The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-19

dent Arthur and ex-President Grant accom-
panied the funeral train to Washington. He
then assumed the duties of President. serving
until his successor WAS qualified. March 4. 1885:
AS Vice president General Arthur occupied the
anomalous and almost unprecedented position
Of balance of power in q tied Senate. During
the long and weary session he was always at his
post, as indeed from party necessity, he must
be. and his casting vote gave the Republicans
the organization of Senate committees, and
would have given them also the officers of the
Senate but for the tactical opposition which
STAYED off vote.
His services and career as President are fresh
in the minds of the people. Succeeding to the Office
when public opinion wasin a state OF the greatest
turmoil, he so managed the affairs OF his great
Office as to conquer the respect OF the whole peo-
pie. He was a candidate for the nomination be-
fore the Chicago convention of 1884. but ac-
count of the stubbo IN action of the EdmuHds
men and the weakness of his administration,
politically regarded, he failed, and the failure
seemed to work the beginning of the end of both
his public life and public interest
After his retirement from the presidency he
went back ostensibly to his law practice though
it was evident shat he was broken in health and
spirits. From that time he never regalned his
wonted vigor and though making a manly hight
for life. he was unequal to the task, aud passed
away at 500 yesterday morning. aged ffty-six
years. month and thirteen days. His sou.
Chester Allan was graduated from Princeton
IOileR0 u year ago, anu Is uOW u SCudoHb al VIC
Columbia Law School. His practical training
has been in the law Office of Knevals 81 Ransom,
the firm of whieh~the ex-Preeident was mem
ber
When. by the shooting of President Garfield,
it became probable that General Arthur would
be called to the Presidency. a question was
sprung whether he was not native of Canada.
it having been said by some that he was born
there and not at Fairfield, VT. gentleman
who was intimate with him from childhood re-
late kho fo1ln xxysr, ra;sa hiCe
at WAS started by set of men who happened
to hear that General Arthur named after
friend of his father who was q doctor in FAIR
field, VT These people went Co work and found
that this doctors name was Chester Abel, and
consequently came to the conclusion that zen.
Chester Alan Arthur, which is the Vice presi
dents full name, could not have been born in
Vermont as it was admitted that his parents
only had one son named after his fathers friend.
It appeared perfectly clear to these people,
therefore, that If General Arthurs parents only
had one son who was named after the physician
friend of the father Of the Vice president that
son must have been called Chester Abel
Arthur. But those who prosecuted their in
vestigations thus far should have gone further.
They assumed too much. Because General Ar
thurs name is Chester Alan Arthur. and not
Chester Abel Arthur, it does not follow that he
was not named after his fathers friend. The
fact of the matter is that the Vice president was
named Chester after the Doctor and Alan after
a relative, his grandfather. l think. He COM
bined these two names, instead of being called
Chester Abel Arthur. There are number OF
cases to which such combinations CT names are
given. and it cannot be said to have been strange
in the of the Vice president. 1t was a
usual thing to do"
An incident o: his experience as Quartermas-
ter general Of New York is told by a friend to
show that, in addition to energy, foresight and
scrupulous integrity. he possessed courage and
great determination In the early days of his
occupancy of the Office the city was full of COLO
nels, majors and captains in dazzling uniforms.
who had taken advantage of the authority given
By Congress to recruit and organize independent
commands for service In the armies of the
United States. These newly hedged sol
diers. whose commands were more or
less mythical, in many instances refused to
acknowledge the authority of the State officers.
Prominent among the men of this class was
BILLY" Wilson, formerly emigrant runner, a
volunteer fireman. and a man of somewhat I'M
enviable notoriety. HW had obtained authority
from Washington to organize regiment of zou
ayes. Hundreds of men of his own stamp vol
unteered to serve under him. They were un-
willing to accept the government ratIons. and
complaints to raids bv them upon restaurants
and liquor saloons reached General Arthur's head
quarters. General Arthur, by direction of Gov.
Morgan, sent for Wilson, and requested him to
prevent his men from making these raids. Will
son, it is said coolly informed General Arthur
that he was colonel in the United States army,
and that he did not recognize the right of Gov.
ders
''You are not a colonel, sir" General Arthur
rejoined, "and you will not be until your reqi.
ment has been mustered into service and your
commission has beer issued"
WELL" Wilson replied. lat all events. have
my shoulder straps, and want no orders from
you or any other State official" He turned to
quit the room, but General Arthur sprang for
ward. saying "lnl make short work of your
shoulder straps. then!" and tore Wilson's shout
der straps from his shoulders, and put HIM under
arrest. The sequel of this episode was that Gov.
Morgan, at General Arthur's instance petitioned
Congress that the authority TO raise independent
regiments be no longer conferred upon individ-
uals. The petition was granted.
In july 1862, General Arthur was invited to
be present at a meeting Of Governors in the city
of New York, held for the purpose of discussing
measures whereby the Union armies could be
kept with full ranks and 1t is said. he was the
only person present who was not Governor. In
the same year he was on duty the staff of
Major-general Hunt, in the Army of the Poto-
mac, as inspector of New York troops in the field