New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-09

| in 1865 the business was continued by Mr.. Arthur
! alone In the year 1871, in company with Ben
| jamin K Phelps. the Distrct-AttOmey, he formed
the firm Of Arthur, Phelps Knevals & Ransom.
Mr. Arthur's first great case was the well-knOwn
suit of Jonathan Lennon, of Virginia, to recover
possession of eight slaves that had been declared
free by Judge Paine, of the Superior Court of this
city. Lennon had incautOusly been passing
through New-York with his slaves. intending
to ship them to Texas when they were discovered
and freed by order Of Judge Paine. The Judge was
of the opinion that the Fugitive Slave law
did not hold these slaves. The State Of Vlr-
ginia directed its Attorney General to appeal from
Judge PaIne's decision The Legislature of this
State responded TO the challenge by requesting the
Governor TO employ counsel To defend the case. f.
ID. Culver and Joseph Blunt were appointed. After
ward they Withdrew and Mr.. Arthur was appointed
He associated with himself William VI. Evarts, and
argued the case before the Supreme Court. That
Court sustained Judge Paine's decision. The case
was then appealed to the Court of Appeals There
also the Judgment of Judge Paine was affirmed
and henceforth no STAKEHOLDER dared venture into
New-York State with his slaves This was not the
sole case III which Mr.. Arthur busted himself in be-
half of the slaves.
Even a. late rs 1856 cOlOred people were not per-
mtted to ride on the Fourth Avenue street cars.
Lizzie Jennings, a cOlored woman of excellent
character, superintendent Of a Sunday school.
roughly expelled from a Fourth Avenue car
because she was black She brought Il suit against
the railroad company. and applied to Mr.. Arthur
for advice. Ee accepted charge Of The case,
and managed it before Judge Rockwell
in Brooklyn Court. The jury gave YER
dict of 5000 damages in favor of tho col
Orcd woman. The $500 was paid bv the
railroad company and henceforth coOred people
ride without question on the of all the street
lines in New-York. All these events led to the
formation of the Republican party in this State. IN
winch Mr.. Arthur took prominent part.
during the war great service Tor the Government
was rendered by Mir. Ar hur.
On January l., 1861, he was appointed
EnGncer-ln,ChCf bv Governor Morgan OF this
in the equipment Of the Volunteers Of his State for
tine war. Upon January 81. 1862. IN honor nf these
services, he was appointed observation-disclosures
on GOy, rnOr MUrgans stan. Here he again worked
with great energy TO forward troopc to the seat OF
war
IIr took great interest in politics and gradually
became one of the leaders OF the Republican party
was appointed COLLECTOR of the Port by
President Grant 10 succeed Thomas Murphy.
lron the expiration of his fonc years term. 50 ac-
ccptably had r iillcd the posi-, that lie WAS reap
pointed III December, 1910. Tie npInhai !on
this time was unanimously cotlrnrd
by the Senate without reference 10 Il
committee aS usual. This WIZ u nigh compliment,
usually reserved for rX-SrnItofS. On july u,
IN7o h. WIS ,urccrncd by Collector Merritt
pom = ptcnbrr II, 1879. lac was elected Chair
man Of the Republican state Committee. II was
toe campaign WAS such successful ono
all tnr Erprblran ,candidai"S tor Statr
"inrr;, hrl"@ elected Mr. ATthurs wir. a TrrV
c-tunahlr w"Lau-ihc daughter of Captain Hem
don, WHO va, iOst on tie CrLtI"l Amctrt-'lI'd III
tin, cry dGrug the past Winter She hau two
cIIldrru, VINO ar" both living.