Democratic messenger., 1881-09-24
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
Sketch of Chester Allan Arthur.

neaJO OF OeDeral UaIuelu, tue OODSiIIu-
ton providing that the duties of the Of
fee shall devolve upon the Vice Pres-
dent in the event Of the removal of the
President by death. resignation or ina
bility to perform the duties OF his office
The man who was thought worthy of
this high office, with all its possibilities,
is Chester Allan Arthur.
Mr.. Arthur is by birth Vermonter
and of Irish pareutage. William Ar
thur. his father, came from BaIlymena,
County Antrim. He was educated at
Belfas. College and when he was eigh.
teen years of age he came to this coun-
try and became Baptist clergyman -
He was a man of learning and disiinc-
ton. The mother of Mr. Arthur. NAL
vina Stone, was native of this country.
Mr.. Arthur was boz n at Fairfield, Frank
lin county VT, October 5, 1880. His
education was principally acquired at
the grammar school of Schenectady y
and Union College, from which instl,u-
tion he graduated in 1S4S His father
was no richer than other members of his
profession. aud Mr.. Arthur was obliged
to earn much of the money necessary to
pay bis expenses by teaching school -
After graduating he studied law in that
home OF great lawyers. Ballston Springs.
During this studentship also he taught
school. He was admitted to the bar in
| 1852. and became the law partner of
Judge E. d Culver, of Brooklyn, New
York, who in his day was q mau of con-
siderable note, having served for time
as Minister to one of the South Ameri
can States. The firm lasted five years,
when Mr. Arthur formed partnership
with friend, Henry d. Gardner. the
new firm starting out together to fiud a
place to practice in the West. This was
an unsuccessful attempt aud the firm
finally went back to New York. where
Mr.. Arthur has lived ever since, known
to the community somewhat as lawyer,
but chiefly as a local leader OF the Re-
publican party.
Two of the most notable causes 10
which Nc. Arthur participated 10 pro
fessional way had connection with the
colored race The first was the celebra
ted Lennon suit. The I.emmons. it
will be recollectcd. we're Virginia slave
holders. In 1852 they went to New
York with eight slaves, intending to
take steamer for Texas On writ of
babeas corpue Judge Paine liberated
their slaves, aud the Attorney General
of Virginia and Charles O'Conor, paid
their counsel fees by the State of Fir.
gipia. took 40 appeal. Opposed to them
were Wm. M. Evarts. assisted by Ches-
ter A. Arthur The slave holders were
again beaten and the eight slaves were
set free. The second case arose in 1856.
Lizzie Jennings, respectable colored
woman, was elected from car Oh the
Eourth Avenue Street Railroad. Suit
was brought for damages and Mr.. Ar
thur appeared for the colored woman aud
won the case, and his victory opened all
the cars of New York city to the colored
people.
During the war Mr. Arthur served on
the staff of Governor L. d. Morgan, for
the most of the time as quartermaster
general. 1t was this connection which
introduced Mr.. Arthur into politics.
After the war his law practice was Of
that peculiar kind which consists largely
in looking after matters of legislation
This work made him more aud more fa-
miliar with the habits of politicians. He
sooU had a wide acquaintance, mainly,
however. among the public men Of New
| York.
He was very young when he became
power in the politics of New York
City. He was always friend of the
men who now compose what is known
as the stalwart wing of the Republican
party. Tom" Murphy was hrs con-
stant political associate while the Tweed
ring was 10 its glory, aud he has always
| been and is now one of the chief adhsr-
ents Of Ex Senator Conkling. He has
always been among them in power in
bis party. an iudefatigable, shrewd work.
er. skilful organizer of the party una
chine.
1t was some time after be had become
one of the most reliable conductors Of
the "machine" that be was called to bis
first Federal Office His appointment as
Collector of the Port of New York was
a grievoes disappointment to the COM
mercial community. although he was
pretty generally accepted as an improve
ment on his predecessor, Mr.. Murphy.
Mr.. Arthur, outside of political circles,
was an unknown man. His law prac-
tice had not taken him into the courts
and in politics he had remained out of
sight as a manipulator of the puppets -
His appointments were made, as all ap-
pointments we're made at that time, in
strict accordance with the rules of the
"spcils system Roscoe ConkIing was
the favorite Senator from New York,
and General Grant appointed to the
chief political Office of the State the man
whom Roscoe Conkln relied upon as the
captain of the hosts that upheld him 10
power. The assertion was made at the
time that he was an able lawyer and a
man Of remarkable executive ability.
He took bis office Decem ber u. 1871.
The abuses in the New York Custom
House were so gross under his predeces
sor, Murphy. and the couseo ueDt outcrv