National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-21
SA.MON PORTLAND CHASE.

SA-M0N PORTLAND CHASE
LATE CHIEF JUSTICE
ORiGIN OF THE CHASE FAMILY-THE FUR
POSE OF THE BIoGRAPHER-MR. CHAsE''
FIRST LITERARY EFFoRTS-THE AU
ruop,s VIEWS OF BIOGRAPHICAL WRIT
Mc-PERsoNAL CHARACTERISTICS OF
Mr.. CHASE.
The following is the first chapter Of the "Publi'
Services and Private Life of the Late Chief Justce
Shase. - by Robert B. Warden, which We are per.
uitted to use in advance of the publication:
ABOUT THE TOWN OF CORNISH AND THE
CHASES-ANCESTRAL RELATIONS.
Salmon Portland Chase wa. born in Cornish, In
New Hampshire, January Is, 1905. He greatly
xlorifed the eminently honorable name he bore
but he was not the only Chase Of whom the town
ofCornish may be proud. -. .-.
The Chases Of the Cornish race appear to have
been hardy, worthy men and women. In note
1.-THE appendix will be found pretty full account
sfthem down to the days of our hero. Let me
pressingly persuade the reader to examine at
spce at least cursoriy, the matter offered in that
note. ... .....
Another chapter Of this volume calls attention
10 the so-called secession from New Hampshire Of
Cornish and hfteen towns associated with her in
The act SO designated. 1t may seem to some
readers not q little remarkable that the Chases
,fCornish should have so foreshadowed the action
,f the Southern States attempting to secede from
The Union. And it may be thought that, in view
sftbe course of Mr.. Chase in 1861, the tract Of
Cornish history referred to shows that there was
done may 90 express himself, secession in the
hero's very blood. But this volume clearly
proves, If it proves anything, that Mr. Chase was
aot, in 1861, in favor Of secession; that he never
held the singular political and social tenet that
member of the Union may. by . simple exercise
IF sovereignty, without cause of revolution, and
against the will Of the States united with her,
,ease to be member of the Union.
And it cannot be necessary to devote much space
h order to effect showing that the sc. ;alled
rseceding town." Hampshire did not
really secede at ~.
This volume does not undertake to vindicate
he views of Mr.. Chase in 1851, as indicated in his
noble letter to Judge Taft. The object of this
work is indication more than vindication. Often,
too in spite of its unfegned and very high esteem
Of its hero it is forced to own that it cannot ap-
prove some act saying of the man whose life it
90 faithfully endeavors to relate, whose character
itso faithfully endeavors to portray.
have in q public print, defending the memory
Of Salmon Portland Chase, confessed that that
true worthy did not seem to me saint or deputy
omniscient. Holding that the article on which 1
was commenting paints character which It Is 1T
tie less than ibelous to ascrbe to the hero OF this
work, have nevertheless distinctly indicated In
the public print referred to my opinion that the
biography Of Salmon Portland Chase which shall
represent him as a faultless character, man who
lived q wholly bameless lite, will be vainly false
and fooliehly unfa!thful. Now make like re-
Nknea fe afralr aluffn
Lannon's Lille Of Lincoln is not written in the
proper spirit where it touches Lincoln's lineage.
The lineage Chase is here respectfully and even
tepdery regarded. In q certain sense 1t 10 noble
lineage. II has not what is often written and
spoken of gentle blood; yet it is gentle, in the
best sense of that term. But had found our
oero's lineage like that of Lincoln described by
Lamon, would not have felt at liberty to treat
1t as that writer treats his hero's origin:
On the other hand, have not felt at liberty to
Begin this work in such fashion that in which
Kennedy began the Lille of William Writ, our
hero's legal teacher Kennedy set out as follows;
"a narrative Of the life of William Writ will
present us the career of one who, springing from
N humble origin was enabled to attain to high
distinction amongst his eountrymen."
However, / propose to speak hereafter will
,nly say At present that the origin Of Salmon
origin 1t rather seems to me highly honorable
origin, like that Of William Writ as 1 had the |
honor to explain te the only surviving daughter
borough, who, may passingly remark, has
allowed me- in this volume, to use letter Of hers,
ing the life OF her dear friend Chief Justice Chase
How far is it becoming. in o work of this de- |
Scription to use matter tending to display char
arteristics Of domestic life?
