Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-07-05
FOR vICE-PREsIDENT.

-
General Chester A. Arthur, the Re-
publican candidate for vice-president,
was born in Fairfield, Vermont, in Oc-
tober, in 1880. His father, Rev. Will
liam Arthur, was Baptist clergyman.
We we'll remember him as next-door
neighbor in our boyhood. in the town
of Waterville, Lamoille county. He
came to that locality from the adjoining
town of Bakersfield, we believe, but had
previously resided in Burlington, Jer-
icho, and perhaps other places in YER
mont. J. H. Bostwick, Esq. of Mont
peller was pupil of his at Burlington,
and well recollects his officiating as
toast master on the memorable occasion
of Lafayette's visit to that place. Prior
to his labors in Waterville he belonged
to the Free Will Babtist denomination,
but while there he united with and was
ordained by the Calvinist Baptists.
Finely educated and overhowing with
genuine Irish wit, "Elder Arthur"
proved anything but comforter to his
opponents in those days when sectarian
controversy ran high. The mother of
General Arthur was Scotch lady whom
his father married in Waterloo, P. O.,
before coming to the States. Soon after
1880, Mr. Arthur removed to the neigh
borhood of Troy. New York, where he
remained until his death, some five or
six years since.
General Arthur received an excl
lent education, graduating from Union
college with high honors in the class of
'48. Completing his law studies, he
was admitted to the bar in 1850, when
he removed to New York and entered
upon the practice of the law, which he
has since followed with distinguished
success save when called to fill respon-
sible civil or military positions. Two
of the most noted achievements af Mr..
Arthur's professional life will greatly
commend him to the confidence and sup
port Of people who have just paid SO
much blood and treasure for the rich
boon of universal liberty. His first
great case was the we'll 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 New York city. Lem
mon had incautiously been passing
through New York with his slaves. in
tending 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
Virginia directed its attorney-general to
appeal from Judge Paine's decision.
The legislature of New York responded
to the challenge by requesting the gov
ernor to employ counsel to defend the
case. Mr. Arthur was appointed. He
associated with himself William nj.
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 slave
holder dared venture into New York
; state with his slaves. Even as late as
1856 colored people were not permitted
to ride on the street cars in New York
city. Lizzie Jennings, colored We
man of excellent character, superinten-
| dent of Sunday-schoof was roughly
e expelled from a Fourth avenue car be-
: cause she was black. She brought
suit against the railroad company, and
I applied to Mr. Arthur for advice. He
e accepted charge Of the case. and man
aged it before Brooklyn court. The
n jury gave verdict of $500 damages in
IS favor of the colored woman. The $500
was paid by the railroad company; and
e henceforth colored people ride without
question on the cars of all the street lines
J in New York. All these events led to
q the formation of the Republican party
e in which Mr.. Arthur took a prominent
IS part.
e During the war good service was
!, rendered by Mr.. Arthur. January l,
e 1861, he was appointed engineer-in-
= chief by Governor Morgan of his state.
g January 27. 1862, he was appointed
e acknowledgement on Governor Nor
;e gan's staff. November 20, 1871, he
=. was appointed collector of the port of
E, New York by President Grant, to sue
e ceed Thomas Murphy, and was reap
n pointed in December, 1875. He was
is removed by President Hayes, July II,
e 1879, despite the fact that two special
1t committees made searching investigation
n into his administration. and reported
b themselves unable to find anything upon
r which to base chargd against him.
e In their pronuuciamentos announcing
II the change both President Hayes and
Secretary Sherman bore official witness
n to his integrity while in office Sep
is tember Is, 1879, he was elected chair
D. man of the Republican state committee.
a IL was LARGELY due tn his skilifuI man