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

seriOns embarrassment. That was IN 1885, aiter
the financial crash had destroyed the wildcat
banks IN the West He had given note for 30 60
Arthur Tappan g. Co., Of Eew-Y0rk, and could hoS
raise good money enough to pay 1t wren IL Iet ue'
Very sensitive on the roint of meeting his engage
ments he supposed On assignment was necessary
and called on James F. Joy, then young attorney
and afterward his counsel to draw up the papers.
low declined and urged Chandler to write to the
New-Yorl1 firm, explain his circumstances and ask
them TO renew the note. The advice was tolloWeo'
the note was readily renewed and paid At maturity
sneaking of this occurrence about two months be-
fore his death, Mr.. Chandler said that II 1t had
not been for that advice he might have been
clerk on salary all the rest of his life Says the
biography:
The great multitude who knew Mr. Chandler as p
public man knew nothing of this early chapter OF nusi
life. 1t wholly antedated ms appearance ~ 5ea
made themselves felt there and IN ms y9u tset
days We're %ide @aS Of business and az thorough
merchant developed in the West great trauS
1T ReoTe he had reached middle age he had
succoss in business and fortune Then ne entered
FIRST steps IN A POLITICAL CAREER.
The main facts in Mr.. Chandler's history after he
was elected to the Senate are familiar to every
body but much less is known Of his part in the OF
panizatIon of tho Republican party, and of his
sprang full-armed from the heart and brain Of the
people of the North. Prior to 1854 Chandler was
an Anti-Savery Wing After his business pros
perty wns secured he began TO take an active share
IN the local work of the Wing party, making his
maiden speech in 1913 Michigan was at that
time strong Democratic State, completely under
the sway of General Lewis Cas-, and for young
man to Join any other than the Democratic party
was seemingly to put himself beyond the hope OF a
public career. The rising merchant attended the
Wing meetings and served upon the Wing local
committees but never allowed himself to be nom
mated for any office until 1851, when his party put
him OH its ticket for Mayor of Detroit Then he set
70 work and organized his first political battle with
characteristic thoroughness. making a personal
canvass of every ward He led his ticket 400 votes,
and was elected. In 1852 the Wings ran him for
/ Governor but the Democratic hold on the State,
which had never but once been broken-ln 1S4O-
was still firm. and he was beaten. 1t was the
Presidential year, but ChandlePs personal popu-
larity carried him nearly thousand votes ahead
of General Scott. Robert McClelland was the
Democratic nominee for Governor and the Free
Sellers who had vigorous little organization IN
Michigan, ran Isaac r. Christiancy. Mr. Chambers
strong anti-slayery sentiments had not yet turned
him away from his old party attachments. Like
Horace Greeley he supported the Wing Presidential
ticket and "spat upon the platform" The follow
ing year the Wing party in Michigan performed its
last conspicuous act before giving mp the ghost by
supporting Chandler as its candidate for the
Senate.
Mr. Chambers hostility to slavery went beyond
n mere sentiment. Detroit WAS the chief terminus
Of the Underground Railroad" and the prosper
Gus merchant was regular and liberal contributor
to the fund for operating the line. An attempt to
carry back to slavery a family that had escaped
from Kentucky and settled near Detroit aroused
his vigorous opposition. He aided in battling tho
slave-catchcrs and IN getting the poor negroes safe
~ across into Canada. and Afterwards pad large
sum to iuht in tn" courts 70 sui Drought ny the
owner against Of ne persons who had resisted
their agents lie lad no patience WIN the pro-
slavery religion Of the day. One OF his cnsiOneIs
went with him to church one Sunday, and heard
sermon that had an evident prt-slayory ilaVor to-
lowed by prayer hY q visiting clergyman, who
invoked the divine blessing on the dOwn-troddcn
and the oppressed. At the conclusion of the ser
vices Mr.. Chandler went up TO the pulpit and SAID
To the visitor who had prayed. Thank yon Tor
that prayer. Il was all heard this morning that
worth hearing"
EIRTH or THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Events we're ripe III 1891 Tor the organization Of
new party 10 oppose the aggressiOns of the slave
power. Many meetings we're held in Michigan in
the Winter of that year TO denOuncc tho Kansas
Nebraska Act. 81 one Of these meetings, held in
Detroit Mr. Chandler was among the speakers
Through The Spring many conferences, in which he
shared were held among the representative men of
the Wings Free Sellers aud AntI-NebraSka Demo-
Gratis 20 discuss tho feasibility of union. The Free
Sellers put mp state ticket, which they called tho
Free Democratic ticket, but declared their wiling
ness to Withdraw it m order to form a more power
ful organization. Tho result was tho famous I'm
der the Oaks" Convention at Jackson, on the 9Th
Of July, where new party was formed and
christened Republican" The honor of bestowing
this name is accorded to Horace Greeley, who, in
letter to Joseph Warren one of the leaders OF tie
new movement, received by HIM two days before
the convention assembled, suggested the title Re-
publican. Mr.. Warren gave this letter to Jacob NJ.
Howard the chairman Of the Committee on
Resolutions, and the namo was adopted IN
the platform. Mr.. Chandler made q strong
speech to tho Convention, and Immediately
stepped into the front rank of the leaders
of the new party. Michigan was royolutionized at
once, the Republicans electing in the ensuing No
Yemher their Governor. majority in the LeglSa-
ture and three out OF the tour congressman From
that day this the State has failed TO go
Republican at a general election. 1t is curious
fact showing the strong material OF which the
Jackson convention was composed. that every Gov
ernOr chosen since, savo Henry H. Crapo, who die
not settle I'm Michigan until 1886, ana every Sena
tor save Thomas w. Ferry. who had then barely at
tanned his majority was present at that great gath
eriug under the Oaks."
During the Kansas excitement Mr.. Chambers for
chile, earnest speeches aided in lntensltylng the
feeling against fastening slavery on tho West by
Federal bayOncts. He subscribed $4,000 in aid Of
the struggling Free State men. After Sumner was
assaulted BY Brooks in the Senate he said IN %
speech in Detroit. had been on the floor of the
Senate when that assault occurred, help me God,
that rulfian's blood would have flowed" Mr..
Chandler was member of the Pittsburg Conven-
ton, held on the ODD of February, 1856, which pro-
vided the Republican party with National Organ-
izntOn, and he was u delegate to the philadelphia
Convention the same year which nominated John
G.. Fremont for the Presidency. William l.. Dayton
was put on the ticket for Ylce-Presldent, but Mr.
their
Abraham Lincoln.
CHOSEN A UNITED STATES SENATOR.
Mr.. ChandeTs vigorous efforts in the Fremont
campaign designated him az the leading candidate