadly antagonist.
The stand which he took was unpopular,
and injured his business, but he lived down
the opposition and finally triumphed. In
1876 Chase and Seward defended man
by the name of Van Zandt against the
shareholders. He had formerly been a
Kentucky farmer and slave owner. but be-
coming convinced Of the wrongfulness of
slavery he sold his farm, set his slaves
free, and crossing the river into free terri
tory bought farm near Cincinnati, where
he sheltered all the fugitives that applied
for assistance. This man figured in Uncle
Toms Cabin under the name of Van
Trorpp. The ability Of his defenders was