The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-19

Vermont; his father was a native of An
trim, Ireland. The future President was
born in Fairfield, Fairfax county, on the 9Th
day of October, 1880; consequently he was a
little over 56 years of age at the time of his
death. Mr.. Arthur's father, the Irish i'm
migrant, became Baptist clergyman of
considerable eminence, one of his charges
being Calvary Baptist Chuxch in New York
city. The Presidents early education was
acquired in the schools of Vermont; at the
age of 10 he entered Union College, at
Schenectady, n. Y, and graduated high in
his class in 1s49. During his college course
he helped defray his expenses by teaching
school; and it was by this means that he
raised The money necessary to enable
him to study law in the Office of ex-Judge
E. d. Culver, of New York city.
After his admission to the bar. Mr.. Arthur
formed a partnership with an intimate
FRIEND Henry d. Gardiner, and the two set
tied in New York after deciding that the
West offered no promising field for them.
Early in his professional career Mr.. Arthur
married Miss Herndon, daughter of a
naval officer She died in 1880. Though he
established goood practice soon after his
admission to the bar. it was not until 1852
that he became prominent. In that year
Jonathan Lemmons, Virginian. attempted
to take eight slaves through New York on
his way to Texas. A writ of hdbeas corpus
was obtained and they were liberated, Judge
Paine holding that they could not be held in
servitude in the State of New York nor re-
turned to it in the South under the provis-
ions of the fugitive slave law. The State of
Virginia took up the case and employed
Charles o. .Conor to argue the claims of the
Shareholders in a suit for the recovery of the
men. Mr.. Arthur was associated with Will
liam NJ. Eyarts in the defence, which they
made good in the court of first instance and
finally in the United States Supreme Court.
-Four years later Mr.. Arthur took up the
case Of Lizzie Jennings, negro girl who
was elected from street car in New York
city after she had paid her fare. He secured
damages for her. and after that the negroes
were never m0lested in New York street
cars. For years afterwards the negroes of
New York celebrated the anniversary of the
day on which this case was won.
A Wing follower of Henry Clay, Mr..
Arthur took an active interest in politics.
and was delegate to the Saratoga conven-
tion which founded the Republican party of
New York. Having also taste for military
affairs, he became Judge Advocat of the
Second Brigade of the State militia, some
time before the breaking out of the war.
During the war, as a member of Governor
IdOIRdll > Sttll. HIS StINlteS were SO lluc1
appreciated as an executive officer, especially
as Quartermaster General, that he was pre-
sent and consulted at a secret meeting of
loyal Governors" who met in 1862 to take
measures for providing troops.
AT the close of the war General Arthur re-
turned to the practice Of law, and also parti-
cipated actively in the politics of New York
city, where he acquired reputation as an
able organizer and manager. In 1871 Presi-
dent Grant appointed him Collector OF the
Dnr of Naxu a nacifinu IN MI ba
was re-app0inted in 1875. In 1878 he was sns-
pended from Office by President Haye for re-
fusing to resign his position as Chairman of
the Republican State Central Committee of
New York city in accordance with the direc-
tions of a circular in which Mr.. Hayes for
bade persons in the civil service OF the gov
ernment taking part in political management.
Mr.. Arthur, after his removal from the
collectorship, returned TO his law practice,
but when the National convention of 1880
assembled he was there, Stalwart leader
and an intimate associate of Roscoe Conk-
ling in the efforts to nominate General Grant.
The STORY of that convention is familiar
Garfield was nominated for President and
Arthur, as a New York man, was put in the
second place. The ticket was successful.
But before the end of the first year of his
term, the trouble arose with Conkling con-
cerning the New York appointments Mr..
Arthur lent his influence to the cause of his
old Stalwart associate; but when the death
of Garfield put the Vice President in the
chair, Mr.. Arthur became, in place of
factional chief, conservative and digniied
magistrate.
The years of his administration were un-
eyentful. The turbulent passions aroused
in the first year were quieted by the tragic
death of Garfield, and if Mr.. Arthur's term
is remarkable for anything it is for general
feeling of good will The civil service laws
WERE by his care, improved and their adj
ministration perfected. His most conspicn-
ous acts were the vetoes of the Chinese bill.
the River and Harbor bill, the act to revise
the tariff, and Mr. Pendleton's civil service
act. His clear head and resolute will in
sured him quiet and orderly administra-
tion. As the last of the uninterrupted line
of Republican successors to Abraham Lin
coin his party can look back to his admins
tration as period of most satisfactory
government.
In personal appearance Mr. Arthur was
fine looking man. His manners too were
such as TO make him very popular. He
leaves son and daughter.