The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-02

He was found few hours later dead in bed. the
body still warm.
The life of Mr. Chandler naturally divides itself
into two parasitic first entirely commercial and
the second entirely political. As a merchant. hav-
ing fought has way up from obscurity and poverty
to the possession of fortune which amounts to
several million dollars. his career stands without
spot or bemish As politician there will be differ
ences OF opinion in regard to him. but will
question his personal integrity He bitter.
unrelenting partisan, but he never made his par
tisanship source Of pecuniary profit to him
self. Among his admirers he was known
as "honest Zach Chandler" and his
bitterest political opponents will not question
or throw doubt upon the purity of his life in this
respect His political methods will of course be
condemned for he was stalwart Of the stalwarts.
and hesitated at nothing that in the least
lated to advance the interests of his party. Mr..
Chandler was by birth New Highlander.
having been born at Bedford. N. H. De-
ccmper 10. 1913. In the seni-oficia sketches
OF public men which are published at
Washington, we told that he received an
academic cuucaton, and. at an early period in life.
seeing opportunity OF advancement in his native
East at that time. red with ambition to try his
fortunes in the West, he went to Michigan. The
ceived trifing sum 81 money from Franklin Pierce
which became the foundation OF his fortune:
tSsrs At the Time MT an tssS
ing port. year before he born
it was surrendered by General Hull to the British
who, however. evacuated it a few months later. To
use Western phrase. he grew up" with the city.r
He honest industrious. frugal enterprising and
in 1850 he occupied the position of the foremost
merchant of Detroit the head of the firm OF Zach.
Chandler Co. His real estate speculations in
the infant city, which were heavy and successful.
contributed in u large degree toward his financial
success. VI
finp IN nyis thar r,OFN Now
Hampshire represented the State in the United
States Senate. His political rule supreme. not
only in Detroit but i'll Michigan, OF which he
the Governor long before Young Chandler left New
England. Mr.. Chandler whig. and OF course
son and the ex-candidate for the Presidency.
In 1851 lie became candidate for Mayor of Detroit,
wing ticket the city for the first time voting in op-
position to the wishes OF the great democratic
leader of the West. The victory was significant
one. and marked the beginning Of the political
downfall Of Mr.. and of the democratic party in
that State. MIR. Chandler Immediately became the
leader OF the opposition to the Cass democracy.
The struggle which followed was a desperate one,
but it finally ended in the election OF Mr. Chandler
to the Senate the winter 1867. the successor Of
his great opponent. Mr.. Cass subsequently served
in the Cabinet of Mr. Bucha,an Secretary OF State
but he never again held an elective Office in Mich
gan. He died in 1866 When Mr.. Chandler entered
the Senate he found Mr.. Breckenridge, the Vice
President, its presiding officer Mr. Orr. of South
erick. of California. took his seat the day.
Robert Toombs was there from Georgia and
p. benjamin and John Slidel represented Louis
lana; Jefferson Davis. Mssissippi Sumner and
Wilson. Massachusetts,: Andrew Johnson. Tennessee;
Benjamin F. Wade, Ohio; Fessenden and Hamlin,
Maine Hunter. Virginia; William H. Seward. New
York; SIMON Cameron. Pennsylvania. and John p.
Hale, New Hampshire. 1t was the Thirty-ffth Con-
gress, perhaps the ablest most brilliant OF all
Congresses since the foundation Of the government
fame and power. The South was represented and
defended by the ablest of its statesmen,
the most and fearless of all its LEADERS,
lie I'm in 81 IN in fhA IN har
They were able and skilled deDaters and thorough
pariiamentaraus. In addition. many of them
ern opponents. only, too really and willing
to continue in another way at Bladensburs
These were Mr. Chambers colleagues and
contemporaries. and from the very first he held at
rank among them. He could not. OF course. meet or
parry the rhetorical thrusts of Davis, but he was
more than q match for Toombs in Toombs pecu-
liar style. When he took his seat the exciting
topic Of discussion before the Senate and
the country was in regard to the admission
of Kansas under constitution winch protected
slavery. she measure having been argued by Presi-
dent Buchanan in his annual message. The repub-
lcan leaders in the Senate were of course solid in
opposition. The Southern men were violent and
abusive 1t that stormy period in the
politics OF ~. Washington n H. when the Dsringer
bate. The Southern men acted on the theory
that Northern men wouldnot fight. Understanding
the temper of the North and East regard to duel
ling they I'LL the more insolent and overbear-
ing. Mr. Sumner and Mr.. Seward known
r.
or two Others were the 1rst to disabuse the South
erners Of this non-hghting idea OF the North. 1t
s was 9 Nartb 'ssm that the violent
slavery champions should One day
the midst OF denunciatory TRADE Of the antislav
cry leaders small group OF the lately admitted
republican Senators was seen in consultation on
the floor Of the Senate. 1t composed of Mr..
Chandler. Mr.. Wade aud Mr.. Cameron. 1t was. says
writer who processes to have accurate information
the subject. then and there agreed that in the
event of q repetition of the insults TO leading
reyl tsh hQcn fha dufy nf pf
the three to espouse the quarrel of the offended Sem
ator and demand the satisfaction which the code
ton, was not only made, but it was put in writing
and formally sealed by the contracting parties The
import of the agreement soon become known, and
in u short time the demeanor of the Southern Sena-
tors underwent u complete change.
One of the hrst speeches of Mr.. Chandler in the
Senate was on March ~. 1858. while the Lecompton
constitution was under consideration. His argu-
ment was exceedingly strong, as will be seen from
the following extract. He said:-"I shall oppose
this bill for the following reasons First, because
the whole matter was conceived and executed
in fraud; second. because this constitution
does not emanate from the people of Kan
Territory or express their will; third, be-
OF the slave power. which. IL permitted to be con-
summated. must end in the subversion OF the con-
stitution and the Union; and fourth. because it
strikes death blow ut State sovereignty and popular
rights" year later another measure In the in
terest Of the slave power the acquisition of Cuba
course. found in the opposition. 1t is need
less to say that owing to the hos
tility OF the small band or republicans with
whom Mr.. Chandler acted Kansas not admitted
with slave constitution and Cuba not ac-
CURED When the Southern Senators left the Senate
and the rebellion came Mr.. Chandler gave the ad-
ministraticn of Mr. Lincoln the most vigorous
port If he originated no great measures made no
great speeches his votes always on the side OF
determined prosecution OF the war In all that
hict he preferred to be follower rather than u
leader. even IL leadership had been within his grasp
There great service rendered by him, how
ever-namely, the originaton OF the Committee on
the Conduct of the War. Mr.. Chandler was really an
exceedingly modest man. and although the committee
appointed upon his suggestion. he declined the
honors of its Craftsmanship. and Mr.. Wade ap
pointed. He served simply as u member. At this
remote period 1t is difficult to conceive Of the value
of this committee In the struggle in which the
Republic then involved IL discovered the
weak points in military service 1t exposed the
dishonest contractors IL defeated the Vaccinations of
the opponents of the Union and OF the sympathizers
with the South. and shattered more than mill
tary reputation that deserved TO be shattered. 1t
was OF the greatest value to the administration and
to Mr.. Stanton in the ultimate suppression OF the
rebellion. Mr.. Chandler never wGvered in his allie