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 LINC« >LN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 the Class of 1901 
 
 founded by 
 
 HARLAN HOYT HORNER 
 
 and 
 
 HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER 
 
 m 
 
 m
 
 , ->-/// /
 
 AX ACCOUNT 
 
 PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Salmon Portland Chase 
 
 ROBERT B. WARDEN. 
 
 =#= 
 
 '// does not astonish me that some good men consider me an enigma." 
 
 Chin Justice Chase to lfiv. Me. Kla.nchabd. 
 
 =$<" 
 
 CINCINNATI . 
 
 WILSTACH, BALDWIN & CO., 
 
 1874.
 
 .Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 187-1, 
 
 By WILSTACH, BALDWIN & CO., 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C 
 
 stereotyped -at 
 
 Franklin Type Foundry, 
 
 cincinnati.
 
 2? 
 
 OQ/Y\ 
 
 Chief Justice Waite 
 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 Acquainted with your virtues, long familiar with your learning 
 
 and ability, and very proud of your esteem, I venture to inscribe to you, without 
 
 your knowledge, this account of the private life and public services of your 
 
 illustrious predecessor. That the work which takes this liberty is markedly 
 
 imperfect, no one can perceive more clearly than I ; but, in spite of its defects, 
 
 I am cpuite certain that at least to readers such as you, it must appear inspired 
 
 by no unworthy object. Would that it were worthier of its design ! 
 f — > 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 R. B. WARDEN. 
 
 Washington, 187-!.
 
 TABLE OF CONTEXTS. 
 
 Introduction 11 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 About the Town of Cornish and the Chases — Ancestral Relations 18 
 
 Cornish did not really Secede — No Secessionism in the Hero's Blood — He 
 never a Secessionist — Ithamar, his Father, and Janette, his Mother — Eng- 
 lish Lineage and Scotch Lineage — Sandie Ralston and his Wife, Jennie, 
 nee Balloch — New England Manners — Ton and Type — Heredity. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The Hero's Earliest Recollections 33 
 
 The Trowbridge Letters — French Refugees — The Pedagogic Sister — Sights 
 and Sounds — Schooling — Betty Marble — Ithamar, the Tavern Keeper and 
 Distiller — Party Politics — Mother Wit and other Wit of the Hero — Mem- 
 orizing — The Way to Wealth — The Boy as Father to the Man. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A Farther Study of the Hero's Early Life — Foreshadowixgs 45 
 
 Sickness in Infancy — The Good Sister — Aspects of Cornish — The Connecti- 
 cut River — Views of Keene — The Switzerland of America — Windsor — 
 Chase's Life almost Nomadic — More about the Hero's Father — Death of 
 the Latter — Grace and Betty Marble — Music — More about the School Life 
 of the Hero — Warning against Intemperance. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 First Sojourn in the Ohio Country 64 
 
 Accounts of the Ohio Country — Excursions in New Hampshire — Journey to 
 Ohio — Indians — Niagara Falls — Lake Erie — The Ferry-boy at Cleveland — 
 Riding and Tying — Through the Forest — Arrival at Worthington — Phi- 
 lander Chase, the Bishop — Life at Worthington — The Pigeon Roost. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 At Worthington with Bishop Chase 76 
 
 More about the Bishop — More about Life at Worthington. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 At Worthington with Bishop Chase, and thence to Cincinnati 83 
 
 At School and on the Farm — The Shaving of the Pig with Cousin Chase's
 
 VI CONTENTS. 
 
 Razors — More Ways than One of Doing a Thing — " Call me a Yankee again 
 and I'll kick you " — Kicking — School-Fellows at Wovthington — Charles D. 
 Drake— Religious Life — The "Darned Old Tyrant"— Hard Times— To 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 At Cincinnati for the First Time 93 
 
 Cincinnati College — Dr. Slack and the Calf — Courage — Physical and Moral 
 — " I shall not tell " — Severe Restraint —Topography of Cincinnati — Society 
 — Blacks in the Cincinnati Valley — Dr. Drake's Account of Cincinnati Life. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Return to New England — At Dartmouth College 105 
 
 Incidents of Travel — Mud Gods — At Home Again — School Teaching— Prep- 
 aration for College— At Royalton — Admirable Letters of the Hero's Mother 
 — Admission as Junior at Dartmouth — College Life — Rebellion. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Chase at Washington — The Wirt Family — Making Verses 118 
 
 Leaving Home — The Wide. Wide World — At Frederick City — At Washing- 
 ton for the First Time — School Teaching and Law Studies — Uncle Dudley 
 and the Clerkship — Mr. Plumley — The Wirts — Mrs Admiral Golds- 
 borough — Agnes Wirt — The Russian Count — -Translating — Aspects of the 
 Capital — Journey Northward and Return — Verse-Making. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Washington in 1827,1828, 1829, and 1830 146 
 
 Presidential Levees — Mrs. Eaton — Jackson — Henry Clay — Anecdote of 
 John Adams — Jefferson's Daughter— Methodists — More about the Wirts. * 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Legal Studies — Admission to the Bar — Farewell to Washington 164 
 
 Legal Reading — Daniel Webster — Life, Law, and Language the Proper 
 Studies of a Legist — More about the Wirts — Admission to the Bar — Another 
 Warning against Intemperance — Jackson and Adams — Van Buren — Judge 
 Burnet. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 From Washington to Cincinnati — Cincinnati in 1830 182 
 
 Stage Travel and Travel by Steamboat— General Tipton and Self-Teaching 
 — Description of Cincinnati by Chase — Religious Convictions — Flirtation 
 — Anecdotes — The First Client — John Young — The Longworths — Play- 
 ing Poet. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 The Hero as Lecturer and Essayist — Miscellany 197 
 
 The Cincinnati Lyceum and the Mechanics' Institute — The Cincinnati 
 American — Lectures and Editorials — False Idea as to Merit and Success —
 
 CONTENTS. Vll 
 
 Brougham — Effects of Machinery — Society — Economic Studies — Smith and 
 Say— The Flood of 1832. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Law and Love — Miss Garniss — Progress 214 
 
 Chase and Calhoun — Wirt's View of Secession — The Cincinnati American 
 — McDuffie — Nullification — Chase as a Clay Whig — Judge Walker and 
 Judge Hall — Sickness of the Hero — Agriculture and Religion — Miss Garniss 
 — Dr. Lyman Beecher — Self-Accusation — Sabbatarian Views — Working on 
 a Law Book — More about Miss Garniss — Business and Courtship. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Retrospect — Comparison of Chase and Wirt — Wirt's Death — Chase's First 
 
 Marriage 231 
 
 Letter from Wirt to Chase — Wirt's Presidential Candidature — Anti-Masonry 
 — Kennedy, Wirt, and Chase — Chase's Intention to Write a Life of Wirt — 
 Suggestions as to Biography in General and as to this Biography in Partic- 
 ular — Surviving Relatives of Famous Men — The Wirt Family, and Ken- 
 nedy's Life of its Head — Chase as a "Literary Lawyer" — The First Wife 
 of the Hero as described by him — The Hero a Right Lover — His First 
 Marriage — His High Standing as a Lawyer — A Characteristic Letter, 
 declining an Employment — Chase and Nicholas Longworth. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Chiefly Political — McLean and Harrison — Professional Progress — The 
 
 First Child...., 246 
 
 Appearance and Deportment of McLean — His Character and Powers — Char- 
 acteristics of Harrison — The " Jackson Party " — Chase as a Clay Whig — 
 Judge Hall and Judge Wright — Edward Everett — Sam. F. Vinton — Chase's 
 Regard for Calhoun — Material Prosperity and Economic ProspectSr— Birth 
 of the First Daughter. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The Hero's Greatest Sorrow — Unexpected Death of the First Wife 253 
 
 Sorrow's Works and the Works of Joy — Wirt's Great Sorrow — Broken 
 Hearts and Hearts that can not Break — The Burr School and the Wirt 
 School — Trojans and true Greeks — Hearts that can Weep and be Brave — 
 Some Views of Lessing — Kitty's Illness — Bleeding — Doctors Differ — Daniel 
 Drake — A Victim to the Healing Art — Justice to Dr. Drake — His Devotion 
 to his Views of Duty — A Domestic Tragedy — Return Home — Home Desolate 
 — Love and Death — A Grief that can not be Persuaded that it is Weakness 
 to Mourn and Wisdom to Enjoy — The Hero a true Greek — "Pensez d moi " — 
 "Yes ! I will think of thee as long as I live" — The Boy David — Sorrowing 
 and Toiling — More about the Revelations of this Volume and its Objects — 
 A Strange History — About the Use of Certain Matter in this Work — Con- 
 sultation with Chase on that Subject. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Sorrowing and Toiling — Private Life and Life in Public 277 
 
 Sabbath-schools — Distraction in Church — Religious Meditation — Self-re-
 
 Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 proach — Domestic Afflictions — Prosecution of a criminal case — Chase, Read, 
 Benham. Fox— "Repetitionary" speaking — Visits toaGrave — Reminiscences 
 of the Lost One — Political possibilities— Letter of Condolence from Mrs. 
 Wirt— The Little One— The Matilda case — Dr. Townshend— Chase not an 
 Abolitionist in 1838 — An important communication to the Cincinnati Gazette. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Second Wife — Deatii of the First Daughter — Birth of the Second 
 
 Daughter — Other Matters 286 
 
 Family Memoranda — Miss Eliza Ann Smith — The Second Marriage of the 
 hero — Death of the first child — Sunday-school and Church — Urban Politics 
 — Chase as a Councilman — Xot happy as a Politician — Gen. Harrison and 
 Dr. Bailey — 1840 — The Episcopal Church and Slavery in Texas — Fashion- 
 able Party — Contrasts — Death of Benham — Chase refuses to sign call for 
 anti-slavery Convention — Reminiscences of the first daughter — An angelic 
 little one — Habits of the hero — Method — Birth of Mrs. Sprague — The babe 
 pronounced pretty— The delighted father and fond husband — Meditations 
 about godliness — Dark religious views — True at heart and to the heart's 
 core — Travels — Reading — The Bible — Thiers on the French Revolution. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 From 1840 to 1845 — The Vanzandt Case — Politics and Professional Occupa- 
 tions — Death of the Second Wife 294 
 
 Chase and the madness of 1840 — He supports Harrison, but mildly— King 
 Alcohol at Cincinnati — The License Question in the City Council — Home 
 talks — State Liberty Convention — Chase " on the stump " as a Libert}' Man 
 — The Vanzandt case — Uncle Touts Cabin — Judge McLean and Slavery — 
 The Supreme Court — Chase and Seward — Liberty Address by Chase — Reli- 
 gious introspection — Cold in prayer — Mental Reservations — Chase and 
 Butler — Birney's Presidental Candidature — Daniel O'Connell and David T. 
 Disney — Chase as a Repealer and a Liberator — Family Memoranda — Land- 
 scape Gardening — Death of the Second Wife — Hearing little Kate read the 
 Bible — Samuel Lewis — Type of Chase's religiousness — His public spirit and 
 his private worth — The Southern and Western Liberty Convention — Address 
 by Chase — His comparison of the Whig Party with the Democratic Party — 
 His account of the Liberty Party — His opinion as to the necessity of party 
 organizations — Tribute to Charles Follen. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 The Watson Case — The Third Marriage — Politics 309 
 
 Chase and Judge Read — The Watson case — The Parish case — Character- 
 istic Letter against Slavery — The third Marriage — Miss Sarah Bella Dunlop 
 Ludlow — Birth of Mrs. Hoyt — Letter to John F. Hale — Liberty Convention 
 at Buffalo in 1847— Democratic Convention at Columbus, Jan. 8, 1848 — The 
 "mitigate and eradicate'' plank of the platform — Mr. Thurman— Judge 
 Spaulding — Gen. Cass and the Wilmot Proviso — Buffalo Convention of '48 
 — Work of Chase in that convention.
 
 CONTENTS. IX 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 Senator Chase — Exciting Struggles — Tests and Trials 320 
 
 Attempted division of Hamilton County as an Election District — Pagh and 
 Pierce — Chase's letter to Morse — To Hutchinga — Judge Whitman and ex- 
 Senator Pugh on Chase — The Roll case — Question of constitutional law — 
 Donn Piatt. Judge Read, and Chase — Read on Chase — Spencer ami Pugh in 
 debate — Chase's account of his course in politics — His election to the Senate 
 in 1849 — Letters, indicating his relations to the Democratic party from 1849 
 till 1 8-312 — Self-description — Gen. Houston — Letter to Gerritt Smith. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The Senatorial Service of the Hero — Chase and Douglas — Bleeping 
 
 Kansas 336 
 
 Cass and Van Buren — Chase's account of his action in the Senate — Scott 
 and Pierce — The Free Democrats at Pittsburg — Chase and Lewis "on the 
 stump " — The Little Giant — Comparison of Chase and Douglas — The Mis- 
 souri Compromise — Anticipation — Letter from Gov. Chase to a gentleman in 
 Kansas — Letter to Seward in 1858. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 Relations of Chase to the Know-Nothings — Governor of Ohio 344 
 
 The Rosetta case — Was Chase a Trimmer? — Pugh and Chase — Chase and 
 the Know-Xothings —Anti-Nebraska Convention — Chase elected Governor 
 of Ohio— The Garner case — A tragedy of real life — Commissioner Penary 
 — Judge Leavitt — The Fugitive Slave Law — A Slave Hunt in Champaign 
 County — Pugh and Valandigham — The Treasury Defalcation — Gen. Gibson 
 — A. P. Stone — A bad Appointment — Inevitable Egotism — Communications 
 to the author by the hero in 1857, 1858, and 1859 — Attempted democratiza- 
 tion of the Republican party — The canvass of 1857 — The Dred Scott case — 
 '•Who stole the people's money?" — Experiences of a stumper — Lawless action 
 at Cleveland and elsewhere, against Slavery — Judge Swan politically guil- 
 lotined — The a Milish " of Ohio — Chase as Commander-in-chief — Policy as 
 to Extradition — Chase and John Brown — Was Brown insane? — Chase not 
 well adapted to the rule of the demagogue. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Chase and Lincoln 362 
 
 Afflictions of the hero at Columbus — Death of Miss Alice Chase — Letter to 
 Lincoln in 1860 — The Nominating Convention — Chase's disappointment ami 
 complaint — Lincoln's characteristic answer — Letter to Mrs. Randall Hunt — 
 Important expression against the pretensions of the South — Devotion of the 
 hero to the Union — Remarkable letter to Gen. Scott proposing a coup d'etat 
 — The Peace Convention — Chase as Secretary of the Treasury — About pro- 
 visioning Fort Sumter — Curious course of Gen. Scott — Chase's advice to him 
 — Characteristic letter to Judge Taft, defining Chase's opposition to Seces- 
 sion — Letter to a son of William Wirt — Letter to Dr. Fuller— War and Peace.
 
 X CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Tee Peace Conference — The Civil War — Ciiase in the Treasury 377 
 
 Letter to Thaddeus Stevens about Lincoln, and about the true policy of the 
 Republican party in January, 1861 — Noble speech in the Peace Conference 
 — Chase's commission as Secretary of the Treasury — Duties of his office — 
 His predecessors and successors — His own definition of his leading objects 
 as a financier — His too great attention to martial men and martial measures 
 — Censure of him in the North American Revieio — Public Economics as a 
 science — Letter to Gen. Hooker — Letter to Mr. Trowbridge about the hero's 
 course as financier. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 The Civil War and Slavery — Purse and Sword — The Trent Affair 389 
 
 Letter to the author from Secretary Chase — The War and Slavery — Meeting 
 of Rankers — Annual Report — AVade and Ashley — Views of Chase as to 
 Secession and Reconstruction — Gen. McClellan — Andrew Johnson on Gen. 
 Sherman — Judge Key and Emancipation in the District of Columbia — The 
 Trent Affair as viewed by Chase. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 McClellan and McDowell — Port Royal— Cameron's Resignation 395 
 
 Reception at the White House — Lord Lyons and Chase — Sumner and Mc- 
 Dowell and the big turkey — Port Royal — Letter to T. C. Day — " Is there 
 any possibility of guarding against mischance and events? " — Difficulties 
 of a Secretary of the Treasury — The Progress of the War against Secession 
 — Sumner's speech on the Trent Affair — McDowell and McClellan — Judge- 
 Colonel Key — Resignation of Secretary Cameron — Memories of Muni/ Men 
 and of Some Women — Chase's little diaries — Account of Cameron's Resigna- 
 tion — Seward's alleged account of quarrels in the Cabinet — Secretary • 
 Stanton— Consultation and agreement with Bankers — Legal Tender. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 The Legal Tender Cases 408 
 
 Senatorial candidature — Letter to Hon. Rush R. Sloan — Chase on Wade — 
 Judges Key and Hoadly — Judge Spaulding — Letter to Wm. Cullen Bryant 
 on Legal Tender — Letter to Judge Baldwin on the same subject — Hepburn 
 vs. Griswold — Legal Tender Cases — Article in the North American Review — 
 Letter to Hon. Revcrdy Johnson about matters in Maryland — Cotton permits 
 — Letter to Gen. Dix — Charges of corrupt dealing in Cotton — Chase and 
 Mellen — Letter to M. D. Potter — An unfortunate intimacy — Disposition to 
 control or influence the press. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia 416 
 
 Foreign Intervention — Recent successes of the Union arms — Letter to Bishop 
 Mcllvaine — Letter to M. D. Potter — News from Fort Donnelson — Grant, 
 Halleck, Lander, Burnside, Goldsborough — Washington's birth-day anni- 
 versary — Draft of message prepared by Chase — Lincoln and Chase — Letter
 
 CONTENTS. XI 
 
 to Gen. Halleck — Mr. Mellen — Letter to Hon. Henry Wilson — Carl Schurz — 
 Interview with Dr. Fuller — Port Royal — Slavery and the War — Unitarians 
 and Baptists among the freedmen — Marriages among them — Prospects of 
 Port Royal — Judge-Colonel Key — His friendship for Chase — W. D. Bickham 
 and the wooden guns at Manassas — Political Metaphysics — Reconstruction 
 — Letter to Mr. Mellen — The Cincinnati Commercial and McClellan — Letter 
 to Gen. McDowell — Letter to Gen. Bradford R. Wood on Slavery and the 
 conduct of the War — Policy of Emancipation — Letter to Rev. W. G. Elliot — 
 Brigadier-making — Abolition of Slavery in the District, of Columbia — Port 
 Royal — War News— Judge Lane and Gen. McClellan — Letter to Miss Nettie 
 Chase — Chase, Stanton, and Lincoln at Norfolk — Gen. Wool — Chase playing 
 soldier — The Monitor and the Merrimac — Suicide of the rebel monster — 
 Norfolk taken. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 Chase, McDowell, Hunter, Fremont, Pope, and McClellan 433 
 
 Letter to Gen. McDowell — Stanton — McClellan " surrounded by a staff of 
 writers" — Counsel to McDowell — Chase's appreciation of him — Letter to 
 Lincoln about Hunter's enfranchising order — Characteristic answer of 
 Lincoln — Notice of Gen. Hunter — Gen. Butler — Baring Brothers & Co. and 
 the Rebellion — Narrative by Chase — Shields, McDowell, Ord, McCall, Fre- 
 mont, Banks, Saxton, McClellan — Shenandoah Valley — Chase's difference 
 with Lincoln as to McClellan — Stonewall Jackson — Chase as a strategist — 
 Gurowski growling about Seward — Anecdote of Seward — Value of a Crom- 
 well according to Seward — His appreciation of a coup cPttat — Novelty of a 
 Cabinet Meeting — Messrs. Speed, Holloway, and Casey — Pope on McClellan 
 — Account of an interview with Lincoln — Discussion about enlistment of 
 colored soldiers — Strange letter from Col. Key about McClellan — Chase 
 urging Lincoln to remove McClellan, as not loyal to the Administration, 
 though loyal to the country — Financial grounds also urged — Cabinet Meet- 
 ing — Lincoln not willing to arm slaves — Important orders — Gen. Mitchell 
 on clearing the Mississijipi — Pope thinks Mitchell visionary — Gen. Morgan's 
 resignation. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Halleck and the Cabinet — Merits of Generals — Toward Emancipation... 441 
 
 Cabinet Meeting — Blair on Colonization — Letters to Pope and Butler touch- 
 ingon the Slavery Question Talk with Halleck — Halleck on Buell, Grant, 
 and Thomas — Talk with General Shields about Movement up the Shenan- 
 doah — Chase on Strategy again — "Sad! sad! yet nobody seems to heed ! : ' 
 — Another Talk with General Shields — Cabinet Meeting — Chase on Inter- 
 ference with Slavery in order to suppress the Rebellion — Merits of Generals 
 — Seward interrogates Chase — What Chase would do were he commander- 
 in-chief — Clearing of the Mississippi — Halleck with the President in 
 Cabinet Meeting — Statements by Chase and Seward to Halleck — Ilalleck's 
 Views — His Account of the Distribution of Troops in the AVest — Ilalleck's 
 Proposal — His Condemnation of Improper Promotions — Halleck on Buell 
 and McClellan — Lincoln and the Border States — The Douglas Party in 
 Kentucky — The Cherokees and the Confederates — The " Great War Meet-
 
 XU CONTENTS. 
 
 ing," August 6, 1802 — Chase's Account of Lincoln's Speech and his Char- 
 acteristics — Chase at chess — Letter to Hon. Edward Everett. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 Chase and McDowell — The War on McClellan 451 
 
 Talk of the President with colored people on colonization — Chase in favor 
 of a Military Order of Emancipation, at least in certain places — Martial 
 Musings of our Financier — Chase on Halleck — " If he fails, all fails " — 
 Pope, Grant, Buell, Burnside, and McClellan — Stanton — Halleck to control 
 McClellan — Talk with Halleck — His Account of Forces — About Ashley- 
 Painful Matter — Letters to Messrs. Waggoner and Latty on that Subject — 
 Pleasant Letters — Letter to A. P. Stone — Letter to Mr. Seward — Stanton and 
 Chase agreed about McClellan — Chase remonstrates with Halleck against 
 continuing McClellan in command — Bates and Welles — Halleck does not 
 answer as he said he would — David Dudley Field — Pope defeated— Letter 
 toThaddeus Stevens — Other Letters — An anxious Day — Queer Colonel Key 
 
 — The War on McClellan — Welles refuses to sign the " Round Robbin " — 
 Lincoln clings to McClellan — McDowell on McClellan — Chase on McDowell, 
 Pope, and McClellan — Cabinet Meeting — Lincoln and McDowell — Letter to 
 Hon. George Opdyke — More about Chase's Interest in Men and Measures 
 of the Martial Order. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 The Interest Deepens -Purse and Sword 463 
 
 Old Friends at Breakfast — McDowell — -Pope on Fitz-John Porter and Mc- 
 Clellan — Mr. Barney — Colonel Crook — Burnside — Alarm at Washington — 
 Cassius M. Clay — General Mansfield's Story — Twiggs in Texas — K. G. C. 
 and Juarez — Davis and Breckenridge — Lincoln, Stanton, and Wadsworth 
 
 — A Suspicious Character — Seward's Diplomatic correspondence — James 
 A. Hamilton on Seward — Interview of the N. Y. Committee with the Presi- 
 dent — Chase on the conduct of the War — Recital — Governor Curtin's 
 Request — Halleck, Stanton, Lincoln, Chase — Enormous Expenses — Chase 
 on Lincoln, his counselors, and the commanding general — Lincoln and 
 McClellan — W. D. Bickham ' — Interview between Chase and Seward — A 
 Jest which seemed to Chase "ill timed" — Pitt Cooke, Geo. F. O'Harra, and 
 Henry D. Cooke — A solitary Breakfast — Naval Speculations — Welles, Fox, 
 Seward, Chase — General Cullom — A style of remark that did not suit our 
 warlike Financier — Halleck and the Situation — Jay Cooke and the N. Y. 
 Bankers — Schenck — Hunter — Curtin's Information — Battles and the Bat- 
 tlers — McClellan's Telegram — He thinks Lee has blundered, and hopes to 
 make him repent of it — Spiritual Vaticinations — Weed and Chase in a 
 "long talk" — More Tidings from McClellan. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 The Emancipation Proclamation — Hooker and McClellan 477 
 
 Conversations — Schenck and his Wound — Bannister at Breakfast — Secre- 
 
 1 Of this gentleman's book about Rosecrans* campaign, Mr. Chase said : " It is 
 vivid, rapid, clear."
 
 CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 tary Welles and Chase on Strategy — AVeed calls with Morgan — Texas Bonds 
 — Stanton on Halleck's mistake about McClellan — Sigel's Camp — Judge 
 Hoadly — Reverdy Johnson with the President — Robert Dale Owen's eloquent 
 Letter in favor of Emancipation — Halleck's Surrender to McClellan — Mr. 
 Garrett and the B. & 0. R. R. — No man safe from being a Brigadier — 
 Chase under Doctor's orders — Home Life — September 22, 1862 — Cabinet 
 Meeting — The President reads Artenms AA'ard's Account of the "High 
 Handed Outrage at Utica" — Takes a graver tone, and reads the Emanci- 
 pation Proclamation — Makes a speech on it — Seward and Chase on the 
 Proclamation — Blair's Protest — Lincoln as an Orator — Chase on Lincoln's 
 Modes of Thought and Expression — Chase's Recommendations as to trade 
 in certain Southern Products — Barney, AA'eed, and Wadsworth — Donn Piatt 
 and others with Chase — Letter from Chase to Senator Sherman — Critici- 
 — Curious Forbearance — Chase to Butler — Evil Communications ever did 
 corrupt good manners — Chase en Lincoln, Halleck, and McClellan — Chase 
 and Garfield call on Hooker — Hooker on McClellan — Garfield's Autobio- 
 graphic Talk — Special Meeting of the Cabinet — Colonization and the Cher- 
 okees — Another call on Hooker — Letter to Mr. Follett — Letter to E. G. 
 Arnold. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 The Governors at Altoona — Death of Nelson — Garfield's Story 493 
 
 Dinner at Mr. Seward's — Gen. Banks — British notables — Mr. Everett — 
 Colonization — Cabinet Meeting — The loyal Governors — Their Conference at 
 Altoona — Gov. Andrew and the N. Y. Herald — Gen. Cox — Hooker on Mc- 
 Clellan — Lincoln on McClernand — The nail hit right on the head — Financial 
 matters — Mitchell, Garfield, Halleck — Talk with Halleck — Martial men and 
 martial measures — Gen. Harney — Letter to Mr. Carson about Ohio politics 
 — KeyandTaft — Death of Gen. Nelson — Gen. Garfield's story — Gen. Pillow's 
 brother — Mr. Seward and Mr. Stuart — Purchases of cotton — Seward on 
 foreign relations — Trade orders and regulations — Cotton and coal — At home, 
 to favor foot — A'isit to Hooker — Hooker ou McClellan — Stanton, Hamilton, 
 Stevens, and Montgomery at dinner — Gov. Morton and Indiana politics — 
 Furloughing of Indiana regiments — Breakfast party — Gen. Keyes — Gen. 
 Garfield — AA'adsworth — Conversation with Gen. Cochrane about McClellan 
 — Chase on " our young Napoleon "— Cabinet Meeting — AA'ar matters — 
 Seward and AYelles — Financial matters — M. Andre" Cochut's article on Am- 
 erican finances — Chase's own financial views — Paper money not to be per- 
 manently relied on — Congress ami Mr. ('base — Letter to Hon. John Bigelow 
 — Tidings from Kentucky — Letter from John Cochrane about McClellan — 
 Talk with Gen. Hunter — Hunter on Halleck, Lincoln, and Stanton. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Downfall of McClellan — AA'est A t iroinia — The Proclamation 50C 
 
 At home, nursing inflamed foot — Letter to Barney — Letter to Hon. F. A. 
 Conkling — Downfall of McClellan complete — Lincoln to Chase — The Secre- 
 tary's part of the President's Message — The financial situation — Return to 
 specie payments — Banking associations under general act of Congress recom- 
 mended — Resignations of Seward and Chase — Important correspondence —
 
 XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 Kesignations withdrawn — Relations of Chase and Lincoln — Both real 
 worthies — West Virginia — Chase's views in a letter to the President — 
 Another letter to the President — The Proclamation — Draft prepared by 
 Chase. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Congratulation of Rosecrans — The Hurtt-Cooke Scandal 516 
 
 Letter to Rosecrans — Letter to Major Skinner — Chase on Rosecrans — Letter 
 to James Watson Webb — Monroe and Parsons — Mr. Whittlesey — His death 
 — The Hurtt-Cooke scandal — Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette — 
 Hurtt to Henry D. Cooke — Cooke to Hurtt— Had Chase guilty knowledge? 
 — Defense of his memory against the executor of his last will and testament 
 — Character of Cooke — Chase free from arrogance — Chase to Lincoln about 
 the case of Mr. Mark Howard and about appointments generally — Lincoln's 
 answer, disagreeing — Intended resignation — Not actually tendered — Mr. 
 Field's account of a talk with Lincoln — Victor Smith and Chase — Corre- 
 spondence between Lincoln and Chase — Letter to Victor Smith — Characteristic 
 letter of Lincoln — Chase to Lincoln about Hooker, Halleck, and Heintzelman 
 — Letters to the author about Sergeant Ernest Warden — Chase's account of 
 his hostility to Slavery — Charges against Mr. Clark — Conference with Mc- 
 Culloch — Grant and Banks — Messrs. Mellen and Risley — Conversation with 
 Hon. John Covode — Chase declares that he prefers the Chief Justiceship to 
 the Presidency — Chase and Curtin — Chase's confidence in Mr. Mellen — The 
 Bankers and the Treasury — Chase and Shellabarger — Conversation with Mr. 
 Fox — Talk with Secretary Stanton — Stanton on Rosecrans — Mr. Wright, of 
 California — Chase on Presidential Candidature — Will make no promises. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Martial Measures and Financial Measures — Habeas Corpus 537 
 
 Committee from St. Louis — Opening of the Mississippi — Western trade — Mr. 
 Barnitz — Gen. Schenck and the Milroy court of inquiry — Mr. Risley and 
 the trade regulations — Gov. Pierpont on Virginia affairs — Draft of a letter 
 prepared for him by Secretary Chase — Exceptions in the Proclamation — 
 Judge Whitaker, of New Orleans — Things in Louisiana— Conversation 
 about affairs in Maryland — Swann and Davis — Judge Taft and Mr. French, 
 of Cincinnati — Talk about Ohio politics — Mr. Bates in Cabinet Meeting — 
 Restrictions on trade — Banks and Grant — Stanton— Talk with Theodore 
 Tilton — Mr. Heaton — Emancipation sentiment in North Carolina — Mr. 
 Stickney — Florida and Morris Island — Saxton and Gilmore — Galloway and 
 Ch ase — Ohio affairs — Galloway a poor politician — Talk with Lincoln about 
 trade regulations — Lincoln to Andrew Johnson — Stanton, Fox, and Halleck 
 — About reducing Charleston — Burnside's resignation — Not accepted — 
 Halleck on affairs in Tennessee — Rosecrans and Burnside — Stanton and 
 Chase — Chase and Lincoln — Gov. Andrew breakfasts with Mr. Chase — They 
 visit the President and meet Stanton — Lincoln on desertion and habeas 
 corpus — Chase's views of jurisdiction — Mr. Usher — Judge Blair's views — 
 Seward's — Stanton wants prompt action — Mr. Chase and Mr. Maunsell B. 
 Field — Financial matters — Mr. Sumner's speech characterized by Chase in 
 a letter to that gentleman — Callers — Jay Cooke's agency — Varieties — Talk
 
 CONTENTS. XV 
 
 with Lincoln — Stanton's account of a "curious circumstance " — The navy 
 yard and the camp — Welles and Stanton — Stanton's offer — Apprehensions 
 as to Rosecrans' condition — Telegrams from "Rosy'' — Thomas — Letter to 
 M. Halstead — Wrong in blaming Stanton — Meeting of the Heads — Thomas, 
 Granger, and Garfield — Schurz on testimonial to McClellan — Stanton and 
 Chase think it an insult to the President, who promises to see about it — 
 Rosecrans' critical condition — Conference with Halleck — Remarkable cate- 
 chism — Lincoln's bet — Stanton's rebuke — Hulleck's view of the situation — 
 Force of Meade-— Chase at Baltimore — Visit to Mr. Hopkins — His grounds 
 described by Chase — Dress parade of a colored regiment — Note from 
 Lincoln — Mrs. Lincoln's numerous cousins — To Gettysburg — Note from the 
 President — Chase to Hooker — Chase on Grant and Hooker. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Chase and Barney — Trouble between Chase and Lincoln 656 
 
 Lincoln to Chase about Barney — Remarkable letter from Chase to Lincoln on 
 the same subject, and about Chase's own life and character— About Jay Cooke, 
 Henry L». Cooke, and a biographic sketch — Henry's subscription on account 
 of the same — An important explanation — Disclosure of a letter to Hiram 
 Barney — Improper relations between Chase and Barney — Warning against 
 injustice to the former — More about Mr. Maunsell B. Field and his book — 
 Lincoln and Barney — Indicative letter to Mr. I. T. Bailey — Letter to Hon. 
 J. C. Hall, about Presidential candidature — Life at home — Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sprague — Letter to Mrs. Walbridge — Letter to Miss Susan Walker — The 
 Monroe Doctrine as received by Chase — Letter to Dr. Leavitt — Emancipa- 
 tion in Tennessee — Letter to Mr. J. B. Bingham — Letter to Judge-Col. Key 
 — Allusion to McClellan — Presidential candidature — Letter to Prof. Granert 
 — Letter to Wayne McVeigh, Esq., about the prosecution of the war — Letter 
 to Judge Dickson — The Administration — Foreshadowing of resignation — 
 Letter to Wm. H. Kincaid, Esq., on the financial situation — Letter to Hon. 
 E. D. Mansfield — Waste of blood and treasure — Letter to Thomas Heaton, 
 Esq., referring, in part, to the Presidency — About buying out the Times — 
 Letter to Miss Nettie Chase — Letter to Edward L. Pierce — Mrs. Howe and 
 Mrs. Sprague— Mr. Sumner — Wendell Phillips' invective — Letter to Edward 
 Gilbert, Esq. — Slanderers and revilers — Charming letter to Mrs. S. E. East- 
 man — Letter to Hon. W. D. Lindsay — The Presidency — Mr. Delano — Curious 
 letter to Archbishop Purcell — Letter to Hon. Flamen Ball — Mr. Trowbridge's 
 biography — Signs of the times — Chase on Lincoln and the Blairs — The 
 Gazette and Mr. Carson — Letter to Mr. J. W. Hartwell — To Geo. S. Hale, 
 Esq. — To Pliny Freeman, Esq — To Dr. Fuller— More about buying out the 
 Times — Letter to Thomas Heaton, Esq. — Advice — Important letter from the 
 President — Barney and the N. Y. Custom House — " A man by the name of 
 Baily " — Investigating Committee — A little note from Lincoln to Chase — 
 Another — Allusion to Chase's illness — Still another note from the President 
 — "Rascal catching" — Very important letter from Chase to the Presideut — 
 The Pomeroy letter — Chase's Presidential candidature — Tribute to the Pres- 
 ident — Brief response of Lincoln, promising a fuller answer — Eminently 
 creditable letter of the President in compliance with that promise— Corwin 
 and Johnston on Chase — Warning against injustice to the latter — Lincoln
 
 SVl CONTENTS. 
 
 to Chase about publication pf their correspondence — Chase to J. M. Ganson 
 about paper money — Local banks and national banks — Letter to Mrs. Ma- 
 gruder — Letter to Dr. N. 13. Chase — Letter to Gen Banks about Louisiana 
 and Massachusetts — The elective franchise — Letter to the President on 
 Finances and the suppression of the rebellion — Another letter to the Presi- 
 dent — Speculation and the Metropolitan Fair — The tidings from Paducah — 
 Financial views — The currency, taxation, and retrenchment — Letter to Miss 
 Susan Walker — Andrew Johnson — Letter to the latter — To Horace Greeley 
 — The black eye given to the speculators — Letter to Hon. L. E. Chittenden — 
 Report of proceedings in the Peace Conference — Letter to Mrs. Bailey — Mrs. 
 Sprague and politics — The New Era — Letter to S. D. Bloodgood, Esq. — 
 " Mr. Chase is near sighted and does not see men" — Self-defense — The gold 
 market — Necessity of military success to financial improvement — Letter to 
 Hon. Flamen Ball — Letter to Gen. Blunt — Letter to a lady — U. S. Bonds — 
 The Congress, "Uncle Abe," and the enormous expenditures — Letter to Mr. 
 Jay Cooke — Lincoln again — The Presidency — A precious letter to Miss Net- 
 tie Chase — Private life and public cares — The true philosophy respecting 
 failure and success acknowledged — Letter to Hon. Ed. Haight about the 
 newspapers — Chase's name and fame — Letter to a lady — Feminine orthog- 
 raphy — Letter to Col Parsons — To Maj. Bannister — "Uncle. Abe's" barrel 
 — Lincoln not a good cooper — Letter to Hon Delano T. Smith — Letter to Gov. 
 Buckingham — Letter to Mr. Cisco — Military tidings — Letter to Miss Susan 
 Walker — The Blairs and the President — Letter to Mr. AVilliam Warder — 
 About resignation. 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 The "Ferry-Boy and the Financier" — Toward the Resignation 58S 
 
 Letter to Mr. J.T. Trowbridge about " the Ferry-boy" — Fact and Fiction — 
 Letter to Mr. A. J. Flommerfelt — Chase's only ambition — Letter to Hon. J. 
 H. Rice about Powers' America — Chase and the Fine Arts — Letter to John 
 C.Hamilton, Esq. — Financial condition — Congress and the Executive — 
 Letter to Rev. James W. Ward — The Ferri/-bo;/ ami the Financier and the 
 Presidency — Letter to Hon. Benj. F. Flanders — The military aspect — Letter 
 to Capt. Jacob Heatou — The Blairs — " Dogs will bark at the moon" — Letter 
 to Major B. C. Ludlow — Important Letter — Justice to the Banks — Letter to 
 a committee — Young Men's Christian Association — Letter to Capt. L. L. 
 Weld — Tribute to Gen. Birney — Letter to Gov. Brough — Lincoln and the 
 Blairs — Grant am! Butler — Lincoln and the Presidency — The Treasury in- 
 vestigation — Letter to A. P. Stone — " All, under God, depends on Grant" 
 — The "ablest and most persistent man we have "— Gen. Sherman — " The 
 villainous, malignant, and lying assault of the Blairs " — Letter to 0. H. 
 Palmer, Esq., about overland telegraphic communication — Letter to Hon. L. 
 D. Stickney — The Presidency — About Dr. Ayres' letter — Letter to Miss 
 Nettie Chase — Her " pictorial, poetical success" — Bishop Mcllvaine— The 
 Christian Commission — The Ferry-boy — "A good deal of truth in it, but 
 some embellishments" — Self-defense in a letter to Hon. Aaron F. Perry — 
 AVhy so pursued with calumny? — Gen. Garfield and Mr. Stanton — Letter to 
 Secretary Seward on the letter of Lord Lyons — The "just mean between 
 too much restriction ami mine at all" — Another letter to Mr. Seward — Pa- 
 tronage of the Treasury Department — Chase no longer a Presidential aspi-
 
 CONTENTS. XV11 
 
 rant — The Albany Evening Journal — Letter to William Cullen Bryant — 
 Legal tender notes and the Evening rust — Letter to Oliver Johnson, Esq. — 
 Singular self-judgment as to self-vindication — The true rule of judgment — 
 Mr. Phillips and the Garner case — Letter to Hon. F. P. Stanton — Robert J. 
 Walker's letter — Tribute to him — Letter to Hon. W. H. Aspinw&U on Con- 
 gress, the finances, and small politics — Letter to Mrs. Julia M. King — 
 Tribute to the memory of her deceased husband — Letter to Hon. S. Hooper 
 — Mr. Cisco and the gold bill — Chase's views — State Bank Issues — Letter to 
 Bishop Mcllvaine — The Presidency — Mr. Lincoln and the Blacks — Letter to 
 Hon. F. A. Conkling — Letter to the President — The Loan Committee of the 
 Associated Banks — Request for interview — The answer — Chase's report of 
 the interview — Things in the X. Y. Custom House — Mr. Dennison, Mr. Hul- 
 burd. Mr. Bailey — Lincoln on Mr. Barney — Mr. Wakenian — Chase on Bar- 
 ney — Mr. Opdyke and Mr. Orton — Mr. Palmer — Mr. Custis Xoyes — Letter 
 to Horace Greeley — "I mean to go in for a foreign loan now, though it 
 galls me " — Letter to Hon. John P. Hale — Chase on Woman's Work in the 
 Treasury Department — Lincoln to Chase about removal of Mr. Atkinson — 
 Resignation of that gentleman — Mr. Sill — Letter to Mrs. C. L. Jones — Grim 
 letter to Mr. Thomas Heaton — Letter to Major Bannister — The Presidency — 
 Grant — Letter to Dr. Pulte — Letter to Denning Duer, Esq. — Assistant Treas- 
 urership — Letter to the President — Letter to Judge Lawrence — Letter to F. 
 Kuhne, Esq. — Grant and Richmond — Rise in the price of Gold — Letter to 
 Jay Cooke, Esq. — Rise in gold alarming — The Loan Bill — Letter to Mr. 
 Thomas Heaton — Mr. Mullett's indulgence in "pretty free political talk" 
 — Mullett and Rogers — A gentle hint — "Grant, God willing, will win." 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 The Secretary's Resignation — Chase and Lincoln 607 
 
 " Another anxious day " — Meditations of a financier — Grant and Sherman 
 — The purse and the sword — N. Y. committee — Conference witli Mr. Chase — 
 Internal Revenue bill — Mr. Taylor — Gold and silver lands — Letter to John 
 A. Stewart. Esq. — -Assistant Treasurership — Letter to Hon. R. E. Fenton — 
 Sunday work — Dr. Elder, the biographer of Dr. Kane — Senator Morgan — 
 Mr. Field, " the Cabinet Smasher" — Mr. Cisco — Andrew Johnson — Mr. Free- 
 man Clarke — Mr. Orton's estimate — "Revision of Sprague's proposed re- 
 marks " — A quick operation — Letter to Mr. Cisco — To Mr. Bryant — Letter 
 to President, recommending Mr. Field — Telegram to Mr. Cisco — Extracts 
 from the Diary — Religious musings — Prayer — Recital — Garrett Davis 
 "making a rambling, violent speech " — Lincoln to Chase about recommend- 
 ation of Field — The President on Field and Barney — Chase to Lincoln — 
 Resignation — Its acceptance by the President — Lincoln's tribute to Chase 
 — Mr. Field's version — Passing tribute to Memories of Mam/ M>n ami of 
 Some Women — The " Cabinet Smasher " not allowed to be the " right arm " 
 of Chase — Meditations of Chase on the close of his official life — "I have 
 laid broad foundations" — The financial situation — Letter to Secretary 
 Stanton — Mr. Hooper's account of a talk with Lincoln about Chase's pref- 
 erence of the Chief Justiceship — Chase and Fessenden in consultation — 
 Chase on Lincoln — Letter to Mr. I. V. Fincher — Letter to Mr. W. H. 
 Powell — Gov. Tod's declension — The rather queer sagacity of Lincoln — 
 
 2
 
 XV111 CONTEXTS. 
 
 Gov. Moorhead and Mr. Williams' account of a talk with the President — 
 Chase and Fessenden again in consultation — Their relations — Reflections of 
 Chase — At Wesley Chapel — The "glorious Fourth" — A contrast and a 
 prophecy — Chase's views of Providence — Mr. Sprague makes "a statement 
 of great force and power in relation to the Blair charges " — Mr. Fessenden 
 again — Chase compares himself with Lincoln — Fessenden once more — Gar- 
 field, Schenck, and Wetmore "bitter against the timid and almost pro- 
 slavery course of the President " — " Strange story by Garfield about Col. 
 Jaques " — Tidings from the front — The Freedmen's Village — Echoes from 
 Ohio — An absurd suggestion — Horace Greeley and Whitelaw Reid — The N. 
 Y. Tribune, then and now. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 Chase not Nominated for Congress — Appointed Chief Justice 627 
 
 Pomeroy breaks his fast with Chase — He talks about Lincoln — He proposes 
 to visit the buffalo and then Europe — Garfield talks to Chase and tells him 
 a little story about Lincoln — Pomeroy, who can't support Lincoln and 
 won't desert his principles, talks with certain Democratic Senators — What 
 they said to him — "Coming events cast their shadows before" — Letter to 
 an old friend — Chase to Cameron — Letter to Hon. Chas. S. May about the 
 Presidency and about a calamitous congressional candidature — Chase 
 about himself — Mr. Sumner in favor of Chase for the Chief Justiceship — His 
 talks with Lincoln on that subject— What Lincoln thought of saying, but 
 did n't say, to Chase — Suggestive anecdote related by Mr. Sumner — Mrs. 
 Sprague on the shelving of her father — That lady a historic character — In- 
 auguration of Chief Justice Chase — What he considered the true title of his 
 office — Letter from the President — A bereavement — Letter to Jay Cooke — 
 To Gen. B. C. Ludlow— To Rt. Hon. Mr. De Stoeckl— To Judge Kelly- 
 Louisiana matters — Letter to the sculptor, Jones — To Hon. B. F. Flanders 
 —To Mr. Barney— To Mr. James R. Gilmore— To Mr. A. N. Riddle— Pecu- 
 niary condition of the hero — Self- felicitation on the consciousness of hav- 
 ing dealt purely with the public treasure. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 Assassination of Lincoln — Johnson's Inauguration 636 
 
 Lincoln's second Inauguration — Letter to Mrs. Lincoln from Chief 
 Justice Chase — The Bible touched by Lincoln's lips — Letter to the 
 President — The Circassian decision — The blockade — Virginia — Letter to Mr. 
 Schuckers — News from Richmond and hopes of peace — Letter to Judge 
 Field — Reminiscences of Chief Justice Hornblower — Letter to Bishop Mc- 
 Ilvaine — God in the Constitution — The Chief Justice anxious about recon- 
 struction — Letter to Mrs. Trimble — How the Chief Justice liked his new 
 duties — Letter to Mr. Robert Buchanan — Jubilation — Letter to Archbishop 
 Purcell — Rev. Mr. Purcell and Father Collins — Lively prelude to a fearful 
 tragedy — Assassination of the President — A night of horror — The adminis- 
 tration of the oath to President Johnson — Chase's address to him — Johnson's 
 inaugural address — Address written for him by Chief Justice Chase, but 
 not used — The mourning for slain Lincoln — Chase's visit to the South — 
 Address at Charleston — The ballot and the bayonet
 
 CONTEXTS. XI. T, 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 Chase, Johnson, Davis — Gov. Brough — Views of Reconstruction 645 
 
 The President to the Chief Justice about the trial of Mr. Jefferson Davis — 
 Death of John Brough — Letter to Gov. Anderson — To Mrs. Brough — A note 
 to Mr. Sumner — His convention speech — Chase on Johnson — A precious let- 
 ter to Mrs. C. L. Whiteman — Letter to Mr. J. D. Ludlow — Master Win. 
 Sprague, Jr. — Letter to Mr. Smith — Letter to Judge Field — Grateful reminis- 
 cence — Reconstruction views of the Chief Justice — A proposed amendment 
 of the Constitution— Letter to Wendell Phillips — Universal suffrage — Value 
 of the ballot — Estimate — Letter to Mr. A. Mot — Gen. Howard — The Chief 
 Justice not a capitalist — Letter to Hon. J. A. Arnold — Tribute to the mem- 
 ory of Lincoln — Letter to Mr. Hinkle — Private income of Chief Justice 
 Chase in 1867 — Working for his "dear Bannister" — Stanton and Johnson 
 — Letter to Judge Hill — The Southern States and the Constitutional amend- 
 ments — Recovery of the South from the evils of war — Letter to Professor 
 Langston — Restoration and elevation — Letter to Mrs. Mary Eliza Chase — 
 Nettie in Germany — Another letter to Mr. Arnold, relating to Lincoln — 
 Contribution of Chase to the Proclamation — Letter to Hon. Flamen Bull — 
 To Orna Smith, former servant of William AVirt — Mrs. Admiral Goldsbor- 
 ough — Letter to Judge Miller — Nomination of Registers in Bankruptcy — 
 Objection to the duty — Constitutional question — Letter to Gov. Fenton — The 
 Military Act and the Supplemental and Restoration bills — Letter to Horace 
 Greeley — Tribute to the Tribune — Greeley's article on Resumption — Letter 
 to Col. Parsons — The Col. too ardent and managing too much — Dr. Smith and 
 Gen. Comly — Presidential possibilities — Letter to David Austin, Esq. — Death 
 of Mr. Garniss — Reflections — An affecting retrospect and an important in- 
 dication. 
 
 CHATTER XLVL 
 
 Chase and Johnson — Chase as a Unionist — Presidential Fever — Chase 
 
 and the Cookes G5b' 
 
 Letter to Col. Parsons — Politics in Ohio — Presidential Candidature — The 
 Marshalship of the Supreme Court — Letters to Maynard, Brownlow. Gree- 
 ley, Schuckers, and others — Characteristic letter to Gen. Schofield — Letter 
 to Judge Underwood — Military and civil power at Richmond — -Mr. Jeffer- 
 son Davis — Letter to Col. Donn Piatt — Letter to Gov. Dennison — To Flamen 
 Ball — To O'Harra about A. P. Stone — Address to the bar at Raleigh — Letter 
 to Horace Greeley about treason in rebellion — Cincinnati Commercial — Texas 
 vs. White — Letter to John Russell Young — The Tribune — Chase on the 
 Herald and its correspondents — Letter to Theodore Tilton about Andrew 
 Johnson and his policy — Johnson on Sheridan — Johnson and Stanbery — 
 Stanton — Chase and the Cookes. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 The Impeachment of the President — Chase and Grant 676 
 
 Letter to Mr. Schuckers— Letter of Mr. Schuckers, for Chief Justice Chase, 
 to Mr. J. S. Corbin — Reference to Gen. Grant — Letter to Dr. Paul — Chase 
 and his friends — Presidential Candidature — Curious self-judgment of the
 
 XX CONTENTS. 
 
 hero — Chase at the South — Gen. Grant's prospects — Deeply interesting letter 
 to Mr. Hatch — Another self-judgment — Chase disparages himself as a legist 
 — Sad confession — Impeachment of the President — Dark days and melan- 
 choly musings — Letter to Col. Thomas — Impeachment — Party politics — 
 Letter to Mr. Snodgrass — Chase and Johnson — Letter to Mr. Francis J. 
 Tucker — To Gerrit.t Smith about impeachment and the Presidency — " Sour 
 grapes'" — Letter to Hon. Alex. Long — Another letter to Gerritt Smith — 
 Views of constitutional law and presidential rights and duties — Tilton's 
 "Folded Banner" article — About the use of private conversations — Impru- 
 dent letter to Mr. Long — Imprudent letter to Mr. Tilton — About a possible 
 nomination by the Democratic party — More of Tilton — Other letters — Chase 
 as a Democrat — Views of Impeachment — Matters in Louisiana — Views of 
 party fealty — Aspiration and ambition. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 About Impeachment and about the Presidency 696 
 
 Letter to Horace Gi'eeley — Henderson and Van Winkle — Sumner and Drake 
 — Letter to Hon. H. S. Bundy — Party politics — Chase on Radicalism— Letter 
 to Murat Halstead — Politicians and the people — About a third party — How 
 parties are formed — Letter to Bennett, of the N. Y. Herald — Letter to Sen- 
 ator Anthony — Self-defense — Another letter to Murat Halstead — Movement 
 for Chase's nomination by the Democratic party — Letter to William Cullen 
 Bryant — The Democratic party — Progressives and Conservatives — The 
 New York movement — The Chase circular — Alexander Long — Mrs. Sprague 
 — Conversation with Vallandigham — Seymour and Pendleton — Mr. Hen- 
 dricks — Mr. Washington McLean — Letter to Murat Halstead — Gen. Rose- 
 crans — Talk with Major Southerlin — The South and Chase — Chase on 
 Grant and Seymour — Letters to Col. Brown — Letter to the author — Letter 
 to Col. Parsons. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 A Great Affliction — The Beginning of the End 717 
 
 Inauguration of Grant — Pomp, and pride, and circumstance — Letter to 
 Mrs. Grant — Woman's rights — Letter to President Grant — The disaster at 
 Richmond — Letter to Col. Parsons — Paralysis — Too much of the Healing 
 Art — Home life — Preparations for death — Letter to Mr. Ball — Letter to 
 Henry D. Cooke — Chase's private secretaries — Mr. Schuckers and others — 
 Notions of biography — Misrepresentations of the N. Y. Herald — Letter to 
 Mr. Sargent — The Currency and the Constitution — The Democratic move- 
 ment — More about Vallandigham — Letters about springs — Health of the 
 Chief Justice — Letter to Gen. Ashley — Remarkable letters to Chase — Groes- 
 beck's views — Pendleton and Groesbeck contrasted — Presidential projects — 
 Letter to Judge Church — The Liberal Republicans — The Grantites in Ken- 
 tucky — Covington and Louisville— Irregular proceedings — Hon. Stanley 
 Matthews in the Cincinnati Convention — A remarkable speech and a still 
 more remarkable letter— The conventions of 1872 — Letter from Chase to 
 Judge Church, characterizing the writer as a Democrat of the Jackson and 
 Benton school — Chase for Greeley — Letter to Mr. Murat Halstead.
 
 CONTEXTS. XXI 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 Prophetic Journalism — Chase and Halstead — Table Talk with the 
 
 Chief Justice 786 
 
 The Commrrcial's correspondents on the health of the Chief Justice — Letter 
 to Mr. Murat Halstead — Chase's opinion of his own condition — Another 
 letter to Mr. Halstead — Touching appeal to that journalist — His answer — 
 Real state of the Chief Justice — Correspondence of the N. )'. Herald — Tes- 
 timony of Mr. Justice Field and Mr. Cushing — Correspondence of the A". 
 Y. World — Testimony of Mr. Sumner — December 7, 1872 — Meeting of the 
 author with the hero — Chase's person, port, and presence — His character- 
 istics — Talk about old times in Ohio — Mr. Halstead and Mr. Hassaurek — 
 Chase's talk about himself — Hygiene and Medicine — Political views — En- 
 gagement to compose this work — Agreement to furnish materials for it — 
 Pretended criticism of this work in certain quarters — Explanations and 
 corrections — Another talk with the Chief Justice — His mental state and 
 physical condition. 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 A Birthday Offering — The Answer 756 
 
 Letter from the author to the hero — Failure and success — Etiological ideas 
 — Laws of life — About this book — Halstead and Reid — Review of Chase's 
 life — His wonderful successes — But success no test of merit — Was Chase 
 an Abolitionist? — His answer to the authors birthday offering — Did he 
 comprehend his true relation to his country and his times? 
 
 CHAPTER LII. 
 
 Supply of Matter for this Work — New Relations 7G7 
 
 Intercourse with the Chief Justice — Notes from him — His wish to have the 
 author call upon him freely — A mysterious request — The first furnishing of 
 matter — Explanations— The winter of our deepest shame — Agnes Wirt: a 
 Story — Statement by the Chief Justice — Contemplated trip to Colorado — 
 Large supply of biographic matter — The author becomes private secretary 
 to the hero — Explanation to Mrs. Sprague — Trouble about matter furnished 
 for my use — The locked diary — Conversations about this work — Foreshad- 
 owing of the conspiracy against it. 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 Talks and Walks with TnE Chief Justice — Grant and Chase "(, 
 
 Talks about the President — A letter from the author to him — The answer 
 to that letter — Farther statement of what Chase said about Grant — Refer- 
 ence to 1868 — Chase on the Congress and the Administration — Chase and 
 the Blairs — Letter to the author from Hon. Montgomery Blah- — Chase to 
 Blair on Adams' Eulogy of Seward — Hon. Gideon Welles — His hook on 
 Lincoln and Seward — Breakfasts with the Chief Justice — Professor Pierce — 
 Visit to Richmond — The Ernest Institute and Popular Nomology — Chase 
 as a legist— Representativeness of Ohio — The legal system of that State — 
 Comparison of Chase and Wirt — Swayne and Thurman — Chase's compari- 
 son of Wirt and Webster — Hon. Reverdy Johnson on Chase as a legist —
 
 XX11 CONTESTS. 
 
 Roger Brooke Taney — Chief Justice Marshall — Chase's character of him — 
 Marbury vs. Madison — Politics on the Bench — The Dred Scott dicta — Expla- 
 nations and suggestions. 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 Chase and the Theater — His Religion, his Affections, and his Manners — 
 
 Altered Health 789 
 
 Daniel Dougherty, Esq. — "The Greatest Living Orator " — A "lecture" on 
 Actors and Acting — The Chief Justice one of the hearers — Chase and Wol- 
 sey — Was Chase inordinately ambitious ? —His religiousness — Knew too 
 little of the theater — Was he a genial man? — His faults and foibles — Ger- 
 man views of life — Chase and Roman Catholicity — He did not like the 
 bigotry of unbelief — How he avoided skepticism — Did not take sufficient 
 interest in the relations between faith and science — Anecdote of a fall he 
 had — His feeling toward the author — Wirt's letters — Imperiousness of Chase 
 — Some difficulties it occasioned between him and his biographer — Reconcil- 
 iation — Deepened intimacy — Willie Sprague — What Chase said about him, 
 on one occasion — Chase in repartee — Judge Hoadly's account, of his affec- 
 tionateness — Mr. Trowbridge's character of him — Anecdote — Confession of 
 the hero as to his imperiousness — Anecdote of Wirt— Letter to Hon. John 
 Conness— Letter to the Lord Chancellor of England — To Chief Justice 
 Cockburn — To John Bright — To A. G. Browne — Letter from Professor Brown- 
 Sequard — -A prescription — A mistake — Its consequences — Altered health of 
 the Chief Justice — Letter to W. D. Gallagher, Esq. — Affecting incident — The 
 end draws nigh. 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 Chase and Sumner — The last days of Chase — His Death 802 
 
 Mr. Sumner s *ast call on the Chief Justice — He interrogates his host about 
 his preferred biographer — The result — Presentation of the author to Mr. 
 Sumner — What the latter proffered — Ride to Edgewood with the Chief Jus- 
 tice — He compares himself with Mr. Sumner — Counsel, with warning — 
 Chase discourses farther of himself— His view of his relations to the Demo- 
 cratic party — Arrangements at Edgewood — A fleeting leave-takings — Cassy 
 Validly — Return to Washington — Writing letters— Talk about the author's 
 biographic undertaking — The last breakfast — The last " good-bye " from the 
 hero to the author — The last note of Chase to his biographer — Donn Piatt 
 and Mrs. Piatt — Response — The death of Salmon Portland Chase — A fear- 
 ful unmasking — Opposition to this work — Unnamed conspirators — Their 
 Stupid desperation — Mr. Sumner's strange course toward this work — What 
 manner of man he seemed to the author — Interviews with him — An exper- 
 iment — Explanations. 
 
 CHAPTER LVI. 
 
 Conclusion 811 
 
 ( Obsequies of Chase — Why so different from those of Lincoln — Eulogies of 
 Chase, soon succeeded by disparagement — The New York Herald and the 
 North American Review — Discriminations — Real character of Chase — His 
 conduct toward Lincoln and McClellan — His relation to the conduct of the
 
 CONTENTS. XX111 
 
 war — His economic views and actions — Lincoln, Chase, and Seward — 
 Secretary Welles' book again — How Chase should be judged — Deceitfulness 
 of the heart — Jeremiah, chapter thirteenth — Chase as a judge of character 
 — The great glory of his life — His conscientiousness — His love of country — 
 Purity of his private life — His distinctions as an orator and his command 
 of written language — Chase and Goethe — What Chase wrote more beautiful 
 than what he lived — But who lived better? — Final explanations and sug- 
 gestions. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Note A 821 
 
 Note B 838
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " A great trust ! " said Mr. Sumner, very gravely, when he fully 
 learned the nature of the matter furnished for this work by Salmon 
 Portland Chase. It was, indeed, a great trust which the hero of this 
 work, in full possession of his faculties, deliberately, without having 
 been pressed, and after much reflection, reposed in my discretion. 
 In extremely trying circumstances, after his decease, I clung to the 
 performance of that trust, and, in extremely trying circumstances, I 
 have faithfully discharged it, according to the best of my ability and 
 understanding. The result is here presented to the public. 
 
 Salmon Portland Chase did not elect to repose in any member of 
 his family the confidence in question. He did not even wish to em- 
 power any member of his family to supervise or, in any manner, in- 
 fluence my biographic work. His fondness for his family was very 
 proud, but it was not blind. He must have felt that, having been 
 thrice married, he could not have properly allowed to either of his 
 daughters, or to both, the right to overrule or modify the confidence 
 by him reposed in a preferred biographer. And very well did he 
 understand, that I would not have suffered either him or them, or 
 any other person, to supervise or even greatly influence the composi- 
 tion of the work which had been more than commenced when, with- 
 out even a suggestion from me as to the kind of matter proper to be 
 furnished by him, he began to select letters, diaries, and other docu- 
 ments for my use. 
 
 In Chapter LI will be found all but a few paragraphs of a birth- 
 day letter, which was answered, in characteristic fashion, by Chief 
 Justice Chase. In that birthday offering I made known to him the 
 then intended method, scope, and spirit of this work. The few para- 
 graphs just mentioned read as follows : 
 
 " You had learned, before I wrote this letter, that, in order to compose a work of 
 the desired, and, as far as possible, determined description, aid from you appeared to 
 me almost essential. You can point out some materials which, without your help, 
 I could not — at least might not — easily discover. You can furnish parts of the de- 
 sired material. Under this head, I would be happy to receive some autobiographic 
 contributions, as shall be explained. Why not? Supposing you to have the leisure 
 
 (11)
 
 12 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 and the disposition to assist me to the full extent desired, why hesitate about com- 
 plying with my wishes ? 
 
 " Full compliance can not make you in the least responsible for any word or syl- 
 lable of mine, either in this letter or in any [other] part of the work of which it is 
 to form a portion. What I resolve in this respect, you will quite naturally ivish. You 
 will desire me to set out with perfect freedom from any one's dictation or suggestion, 
 and to maintain that freedom to the end. This letter, being inserted in the book as 
 its obviously becoming introduction, will serve to protect each of us in the respect to 
 which attention is now given. 
 
 " Of my wish to win, if possible, some autobiographic contributions, a more parti- 
 cular account must form, in part, at least, the subject of another letter." 
 
 There never was a time when I would have allowed the Chief 
 Justice himself, or any other person, to dictate to me a word of the 
 work, except as just indicated. Nor was the fact of that determination 
 confined to my own breast. It was published to the readers of the 
 Ohio State Journal, and to other persons. 
 
 Knowing well my purpose in that behalf, Chief Justice Chase did 
 not even wish to change it, and, in view of it, reposed in me a con- 
 fidence which I may well say was quite unlimited. And he who so 
 liberally trusted me was well acquainted with the faults and foibles 
 of the man he was so ready to accept as preferred biographer. 
 
 In the birthday letter, from which an extract has already been 
 given, I very naturally expressed my hope that the work might be 
 completed during the life-time of its hero. He had not much hope, as 
 he explained to me on more than one occasion. Even had he been 
 as hopeful as myself, he would never have been even willing to 
 supervise the work, or to be responsible for my utterances in it. He 
 knew quite well that my views, in some important points, were 
 very different from his own — especially with reference to public 
 economics, political parties, and religion. 
 
 In the exercise, however, of the delicate and difficult discretion 
 thus confided to rue, I have given much consideration to the evident 
 conceptions of Chief Justice Chase himself, as to the due fullness and 
 minuteness of biography in its relation to inner life. 
 
 At three and twenty years of age, he contributed to the North 
 American Review a biographic sketch ; and he once intended to offer 
 to the public a life of his legal teacher, the illustrious Wirt. 
 
 Of this I first learned when, substantially, he said to me, respond- 
 ing to my intimation that I had been urged to write a life of him, 
 and that, on certain conditions, I might be inclined to undertake that 
 public service : 
 
 "I can only say to you what was said to me by Mr. Wirt on a similar occasion: 
 If it is to be done at all, I should prefer to have it done by such a friend as you."
 
 INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 After his death I learned much more about the matter here 
 referred to. In one of his letter-books was found a memorandum, 
 indicating that he must have actually undertaken to write a life of 
 Wirt. On that occasion, doubtless, he considered more than super- 
 ficially the requisites of* good biography. Indeed, there are indica- 
 tions that he probably devoted study to that subject, not only when 
 he wrote his biographic sketch of Brougham, but shortly afterward, 
 when he received that number of the i\ 7 or£/i American Review which 
 gave to readers his own article on the Effects of Machinery. 
 
 Article Y of the number here referred to is entitled Crokefs Bos- 
 well. Doubtless, it was read by Mr. Chase with more than ordinary 
 interest. Very well, this article discusses the extent to which biog- 
 raphy is free and therefore bound, if I may so express myself, to 
 show the private life of its hero. Here is an extract from it : 
 
 i: It has been very common to speak of the biographer of Johnson in terms of con- 
 tempt. He has been heavily charged with violating the intimacy of friendship and 
 the sacredness of private life, in giving the character of Johnson so openly to the 
 world ; but it should be stated, at the same time, that he did it, not in malice, but in 
 admiration, and that, he was sustained in it by the authority of Johnson himself. 
 The Tour to the Hebrides, which is even more particular in these points than the 
 Life, was submitted to Johnson, who, far from disapproving, added to it some of his 
 own recollections. Sir John Hawkins states, that when Johnson himself was 
 oharged with being guilty of the same offense in his Lives of the Poets, he said: 'The 
 business of the biographer is to give an exact account of the person whose life he is 
 writing, and to discriminate him from others by auy peculiarities of character and 
 sentiment he may happen to have.' So that, in the opinion of the person most in- 
 terested, Boswell is clearly justified in what he has done. The truth is, that man- 
 kind are much more apt to outpour their indignation on follies than on vices; and 
 to this taste, on their part, Boswell, who was highly gifted with the former attri- 
 butes, has always been a victim. It is evident enough, from his portrait by his own 
 partial hand, that he was vain to a degree which irritated his inferiors ; that his 
 curiosity was intense and prying; that he had a feverish passion for excitement, 
 which made it his special delight to attend intellectual parties and public execu- 
 tions, and all scenes that could for the moment interest a mind whose activity was 
 far beyond its strength. But it seems absurd to deny that he had the capacity to 
 estimate and the taste to enjoy the intellectual society of such a man as Johnson. 
 We remember that Dr. Clarke, the traveler, says, that for the sake of Tweddell's so- 
 ciety, he would have consented to black his shoes; and one can readily believe that 
 Boswell was influenced by a similar enthusiasm in the case of Johnson, whose con- 
 versation would certainly repay such attentions and sacrifices as well as that of any 
 man who ever existed.'' ' 
 
 Dr. Clarke, the traveler, either thought too much of Tweddell or 
 too little of himself. But the passage just quoted is presented on 
 account of that which it suggests, respecting the extent to which 
 
 x North American Review, Vol. 34, pp. 92, 93.
 
 14 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 biography may go, or must go, in complete performance of its un- 
 dertaking. 
 
 I have endeavored so to handle my material that the work at large 
 may be found so to show the tenor of the life that it professes to re- 
 late, that every fair-minded peruser of its contents may be enabled 
 to give sentence according to the rule of judgment thus 1 laid down 
 by Chase himself: "It seems to me better and wiser to judge par- 
 ticular acts by the general tenor of life, than the general tenor of 
 life by particular acts." 
 
 On the whole, considering how very largely this volume has drawn 
 from Chase's diaries, letters, and other word-work, readers may ex- 
 pect to find, in the work at large, a pretty accurate account of the 
 character and the career of the man who, in 1868, wrote to an old 
 acquaintance that he was not astonished to find some good men con- 
 sidering him an enigma. 
 
 Does this work effect the reading of that riddle? We have seen 
 that if the judgments which my humble part in the production of 
 these pages has, from time to time, expressed or less distinctly inti- 
 mated, as to the characteristics or the conduct of the life before us, 
 shall appear unwarranted, each reader is to have at hand the means 
 of forming his own judgment for himself. 
 
 On the other hand, to hide my own opinions would have been im- 
 proper. To advance them pedagogically, or with the air of final 
 judgment, would have been as unbecoming. They are calmly and 
 dispassionately offered to the fair consideration of enlightened and 
 attentive readers. 
 
 Let me say a word about the matter of distinctively historic inter- 
 est, presented by this work. 
 
 In a notice of Sparks' biography of our lame revolutionary 
 dandy, Gouverneur Morris — a most interesting character — the North 
 
 American Review set out as follows : 
 
 "There is no sin which more easily besets the biographer of public men than a 
 reluctance to admit the fact that they ever had any private life; yet we know not 
 that the dignity of a statesman would be impaired by such an admission, or that the 
 parlor and the fireside are much less interesting than the Cabinet or the legislative 
 hall. Sir James Mackintosh assures us that the biographer should introduce his- 
 torical detail no further than the clearness and accuracy of his narrative require; 
 and that the historian, on the other hand, should be careful to avoid all private 
 particulars which can not be regarded as essential." 2 
 
 better to Oliver Johnson, Esq., dated May 30, 1864. 2 v l. 34, 465.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 Dr. Peabody subjoins : 
 
 "The rule is certainly a judicious one ; and it has been faithfully applied in his 
 own biography of one of the greatest and best men in England's annals." 
 
 If the word accuracy denotes enough to comprehend the notion 
 of fullness, the rule would indeed seem unexceptionable. 
 
 Something Like an overture to the whole public life of Salmon 
 Portland Chase may be found in an article, contributed hy him, at 
 three and twenty years of age, to the North American Review. That 
 piece, which had first done service as a Lyceum lecture at Cincinnati, 
 went before the readers of the Review in July, 1831. Having for 
 its subject the Life and Character of Henry Brougham, it contains 
 these paragraphs : 
 
 "It is well said, that 'history is philosophy teaching by example.' But history 
 seldom condescends to the teaching of individuals ; and when she does, she instructs 
 us rather in the arts of war than in the works of peace ; noticing, briefly, and withal 
 somewhat superciliously, the noblest designs and labors of philanthropy, and even 
 the most glorious civil triumphs, while she records, with all the blazoning of the 
 most gorgeous description, the achievements of military prowess, or details with 
 scrupulous minuteness the intrigues of courts. Thus the examples furnished by 
 history are not adapted to the instruction of common life. The}- show us man in his 
 robes of state and under the influence of artificial constraint; not in his every-day 
 dress, and acting from the genuine promptings of the heart. They exhibit to our 
 view a man, not of nature's making, but of art's making. 
 
 " Now biography teaches by better examples than these. Her instructions are 
 adapted to peace as well as to war; to man as an individual as well as to man in 
 society. She holds up for our admiration and imitation men who have never seen 
 the tented field. She sits by the philosopher in his closet, and notes the laborious 
 processes of thought by which his mind struggles to reach, and at last does reach, 
 some mighty and all-comprehending principle. And, to waken in the hearts of 
 other men a noble emulation, she tells of the inexpressible triumph with which he 
 exclaims, ~EvpijKa. She accompanies the traveler in his toilsome journeys from 
 land to land, to gather some worthy offering for science, or to add some yet undis- 
 covered realm to the dominions of knowledge. She deems it no unworthy task to 
 tell with what self-sacrificing spirit philanthropists have labored on through diffi- 
 culty, and discouragement, and opposition; to give effect to some grand scheme of 
 benevolence, in many instances dying without one glimpse of the glorious triumph 
 which was destined to crown their exertions. By examples such as these does 
 biography teach, and teaches noble lessons. 
 
 "There is, however, yet another use of biography. It helps us to a better un- 
 derstanding of the way in which the great machine of society works. Thoughts 
 and feelings are the prime forces that act upon it — the thoughts and feelings of in- 
 dividual men. And it often happens that one man, by the force of circumstances, 
 or by the resistless energy of his own spirit, is placed or places himself in a situa- 
 tion to control, like an earthly god, the destinies of whole nations; still oftener 
 originates some new thought, or makes some new discovery or invention, destined 
 in its consequences to change the whole aspect of society. It is important, there-
 
 16 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 fore, to know something of individual character and conduct, in order to understand 
 the operations of these latent, but powerful, influences. Indeed, for our own part, 
 if we might be permitted to preserve all the memorials of such men, we should 
 hardly be disposed to quarrel with time for devouring the remainder of his omni- 
 farious offspring." 
 
 Here, it seems to me, is error as to the force of the one in rela- 
 tion to the many; but the extract seems to me of decided interest 
 as part of proper preparation for the body of this volume. 
 
 Let me add, that the object of this work is indication more than 
 vindication. Often, too, in spite of its unfeigned and very high 
 esteem of its hero, it is forced to own that it can not approve some 
 act or saying of the man whose life it so faithfully endeavors to 
 relate, whose character it so faithfully endeavors to portray. 
 
 I have, in a public print, defending the memory of Salmon Port- 
 land Chase, confessed that he did not seem to me a saint, or a 
 deputy Omniscient. Holding that the article on which I was com- 
 menting paints a character which is little less than libelous to ascribe 
 to the hero of this work, I have nevertheless distinctly indicated, in 
 the public print referred to, my opinion that the biography of 
 Salmon Portland Chase, which shall represent him as a faultless 
 character, a man who lived a wholly blameless life, will be vainly 
 false and foolishly unfaithful. 
 
 But, be that as it may, there should be no question that, in the 
 matter drawn from his letters, diaries, etc., the attractiveness of this 
 work, in point of substance, is at once various and great. Be the 
 book, in point of form, acceptable or unacceptable to critics, who 
 can fail to see the richness and variety of its contributions to the 
 inner history of Lincoln's administration, and of other administra- 
 tions? In the matter so derived, we see much of Lincoln, Seward, 
 Stanton, Sumner, Grant, McClellan, McDowell, Hooker, Halleck, 
 Hunter, Garfield, Butler, and somewhat less of Sherman, Sheridan, 
 Pioscerans, and other famous figures. If I have not used my large 
 discretion wisely, I have at least used it conscientiously; and the 
 result is an extensive presentation of matter, as to which I can 
 speak freely. 
 
 Mention also should be made in this connection of the light shed 
 by passages in the body of the work on the inner history of John- 
 son's impeachment, and on the character and conduct of the man 
 therein impeached. 
 
 Nor should this Introduction fail to mention that the body of the 
 work presents a pretty full account of the Wirt family, in their re- 
 lation to the hero's forming traits and tendencies ; and that 
 extracts from the hero's writings yield veiy interesting notices of
 
 INTRODUCTION. 1 7 
 
 John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Henry- 
 Clay, Daniel Webster, John Caldwell Calhoun, Chief Justice Mar- 
 shall, Judge McLean, General Harrison, and other celebrities, 
 whose days have been for sometime numbered with the past. 
 
 Of Cincinnati, particularly, and of Ohio at large, the volume, 
 though entirely free from local partiality and sectional aversion, 
 naturally takes large notice. 
 
 I have been charged with the high crime of not abandoning my 
 trust. I plead guilty. 1 am proud of having so offended. And I 
 venture even to predict, that the matter just referred to, having 
 already enabled this work to survive prophetic criticism of all 
 kinds, will save it against all efforts of any other form of pre- 
 tended criticism to "review" it out of existence, or to circumscribe 
 its proper circulation. 
 
 EOBEET BEUCE WAEDEN. 
 Washington, 1874.
 
 18 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ABOUT THE TOWN OF CORNISH AND THE CHASES — ANCESTRAL RELATIONS. 
 
 SALMON PORTLAND CHASE was born at Cornish, in New 
 Hampshire. January 13, 1808. He greatly glorified the emi- 
 nently honorable name he bore ; but he was not the only Chase of 
 whom the town of Cornish may be proud. 
 
 The Chases of the Cornish race appear to have been hardy, worthy 
 men and women. In a note of the Appendix 1 will be found a pretty 
 full account of them down to the days of our hero. 2 Let me press- 
 ingly persuade the reader to examine at once, at least cursorily, the 
 matter offered in that note. 
 
 The same note of the Appendix calls attention to the so-called 
 secession from New Hampshire of Cornish and fifteen towns associ- 
 ated with her in the act so designated. 3 It may seem to some 
 readers not a little remarkable that the Chases of Cornish should 
 have so foreshadowed the action of the Southern States attempting 
 to secede from the Union. And it may be thought that, in view 
 of the course of Mr. Chase in 1861, 4 the tract of Cornish history 
 referred to tends to show that there was, if one may so express him- 
 self, secession in the hero's very blood. But this volume clearly 
 proves, if it proves any thing, that Mr. Chase was not, in 1861, in 
 favor of secession ; that he never was in favor of secession ; that he 
 never held the singular political and social tenet, that a member of 
 the Union may, by a simple exercise of sovereignty, without cause 
 of revolution, and against the will of the States united with her, 
 cease to be a member of the Union. 
 
 And it can not be necessary to devote much space in order to ef- 
 
 1 Note A. 
 
 2 Quite ridiculous appeared to me the ridiculing of the words " our hero," as used 
 in a former work of mine. They are convenient words for use in such a work as 
 this, and I have used them freely, simply to avoid too frequent use of other words. 
 
 3 Note A, Appendix. 
 
 * Post, Chapter XXVI.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 19 
 
 feet the showing that the so-called " seceding towns " of New Hamp- 
 shire did not really secede at all. 
 
 This volume docs not undertake to vindicate the views of Mr. 
 Chase in 1861, as indicated in his noble letter to Judge Taft. The 
 object of these pages has been fairly set forth in the Introduction — 
 as indication rather than vindication. But of that no more need 
 now lie said. 
 
 A memory-haunted edifice of architectural pretensions faces the 
 memory-haunted house in a room of which some of these paragraphs 
 have been composed. That is the building in which Lincoln, look- 
 ing on a stage of mimic life, was wounded mortally by a professional 
 tragedian; this is the plain structure in which the assassinated Presi- 
 dent expired. I look over my left shoulder as I write and see the 
 facade of what was Ford's Theatre. What wonder if I find myself 
 comparing Chase with Lincoln? 
 
 Let me say, that, in my judgment, Lamon's Life of Lincoln is not 
 written in the proper spirit where it touches Lincoln's lineage. The 
 lineage of Chase is here respectfully and even tenderly regarded. 
 In a certain sense it is a noble lineage. It has not what is often 
 written and spoken of as gentle blood; yet it is gentle, in the best 
 sense of that term. But had I found our hero's lineage like that of 
 Lincoln, as described by Lamon, I would not have felt at liberty to 
 treat it as that writer treats his hero's origin. 
 
 On the other hand, I have not felt at liberty to begin this work 
 in such fashion as that in which Kennedy began the Life of William 
 Wirt, our hero's legal teacher. Kennedy set out as follows: 
 
 "A narrative of the Life of William Wirt will present us the 
 career of one who, springing from an humble origin, was enabled to 
 attain to high distinction among his countrymen." 
 
 What do we mean by humble origin? I acknowledge that 
 the origin of Salmon Portland Chase does not appear to me an 
 humble origin. It rather seems to me a highly honorable origin, 
 like that of William Wirt, as I had the honor to explain to the only 
 surviving daughter of the last-named worthy, Mrs. Admiral Golds- 
 borough, who, I may passingly remark, has allowed me, in this 
 volume, to use a letter of her's, written to me on a very interesting 
 occasion, during the life of her dear friend, Chief Justice Chase 
 
 Eleven years ago, for the special benefit of a student-soldier 
 (mentioned, we shall find, in moving terms, by Secretary Chase, in 
 3
 
 20 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a letter to the author of this work), I contributed to a paper habit- 
 ually read by that young charge of mine, a piece called At the Doctor's. 
 In that seeming story, Dr. Frisch, depicted as a person of the 
 Hamlet mold, according to the views of Goethe, in his Wilhelm 
 Meister — namely, of the fat and philosophic type — is represented as 
 discoursing of a science, by him invented, which he calls Typonomy 
 — the science of the thing called type, as it variously manifests 
 itself in individuals, in families, in nations, and in races. Dr. 
 Frisch is represented in one passage as explaining that what we 
 often call the type of character " appears to be more sharply cut and 
 boldly prominent in field and workshop than in drawing-rooms and 
 boudoirs." 
 
 "But,"' adds the T3'ponomer — so Dr. Frisch is called — "we can 
 discern great typic differences, even in the 'higher circles. ' Goethe, 
 I know, has ridiculed an English author for pretending to view 
 nations by comparing the ton of each; but the ridicule itself appears 
 to me somewhat ridiculous. The gentleman is, indeed, a type of 
 cosmic dignity. We find it under the equator, at the tropics, and 
 bej'ond the explorations made by Dr. Kane. And every-where we 
 find the ton attempting to divest itself of type." 
 
 "Explain that sentence, please," said America. 
 
 "What I mean," said Dr. Frisch, "is only this: that the lady and 
 the gentleman are such, in part, by virtue of the efforts which they 
 make to become pure woman and man — gentlewoman, gentleman ; 
 that is to say, refinement, culture, what you please to call it, seeks 
 to eliminate all habits, tendencies, etc., which set up typical distinc- 
 tions in the untaught lowly. It succeeds imperfectly, however. Still 
 we have well-marked varieties, or types, of gentlehood, as well as 
 well-marked t}*pes of boorhood, or villeinhood. Gentlehood appears, 
 indeed, to be, to some extent, a blood hood — to be born into a man or 
 woman quite as much as it is taught into a man or woman. It ap- 
 pears accordingly in all conditions, from the highest to the lowest, 
 from the cottage to the palace. Ah ! 
 
 "The man's the man for a' that!" 
 
 •Yes," continues Dr. Frisch, "refinement fails to obliterate type 
 Ton is only tone, and tone is sometimes type. The differential char- 
 acters of a people — its types — may be studied in its 'best circles,' in 
 its upper tens, as well as in its field or workshop classes. True, 
 these type differences may appear less striking in the drawing-room 
 than in the workshop or the field, in the man of fashion than in the 
 peasant : tor I repeat, the aim of ton is ever to divest itself of type " — 
 
 "Rather," interrupted America, "to appear, as itself, the type of 
 all types." 
 
 "Not so," insisted Dr. Frisch. "A type is a peculiar stamp im- 
 pressed on a variety, by which it differs from the model form of all 
 its kind — the standard, in other words, from which its typical dis- 
 tinctions vary it."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 21 
 
 In the same piece, the attention of the reader is directed to the 
 daring lines of Dekker: 
 
 "Patience ! why 'tis 
 The very soul of peace. The best of men 
 That e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer; 
 A mild, meek, patient, gentle, tranquil spirit — 
 The first true gentleman that ever breathed." 
 
 Perhaps, a bitter man might say that "the first true gentleman 
 that ever breathed" was also the last. Let us here avoid all bitter- 
 ness, however, and remember that the terms in question evidently 
 refer to the perfection of the qualities by which a gentleman is 
 marked. Assuredly there are, of native as of foreign birth and 
 breeding, real gentlemen, most amiable, admirable gentlemen, in 
 every portion of America. But, just as certainly, each bears about 
 him some characteristic imperfection or defect, directly traceable to 
 the characteristics of his people or his province; and each bears the 
 credit also of provincial or national distinctions. 
 
 A deeper study of New England manners has made me more and 
 more admire the households of that portion of the country. It ap- 
 pears to me, the "Yankee" portion of our hero's life was no bad 
 preparation for his life at Dartmouth College and elsewhere. 
 
 Ruskin says that "you shall know a man not to be a gentleman, 
 by the perfect and neat precision of his pronunciation." Certainly, 
 the pronunciation of New England, generally speaking, was not 
 perfect ; certainly, in some particulars, New England manners could 
 not be regarded as entirely unexceptionable. But good society, in 
 the best sense of that expression was to be found at Cornish, Keene, 
 and Rovalton, at each of which places, as well as at Washington and 
 Cincinnati, part of Chase's boyhood made its way toward manhood. 
 
 A dash of Western manner may have shown itself in our young 
 hero on returning to New Hampshire from Ohio. Well, that dash 
 mav have improved him not a little. 
 
 It was an Eastern man who said, some years ago: "The Western 
 man is the most representative of all our types, and best expn 
 the American idea." As this work unfolds its revelations, we may 
 find that there is reason to reject that doctrine, if the Western man 
 intended is a native of the West. The life before us is, perhaps, to 
 show that the most representative of all our types is the man born 
 in the East and liberally educated there, who early wanders west- 
 ward and soon settles down, as a man of action and reflection, at the 
 West, as did the hero of this narrative.
 
 22 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Lincoln was, no doubt, in the thoughts of Theodore Tilton, when 
 he wrote the words just quoted, to the effect that the Western man, 
 as be-t expressing " the American idea," must be deemed " the most 
 representative of all our types." As already intimated, Chase ap- 
 pears to me more representative than Lincoln. 
 
 Chase, in one respect, was clearly very representative. He repre- 
 sented the mixed population of the country. 
 
 While Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Chase wrote to Hon. John 
 H. Prentiss, of Xew Hampshire, a letter, containing a most inter- 
 esting autobiographic sketch. Composed hurriedly, one morning 
 before breakfast, that bit of writing is nevertheless a fair sample of 
 the epistolary style and diction of the pen by which it was worked 
 off. Its tenor is, in part, as follows: 
 
 • My father was an upright Christian man ; was honored by the 
 confidence of his fellow-citizens in an unusual degree. He was a 
 farmer in Cornish, and is well remembered there. It was from 
 Cornish that he was sent so often by the district to represent it in 
 the State Council. My mother was the daughter of Alexander 
 Ralston, of Keene, one of the early settlers, ami a considerable pro- 
 prietor. She inherited from her father, in the division of the estate, 
 the large yellow building, occupied as a tavern, nearly opposite to 
 the old Shantliff tavern. When m}~ father removed from Cornish to 
 Keene. late in 1815 or earl}' in 1816, he kept that tavern for a time — 
 perhaps a year or more. He died there in 1817, and his tombstone 
 yet stands in the burying-ground of Keene. The change in the 
 tariff, and other causes connected with the close of the war, had em- 
 barrassed his affairs; for he was concerned in mercantile business 
 and in the manufacture of glass ; and my mother was left with a con- 
 siderable estate, heavily incumbered by debts. When these were 
 paid she was comparatively poor, and we children had to depend 
 somewhat on ourselves. She sacrificed and stinted herself as a 
 mother only can to secure to us the best education she could. After 
 my father's death she sold the tavern place and removed to the old 
 yellow house." 
 
 Here is, quite clearly, indication of an eminently proper feeling 
 toward parentage and pedigree. And here are, just as clearly, indi- 
 cations of an origin which ought not to be characterized as " humble." 
 
 Never was a word, good in itself, so shamefully misused as has 
 been that word humble. Chase was no Uriah Heep. He was, on 
 the other hand, at one time, clearly tinctured with what he himself 
 has called, perhaps not happily, aristocratic feeling; but he never 
 was a flunkey or a snob. He never was ashamed of father or of 
 mother. He was always proud of mother and of father; always 
 grateful for his lineage and for his nurture.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 23 
 
 One account that has boon furnished me, in answer to my wishes, 
 
 runs as follows : 
 
 "Chief Justice Chase's mother was Jeanette Ralston, a Scotch 
 
 woman, daughter of Alexander Balston. Esq. Her mot hers maiden 
 name was Jeanette Balloeh. who. in company with three of her 
 daughters, (of whom Mrs. Chase was one) came from Scot hi ml. in 
 1792, to join her hushand, who had preceded her. and was estab- 
 lished in business in Boston. lie afterwards settled in Cornish, New 
 Hampshire, and finally moved to Keene. in the same Stale, where 
 he died. In the same ship with her was James Balloeh, her cousin, 
 grandfather of Gen. Balloeh. of Washington, and her nephew, Janus 
 Balloeh, still living in Baltimore at an advanced age. Mrs. Ralston 
 was a woman of remarkable energy and force of character, and from 
 her the Chief Justice inherited many of his strong points." 
 
 Ithamar, the father of our hero, had for father Dudley, who, 
 with his faithful Alice and seven children, his and hers, re- 
 moved from Sutton, Massachusetts, to the banks of the beautiful 
 Connecticut, before the town of Cornish had become a considerable 
 settlement. According to Bishop Chase, he was the first white 
 settler of that town, to which, in memory of the English town from 
 which his ancestors had come, he gave the name of Cornish. But 
 the Bishop also states that the town was originally granted to his 
 father by Governor Bowdoiu, while we are elsewhere told that 
 Cornish was originally granted, June 21, 1763, to Rev. Samuel 
 MeClintock, of Greenland, and sixty-nine other persons. 1 But it 
 is also related that the town was settled in 1765 chiefly by emi- 
 grants from Sutton, Massachusetts, whence, as we have seen, came 
 stout Dudley Chase and noble and devoted Alice Chase, the paternal 
 grandparents of our hero. 
 
 If I trust a memorandum furnished me by the Chief Justice, I 
 may set down that Dudley Chase was born August 17, 1729. Alice 
 Corbett's birthday, however, is, in that memorandum, set down as 
 February 28, 1738, while the inscription on her tomb, giving the 
 date of her death as September 13, 1813, sets down her age as 
 eighty-one. Some accounts represent her place of birth as Meridon, 
 
 1 Historical Facts Relating to Cornish, New Hampshire, by H. Chase. Esq., 
 Farmer & Moore's collections, II, 153. An article in Harper 3 1 Weekly Bays: "A 
 little more than a century ago, Judge Chase, with his sons, General, Doctor, ami 
 Deacon Chase, became the proprietor of the township; gave two hundred acres, as 
 by law compelled, to the church of England; named it after the town from whence 
 their ancestors came; built themselves homes on the banks of the Connecticut, and 
 in 1763 had it chartered."
 
 24 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Massachusetts. In that memorandum, Bellinghain, in that State, is 
 given as her birthplace. 
 
 In the Cornish graveyard is a tomb bearing the inscription : " In 
 memory of the Honorable Samuel Chase, Esq., who died August 
 12, 1800, aged 93 years. 
 
 " Sweet peace and heavenly hope and humble joy 
 Divinely beam on his exalted soul. 
 Distraction gild and crown him for the skeys 
 AVith incomunicable luster bright." 
 
 Samuel's wife was Mary Dudley. Dudley Chase, our hero's 
 grandfather, was their second son. 
 
 On Mary's tomb is the inscription : " In memory of Mrs. Mary 
 Chase, the amiable wife of the Honorable Samuel Chase, Esq., who 
 died February 12, 1789, in the seventy-eighth year of her age. 
 
 "Here lies in this grave the pious and the just, 
 The pattern of true wisdom, sleep in dust. 
 The memory of the just is blessed." 
 
 The father of Samuel, who was born at Sutton, Massachusetts, 
 was Daniel, born at Hampton, September 20, 1685. Moving to 
 Sutton, Daniel married Sarah March, January 2, 1707. This mar- 
 riage was quite fruitful, Samuel being its first issue. 
 
 Daniel's father, Moses Chase, was the youngest son of Aquila. 
 He was born December 24, 1663, and, on the 10th of November, 
 1684, he became the husband of Ann Folansbee, who bore to him 
 many children. 
 
 Ithamar Chase married Janet Ralston at Keene, New Hampshire. 
 Eleven children, of whom one died in infancy, were the issue of this 
 union. 1 
 
 How admirably the beloved mother of this household knew and 
 loved and served her children and her husband, evidence enough has 
 
 1 Those who did not die in infancy were: 
 Hannah Ralston, born December 22, 1792. 
 Alexander Ralston, born April 17, 1797. 
 Abigail Corbett, born May 26, 1799. 
 Dudley Heber, born September 14, 1801. 
 Janette Logan, born November 8, 1803. 
 Alice Jones, born October 29, 1805. 
 Salmon Portland, born January 13, 1808. 
 Edward Ithamar, born March 2, 1810. 
 William Frederick, born June 8, 1813.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 25 
 
 been already presented. How was it with the father of the family, 
 the gentle Ithamar? 
 
 We have already seen that his renowned son, Salmon, wrote of 
 him, in 1864, as follows: 
 
 "My father was an upright Christian man." 
 
 Not Christians only should accept that sentence as at least in- 
 tended to express much meaning and convey important testimony. 
 Christianity, even to the Jew, or to the Islamite, should seem at 
 least the best, as it is the latest civilization, guided and directed by 
 religion. 
 
 In one of the Trowbridge letters our hero says : 
 
 "My father was a good man, and well informed for one who had 
 only the education of country schools and the }~ellow house. He 
 kept me pretty straight by the mildest means." 
 
 The father was, perhaps, by nature and by habit, milder than the 
 son who so portrays the former's character and conduct. Salmon 
 was, it seems to me, of sterner stuff than his father, Ithamar ; but 
 we shall see as we go forward. 
 
 The same letter, in the next sentence, tells this anecdote : 
 
 " One day I and two or three more were rolling nine pins. There 
 was an alley on our premise's. My father came and said: 'Salmon, 
 come and go with me to the field.' I lingered, hating to leave the 
 game. 'Won't you come and help your father?' Only a look with 
 that. All my reluctance vanished, and I went with a right good 
 will. He ruled by kind words and kind looks." 
 
 Here is another account by the same son of the same sire : 
 
 " He was esteemed among his neighbors ; was elected and for many 
 years reelected to the Council of New Hampshire ; a Justice of the 
 Peace, with Honorable before his name and Esquire after it. in which 
 prefix and addition my mother took an innocent pleasure, mixed, 
 perhaps, with a little pride. lie was the honored and beloved friend 
 of Mason and Webster, much younger, then a young lawyer, just 
 entering on his career." 
 
 Long live the memory of Ithamar, our hero's father! It is 
 wholesome to learn all we can of characters so patriarchal. 
 
 In the Prentiss letter, part of which I have already given, are 
 the words : 
 
 "I have not seen the Boston Courier, and know nothing of what
 
 26 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 it contained concerning me or my honored father, except from 
 your notice of it. Why any body should seek to misrepresent facts 
 concerning my early life or origin, which, in themselves, have not 
 the least possible importance "for the public, is not easy to under- 
 stand." 
 
 What the Boston Courier contained about our hero and about 
 his " honored father," I have not investigated. Not, indeed, 
 because I would say of facts relating to Chase's early life, or of 
 facts relating to his origin, that they, " in themselves, have not the 
 least possible importance for the public." That Mr. Chase expressed 
 himself but hastily, and rather thoughtlessly, when he so wrote to 
 Mr. Prentiss, he himself had shown already in his Trowbridge 
 letters ; and when he came to furnish me with matter for this work, 
 he showed himself particularly anxious about my liberally drawing 
 matter from those autobiographical letters, which, as we have seen, 
 devote so much attention to his origin and to his early life. 
 
 But, before I read the Prentiss letter, I had heard a very scan- 
 dalous account pretending to set forth the parentage of the Chief 
 Justice; and it was striking to me, that, going down the Potomac 
 on a pleasure trip, not long after the death of the Chief Justice, I 
 was told a story not less scandalous about the parentage of his legal 
 teacher, William Wirt. I have no reason for desiring to learn 
 more of either story. Both are evidently foolish fabrications or 
 malicious lies. The Boston Courier, indeed, may have had reason, 
 or apparent reason, for putting before its readers what it said, on 
 the occasion here referred to, about Salmon Portland Chase, and 
 about his father, Ithamar. Of the Courier's responsibility, in that 
 behalf, I can say nothing. 
 
 I have learned that Ithamar, our hero's father, was, for some 
 time, a distiller. That he was, for some time, also, a tavern-keeper, 
 we have seen already ; but distillers, in those days, were not con- 
 sidered murderers by poison; and there was nothing at all degrading 
 to a farmer in the keeping of a tavern in connection with his farm. 
 
 Let me now invite attention to the feeling, not devoid of vanity, 
 and strongly marked by pride, with which our hero viewed his 
 blood relations, especially on the paternal side. I would that he 
 had seemed to care a little more for the kith and kin of his never- 
 theless well-beloved mother. 
 
 Montesquieu, Madame de Stael, and other writers, magnify the 
 worth of vanity in nations. Montesquieu, indeed, appears to look
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 27 
 
 on vanity in individuals as virtuous rather than vicious. Our own 
 Franklin, who was himself a vain man, writes in a half-serious, 
 halt-jesting manner, in excuse for self-laudation — nay, in praise of 
 self-praise. At least, he pleads for the privilege of speaking of 
 one's own perfections. Chase was not like Erskine, Cicero, and 
 other oratorio worthies as to egotism. Generally, he avoided with 
 great care the forms of egotistic phraseology; but he was not afraid 
 to use the terrible word / on tit occasions. Nor did he pretend not 
 to know that he was not only big, but brainy. Writing about the 
 house in which he first beheld the light, he could express himself 
 as follows : 
 
 " The yellow house was more famous than the White House for 
 brains. Indeed, the neighboring folk used to say that in that yellow 
 house more brains were born than in any other house in New 
 England. The Beecher family was then 'in the loins' of I know 
 not what proprietor. There were born in that house Simeon Chase, 
 the eldest, who, being eldest, was probably caught early and put 
 on the farm. He lived and died a plain, honest, manly farmer. 
 There was Salmon Chase, who went through Dartmouth, became a 
 lawyer, had a great repute for sagacity and integrity; is much 
 talked of even now by old people at Portland, where he lived and 
 died just before I was born, whence the misfortune of 1113' name. 
 Then there was Barueh Chase, also a graduate of Dartmouth, and 
 also a lawyer well reported of, who flourished at Hopkinton, Xew 
 Hampshire, many years; and there he died. Heber Chase and 
 Corbett Chase were two other sons, who became physicians, I think, 
 and died comparatively young; one of them, as I seem to remember 
 having heard, at Philadelphia. Dudley Chase, Senator from Ver- 
 mont, after having been four times Speaker of the Vermont House 
 of Eepresentatives, in 1813; resigned in 1817; elected Chief Justice 
 the same year, and continued by annual election till 1821 ; again 
 Senator from 1825 to 1831 ; and brought to his end, after an honor- 
 able career, at Randolph, Vermont, was another son. Philander 
 Chase was youngest and best. When a student at Dartmouth, the 
 young son of the congregational deacon, poring over some books 
 which had somehow found their way into the college library, became 
 convinced that the Episcopal Church was that which the apostles 
 had planted, and, prompt to act on his convictions, joined its com- 
 munion. His zeal or his logic wrought mightily with the yellow 
 house folk. They all became Episcopalians — the venerable deacon, 
 his beloved wife, and all their children, so tar as I know, without 
 exception. This change must have been wrought about the begin- 
 ning of the century, for certain it is there an Episcopal Church was 
 built and consecrated; and the family were devout worshipers there 
 when I was born. The Bishop's history you know from the 
 Reminiscences. Ho was earnest, able, faithful, valiant, imperious, 
 it may be; confident in himself, more confident in Cod; always 
 saying Jehovah Jireh, God will help, and always finding himself
 
 28 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 helped; good-humored when not angry; always ready with an 
 anecdote, always ready with a good turn." 
 
 Alexander Ralston, we have seen, was his grandfather on the 
 maternal side. But who and what was Alexander Ralston? I like 
 the character of Sandie Ralston, though he does not seem to have 
 been quite a modern Joseph. Sandie was, we have already seen, a 
 native of the land whose choicest bard composed the lines, not 
 seldom sung in public at Burns' Suppers : 
 
 "Jennie's always wat, pair body, 
 Jennie's seldom dry; 
 She draggled a' her petticoatie 
 
 Comin' through the rye." 
 
 But Jennie Balloch — Scotch enough that patronymic !— -whom 
 our Sandie wedded in the land o' Burns and cakes, was not the 
 Jennie of the song. She seems to have been chaste as Diana, and 
 severe as " Good Queen Bess," in rigid moods. Tradition tells an 
 anecdote of " Stacey's Pasture" (pronounced pastoor), owned by 
 Sandie Ralston, in the neighborhood of Keene — an anecdote in 
 which Jennie, Sandie's "guid" wife, played the role of a Scotch- 
 Yankee feminine avenger, and, taking her unlucky spouse and 
 another " party/' flagrante delicto, vigorously chastised her husband 
 on the spot with what she fancifully called "a wee bit hazel rod," 
 but what, in point of fact, tradition says, was a stout cudgel. 
 
 Sometime between April 29, 1830, and July, 1831, our hero 
 made this entry in a diary which, like most other diaries, was only 
 now and then a book of daily entries : 
 
 "The modes of speech in the rustic parts of JSTew England are so 
 peculiar that I have determined to set down some of the odd 
 phrases which I every day meet with. Here they are: 
 
 "'Sharp as the little end of nothing, whittled down.' 'You don't 
 now, do you?' 'I hain't another stick to save my gizzard ' — this 
 is equivalent to a Musselman's oath by his beard. 'Gumption.' 
 'Never saw any thing like this growing among corn ' — which is an 
 exclamation of astonishment. 'A plaguy neat kind of a chap ' — 
 which is an expression of commendation. ' Curious varmint ' — 
 which signifies curious creature. 'Make yourself scarce' — an 
 intimation that your company is not wanted. ' Understood the 
 whole squinting of the business as slick as a whistle' — know all 
 about it. '1 conclude, it's best to cut stick' — a resolution to 
 depart." 
 
 The mother of our hero probably used a dialect in which a curi-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 29 
 
 ous combination of Scotch-English with New English — in other 
 words, with the novel English of" New England — could have been 
 traced. One of her surviving relatives, with whom I am acquainted 
 — one of the Ballochs — uses the English well, indeed, but so that 
 more than traces of the combination just referred to are distinctly 
 visible in his discourse. However marked or unmarked the dialect 
 of our hero's mother may have been, that which is most certain is, 
 that she was one of the best women who have yet been wives and 
 mothers. A future chapter offers letters which appear to me most 
 precious documents — letters written to our hero by his mother. I am 
 very proud of their contents, and very grateful for their indications. 
 Buckle says : 
 
 '• "We often hear of hereditary talents, hereditary vices, and 
 hereditary virtues; but whoever will critically examine the evi- 
 dence will rind that we have no proof of their existence. The 
 way in which they are commonly proved is, in the highest degree, 
 illogical; the usual course being for writers to collect instances of 
 some mental peculiarity found in a parent and in his child, and then 
 to infer that the peculiarity was bequeathed. By this mode of rea- 
 soning we might demonstrate any proposition, since in all large 
 fields of inquiry there are a sufficient number of empirical coinci- 
 dences, to make a plausible case in favor of whatever view a man 
 chooses to advocate. But this is not the way in which truth is dis- 
 covered, and we ought to inquire not only how many instances there 
 are of hereditary talents, etc., but how many instances there are of 
 such qualities not being hereditary. Until something of this sort is 
 attempted, we can know nothing about the matter inductively; 
 while, until physiology and chemistry are much more advanced, we 
 can know nothing of it deductively." 1 
 
 In nearly all that Buckle says about received ideas, one can easily 
 
 discern exaggeration and a decidedly morbid disposition to reverse 
 
 the saying : 
 
 "Whatever is, is right." 
 
 He would have been far more apt to write: 
 
 "Whatever is, is wrong," 
 
 or, perhaps, 
 
 "Whatever is, is not." 
 
 But let us hear dear old Adam Clarke on this subject. He says : 
 
 "Though it has not been found that any branch of the family of 
 the Clarkes claimed nobility, yet it has always appeared that the 
 
 J Note 12, 1 Buckle Hist. Civ. Eng., 127.
 
 30 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 character of gentility, generosi, or ingenui, has been conceded to them, 
 and to them the Roman definition of ingenui is in every respect ap- 
 plicable. They came from a pure and ancient stock; the}' had never 
 been in bondage to any man; had never been legally disgraced, and 
 never forfeited their character. In this family 1 have often heard 
 the innocent boast, None of our family has ever served the stranger." 1 
 
 Chase might, to himself, at least, have whispered the like. For, 
 after all, we all believe in blood, whatever we may think of rank; 
 and quite too many of us have great faith in rank itself. 
 
 If our snobocracy believed in blood rather than in money, it were 
 better for the country and the age in which we live — we Americans 
 about to enter the latter quarter of the nineteenth Christian cen- 
 tury — we New World Christians and non-Christians — we adorers 
 of success and show. 
 
 Yet it must be" owned that what we know about inheritance, 
 in point of personal characteristics, physical and psychical, is far 
 from great. And to the rules we think we have discerned, as gov- 
 erning the transmission of parental traits, our observation forces us 
 to acknowledge very numerous exceptions. 2 
 
 Instances are by no means rare in which the admixture of char- 
 acters we could naturally expect to find in the offspring of a pair 
 well known to us, does not manifest itself; and, indeed, " in almost 
 every large family (and sometimes even where there are no more 
 than two children) it will be observed that the likeness to the father 
 predominates in some of the children, and the resemblance to the 
 mother in others." 3 
 
 Do we, then, know nothing on the subject? We consider that we 
 know a little. We consider that we know that, normally, the in- 
 fluence of both parents on the constitution of the offspring is mani- 
 fested in the admixture of their characters, perceptible in the latter. 
 We consider that we know, that the same influence manifests itself 
 in the tendency to the hereditary transmission of perverted modes 
 of functional activity which may have been habitual to either, as, 
 for example, in gout, in scrofula, and even in insanity. 4 True, " the 
 subject of hereditary temperament and tendency to disease is still 
 
 1 Autobiography of Adam Clarke, 41. 
 
 2 Carpenter, Human Physiology, 780. Am. Ed. 3 Ibid. 
 
 1 Ibid. And see Holland's Medical Notes and Reflections, chapter on Hereditary 
 Diseases, and chapter on Gout as a Constitutional Disorder. See also Holland's Mental 
 Physiology.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 31 
 
 largely open to inquiry " l I have given much attention to that sub- 
 ject ; and, therefore, it is that I speak of it with caution rather 
 than with confidence. But 1 think it is well established that the 
 corporeal peculiarities of the parental organisms enter, modified, 
 into the organism of their offspring; and that habit, as it is per- 
 ceptible in the parental organisms, often reappears in their offspring 
 as instinctive action or tendency. 2 And I think it ought to be con- 
 sidered reasonably certain that the instincts of the soul, if 1 may so 
 express myself, the habits of the intellect and the affections, may 
 be transmitted, modified, by the parents to their offspring. 
 
 "Less familiar to the popular mind," I have elsewhere observed. 
 "are certain theories, some of which attribute to the mother the 
 furnishing of certain parts, and to the father the furnishing of other 
 parts, in what is constitutive of the offspring. One of these supp< 
 that the characters of the animal portion of the fabric are especially, 
 but not exclusively, derived from the male parent, and that the char- 
 acters of the organic apparatus are, in like manner, derived from the 
 female parent." 3 
 
 I consider that these theories are far from well defined, and, 
 therefore, far from well established. 
 
 In the present work, I think we have a special interest in the 
 phenomenon called atavism. This appears in instances in which, 
 even when the distinctive peculiarities of one parent have been over- 
 borne, as it were, in the immediate progeny, by the stronger influ- 
 ence derived from the other side, they reappear in a subsequent gen- 
 eration. 
 
 It appears to me, that in Salmon Portland Chase appear more 
 of the distinctive traits and tendencies of Aquila Chase, than ap- 
 peared either in our hero's father, Ithamar, or in his father's father, 
 Dudley. 
 
 Of Aquila Chase, who is, practically, it would seem, for us, the 
 jjropositus of the Chase lineage, we know far less than we could 
 
 1 Holland's Medical Notes and Reflections, chapter on Hereditary Diseases. 
 
 2 Dr. Holland teaches thai habit, in such cases, appears as ''superimposed" on 
 instincts, which it is aide to modify. 
 
 3 Carpenter, 779. "The Physiologists distinguish between the Organic, or Vegeta- 
 tive Life of Man and his Animal Life, or Life of Relation. The Organic Life of 
 Man, although most intimately connected with the Life of Will, and constantly 
 affected, more or less, by willful acts, and by emotions springing out of willful acts, 
 is quite involuntary. It belongs, therefore, to nature, which I would distinguish as 
 the realm of the Involuntary." Warden, Man and Law, 9.
 
 32 THE PRIVATE LTFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 wish to learn. But all we learn about him tends to prove that he 
 was a man of extraordinary energy — of energy not seen in either 
 the father or the grandfather of our hero, but in him, himself, re- 
 markably apparent. 
 
 But I respectfully warn the reader against thinking too much of 
 theories of any kind, relating to inheritance in instinct or in habit; 
 in corporeal characteristics, or in spiritual proclivities. 
 
 If rank, like blood (of which it is designed, in some degree, to be 
 the sign), deserves to be considered, much of the consideration due 
 to it must be referred to culture. Rank, in general, is in associa- 
 tion with pecuniary means; and money, while it can not purchase 
 blood, can pay the salaries of tutors and tutresses. 
 
 The force of education may, itself, indeed, be overrated. Even 
 education can not work miracles. Though mind is very evidently 
 mightier than matter, education can not lengthen a leg or prolong 
 an arm, or make a bull-necked man a man of well-shaped upper 
 person, or make that man an Apollo who was born to be an .ZEsop. 
 
 Possibly, Lavater hits the nail pretty squarely on the head, where 
 he conveys the pleasing lesson, that a man is as free as a bird in a 
 cage — the cage the Swiss enthusiast alludes to being just the human 
 body. Education can do much for the enjoyment of the freedom 
 limited by the dimensions of that cage ; perhaps, it can even widen, 
 deepen, or exalt them somewhat ; but what more ?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 33 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE HERO'S EARLIEST RECOLLECTIONS. 
 
 VERY interesting seem to me the earliest recollections of our 
 hero, as communicated in the Trowbridge Letters. Here are 
 a few specimens: 
 
 i- T remember the Frenchmen who came over, refugees from La 
 Belle France and from the Bourbon restoration. They fled when the 
 great Captain fell — Bonapartists all of them — ready for any thing, 
 
 willing to work — versatile — a few days with the Yankee tanner. 
 chopping wood and teaching his little tow-headed boy wn, deux, 
 trois, quatre, cinq, and so on, till he could count a hundred in French, 
 and thought himself a proficient in the tongue — then gone, none 
 knew whither. 
 
 "I remember, too, the hired man. who, vexed beyond all hearing 
 with a corn on his big toe, performed rash surgery on the offending 
 memher, with a chisel, a mallet, and a block of wood. The corn 
 troubled him no more, but the toe was gone." 
 
 Here is another extract from the same letter : 
 
 "And I remember the school, and my sister, the school-mistress — 
 a young girl fresh from Parson uncle Philander Chase's female semi- 
 nary at Hartford, but who seemed to me as awful as Minerva and 
 Juno — not of my acquaintance then — as I walked respectfully on the 
 other side of the road, creeping to school ; and the soldiers, going to 
 or coming from the war, Avho amused themselves, when they saw 
 my attempts to avoid them, by catching me and questioning me. and 
 letting me go; and the birds I attempted to catch by putting salt on 
 their tails ; for had I not been told, and that by my mother herself, 
 that, if I could put salt on the birds' tails. I should be sure to catch 
 them? — ami was there not a Avhole flock of yellow birds on the bank 
 of the ravine, just under a bridge I crossed on my way to school; 
 and did I not rush eagerly home, clutch a handful of salt. ami. 
 hastening back, fling the whole of it over the whole flock: and must 
 not some of it have fallen on some bird's tail? And yet did they 
 not all fly away, so that catching of them, or any of them, was a 
 simple impossibility? How 1 reproached mother and all tor deceiv- 
 ing me; and how I was laughed at for my pains; and what abate- 
 ment my proneness to belief received, what need to tell? 
 
 "These, and such as these, were the events of my most youthful 
 . l I had a kind aunt, my mother's sister — whose husband, a 
 
 1 A word illegible.
 
 Si THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 gruff, but honest man, son of old General Chase, a Judge also, seemed 
 great in our eyes, and had what seemed better, stores of grapes and 
 honey and other good things. Of these things my aunt was liberal — 
 her husband not so liberal — and, sometimes, when my mother wanted 
 me to take medicine, and I was rebellious, my good aunt would sub- 
 due my refractoriness by a promise of a cup of hone}-, which eagerly, 
 devoured, made me sicker than the medicine. This kind aunt was 
 another of the gentle sort — like my mother, and always sweet and 
 good. Her face shines now, indistinctly but sweetly, upon me, 
 through the mists of time. 
 
 " It was in the summer of 1815, I think, that my father sold his 
 farm in Cornish, to our neighbor, Marsh ; and in the fall of that year, 
 we set out on the long journey of forty miles — how long it did seem 
 then ! — to Keene. I think, Ave stopped the first night, at Walpole or 
 Drewville, and the next day reached Keene." 
 
 Here is another extract from the same letter : 
 
 "1 remember parties of boys and girls to the cold spring meadow, 
 where we gathered fresh wild strawberries, which, were doubtless, 
 small and sour, but which imaginative memory makes large and 
 sweet." 
 
 That passage is far sweeter than the fruit that it so neatly pictures. 
 Not less interesting is the statement : 
 
 " I remember, also, the great eagle which soared high in air, over 
 our farm-houses, and which the boys could see, and I fancied I could ; 
 for, it they saw something 1 thought I must; for I had no idea of 
 differing powers of vision, and fancied my eyes could see what every- 
 body's eyes could. Now, 1 think I saw nothing, but simply im- 
 agined I saw. 
 
 " 1 remember, too, a sleigh-ride with my father, up the Connecti- 
 cut, and the joy of the sleigh-bells, and how pleasant it seemed, with 
 the sparkling snow, the jingling bells, and the warm sleigh-robes; 
 and ray visit to the Cornish Flats, the town, with my father, and 
 how important I felt at the tavern table for the first time in my life. 
 
 •• And 1 remember my calf of which i was so proud and so fond, 
 and which, after all, I found to my sorrow was not mine. And the 
 going a -fishing with my brother on the Connecticut, the pulling up 
 stream in a small boat to where a little brooklet came in and made 
 a sort of quiet eddy in the water, where we put out our lines and I 
 felt something nibbling at the end of mine, and pulled up, and lo ! 
 nothing — whereupon my brother told me I must not pull till I felt 
 the fish running; and J let my line down again and gave heed to his 
 instructions, when pretty soon the nibbling began again, and then 
 the line seemed lo begin to move off, and I gave a twitch and a pull, 
 and a pull, until at length a big snake came squirming and wrig- 
 gling lo the side of the boat, and my brother caught hold of the line, 
 and said, ' It'8 an eel ' — my first introduction to those slippery gen- 
 tlemen.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 35 
 
 "And the sliding down hill on the snow over what seemed steepest 
 descents and longest distances, headling, on my wooden sled— dis- 
 tance and declivity which seemed tame enough when I saw them 
 years alter." 
 
 This most interesting document concludes as follows : 
 
 " There, my dear Mr, Trowbridge, you have the substance of what 
 I told you when you were here — in a shape, perhaps, fitter for your 
 use. You see, I was a rustic boy — very rustic — full of faults — not 
 very much given to asking for the causes of things — read}* to accept 
 what was told, me, but equally read}* to correct errors of informa- 
 tion by better information or by experience; ambitious to be at the 
 head of my class, but without much other ambition; and not grudging 
 that place to any one who fairly won it, and, least of all, to pretty 
 Betty Marble. 
 
 " Now. it' with a kind father and mother watching over such a boy, 
 with old Ascutney looking on him every morning from his mists 
 and every evening from his royal panoply of gilded cloud; and the 
 Connecticut river rolling by, and the Connecticut meadows and Con- 
 nectieut-Xew Hampshire hills over which to roam and make hay, 
 and gather flowers, and pluck strawberries — if, with these materials, 
 and a good imagination of your own, you can't make something — 
 why. it can't be helped." 
 
 Autobiographic writing, everybody knows, is full of difficulty. 
 It is difficult even if one do not demand of it that which certain 
 writers 1 seem to consider essential, namely, an unusual degree of 
 self-knowledge and a still more unusual love of truth. Did Burns 
 display his usual hard sense when he wrote: 
 
 " wad some power the giftie gie us 
 To see oursels as others see us ? " 
 
 Is it certain that 
 
 "It wad frae mony an error free us 
 An' fulish notion?" 
 
 On the contrary, seeing how others differ in their judgments of 
 us, and feeling how unjust many of the curiously differing opinions 
 of us are, perhaps we would be tempted to yet vainer, prouder self- 
 
 1 "Es gehoert zur Autobiographic ein 6eltener Grad von Selbsterkenntniss and 
 ein noch seltener Grad von Wahrheitsliebe, zwei Eigenschaften, die nur von Dem- 
 jenigen zu erwarten sind, der im gerechten Gefuehle seines moralischen Werthes 
 auch seine Schwaechen und Febler ohne Beschaemung bekennen darf, wie wir dies 
 z. B. in Alfieri's trefiiicher Autobiographie linden." Brockhaus' Conv. Lex. 
 
 4
 
 36 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 appreciation. I believe, indeed, most men of sense are far better 
 judges of themselves than of their neighbors. 
 
 Here is an account that seems to me suggestive: 
 
 "My father took possession of a large tavern house which my 
 mother's father 1 had built, and opened it to the public. It was an 
 old yellow building with a lung portico before it, and pretty large 
 for those days. The number of the rooms seemed very great to me, 
 though I now hardly think there could have been more than twelve 
 or fourteen. There was a garden immediately in the rear, and be- 
 hind a tract of land, extending back to the Ashuelot, narrow in front 
 and width, but deep, containing, say forty or fifty acres, perhaps 
 less. I remember only one spring and one summer at the old tavern 
 — the spring by the melting of the snow and the rushing of the 
 water through the channels, natural and artificial, which conducted 
 them to the Ashuelot — the summer by a ridiculous attempt I made 
 to dry up a small pool of water by building a fire on an extempo- 
 rized raft of planks, and setting it afloat upon it. I had somehow 
 lost a shoe in the pool, and. knowing that water can be dried up by 
 heat. I undertook to dry up the pool. It would probably have been 
 no great undertaking had the fire been under instead of over it, for 
 the quantity of water was not considerable. As it was, I was not 
 long in finding that I was not likely to recover my shoe in that way, 
 and abandoned the experiment in disgust." 
 
 How often older boys try like experiments, in legislation as in 
 
 physics ! 
 
 "I remember the summer time also." continued Secretary Chase, 
 "by the lessons I used to take of my sister, the same who kept the 
 school at Cornish, who undertook now to initiate me into the mys- 
 teries of Latin grammar ; and, when I failed to accomplish my pre- 
 scribed tasks, would insist that will, not capacity, was in fault, and 
 send [me] out in the garden to stay by myself till I could say my 
 lesson — not a very serious punishment, and not repeated often. And 
 I remember the fall by the black cherries in the big black cherry 
 tree, which I climbed for the fruit, and from which, climbing too 
 venturously, one day, on a branch of it, I fell, dislocating my wrist; 
 but. determined not to show a faint heart to my elder brother, who 
 was with me. and was hastening down from the tree to my relief, I 
 sprang up, and shouted to him, 'I got down first.' And when he 
 asked me. -Are you much hurt,' answered. ; Xo. only broke my 
 wrist.' 
 
 This anecdote appears to me decidedly denotive. It denotes, it 
 seems to me, quite clearly, the peculiar temper of the man who tells 
 it of himself. He never was a wliiner. He was able to endure 
 great suffering with but little demonstration of the inward anguish. 
 
 1 The aforesaid Sanclie Ralston. Chapter II.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 37 
 
 The experiences, the observations, of young Salmon at that tavern 
 home, were not all, perhaps, of the best order. Yet, on the whole, 
 they probably did not affect him prejudicially. 
 
 Doubtless, there was talk there about party politics — about Jack- 
 son, Madison, and Monroe. We must not fail to note the time. 
 We have already seen that our hero was seven or eight years old : 
 that it was in 1815 or 1816 that his father became a tavern-keeper. 
 
 Salmon was then old enough to listen to political discussions. 
 Did he care to hear them? AVe shall see that, while at school at 
 Windsor, opposite his native Cornish, he began to study printed 
 politics; but had he not already learned at least a little about such 
 matters as the war with Great Britain, the Hartford Convention, 
 Jackson's victory at Xew Orleans, the peace? 
 
 Of that more may be said hereafter. Let us now go back to 
 those Latin lessons, given by a sister. 
 
 Franklin represented Latin as like a French chapeau at a party — 
 not to be worn, but only shown — the chapeau being carried, not on 
 the head, but under the arm. How utterly mistaken Franklin was 
 in that respect it is unnecessary here to indicate. Xo man of lib- 
 eral culture ought to be without some knowledge of the Latin 
 language. How was it with Salmon's sister, giving him instruction 
 in that idiom? Was Latin good for her as well as for her brother 
 Salmon ? 
 
 That it actually was I venture not to say. It is enough to say it 
 might have been as good for her as for her brother. 
 
 I have heard that Ithamar, her father, said, in effect, respecting 
 his intention to give Salmon a better " schooling, than that given to 
 his other children ; that that discrimination was occasioned by the 
 fact that Salmon had not wit enough to take care of himself with- 
 out a thorough education." It would seem, accoi'ding to that story, 
 that 'Squire Ithamar did not discern in his son Salmon 
 
 "A mother wit and wise without the schools." 
 
 But Ithamar but jested. He knew well that Salmon had mother 
 wit as well as other wit beyond his brethren. 
 
 Ithamar, we shall discover, was more marked by love of substance 
 than by care for form, though he did have Honorable before his 
 name and Esquire after that already locally distinguished patronymic. 
 He was a judicial and no doubt judicious person — justice of the 
 peace, to-wit. If he allowed his young son to read Shakspeari
 
 38 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 we .shall find he did, no doubt he read "Sweet Will" himself, and 
 was by no means a New English type of the Dogberrian magistrate. 
 
 The office that he held is, every-where in the United States, an 
 office ill-considered, yet of great importance to the welfare of com- 
 munities and individuals. A justice of the peace, though not, in 
 theory, invested with the power of suspending the execution of the 
 laws, possesses, practically, in his narrow sphere, that fearful power. 
 Ho can mitigate or harden justice in his ministry thereof. Far 
 more importance ought to be attached to the selection of good men 
 for this neglected office. 
 
 I suppose Ithamar was a federalist, as was his brother, Philander, 
 whose relation to the early education of Chief Justice Chase Ave 
 shall find to have been so important. 
 
 Let me here invite attention to a statement in a biographic doc- 
 ument to which Ave have already been under obligation : 1 
 
 "At the age of nine years he read Eollin's Ancient History and 
 Shakspeare's plays, with a boy's relish for the entertainment they 
 afforded." 
 
 He Avas not, perhaps, precocious as John Stuart Mill appears, 
 from his own statement, to have been. And how different, particu- 
 larly as to religion, Avas the education of that English thinker from 
 the education of our hero ! Yet, Avhen we take into consideration 
 that there Avas a nine-pin alley on the premises of Ithamar Chase; 
 that that alley Avas no stranger to young Salmon's love of pleasure; 
 and that Salmon, at the age of nine years, Avas free to read such 
 works of fiction as Rollin's history and Shakspeare's plays, it would 
 hardly seem that there was much of puritanic rigor about the religi- 
 ous training of our hero's boyhood. 
 
 Yet that training Avas unquestionably such as to dispose him to 
 unfeigned religiousness — a consideration the momentousness of which 
 can hardly be entirely manifest at present. Gradually its impor- 
 tance, with reference to a thorough comprehension of the life we 
 study, must become quite evident. 
 
 Secretary Chase Avrote to Mr. TroAvbridge : 
 
 " I Avas about five years old Avhen I received the first impression 
 that men must die. My venerable grandmother went aAvay with 
 the floAvers in the early fall of 1813. 2 She was eighty-one years of 
 
 1 Very often I have found myself unable to agree with the writer of that piece 
 which, however, coming down to 1856, has been of some service as a guide. 
 2 I think this is an error.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 39 
 
 age, and died on the 13th of September. The plain stone at the 
 head of her grave in the Cornish churchyard hears the inscription : 
 •This is the road to i mortality.' I have the most indistinct impri 8- 
 sion of her death and burial; so indistinct that J can hardly distin- 
 guish recollection from impressions from hearsay. It seems to me 
 that 1 remember more of my grandfather's death. Ilv survived his 
 wife just seven months. A fall on the frozen ground, passing be- 
 tween the two houses, perhaps hastened his departure. He died on 
 the 13th of April, 1814, aged eighty-four years. On his headstone 
 is still Legible an inscription from his favorite poet, Young, the 
 greater part of whose Sight Thoughts he could repeat from memory. 
 I am not sure that I have the inscription correctly : 
 
 " 'What though we wade in wealth or soar in fame, 
 Earth's highest station ends in 'Here he lies,' 
 And 'dust to dust' concludes her noblest song." 
 
 Among the matter furnished me by the hero of this work him- 
 self was a biographic sketch of him, composed, I understood, under 
 his guidance. That document — for such it is in relation to this 
 work — contains these words : 
 
 " At Sunday school he committed more verses than an}* other 
 scholar ; once repeating accurately almost an entire gospel, in a sin- 
 gle recitation." 
 
 But no memory goes back to the beginning of existence. Writing, 
 as we have already seen, to Mr. Trowbridge, Secretary Chase could 
 not relate all his experience and observation. He could not go back 
 to the beginning of his days. We can not use Lis language in 
 endeavoring to frame a reasonable fancy as to what he must have 
 been in earliest infancy. 
 
 One is schooled when one is reprimanded. All the life of Chase, 
 at home and abroad, may, on the other hand, be treated as a school, 
 in the sense of an instruction, without special reference to repri- 
 mands or to rewards. But the schooling that our hero took directly 
 in the school, so-called, is of great interest to this whole work. 
 
 The biographic document first referred to has the words: 
 
 "The first school of Salmon was the District school — that first 
 public institution of his country with which the citizen-child becomes 
 identified. A little State of itself — with its riders, its ranks, its 
 parties, strifes, and ambitions, all engrossing tor the time. There be 
 learned the alphabet from a strip of birch bark on which his father 
 had printed it. There he was taught to spell and read — and then' 
 his emulous spirit pointed him to the head of the class, where he 
 generally stood, except when sometimes the luckier star of a neigh- 
 bor's daughter was in the ascendant."
 
 40 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 In a letter to Mr. Trowbridge, Mr. Chase said : 
 
 " Of the two years and odd months — almost another year — which 
 elapsed after my father's death, before I went West, I passed several 
 months, including a part, if not the whole, of one winter, at Windsor, 
 Vermont, under the charge of Col. Dunham, who had established a 
 ladies' school of great repute there. The Colonel was a friend of my 
 father, and proposed to my mother to send me and my sister Alice 
 to his school, which she did." 
 
 I 
 
 Of the schooling in the District school at Keene we have already 
 
 seen a little. Let us look a little more attentively at the evidence 
 
 relating to that portion of our hero's training. 1 
 
 • i I have," wrote Secretary Chase to Mr. Trowbridge,' 1 "a dim 
 l'ecollection of the District school — there were several in the town — 
 as a dark room with a great many boys in it; on our side of the 
 street, between the tavern and the meetingdiouse. One day I got 
 into a fight with a neighbor boy, the only personal fight I was ever 
 in." 
 
 In this connection let me quote a letter written by Chief Justice 
 Chase, in 1868, to Rev. Mr. Blanchard — the same letter to which I 
 am indebted for the motto of this work. That letter says : 
 
 " It is curious how men best acquainted with each other mistake 
 as to matters of personal history." 
 
 After giving an important instance aifecting himself, the writer 
 adds : 
 
 "And you, too, are mistaken in your facts Judge 
 
 Burnet. Groesbeck & Co. never cut me. Judge Burnet was a very 
 kind, personal friend; though neither he nor Mr. G. approved, I dare 
 say, of my ant i -slavery views, and I should, no doubt, have been 
 better received in society had I better suited the prevailing Cincin- 
 nati tone." 
 
 It is, indeed, curious how men best acquainted with each other 
 mistake as to matters of personal history. But it is also curious how 
 a man may be mistaken as to matters of his own personal experience. 
 
 *Be our views friendly or unfriendly to the public schools,we must agree that 
 the facts to which attention is here given are of capital importance to a study of 
 our hero's character and to a proper understanding of his conduct in important 
 crises of his life. The system of our public schools appears to me affected quite too 
 much by an unwholesome zeal, political and religious; but. with all its faults, the 
 system has worked wonders, and, well managed, it may render yet more admirable 
 service to the welfare of society in this new world. 
 
 2 January 19, 1864.
 
 OF SALMON POKTLAND CHASE. 41 
 
 A letter from my friend, Gen. Thomas Kilby Smith, 1 describes what 
 certainly must have seemed to him at least quite like a " personal 
 fight," of which the hero was none other than the modest hero of 
 this work. And I have good reason to believe that Secretary Chase 
 forgot some parts of his life when he wrote, as we have seen, to Mr- 
 Blanchard, as well as when he said to Mr. Trowbridge, that that 
 affair of his boyhood was the only personal fight he was ever in. 
 
 But let us look at the account given by our hero of that boyish 
 battle. It runs thus : 
 
 "He threw a brick or stone at me. I closed on him with 1113' fist : 
 but we were soon parted, and there were no serious consequences. 
 I remember well that I did not want to fight ; but thought a crisis 
 had come — I did n't know the word, then — and thought I must hit 
 him. and I did." 
 
 When that was only an " impending crisis," how did our young- 
 Salmon feel? Was he a physically plucky boy, or had he only moral 
 courage? Rosecrans reported that he had fired several shots at 
 the retreating foe in order to produce a moral effect. What was the 
 moral effect of the missile hurled at Salmon by that neighbor boy? 
 The brick or stone, it seems, like the issues of the cannons fired by 
 Rosecrans on the occasion just referred to, did not reach the enemy ; 
 but in the case of Chase, the foe was not retreating. 2 
 
 1 Post. 
 
 2 Anecdotes of this description are not trivial. One only wishes that this anec- 
 dote had been a little less imperfect. 
 
 School-boy battles are not necessary, it may be, to the perfection of scholastic 
 education. Yet it is not quite unpleasant to be able to record that Salmon Portland 
 Chase once used the sublime, unsurrendered, unsurrenderable right of self-defense 
 through the balled list, and actually brought that natural weapon into active use. 
 
 Did he know how to use it with effect? At that time, was he able to defend him- 
 self with skill and force combined? One doubts that. Such boys as he are apter to 
 excel in dialectics than in duels. 
 
 Many of the old ideas of the English law, the ancient usages now legally con- 
 sidered obsolete, survive at school. The wager of battle still remains a mode of trial 
 among school-boys. Boys, indeed, at home and at school, still hold to the old notion, 
 that it is the greatest merit that is destined to be most successful — that the stroi 
 are the mightiest — that conclusive proof of capability is given by success in all 
 enterprises of great pith and moment as well as in affairs of little consequence. 
 
 Indeed, we shall soon see that our hero long believed that merit could command 
 success. 
 
 That is, as we shall more and more perceive as we progress, a doctrine as pernicious 
 as untrue; and never was a life more illustrative of the truth to which it is opposed 
 than we shall find the life traces back to its birth and follows throughout its career.
 
 42 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SEEIVCES 
 
 Here is another extract from the letter of January 19, 1864 : 
 
 "My father was a farmer's son, and himself a farmer. Through 
 my mother he came into possession of considerable property, for 
 those days, in Keene ; and invested a part in the manufacture of 
 glass. After we went to Keene, I sometimes visited the factory, 
 and wondered at the way bottles were blown out of little lumps 
 of metal, and plates were cut from layers of the same, spread 
 thinly out." 
 
 Was Ithamar, the father of our Salmon, thrifty? Was he an 
 economist? Had he read Franklin's Way to Wealth f Perhaps, 
 he knew the way to wealth, if there be such a way, but could not 
 walk therein. It may be questioned whether, even if there were a 
 well-defined way to affluence, the greatest difficulty would be so much 
 in finding out that way as walking in it when discovered. Econom- 
 ics is, no doubt, a science. One of its cognitions, I would say, is, 
 that success is not to be commanded by desert in the pursuit of riches. 
 Every man can not become a modern Croesus. All of us can not be 
 rich. Did gentle Ithamar aspire to be a millionaire? That may 
 be doubted. But he seems to have tried many ways to better his 
 condition. 
 
 Possibly, indeed, the difficulty with him was that he tried too 
 many ways. Perhaps he had " too many irons in the fire." 
 
 What was the teaching of the local clergy on that subject? 
 Worldly wisdom often seems to be the wisdom which the preacher 
 is most studious to learn and to disseminate. Our miraculous Beecher 
 seems to be not less devoted to the object of at least marking out the 
 way to wealth than was Poor Richard. 
 
 But your preacher often seems to have but little knowedge of the 
 Biblical philosophy relating to accumulation. 1 That philosophy, 
 
 1 Not long ago, I listened, possibly somewhat too critically, to a sermon on the 
 gospel of the day, which — I mean the sermon — rendered, most imperfectly I thought — 
 the meaning of the words : 
 
 "And for raimemt why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how 
 they grow : they labor not, neither do they spin. 
 
 " And yet I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed as one 
 of these. 
 
 "Now, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is 
 cast into the oven: how much more, ye of little faith? 
 
 " Be not solicitous, therefore, saying : What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, 
 or wherewith shall we be clothed? 
 
 "For after these things do the heathen seek. For your Father knoweth that ye 
 have need of all these things.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 43 
 
 well studied, can be completely reconciled with the doctrine on the 
 same subject, ascribed by Plato to his master, Socrates. l 
 Writing of his early life at Keene, our hero said, in 1864 : 
 
 " I remember little about my school days while I lived there. One 
 winter I attended the District school — not the same as that I went 
 to while we lived at the tavern house, but in the lower part of the 
 town. The school that winter was kept by young Wilson, a student 
 of Harvard, and son of 'Squire Wilson, one of the Keene magnates. 
 He was afterwards member of Congress from New Hampshire, and 
 
 "Seek ye, therefore, first the kingdom of God, and his justice : and all these things 
 shall be added to you." 
 
 The last verse is thus given in a French Protestant version: 
 
 " Mais cherchez premierement le royaume de Dieu et sa justice, et toutes ces choses 
 vous seront donnees par dessus. " 
 
 In a French Catholic translation, we have the words : 
 
 " Cherez done promitrement le royaume de Dieu et sa justice , et tout le reste 
 vous sera donn '• par surcroit." 
 
 In parallel columns, here are a Catholic German and a Protestant German render- 
 ing of the same verse: 
 
 " Peswegen suchet zuerst das Reich 
 Gottes und dessen Gerechtigkeit, so wird 
 euch dieses Alles auch beigegeben werden." 
 
 " Trachtet am ersten nach dem Reich 
 Gottes, und nach seiner Gerechtigkeit, so 
 wird euch solches Alles zufallen." 
 
 It is evidently necessary to a full, clear exposition of the doctrine here in ques- 
 tion, be it human or divine, to notice the whole tendency of the context, which is 
 clearly to the point, that too great solicitude about material things is unworthy of the 
 sublime mission of a human soul, completely conscious of its capabilities and of the 
 obligations which spring out of its relations to the other beings of its order, in the 
 midst of whom it has to choose between noble and ignoble objects and pursuits. 
 
 It is quite certain that no man can be happy without goodness; but whoever 
 teaches that a good man can not be unhappy, or that merit can command success, 
 has not yet learned that sublime philosophy of aspiration after goodness, which 
 alone can comprehend why it is always bad to be bad, always good to be good. 
 
 1 Post. See birthday letter to Chief Justice Chase, Jan. 13, 1873. I heard a ser- 
 mon from the lips of Lyman Beecher, which I never can forget. It contrasted the 
 Protestant propagandist with the " Romish " propagandist, and advised the former 
 to imitate, in some respects, the latter; and particularly as to due attention to 
 corporeal compassion. Baxter's "Saint's Rest" he lauded as a truly admirable 
 work; but as a propagator he considered that it might, in some cases, prove inferior 
 to bread and butter, coffee, tea, and sugar. But I have no doubt that Lyman 
 Beecher understood the doctrine of success and failure pretty well, not only in the 
 pursuit of material happiness, but in more exalted matters. 
 
 Nothing succeeds like success in all things, lthamar, our hero's father, did 
 not, as a fortune hunter, in a certain sense, succeed ; but let us not too rashly judge 
 him as a failure. Economics was not taught in the schools as a science in his day. 
 It is not. well taught now, in the schools or thereout. Of that, however, more must 
 be advanced hereafter.
 
 44 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 subsequently held an important position in California. I remember 
 his coming to our house in a furious snow storm to see me safe to 
 school. He was always genial and kindly, and remains so, I believe, 
 to this day." 
 
 Let us dwell a little on that grateful tribute. It is equally of 
 credit to Wilson and to Chase. 
 
 "Before my District school experience," continued Secretary 
 Chase, "I attended Miss Fiske's school for youug ladies, to which, 
 by favor, two or three boys were admitted. It was a great day for 
 us when 'Squire Wilson invited us all to his house — how grand it 
 seemed to me, that moderate, square, brick house, with its grounds 
 and garden ! — and we had the privilege of the garden, and of the 
 ripe currants. It was one of the few holidays I ever had." 
 
 Here is, no doubt, exaggeration, though unpurposed. He who 
 wrote the sentence I have just laid under special stress, was a good 
 worker, and he lived a most laborious life; but he might have been 
 a harder worker, and he might have lived a more laborious life. 
 Of that, however, I propose to say a farther word or two hereafter. 
 
 In the chapter following, I have attended somewhat to the teach- 
 ing of the circumstances that surrounded Chase's early life, at 
 Cornish, Keene, and Windsor — to the force of aspect and the force 
 of use and usage, which, while he was yet a young observer of this 
 world, affected the peculiarization of his modes and tendencies of 
 action and reflection. If, indeed, 
 
 "The boy is father to the man," 
 
 we do not pay too much attention to this portion of the study 
 given, in this volume, to the life of a man, who, in spite of all his 
 foibles and his graver faults, was truly great in spirit as in body, 
 though, as I have intimated, he w ? as not particularly marked by 
 philosophic depth.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 45 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A FARTHER STUDY OP THE HERO'S EARLY LIFE — FORESHADOWINGS. 
 
 THE present volume is to be in itself complete. In another 
 volume, I propose to offer to the public An Edition of the Speeches 
 and the Writings of Chief Justice Chase, with Annotations and Con- 
 nective Commentary. In the present work, accordingly } great pref- 
 erence is given to the matter that relates to the hero's private life, 
 especially his early life. Much of his life belongs to history, and 
 much of that which interests us, in the present studies, may well be 
 supposed to be somewhat known to every reader; but the matter 
 that relates to his first years can not be supposed to be known to 
 even the best-informed reader. 
 
 Secretary Chase wrote thus to Mr. Trowbridge: 
 
 "As I have told you, I don't remember much about my earliest 
 years. I have been told that one day, when m} T father and mother 
 were absent on a visit to my uncle Philander, at Hartford, Connect- 
 icut, I came home from school complaining of headache, and was 
 put into a cradle or on a couch by my sister, and fell into a heavy 
 Bleep. It so happened that Dr. Toucy, of Windsor, our relative and 
 physician, came by and looked in to see my sister. Observing me, 
 he inquired what was the matter. My sister told him, and he exam- 
 ined me more closely, and pronounced me in great danger of a 
 malignant fever then epidemic. My sister, greatly alarmed, pro- 
 posed to send for her father, eighty or a hundred miles distant. 
 The doctor thought it was useless. The crisis would pass before 
 they could return ; he would stay and watch. Anxious hours were 
 those which followed, and the issue seemed very doubtful; but God 
 spared my life — the fever yielded; and I was on the high road to 
 recovery when my parents came back." 
 
 The same letter relates as follows : 
 
 " I was religiously educated, but not held under any very severe 
 restraint. I was baptized into the Episcopal Church, and, among 
 my earliest recollections are those of a square pew on the south side 
 of the church, about halfway from the west to the east wall, where, 
 I think, I did more sleeping than any thing else. The impressions
 
 46 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 made by parental teaching on my moral nature were strong. Some- 
 times I would infringe their rules. Once, on Sunday, I went sliding 
 down hill, with some hoys, on the dry pine leaves, and when I came 
 home my father took me into a private room, and reproved me so 
 impressively that I never felt inclined to transgress that way again. 
 "It shocked me greatly to hear boys swear, and I obeyed my 
 mothers injunction to keep away from them as much as I could." 
 
 The moral Hygiene and the moral Medicine, if I may so express 
 myself, with which our hero's earliest years were made familiar, 
 appear to have been somewhat of the puritanic order ; yet I would 
 consider that they were of the very mildest type of puritanic theory 
 and practice. 
 
 Let us now consider, somewhat more particularly, how his early 
 years were influenced by the aspects and the uses of the things that 
 formed its " physical conditions." l 
 
 It appears the town of Cornish is a tract chiefly made up of hill 
 farms. Its greatest glory is the river by which part of its extent is 
 washed. 
 
 Among the best descriptions of this interesting stream, I remem- 
 ber, but I have not now within quoting reach, one made by Harriet 
 Martineau, in her Society in America, a work, I was surprised, some 
 years ago, to find quite rich in graphic contributions — contributions 
 
 1 Aspect force may seem a novel term. But, very clearly, aspect is a force as well 
 as use, with reference to education. I am not about to follow Dr. Draper, Henry 
 Thomas Buckle, Charles de Secondat, Baron de la Brcde et de Montesquieu, or any 
 other writer, into any known exaggeration on the subject of the educating force or 
 influence of physical "surroundings." 
 
 Once, I talked with Chase himself about the long nameless science which Hum- 
 boldt might have been expected to denominate Toponomy, a science to which his 
 immortal Kosmns has most admirably furnished light and guidance. 1 excepted to 
 the minuteness of Tyler's Life of Taney in describing a place, where Taney lived, 
 not in his infancy or in his youth, but at a time when it was to be supposed that 
 his character was too distinctly molded to be greatly influenced by his surround- 
 ings, physical or psychical. But "my Chief," a little curtly, more suo, told me that 
 my criticism was but hypercriticism — that too much attention had not been devoted 
 by Tyler to the matters to which I referred. 
 
 More meo, 1 adhered to my opinion, not quite lightly formed, and thereupon 
 launched into some account of wliat I had discovered, or apparently discovered, in 
 the course of what I called my toponomic explorations. 
 
 Chase apparently approved that designation. And, indeed, it seems to me en- 
 tirely fit to name the purely scientific cognitions which relate to the appreciable 
 influence of place on individuals and nations. The Chief Justice took a lively in- 
 terest in my desire to have him dictate to me a good description of his native town.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 47 
 
 to American topography. Here is an extract drawn from Bryant's 
 admirable Letters of a Traveler: 1 
 
 " Soon after reaching the highest elevation on the road, we entered 
 the State of New Hampshire. Our way led us into a long valley 
 formed by a stream, sometimes contracted between rough woody 
 mountains and sometimes spreading out for a short distance into 
 pleasant meadows ; and we followed its gradual descent until we 
 reached the borders of the Connecticut. We crossed this beautiful 
 river at Bellows Falls, where a neat and thriving village has its seat 
 among craggy mountains, which, at a little distance, seem to impend 
 over it. Here the Connecticut struggles and foams through a narrow 
 passage of black rocks, spanned by a bridge. I believe this is the 
 place spoken of in Peters's History of Connecticut, where he relates 
 that the water of the river is so compressed in its passage between 
 rocks, that an iron bar can not be driven into it." 
 
 A river must be badly shored if it be not an object of great invi- 
 tation to the lover of the picturesque. The shoring of the picturesque 
 Connecticut is not like that of the Ohio, which, indeed, appeared to 
 Parton, as did the other rivers of the West, as little better than a 
 drainage ditch, cut by the hand of nature, in a mood of the prosaic 
 order, I suppose. The banks of the Ohio are not firm; they have 
 been cut away, in places, almost as the Mississippi banks have been 
 operated upon by that resistless current ; yet I would as soon ac- 
 cept John Randolph's character of the Ohio River as agree that 
 
 He would have clone so had his occupations and his health permitted him to render 
 that not unimportant service to this work. But, for the time being, he referred me 
 to the Trowbridge letters, which I had not then found, and to the curious book in 
 aid of which those letters were composed — The Ferry Boy and the Financier. 
 
 What he thought about that work of Mr. Trowbridge I have elsewhere shown, in 
 language used by Secretary Chase himself. I call the book a curious production, 
 chiefly on account of its mixture of mere fancy with more solid and substantial 
 matter. I have not made much use of it at any time, and some one having carried 
 off the copy furnished me by our hero himself, I have not been able to procure 
 another copy. 
 
 Of its topographic matter I have made no note, and my remembrance is quite 
 faint. The topographic matter of this chapter is derived from other sources. 
 
 Of the inner life of Cornish a note of the Appendix gives a pretty full account, 
 extending over a considerable and a very interesting tract of history. I much re- 
 gret that I have been so situated, during the preparation of this work for printing, 
 that I have not felt at liberty to pay the once intended pious pilgrimage to our 
 hero's place of birth. It is with u mind's-eye" vision only that I have been able to 
 behold the Cornish landscapes. 
 
 !Page 141.
 
 48 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Partem has described, correctly or appreciatively, the River Beau- 
 tiful of the Ohio Valley. 1 
 
 The Connecticut I never saw, though, as already hinted, I have 
 naturally desired, and even purposed to pay to its waters a pious 
 pilgrimage, in memory of him whose life is here related. But 
 that river, I am sure, must be a very interesting water-course to 
 every observer. That it must have greatly interested Chase's in- 
 fancy is hardly to be questioned. 
 
 In the spring it overflows its banks. We shall read, by-and-by, 
 a good description by our hero of a flood in the Ohio — that of 1832. 
 Most of us have read, in school-books, vivid accounts of the Con- 
 necticut's performances in flood time. 
 
 Windsor, where our hero passed some time at school, has for its 
 eastern limit, a beautiful, mile wide meadow, dividing it from the 
 Connecticut, into which, on the south, flows the Mill River, while, 
 on the north and north-w T est, Polk-Hole Brook empties into the 
 same main artery of water. By the brook and Mill River is 
 formed, at the west of the village, a natural isthmus. The whole 
 site of the village is uneven, and the main street is what Mrs. 
 Malaprop would have called decidedly turpentine. 
 
 Chase wrote to Mr. Trowbridge, of the Dunham grounds, at 
 Windsor : 
 
 " The place was beautiful, and beautifully situated — shrubbery, 
 fruits, and flowers, and walks, and, that wonder, to my young farmer- 
 boy's eyes, a little pond with gold fishes, made it very pleasant. 
 These months, perhaps, passed as agreeably as any other of my 
 younger years." 2 
 
 How was it with the aspects and the uses of the scenery at 
 Keene? Writing of that lovely village, in a letter to Mr. Trow- 
 bridge, dated January 21, 1864, Secretary Chase employed these 
 terms : 
 
 1 Referring to article Cincinnati in the Atlantic. 
 
 2 We must not fancy that the landscapes of that region lacked the charm pro- 
 ceeding from the harmony of works produced by art with works fashioned by the 
 hand of nature. Art and nature are not naturally enemies, if the expression may 
 pass criticism. Landscape gai'dening (which should be called landscape architect- 
 ure or landscape building, if the tasteful reader pleases), often mars the face of a 
 fine landscape; and the works of merely useful art not seldom unintentionally 
 spoil a prospect which, but for them, would be beautiful or picturesque ; but, after 
 all, the term "betterments," and the term "improvements," as applied to changes 
 of the purely natural in landscape, are not without teaching truth.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 49 
 
 "The town of Keene occupies quite a level plain, through which 
 the Ashuelot makes its way toward the Connecticut." 
 
 It seems the Ashuelot runs a little west of the village site, and 
 enters the Connecticut a little above the line of Massachusetts. A 
 pond in Washington is its source. At Keene it receives a branch 
 issuing from ponds in Stoddard. Having passed Keene, it takes its 
 way to Swanzey, where it receives another considerable branch. 
 
 According to Bryant's Letters of a Traveler, Keene bears descrip- 
 tion as "a flourishing village on the rich meadows of the Ashuelot, 
 with hills at a moderate distance swelling upward on all sides. It 
 is a village after the New England pattern, and a beautiful specimen 
 of its kind — broad streets planted with rock maples and elms, neat 
 white houses, white palings, and shrubs in the front inclosures." l 
 The principal street is a mile long. 
 
 Some notion of its neighborhood is yielded by this farther extract 
 from that pleasing book of Bryant: 
 
 "During this visit to New Hampshire, 2 I found myself in a hilly 
 and rocky region, to the east of this place, and in sight of the sum- 
 mit of Monadnock, which, at no great distance from where I was, 
 begins to upheave its huge, dark mass above the surrounding 
 country. 
 
 "I took much pleasure in wandering through the woods in this 
 region, where the stems of the primeval forest still stand — straight 
 trunks of the beech, the maple, the ash, and the linden, towering 
 to a vast height. The hollows are traversed by clear, rapid brooks. 
 The mowing fields, at that time, were full of strawberries of large size 
 and admirable flavor, which you could scarce avoid crushing by 
 dozens as you passed." 
 
 Though, when I first met Salmon Portland Chase, he had evi- 
 dently been long accustomed to contend with the difficulties of short- 
 sightedness, his diaries afford clear evidence that there was once 
 a time when he could see, or fancy that he saw, quite distant 
 points of landscape. This appears to me the more remarkable, be- 
 cause I have always understood, that, while the vison of Myopia 
 is, or may be, a great magnifier of the near and the minute, it can not 
 clearlv view the distant. 3 
 
 1 Pages, 141, 142. 2 That was in 1843. 
 
 3 " The ordinary forms of defective vision, which are known under the names of 
 Myopia and Presbyopia, or 'short-sightedness' and 'long-sightedness,' are entirely 
 attributable to defects in the optical adaptation of the eye. In the former, its re- 
 fractive power is too great; the rays from objects at the usual distance are conse-
 
 50 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I have now at hand the earliest diary he furnished for ray 
 biographic use. It opens on the first of January, 1829. The 
 handwriting in it is distinguished by minuteness in the characters, 
 although these are less minute than the characters used in his later 
 chirographical performances. Any one who ever saw him working 
 off a letter, sitting with his back against the light, and writing in 
 comparative obscurity, must have thought the spectacle a curious 
 phenomenon. I have not learned how it was with him at school. 
 Did he then bend down closely to the page, or bring the page up 
 closely to his eyes? I know not. This I know, that he must have 
 taken a " fine sight" of all the pages presented for perusal. 
 
 Doubtless, the small characters he used in writing were much 
 magnified to him. And yet he seemed to wish his private secretary 
 to write a large, bold hand — perhaps with special reference to its 
 general legibility. 
 
 To return to his visual relation to the scenery with which his 
 earliest years were most familiar. Doubtless, the whole aspect-force 
 at Cornish, influenced his modes of thought and feeling. Every 
 sight and every sound with which his infancy was well acquainted, 
 must have tended to affect his tastes and traits. But let us not 
 forget that aspect-force at Cornish was but gentle. There was 
 nothing there of Mountain Gloom or Mountain Glory as described 
 by Ruskin. 1 True, New Hampshire has been called the Switzer- 
 land of North America; but, even in its most characteristic moun- 
 tainous expanse, it is not of the Swiss pronoun cedn ess; and, though 
 the mountainous was not entirely absent from the scenery, near 
 which the Cornish Flats approached the spot where Chase first 
 looked on landscape, there was nothing of the rugged, nothing of 
 
 quently brought too soon to a focus, so as to cross one another and diverge before 
 they fall upon the retina, only those rays which were previously diverging at a 
 large angle, from an object in its near proximity. Hence, a ' short-sighted ' per- 
 son, whose nearest limit of distinct vision is not above half that of a person of 
 ordinary sight, can see minute objects more clearly; his eyes having, in fact, the 
 same magnifying power which those of the other would possess, if aided by a con- 
 vex glass that would enable him to see the object distinctly at the shortest distance. 
 But, as the myopic structure of the eye incapacitates its possessor from seeing ob- 
 jects clearly at even a moderate distance, it is desirable to apply a correction; and 
 this is done by simply interposing, between the object and the eye, a concave lens 
 of which the curvature is properly adapted to compensate for the excess of that 
 of the organ itself." Carpenter, Human Physiology, 670, 671. 
 1 Modern Painters, IV, 311-338.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 51 
 
 the gloomy, in the scenery whose features he beheld in infancy and 
 childhood. 
 
 Even had the fact been otherwise, it is not for a mind like his 
 that the influence of physical "surroundings" is a force of irresist- 
 ible power. Such a mind creates for its own use a spiritual climate. 
 In the presence of the mountains, capped with iee, it freezes not into 
 an intellectual rigidity or into a spiritual gloom. The region of the 
 Palm is not for it within the tropics, in so far as tropic influences 
 are of the noxious order. 
 
 Let us not forget another matter of great practical concern in 
 this connection. 
 
 Salmon Portland Chase's life was half nomadic. He did not 
 remain long under the influence of any place whatever. 
 
 These remarks with reference to the purely physical parts of his 
 shifting dwelling-places, naturally lead to like remarks about the 
 spiritual life of Cornish, and the spiritual life of Washington, and 
 about that of Cincinnati, and about the inner life of Columbus, and 
 about the same life at the seat of government. In one sense, Chase 
 was neither a Western man nor an Eastern man, neither a Northern 
 man nor a Southern man, when he became, comparatively speaking, 
 settled in Ohio! 
 
 Secretary Chase wrote to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 " Dudley thought he would like to get his own living, and his fancy 
 led him to the ocean. One day he set out for that strange, distant 
 Boston, and soon after we heard he had shipped as a seaman. How 
 anxiously, after that, we all followed the course of that ship. We 
 heard of her in the Mediterranean, at Barcelona ; in other seas and 
 at other ports. Two or three years later, I, at uncle Philander's 
 (Bishop Chase's) learned that he had left the ship; and had died in 
 Demarara. South America. His was the first depaz-ture and the first 
 death in our family." 
 
 How many speculations were indulged in by widow Janette Chase 
 and Salmon and the other brothers of the wandering seaman, it is 
 natural to fancy but impossible to ascertain. But, surely, there was 
 education in the thoughts which were occasioned to our young hero 
 by the distant, perilous, unknown adventures of the absent brother. 
 Of the 
 
 ' Watery kingdom wnose ambitious head 
 Spits in the face of heaven," 
 
 Shakspeare often speaks in terms almost bombastic, as in the just 
 5
 
 52 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 quoted language. Buskin says, indeed, he had no reverence for 
 mountains, 1 and that he was corrupted by the Renaissance; 2 but 
 the Tempest and some passages in other plays, clearly evince his 
 feeling for what Humboldt calls the lower ocean, over which the 
 airy ocean of the heavens passes through its fearfully lovely 
 changes. 3 
 
 Only a short line of ocean coast belongs to Chase's native State. 
 His native landscapes were but fluvial. But it is curious how con- 
 stantly he had his home in fluvial regions. Born at Cornish, on the 
 banks of the Connecticut, he early wandered to Ohio, where at 
 Worthington, he had the Whetstone (or the Olentangy) for resort to 
 fish or to swim — was he a swimmer? — and ere long he found him- 
 self in the Cincinnati Valley, through which la belle riviere winds on 
 its gentle way toward the rushing Mississippi. 
 
 Aspect-force at Cornish, as at Keene and at "Windsor, must have 
 had its appreciable influence in educating such a mind as his. His 
 prose is often almost poetry at times, and though his verse (whereof 
 some examples are given elsewhere in this volume) was not so com- 
 pletely touched with the divinest fire of fancy and imagination as 
 to prove that he was born to be a bard, it will be found sufficiently 
 poetic, as to form and substance both, to prove, beyond all question, 
 that he had deep feeling for the picturesque in all its presentations. 
 
 But we must not dwell too long on the aspects of the scenery that 
 was familiar to the childhood or to the boyhood of our hero. Let 
 us now attend to the uses of that tract of human habitation and to 
 its inhabitants. 
 
 There were few negroes and no slaves at home there. Has the 
 reader made himself acquainted with Frederick Douglass's My Bond- 
 age and my Freedom f If not, let me most respectfully advise the 
 studious perusal of that remarkably suggestive work. In studying the 
 traits and tendencies of our colored element of population, fourteen 
 rears ago, I found that volume full of interest. I think at present 
 of its curious account of the Lloyd plantation, which, in some 
 
 1 Modern Painters, IV, 355-362. 2 lb. 359. 
 
 3 Kosmos, I, 321. "Die Tiefe des Oceans und des Luftmeeres sind uns beide 
 unbekannt. . . . Das Luftmeer ruht theils auf der festen Erde; deren Rergketten 
 und Hocliebenen. . . . als gruene, Avaldbewachsene Untiefen aufsteigen; theils auf 
 dera Ocean; dessen Oberfiaeche den beweglicken Boden bildet, auf dem die unteren. 
 dichteren, wassergetraenkten Luftschichten gelagert sind."
 
 OF SALMON POETLAXD CHASE. 53 
 
 respects, appeared to Mr. Douglass, who was there a human thing — 
 no person — just a chattel — in some respects, I say, that lordly place 
 appeared to Mr. Douglass, in remembering its chief distinctions, not 
 unlike an English manor. 
 
 Nothing like that place appeared where Chase's infancy and boy- 
 hood passed, in honorable toil and creditable study. Not until he 
 went to the Ohio Valley did his eyes behold aught like the Lloyd 
 plantation. In that noble valley, on the Kentucky side, he must 
 have seen, on Col. Taylor's place, the spectacle of many men and 
 women owned by one rich proprietor. But in the spots first known 
 to him, he saw no spectacle so wounding to the eyes of a discerning- 
 viewer. 
 
 Col. Lloyd owned so many slaves, that, passing over his planta- 
 tion, and saluted by his human chattels, he was often unacquainted 
 with their persons. 
 
 Chase relates as follows: 
 
 " One winter — perhaps the winter I attended Mr. Wilsom's school 
 — I went with my sister Abigail — school ma'am — to see our married 
 sister, Hannah, Mrs. Whipple, aJt Hooksett, Hooksett Falls of the 
 Merrimac. We set out in a sleigh with one horse, I driver. My idea 
 of sleighing was bells and fast driving, and I put up the poor horse 
 to all he knew. He soon tired out, and I was compelled to let him 
 moderate his pace. We aimed to reach Peterboro and Col. Steele's. 
 but the horse was very tired ; a snow storm came on and oblitera- 
 ted the track ; we missed the road and had a fair prospect of a night 
 in the sleigh; but at length we reached a house, and obtained a small 
 boy to guide us to Col. Steele's, where we found food, shelter, and 
 welcome. The next day we were at Hooksett, where there was a 
 warmer welcome, and I found myself an uncle. 
 
 " From Hooksett we went to visit uncle Baruch, my father's 
 brother, a reputed lawyer, at Hopkinton, where we had another 
 warm welcome from aunt Ellen and our cousius. as well as our 
 
 uncle. Here I found the Life of Steph , or Memoirs of some 
 
 other rascal ; which, when my good aunt found me reading with 
 eager interest, she snatched it away in great horror, and gave some 
 earnest advice against such reading, from which, I fear, I profited 
 little. Boys will read of adventurers when they can, even it not 
 adventurei-s themselves." 
 
 Thank heaven for the boyishness of Chase's boyhood ! Would 
 that he had been even a little more a boy! But, after all, no doubt 
 the " good aunt " had the best intentions. 
 
 The narrative of that excursion closes in this fashion: 
 
 "Home from Hooksett and Hoj)kinton. There was nothing of the
 
 54 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 journey worth remembering, unless a disappointment on finding 
 the tavern fires at Francestown not so good as my mother's." 
 
 Cold New England, region of hard earth and hard, clear heads, 
 but not of flinty hearts, the Scotland of America, was much misun- 
 derstood at Cincinnati when our hero first went to the Cincinnati 
 Valley. I, myself, first knew that valley, and compared it with 
 some places in Kentucky, about five-and-forty years ago. Away 
 from it above two years, I once more found myself a dweller there 
 in 1832 ; and, since that time, I have observed it with affectionately 
 close attention. There I find the most characteristic tract of land- 
 scape, and the most characteristic population in this country. There, 
 however, I observed the Sectional Aversion, which Miss Martineau 
 so well describes as marking Cincinnati in 1835, if I remember 
 rightly. There, at that time, and for some time afterward, there 
 was almost a hatred of New England and New Englishmen, assid- 
 uously cultivated by some classes of the population, and especially by 
 " river men," with whom I had much intercourse, and by the mem- 
 bers of the church, that seemed to me a very mother. But the 
 prejudices here alluded to, though not annihilated, have been greatly 
 modified. 
 
 Had the composer of this work continued to participate those 
 prejudices, he could not have felt at liberty to undertake a work of 
 this description. Every American should hasten to acknowledge 
 that those little less than stupid prejudices have done much to dam- 
 age most important interests throughout the land. 
 
 The New England education of our hero, comprehending all the 
 influence of aspect and of use, as recognized in some of the forego- 
 ing paragraphs, appears to:me to have prepared him admirably for 
 his residence at Cincinnati. What a Cincinnatian he was to be — 
 how much that once western but now rather central city owes to his 
 enlightened and unselfish public spirit — many Cincinnatians have 
 yet to learn. But if that city owes so much to Chase, let her ac- 
 knowledge that, through him, her obligation to New England, and 
 especially to Cornish, Keene, and Windsor, is a heavy debt of grati- 
 tude. 
 
 Here is another extract from a Trowbridge letter : 
 
 "I have said nothing yet of my father. What his precise order 
 was I do not know — nor, indeed, that of the rest. I think he may 
 have been some eight or ten years older than Dudley, who was born
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 55 
 
 in 1771. He never went to college, but had the common school ed- 
 ucation of other farmer's boys, and the educational influences of the 
 yellow house." 
 
 What he had already said in the same letter, about the yellow 
 house, was partly this : 
 
 " I told you about the little old j-ellow house where my father 
 lived, and lived, I suppose, when I was born." 
 
 In Chapter I we found our hero writing that that yellow house 
 was more famous than the White House for brains. But had the 
 education of our hero's father been collegiate, he might have been 
 much better fitted for the duties he had to discharge as educational 
 director of .his household. Self-made, or self-educated, truly he was 
 not ; indeed, he was, if I may so express myself, too well made for 
 that ; your self-made man being, for the most parff, ill-made; but, as 
 we have already seen, he had, apart from the educational influences 
 of the yellow house, only those of the pulpit and the common 
 school. 
 
 What manner of man, after all, was Ithamar, the husband of 
 Janette? Was he a man well worthy of that woman? We have 
 seen that she was innocently proud of the Honorable before and the 
 Esquire after his name. Was he a man of decorous demeanor? 
 His distinguished son thus wrote of him : 
 
 " As he grew in years, he married my mother, then a handsome 
 young woman, daughter of Scottish parents, Ralston pere, Balloon 
 mere, herself just excepted from birth in Scotland because her par- 
 ents came over the very year she saw the light — a sort of heiress. 
 too, for was not her father proprietor of a great part of what is now 
 the beautiful town of Kecne? And my father, tun. was held in good 
 esteem among his neighbors. For thirteen years. 1 have heard, he 
 represented his district in the council of New Hampshire under the 
 Federal regime, and was much talked of for Governor. He was. I 
 believe, never a candidate. He was. however, a Justice of the Peace, 
 and administered equity! I have heard that he was Less careful of 
 form than substance, so much so that once when a couple called on 
 him to be married at a rather late hour, when he had retired to bed, 
 the worthy 'squire, unwilling to disappoint the young folks, and 
 equall}' unwilling to dress himself and come down, married them 
 from the window, and told the groom to come for his certificate next 
 morning I A kindly gentleman was my father, honest and faithful ; 
 a just magistrate; a diligent representative: a true man. lie had 
 oxen, and cows, and sheep, and well-filled barns, and a gentle wife, 
 and loving children. He ruled his family as well, I think, as most
 
 56 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 families are ruled; but I remember no angry word or violent ex- 
 clamation from his lips, nor from those of my blessed mother. 
 
 "Ho must have been about forty-five when 1 was burn, in 180S, 
 and my mother must have been eleven or twelve years his junior." 
 
 A paragraph relating to our hero's early memories reads thus: 
 
 •It is strange to me how dim every thing is in that distant time. 
 I see just one little part of things — glimpses of transactions — the 
 i reality — totality?) hid behind clouds with little fissures revealing a 
 part of an affair or person, and that little with mist clinging round 
 and obscuring it. I dare not vouch for the entire authenticity even 
 of what I seem to remember best." 
 
 Yet one of the great gifts of this great man was memory, or, 
 perhaps one ought to say the faculty of committing to memory, or 
 " getting by heart." Let us be thankful that, amid his busy life, 
 before the lapsing of the years belonging to his middle period, our 
 hero could so well remember his good father's ways and works. 
 
 Here are some sentences relating to that father's last sickness and 
 his death : 
 
 'They called it the numb palsy. No remedies availed. He lin- 
 gered some days, and then we were called into his room. Father was 
 dying. How still the room was. except the heavy breathing and the 
 ominous rattle. He could not speak to us, and we stood mute and 
 sobbing. Soon all was over. AVe had no father. 
 
 'Then came the funeral. The Rev. Mr. Strong, of Northampton, 
 eame up to preach the funeral sermon. His brother masons paid 
 the last tributes of respect and honor. And all was over. The light 
 was gone out from our home." 
 
 That was, indeed, the going out of a great light. Yet not the only 
 light. The mother of the household still remained; a softer light, 
 indeed, but a true flame of purest lustre. 
 
 Was there ever written, for the stage, aught more beautiful for 
 the closet than the last act in the Merchant of Venice f It sums up 
 the beauty of the whole enchanting piece like some grand peroration, 
 only so much more completely and so very variously. Let us recall 
 to mind the words : 
 
 "Portia. That light we see is burning in my hall. 
 How far that little candle throws its beams ! 
 So shines a good deed in a naughty world!" 
 
 The good deeds of our hero's unpretending father toward his 
 so splendidly destined Salmon are to shine much farther in this
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 57 
 
 "naughty world" of ours than any one imagined while our hero was 
 a child. 
 
 But Xerissa says, with almost bitter wisdom, all unconscious that 
 her words untold a whole volume of philosophy : 
 
 •• When the moon shone we did not see the candle." 
 
 Portia, more philosophic, grasps at once the lesson of that almost 
 automatic utterance. She says: 
 
 "So doth the greater glory dim the less. 
 A substitute shines brightly as a king, 
 Until a king be by ; and then his state 
 Empties itself as doth an inland brook 
 Into the main of waters." 
 
 Bv-and-by, alas! we shall forget the worthy father's candle in the 
 brightness of the son's great glory. Cornish and Keene must give 
 place to Cincinnati and to Washington. Instead of local prominence, 
 we shall engage attention with a prominence, not only national, but 
 cosmopolitan. But let us not despise the obligations of our hero's 
 education to the gentle ministry of Ithamar, his father. 
 
 Ithamar was a true gentleman. He was, indeed, a truly gentle 
 man, and, after all, what more is necessary to the make-up of a real 
 gentleman ? 
 
 The following sentence oifers interesting matter: 
 
 '.'The war had closed just before my father removed his family to 
 Keene. and with the close of the war came reduction of duties and 
 the restoration of commerce, and importation of foreign glass, and 
 reductions of price of the home-made: and the factory proved a seri- 
 ous loss, and my father's affairs had fallen into some disorder before 
 his death." 
 
 That is a strange expression in the Lady of Lyons : 
 
 "There is no guilt 
 In the decrees of Providence." 
 
 No guilt, indeed, is to be found, nor any real shame, in 
 " The uses of adversity," 
 
 except where poverty is punishment for prodigality or other sin 
 against well-being.
 
 58 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Chase was never very rich. He came, indeed, to live in fashion- 
 able style, or almost fashionable style — a style most different from 
 that of his young life; but he was never avaricious; never ardently in 
 love with ostentation of the fashionable order. 
 
 But of that we shall see more as we proceed. 
 
 Here is another extract from the Trowbridge letters : 
 
 "After the affairs of the estate had been settled, my mother found 
 herself with only a remnant of property. She removed from the 
 tavern place as soon as she could, into a yellow stoiy and a half 
 house, at the north-east corner of the main street and the Swanzey 
 road to Boston. A guide post stood opposite the house at the inter- 
 section, and jgQP" To Swanzey 7 miles, jg® " To Boston 77 miles, often 
 sent my young imagination to the neighboring town and to the great 
 city. It seemed very far off and very huge." 
 
 That huge, far-off city was to know, quite well, the boy that then 
 was so obscure. But did he then resolve, by means of 
 
 "those inspiring tools 
 By which man masters men," 
 
 to make his name immortal"? Did he sometimes find himself say- 
 ing: 
 
 "Ye glorious stars, high heaven's resplendent host, 
 To whom I oft have of my lot complained, 
 Hear and record my soul's unaltered wish: 
 Living or dead, let me but be renowned? " 
 
 He has been called inordinately ambitious. I have found no ev- 
 idence to justify the charge. He may, indeed, have prayed : 
 
 "Oh! grant an honest fame, or grant me none." 
 
 The love of fame is not ignoble. It is not a noxious passion, but 
 a spiritual flame of purest source and loveliest lustre. 
 
 Salmon Chase, the boy, as father unto Salmon Chase the man, 
 in the poetic sense already noticed, did not live a blameless life, 
 perhaps. But I have laid at least the corner-stone of perfect dem- 
 onstration, that, if he became corrupt, his manhood mocked his boy- 
 hood. Soon the broad and deep foundations of that proof shall be 
 completed; and, above it, I dare prophesy, shall be seen to rise the 
 statue-crowned shaft of evidence surmounting evidence, that, if this 
 work could but be worthy of its object — of its hero — it would be 
 among the noblest monuments of the literary order.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 59 
 
 This, it is the easier to say, because as already intimated, and, in- 
 deed, already shown, the body of this volume offers to its readers 
 but a compilation of Chase's own pen-work, with biographic and 
 historic commentary and some annotations. 
 
 One of the Trowbridge letters has this paragraph : 
 
 "My eldest sister, Hannah, was married in that house in 1818. 
 From that house my brother, Dudley, a youth of sixteen, perhaps, 
 went away to sea. He was the only musician in our family except 
 my youngest sister. We were ten in all. He used to amuse us all 
 by setting me to march to time as he played; but I could never keep 
 step. 1 tried to play ; but could not tell the difference between the 
 notes well enough to succeed." 
 
 Had our hero, then, no music in his soul? Much in his soul, 
 but little in his fingers and his feet. He was not 
 
 " fit foi % treasons, stratagems, and spoils," 
 
 but loved the concord of sweet sounds, especially, as we shall find, 1 
 when made by the guitar. 
 
 Was he a gallant in his boyhood? Did he have his little loves 
 in due succession? Here is a suggestive statement: 
 
 "There was a sort of country tavern between the two houses, kept 
 by a Mr. Marble, who had two pretty daughters, Gratia and Eliza- 
 beth, or, as we used to call them. Grace and Betty, who went to the 
 same district school with me. Betty was my little sweet-heart and 
 rival. She was my most formidable competitor for the head of the 
 spelling-class, and my best liked playmate out of school. Poor Betty ! 
 she grew up to be a very handsome girl. I remember a visit she 
 made us with her sister, several years after in Keene, and how wond- 
 erful I thought their singing of the 'Star of Bethlehem.' She was 
 well married, and died. Alas! the common fate of lovely women! ' : 
 
 How much hidden meaning lurked in this last sentence must be- 
 come apparent as this narrative unfolds its revelations, though the 
 subject is almost too sacred to be treated of in any words save those 
 of Chase himself. 
 
 But now we must give closer attention to the subject of our hero's 
 early schooling. The importance of that theme to the whole work 
 is evidently capital. 
 
 Writing of his school days at Windsor, our hero says : 
 
 "Here I began Latin, and was a diligent scholar. I attended 
 1 Post, Chapter IX. '
 
 60 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Sunday school and committed prodigious numbers of verses. I 
 joined the boys — for there were half a dozen or more at the ladies' 
 school — who occupied one room as dormitory — at their pranks; at 
 which, when the Colonel 1 caught us, woe to the boy with the long- 
 est locks. One roguish fellow shaved off all his front hair so as to 
 allow no hold, which the Colonel regarded as a contempt of author- 
 ity and insubordination — and found another way to get at his cor- 
 poreal sensibilities. One night we undertook to have a good time 
 with nuts, jaekstraws, etc., and had built a rousing tire, and were 
 in full tide of successful experiment, when a well-known tread was 
 heard on the stairs. Like rabbits to their burrows the bo}*s hur- 
 ried into bed, and were virtuously asleep. The Colonel appeared 
 at the door, spectrally, in his night dress. But we soon realized 
 it was no spectre. He was not deceived by our shallow artifice. 
 Suddenly, one bo} T , seized by the hair, found himself in the middle 
 of the room — then another — then another. At length, after making 
 us cover up the fire, and having satisfied the offended majesty of the 
 law b}" sufficient punishment, he left us, discomfited, to seek relief 
 in sleep. I think this must have been in 1818 or 1819." 
 
 Not in this immediate connection we have the following para- 
 graph : 
 
 " I went through the Latin grammar at Mr. Dunham's ; through 
 Historia Sacra; through a great part of Viri Romre, and began to 
 read the Bucolics of Virgil. I was counted quite a prodig^y; but I 
 see now that thorough instruction and acquisition of one quarter 
 would have been much better than superficial coursing through the 
 whole." 
 
 Perhaps it may be well once more to anticipate a little. 
 
 Writing, in 1864, to Mr. Trowbridge, Secretary Chase, relating his 
 experiences as a teacher in Washington, expressed himself as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " There was nothing special to mark eighteen months that fol- 
 lowed. I kept my school and on the whole succeeded, though I was 
 not, I fear, a very accurate teacher. Mr. Wirt, I remember, com- 
 plained that I did not teach the boys correct prosody, and 1 am 
 sure justly, for 1 had never been taught to consider prosody as of 
 any consequence. I made some attempts, to master it, but did not 
 succeed, and never have succeeded. Mr. Wirt once wrote me that 
 he should remove his bo3 7 s, but I replied by an appeal which pre- 
 vailed with him to continue them." 
 
 Secretary Chase farther wrote to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 " It was at Mr. Dunham's that I first undertook to ' speak a piece.' 
 
 1 Colonel Dunham, principal of the school.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 61 
 
 How awkward I was ! How little notion of what I had to do, or 
 of the way to do it. How seared I was as I walked out before the 
 boys and girls, and, with hands dangling and head down, 'went 
 through.' There were other boys who did better. There was one 
 who stood at the head of us all for talent and general capacity. 
 After a varied experience — preacher, author, lawyer, perhaps — this 
 boy became an old man. and, older in wear and impairment than in 
 years, came into my library at "Washington, feeble, ill-clad, and 
 almost hopeless, and asked for help. 1 gave him money and em- 
 ployment in the Treasury Department, and thought he was saved ; 
 but the liquor devil was too strong. After some months he gave 
 way — was excused; gave way again — was excused again; and again 
 gave way, and he was dismissed. There was no help for it." 
 
 Here is a pleasanter statement : 
 
 •• There were young girls from Georgia there, and from other parts 
 of the south; young girls from the north, some of them famous 
 afterward for beauty and talent." 
 
 Does the reader wonder now that Chase was a great venerator 
 and a lively lover of the sex ? AVe have already seen that these 
 lovely schoolmates of his were with him at a place marked by great 
 beauty. 1 
 
 Here is an interesting statement relating to the life at Windsor: 
 
 "At Mr. Dunham's school I first got a notion of political parties. 
 He had been an editor, and up in the attic of his house were still to 
 be seen files of his newspapers, the Washingtonian, I believe, or the 
 Columbian — fiercely federal. I had already learned from my mother 
 that newspapers were not to be implieitl}' relied upon for truth and. 
 veracity, and did not receive the statements of the Washingtonian 
 with absolute credence; but, certainly, 1113* impressions of James 
 Madison and his supporters were not of a flattering sort." 
 
 Perhaps Mr. Hildreth read that file before he wrote his volumi- 
 nous and remarkably entitled diatribe, The History of the United 
 States. Farther statement of facts, here of special interest, was 
 thus made to Mr. Trowbridge: 
 
 " I think it was in 1818-19 that I was at Mr. Dunham's — perhaps 
 soon alter my sister Hannah's marriage, in the fall of 1818, which 
 was an event in our family. 
 
 " If I am right in this date, I recited to Mr. Barstow after my 
 return [to Keene], ami 1 am pretty certain it was so; for with Mr 
 Barstow I began Greek, going through the grammar, and making 
 some progress in the Greek testament. I took up Euclid, too. I 
 
 1 Ante, Chapter II.
 
 62 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 am not likely to forget the first proposition. Nobody explained 
 any thing to me, and I had not the least idea of what was to be 
 done. I knew I had a lesson to get, and I got it. I did not know 
 that any thing was to be reasoned or proved, and I neither reasoned 
 nor proved ; but simply committed the proposition to memory. I 
 was not long, however, in finding out what problems and theorems 
 meant, and went to work the right way, not unsuccessfully." 
 
 Was Chase a very hard student, then or afterward ? In a diary 
 he kept in Washington, he entered, November 5, 1829, words, else- 
 where 1 quoted, relating to an article that he had read reviewing 
 Dwight's Travels in Germany. On coming to those words we may 
 be readier to answer. Said Secretary Chase to Mr. Trowbridge: 
 
 " By the way, I must tell you how my faith in newspapers received 
 its first and rude shock. I had been reading — it was while we lived 
 at the old tavern place — an article on the brevity or uncertainty 
 of life. The writer supposed the possibility of the whole human 
 race perishing within a year. I took his supposition for an asser- 
 tion, and hurried to my mother, asking : ' Is every thing printed in 
 the newspapers true?' 'I suppose so, my son. What makes you 
 ask?' ' Why, mother, the paper says eveiybody will die this year.' 
 She relieved my apprehensions on this head by some pretty positive 
 words, and my faith in the credibility of newspaper paragraphs has 
 never since been restored. It may be at its lowest ebb just now." 
 
 These words were written on the 19th of January, 1864. The 
 last sentence, clearly, was a product of grim humor. Chase, in 
 point of fact, was always deeply interested in the newspaper press. 
 In him, indeed, appeared what may be called the printing instinct 
 — that which makes men authors, editors, and correspondents or 
 essayists ; contributors to that which, in spite of its defects, and even 
 vices, makes, this day, the greatest glory of the arts and sciences, 
 and constitutes, perhaps, the surest safeguard of our civil and religious 
 freedom. 
 
 The New England papers, doubtless, had more than a little to do 
 with Chase's early education. 
 
 January 21, 1864, our hero said to Mr. Trowbridge, in relation 
 to the life at Keene : 
 
 "The lane I have spoken of ran back to the hills, and there, turn- 
 ing northward along their side, joined, at no great distance, a road 
 which went east from near the meeting-house at the upper part of 
 the town. This lane bordered my mother's little farm near half a 
 mile, doing along it one cold morning in the late fall or early 
 
 1 Chapter XIII.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 63 
 
 winter, I received a lesson which I never forgot. Lying by the 
 side of the road was a man stark dead. His face lay downward 
 in the shallow center of the road-side ditch. He had been in the 
 town before ; had become intoxicated ; sought his way to his home 
 on the hill-side; had stumbled probably; had fallen, face forward, 
 into the water, not deep enough to reach his cars; and then, unable 
 to recover, had perished. Some neighbors came and removed the 
 body; and Mr. JJarstow preached a sermon on the evils of intem- 
 perance before their were any temperance societies ; but what sermon 
 could rival in eloquence that awful spectacle of the dead drunkard 
 — helplessly perishing where the slightest remnant of sense or 
 strength would have sufficed to save ! " 
 
 That lesson never was forgotten. Other lessons of like tendency, 
 however, were to be learned at "Washington. Our hero early 
 came to be what he remained through life, a hearty hater of in- 
 temperance.
 
 64 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 FIRST SOJOURN IN "THE OHIO COUNTRY." 
 
 UNDER date May 24, 1813, the work of which the short title 
 is Annals of Congress, 1 shows that " Dudley Chace, appointed 
 a Senator by the Legislature of Vermont for the term of six years, 
 commencing on the fourth day of March last," produced his creden- 
 tials, which were read, and thereupon, having taken the oath pre- 
 scribed by law, took his seat in the Senate. Under date, Septem- 
 ber 21, 1814, the same work records that Dudley Chace, from the 
 State of Vermont, appeared and took his seat in the Senate. 
 
 When his uncle Dudley first appeared in the Senate of the Union, 
 Salmon was but five years of age. No doubt, however, that event 
 impressed him ; and no doubt it beckoned him toward political agi- 
 tation and aspiration. That, when he came on to Washington, the 
 presence of his uncle in the Senate greatly aided him in gaining in- 
 fluential friends, need not be said ; it goes without saying, as the 
 French express themselves. 
 
 Our hero heard in boyhood wonderful accounts of" The Ohio," as 
 the State of which he was to be Chief Magistrate was called; but 
 the reality, though quite unlike the fable, was more wonderful than 
 it would have been had it indeed had waters like New England 
 rum, or cucumbers that grew on trees. 
 
 Ohio was no El Dorado. Nor was the fertility by which its soil 
 invited agriculture such as that of the region whereof was reported 
 that it responded to the tickling of a hoe with the laughter of a 
 harvest. Yet the region was, as Mr. Chase himself, in a sketch of 
 its history, was to show, more blessed than it would have been had 
 its agriculture been but as the light gardening labor of the pair in 
 Paradise before the fall. The blessing so appreciated was in part 
 corporeal, in part spiritual. In the body, we shall find Ohio repre- 
 sentative of all that is best in physical conditions in this wide extent 
 
 1 13th Congress, 1813-1814, vol. 1, 9.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 65 
 
 of landscapes under one vast rule of laws and manners; in the soul, 
 in population, institutions, legislation, she is wonderfully typical of 
 the whole country. But the greatest wonder of her past was that 
 which most distinguished the condition of her pioneers from the 
 condition of the first white penetrators of the Dark and Bloody 
 Ground — a legal system, guarding her domain from the invasion of 
 the institution known as slavery, and giving, at the same time, to 
 the white man and the red man of Ohio a relation to each other 
 very different from that of the red race and the white race in Ken- 
 tucky. 
 
 Chase wrote to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 "It was probably in February or March, 1820, that I visited my 
 sister at Hooksett. as already mentioned. 
 
 "At any rale, it was about that time that my mother received a 
 letter from my uncle, the Bishop, offering to take charge of me, and 
 my mother accepted the offer, and early in April I started, with my 
 brother, Alexander, who was going west with the expectation of 
 joining Gen. Cass' expedition, in company with Mr. Schoolcraft, who 
 afterward became so famous. 
 
 "For several months — at least weeks — before going, I knew that 
 my uncle had proposed to take me and that I was to go to him in 
 Ohio. I tried to find out where I was going and got sonic queer in- 
 formation. 'The Ohio,' as the country was then called, was a great 
 way off — it was very fertile — cucumbers grew on trees — there were 
 wonderful springs Avhose waters were like New England rum — deer 
 and wolves were plenty — people few. A copy of Morse's Gazetteer 
 gave me somewhat better but still scanty information." 
 
 Our hero's narrative of his first going to Ohio opens in this 
 manner : 
 
 "At last the day arrived, and we were off. Almost the whole jour- 
 ney to Buffalo is now a blank in my memory. We must have 
 started — my brother and I — in the spring — probably early in April. 
 My impression is that we crossed the Green Mountains on a rainy 
 or very misty day. I have a faint recollection of passing through 
 clouds. The condition of the atmosphere was peculiar. Electricity 
 seemed to saturate our clothes and buffalo robes. They sparkled 
 under friction, something like a cat's back in the dark. Our road 
 went through Bennington to Albany; and we traveled by stage." 
 
 Judge Caldwell, in the Supreme Court of Ohio, paid a eharater- 
 istic tribute to the flat-boat. A haughty steamboat had been sued 
 for damage to a flat-boat. Judge Caldwell considered that, at least 
 for what the flat-boat of the past had done, she well deserved 
 respectful treatment. So one might maintain about stage travel.
 
 66 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 If we do not feel quite moved enough to drop a tear or two in mem- 
 ory of the old stage coach, which once seemed to us, and indeed was, 
 so fine a type of rapid progress, let us at least remind the railroad 
 of the vanished glory of the stage, and warn the locomotive not to 
 bear itself too proudly. 
 
 Secretary Chase went on as follows : 
 
 "When the carriage rolled into Albany and rattled on the rough 
 pavement. I said to my brother: -What a rocky place this is.' tip 
 to this time I had no notion of paved streets, but had always thought 
 that stones should be taken out instead of being placed in a road. 
 We made little or no stay in Albanj", but pushed on again by stages 
 to Buffalo, passing through Canandaigua, which I remember onlyby 
 what I thought its stately hotel and the mansion of Gideon Granger. 
 
 ''At Albany [Buffalo] we were obliged to stop. The lake was not 
 yet opeu. and the -Walk in the Water,' on which we were to pursue 
 our journey, lay up Black Bock, waiting the disappearance of the ice. 
 
 ••Meantime, at the tavern, I formed some acquaintances with per- 
 sons who were kind to me. I remember particularly a Mrs. Devereux, 
 who was, like us, going up the lake, and a young lad about, my own 
 age. 
 
 "One Sunday, a party, of whom I was one, went out to the mis- 
 sionary service at the Seneca Tillage, where the famous chief, Bed 
 Jacket, still exercised some authority. For some cause, there was 
 no service. I was not able to distinguish the chief from other 
 Indians. They all looked odd and fantastic to me. I had never 
 seen Indians before." 
 
 This is a fact worth noting as we pass. We shall find our hero 
 greatly interested with his legal teacher, Wirt, for justice to the red 
 man of the South. 
 
 The narrative goes on as follows : 
 
 "I made one other little excursion while at Buffalo. My brother 
 and Mr. Schoolcraft had gone down to Niagara Falls leaving me be- 
 hind. I wanted to see them too, and with started on foot. 
 The forest was burning and the road la}' through it, and it seemed 
 dangerous to me; though it is probable there was no real danger. 
 At any rate we went through, and, almost fagged out, stopped at a 
 farmer's, two or three miles, perhaps, from the tails, and asked lodg- 
 ings for the night, which were cheerfull\ r given. Is it remembrance 
 or fancy, that a pitchfork, with its steel points driven into the floor, 
 so as to hold it securely erect, vibrated from the jar of the cataract? 
 
 "The next morning, on reaching the falls, we gazed wonderingly 
 on the indescribable cataract. We descended the rough steps and a 
 rough, precipitous path, which led down into the gorge and to the 
 foot of the falls, and there was a new wonder. A hillock of ice 
 formed by the spray, rose just below the reach of the falling waters, 
 forty or fifty feet high and shone like a monstrous pearl in the sun. 
 Near it I found my brother and Mr. Schoolcraft, who were a good
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 67 
 
 deal surprised to see me, and perhaps a little displeased. But they 
 took charge of me, and I got back to Buffalo much easier than I got 
 to the falls." 
 
 What an opportunity for "fine writing" was here almost thrown 
 away ! But let us at least thank Heaven that if Chase did not des- 
 cribe, he had the benefit of visiting, in boyhood, that true wonder 
 of the world. 
 
 Let us read on. Said Secretary Chase to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 "The sun shone, the winds blew, the ice melted, and in the first 
 day of Ma}' the lower end of the lake was clear. The ' Walk in the 
 Water' was ready, and we went on board one evening at Black 
 Rock. I had never seen a steamer before, and she looked prodigious 
 to me. It was odd to be tucked away into a berth in the cabin — no 
 state-room for me. Indeed, I do not know that there was any state- 
 rooms for passengers. 
 
 "Toward morning I was roused by a terrible shaking, and rat- 
 tling, and clang. I thought the boat was breaking in pieces, or, 
 perhaps had got loose and was going down the falls. I was soon 
 relieved, however, by the information that the engines were working 
 and we were about to get under way. On getting out on the deck, 
 sure enough, the boat w r as making her way slowly against the rapid 
 current toward Buffalo. It was Saturday morning. The engines 
 were not powerful enough to stem the current, and were assisted by 
 a number of yokes of oxen on shore, towing. In an hour or two we 
 had left Buffalo and were on the Lake, steaming toward Cleveland, 
 the engines being assisted now, not by oxen but by sails. The wind 
 was fair and the air clear and bright. The part} 7 was agreeable and 
 every thing went pleasantly. Night came — my first night on the 
 waters — but I am afraid I was not conscious of any thing peculiar 
 about it. And the next day seemed so like other days that I quite 
 forgot it was Sunday, and asked somebody to play chequers with 
 me!" 
 
 To have played chequers on Sunday would have seemed to Chase 
 a fearful thing, although, as we have seen, his training in religious 
 matters had not been quite puritanically rigid and severe. Perhaps 
 he never came to look at Sunday as the sunny day it seemed to some 
 of our best Christians. 
 
 "We were " he says, " at dinner when the boat reached Cleveland, 
 and her motion as she stopped and brought to anchor off the town — 
 for there was no harbor then — gave me my first slight experience 
 of home-sickness. I have never had so much since. We went 
 ashore in a boat, and I was placed under the care of Judge Barber — 
 not a lawyer, but one of the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas, 
 of whom there were three in each county, usually selected from 
 respectable but unprofessional citizens. 
 6
 
 68 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "Here my brother left me, going up the lake with Mr. Schoolcraft 
 to join Gen. Cass." 
 
 If I was disappointed on discovering that Chase had not described 
 the fall, at Niagara, of the wonderful water-way of which Lake Erie 
 is one of the wide-spread expanses, I was disappointed also on 
 discovering that he had not described the aspects of the lake. He 
 would not have thought of playing chequers, had he duly felt 
 the presence of that inland sea, the largest water surface he had ever 
 seen. He had read Shakspeare, and had gained some knowledge 
 of the classics, which especially the Greek, as Humboldt, in the 
 second volume of the Kosmos, has so admirably shown, 1 takes so 
 much notice of the sea. But he, at least does not 'pretend to have 
 dissolved in rapture at the sight of Erie's waters. He confesses that 
 he fears, that he did not find his first night on the waters marked by 
 any great peculiarity, and that the next day seemed to him so much 
 like other days, that he experienced a wish to play at chequers. 
 
 We shall find him fond of chess. And let it be recorded, for or 
 against this volume, that I question whether fondness for the game 
 of chess has yet appeared in any man in whom appeared very deep 
 feeling for the picturesque, the grand, the beautiful in landscape. 
 No one who loves landscape very deeply will be apt to give much 
 time to chequers or to chess. 
 
 Had one the pen of Ruskin, or the pen of Sunset Cox, one might 
 attempt to pen-paint a " great old sunset," or a " bully " sunrise, 
 such as Chase may have short-sightedly beheld on that Sunday, 
 when, forgetting that it w r as the first day of the week, he had a mind 
 to play chequers. I forbear. I have, indeed, no recollection more 
 entirely tempting than the recollections of some Erie sunsets and 
 some Erie sunrise views ; but to let off descriptions of them, at this 
 instant, would be at once inconvenient to the writer and annoying 
 to the reader. 
 
 Let the reader fancy for himself the wonders worked on the 
 aspects of the waters and the heavens by sunrise, and by high noon, 
 and by the sun's decline, while Chase was a passenger in the " Walk 
 in the Water," or while he remained at Cleveland. 
 
 1 " Vergessen wir nicbt, class die griechiscbe Landschaft den eigenthuemlichen 
 Reiz einer innigeren Verscbmelzung des Starren und Fluessigen ; des mit Pflanzen 
 geschmueckten oder malerisch felsigen, luftgefaerbten Ufers ; uud des wellenschla- 
 genden, lichtwechselnden, glanzvollen Meeres darbietet." Kosmos, zweiter Band, 
 seite 10, Verlag dei' Cotta'scben Buchbandlung.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 69 
 
 "Judge Barber received me very kindly, having probably been 
 informed of my coming, and of his own wishes, by the Bishop. 1 
 
 "I spent several days — perhaps, a couple of weeks — at his house, 
 on the west bank of the Cuyahoga, amusing myself by going down 
 to the Perry and playing ferryman, taking passengers to and from 
 the Cleveland or Eastern side, and sometimes paddling down toward 
 the lake till the waves rolling in, rocked my canoe." 
 
 The last quoted letter thus proceeds : 
 
 "But my destination was Worthington, in the center of the State, 
 where my uncle resided ; and I was anxious to get there. So, hear- 
 ing one day, that a wagoner was going down that way, I went to 
 him. and tried to make a bargain for his taking me. He was a 
 Pennsylvania German who had settled in Ohio, and had been bring- 
 ing wheat or something else to the Cleveland market." 
 
 Here we see two marked Ohio types — the emigrant of German 
 lineage, and the product of the wheat plant — each remarkable as a 
 symbol of the best civilization in this country. 
 
 Secretary Chase proceeds : 
 
 "He was willing to take me for ' ein tollar,' but was going no 
 farther than Canton. 2 I did not like the strange jargon which he 
 spoke — having never heard any such — and was a little afraid of 
 him. Besides, to get to Canton was not reaching Worthington. So 
 the wagon project was abandoned. 
 
 "Judge Barber sent me. then, to the Bev. Mr. , 3 an Episco- 
 pal Minister, at Medina. The Episcopal Convention was about to 
 be held at Worthington, and I could probably go down with some 
 
 of the delegates. I remained at Mr. 's probably a week. His 
 
 house was one of the primitive log cabins of the country — one or 
 two rooms below — a single room above, where all the children slept, 
 with coarse curtains for partitions. 
 
 "There was a mineral spring of sweet water which was a great 
 attraction to me; and those pleasant rambles in the woods and 
 openings. 
 
 "Finally, two young men, delegates — one of them, at least — to 
 the Convention, left Medina, 4 taking me with them. The settlement 
 of the country was only begun. Great forests stretched across the 
 State. Carriage wa}*s Avere hardl} r practicable. Almost all travel- 
 
 1 It will be noticed that, admirabl} 7 as our hero could, and generally did construct 
 a sentence, faults of construction, such as that just made apparent, not seldom show 
 themselves in his less studied compositions. After all, in letter-writing, one must 
 not he too particular about correctness. 
 
 2 115 N. AV. of Worthington; 124 from Columbus. 
 3 1 can't make out the name. 
 
 4 108 miles from Worthina-ton.
 
 70 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 ing was performed on foot or on horseback. The two young men 
 had two horses, and the arrangement was to ride and tie. That is 
 to sa}", one was to ride on, dismount, and tie his horse, and walk on. 
 The one on foot was to come up, take the horse, ride on beyond the 
 walker in front, and tie, and so on. 
 
 "Once, when I was riding, I came to a place where the roads 
 parted, and was at a loss. Taking that which seemed most traveled, 
 I rode on, and before long, came to its end at a spring. It was a 
 path beaten by animals going to drink. I made my way back to 
 the less traveled road. 1 
 
 " We passed through Wooster, 2 passing a night there. The place 
 seemed great to me, and the lighted houses, as we went in after 
 dark, very splendid. 
 
 "In three or four days we reached Worthington. I entered the 
 town walking, and met my uncle in the street, walking with one of 
 his clergy or friends." 
 
 The next letter, dated January 25, 1864, contains the sentences: 
 
 " My uncle, at the time I went to him, was in the maturity of 
 his intellectual and physical powers. He was a great worker, a 
 thoroughly practical man, always thinking of something to be done, 
 and then doing it with all his might. There was not a particle of 
 flam or cant in his make up. Thoroughly religious, he always 
 looked to God. His motto was, Jehovah Jireh — God will provide. 
 But his faith in God only animated him to most strenuous personal 
 labor. It was not passive but active. If any thing was to be done, 
 he felt that he must do it ; and that, if he put forth all his energy, 
 he might safely and cheerfully leave the event to Divine Providence." 
 
 Can we say, with confidence, like uncle like nephew as to that? 
 We " shall see what we shall see," in this respect. The nephew 
 thus farther characterized his remarkable relative: 
 
 "Usually exceedingly kind and a delightful companion to young 
 and old, he was often very harsh and severe, not because he liked to 
 be, but because he was determined to have every thing just as he 
 thought it ought to be." 
 
 Here, at least, we can with certainty pronounce, like uncle like 
 nephew. Of the uncle, however, adds the nephew : 
 
 " He was thoroughly imbued with a sense of the importance of 
 his episcopal office, and a thorough believer in the subordination of 
 the orders to the Episcopate. Certainly, he lived to Govern ; 3 but 
 he liked to govern for the good of others, not his own." 
 
 1 What a figure of what so often happens in the spiritual ways of life ! Here, too, 
 the less traveled way is often the true course to the right destination. 
 
 2 84 miles from Worthington. 
 
 3 So, in the original, with a big G. To Govern (with a big G) was also a marked 
 liking of the nephew. Every man his own Pope, was not, indeed, our hero's motto,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 71 
 
 So, it seems to me, was it with this nephew of his uncle. Willing 
 but not anxious to be President, his propensity to govern, strongly 
 and almost despotically, was at all times animated by regard for 
 what appeared to him the good of others, not his own. Of his uncle 
 he farther says, in the same letter: 
 
 " He liked to overcome, too ; great obstacles stimulated but did not 
 discourage him." 
 
 Gentle reader! 
 
 " Dost thou like the picture ? " 
 
 It seems quite like a portrait of the very man by whom it was 
 portrayed. Our hero thus proceeds : 
 
 "Among us boys he was almost, and sometimes, indeed, quite 
 tyrannical." 
 
 That statement may be impeached. The author of it once con- 
 fessed to me and others, that he had told a lie ! Shall we say, false 
 in one false in all, according to the maxim of the legists, falsus in 
 uno, falsus in omnibus ? (See Davis v. Ohio, 15 Ohio State Reports, 
 overruled in a subsequent case, of which I do not now remember the 
 title, but in which, as counsel, I labored for that overruling.) Our 
 hero, relating an acknowledgment made to his uncle, to the effect 
 that he had wrongly called that personage " a darned old tyrant," 
 said to me and others, on the seventh of December, 1872, that when 
 he asked the pardon of his uncle and made that acknowledgment, he 
 lied; for that, in point of fact, he well knew at the time, that his 
 uncle was — what he had called him, as we have just seen. But 
 the angel that tearfully blotted out the oath of uncle Toby may have 
 blotted out that lie. 
 
 Our hero adds about Philander Chase: 
 
 "But he was not disliked — much less hated — he was revered and 
 feared. He was not loved by them then — but, afterward, when they 
 had left him, and looked back on the days they had spent under his 
 charge, and saw him more as he l'ealty was, love mingled with their 
 reverence, and became its equal in their hearts." 
 
 though so many men, though simple laymen, act as though they had divine assur- 
 ance of their own infallibilly. Infallibity, in my poor judgment, is an attribute of 
 God alone, not delegated or deputed; but I feel how much easier it is for a man to 
 believe in his own infallibility, than in the infallibility of any other man beneath 
 the heavens.
 
 72 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SEPvYICES 
 
 I can but think just here of what Laboulaye has said of Franklin 
 as lived with in his writings. 1 For, the more that I have lived with 
 Salmon Portland Chase in his diaries and letters, the more have I 
 been astonished that so much of their contents should be now pre- 
 sented, for the first time, to the public. Here, indeed, we have not 
 such letters as an American Madame de Sevigne might have written 
 to her daughter. Had these letters been written to our hero's 
 daughter, Nettie, whom he regarded as the genius of the family for 
 letter-writing, 2 they would still have been the letters, not of a 
 mother but of a father ; and I do not mean to intimate that Chase 
 was just a male paragon of letter- writers, at any time, or that he 
 ever could have been a paragon of that description ; yet it is impos- 
 sible to read such sentences as those last quoted from the Trow- 
 bridge correspondence without feeling a watering of the eyes and a 
 quicker beating of the heart. 
 
 And yet this man once pardoned me for having furnished, to a 
 
 widely-circulated paper, an editorial, which, as I remember, said of 
 
 him in substance: 
 
 I 
 
 " We do not sa}>- that Mr. Chase has a bad heart. We only any he 
 
 has no heart." 
 
 True, that was many years ago, and in the midst of stormy agita- 
 tion. But now the gentle reader must, at least, begin to understand 
 the holy office of this book, in which mingled expiation, gratitude, 
 and justice, modify and animate each paragraph, each sentence, and 
 each word. 
 
 Chase wrote as follows in a Trowbridge letter : 
 
 "William Walker 3 was a Wyandot — a half or quarter-breed. He 
 used to tell us stories of Indian wars, and escapes and pursuits, 
 while I listened wonderingly. I have read, I think, in one of 
 Cooper's novels one of his stories, which I must not stop to relate — a 
 fight — a defeat — the flight of the defeated — the pursuit — the adven- 
 tures of one of the braves — plunging into the water — concealing 
 himself among a drift of logs — the pursuit over that very raft — ex- 
 treme danger — final escape. 
 
 "In the vicinity of the town were some of those strange fortifica- 
 tions and burial mounds, which form so remarkable a feature of the 
 Ohio and Mississippi valleys — mysterious monuments of an un- 
 
 1 "Plus j'ai vecu avec Franklin, plus je me suis etonne qu'on n'ait pas donne - plus 
 tut au public francais cctte correspondanee si pleiue d'esprit et de sens." Preface, 
 tome second de la Correspondanee de Benjamin Franklin, traduite de I' Anglais, et an- 
 notee, page 3. 
 
 2 Post. 3 A school-mate.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 73 
 
 known race. I took great interest in these. I used to take Atwa- 
 ter's Antiquities of Ohio — I am not sure of the name of the book — « 
 when I went out into the forests after the cows, and could stop at an 
 abandoned clearing, and sit down in the old log hut or in its shade, 
 and read and wonder by the hour; and, sometimes, perhaps, forget 
 the cows. One of my earliest pieces of composition, alter I went to 
 the College at Cincinnati, was on these mounds — perhaps it was 
 written to be declaimed — I forget. 
 
 "One of the most noteworthy things I saw, during the time I was 
 at Worthington, was the flight of vast flocks of pigeons and their 
 roost. They might, if it were possible to count them, be numbered 
 by hundreds of thousands. The}* came from the west and formed a 
 roost south-east from our house, in the forest between Alum Creek 
 and the Olentangy — or, as it was then called, the Whetstone. From 
 this roost they departed westward each morning, and returned to- 
 ward night-fall. Their flight was wonderful. They came toward 
 their roost in vast bodies — sometimes bo vast that they actually 
 darkened the sky and dimmed the light below like thick, black 
 clouds. Sometimes a flock, flying toward the forest, would sail too 
 low, and, coming to its edge, would suddenly stop, turn and rise 
 over the trees — the clapping of their wings making a rattle like 
 the noise of musketry- — or more like that of sharp, but distant 
 thunder. 
 
 ■'They continued to come and go for perhaps two weeks — perhaps 
 not more than one. One night, pretty soon after they had estab- 
 lished their roost, a night attack on it was planned. A hired man 
 of my uncle's, a neighbor or two, and perhaps half a dozen or more 
 boys, of whom I Mas one, formed the part}'. There was one gun 
 and a few charges of powder and shot — perhaps a dozen. This was 
 our only artillery. An hour or so after dark, we started in high 
 spirits, not knowing where the roost was, but guided toward it by 
 the roar, like that of falling waters, which the pigeons made. We 
 had proceeded, perhaps half or three-quarters of a mile, when we 
 were confused by similar sounds from different directions. 
 
 ■ After considering a moment, it became plain that one sound 
 came from a mill-dam in the Olentangy, and we took the direction 
 of the other. It was not long before we came to the outskirts of 
 the pigeons' camp. Now and then we found pigeons roosting on 
 saplings and boughs so low that we could, by bending the young 
 tree or branch, catch one or two. Our gun served us in better 
 stead. Stopping under a tree, crowded with pigeons — the branches 
 bending under their weight, our gunner would advance boldly, and. 
 nothing daunted by superior numbers, fire into the mass. Then 
 such dropping of birds — such commotion among the unhurt — such 
 flights — such inability to get away and settling down again into 
 place. I think, however, that no more than one shot was ever 
 fired into the same tree. Our ammunition was soon exhausted, and 
 we addressed ourselves to the work of picking up what birds we 
 could find by the help of a torch-light. Many had been killed out- 
 right, but vastly more were hopping round wounded. It was pitiful 
 to see them. We caught all we could and put them out of pain by 
 speedy death. In some instances, their own weight had proved
 
 74 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 more destructive than our assaults. Branches were broken down by 
 the mere mass upon them, or the shock of their motion. In ono 
 instance a very large branch was thus broken from a tree — large 
 enough to be a tree itself — four or five inches in diameter. Many 
 pigeons were entangled in these branches carried to the ground, and 
 wounded. About the large branch we picked up near a hundred. 
 We remained in the woods all night, and satisfied our hunger, made 
 keen by the exercise, on pigeons, which we dressed and cooked by 
 extemporized processes and fires. Morning came at length. We 
 gathered our spoils, and tying the pigeons together, and placing long 
 strings of them on poles, carried, each, by two boys, one before and 
 one behind, we set out on our return. Before getting off, however, 
 the pigeons had started for their mast field. And what a sight was 
 that, of the breaking up of the vast camp, for the march and work 
 of the day. Great flocks would rise from their roost-trees and sail 
 away, turning, sometimes, their breasts to the rising sun, and mak- 
 ing a display of exceeding beauty. Other great flocks would follow, 
 till the whole host was gone. We did not hunt again, but others 
 did, and barrels of pigeons were salted for winter stores." 
 
 It is impossible to read this narrative and descriptive matter 
 without feeling what a relief it must have been to the composer; 
 yet how many of its phrases were inspired by the warlike under- 
 current of his feelings and his thoughts. 
 
 It must have been a great relief to go back in memory to that 
 almost sylvan village and to its vicinity of woods and waters. 
 
 There was nothing bold or grand in the purely telluric features 
 of the landscapes thus revisited in memory. No rapid elevation, no 
 great height of earth-form was there visible. The Whetstone (or the 
 Olentangy) was not a western Connecticut or an interior Ohio. 
 Yet it was an interesting flow of water, which, had Chase set out 
 to make a formal topographic sketch, would have made considerable 
 figure in the picture. 
 
 Did our hero care much for the fluid elements of landscape? — for 
 the changing heavens and the ever-moving waters? He did not 
 appear to have marked feeling for those parts of scenery. Indeed, 
 he would, it seems to me, have been quite ready to accept the doc- 
 trine, eloquently taught by Ruskin, that all true landscape is de- 
 pendent for its interest on its relation to the works and ways of 
 human life. 1 That doctrine is, indeed, like so much of the most 
 
 ] " We find that all true landscape, whether simple or exalted, depends, primarily, 
 for its interest on connection with humanity, or with spiritual powers. Banish 
 your heros and nymphs from the classical landscape, its laurel shades will move 
 you no more. Show that the dark clefts of the most romantic mountains are unin-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 75 
 
 suggestive matter yielded by the pen of Ruskin, quite too highly 
 colored; but, for minds like the mind we study — master minds, and, 
 therefore, missionary minds — minds forced by something like an in- 
 stinct to move men to better action and to more exalted thought — 
 the doctrine here alluded to, would have superior claims upon 
 attention. 
 
 Doubtless, in that life at Worthington, the mind of Chase was 
 busier with animated nature than with any lifeless object there 
 observable. 
 
 Before proceeding to the purposed account of his distinctively 
 scholastic occupations at the place now under view, let us attend a 
 little farther to his life as an assistant and protege of his uncle, the 
 great man of Worthington and its vicinity. 
 
 habited and untraversed ; it will cease to be romantic. Fields without shepherds 
 and without fairies will have no gaiety in their green ; nor will the noblest masses 
 of ground or colors of cloud arrest or raise your thoughts, if the earth has no life 
 to sustain, and the heaven none to refresh." Modern Painters, V, 207.
 
 76 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AT WORTHINGTON WITII BISHOP CHASE. 
 
 AGAIN I ask the reader to refer to that note in the Appendix which 
 is given to the history of the Cornish Chases. Having once more 
 glanced through that, one will be better able to appreciate what 
 follows. 
 
 Bishop Chase, like Adam Clarke, had the not altogether foolish 
 fancy, that one may avoid offensive egotism by speaking of himself 
 in the third person. Of the latter's funny manner of discoursing of 
 himself I knew not till informed of it by Dr. Elder, 1 the genial 
 biographer of Dr. Kane. 
 
 But he was no vainer than had been before him Cicero, and 
 Erskine, and so many other worthies, prominent among them the 
 aforesaid Adam Clarke. Charles Hammond and Timothy Walker 
 of Ohio set a good example when they said I when they meant I. 
 
 But though our hero's bishop-uncle was a vain man and a proud 
 one, he, too, was a real worthy. Franklin was less proud, but quite 
 as vain. John Adams was as proud, and vainer. Alexander 
 Hamilton was alike vainer and prouder. Gouverneur Morris — but 
 why lengthen such a list? 
 
 No one is ready for the study of biography who does not know 
 that vanity and pride may be quite prominent in a true worthy, 
 even in a bishop. 
 
 Bishop Chase, for all his pride and vanity, was very clearly one 
 of the best men that ever lived. 
 
 He relates of himself that he had, as a boy, a decided preference 
 for an agricultural and pastoral life. His father, like the patri- 
 archs of old, had, with his children round him, fed his flocks in 
 
 1 "Dr. Elder," wrote Chief Justice Chase, in 1865, « needs no commendation of mine 
 He is reckoned among the best speakers of our country by all who have heard him, 
 and among its best writers by all who have read him.''— To H. W. Shepard. Esq.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 77 
 
 green pastures by the side of living waters for many years, till he 
 was now old and gray headed. The most of these children had left 
 him to settle in life; and should the .... youngest ever think of 
 leaving him also? The very idea of such a separation seemed mad- 
 dening to his youthful and filial mind, and for a time he was in- 
 dulged in the pleasing dream of being the favored one who should 
 occupy the home farm, and minister to the wants and wishes of his 
 parents in their declining years. 1 
 
 But his parents felt otherwise, and it was otherwise ordered. 
 
 "At Bethel, when visiting his sister, he cut with an axe his foot 
 transversely nearly through in the middle. When, in the course of a 
 year and more this was healed, he had the misfortune, as it was 
 called, while in the pursuit of his duty in preparing a field for wheat, 
 in Cornish, to break his leg, and otherwise bruise his limb." 2 
 
 Philander went to Dartmouth College after not quite a year of 
 hard preparatory study. 
 
 " In the year of our Lord 1793-94, while he was a member of the 
 sophomore and junior classes, he became acquainted with the Com- 
 mon Prayer-Book of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United 
 States of America. This circumstance formed an important era in 
 his life and that of his venerable parents and beloved relatives in 
 Cornish. New Hampshire, and in Bethel, Vermont, where they re- 
 sided. Hitherto the}' had all been Congregationalists." 3 
 
 " As such," says the bishop, ''these parents and relatives had much 
 ignorance and many prejudices to overcome in conforming to the 
 worship of God as set forth in that primitive liturgy." 
 
 He adds : 
 
 "The more, however, it was examined and compared with the 
 Word of God. the more forcibly did its beauties strike their minds." 
 
 He then proceeds to set forth what appeared to him "the princi- 
 pal reasons which induced so many of his relations to conform to the 
 Protestant Episcopal Church, and instead of repairing the meeting- 
 house, where both his grandfather and father had officiated as Con- 
 gregational deacons, inclined them to pull it down and erect on its 
 spot an Episcopal Church. This, he relates, was effected in great 
 harmony ; not a voice was raised against the measure throughout 
 the neighborhood. 4 
 
 1 Reminiscence*, vol. 1, p. 16. 
 
 2 Ibid. 
 
 3 Reminiscences, vol. 1, p. 18. 
 
 4 Ibid.
 
 78 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 He says that he was ardently desirous of entering, when he could 
 suppose himself qualified, into the ministry. Wherefore, the ques- 
 tion, who had the divine power and authority to ordain him, and 
 thereby give him an apostolic commission to preach and administer the 
 sacraments, became to him, he says, a matter of the utmost conse- 
 quence, affecting his conscience. How that question seemed to him 
 well settled, is related in the Reminiscences at length. 
 
 He was graduated in the degree of A. B., 1795. He taught school 
 in Albany, New York, soon afterward. On the 10th of May, 1798, 
 in St. George's Chapel, New York, he was ordained deacon. There- 
 upon he was appointed an itinerant missionary in the northern and 
 western parts of New York. From that time forward his life was 
 almost nomadic, his wanderings extending even to Europe. 
 
 He was ordained priest in St. Paul's Church, New York, Novem- 
 ber 10, 1799. For a short time he was rector of Christ Church, 
 Poughkeepsie, where he preached a rather partial discourse on the 
 death of Alexander Hamilton, on the 2d of July, 1804. 
 
 In the year 1803 or 4, he taught the academy in the same place, 
 about half of his pupils being well advanced youths, and the other 
 half boys of seven or nine years of age. He went to New Orleans 
 in 1805, and there organized Christ Church, the pioneer Episco- 
 palian Church of the Crescent City. At New T Orleans, also, he was 
 a school-teacher as well as a pastor. 
 
 Some time in 1811, he returned to Vermont, chiefly to educate 
 his sons at the North, as he explains. These sons, George and 
 Philander, were then at school in Randolph, Vermont, under the care 
 and roof of their uncle Dudley. 
 
 In the fall of 1811, he became rector of Christ Church, Hartford, 
 and continued to reside in that city about six years. 
 
 March 2, 1817, he left Hartford on his way to Ohio, and on the 
 16th of the same month preached at Coneaut Creek, then a few log 
 houses, now a considerable village, called Salem. When he reached 
 his destination at Worthington, near Columbus, I am not able to 
 state, but it was before the 8th of May, 1817. 
 
 At Worthington he was made principal of the academy. 
 
 On the 3rd of June, 1818, Philander Chase was elected bishop 
 of Ohio. Setting off for Philadelphia to receive consecration, he 
 learned at Baltimore of opposition, and at Philadelphia he found it 
 even so. The opposition, we learn, imperfectly however, raised 
 objections " affecting his moral character." Standing committees
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 79 
 
 investigated the whole matter ; inquiries were made wherever he 
 had lived ; all was found satisfactory to the committee; and Bishop 
 White, at the close of the investigation, having attended every 
 meeting of the board, was heard to say that he was fully satisfied, 
 and that the gentlemen who had opposed the consecrating of the 
 bishop elect of Ohio, would do well to consider, if, on a similar trial, 
 their own lives would bear like investigation. 
 
 Bishop Chase was consecrated February 11, 1819, in Philadelphia. 
 On the 3rd of the next month, he arrived at his home, near Worth- 
 ington. 
 
 In the fall of 1821, he went to Cincinnati to take charge of the 
 college in that city. 
 
 On the 26th of February, 1828, the bishop's religious temper 
 found this expression in a letter to his wife : 
 
 " ' The solemnities of the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Johns to priest's 
 orders were performed, I hope, duly — certainly very sincerely and 
 hunibl}' — by one whom you sincerely love, and whom, it is hoped, 
 God pities through Jesus Christ. I wish Aunt Cranch could have 
 been there, but it rained too hard. 
 
 " ' The sermon was preached by the Eev. Mr. Hawle}', and prayers 
 were read b}* the Eev. Mr. E. Allen. The sermon was on episcopacy, 
 on the subject of the three orders in the ministry, and was more 
 high-church than I had thought would have come from Mr. H. It 
 was full up to the highest pretensions on that subject usually enter- 
 tained. President Adams was present. 
 
 " 'After church, I went and dined with Judge B., who is now in 
 the enjoyment of a good, fat living of §1000 per year, as clerk in the 
 Navy Department. Mrs. B. looks younger than ever. Poor Junius, 
 her son. died about a year ago: the Eomanists got hold of him. and, 
 after molding him in their machinery, have given him a good place 
 in purgatory.' m 
 
 The last sentence is not creditable. I never was a Romanist, 
 and I know, now, that I was not a Roman Catholic when I thought 
 I was ; but I find such language far from creditable to our hero's 
 uncle. Bishop Chase was rather bigoted, but, after all, he was a 
 noble character. Here is an extract which appears to me a truer 
 indication of his faith in God: 
 
 '• Man's life is man's trial, and the evil is as essential as the good. 
 The days of his life, whether few or many, are directed by a wise 
 Providence, so that all things may, by his grace, work together for 
 the benefit of his soul." 2 
 
 1 Reminiscences, vol. 2, pages 592-3. 2 Reminiscences, vol. 2, page 586.
 
 80 THE PRIVATE LIFE AN'D PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 We shall discover that like faith in Providence marked the 
 whole life of Salmon Portland Chase. "We shall see it in his answer 
 to Day birthday letter. 1 We shall see it in many other letters, in 
 his diaries, and in other emanations from his pen. He was a 
 worthy nephew of a worthy uncle — nay, of worthy uncles, as he 
 was the worthy son of worthy parents. 
 
 Our good bishop rather loved the English aristocracy. "Writing 
 at "Worthington, February 9, 1828, he said to Mrs. Chase : 
 
 "My Dear Wife: — I dined yesterday at the table of President 
 Adams. I was permitted to sit alongside of the queen, and 
 had much conversation with her. She has been much in Europe, 
 and speaks very justly of the English nobility. She observed 
 that their character was much misunderstood in this country, and 
 that some of her most-esteemed friends were to be found among 
 them." 2 
 
 Yet this man w r as not ashamed to face his honorable poverty. 
 In a letter written at Washington, February 6, 1828, he said to 
 his wife : 
 
 ; - Tell m}~ son, Dudley, that his uncle loves him, and commands 
 him to be a good and industrious boy. Indeed, dear wife, don't fail 
 to impress constantly on the minds of our children the truth of our 
 poverty, and that they have nothing to look for, and none to look 
 to, when we die. but God and their own endeavors for a subsistence. 
 Do read this letter to Dudley, and talk seriously with him." 3 
 
 The next paragraph of the same letter is equally significant. It 
 is as follows : 
 
 '•If Mr. . on account of his depressed circumstances, be 
 
 obliged to put his boys, as he says he must, to a trade, what shall 
 our poor children do? Tell Dudley and Henry they must strive 
 and learn, and store their heads with knowledge, as a source of a fu- 
 ture means of subsistence, or they will be vagabonds." 
 
 February 15th, of the same year, the writer of that letter says : 
 " The committee on lands, to whom my petition was referred, 
 
 1 Post. 
 
 2 Vol. 2, page 589. 
 
 3 Reminiscences, page 588.
 
 OF SALMON' POBTLAND CHASE. 81 
 
 continues to speak favorably. The Milnor professorship is filled; 
 though we ami our children are beggars, it must go." 
 
 There was line stuff in the writer of that letter, was there not? 
 On the ISth Jay of February, 1828, the Bishop wrote: 
 
 u The family of the Rev. Mr. J. treated me with great kindness, 
 and in the course of the evening a respectable member of his congre- 
 gation called and took me to visit the widow of the late Dr. Wilmer, 
 left with a large family of nine children, six of his by a former wife, 
 and three of her own. 1 could cot hut regard her with great interest. 
 Is not this, thought I. a representation of my dear wife's condition, 
 should Grod take me from this world? No, for .Mrs. Wilmer is com- 
 paratively rich in worldly substance, while you and your little ones 
 will have few. or no possessions at my death. This reflection would 
 distract me, if I did not know that God is your portion. This 
 soothes many an aching, distressful moment: 'Jehovah Jireh,' l God 
 in'// provide.' " ' 
 
 •• Worthington. the place of our present residence," writes Mrs. 
 Mary Chase to Mrs. Mary Tudor, in 1817. " is pleasantly situated on 
 the left hank's of the Whetstone, one of the branches of the Scioto 
 River, and about nine miles from Columbus, the present seat of 
 government. It is but thirteen years the coming Christmas since 
 the first family moved into the place, then an entire wilderness. The 
 inhabitants, or -settlers' as they are called here, are most of them 
 from New England, and of a sober, industrious disposition. There 
 are also erected a large brick academy and a number of handsome 
 brick dwelling-houses, together with a manufacturing establishment, 
 and the coming summer they contemplate building a church and a 
 cotton establishment. Mr. Chase is appointed the principal of the 
 academy, an office at present merely nominal, as the foundation of 
 its future fame and usefulness is yet to be laid." 
 
 The same letter says : 
 
 "Mr. Chase has purchased a small farm about three-fourths of a 
 mile from this village, on which he is now building a house, intended 
 hereafter for a farm house, but which must shelter his family the 
 coming winter from the winds and storms. This, together with the 
 care of five parishes and occasional parochial duty during the week, 
 SO completely tilis up his time, that his face is seldom seen at home 
 except at the table. But his health is good, and I trust he may be 
 doing some good to the church of the ever blessed Redeemer." 
 
 "Worthington, in outer and in inner things, is doubly interesting 
 to this narrative. As the place of Bishop Chase's residence, for 
 some time, and as a place whose aspects and uses must have much 
 
 1 Reminiscences, p. 591.
 
 82 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 affected the development of our hero's most characteristic modes of 
 thought and feeling, it deserves to be more than glanced at. Hav- 
 ing frequently visited the place and its vicinity while I resided at 
 Columbus, I might sketch it tolerably well from memory. But a 
 sufficient indication of its type may be found in that which I am 
 about to add to the description given in those words of Mrs. Chase.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 83 
 
 A 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 AT WORTHINGTON WITH BISHOP CHASE, AND THENCE TO 
 CINCINNATI. 
 
 TROWBRIDGE letter yields this paragraph : 
 
 "So went the days in school. Out of school I did chores; took 
 grain to the mill and brought back meal or flour; milked the cows ; 
 drove them to and from pasture ; took wool to the carding factory 
 over on the Scioto, an important journey to me; built fires and 
 brought in wood in the winter time; helped gather sugar water and 
 make sugar when winter first turned to spring; helped plant and 
 sow in the later spring. In most of whatever a boy could do on a 
 farm I did a little." 
 
 Such a discipline may seem severe. But it was evidently useful. 
 It did not prejudicially acquaint our hero with the "rough vulgari- 
 ties" ascribed by Pryor to the antecedents of the " Little Giant." 
 
 Here is an important paragraph of the same document: 
 
 "Temperance societies had not yet been established, and all farm- 
 ers gave their laborers whisky, especially in the harvest season, and 
 even the boys took a little. There was a distillery down the road, 
 and it was my occasional business to fetch whisk}' from it. and take 
 it to the field for the men. Of course I tasted it, but never contracted 
 any love for it." 
 
 Had he contracted any love for whisky, what a drunkard Salmon 
 Portland Chase would have been ! He never would have been Chief 
 Justice. He would not have been in Lincoln's cabinet. He would 
 have filled a drunkard's grave before the time when he first held a 
 public office. He would have been energetic, thorough, and devoted 
 in attention to the bottle, and the bottle would have got the best of 
 him before he reached the age of thirty years. 
 
 Here is another statement yielded by the same interesting piece 
 of writing : 
 
 " Sometimes I was sent to Columbus, nine miles south, on horse- 
 7
 
 84 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 back, to make small purchases. I remember yet the firm of Good- 
 ale & Buttles — which the boys travestied as good ale in bottles — 
 where, one morning, I bought some sickles or scythes and other 
 matters, having risen long before day, mounted old sorrel, and rid- 
 den to Columbus, determined to be back before breakfast, which I 
 accomplished." 
 
 Energy like that, had it been less of the spasmodic order, would 
 have worked one can not fancy what a world of wonders for the boy 
 in whom it showed itself. But Chase's euergy was always rather un- 
 steady. 
 
 "One ludicrous incident," writes he to Mr. Trowbridge, "of 
 the chore kind impressed itself strongly on my memory. The 
 bishop and most of the older members of the family went away 
 one morning — he having ordered me to kill and dress a pig while 
 they were gone, to serve for dinner that day or next. I had no 
 great trouble in catching and slaughtering a fat young porker. 
 And I had the tub of hot water all ready for plunging him in, 
 preparatory to taking off his bristles. Unfortunately, however, 
 the water was too hot, or, otherwise, in wrong condition ; or, perhaps, 
 when I soused the pig into it, I kept him in too long. At any rate, 
 when I undertook to take off the bristles, expecting they would 
 almost come off of themselves, to my dismay, I could not start one of 
 them. The bristles were set, in pig-killing phrase. I picked and 
 pulled in vain. What should I do? The pig must he dressed. In 
 that there must be no failure. I bethought me of my cousin's raz- 
 ors, a nice new pair, just suited to a spruce young clergyman as he 
 was. No sooner imagined than done. I got the razors and shaved 
 the pig from toe to snout." 
 
 This anecdote reminds me, somehow, of its hero and narrator's 
 action in a part of his financial ministry. The financial pig had to 
 be dressed. In that there must be no failure, even if the sharp ex- 
 periment of the legal-tender legislation should be necessary to secure 
 success. 
 
 But, I beg pardon. Secretary Chase, in his next letter, said : 
 
 "1 think the shaving of the pig was a success. The razors were 
 somewhat damaged in the operation ; but they were carefully wiped 
 and restored to their place. My impression is, that, on the whole, 
 however, the pig killing was not satisfactory to my good uncle, and 
 that my good cousin found his razors not exactly fit for use the next 
 morning. It was, on the whole, a funny rather than a useful opera- 
 tion. I succeeded however, for it showed that where there is a will 
 there is a way, and that there are more ways than one of doing a 
 thina:."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 85 
 
 Here seems to me an anecdote yet more suggestive : 
 
 "I was not a contumacious youth, certainly, but I did sometimes 
 feel a little rebellious when I thought harshness went to the point of 
 oppression. At one period, for a while, nothing that I did Beemed 
 to please my uncle. I tried my best to satisfy, but without avail. 
 At length I said to myself, 'There is no use in trying. I won t try. 
 I'll do just what I think right, and let him like or dislike it.' I w T ent 
 on this way two or three weeks, when, one day, the bishop sur- 
 prised me with : 
 
 " ' Salmon, you have been a very good boy, lately.' " 
 
 To attempt to please despotic men is to appear to them low-hearted 
 and base-minded. 
 
 "My memories of Worthington, on the whole," wrote Secretary 
 Chase, "are not pleasant. There were some pleasant rambles, 
 some pleasant incidents, some pleasant associates, but the disagree- 
 able largely predominated. I used to count the days, and wish I 
 could get home, or go somewhere else and get a living by work. I 
 remember reading in some paper that carpenters were wanted, and 
 commanded good wages, in Pensacola, and I longed to go to Pensa- 
 cola, and be a carpenter." 
 
 Was he ambitious to a fault? If so, when did he become so? 
 What so changed him? Nay, he never was ambitious to a fault. 
 Sometimes he was not half enough ambitious. Certainly, ambition 
 was not very great in him when he desired to be a carpenter at 
 Pensacola. 
 
 But it may be said that the tyranny of Bishop Chase had then 
 almost destroyed his spirit. This is not a simple eulogy of any one. 
 Obedience, allow me, then, to suggest, could never have been quite 
 the forte of Salmon Portland Chase. And as he came to manhood, 
 he showed himself a hard task-master. That, indeed, he never 
 ceased to be. But now let us attend to the consideration that his 
 life at Worthington, so far, does not appear to have been marked by 
 great ambition of any kind, whether in the school or elsewhere. 
 
 It is time to look at him as he himself, at six-and-fifty years of 
 age, remembered himself as a school-boy at Worthington. He wrote 
 to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 "I can not recall the order of events at Worthington. T was there 
 a little more than two years — from June, 1820 to November, or, pos- 
 sibly, December, 1822. My impression is, that I began going to 
 school soon after I arrived, and continued pretty regularly about a 
 year — working at chores, etc., out of school hours and in vacation, 
 and doing pretty much every thing which a bo} T of my age can do.
 
 86 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 It seems to me that the school was broken up during most, if not 
 the whole, of the second year." 
 
 The next foregoing letter of the series, to which we are at present 
 so much indebted, said : 
 
 "Another time, my cousin Philander, who had been at sea on the 
 ' Gruerriere ' with Commodore McDonough, in the capacity of teacher 
 or chaplain, and had returned recently, came to Ohio, and, under 
 the bishop as president, took charge of the school he had established 
 at Worthington. I was a scholar in this school. Some of the boys 
 were from the town and county around it, but many from distant 
 places and from other States. Charles D. Drake, from Cincinnati, son 
 of the celebrated Dr. Drake, and now a distinguished citizen of St. 
 Louis; 1 Allan McArthur, from Chillicothe, son of Gen. McArthur of 
 the war of 1812; Tom and Nat James, also of Chillicothe, sons of a 
 prominent citizen of that place ; Alexander and Beza Wells, sons 
 of a wealthy manufacturer in Steubenville ; Mortimer Talbot, son of 
 Isham Talbot, of Kentucky, were among these last. I was the only 
 boy from New England, and the other boys, whose ideas of a 
 Yankee, derived from their parents and their friends, were, I fear, 
 not altogether just, 2 were much inclined, for a time, to twit me on 
 being one. Every now and then they called me Yankee, in tones 
 not altogether respectful. 
 
 " At length, I could n't bear it any longer, and said to Tom James, 
 when, one day, he called me a Yankee : 
 
 " ' Tom, if you call me a Yankee again I'll kick you.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said he, 'you're a Yankee.' 
 
 "As good as my word, I kicked him, 3 and made the kick just as 
 severe and just as disagreeable as I could. He was older than I, 
 and I expected a fight. But, instead of attacking, he went after the 
 bishop, and complained. I was at once summoned into his presence. 
 
 "'Salmon,' said the bishop, very gravely and severely, 'Tom 
 James says you have been kicking him. Is it true?' 
 
 " ' Yes, sir.' 
 
 " 'What did you kick him for?' 
 
 " ' Because he called me a Yankee.' 
 
 "'Well,' said the bishop, 'are you not a Yankee? Your father 
 was, and I am, and we were never ashamed of the name.' 
 
 " 'Yes, sir,' said I, 'I do n't just mind being called a Yankee, but 
 I won't be called a Yankee so,' with a pretty decided emphasis on 
 the last word. 
 
 " The bishop could not help smiling, and dismissed (me) with a 
 reprimand, which I did not mind much. I was not called a Yankee, 
 so, after that — and had no occasion to kick Tom James again. 
 
 1 Now Chief Justice of the Court of Claims at Washington. 
 - Ante. 
 
 3 Was not this a "personal fight?" Or was it purely patrial and patriotic? 
 Ante.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE <S7 
 
 "It was a boy's quarrel. Tom James grew up to incipient man 
 hood, and then went to the undiscovered country. Peace and love 
 to his memory."' 
 
 Amen ! but let us dwell a little on the anecdote. Already I have 
 called attention to the sectional aversion which made Yankees very 
 odious to "river men/' especially in Cincinnati, for a long time. 1 
 But though I heard Storer, Walker, "Billy" Greene, and other New 
 English-Cincinnatians called Yankees, never did I hear that name 
 applied to Chase or to rare Ben Fessenden — two men remarkably 
 unlike each other. Never did Chase seem to me a Yankee. He ap- 
 peared to me more like a haughty and yet gentle Englishman, with 
 the " modern improvements." 
 
 Here is more about school-fellows : 
 
 "Among the boys, I best remember Charles Drake, Allan MeAr- 
 thur, and "William Walker. Charles Drake was an intractable, 
 insurrecting little fellow, smart and resolute, who more than once 
 ran away, and more than once was brought back and punished 
 severely. The little stoic, to escape flaggellation, would rub his 
 eyes, and pretend to cry, but never shed a tear. The boys said he 
 could n't. He is just as resolute and determined now as he was then, and 
 commands, by his integrity, the confidence, and, by his abilities, the respect, 
 of his fellow -citizens"' 1 
 
 I could repeat an anecdote, related to me by Mr. Rairden, of 
 Cincinnati, which would show the independent pluckiness of Judge 
 Drake quite strikingly. 2 
 
 Chase says that Allan McArthur " was a manly, generous boy, 
 but not always in favor. He was once sentenced to Coventry, and 
 I violated the order of silence by speaking to him. I counted him 
 my friend, and thought the order unjust." 
 
 Here is another extract from a Trowbridge letter: 
 
 " I went to school, as I have said. The school house was a square, 
 brick building of two stories, on the west side of the town square. 
 I remember little of what happened there. I must have been re- 
 quired to compose; for I remember, on one occasion, that my cousin 
 commended a composition in terms which I thought quite unmerited, 
 and which took me entirely by surprise, but which, after all, made 
 me feel quite proud. 
 
 "I must have been taught some Greek, also; for my exercise in 
 
 1 Ante, Chapter III. 
 
 2 His Introduction to his father's autobiography is finely written.
 
 88 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 an exhibition occasion — probably at the convention of 1821 — was an 
 original Greek oration. How 1 puzzled over it; what trouble I had 
 to turn my English thought into Greek forms ! The grammar and 
 the lexicon and the Greek Testament were in great requisition. The 
 subject was Paul and John compared — at any rate, Paul was a prin- 
 cipal figure, though my memory may be at fault as to John. The 
 subject helped, for it allowed me to take sentences from the Testa- 
 ment, and so abridge my labor. At length the piece was finished — 
 the platform in the north end of the school-room erected — the boys 
 summoned, one by one, from a little room on the east side of it, which 
 served the purpose of vestry-room, when, on Sundays, the school- 
 room was used for the church services. My turn came to front the 
 terrors of an audience. 1 walked out on the stage ; my knees shook ; 
 my e}*es were dim ; but memory served me faithfully, and I went 
 through. The bishop was proud of his Greek orator, and, I dare 
 say, though I have small remembrance of my own feelings, I thought 
 myself quite a lion." 
 
 Our hero adds, confirming, unintentionally, what I have elsewhere 
 ventured to say about him as a worker: 1 
 
 " I was not always industrious. I liked to read stories, and would 
 sometimes have some interesting book of narrative, real or fictitious, 
 before me when I should have had my lesson-book. And once I 
 remember being mean enough to hide my story-book and substitute 
 my lesson-book, as my cousin-preceptor came by and looked inquis- 
 itively into my desk. Whether he detected me or not, I can not tell. 
 He made no remark." 
 
 He is a statement as to matters of religion : 
 
 " My uncle was a thoroughly practical and, at the same time, a 
 thoroughly religious man. He desired that I should be a clergyman 
 of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and so took some pains to make 
 me read books which would convince me that this was the only true 
 church, reformed from Eomanism, but preserving the order of suc- 
 cession in the government. I read some such books, and was con- 
 vinced, aud became quite a zealous champion of the Episcopacy. 
 There was a boy in the neighborhood, whose name I have forgotten, 
 whose parents were Methodists, ami I was very solicitous to turn 
 this boy from the error of his ways, and bring him into the true 
 church. Our debates were frequent and, on my part at least, earnest ; 
 but my success by no means corresponded with my zeal. 
 
 "Under the directions and instructions of the bishop, I was con- 
 firmed while at Worthington. It seemed to me, and was, an awful 
 and affecting ceremony, or, rather, act. The youth takes upon him- 
 self the promises made for him in baptism. Whatever the validity 
 of promises made in behalf of an unconscious babe, whether or not 
 such promises add any thing to the force of moral obligation which 
 
 1 Ante, page 84.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 89 
 
 rests upon every human soul from the first dawn of consciousness, 
 there can be do doubt as to [the] import of the pledgee which the 
 youth makes when receiving confirmation. I felt these deeply, and 
 earnest were my resolutions t<> keep them. Aiter-experience satisfied me 
 how impossible it is for the man to he what the youth promises; 
 how impossible for man is anything beyond sincere aim and con- 
 stant endeavor, true sorrow for sin, and true faith in Christ as the 
 only Savior, and so, with the help of the Divine Spirit, progress." 
 
 There, I think, is a true picture of the spiritual man that was, 
 if I may so express my thought, the other and the better self of 
 Salmon Portland Chase, from early manhood to his last of life at 
 five-and-sixty years of age. That such a man may be a sinner, and 
 a very heavy sinner, is too well attested by the current of biography 
 and history alike ; but such a man is apt to sorrow and atone for all 
 the sins of which his conscience gives him notice. 
 
 I quote again from a Trowbridge letter: 
 
 "My cousin, Philander, being ordained deacon, took charge of the 
 church at Steobenville, or Jonesville, perhaps both ; and no successor 
 took his place as preceptor. I am sure that my scholarship, such as 
 it was. grew rusty. The bishop made me read some Latin, and I. 
 of 1113' own accord, read some history. My Latin book was Grolius 
 de Veritate Religionis Christinae, the title as near as I recollect it. 
 My principal English book, a history of the Conquest of Mexico, by 
 one of the companions of Cortez ; I do not remember the name. Ex- 
 cept this reading, and that of some books on church government, I 
 was simply a farmer's boy, doing all kinds of farmer's boy's work. 
 
 " Should I omit to tell you that the bishop was not so absolutely 
 resolved on making me a minister as never to refer to the possibility 
 of my being something else? One instance of this made quite an 
 impression on me. I wanted to go to the Olentangy for a swim. 
 The bishop, when I asked permission, refused it, saying. ■ NVbj', the 
 country might lose its future president, if 3*011 should he drowned.' 
 Since then 1113* name has been mentioned in connection with this 
 high office and is now. I do not flatter m3*self that I shall ever fill 
 it, and I think I can honestly Bay that I do not permit the desire of 
 it to trouble me or distract the even course of 1113* conduct. Per- 
 haps this was in 1822, for I was then fourteen, and a stout well- 
 grown, active, awkward bo3'." 
 
 That the bishop was a true Chase in the instinct rather than dis- 
 position to dominate all that does not bear itself a little proudly, 
 seems to be quite certain. Secretary Chase related also this anec- 
 dote: 
 
 "At another time, by T way of punishment for something, the bishop 
 ordered me to bring into the house, the next morning, before clay, a
 
 90 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 great pile of wood. I went to work, and accomplished the task, 
 with a heart full of rebellion against what I thought unjust tyranny. 
 There was a hoy in the house named Eleazar Hubble — if I remem- 
 ber rightly. He was — well, if I put my impression of him in one 
 word, I should say he was a sneak. To this boy, smarting under the 
 real or fancied wrong, I said of my uncle : 
 
 " 'He 's a darned old tyrant.' 
 
 "And he went and told the bishop what I had said. I was in no 
 humor to deny or to retract, and so I was put in Coventry — that is 
 to say, the boys and everybody else were forbidden to speak to me, 
 and I was forbidden to speak to anybody. If I had [been] ordered 
 wrong, I knew that I had also done wrong ; but several days went 
 by before I could confess it. At last, with rather a bad purpose, I 
 fear, I did, and the sentence was revoked. Even now I almost wish 
 I had not." 
 
 I have already related that, on the 7th of December, 1872, Chief 
 Justice Chase accused himself of having lied, in asking pardon of 
 the bishop. How he happened not, of course, quite gravely, to ac- 
 cuse himself in that fashion, is related in another place. 1 
 
 In the Trowbridge letter, dated January 29, 1864, appears this 
 paragraph : 
 
 "This brings to a close my reminiscences of "Worth ington. I 
 might add something about our neighbors, blacksmith Glass, at the 
 end of .the lane from our house to the road ; Widow Topping and 
 her daughters, close by ; Dr. "Wetmore, the family physician — though 
 for us boys the prescription was usually a draught of boneset; Mr. 
 Maynard, a free thinking farmer, who lived half way to town ; but 
 enough of all this." 
 
 AVe must now prepare to go to Cincinnati with our hero. A 
 most interesting progress, we shall see. 
 
 "The Episcopal revenue," wrote Mr. Chase, "was scanty. The 
 church in Ohio was weak. Most of its members were farmers. Of 
 those who wei*e not, few had considerable incomes. Prices of all 
 provisions were low. Corn ten cents or even six cents a bushel, the 
 purchaser gathering it himself in the field. Twenty-five cents a 
 bushel for wheat, good and in good order. Plenty of pork from pigs 
 which were ear-marked and left to find pretty much all their own 
 food. No good roads; no accessible markets; no revenue, and poor 
 chance, therefore, for salaries. I have heard my uncle say that his 
 whole money income, as bishop, did not pay his postage bills. At 
 
 that time it took a bushel of wheat to pay for a letter from over 
 
 miles distance. The school must have proved a failure, I think, for, 
 as I have said, I do not remember it the second year. 
 
 1 Post.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 91 
 
 "Under these circumstances, in 1822, he was offered the presidency 
 of Cincinnati College, and accepted it. He delivered the Baccalaur- 
 eate there at the commencement in that year, and, in November, I 
 think, removed to Cincinnati with his family. 
 
 "At the time of removal he had just recovered from a dangerous 
 sickness — bilious fever — and was not entirely well. The roads, never 
 good, had now become very bad. Jt was a pleasant morning when 
 we set out in the old coach, with two stout horses — one, if I remem- 
 ber rightly, old sorrel — and six precious souls within ; the bishop 
 and his wife; one or two little ones; Mrs. Eussel and her daughter, 
 and myself. 1 have a dim impression that a young student named 
 Sparrow — afterward distinguished in the church as Dr. Sparrow — 
 was of the number. But 1 am doubtful of this. It was a pleasant 
 ride to Columbus, where we stopped a while and received the hos- 
 pitality of some friends at dinner. In the afternoon we set out. ex- 
 pecting to pass the night at a log tavern some ten miles distant. 
 We reached the tavern just at dark. A party of drovers filled its 
 scanty room ; and we could [not] obtain if we desired admission. 
 ' There is a house two or three miles farther on,' a man said. 'You 
 can get in there, I reckon.' There was no choice, and we went on. 
 It Avas very dark, and the mud was deep, and the road almost im- 
 passable. In the course of an hour, the carriage was brought to a 
 sudden halt by a stump too high for the wheels to go over, between 
 the forewheels. Here was a catastrophe. Fortunately, we had an 
 ax, and soon had cut levers from the saplings in the woods, and with 
 their help lifted first one axle and then the other over the stump. 
 It was necessary to be more cautious, so I was sent forward with a 
 light to pick the wa} T , while the carriage followed slowly. It seemed 
 as if we should never get through those three miles. Once the idea 
 of passing the night on the road was proposed; but Ave trudged on. 
 At last, after three hours' trial, the bark of a dog announced the 
 neighborhood of a human habitation, and, soon after, the glimmer 
 of a light flickered through the trees. We reached the cabin, and 
 asked shelter, and were received. 
 
 "It Avas a rude log hut. inhabited by a man and his wife and three 
 or four children. The long beard and salloAv face of the man shoAved 
 that he had been very sick with fever and ague, and was sloAvly re- 
 covering. The woman Avas rough and imperious — evidently the. 
 mistress. There were but two beds in the room, but there was a shed 
 on the outside, built up against the house-Avail, of logs. One of the 
 beds was surrendered to my uncle and aunt, the children were 
 packed off into the shed. The woman and her husband had the other 
 bed, the l-est of us camped on the floor. In the night, my uncle be- 
 came A'ery ill, and Ave Avere all greatly alarmed lest he might relapse 
 and be very sick again. To have been sick there, in such a place- 
 so far from medical help — was a distressing thought." 
 
 That last suggestion may be doubtful. At the best the help of 
 the physician is of doubtful efficacy in most cases, and such " doctors" 
 as were then in Franklin County, or in any other county of Ohio, or 
 in any other portion of the country, Avere devoutly not to be desired,
 
 92 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 in most cases. This, we shall discover, is a theme of deep import- 
 ance to this work; but I must not attempt, at present, to show how 
 our narrative so much concerns us with physicians and their art and 
 science. 
 
 To resume; Our hero's narrative goes on as follows: 
 
 " There was no more sleep for us that night. I went out into tho 
 woods, which came close to the house on one side, and brought in 
 fuel ; and we kept good fires. My aunt was an excellent and most 
 affectionate nurse." 
 
 An excellent and most affectionate nurse can, not seldom, work 
 wonders, mocking all the science and the skill of the physician. 
 
 " The morning dawned," continued Secretary Chase, addressing 
 Mr. Trowbridge ; " uncle was well enough to proceed ; the horses and 
 we were on our way again, through the 'Darby Barrens,' as they 
 were called — a breadth of land west of the Scioto, covered with 
 grass, with a spare growth of stunted trees scattered through it — 
 across the Little Miami and through to Cincinnati."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 93 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 AT CINCINNATI FOR THE FIRST TIME. 
 
 " 4 T last," continued Chase, "I'm in Cincinnati. The first house 
 
 l\ I entered was that of Ethan Stone, a gentleman who had been 
 -»-•-*- very prosperous, and accumulated a large property, but was now 
 sharing the general embarrassment which attended the winding up of 
 the Bank of the United States in Cincinnati. There had been a contest 
 between the Bank and the State in regard to the tax law, finally 
 decided against the State. The affairs of the branch had not been 
 prosperous. Both causes induced the Board at Philadelphia to wind 
 up its affairs. The debtors were called on for payment, and it was 
 impossible to pay. Mr. Stone was one of them, and was obliged to 
 surrender nearly all his property for a release of the claims against 
 him. But he was still living in his handsome mansion, with tall 
 wooden pillars, forming 1 its portico, and exciting the wonder of a 
 boy who had never seen any thing of that magnificence. 
 
 "The bishop remained a short time under this hospitable roof, 
 and then took a house on the north-west corner of Fifth Street and 
 Lodge alley — a small house with only six or seven rooms, includ- 
 ing attics — a little yard in the rear, at the end of which was a cow- 
 shed. 
 
 'T entered college as a freshman, but soon conceived the idea, that, 
 by extra study. I could be advanced to the next higher class, and, 
 having obtained the consent of Mr. Sparrow, then in college as 
 Junior or Senior, to hear my lessons, began to read up with that 
 view. It was not very difficult to accomplish the object; for the re- 
 quirements of scholarship was by no means exacting. In a short 
 time. I offered myself to be examined for advanced standing, and 
 was advanced to be sophomore. 
 
 '•It was not a study-loving set of boys who resorted to the Cincin- 
 nati College at that time. Among the number, I best remember 
 Henry Wilson, son of Dr. Wilson, pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church; John Scott Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, sons of Gen. 
 W. H. Harrison ; Ben. and Ned.(?) Noble, sons of Gov. Noble, of 
 Indiana; Louis Noble, a very promising youth of Cincinnati ; Alfred 
 Eeedrr and John Bice, also of Cincinnati ; and Charles Sillman, son of 
 Dr. Sillman, of the same place. Of them [alii, I think I admired 
 Louis Noble most, and most esteemed Scott Harrison. The only 
 young man from the South, I remember, was Louis Lamy. of whom 
 I remember nothing else. And I must not forget Stephen Johnson, 
 
 1 Sic.
 
 94 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 son of Col. John Johnson, of Piqua, who subsequently went to the 
 Navy. 
 
 " We made very little progress, worth calling such, in our studies. 
 Our tutor, Mr. Lewis Howells, was. not very exacting; and the only 
 other professor I remember, Dr. Slack, who filled the chair of 
 chemistry, and I know not what other chairs, was still less inclined 
 to severity." 
 
 On copying these words, 
 
 " the old time comes o'er me," 
 
 when I used to see the doctor almost daily, and to hear often anec- 
 dotes of pranks played upon him by " the college boys," of whom 
 some were afterward my intimate acquaintances. My Alma Mater, 
 was indeed, the "Athenaeum," now succeeded by St. Xavier ; but the 
 Cincinnati College almost seemed to me another Alma Mater. 
 Chase continues : 
 
 "We began Homer, in the sophomore year, and were two weeks 
 getting through the Prolegomena of the first book. If we ever read 
 any of the book itself, I have forgotten it. 
 
 " To make amends for defects of study there was a good deal of 
 mischief and fun. One morning, as Dr. Slack came into the chapel 
 for morning prayers, he found himself anticipated in the pulpit by 
 a stuffed owl, with a pair of spectacles like his own, ingeniously 
 fastened in front of its glazed eyes. The doctor, not in the least 
 disconcerted, removed the creature, and proceeded with the service, 
 to the discomfiture of the boys, who expected an explosion. 1 
 
 "At another time, a cow was brought up into the second story, 
 and entered, and graduated." 2 
 
 "I," continues Mr. Chase, "had little or nothing to do with these 
 sports. I had the chores to do at home, and when I had time, I 
 
 1 There is a reference to this, in verse, as follows : 
 
 "My mind runs back 
 To Doctor Slack, 
 
 Who was too slack, i' faith; 
 Yet was it foul 
 To make an owl 
 
 Do service as his wraith." 
 
 2 This incident, also, has been sung. The verse alluding to it has this tenor : 
 
 " While toys are toys, 
 Boys will be boys ; 
 
 A.< then it was 'tis now; 
 But it was not 
 A civil thought, 
 
 To graduate a cow." 
 Yet many a calf is graduated, even at the European universities.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 95 
 
 gave it to reading- — either under the bishop's direction or at 1113- own 
 will. I milked the cows, along where is now Fifth Street, to a field 
 bordering on the stream which enters the Ohio between the city and 
 the hills which form the western border of its valley, and is named 
 Milk-reek, or more classically, Mah-ke-te-wah." * 
 
 Would that he had studied less and had more fun! His life 
 might have been happier. He would have attended better to the 
 duty of self-popularization. He would have been fitter to be Presi- 
 dent, and President he would, perhaps, have been, had he attended 
 better to the duty just, not for the first time, acknowledged in these 
 pages. 
 
 " One day," proceeds our hero, " Henry Wilson, who was reckoned 
 the most sanguinary and dangerous young fellow of our number — he 
 was noted for his fighting qualities — said something — I don't remem- 
 ber what, but which I thought untrue. I said, 'That's not true.' 
 He turned ou me and demanded, 'Do you say that I lie?' I saw 
 that I was in a predicament. I must either retract and violate my 
 conscience, or stand to what I had said, and take the risk of the fight. 
 I did nut hesitate, but replied. 'You know that it is untrue.' 
 Fortunately for me, he cooled down, and let the matter end there." 
 
 Here was more than moral courage. Here was that high action 
 of the heart — that robur et erectio cordis — in which mind and body 
 both, discerning and intelligently fearing, in a certain sense, a men- 
 aced evil, prefer resistance, at all hazards, to submission or to 
 acquiescence. 
 
 " On another occasion," we are told, " a frolicsome and mischievous 
 boy of our sophomore class, just before the tutor came in, set fire to 
 one of the desks. I tried to prevent it, but he was too strong for me. 
 It was burning when the tutor entered. He put out the fire at once, 
 and directed us to take our seats. Aline was at the upper end of the 
 laee He began with the one at the bottom. 
 
 " ' Sophomore , did you set fire to the desk ? ' 
 
 " ' No, sir ! ' 
 
 " ' Do you know who did ? ' 
 
 " 'Xo, sir.' 
 
 " He reached the culprit. 
 
 " ' Did you set fire to the desk ? ' 
 
 1 What Cincinnatian does not remember the parody : 
 
 "On muddy Millcreek's marshy marge, 
 A tender tadpole dwelt," 
 Or -words to that effect? The poem parodied, was called, I think, the Spoiled Fawn 
 the parody the Spotted Frog.
 
 96 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "Nothing abashed, he answered, 
 
 " 'No. sir.' 
 
 " ' Do you know who did? ' 
 
 '"No, sir.' 
 
 "I saw I had to pass the ordeal, and determined to tell the truth, but 
 not to inform on my classmate, which I thought about as mean as 
 telling a lie was wrong." 
 
 A new ex pede Herculem ! The narrative goes on as follows: 
 
 " So, at last he came to me : 
 
 " ' Sophomore Chase, did you set fire to the desk? ' 
 
 " ' No, sir.' 
 
 " ' Do you know who did ? ' 
 
 '"Yes, sir.' 
 
 " 'Who was it?' 
 
 " ' I shall not tell, sir.' 
 
 "He said no more. The case went to the Faculty, and, I heard, 
 was the subject of some discipline; but it was not thought worth 
 while to prosecute the inquiry." 
 
 The narrative now turns to other topics. It proceeds as follows : 
 
 ■ The only reading which was out of the ordinary course, which I 
 remember, was an old Latin quarto, bound in parchment, which the 
 bishop set me to translating. It was one of the theological works 
 of — I forget which. I translated from forty to fifty pages, 
 
 perhaps. 
 
 " The bishop kept me under severe restraint. I was never allowed 
 to go out without permission. So far did he carry this that he pun- 
 ished me severely for having gone to the house of the Rector of the 
 Parish, one evening, without having asked his consent. 
 
 "Cincinnati was then a comparatively small town. From Fifth 
 Street- north, there were few buildings. The Court-house had been 
 removed from its original location in the square on which the college 
 stood to the centre of a lot of ground on Main Street — the same lot 
 on which the existing Court-house stands. Mr. Este. a prominent 
 lawyer, had built a residence not far from the Court-house. 1 
 remember no other building of consequence north of Fifth Street. 
 A trade had sprung up on the river: but there was little, compara- 
 tively, in the interior. The river was a wonder to me; especially 
 when swollen by the spring flood ; and a still greater wonder were 
 the steamboats — inconsiderable crafts, doubtless, but to me monsters. 
 
 The name of only one remains in my memory, the . I know it 
 
 came from New Orleans, and that seemed to me so far off; and the 
 mysterious foreign name impressed me strangely." 
 
 Notably important seems to me the relation of the Cincinnati ter- 
 races and the adjacent slopes, with the waters and the skies belong- 
 ing to their landscapes, to the sum of influences which, at this time, 
 must have affected the development of taste and tendency in the
 
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 97 
 
 mind whose history \vc arc tracing. Therefore, is that I am about 
 to offer extracts from some of Chase's early writings, as containing 
 interesting contributions to the physical topography and the politi- 
 cal and social topography, if I may say so, of the Cincinnati valley 
 with its beautifully molded heights. 
 
 One of the ablest, most characteristic, and interesting of the writ- 
 ings in which Salmon Portland Chase's pen reveals its love of 
 country and performs important public service, is the historical 
 sketch of Ohio, prefixed to Mr. Chase's edition of the Statutes of 
 that State. The work to which it is preliminary is itself enough to 
 prove the depth and strength of public spirit in its author. But the 
 sketch has hardly yet received due credit. It is very finely written; 
 and some passages of it are positively beautiful. 
 
 The extract offered here affords a topographic and historic con- 
 tribution. It is in these terms: 
 
 "In October, 1788, John Cleves Symmes, in behalf of himself and 
 his associates, contracted with Congress for the purchase of a million 
 of acres, adjoining the Ohio, and between the Great and Little Miami ; 
 but in consequence of his failure to make due payments, the greater 
 part of this contract afterward reverted to Congress. The patent, 
 which finally issued to him and his associates, included 311,682 acres; 
 of which, onl}- 248.540 acres became the property of the grantees; 
 the residue, consisted of grants and reservations, for various purposes. 1 
 One township was granted for an academy ; and two sections in each 
 township were reserved; section sixteen, for the use of schools, 
 agreeably to the ordinance of 1785; section twenty-nine for religious 
 uses: and sections eight, eleven, and twenty-six, for future disposi- 
 tion by Congress. Not long after the completion of this contract, 
 Symmes sold the site of Cincinnati to Matthias Denman, of ISTew 
 Jersey, who entered into a contract with Colonel Patterson and Mr. 
 Filson.' of Kentucky, for laying out a town. Filson, however, was 
 killed by the Indians before be entitled himself to any proprietary 
 right under the agreement, and his interest in the contract was 
 transferred to Israel Ludlow. 2 On the twenty-sixth of December, 
 Patterson and Ludlow, with a small party, arrived at the site of the 
 projected settlement. In the course of the winter a town was sur- 
 veyed and laid out, by Colonel Ludlow; and the courses of the 
 streets of the future city, were marked on the trees of the primeval 
 forest. The name first given to the place was Losantiville, a bar- 
 barous compound, intended to signify l a toicn opposite the mouth of the 
 Licking; 1 but this name was, not long aftei*, changed for Cincinnati. 
 The site selected was extremely beautiful. Seen in the summer, it 
 presented a vast amphitheatre, inclosed on all sides by hills, wooded 
 
 1 The punctuation is that of the original paper. 
 
 2 Drake s Cincinnati, p. V29.
 
 98 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to their summits. The Ohio — La Belle Riviere of the French — came 
 into the valley from the north-east; and, sweeping gracefully around 
 near its southern border, departed to the south-west. From the 
 south, the Licking brought its moderate tribute, just opposite to the 
 selected site ; and a little to the west, Millcreek flowed silently, from 
 the inland country, to its confluence with the Ohio. The unaccus- 
 tomed luxuriance of the vegetation, and the majestic size of the 
 forest trees, covered with thickest foliage, with which the wild 
 grapevines were frequently intermingled, astonished and delighted 
 the eye of the eastern emigrant. Even in winter, when the settle- 
 ment was made, the scene, though divested of its summer glories, 
 was far from being unattractive or uninteresting. The climate, it is 
 true, was inclement; but that very inclemency was a protection 
 against savage incursions, (lame, of every description, abounded in 
 the woods, and the waters teemed with fish. The emigrants, there- 
 fore, had light experience of the hardships usually encountered in 
 the first settlement of a wilderness." 1 
 
 Says Dr. Drake: 
 
 "By the ordinance of Congress, passed July 13, 1787, providing 
 for the government and defining the principles on which the people 
 of the North-western Territory, when divided into States, should 
 form their constitutions, it is expressly declared that there shall be 
 neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except for the punish- 
 ment of crimes, unless with the consent of both the general govern- 
 ment and the people of the territory. When the Constitution of 
 Ohio was formed, the prohibtory language of the ordinance was 
 adopted, and slavery is forever excluded from this State. That the 
 other Territories, North-west of the Ohio, will pursue the same 
 course, there can be no doubt; and hence this fine river will acquire 
 additional distinction in future, from being made the northern bar- 
 rier to this execrable practice." 2 
 
 Chase was the most distinguished glorifier of that ordinance ; but 
 he was by no means the first. Nor was Daniel Drake the first. 
 
 How did the presence of the blacks in the Cincinnati valley in- 
 fluence the mind of Chase in boyhood? We have seen already 3 
 how early, as a lecturer and as a writer for the public press, he 
 agitated against slavery. We shall farther see how, at three-and- 
 twenty years of age, he could publicly speak and write against the 
 ownership of human beings. How was it with him during his 
 first sojourn at Cincinnati, when he had but about a dozen years 
 of age ? 
 
 The splendid piece of architecture that now spans the river, con- 
 
 11 Chase Statutes, 20, 21. 
 
 2 Picture of Cincinnati, p. 172. 
 
 3 Introduction.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 99 
 
 necting Covington with Cincinnati, and the railway bridge that now 
 reaches from Newport to Cincinnati, with the Licking bridge, were 
 then but possibilities. The ferry-boat alone enabled him to cross 
 the river, if he did not take a skiff. Did he visit Covington and 
 Newport ? He has not recorded. But, without passing the river, 
 he could see the painful, baleful marks of slavery in Covington 
 and Newport. In the Cincinnati market he could buy provisions 
 of human things, not legally considered persons, owned across the 
 river. Slavery invaded Cincinnati freely, if that expression may be 
 used; and some Cincinnatians openly regretted that they, too, could 
 not have negro bondsmen. How was he affected by the presence 
 of these colored men and women ? 
 
 Speculation, all. He has not told us, and we can not say. 
 
 They had society at Cincinnati. Society, I mean, par excellence, 
 the thing that calls itself "the best society," the bon ton. How far 
 did slavery, and sympathy with slavery, affect society in the city 
 which was to become our hero's place of residence? Dr. Drake 
 may guide us toward the right answer. He said, in the already 
 cited work : 
 
 " In no town of the State is there so great a proportion of black 
 population as in Cincinnati, where in 1810 it amounted only to sev- 
 enty-nine, making about one-thirtieth of the whole. At present the 
 number of blacks and mulattoes does not exceed 200, counting all 
 shades and a<?es." l 
 
 'Page 172. The same work says: "Both the ordinance of Congress and the Con- 
 stitution of Ohio, guarantee the recovery of fugitive slaves ; hut by the decision of 
 our courts, those brought hither are free from the moment of their arrival. By our 
 constitution, while male inhabitants only, enjoy the right of political suffrage; 
 negroes are of course excluded from that privilege. By a statute enacted in 1804, 
 and amended in 1807, free negroes are prohibited from selling in this State without 
 giving bond and security that neither they nor their children shall become public 
 charges; but as this provision is considered unconstitutional, it has, 1 believe, in 
 no instance, been enforced, and we have all the black population which an unop- 
 posed immigration could give. By the same laws, negroes and mulattoes are pro- 
 hibited from giving testimony against white persons. Whether this be not uncon- 
 stitutional as well as the other, may be doubted; but it is generally carried into 
 effect throughout the State. 
 
 " At the time of adopting our State constitution, it was predicted that we should 
 be degraded by the free negroes of other States, and infested with their runaway 
 slaves — neither of which has yet been realized." 
 
 The same writer says of the free blacks at Cincinnati in 1815: "They are a 
 thoughtless and good-humored community, garrulous and profligate; generally dis- 
 inclined to laborious occupations, and prone to the performance of light and menial
 
 100 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 We ought not to forget that this was written in 1815, about 
 five years before our hero went to live at Cincinnati. What the 
 colored population showed itself to him we have no means of 
 making certain. Let us rest on inference. I am able to say that, 
 from 1832 down to the present day, the colored element of the Cin- 
 cinnati population, badly treated as it has been by the greatest num- 
 ber of the whites, has been steadily improving. As a judge at one 
 time, and as a lawyer prosecuting or defending at another time, I 
 had occasion to observe how the representative colored Cincinnatian 
 compared with other types, and how he bore himself toward his 
 fellow-citizens. I do not say he showed himself an angel, but I do 
 say that, considering how he was dealt with, he dealt well with 
 others. 
 
 The society of Cincinnati, therefore, and the bon ton of other por- 
 tions of the Cincinnati valley, at the time of our hero's first sojourn 
 in that valley, may be well supposed to have been more than tinged 
 with pro-slavery feeling. 
 
 The free negroes of that place had a hard lot when I first paid 
 particular attention to their state and prospects. That was when I 
 began to talk with old "Aunt Rachel," who inhabited a cabin on 
 Broadway Street, the west side, between New and Seventh. She 
 was a great actress, though she never trod the stage. Mrs. Wilkin- 
 son, in Ambla Bodish, was not more effective than Aunt Rachel 
 sometimes showed herself in denouncing, about equally, the abolition- 
 ists and their opponents. 
 
 Yet, to speak more accurately, there was more of nature's elo- 
 quence than that of conscious acting in those utterances of Aunt 
 
 drudgery. A few exercise the humbler trades, and some appear to have formed a 
 correct conception of the objects and value of property, and are both industrious 
 and economical. A large proportion are reputed, and perhaps correctly, to practice 
 petty thefts ; but no more than one individual has been published corporally, 
 by the courts of justice, since the settlement of the town." Picture of Cincinnati, 
 p. 172. 
 
 Dr. Drake, however, did not fairly represent the general sentiment of Cincinnati 
 as to slavery in 1815, or for a long time afterward. And it must be carefully con- 
 sidered that the agitation of the abolitionists was for a time so marked by reckless- 
 ness, or half-maniacal excitement, that the advocates of slavery were enabled to 
 persuade some anti-slavery men that opposition to slavery was necessarily attended 
 with injustice to, or toward, the white population of the South; in short, that the 
 agitation of the abolitionists against slavery apparently occasioned a reaction in 
 the interest of that fell institution.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 101 
 
 Rachel, who, though far from white, could never have pronounced 
 with strict regard to truth, 
 
 "I am black, but I am beautiful." 
 
 The Picture of Cincinnati thus notices the " state of society " in 
 1815: 
 
 "This can not, of course, be portrayed with the same facility and 
 exactness as in older communities. The people of t lie Miami country 
 may, in part, be characterized as industrious, frugal, temperate, 
 patriotic, and religious, with as much intelligence, and more enter- 
 prise, than the families from which they were detached. 
 
 "In Cincinnati, the population is more compounded, and the con- 
 stant addition of emigrants from numerous countries, in varying 
 populations, must for many years render nugatory all attempts at a 
 faithful portraiture. There is no State in the Union which has not 
 enriched our town with some of its more enterprising or restless 
 citizens ; nor a kingdom of the west of Europe whose adventurers 
 or desperate exiles are not commingled with us. To Kentucky, and 
 the States north of Virginia — to England, Ireland, Germany, Scot- 
 land, France, and Holland, we are most indebted. 
 
 "Among such a varietj^, hut few points of coincidence are to be 
 expected. Those which at present can be perceived are industry, 
 temperance, and love of gain." ' 
 
 Three pretty good distinctions of the growing citilet. Our author 
 also says : 
 
 "With a population governed by such habits and principles, the 
 town must necessarily advance in improvements at a rapid rate. 
 This, in turn, excites emulation and precludes the idleness which 
 generates prodigality and vice. Wealth is. moreover, pretty equally 
 distributed, and the prohibition of slavery diffuses labor — while the 
 disproportionate immigration of young men, with the facility of 
 obtaining sustenance, leads to frequent and hasty marriages, and 
 places many females in the situation of matrons who would of neces- 
 sity be servants in older countries. The rich being thus compelled 
 to labor, tind but little time for indulgence in luxury and extrava- 
 gance; their ostentation is restricted, and industry is made to 
 become a characteristic virtue. 
 
 " It need scarcely be added, that we have as yet no epidemic 
 amusements among us." 2 
 
 Yet our author had to own that dancing, which would seem to be 
 a pleasure of the epidemic order, was "not infrequent among the 
 
 !Pp. 166, 167. 
 2 P. 167.
 
 102 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 wealthier classes." True, he felt that he could safely add : " But it 
 is never carried to excess." 
 
 The same judicial witness also says : 
 
 " Theatrical exhibitions, both by amateurs and itinerants, have oc- 
 curred at intervals for a dozen years; and a society of young towns- 
 men have lately erected a temporary wooden pla}~-house, in which 
 they have themselves performed. But as the tendency of their in- 
 stitution to encourage strollers and engross time has been deprecated 
 by the more religious portion of our citizens ; and as the members 
 have failed to realize their anticipations, with regard to the accumu- 
 lation of a fund for the relief of indigence, they will be likely soon 
 to relinquish the pursuit, and leave their stage and its trappings to 
 some future votaries of Thespis." 1 
 
 Chase was never much addicted to the theatre, he told me. Not 
 long before his death, he went to "assist" at the Meg Merrtties of 
 Charlotte Cushman, here in Washington ; but at Cincinnati, where 
 I often met some of his legal brethren in the theatre, I never saw 
 him there at all. 2 
 
 Dr. Drake has put on record the following statement: 
 
 '• During the winter, select parties are frequently assembled, at 
 which the current amusements are social converse, singing and re- 
 citation, the latter of which has been lately predominant." 3 
 
 Here is another interesting statement of our author : 
 
 " Cards were fashionable in town for several years after the Indian 
 war that succeeded the settlement ; but it seems they have been 
 banished from the genteeler circles, and are harbored only in the 
 vulgar grog-shop or the nocturnal gaming room. , ' i 
 
 Rather too severe on the " keards," dear doctor ! Not in grog- 
 shops or in gaming rooms alone were cards a favorite pastime at 
 
 *Pp. 167-8. 
 
 - Cincinnati was called by Ned Marshall, about 1849, a very "chunky" place. 
 Perhaps it never was the gayest or the brightest city in America; but it was never 
 quite so chunky, I conceive, as it appeared to Marshall. 
 
 3 P. 1G8. Recitation long continued to be a favorite amusement in some of the 
 pioneer homes of Cincinnati. How many youthful Cincinnatians have aspired to 
 domestic glory while reciting 
 
 " My name is Norval, on the Grampian hills," 
 or, 
 
 " On Linden when the sun was low," 
 would need some pages to set forth. 
 
 * P. 167.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 103 
 
 Cincinnati. Some of the most saintly women that have ever lived 
 at that place, taught their own children to play seven up, and whist, 
 and euchre. 
 
 Now I call attention to a statement of some interest to climatol- 
 ogy. Dr. Drake said, in 1815: 
 
 " Sleigh-riding and skating are rai*ely enjoj^ed, on account of the 
 lightness and instability of the snow and ice." 1 
 
 And here is a statement, looking, somewhat, in the same direction : 
 
 "Sailing for pleasure on the Ohio is but seldom practiced; and 
 riding out of town for recreation, on horseback or in carriages, is 
 rather uncommon, for want of better roads. Evening walks arc 
 more habitual, in which the river bank and adjacent hills — the Co- 
 lumbian Garden, and the Mound, at the west end, are the principal 
 resorts." 2 
 
 There came a time when trips to Louisville and back by steamer 
 were quite fashionable ; and never did a fashionable pleasure show 
 itself more rational. The City at the Falls may never rival Cin- 
 cinnati, but the former was a gayer city than the latter ; and the 
 situation of the former, with the characteristics of the charming 
 scenery between Louisville and Cincinnati, made the trips referred 
 to truly full of pleasantness. 
 
 Chase was destined to be a devoted Cincinnatian ; but very soon 
 the country, North and South and East and West, was to know and 
 claim him for her own — to influence his life, and to be influenced, 
 in turn, by him. It may seem, therefore, that too much attention is 
 dovoted to his life at Cincinnati. 
 
 As already intimated, I refer to history for much of his career in 
 public. Here the reader is at least invited to make thorough study 
 of the various preparations of his private and his only slightly pub- 
 lic life for the course in which the eyes of the whole country fol- 
 lowed his direction and his tendency. 
 
 Ohio was the scene of his first public triumphs. I am not a 
 native of Ohio, and I do not fondly glorify her land, her people, or 
 her laws and manners. As for Cincinnati, Harriet Martineau and 
 others found it all that it appeared to me. 
 
 And how about that portion of the Cincinnati valley which be- 
 
 1 P. 168. 2 P# 168 .
 
 104 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 longs to my beloved native State, the State which even an English 
 abolitionist could call "glorious Kentucky ''?* Have I not a word 
 to say in praise of that portion of a valley which, on the Ohio side, 
 appears to me so interesting? 
 
 It is far from easy to do perfect justice to the difficulties of that 
 section of the Cincinnati valley as a place within the jurisdiction of 
 Kentucky, now, and once within the jurisdiction of Virginia. Nat- 
 urally, Covington and Newport, and the other Cincinnati suburbs, 
 lying in Kentucky, are most happily conditioned. But they were 
 of that which I have elsewhere called the South denned by Art, the 
 South denned by Nature being circumscribed, in part, by the wavy 
 line, forming the northern boundary of successful cotton culture, 
 while the South denned by Art had the northern boundary of the late 
 " peculiar institution/' known as slavery. 
 
 1 " On passing Cattletsburg, we bade adieu to gloi'ious Kentucky. Harriet Mar- 
 tineau, Society in America, I, 178.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 105 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 RETURN TO NEW ENGLAND — AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 
 
 rMHE narrative afforded by the Trowbridge letters thus proceeds: 
 
 " The sojourn at Cincinnati was not long — not quite a year. 
 
 "The bishop grieved over the destitution of the Diocese. He 
 wanted, above all things, a Theological Seminary for the education 
 of the ministry. He wanted, too, a college, if he could establish one. 
 He determined to go to England and ask for aid. lie resigned the 
 presidency of the college. The family was broker, up. I accom- 
 panied the bishop and his wife, and their little children, on the 
 journey eastward. 
 
 "We left Cincinnati, I think, in the same old coach which had 
 brought the family into it. I remember little of the journey. We 
 stopped at Chillicothe, where, at the house of the Rev. Mr. Kellogg, 
 I began my acquaintance with Cooper's novels by reading the Pio- 
 neers — greatly fascinated. Journeying eastward, we reached Steu- 
 benville, and stopped at the hospitable mansion of Mr. "Wells, the 
 father-in daw of my cousin. Philander, whose wife I now first met. 
 
 "Mr. Wells was a manufacturer, but had lost bj* it. He still re- 
 tained, however, his beautiful place on the banks of the Ohio, and 
 there, with his sons, my schoolmates, and in his pleasant family, 1 
 passed some very agreeable days. The Ohio being wad able, I crossed 
 it in that way. in order to be able to say that i had been in Vir- 
 ginia. 1 'i'he bishop held a service one day at Cross Creek, a church 
 well attended, but without a house in Bight of it. 
 
 •■ Prom Steubenville we went northward to Warren, already a 
 very pretty town. There we stopped at the bouse of a gentleman, 
 whose mother lived near him in a small house with but one room, or, 
 at most. two. The. old lady preferred this way of life to being a 
 member of her son's family, where, possibly, something might occur 
 to mar the affection between them. 1 visited her. Every thing wa- 
 in perfect order, ami very pleasantly arranged. Content, cheerful 
 piety, and good taste, gave beauty to every thing. 
 
 •■ Prom Warren our way lay northward to Ashtabula, over the 
 only turnpike road then existing in Ohio. It was a dirt turnpike, 
 
 1 There used to be a sign at Little Rock : 
 
 •■ A. M. Scott, Attorney at Law, 
 
 The man that waded the Ark an saw."
 
 106 THE PKIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 but the weather was good and the road, therefore, excellent. From 
 some place on this road. I was allowed to go to Harpersfield, a town 
 not far from it, to visit my brother, who had returned from Gen. 
 Cass's Expedition, and was reading, or had read, law there, with Mr. 
 Harper. I think I failed to find him, but saw Mr. Harper, who gave 
 me a good account of his prospects. 
 
 •• Rejoining the bishop, we continued our journey from Ashtabula 
 cast along the shore of Lake Erie. How beautiful were the shining 
 waters by day, and with what awe and delight I listened to their 
 roar as the wind rose and the waves rolled and broke upon the shore 
 at night. At one place, at night. I went out by myself, and heark- 
 ened to the grand music, till I could remain no longer. 
 
 •• Much of the way was on the beach where the waters would roll 
 up under the carriage and bathe the horses' feet. 
 
 •• We were three or four days in coining to Buffalo, of which I re- 
 member nothing, except going to church, and then Cherry Valley, 
 of which I remember just as much, with the variation that the church 
 was in a court room, and I went to sleep." 
 
 Did Justice, then, dull Piety? 
 
 •• At last," continues Secretary Chase, "we came to Kingston, on 
 the Hudson, the home of my aunt before marriage. It was a pleas- 
 ant place, that home. My aunt's relatives were, or had been, con- 
 nected with the East India Trade, and in the house were various 
 shells, brought from over the sea, which were very wonderful to me. 
 I had never seen the Ocean, but these shells seemed to tell me some 
 thing about its vastness and beauty. There was a boy in the house, 
 too — a lad — who had lived in the East Indies. We consulted together 
 a good deal during my brief stay at Kingston, and he told me stories 
 of that far-off land. One impressed me with a strange sense of the 
 ridiculous, the foolish, and the criminal. 
 
 - He described a little boy's going out as he had seen them on the 
 banks of the Granges, and making mud images, and then saying 
 prayers to them. With the pity I felt for these little worshipers, 
 there mingled, I fear, some contempt. But why? Do we not see peo- 
 ple every day making themselves mud gods ? What are half the objects 
 of public veneration but mud gods, which they themselves have made? 
 How often do the people invest some man with attributes wholly im- 
 aginary, and then almost deity him? 1 What is history, for the most 
 part, but a record of mud gods and their worship? 
 
 "I did not stay long at Kingston. My uncle gave me three or 
 four dollars and his benediction, and I was taken clown to the river 
 and put on board the boat for Albany. Nothing of much interest 
 occurred on the boat that I remember, nor any thing at Albany. 
 From Albany I went to Troy, and there inquired the road to Ben- 
 nington and Brattleboro, and started off to make across the moun- 
 tains home. My scanty purse did not contain enough to pay stage 
 
 1 1 fear that Chase will appear to have been thinking of Lincoln-worship when 
 he wrote these words. Yet we shall see that he generally did justice to the real 
 worth of the man he once called the noblest of our martyrs.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 107 
 
 fare. I thought little of that, however. I started off with a brave 
 heart. 
 
 • I walked, [with] occasionally a ride from some farmer going the 
 same way. and finally hiring a man to take me in his wagon for the 
 last fifteen or twenty miles, the whole distance in three days. One 
 night I passed at a house on the road-side, where I waB greatly 
 shocked by the coarseness of the language and manners of the people 
 who lived in it. It was a delight when I came within view of 
 Monadnock, some thirty or forty miles off, to see- the grand old 
 mountain lifting his peaceful head toward heaven, and seeming to 
 look toward me with a sort of welcome. It was a foretaste of 
 home. It was dark before 1 entered the village. The man drove 
 the wagon to the door of the old yellow house. I jumped out. and, 
 giving him my last dollar, ran in, where mother and sisters, sur- 
 prised and glad, gave me a most affectionate welcome. How long the 
 three years of absence seemed ! I hardly expected to be recognized." 
 
 To add a word to Chase's own account of that welcome home 
 would be impossible. The holy joy of such reunions is beyond all 
 intimation through the agency of words. 
 
 But that New England household, touched as it was with the 
 ideal, breathed, for the most part, the true spirit of the real and 
 the practical. 
 
 "What should I do now?" continues the delightful narrative of 
 Secretary Chase, addressed to Mr. Trowbridge. " It was soon set- 
 tled that I should go on with 1113^ studies, and do what I could to 
 support myself. My precious mother, out of her scanty means, 
 thought she eould spare enough to pay what I could not earn, and 
 so let me go through college. How little I appreciated, then, the 
 sacrifice she was making! How much she was to stint herself — 
 almost to suffering — that her boy might have a good education. It 
 is sad to think — tears fill my eyes as I think — how late true appre- 
 ciation of such sacrifices comes. Alas ! how often, as in mj- ease, 
 not adequately — if ever adequately — until the beloved mother, who 
 made them, has gone bej-ond the reach of their manifestation. 
 
 "Not many months after my return a committee came into town 
 to engage a master for a school in a district of the adjoining town, 
 east of Keene. How application came to be made to me. 1 don' t 
 know ; but I presume the minister, Mr. Barstow, was consulted, and 
 he probably recommended me. 
 
 "I had, I think, commenced my recitations to him. and he knew 
 the straightened circumstances of our family. 
 
 ••At any rate, I was engaged, at the munificent salary of eight 
 dollars — it may be, six or seven — a month, and board. In a few 
 days 1 was conveyed to my district, and established as boarder in the 
 house of a worthy farmer. I was very kindly treated by him and 
 his family. They gave me a comfortable room, and plenty of apples, 
 nuts, and cider. I took charge of the school with some apprehension, 
 but without much self-distrust. There was the usual number of boys
 
 108 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and girls, and they were of the usual ages. They were disposed to 
 fun more than to study, and, I am afraid, did not stand in sufficient 
 awe of their boy-master. I assumed dignity, and tried to enforce 
 order and attention to studies. Occasionally, I punished some infrac- 
 tion of rules with the instrument all New England schoolmasters 
 use — the ferule. There was one boy older than myself, and stouter, 
 who took more liberties than the rest. I admonished and reproved 
 him without much effect, and, I fear, in no very suitable way. At 
 last he did something which provoked me greatly, and I gave him 
 a pretty severe blow with the ferule on his head. He subsided, for 
 the time, into dogged submission ; but, doubtless, complained of me 
 to his parents. The next da}', or very soon after, I received a note 
 from the selectmen, or the school committee, expressing their con- 
 viction that the school was not likely to be useful under my govern- 
 ment, and informing me that my services would not be required 
 thereafter. So ended my first attempt at school-keeping. 
 
 "I went home a little crest-fallen, and resumed my recitations to 
 Mr. Barstow." 
 
 Certainly, even had our hero been of sweeter, smoother disposi- 
 tion, he was quite too young to teach, when to teach and to flog 
 appeared inseparable. But, we shall see, notwithstanding the 
 religiousness and careful conscientiousness of Chase, he never could 
 command so happily as might have been desired. His temper 
 always was a somewhat moody one, and he was always prone to 
 Govern with a big G, as intimated in a former chapter. 1 
 
 " Among my shadowy reminiscences of the winter," continues our 
 hero, "are Quentin Durioard— which interested me immensely- — a 
 visit to m}^ sisters from my Cornish schoolmates, Gratia and Betsey 
 Marble, now grown to be beautiful girls and fine singers, who de- 
 lighted me with the ' Star of Bethlehem,' and various sono-.s, erave 
 or funny; Milton, j^arts of which I memorized, and recited to my 
 sister, Abigial, the memory of some of the lines, especially of the 
 
 description of , faithful among the faithless, remained with 
 
 me ever after. 
 
 " Toward spring it was determined that I should go to Royalton, 
 in Vermont, where my former instructor, Mr. Sprague, was preceptor 
 of the academy. 
 
 "It must have been early in 1824, perhaps in February or March, 
 that I went to Royalton, and was received in the family of Dr. Den- 
 ison, whose wife was the bishop's sister and our favorite aunt. The 
 doctor occupied a very respectable and comfortable mansion in the 
 north-eastern part of the village, with a garden on the northern side, 
 just beyond which stood the Congregational Church. In front of 
 the house Avas the road — the main village street — across which, 
 situate in an open space in a sort of public square, stood the 
 
 1 Chapter II.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 109 
 
 Academy. Behind the Academy, and skirting the village, from north 
 to south, or north-west to south-east, ran the little, clear, sparkling 
 stream, called Whitewater River. Behind the house rose the hills, 
 among which a peak, called the pinnacle, was very conspicuous, and 
 a favorite resort of the boys and girls who attended the Academy. 
 Among the girls there Mas one — born somewhere South — gentle, 
 pretty, and intelligent, who quite won my heart. Walks with her, 
 sometimes to the top of the pinnacle, whence 1 guarded her descent 
 with solicitous care; visits to the house of some neighboring friend, 
 varied by a row in a skirt' in the Whitewater, were my chief out-door 
 pleasure. In-doors, I learned to play chess with my cousin, Jo 
 Denison. who, lor awhile, was at home from college — the University 
 of Vermont — for vacation. It has since been in my power to make 
 one of his sons Collector of New Orleans. Of chess I was very fond, 
 and it came near disturbing m} T progress in study. But. alter all, 
 study was my chief occupation. I wished to enter the junior class 
 at Dartmouth at the approaching commencement, and was obliged 
 to read a great deal to make up the diiference between the scanty 
 proficiency at Cincinnati as sophomore, and the catalogue require- 
 ments for a junior at Dartmouth. But I did read a great ileal ; 
 reciting to Mr. Sprague, and reading, for the most part, during read- 
 ing and study hours, at my desk in the common study and recitation 
 room. I did not read thoroughly — nor was my preceptor very well 
 qualified to criticize my recitations. He generally took what I gave 
 him as 1 gave it, and let it pass. How much I have since regretted 
 the extremely loose way in which all my education went on ! There 
 was no discipline, and, in the end, of course, little thoroughness and 
 little accuracy." 
 
 Here, I think, self-accusation is a little too severe. While I have 
 nothing to retract of what has been said in other chapters, as to 
 Chase's never having been distinguished by profundity, it seems to 
 me the language just quoted needs restraint. To say that Salmon 
 Portland Chase had little thoroughness and little accuracy as a 
 student, is, I think, to say too much, even in self-censure. 
 
 I suppose it was at Royal ton that Chase received this precious 
 letter from his eminently worthy mother: 
 
 " Keene, August, 14, 1824. 
 "Dear Salmon: I i*eccived your kind letter in due season. At 
 that time your aunt Dunbar was very sick ; we were doubtful of her 
 recovery. So I was nurse and house-keeper, and 1 have hardly been 
 out doors since, till yesterday, when I called on Mr. Parker and 
 made known your request. 1 did not show him your letter, but told 
 him your intention of spending another year in studying before you en- 
 tered college, which I should be glad to oblige you in if he thought 
 consistent with your property and what I could do for you in 
 clothes etc. He said he would leave it to Mr. Sprague, where I sup- 
 pose you will be willing to have it end, and I acquiesce. I sent the 
 book by Miss Blake that you sent for, which you have received be-
 
 110 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fore now, I expect. Salmon. I wish you to be more particular when 
 you write to me to let me know when (?) and how your dear sisters 
 do and all our relations are in Vermont. I often think of them, and 
 wish I could add one to the number in their family circles and in 
 their beautiful church; that I think of with regret that I am placed 
 so far from the comforts I should enjoy in that house. Edward has 
 just returned from Plainfield. He left there last night, after five 
 o'clock, and arrived here before seven. He is anxious to continue 
 his studies there, and I have got leave for him one quarter more; 
 and if he continues to make as good a scholar as Mr. Newell thought 
 him to be when I was there, I shall try hard to have him educated, 
 that being alt that your dear father ever expressed a desire for his children. 
 Mr. Newell told me that he was what they called a driver, as good 
 a scholar as there was in school; he said, was he his own son. he 
 would not miss having him educated for nothing, and I would be will- 
 ing to wash or scour to get him through. I feel a great desire to have you 
 all honor the name of your ever-lamented and deceased father. I wish 
 you to send down to Edward all the Latin books that you do n't need. 
 He wants his Latin grammar. He might have done with it by this 
 time, if you had been willing to do by others as you would be done 
 by. Do n't think because a book is mislaid, you can't take the trou- 
 ble to look for it. Eemember that it cost money, and that I am short 
 of; and if I were not, I should wish to be careful of my books. 
 Dear Salmon, I had like to forgot to tell you that Mr. Parker thought 
 you had better engage a school next winter in season. Tit at would help 
 you some. Give my best love to aunt and uncle Denison, and to sister 
 Smith and family, and to Alice, and to all near and dear relations 
 too numerous to mention. I saw a gentleman right from Ohio ; a 
 Mr. Davis, who is in Mr. Jones' store, in Salem. He told me that 
 
 H was well, and married to J. King, a fine young lady as could 
 
 be produced in New Hampshire — so you see a short time has made 
 me mother of a fine daughter. I told Mr. Davis that I had heard so 
 before, but did not believe it, because he had not written to me to let 
 me know it himself; but he assured me it was true, for he attended 
 
 the wedding himself. He informs me that A is doing well. 
 
 He has bought hint a farm, and works on it like a hero. He is justice 
 of peace and has a good share of business in his office as a lawyer; 
 he speaks very highly of him. May God grant that he may be a good 
 man, and that trill be great to me. 
 
 "Salmon, I wish you to write to me good long letters and tell me 
 all about the family, for every branch of it is interesting to me. 
 Send your Irttcrs by private conveyance to save postage. My bill is 
 nearly ten dollars, and that would help pay for schooling. Do n't 
 think your mother is growing stingy in her old age. Send the 
 books to uncle Chase, he will be there next week. 
 '■Your affectionate mother. 
 
 "JANNETTE CHASE." 
 
 Surely, surely, if the so often quoted and so seldom deeply studied 
 words, ex pede Herculem, really suggests a truth that has wide con- 
 nection with coguate truth, the writer of that letter was a woman
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. Ill 
 
 of good family, in the best sense of that expression. I would say, 
 that, probably the Ralston pedigree, whereof, alas! we know too lit- 
 tle, was essentially as noble as the pedigree of Ithamar, the husband 
 of the woman who composed the just-quoted letter. 
 
 Salmon Portland Chase was careful to preserve memorials of that 
 devoted mother, that devoted wife. He saw no "rough vulgarities" 
 in her experiences, in her observations, in her modes of life. He 
 loved and prized his mother while she lived ; lie loved and prized 
 her memory when she was dead. He was a man of the true stamp, 
 a gentleman by birth and education ; such a man as always loves 
 his mother, and acknowledges, with a proud gratitude, his obliga- 
 tions to the woman whose relation to his life began before his birth 
 was consummate. 
 
 "The great event of my stay at Eoyalton," wrote Mr. Chase to 
 Mr. Trowbridge, "was the mai*riage of my sister Jane to Dr. Skin- 
 ner. At the same time. Gratia Parkhurst, one of her friends, was 
 married to Dr. Bloss. Two fine girls they were, and their lovers 
 were promising young men, just commencing the practice of their 
 profession. The double wedding took place in the little Episcopal 
 church at Bethel, whither we went in such vehicles as the country 
 afforded: and then there was the wedding party at aunt Denison's, 
 and the fun and the jollit}-, and the rich happiness that usually at- 
 tend such occasions. My cousin Jo and I officiated as waiters; for 
 servants were unknown, and help was scarce." 
 
 Is it important to this narrative that servants were unknown and 
 "help" was scarce where our hero took his earliest impressions and 
 received so much of his methodic education? 
 
 That this volume is no silly eulogy has been quite clearly shown. 
 There is no impropriety in saying that the reader must prepare to 
 find our hero's head a little turned with wealth and fashion — in a 
 word, with that which calls itself society ; and it is well to keep in 
 mind that where he passed the greater portion of his life, down to 
 the years of manhood, help was scarce and servants were unknown. 
 
 'T is true, it were but wild and almost savage to propose that there 
 should be no servants where 
 
 " wealth accumulates and men decay." 
 
 The state of culture and the state of ignorance, the state of the 
 poor and the state of the rich, defy all study of the economic 
 sciences and arts to find a remedy, complete in all its parts. 
 Aesthetic culture can not be invoked to close the drawing-rooms
 
 112 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 in which so many articles of virtu typify the educated love of the 
 fine arts ; nor can the love of dress, the passion for the rules and 
 the observances of etiquette, and like distinctions of that which 
 calls itself society, be expected to give up, at present, or perhaps at 
 any day, however distant, the dear objects of their adoration. 
 
 While we have those objects to be worshiped, there must be a 
 servant class, a master class. How far this is of interest to the elec- 
 tive franchise — how it is of interest to other matters of distinctively 
 political concern — I do not here attempt to indicate. 
 
 We must now prepare to go with Chase to Dartmouth College. 
 
 Secretary Chase wrote thus to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 " Then came the day I was to go to Hanover to present mj-self for 
 examination for admission as Junior. I went and found the profes- 
 sors much engaged. I was sent from one to another, questioned a 
 little — luckily for me with no great severity — and was admitted. 
 One of the questions by the learned professor of mathematics amused 
 me. He undertook to fathom my geographical attainments, and 
 asked: ' Where do the Hottentots live?' I was tempted to answer, 
 'In Hanover,' but prudence restrained me. 
 
 •After the commencement I went, w r ith my cousin Jo, to Burling- 
 ton, Vermont, unci made a short visit to my aunt Durbin. I was 
 greatly delighted by the place and its beautiful situation on the shores 
 of Lake Champlain. 
 
 "Four weeks passed in rambles and visits, and I returned to Han- 
 over, and became junior in fact. I took a room in the college build- 
 ing — having for my chum, my classmate Jeremiah Eussell, afterward 
 a respectable lawyer in Massachusetts. While rooming in the col- 
 lege I boarded, for the greater part of the time, in club — that is to 
 say, a number of the students organized themselves into an associa- 
 tion ; rented a room; provided food and attendance through a com- 
 mittee, and assessed the expense on the association. If any one de- 
 sired board without being a member of the association, he could 
 have it on paying an established weekly rate ; and there were a num- 
 ber who did so. I was one. 
 
 "During the winter which followed my first term I again attempted 
 to teach a New England District School, this time at Reading, where 
 my brother-in-law, Dr. Skinner, was established in practice as a 
 physician. The district in which I was to teach was a mile or more 
 from the village, and I boarded round among the families. The 
 board, I believe, was not set up to the lowest bidder, as was, and 
 perhaps is. sometimes done in New England, but assigned at a fixed 
 pate to two <>r three families who were willing to take the 'master.' 
 My first home was with a farmer named Townsend, who had some 
 very smart children who attended the school. There was no direct 
 road to the sehool-house from his place, and we usually took a path 
 across lots and across a deep ravine. Sometimes, in a snow storm or 
 after one, the traveling was not agreeable. I was very kindly 
 treated.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 113 
 
 "My chief literary resource was the Mysteries, and which fairly 
 madr my hair stand on end. 1 
 
 •• From this house 1 went to Deacon Somebody's, where I had all 
 the comforts they could give inc. and the Bociety of two very nice old 
 maidens, daughters of the deacon, who, with his wife, was well 
 stricken in years. I was too j'oung to appreciate the character of 
 those with whom I was thus brought in contact ; but I am sure 
 they were honest, good people. My success as a teacher was not 
 marked; but there was no serious complaint ; and when 1 closed my 
 term. and. with the earnings of the seven or eighl weeks' teaching, 
 went back to college, 1 felt that 1 had really accomplished something 
 for myself. 
 
 "The next summer an event occurred which turned out to have 
 more connection with my affairs than J had any idea of. The treas- 
 urer of the college was a reserved, honest man. who had, somehow, 
 incurred the general dislike of the students. So. on the evening of 
 the 4th of July, they gave him a serenade with all sorts of unmusical 
 instruments, when he rushed down among them in his night dress, 
 with a gun. or some other weapon, in his hand; hut the boys stood 
 their ground, and he was obliged to retreat. The affair made a good 
 deal of noise, and was discussed at the faculty meetings, hut nothing 
 serious came of it. A few days afterward I got up some doggerel on 
 the event, which I undertook to read as a class composition. I be- 
 gan thus : 
 
 " Dreadful perils do environ 
 
 The man that meddles with cold iron; 
 
 Thus saith old Butler, and saith well. 
 
 So, if you 11 list, a tale I '11 tell 
 
 How this old saw was verified, 
 
 And how poor Tom was terrified. 
 
 ' Twos on the day . 
 
 "'Stop. Junior Chase!' said the professor of rhetoric. 'Sit down, sir.' 
 "I sat down, and the next was called for composition. While the 
 other students were reading, my piece was circulating round the 
 class and gave great satisfaction. "When the compositions were col- 
 lected. I did not hand mine to the collector, but the professor de- 
 manded and received it. 1 expected serious consequences; but the 
 faculty, before whom the piece was produced, doubtless regarded it 
 as a good joke, or, at most, a very venial offense. I heard no more 
 of it.'" 
 
 At this point, it seems well to introduce another most character- 
 istic and, accordingly, most precious letter, to our hero from his 
 mother. Here is a transcript of that invaluable piece of indication : 
 
 "Keene, July 10, 1825. 
 "Dear Salmon: 1 received your letters indue season, but have 
 not been able to raise the money you sent for yet. I have received 
 
 1 1 have not been able to make out this passage.
 
 114 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 forty-five dollars, which I shall send by Mr. Stone. I have paid 
 none; pay him yourself, and be careful to take receipts for any money 
 you pay, and for what. Keep a memorandum of all your expenses. 
 Mr. Parker thinks yotfr bill high for this year, and so do I ; but 1 
 expect you will explain it when we meet again, if it should please 
 G-od that we should. I hear you have left your boarding place, 
 which you did not inform me of in your letter. Mr. S. told me it 
 cost seven shillings for board and washing, last quarter. When 1 
 last saw you, I understood you boarded as well as you wished. 1 
 am sorry you did not give me information of your change. Salmon, 
 if there is any odds in the expenses, even sixpence in a week will 
 make twenty-six shillings in a year. Salmon, I hear you say what a 
 close calculator mother has become; but it is my dear children that 
 makes me parsimonious, if I am so. I hope never to be reckoned 
 among the stingy. I have sent fifty dollars to Dr. Skinner to pay 
 Edward's bill there. I send twenty to him to-day to pay for his last 
 quarter. I sent to Mr. Parker to borrow the other twenty for you, 
 and shan't seal this till I know if I get it. I have seen none of Mrs. 
 H's. family since I received your last letter. Lauretta called on me 
 after 1 arrived in Keene, and gave her mother's love to me, and to 
 urge me to spend several days with them. She appeared happy and 
 cheerful as usual. I have not forgotten your shirts. I hope, if my 
 eyes should gain as they now do, I shall be able to sew a little in 
 three or four weeks. I send you sixty dollars. 
 
 "Your affectionate mother, 
 
 "JANNETTE CHASE." 
 
 Another letter of this series is not dated ; but I found it backed, 
 " My Mother, August, 1825." It reads as follows : 
 
 "My Dear Salmon: I received your kind letter, expressing } T our 
 disappointment at not receiving your money at commencement, 
 which I am very sorry for. I made particular inquiry if there was 
 any one going from Keene, and could find none till I heard Mr. 
 Parker had gone, and then it was too late. But you must learn to 
 put up with such little disappointments, as at that time I should 
 have sent but forty, that being the sum you wished when here. I 
 shall send you sixty dollars by Mr. Stone, as you wish me to. Dear 
 Salmon, you must cut off some of the ten thousand things and bring 
 them down to hundreds. I know you make a good use of what I 
 send you ; that is, I have full confidence in you ; but I know the feel- 
 ings of my dear children and wish not to cramp them ; but the way 
 to be generous, is to be prudent, so as to put it in our power to help our 
 fellow-creatures. You will say, mother gives me line upon line, pre- 
 cept upon precept; she will learn me economy if she can. 1 felt 
 some disappointed not to see you in Keene, and not to know where 
 you spent your vacation, nor to know what your standing in college 
 is. You should be more particular ; such things are pleasing to a mother. 
 You refer me to Mr. Stone ; but it is you I shall look to for that in- 
 formation, unless 1 get it accidentally. The bed that you have sent 
 for I have not sent, as I think it would be cheaper to hire one than
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 115 
 
 to send it for the time you would need it; but if you can't hire 
 one, you must agree with the stageman to fetch it for some certain 
 price from here there, for I have no one to do it ; and they lake the 
 advantage if there is no agreement. Mr. Stone told me be hired his, 
 so if you should send, I wish you to send an open Line by the stage- 
 man to hand me, so that I may send it this week. I expect to leave 
 Keene next week. Mr. Stone had engaged a school in Westmore- 
 land for four months, at fifteen dollars per month. He has disen- 
 gaged [sic] to take this at sixteen dollars on condition he procures 
 another to take that I mentioned you. He said you might take it. 
 You had better speak to him about it. It is the best school in West- 
 moreland. I should like to have j t ou take this school ; and it would 
 be more convenient for me to see to your clothes; and you could 
 study there as well as at Hanover ; and sixty dollars would do a good 
 deal toward clothing. Perhaps you have engaged one ; if so, I am 
 glad. I have not got your shirts made yet, but hope to have them 
 by the time. I hope to put my trust in God, for he has taken care 
 of us yet; and what shall we render to that good God for all the 
 blessings that he has been pleased to bestow upon us. We ought to 
 go to our knees to l'ender praise and thanksgiving to that good 
 being for his goodness to me and my dear children. Dear Salmon, 
 let not your studies, friends, and acquaintances keep you from the 
 love of God. Remember that every good and perfect gift comes 
 from God, our only Savior and Redeemer. Salmon, go to him, and 
 praise his name for his goodness to you and mine. I have a great 
 many things to say, but I have not time now. 
 
 "From your affectionate mother, 
 
 "JANNETTE CHASE." 
 
 At every advance, one falls more and more in love with the an- 
 tecedents of our hero's public life. Says Trench : 
 
 '•We have learned lately to speak of men's antecedents; the 
 phrase is newly come up ; and it is common to say, ' If we would 
 know what a man really now is, we must know his antecedents,' 
 that is, what he has been in times past." 
 
 In a certain sense, indeed, we may find the antecedents of a man 
 in his domestic antecessors, or in other words, his ancestors. In a 
 certain sense, the antecedents of our hero partly lived and breathed 
 in the devoted woman, from whose pure womb he issued, and from 
 whose dear breasts he drew the precious aliment of youngest infancy. 
 The more I learn of Jannette Chase, our hero's mother, all the 
 more do I feel certain that the life we study was, indeed, in spite 
 of its defects and imperfections, that of a true worthy. 
 
 Chase continues to narrate as follows : 
 
 " The summer of 1825 was marked for me by another incident, 
 not unimportant in a boy's life. Some difficulty occurred in which 
 9
 
 1 16 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a friend of mine, G-eorge Punchard, a warm-hearted, generous fellow 
 — the best speaker, though by no means the best scholar in our class 
 — became involved. I had nothing to do with the affair, and so do 
 not, now, even remember what it was. But I took Punchard's part, 
 warmly; both because he was my friend, and because I thought him 
 unjustly censured. The faculty took the matter up, and soon we 
 heard that Punchard was suspended. I at once waited on the presi- 
 dent to remonstrate. He received me kindly. I told him how firmly 
 I was convinced that Punchard was innocent of the charge against 
 him. He intimated that the faculty was the proper judges of that 
 question, and had decided it. I said: 
 
 " ' Then I desire to leave the college ; for I do n't wish to remain 
 where a student is liable to such injustice.' 
 
 "'Had I consulted my mother?' 
 
 "'No; but I wanted leave of absence that I might do so.' 
 
 " 'You can't have it,' said the president. 
 
 "'Then, sir,' said I, very respectfully, 'I must go without it.' 
 
 "He saw my determination, and, I think, really respected the 
 motives which prompted it. At any rate, he consented to the leave, 
 at last. And Punchard and I left the Plain, as the site of the insti- 
 tution was called, together. It was with great satisfaction and a 
 sort of self-approval, that I took my seat beside him, in the one- 
 horse chaise, and bid good-bye to those of our classmates who wit- 
 nessed our departure. 
 
 " We went to Keene, where Punchard left me, and went on to 
 Salem, where his parents resided. My mother welcomed me. She 
 did not approve but did not censure harshly. I could not help feel- 
 ing that I had done right in standing by my friend : but I was sorry 
 that I had been obliged to leave college. Fortunately, Punchard's 
 suspension was soon ended — perhaps shortened b}~ the faculty — and 
 we both returned, considering ourselves as a sort of small heroes. 
 
 " Nothing else of much interest occurred. Commencement came, 
 and five Juniors became Seniors. These were considered as invi- 
 table to parties and competent to visit. I formed some agreeable 
 acquaintances on both sides of the river. Capt. Partridge's military 
 school was then established in Norwich, and I occasionally went over 
 to see cadets of my acquaintance — holding in highest esteem, among 
 them, Valentine B. Horton, who now enjoys merited honor as one 
 of the foremost citizens of Ohio." 
 
 The course of study at Dartmouth, down to 1823, is shown in 
 Farmer & Moore's Historical Collections. 1 I suppose it was the same 
 during the time of Chase. Did enlightened views of method shape 
 that course of study? In a certain sense, one might almost say 
 that vicious method has more virtue than a total want of method. 
 Self-taught men waste years and years in finding out the method 
 best adapted to their own peculiar needs and tastes. 
 
 l Vol.I, 33.
 
 OF SALMON' PORTLAND CHASE. 117 
 
 That Bishop Chase was a good teacher, I can not believe. No 
 man of his imperious temper ever went to the depths of any sub- 
 ject, ever had the patience necessary to conduct the studies of the 
 young. Unconsciously and, in some measure, unintentionally, 
 Bishop Chase, in taking Salmon West with him, and iu so soon 
 giving him back to the peculiar physical conditions and the man- 
 ners of Xew England, finely prepared his nephew for collegiate life. 
 But I have found no traces of great indebtedness on the part of 
 Salmon Portland Chase to his tyrannical though pious uncle, as to 
 the direction in which any but religious preparation for the great 
 battle of relations in society should advance. Indeed, the type of 
 piety itself in Bishop Chase was far from amiable. Possibly, the 
 observation of it, the example of it, did more real harm than benefit 
 to his oppressed, at one time almost broken-spirited, young nephew. 
 
 But that sojourn in Ohio, and that going back to Xew Hamp- 
 shire, I conceive, were full of benefit to Chase's future. But for 
 that return, our hero, there is reason to believe, would not have 
 been at Dartmouth as a student. But for that, there is reason to 
 believe, his life at Washington, as teacher and as student, would not 
 have constituted part of his fine prepartion for a permanent abode 
 in and near the Cincinnati valley. 
 
 Was our hero a good student while at Dartmouth ? I have in- 
 timated my opinion that he never was a student of the most devoted, 
 steady, and methodic order. Here is Professor Cleveland's valuable 
 testimony : 
 
 " I became acquainted with Mr. Chase soon after he entered col- 
 lege; and though he was one year in advance of me. I soon formed 
 an intimacy with him, closer, probably, than any other, not except- 
 ing even the members of his class." 
 
 Is it not strange that in writing to Mr. Trowbridge, even so hur- 
 riedly, Mr. Cleveland should have been forgotten ? I am able to 
 state that Chief Justice Chase had a very high regard for that dis- 
 tinguished, able gentleman. 
 
 The professor thus proceeds in his account of Chase at Dartmouth 
 College : 
 
 "His independence, his manly bearing, and his high moral prin- 
 ciples no one could help admiring; and though he was not ambitious 
 of college rank, and did not study to attain it. yet his early admission into 
 the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and the distinguished part he took in the 
 commencement exercises, gave ample evidence of his high scholastic at- 
 tainments."
 
 118 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CHASE AT WASHINGTON — THE WIRT FAMILY — EXCURSIONS — MAKING 
 
 VERSES. 
 
 " A FTER commencement," continued Secretary Chase, " I visited 
 
 l\ my sister, Mrs. Colby, at Hopkinton, where I united with the 
 -*--*- Episcopal Church, under the charge of the Rev. M. B. Chase. 
 It was my purpose to go South and teach, for a time, and then pur- 
 sue whatever profession might appear to me best. I had not relin- 
 quished the idea of being a minister; but greatly doubted whether 
 I had any right to assume the duties of so sacred an office. 
 
 " Mr. Chase gave me a number of letters to gentlemen in Mary- 
 land and Virginia, with one to the Rev. Mr. Wilmer, of Swedesboro, 
 New Jersey, and one to a clergyman of Philadelphia, the Rev. Mr. 
 Allen, I think. 
 
 " My visit to Hopkinton over, I went to Reading, where my 
 mother was staying with my sister, Mrs. Skinner. They both wel- 
 comed me, and the little time I remained in New England was 
 passed with them. 
 
 " At last the time for departure came. My dear mother gave me 
 the little money she could provide rather than spare. It was yet 
 dark when I rose and took the early breakfast provided for me, and 
 with a mother's blessing, and a sad yet hopeful heart, left home for 
 the world." 
 
 That sad yet hopeful heart was justly hopeful, naturally sad. 
 That mother's blessing was bestowed upon a worthy son. But life, 
 we cau not too often remind ourselves, is but a battle. Whether it 
 shall ever be less warlike it is not desirable to ask ourselves at 
 present. 
 
 Of the tenets the religious faith of Salmon Portland Chase pre- 
 ferred, in becoming a member of the Church of England in Amer- 
 ica, this volume does not undertake to say a word. In another 
 place, some sentences are given 1 to the object of enabling readers to 
 discern the type of our hero's faith, especially with reference to the 
 life beyond the grave. But I do not obtrude my own religious 
 
 1 Post, Conclusion.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 119 
 
 views. The question is not what the author of this volume is, hut 
 what its hero was. 
 
 At present, it seems quite sufficient to declare, that my own 
 judgment of the life we study is that, up to this time, it deserves 
 to be credited with principles of true religion in a sense of deep de- 
 votion to the Godward. 
 
 Deep devotion to the Godward comprehends, at least in an en- 
 lightened Christian spirit, deep devotion to the Manward, pure and 
 ardent love of country, and, indeed, the best relationship to all good 
 interests. 
 
 Our hero's narrative goes on as follows: 
 
 "A short ride of ten or twelve miles brought me to Windsor, still 
 before day; then the stage came along, and one young passenger got 
 in, and on went the horses again. Again I was climbing the Green 
 Mountains; again passed through Albany, turning now, howevrr. 
 my face southward instead of westward. Down the Hudson in a 
 steamer to New York, and then by stage and steamer to Phila- 
 delphia. I wish I could recall the incidents on the journey, but they 
 are faded from memory. Perhaps, the lines will reappear as here- 
 after I look back, more and more, as is the wont of those growing 
 old, through the misty past upon events long gone lry. 
 
 •At Philadelphia, and at the house of the Eev. Dr. Allen, I found 
 my uncle, the bishop, who had returned from a successful visit to 
 New 1 England, and was now busily engaged in building up Kenyon 
 College. 2 I was advised to go to Swedesboro and see Mr. Wilmer; 
 ami to Swedesboro I went. Mr. Wilmer was very kind, and would 
 have been very glad to have sueh a sehool as I contemplated opened 
 in his parish, and made some inquhy to ascertain if scholars could be 
 had. The result was unfavorable and I returned to Philadelphia and 
 almost immediately set off for Baltimore. I had no letters to Balti- 
 more, but bad one to Dr. Tyler, 3 at Frederick City 
 
 "1 found Dr. Tyler very kind and very willing to promote my 
 wishes, but. alas! there was found no opening for my school in 
 Frederick. So I went on to Washington by the direct stage road. 
 
 "How well I remember the earnest prayer which wenl up from 
 mj- heart that God would give me work to do and success in 
 doing it." 
 
 If the answer to that prayer did not at once reveal itself, assur- 
 edly the glory that the life which breathed that prayer was to win 
 and wear at Washington was very great. 
 
 The narrative of Chase goes on as follows: 
 
 " There was my best hope, and there I had letters to the Rev. Dr. 
 
 1 So in the original. 2 In Ohio at Gamhier. 
 
 3 1 can not "make out" the writing at this point.
 
 120 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Hawley and the Rev. Mr. Allen. Both were interested in me, but 
 neither could help me much. I resolved, however, to open a select 
 school for boys, and so, one morning in January, 1827, a new ad- 
 vertisement appeared in the National Intelligencer, announcing that a 
 
 Select Classical School would be opened in the city, on the day 
 
 of , by Salmon P. Chase. At this time, I boarded with Mrs. 
 
 Markland on the Avenue, whose husband, I think, was a clerk under 
 the government. M} T room-mate was a young doctor — if I remember 
 right, a Dane. It troubled me to determine whether I should con- 
 tinue n\y 'private prayer' openly or in secret. Duty seemed to 
 require the open manifestation of my religious faith, and, after some 
 hesitation, I kneeled by a chair, the first night we passed together, 
 and offered my private worship to our Father who art in Heaven. 
 My room-mate did not exactly sympathize with my sentiments; but 
 I think he respected me the more for making them thus quietly but 
 decidedly known." 
 
 No doubt of that. No man that saw such a man as Chase in 
 prayer could fail to respect the worshiper, whatever he might feel 
 toward the worship. 
 
 "At this time," continues Mr. Chase, "Mr. Adams' administration 
 had just entered on its second year; and my uncle Dudley was Sena- 
 tor from Vermont, and a supporter of Mr. Adams. He had been an 
 ardent democrat in the days of Madison, and liked Mr. Adams better 
 than many of the federalists did. These last never quite forgave his 
 support of some prominent measures of Jefferson." 
 
 Many pages in which I tried to show the true relation of the 
 Adamses, respectively, to Hamilton, on the one hand, and to Jeffer- 
 son, on the other, I have felt obliged to cancel, in order to make 
 room for other matter. In another place, however, 1 I have tried to 
 show how Salmon Portland Chase himself must have regarded 
 Hamilton, and Jefferson, and the two Adamses. Such a showing 
 seems a proper part of the endeavor of this book to bring out all the 
 most important sentiments and views of its hero. 
 
 "I was not," continues Chase, "of a very inquisitive disposition, 
 and, though glad to know and to be noticed by distinguished men, 
 never went out of my way to know or to be known. Would it 
 have been better had I been of a more inquisitive, more pushing 
 temperament? Certainly, I should have more to tell; but should I, 
 myself, have done more work? I am not sure. Certainly, now, 
 looking back to those days ; seeing what opportunities I had to know 
 so much of the foremost men of the land, and what little use I made 
 of them, I experience a very lively regret. But I am before my 
 story. 
 
 1 For want of space omitted.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 121 
 
 "I remained at Mrs. Markland's, hoping for the advent of pupils 
 for the Select Classical School ; but, for many days, none came. My 
 slender means were well-nigh exhausted; and 1 began to be very 
 much, concerned about myprospects. At length, a Frenchman, Mr. 
 
 Sauveur F. Bounds — I think, his middle initial was F — called on me. 
 and made inquiries in reference to placing his young son. Columbus 
 Bounds, under my charge. He was so far satisfied that he engaged 
 to send him to me. Here was one pupil — a gleam of hope. How 
 gratified 1 was ! Xow. other pupils would pour in ! My school would 
 be full, and — ; but, alas! day after day went by, and Columbus lion- 
 tils remained the only name on my list. This would never do. 1 
 heard of clerkships, and thought how nice it would be to have one. 
 and, while performing its duties, to pursue the study of a profession. 
 And why should I not have one? My uncle was a Senator, and a 
 supporter of the administration. Could he not obtain one for me? 
 Certainly he could. I resolved to seek him. I went to his lodgings, 
 told him my story ; how desperate the expectation of scholars seemed ; 
 my project of a clerkship, and — would he help me? His reply is not 
 likely to be forgotten. 
 
 ••Salmon,' said he, '1 once obtained an office for a nephew of 
 mine, and he was ruined b} T it. I then determined never to ask one 
 for another. I will give you fifty cents to buy a spade with, but I 
 will not help to get you a clerkship.' 
 
 "Such was the substance, if not the language, of his reply. I left 
 him, greatly dissatisfied. Did it follow because an office did no good 
 to my cousin, I could derive no good from one? But now I am sat- 
 isfied with his answer. Had I become a clerk, it is almost certain I 
 would have remained a clerk, or should have been, at least, discpuali- 
 fied by clerk habits for the work I have actually done." 
 
 Is that a just self-judgment? I think not. There be men who, 
 being clerks, must never hope to be more than clerical. Of some 
 men, one may say once a clerk always a clerk. But not of such a 
 man as he for whom the Honorable Dudley Chase was unwilling to 
 ask a clerkship. 
 
 On the whole, it seems to me our hero was not very rich in 
 uncles, or perhaps I ought to say, in uncleing. In other words, the 
 article of uncle distributed to him by Providence does not appear to 
 me to have been very precious, if we go beyond the fact that all 
 his uncles gave him, at least in some respects, the benefit of good 
 example and the reflected lustre of conspicuousness. 
 
 The Honorable Dudley Chase appears to have been a rather mod- 
 est man — a real worthy. The Vermont Reports do not, however, 
 indicate, that he cared much for legal science, or for the state and 
 prospects of the law, where he so long resided, and where he resided 
 down to his death-day. Those reports do not enable us to judge 
 the Honorable Dudley Chase's judgments on the bench. Had he
 
 122 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 cared sufficiently for jurisprudence and for the improvement of the 
 legal system in Vermont, would he not have made reports himself 
 of the decisions made by him and his associates? Perhaps to answer 
 yes, would be to judge but rashly. I repeat, this uncle of our hero 
 seems to have been a real worthy, modest, and retiring. Many 
 years before his death he passed in complete retirement at Randolph, 
 giving most of his attention to his trees, and fruits, and flowers. 
 
 After all, he only meant, perhaps, to make full trial of his nephews' 
 mettle and endurance. 
 
 Thus the nephew goes on with his narrative to Mr. Trowbridge, 
 introducing a quite interesting character with whom I wish to make 
 the reader well acquainted. 
 
 "Not long after this, I received a call from a stranger, who an- 
 nounced himself as Mr. Plumley. He told me that he had a boys' 
 school and also a girls' school, which he had established later, and 
 which demanded most of his time. He could not give the attention 
 to the boys they required, and consequently the attendance was 
 falling off. He had heard of me, and thought I could take the 
 scholars he had left and make a good school ; and if I desired to do 
 so I could. I accepted his proposition with delighted gratitude, 
 and, a few days after, entered on my duties as teacher." 
 
 I have had much talk with Mr. Plumley. He is now in Wash- 
 ington, a friendly, chatty, good old gentleman. His memory is just 
 in the condition to be serviceable as to the time referred to in the 
 narrative just quoted. He does not remember the occurrence related 
 as we have just seen as it was remembered by Secretary Chase, while 
 writing to Mr. Trowbidge. 
 
 Mr. Plumley, on the second of May, 1873, took me to the very 
 spot where, according to his recollection (which I have no doubt, is 
 accurate), he first met Salmon Portland Chase. At that spot, where 
 Mr. Plumley was at work " gravelling/' Mr. Chase, it seems, 
 approached him, and gave Mr. Plumley a letter of introduction from 
 Rev. Mr. Hawley, acquainting Mr. Plumley with his wish, or rather 
 purpose, as it proved, to get up a school. He was received with 
 kindness; but, in the course of the brief conversation that ensued, 
 was told in a friendly manner, that, in Mr. Plumley's opinion, it 
 would be impossible to get up a school such as he contemplated. 
 
 "Sir,'' said our hero, courteously, yet almost curtly, "I thank you 
 for your interest in in}- welfare, but I am determined to have a 
 school. G-ood mornina: !"
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 123 
 
 With these words, young Chase began to move off; but Mr, 
 Plumley called him back, and introduced him to Mrs. Plumley. 
 
 "She," said Mr. Plumley (who is very faithful, indeed, to her 
 memory), "she, sir, discerned the man at once." 
 
 And the talk that followed led to the arrangement already shown. 
 
 I told the Chief Justice how the anecdote was related by Mr. 
 Plumley (who was then 79 years of age). The Chief Justice still 
 did not remember the facts as Mr. Plumley remembered them ; but 
 he agreed with me, that the recollection of the older gentleman was 
 pro!:?Mv correct. 
 
 In the last-quoted letter Secretary Chase said to Mr. Trowbridge : 
 
 " It was a great pleasure to me when, thirty-four years afterward, 
 I had become Secretary of the Treasury, it was in my power to offer, 
 unsolicited, to this worthy man, who. with his excellent wife, was 
 then living in New York, in straightened circumstances, a respect- 
 able position, in that cit}-, which he now fills creditably." 
 
 In the same interesting document, we have the statement : 
 
 "There were ten or twelve boys left in Mr. Plumley's school, who, 
 with my one engaged pupil, Columbus Bonfils, formed my first- 
 charge. 
 
 "I continued in charge of this school nearly three years, com- 
 mencing in February, 1827, and closing in the fall or winter of 1829. 
 Among my boys were a number of the sons of leading men — of Mr. 
 Cla}*, Mr. Wirt, Mr. Southard, Gen. Bernard. There was one lad 
 whom I regarded as the most promising of the school, but. unfor- 
 tunately, he became, after he left school, a clerk, and I found him a 
 clerk, in the Treasury Department, when I took charge of it." 1 
 
 Chase goes forward in this fashion : 
 
 "I became slightly acquainted with quite a number of prominent 
 characters. Too diffident to push myself into notice — possibly, 
 perhaps, too proud to ask for recognition, and preferring to wait for 
 it — too indifferent also — a more serious fault — to what transpired 
 
 1 There it is again! Not just 
 
 "Still harping on ray daughter," 
 but still harping on that notion about clerkships. One can almost fancy that old 
 clerk making a slight change in the sad-fated Barnwell's warning, so that it shall 
 have the tenor : 
 
 Be warned, ye youths! who see my sad despair; 
 Avoid all clerkships, false as tbey are fair ! 
 And, after all, the harping and the warning may not be far "out of it."
 
 124 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 around me to take much pains to acquaint myself with the histories 
 and men of the hour — too much inclined to spend what little time I 
 could command in the society of one or another small circle of young 
 lady friends — I made much too little of the advantages which a resi- 
 dence in Washington at that period afforded. I was poor but sensi- 
 tive—a young teacher, needing to be taught and guided myself." 
 
 And was he not very soon to be well taught, to be well guided? 
 Was he not to have William Wirt for his preceptor in the law, and 
 for his elder friend in every respect, his model in all grand and beau- 
 tiful particulars? 
 
 The life of Wirt by Kennedy is quite unworthy, equally of hero 
 and of author. How it may have happened to be so, I have hinted 
 in other connections. 1 But the fact that is entirely certain is, that 
 though, like all the works of Mr. Kennedy, that writer's life of Wirt 
 is admirable as to style and diction, it almost fails to tell the interest- 
 ing story and portray the yet more interesting character of Wirt as 
 might have been expected. 
 
 William Wirt was one of the most interesting men that ever 
 lived. His real story was romantic, full of incident, rich in the 
 choicest matter of biography. 
 
 I talked the other evening with Mrs. Admiral Goldsborough, the 
 sole surviving daughter of that genial, tasteful family. She had 
 been, to the last, one of the dearest friends of him whose life is here 
 related. She will pardon me for telling my dear reader (in the 
 strictest confidence of course,) that she thus accounted for the com- 
 parative infrequency of her meetings with the Chief Justice: 
 
 "We women, you know," explained the genial old lady, "can not 
 seek you men, no matter how much we may wish to see you. The 
 Chief Justice was, indeed, the best friend I ever had, in the strict 
 sense of that term, in which we distinguish a friend from a relative ; 
 but he was busy, and when not busy, occupied with visits; I could 
 not seek him. and he could seldom visit me ; and so we met less often 
 than would have been pleasant to us both. But we never met with- 
 out renewing the old friendship, which sprang up between us when 
 he taught my brothei*s in school, and was taught by my dear father 
 out of school." 
 
 This is, I am quite sure, though not the very language used by 
 Mrs. Goldsborough, language very like that used by her, on the 
 occasion just referred to. 
 
 Chase relates as follows : 
 
 1 Post.
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 125 
 
 "I became a member of St. John's Church under the care of 
 Dr. Hawley, and for a long while was ;i teacher in the Sunday 
 School. The superintendency was offered me, but 1 shrank from 
 accepting it. Another church was formed under the care of the Rev. 
 H. V. D. Johns, with whom I formed an acquaintance that became 
 a friendship ending only with his death. 
 
 ;i To this church I frequently went with the daughters of Mr. 
 Wirt, of whom two, Elizabeth and Catherine, were then just coming 
 into womanhood, rich in the accomplishments of thorough educa- 
 tion, completed b}' the influence and example of an admirable father 
 and admirable mother. I wish that my memory was perfect enough 
 to enable me to describe this most delightful family; but were I 
 to attempt it I should fail. Mr. Wirt was one of the handsomest 
 men and one of the completest gentlemen of his time ; and 
 among women Mrs. Wirt had few equals. How gracefully and with 
 what sweet manners she presided in that happy household I can 
 never forget. I recall her presence now, but how indistinctly, as 
 she stood with me one evening under the clusters of the multifl'ora 
 which clambered all over the garden portico of the house, and 
 pointed out to me the stars. There is a faint memory of a sweet 
 voice, a sweet but noble countenance, a little pale; dark hair; clear, 
 gentle, thoughtful, earnest eyes, not without some sparkle of play- 
 fulness. That is all. 
 
 " How many happy hours have I spent in that house. It is now 
 devoted to some of the uses of this war, and the family is all scat- 
 tered. Two of the three boys are yet living— the other dead — and 
 all the girls except one noble and patriotic woman, gone with their 
 father and mother to make, I hope, a family in Heaven." 
 
 Let me supplement this letter with one written to me by Mrs. 
 Admiral Goldsborough, in 1873, in aid of a piece entitled, " Agnes 
 Wirt ; a Story," which, issuing out of preparation for the present 
 work, appeared in the Capital, at Washington, edited by Donn 
 Piatt. 
 
 Mrs. Goldsborough had learned from me that, when I began 
 that piece, I was unaware that any survivor of the Wirt family 
 resided here ; but that I had learned from my friend, Mrs. Thur- 
 man, that she, Mrs. Goldsborough, had her home in Washington. 
 The letter answered as we are about to see, also contained the 
 words : 
 
 "On Saturday, I heard that, at the time of her death, Agnes was 
 engaged to Mr. Chase." 
 
 The answer of Mrs. Goldsborough itself indicates sufficiently the 
 other contents of my letter. That answer, which, as already inti- 
 mated, I have been permitted to devote to the present service, is in 
 these words :
 
 126 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Mrs. Admiral Goldsborough has received Mr. Warden's note. 
 She feels that she ought to enlighten Mr. Warden with regard to 
 the impression he has received that Mr. Chase was ever engaged to 
 her sister, Agnes Wirt. There was never even an affaire du cceur 
 between them. Mr. Chase was a student of law with my father, 
 William Wirt, and was highly appreciated by him and every mem- 
 ber of his family. We all thought him full of talent and destined 
 to become a distinguished man. He was to us a family friend, to 
 whom we were all warmly attached — on account of his personal 
 merits — and he reciprocated this friendship. Mr. Warden asks me 
 to give him a description of my 'amiable, admirable mother's per- 
 son, which is not described in Mr. Kennedy's book, and a like 
 description of my sister Agnes — with an indication of her course of 
 school education, etc' There is no more delicate task to be per- 
 formed than for one member of a family to attempt a description 
 of the personal appearance and traits of character of any other 
 member of the family circle. You see that Mr. Kennedy has not 
 attempted it — although he was personally well acquainted with 
 them both — and esteemed them highly. Nordid my father in his 
 beautiful memoir of Agnes Wirt enter into a minute account of 
 her features and form. She died at the early age of sixteen years 
 — while still engaged in her studies — as a school girl. Her features 
 and form were symmetrical — but the glory of her face was her eyes 
 — of large full hazel — beaming with soul and intelligence. 
 
 " ' Her look upon your sight 
 
 Broke with the lambent purity of planetary light, 
 And an intellectual glory, like a light within a vase, 
 Lit every line with beauty of her intellectual face.' 
 
 " There was an effulgence — a spiritual loveliness — a beaming forth 
 of the soul which was like a sort of heavenly radiance shed around 
 her. There was an enthusiasm in her nature and a soul full of love 
 to all around her — which found expression in the most caressing 
 and endearing ways and manners — and won all hearts. An almost 
 supernatural brightness, seemed like a halo to surround her and to 
 shadow forth the celestial world to which she Avas soon to be called 
 and destined to be an inhabitant. God seemed to have set his seal 
 upon her as his own! She had great beauty of countenance and 
 expression, and an intellectual play of features which was delight- 
 ful to behold. Some persons are best described by painting — 
 others by poetry — -because a painting rarely ever gives the living 
 expression of the countenance. It is better suited to the inanimate 
 but regularly faultless style of beauty — which makes the picture. 
 Poetry seizes upon the expression and character of the face and 
 form, and conveys the spirUuelle. I have not in my possession any 
 thing showing the course of study recommended to Inn- by my 
 father. I have some letters to myself upon this subject, which, 
 perhaps, may some day see the light — for the benefit of others — 
 who may wish direction in the pathway of learning. Of my mother, 
 I will say that she commanded the esteem, and admiration, and 
 loving devotion of my dear father's heart all her life — and was
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 127 
 
 worthy of it ! She was a woman of dignified, elegant manners, and 
 great refinement; handsome and very impressivt in her presence. 
 As to her person, she had fine dark eves and regular features, and 
 a great deal of intellectual beauty in the shape of her head and in 
 the play of countenance — and was a noble looking woman. While 
 she graced society by her presence, she never neglected a domestic 
 duty, or any other duty. A sense of duty, and a performance of it 
 was one of her most striking characteristics. My father had the 
 greatest respect for her judgment, and always referred to it. He 
 trained us all to love and reverence her, and constantly referred us 
 to her, whenever we went to consult with or attempt to sway him 
 in any matter. She was one of those blessed women whom Solomon, 
 in his Proverbs, commends — ' The heart of her husband doth safely 
 trust in her.' " 
 
 We shall see much more of the Wirt family. At present, I desire 
 to turn attention on a matter of much interest to the whole work — a 
 matter with which, indeed, as with all the Washingtonian life of our 
 hero, William Wirt and his delightful family will appear to have 
 been much connected, but which, at first, may seem to lose sight of 
 them, completely. 
 
 "During the first few months or weeks of my school-keeping," 
 wrote Secretary Chase to Mr. Trowbridge, "I continued to board 
 with Mrs. Markland ; but soon took up my quarters in the house 
 
 of Mrs. ' on Pennsylvania Avenue, north side, and east 
 
 of . 2 Mrs. was a good, kind, Christian woman — a 
 
 dress-maker by trade, and poor in this world's goods. I had a good 
 room. 3 and was quite comfortably provided for. What I paid her 
 helped her to provide. 
 
 " I was obliged to read a good deal to keep ahead of my scholars, 
 for my college opportunities had not been well improved as they 
 should have been. I had relied too much on my faculty of easy 
 acquirement, and had given far less time to study than was neces- 
 sary to thoroughness. Besides reading to teach, I read also for gen- 
 eral information and amusement; and wrote a good deal. Being 
 near-sighted, I was obliged to bend to my writing-paper or my book. 
 I contracted, in this way. a stooping habit, and, always slender, grew 
 quite thin. One morning, coming down to breakfast, and standing 
 by the fire, I felt a sudden faintness, and a sort of inward break, as 
 if something detached itself from my side, and sank down within 
 me. For a moment, I was quite faint. I did not understand the 
 meaning of what I felt, but was afterward informed b}- a doctor 
 that an adhesion had taken place, and, fortunately for me, been 
 
 1 Mrs. Cook, according to Mr. Plumley, who took me to the spot on the 2d of 
 May, 1873. 
 
 2 1809 H Street, according to Mr. Plumley, is the next house east of that 
 referred to. 
 
 3 The house was quite small, if Mr. Plumley showed me the true one.
 
 128 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 broken. I only felt that thenceforth I must avoid stooping, and 
 did. I had my table and writing-desk arranged so as to compel me 
 to sit or stand erect. I continued this practice many years, and the 
 habit of stooping was thoroughly eradicated. I had no return of the 
 sensations which alarmed me." 
 
 Perhaps, it was in consequence of this occurrence that Mr. Chase, 
 in his days of finest person, port and presence, carried himself with 
 an erectness, with a certain air of stateliness, which, to some, 
 seemed pompousness of bearing, if those terms may convey the 
 meaning I desire to signify. 
 
 Mr. Chase continues: 
 
 "I remained with about three or four months, perhaps, 
 
 and then changed my lodgings to Mrs. King's, on the corner of 
 
 Street and - 1 Her house still stands on the corner, 
 
 but it seems to me very small and poor now, compared with the im- 
 pressions I retain of it. 
 
 "About this time, I became acquainted with a Russian gentleman, 
 attached to the Legation, who was of a literary turn. He translated 
 several books into English, and published them. Among them 
 I remember only the Journey Round my Room, and the Leper of 
 Aost. He engaged me to copy his manuscripts — I wrote quite a 
 legible hand then, 2 and to correct grammatical and idiomatic inac- 
 curacies. I willingly undertook the work, partly for the improve- 
 ment I expected from it and partly for the pay. When I had writ- 
 ten several chapters, that neither warranted the use of so much time 
 as I devoted to the work, and asked larger reward. The Count — he 
 was called so, whether with or without right I know not— would 
 not give it and I quit copying and correcting for him. He found no 
 one who suited him, and came back to me and acceded to my terms, 
 which, I am sure, must have been very moderate. The Count wrote 
 and I copied and corrected for him for a good while. How long I 
 can't tell. The Count and the work appear in memory and then dis 
 appear, but I can not fix the time during which they remain." 
 
 The author of a Journey Round my Room was Xavier de 
 Maiestre. 
 Says Chase : 
 
 " My residence at Mrs. King's was, on the whole, quite pleas- 
 ant. She was a thrifty, careful, excellent old lady, and her daugh- 
 ters, Mrs. Lovell, and Misses Jane and Mary Ann King, were very 
 
 estimable persons. They were quite unlike however. Mrs. L' 
 
 was handsome, bright, joyous, while the two Misses King were sedate 
 
 1 As Mr. Plumley showed me, on the north-east corner of 18th and G. 
 -Quite fair and legible indeed — a handsome style of writing, as his diaries 
 manifest.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 129 
 
 and reserved — almost severe. The whole family were of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, and attended worship where Dr. G-urley's church 
 now stands, at t he corner of . The bnilding was very inferior 
 
 to thai which now occupies its place. The minister was Mr. 
 Baker. 
 
 "In the summer I was the only boarder. In the winter, the 
 rooms on the second floor — mine was in the rear — were occupied by 
 members of Congress. John Leeks Ken. of Maryland, showed me 
 several little kindnesses, chief among which, in my esteem, was that 
 of franking a miniature volume of poeTns to the young girl-friend 
 who had been my schoolmate at Koyalton." 
 
 Was not the heart of Secretary Chase in the right location when 
 he could indulge in reminiscences of this description? More and 
 more this man's characteristics grow upon me as the composition of 
 the narrative progresses. How it is with others I, of course, can 
 not know ; but it seems to me that every reader ought to recognize 
 the real beauty of our hero's inner life, at the time when the words 
 just quoted left his pen. 
 
 The narratives goes on as follows : 
 
 "As the winter of 1827-8 approached, I was very desirous that my 
 uncle, the Senator, should come and board at this house; but, for 
 him, it was too far from the Capitol. 
 
 "My board — a yearly boarder with a small room and indifferent 
 accommodations — was five dollars a week. Members of Congress 
 had to pay ten. 
 
 "My first few months of school-keeping gave me some money; 
 and with the impatience which the bird feels, I suppose, to return 
 to the nest from the first flight, I availed myself of it to re-visit 
 New England during my first vacation. Most of my time was 
 spent with my mother, at Hopkinton; but I also made a Hying visit 
 to ni} r aunt, who, next to my dear mother, had most claim on my 
 love, at Royalton. Returning, I took charge, at the request of 
 Dr. Sewall, of Washington, whose son was one of my scholars, of 
 his niece, Miss Emeline C. Webster, then a young lady of much 
 beauty and intelligence, and escorted her to Washington. I found 
 her at Taunton, with her uncle, Judge or Doctor Colby. The night 
 I stayed there was remarkable for a brilliant meteoric display, which 
 I was vexed to be told of the next morning, because no one bad 
 called me to witness. We had a very pleasant party in carriages 
 from Taunton to Providence, where we took the boat from New 
 York. 
 
 "A journey to Washington, then, took about three days — one to 
 Providence and New York — another to Philadelphia and Baltimore, 
 and a third to Washington. 
 
 "At Baltimore, we ascended to the top of the Washington monu- 
 ment — then recently erected, and still not quite finished, as to its 
 surroundings — and saw Baltimore below us. 
 
 "There was nothing special to mark eighteen months that fol
 
 130 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 lowed. I kept my school, and, on the whole, succeeded, though I 
 was not, I fear, a very accurate teacher." 
 
 Then follows that statement about Latin prosody, 1 followed by 
 the statement that Mr. Wirt once wrote that he should remove his 
 boys; and the narrative proceeds to relate as follows : 
 
 " In the summer of 1828, Mr. Wirt and some of his daughters, 
 and the Rev. Mr. Campbell, now Dr. Campbell, of Albany, made a 
 northern excursion, visiting, in the course of it, Quebec and Mon- 
 treal. I longed to accompany them, but my poverty consented to 
 stay behind. I passed the summer in Washington, and in the fall 
 had a slight attack of bilious fever." 
 
 Now, let me invite attention to the contents of a diary, the earli- 
 est at my command — perhaps, the earliest in existence. Search at 
 Edgewood — which, when the hero of this work ceased to live, was 
 his country seat — failed to find an earlier one that was undoubtedly 
 once carefully preserved. The day before he left Washington for- 
 ever, as it proved, he was with me at Edgewood. He directed Cassy, 
 his housekeeper, to assign me there a lodging room, to be used by 
 me at will, while engaged in my biographic work, and gave me 
 command of the library. I expected to be at Edgewood nearly 
 every night, during the summer; and he thought that I might find 
 other material there, especially in a place he indicated. 
 
 How it has occurred, since his death, that I could not resort to 
 Edgewood, is among the things of which, in spite of the considera- 
 tion that they might prove very interesting to the public, I prefer 
 not to speak at large in any chapter of this work. But somewhat 
 more I must say, on that painful subject, ere this volume closes. 
 
 April 8, 1829, was marked by the following account : 
 
 " To-day, the loveliest part of Mr. