The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-10
Gen. Chester A. Arthur.

Gen. Chester A. Arthur.
The Candidate for the Vice-Presidency-
His Notable areer-Quartermaster-
General, and Collector Of the Port Of
| New York.
Gen. Chester A. Arthur was born
in Franklin County, VT, Oct. 5, 1880.
He is the oldest of u family of two
| sons and five daughters. His father
was the Rev. DR.. William Arthur, a
Baptist Clergyman, who emigrated to
this country from the County Antrim,
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, and
died Oct. "a, 1875, in Newtonville,
near Albany. Dr., Arthur was in many
respects a remarkable man. He ac-
qnired extended fame not only in his
calling, but als0 ibsstha damailas of
authorship. His work on " Family
Names" is regarded the world over
ae one of the curiosities of Englisl,
erudite literature. From 1855 to 1868
he was Pastor of the Cavalry Baptist
Church of New York City.
Gen. Arthur was educated at Union
College, and was graduated i'll the
Class of 40. After leaving college
he taught country school during
two years III Vermont, and then, hav-
ing managed by rigid economy to
save about $500. he started for New
York, and entered the law office of
ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student.
After being admitted to tile Bar, he
formed u partnership with his init
mate friend aud room mate, Henry
D.. Gardiner, with the intention of
practicing in the West, and for three
months they roamed about in the
Western States in search of an eligi-
BILE site, but in the end returned to
New York, where they hung out their
joint shingle, and entered upon a
successful career almost from the
start. Gen. Arthur soon afterwards
married the daughter of Lieutenant
Herndou, United States Navy, who
was lost at sea, and who calmly went
down to death smoking a cigar. Con-
gress voted a gold medal to his wiz
ow in recognition Of the conspicuous
bravery lie displayed ON that occa-
sion. Mrs. Arthur died only short
time ago.
In 1852, Jonathan and Juliet Lem
mon, Virgipian Shareholders, intend
ing to emigrate to Texas, came to
New York to await the sailing Of
steamer, bringing eight slaves with
them. The slaves on their arrival in
New York, finding that they were in
a land of liberty, abandoned their
master, claiming that they were free.
These slaves were advised that they
need not return ipto bondage, and a
noted lawsuit was the upshot. Arthur,
then a practiciDg lawyer, gained their
freedom on the ground that, as their
owners had brought them to free soil
voluntarily, they could not lie re-
claimed under the fugitive slave law.
Judge Paine rendered a decision
holding that they could not, aud or
dering the Lennon slaves to be lib
Grated. A howl Of rage went up from
the South, and the Virginia Legisla-
ture authorized the Attorney General
of that State to assist in taking an
appeal. VIM. NJ. Evarts and Chester
n. AItnuf We're eWptOyeO TO repre-
sent the people and they won their
case, which then went to the Supreme
Court Of the United States. Charles
O'Conor here espoused the cause of
the shareholders, but he was beaten,
and long step was taken toward the
emancipation OF the black race,~
Gen. ArthHr was delegate to the
Convention at Saratoga that founded
the Republican party. In 1861 he
held the post of Inspector General of
the State of New York, and soon
afterward was advanced to that Of
Quarfefmaster General, which he held
until the expiration of Gov. MorgaB's
term of office. No higher encominm
can be passed upon him than the
mention Of the fact that, although the
war account Of the State Of New York
was several times larger than that of
any other State, yet it was the first
audited and allowed in Washington,
aud without the deduction of a dollar.
During Gen. Arthur,s term of office
every present sent to him was insme-
diately returned. When Mr.. Arthur
became Qnarterlnaster General he Was