, 1874-06-06
LITERATURE,


The Lnte Ohicf.Justice Chase
AN ACCOUNT or THE PRIVATE LIFE AND run.
LILO SERVICES OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE.
natl: Wilssaoh. Baldwin o..
It Is not necessary to ascribc potty motives to
tho surviving relatives Of Mr.. Chaao as tho In
epirhtIon OF tlicir onrnear and ao!ive oppoaition
to tho choice Of Mr.. Warden as the blogr*phor
OF tho distinguished statesman. An Impartial
: examination Of tho work which Hos before us
quickly royealB tho fnct OF his doplorable In
capacity to undertake tho great reeponslplnty.
It B not to bo wondered at III Wow OF tue result
that NIrs. Spraguo and others who hold tho mom-
ory of 1ler father doar. should 'havo suffered
tic dcopest rogrct and dissatisfaction At tho TIM
fortunate chance which left tho valued and
volumiuous papers of Mr. ChaHo IN such income
ratont hands. It must have seemed TO tlsom too
1nucl, like a waste and PROCLAMATION to bo in any
wise tolornblo. -
1'hore csn DO no accusation urged against Mr..
wnrdcus consoientiousnaas. Indeed, he has
,nalo 20 desperate an effort to roAlize his own
Ideal Of biographors duty, ttat his attitude is
actually pathetic. Amazed and displeased AZ tho
roador is with tho continued exhibition Of lis
imbccllity, q feeling Of pity keeps In
check tho strong tendency to contempt
Tho biographer struggles witl, s1oh conyul-
styo efforts to accomplish n task for which
he is totally untitled, that tue spectacle of his
humiliation md defeat fs painful IN tho OK
tro1ne. A biographer never had richer materials
with Which to build up work TINT should bo u
monument Of praise to himself aud to the sub
dcct 1t commentaries. Tho diaries and corre-
hponilcnce which Mr.. Chase left arc 80 full and
complete that connected and really satisfactory
history Of lis ontiro cnrcor could have boon
made out by simply nking these together at
rording to their dRte, without word Of COM
Mont.
Instead Of This, although having no item mo, Of
to contribute, nor sound aud weighty opinion
or explanation "oyolyed from Ills own con-
sciousness" to- offer, Mr. Warden has
rent both Journals and letsor# into tatters, TINT
}riyinl, Irrelevant, and impertiuent renarks. It
fB an oxtraordinary anl lamentable dissertation
Of the literary ronla!na Of great man. No tn-
delicacy or impropr1ety has been committed in
giving publicity to the writings Of Mr.. Uhasc.
not a sentiment has boon reproduced TINT, gon-
oroualy interpreted does not do credit to thu in
tegrtT Of his character and tho honesty Of his
purpose. It is not with this that fault can bo
biographor to properly and worthly manage the
mass OF matter he has under his control that OK
cites indignation, There ID nothing IN tho world
moro Irritating than blockhead usurping tho
Curiously enough, thcrc is pecunrity the
style Of Alr. Warden that strikingly recalls
t'Bartor ncsartus." We reed not ndd TINT the
resemblance doeH not extend beyond. certain
mannorismH Of language. Mr.. Warden has
aspirations. Tho fatal lac! hasbeen in natiyo
faculty. DruBhing aside all ho has added to his
biography, as one would brush away the cob
webs that 1eiaco and obscure any valuable OBJ
E,ct, there remains nn interesting and extensive
loction Of pnpera from Mr.. Chaso's pen, which
4!nyey to tho reader comprehensive aud ex-
&ted idea Of his character.