The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-06-23
WHOLE NO. l5ll.

the war of the rebellion. and is now
a Payinaster in the regular Army,
with the rank of Major
General Arthur was educated at
Union College. and was graduated
in the class of 40. After leaving
college he taught a country school
during two years in fremont, and
then, having managed by rigid
economy to save about $500, he
started for this city, and entered the
law office of cx-,Iudge f. ID. Culver
as a student. After being admitted
TO the Bar, he formed a partnership
with his intimate friend and room
mate, Henry ID. Gardner, with the
intention of practising in the West,
and for three months they roamed
about in the Western States in search
of an eligible site, but in the end re-
turned to this city, where they hung
out their joint shingle, and entered
upon successful career almost
from the start. General Arthur soon
afterward married the daugher Of
Lieutenant Herndon, United States
Navy, who was lost at sea, and who
calmly went down to death smok-
ing q cigar. Congress voted a gold
medal to his widow in recognition of
the conspicuous bravery ne display
ed on that occasion. Mrs. Arthur
died only short time ago.
In 1852, Jonathan and Juliet Lem
mon, Virginia slave holders, intend
ing to emigrate to Texas, came to
this city to await the sailing of
steamer, bringing eight slaves with
them. a writ of habeas corpus was
obtained from Judge Paine to test
the question whether the provisions
of the Fugitive Slave law were in
force in this State. Judge Paine
rendered decision holding that
they were not, and ordering the
Lennon slaves to be liberated.
Henry L. Clinton was one of the
counsel for the Shareholders. i howl
of rage went up from the South, and
the Virginia Legislature authorized
the Acknowledgement of that State to
assist in taking an appeal. William
NJ. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur
were employed to represent 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, too, was
beaten by Messrs. Evarts and Ar
thur, and long step was taken to-
wards the emancipation of the black
race. Another great service was
rendered by General Arthur in the
same cause in 1856 Lizzie Jen-
nings, a respectable co red woman,
was put off Il FOurtn-avenJe car
with violence, after she had p id her
fare. General Arthur sued n her
behalf, and secured a VT iict oi $500
damages. The next da the COM
pany issued an order To permit col
ored persons to ride on their cars,
and the other companies quickly
followed their example. Before that
the Sixth-avenue company ran a
few cars for colored persons, and the
other lines refused to let them ride
at all.
General Arthur was a delegate TO
the Convention at Saratoga that
founded the Republican party. Pre-
vious to the outbreak of the war he
was Judge Advocate of the Second
Brigade of the State Militia, and
Governor Edwin ID. Morgan, soon
after his Inauguration, selected him
to fill the position of Engineer-in-
Chief of his staff. In 1861 he held
the post of Inspector-General, and
soon afterward advanced to that of
Qurtermaster-General, which he held
until the expiration of Morgan's
term of office. No higher enconium
can be passed upon him than the
mention of the fact that, although
the war account of the State of New
York was at least ten times larger
than that of any other State, yet it
was the first audited and allowed in
Washington, and without the deduc-
ton of a dollar, while the Quarter
masters accounts from other States
were reduced from 100000 to
s10000,0O0. During his term of
office every present sent TO him was
Immediately returned. Among
others, a prominent clothing house
offered him a magnificent uniform,
and Il printing house sent him
costly saddle and trappings. Both
gifts were Indignantly rejected. When
Mr.. Arthur became Quartermaster-
General he was poor When his
term expired he was poorer still.
He had opportunities to make mill
lions unquestioned. Contracts larg-
er than the world has ever seen were
at his disposal. He had to provide
for the clothing, arming, and trans
portation of hundreds of thousands
of men. Speaking of him at this
period, 4 friend says so jealous
was he of his integrity that | have
known instances where he could
have make thousands of dollars
legitimately, and vet refused to do
so on the ground that he was a pub
lie officer and meant to be like
Casar's wife, above suspicion His
own words to me in regard to this
matter amply illuetrates his charae-
ter. If / had misappropriated D
cents, and on walking down town
saw two men talking on the corner
together, | would imagine they were
talking of my dishonesty, and the
very thought would drive me mad
At the expiration of Gov Morgan's
term, Gen. Arthur returned to his
law practice. Business of the most
lucrative character poured in upon
him, and the firm of Arthur & Gar
diner prospered exceedingly. Much
of their work consisted in the collec-
ton of war claims and the drafting
of important bills for speedy legisla-
ton, and a great deal of Gen. Arthur's
time was spent in Albany and
Washington, where his uniform sue
cess won for him a national reputa-
ton. For time he held the post
of counsel to the Board of Tax Com
missioners of this City, at $1,000
n 4