The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-07
Zack Chandler.
A CHARACTERISTIC VIEW OF his LIFE A,
CHARACTER BIT HENRY WATTERSON.
From Louisville Courier-Journal


DEATH OF SENATOR CHANDLER.
The chief of the S!alwarts is dead. His
| light, IL not remarkable for its briIliance,
burned fercely, reaching white heat, aud
goes out suddenly enough to startle the
country. Men have not been used to con-
template the rugged old partisan from the
standpoint Of death. There was that about
him, indeed, which seemed to defy all the
from Bitter Creek, pretty high up,
north side. He had the faculty OF giving
and taking hard blows; was sincerely
wrong-headed; was fearlessly outspoken; !;
was, personally, upright and OF kind,
placablc, and even genial nature. His
friends, Of whom he had perhaps as many
as any man Of his time, will lament his
going, whilst amid certain sense of relief
| in his enemies a feeling bordering on re-
greet will mingle itself. There are always
traits 10 admire in positive character; and
il it be true, as true it is, that better men
have lived than Zachariah Chandler, it is
also that very many worse, and very much
worse, men have lived.
1t would be an improperly in us to say
what we do not think or feel in referring
to the deceased Senator. We have known
him long enough 10 take just, il not an
enthusiastic, estimate of his personality
and his place in the public service; and he
himself would be the first, il he were
alive, to scorn the empty panegyric OF
funereal ceremony. lie did not deal in
subterfuge He had the brave mans
canting and lodging. He was always
thoroughly in earnest and spoke his mind
out freely. 1t was his opinion in 1860 that
things had come to such pass that "a lit
tie blood-etting," as he phrased it, "Would
be good for the body politic." He was,
therefore, for war. Though not malg-
nant man, or even a good hater, he had
worked himself up to q distrust Of all
things and all men southern, and nothing
was too violent, nothing too questionable,
which promised to compass any design to
thwart them. He hesitated neither as to
the word nor the deed, holding the end in
all cases to justify the means.
intellectually cross between old Ben.
Wade and Oliver Morton, possessing some
what OF the bury wit and bluff style OF the
one and the alert brain-power OF the other,
he was strong both rs an organizer and a
speaker. There was no nonsense about
him. He went straight for the thing in
sight; and he generally came off with it.
His methods were bad and be made no bones
about them. His opinions were extreme,
and he advanced them on every occasion
with an aggressive force, which was rarely
without effect. His habits were coarse and
indulgent, and he neither excused nor con-
cealed them. He was born to command;
and, so far as he cared to, he always did
command.
Very much such q person as Robert
Toombs, of Georgia, was this roueh-and-
ready Michigander-wel educated, well
, read, we'll born; but, by preference, vic.
lent, unconventional, and needless. In IN
age which has produced Boutwell, and n
Conkllng, the vices OF man like Chandler
stand out as virtues. There is no stain
s upon his private honor. His life was pros.
porous, and there is no reason to believe
that his home was not happy. He never
betrayed friend. He never struck
an enemy in the back. He was head
.. strong and beisterous. He was altogether
e one-sided. He did not set himself as ar
example to the young manhood OF the coun
> try, but we cannot say that he corrupted it
: There were times when he cut most un
pleasing figure. There was never time
when he appeared to advantage; for, per
sonally dsfsurcd (the result Of an acciden
c in which his gailantry shone out tineiy), hi
voice was harsh and his bearing ungraceful
He was a stalwart from the first.
In the history OF his time he will stsnt
r out conspicuously. His name will be asso
ciated with period Of gigantic corruption
which he did not share. He was sur
rounded by cluster OF politicians whos
baseness and hypocrisy he did not emulate
He fought his own battle right out from tn
: shoulder, giving no quarter and asking
none. He dies with bis war-pant upoi
him, and all his passions at their hottest
and be will be taken to his gray
amid the MORNINGS and the plaudit
of the party for which his services hav
been very great. In no sense OF the wore
statesman, one whose love Of country wa
held in complete subieclion to bis partisan
prciudices, he was politician Of the very
first order; adroit, INSCRIPTIONS, full O
] resources, bold, ready, and effective.
The death Of such man is an event. HI
was power in the land, and we certainly
think power for evil. But he has crossed
the great river which we all must cross
and has reached world where there are &c
rebels and no quarrels, but only life eter
nal, light, peace, and love. He knows nov
whether he was right or wrong in the hare
Judgment and harsh thoughts OF those o.
bis countrymen from whom bis difference
was lifelong. Most certainly those OF u:
who remain behind yet little longer be
hold his coffin descend into the grave Will
no other feeling than that it contains tht
mortal fragments Of one who had power
only whilst living to kinde our anger; o.
! one who in life gave us no more than We
gave him, and who in death squares the ac
count. He was a hard one to tackle. be
W IS good fighter. God be with him, ant
49,, ar he raSf i'm Oeace !