A note Of the appendix is devoted to this in d!
teresting. often illconsidered subject. Here, how
ever, 1t is necessary to say something touching
the extent to which this volume has felt, clearly
bound clearly free, to enter the domestic circle;
rince am about to offer matter in relation to the
home-life or our herOs grandparents.
n whole
life OF Salmon Portland Chase may be found in
m article, contributed by him, at three and
pier That piece, which had first done service
n Q lyceum lecture at Cincinnati, went before the
readers of the Rerier in July, 1881 1t clearly
ioreshadowed the anti-slavery agitation Of its
suthor. 1t forcshadowed also some of the ripper
views Of its composer as to law reform. Bqt row
Of special interest on account Of that which 1t
Having for its subject the Life and Character
d Henry Brougham," it contains these para
1T is we'll said, that history is philosophy
teaching by example. But history seldom con-
aescends to the teaching of individuals; and
II war than in the works Of peace; noticing
briefly, and withal somewhat superciliously, the
noblest designs and labors Of philanthropy and
records. with ali the bialoning Of the most
gorgeous description, the achievements Of mill
sary prowess, or details with serupuious minute
aess the intrigues Of courts. Thus the examples
furnished by history are not adapted to the in
Struetion Of common life. They show MS man in
lis robes Of state and under the influence Of arti
sciai restraint; not in his every-day dress, and
ecting from the genuine promptings Of the heart.
they exhibit to our view . man, mot of natures
.No1, biography teaches by better examples
than these: Her Instructions are adapted to
peace as we'll as to war; to man q an individual
Dur admiration and imitation men who have never
Seen the tented field. She sits by the philosopher
n his closet and notes the laborous processes Of
Oh INV wi iehh mil
md at last does reach, some mighty and allcom-
pretending principle. And to waken In the
0 the ineIpressibIe triumph with which she ex-
claims Eureka. She accompanies the traveller in
bis toilsome journeys from land to land to gather
some worthy offering for science, or to add some
yet undiscovered realm to the domnions OF knowl-
EDGE. She deems it no unworthy task to tell with
What selfsacrieing sPirt phia1fnr0plsts nave
and opposition to give effect TO some grand scheme
81 benevoIence, in many instances dying without
iestined P to crown their exertion. BY examples
such rs these does biography teach, and teaches
hoble lessons.
S.There lie, however, ye: another use Of biogra-
ply. 1t helps us to q better understanding ofthe
way in which the great machine Of society works.
Thoughts and feelings are the prime forces that
Act upon IT, the thoughts and feelings of fndfvid-
aal men. And 1t often happens that one man, by
the force Of circumstances, or BY the resistless
Of as ss or !Ps1s,
the destinies Of whole nations; still oftener,
originates some new thought. or makes some new
discovery invention, destined in its consequences
10 change the whole aspect of society. 1t is i'm
portant, therefore, to know something Of fndivid-
ksl character and conduct, in order to understand
The operations Of these latent but powerful in
0uencee Indeed, for our own part, If We might
X permitted to preserve all the memorials fsuch
nen we should hardly be disposed to quarrel
with time for devouring the remainder Of his ON
hilarious offspring"
In another place. or rather in other places, l
have tried to show the tendency Of advanced IDEAS
touching the force Of the individual in relation 70
the mass-of the one in relation TO the many.
Here wish to keep attention fixed on the inter
est that good biography may take, or must take,
In what is known rs inner life. ,
That geographic cGmmentary-such 10 really
The character Of Chase's piece just quoted-con-
lains these words: ~ |
aHenry Broug ham was born in Westmorelsnd,
. county in the north Of England, In l7oe VI ms
sarly life We have beer able to ascertain little
more than that ne was born in Scotland"
BrouRham has since written his own lie now
he has dealt with his own hearth and home Is
xnown to many readers. Chase, however, thus
continues:
ait would be interesting to know what promise
his infancy gave of future greatness. 1t would
rratify natural curiosity to be informed whether
hey who saw the Seeding germ, predicted the
majestic height and wide-spreading luxuriance Oh
NE full-grown oak"
The next volume Of the North Americas Re-
,ieic, in the number for January, 1882. offered TO
Il readers another essay Of our hero, which. Also