New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-03

In the XXXVth Congress, MT Chandier serve" IN
a member Of the Committee on the District oil 20
lumbia and as chairman Of tho Committee Oh Com
merce. He was reelected TO the Senate In 1865 lo'
the term ending in 1869. serving on the copahue"
ON Revolutionary Claims and on Mines aud Mining,
aud again rs chairman OF the COMMITTEE on Co"-
merce. He always exhibited particular and pro-
found interest 10 the development of the resources
of the Northwest and the building up of internal
commerce. He thought and complained that the
rights and interests of the Northwest had been
neglected Heintroduced several important meas
ures looking to what he regarded as their due recog-
milton. and though he was often defeated, ui'i-
mately he was successful in procuring their adop-
ton.
Mr.. Chandler never wavered in his support OF n
vigorous policy in the business of reconstruction
This made him always faithful TO ms party under
,,l circumstances After the assassination of Prcsi-
dent Lincoln and the accession of President john
son TO his place. the policy of the Administration
was regarded by him dangerously moderate
This view led him into frequent collisions with
Senators of different views even of his own party.
..Tbere is sort of hybrid concern in the Senate"
he said. known as Conservative Republican. Like
all other hybrds il Is incapable Of reproduction"
Thus naturally brought NJ Senator Fcssenden. and
an angry and highly personal debate cnsued, from
which serious consequences in another place were
anticipated These however. were happily averted.
In the impeachment Of Mr.. Johnson Senator
Chandler took a leading part Whenever the qucs-
lion happened 10 be one Of international relations.
his personal prejudices against England were well
enough known, and their manifestations were some
times grotcsGuc enough to excite some amuse-
ment. He was eager and earnest in demand
ing indemnity for injuries sustained by us
during the War of the Rebellion at the
hands Of that power. SO strong were his
feelings upon this point that ho had almost habit
of offering resolutions in the Senate looking to in
slant and extreme measures of redress. His an-
tipathy to the British Lion became, indeed, proven
bal.
In January 1875. Mr.. Chandler. who was can
didate for reelection 10 the Senate from Michigan.
was defeated by vote of 81 for the Hon. Isaac T.
Christiancy against 65 for himself This result
was secured by fusion of Democrats and Anti
Chandler Republicans On the 10th of October he
was sworn into Office the successor of the Hon.
Columbus Dclano, Secretary of the Interior 1t was
anticipated that he would bring to this position his
strong political feelings and not much was antic-
pated from his executive ability. 1t is but fair to
say that his administration Of the affairs of the Office
was much more satisfactory than was anticipated.
Ii was such as to win words OF appreciation from his
SUCCESSOR Mr.. Schurz. In fact. Mr.. Chandler
brought TO the management OF the Depart
ment of the Interior the same method in
dustry and tact which he had shown as the head OF
o great commercial house. He gave his personal
attention to the smallest detail. lie was very par
iicular and careful in his appointments and when
he went out Of Office the gentleman who followed
found everything in excellent order and the force
OF the Department well trained and Trustworthy.
Mr.. Chandler was a strong party man. believed in
party. and was in all respects thoroughly accom-
plished politician. He served rs Chairman Of
Republican National Committee In 1868. and again
in 1876 At the close of the last campaign. he res
olutey insisted that President Hayes was duly and
constitutonally elected. and never gave up the
opinion until he saw it legally confirmed.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Christiancy, Mr.. Chan
der was reelected to the United States Senate for
Michigan by a vote of Ss, TO % received by o. NJ.
Barnes (Democrat and received by Henry Cham
berIain (ireenback) On the Sd of March last he
made a somewhat remarkable speech in the Senate
on the Pension bill, and on the motion to eX-
clude Jefferson Davis, as an officer OF the
Mexican war, from Its provisions and benefits.
This amendment excited the ire of Senators of Con-
federate ap!ecedents Mr. ShaTdler was Sit sitting
New Hampshire, who was in the gallery, sent to
him his card upon which was written: " There
isn't a man of you ALL dares call Jefferson Davis
traitor" The Senator looked up and nodded to his
friend and soon after arose and said: Twenty
years ago. l, in company with Mr. Jefferson DAVIS,
stood up in this chamber, and, with him, swore by
Almighty God that would support the Consttu-
ton of the United States. He took the oath with
me TO be faithful to this Government During
fonr wears / sat in this body with Jefferson Davis
and saw the preparations gong on from day 10 day
for the overthrow of this Government with treason
in hs heart and perjury upon his lips he took the
oath TO sustain the Government that he meant TO
overthrow. Sir, there was method III this madness.
He in cooperation with other men from
his section, and in the Cabinet of MIR. Blu
al. fle
that was to follow. Your armies were scattered all
over this broad land, where they could not be used
in an oar d neeas were a snud "a
float them, where they could not be used to put
down a rebellion. Your Treasury was depleted
until your bonds bearing per cent interest, pay
able in CON- sold for IS cents the dollar for cur
rel { expenses, and no buyers were found. Prepare
tons were carefully made Your arms were sold
under an apparently innocent clause in the Army
bill providing that the Secretary OF War might, IN
his discretion, sell such arms as he deemed fit for
the Government to sell Sir, eighteen months later
| sat i'm this hall and listened to Jefferson Davis de-
liyernq his farewell address, informing US what
constitutional duties TO this Government were and
then he left, and entered rebellion to overthrow
the Government which he had sworn to serve. | re-
NAMED here, sir, during the whole of that terrible
rebellion. saw our brave soldiers by thousands-I
might almost say mlllions-as they passed on to the
theatre of saw their shattered ranks return
ing saw steamboat after steamboat and railroad
train after railroad train bringing back the wounded.
| was with my friend pointing 10 General Burnside)
when he commanded the Army Of the Potomac and
saw piles of legs and arms that would make hui
manity shudder. l saw the widows and orphans
made by this war. Mr.. President, | little thought
at that time that should live to hear in the Senate
of the United States eulogums upon Jefferson
Davis. am amazed to hear them; and / tell
gentlemen on the other side that they little
know the spirit of the North when they, come here
at tubs day with bravadO on their lips uttering
eulogies upon him whom every man, woman aud
child III the North believes to have been double
dyed traitor"
Mr. Chandler died in the harness. On Friday
evening last he addressed the Republicans of Chi
cago with all his old fire and earnestncss, partcn-
larry dwelling upon the topic OF the rebel claims.
and fully discussing the question of State SOW
ereignty. There was something melancholy in the
way Ia which he said of the old Republican party /:
" Ne are not going TO die yetn Those who Ian phed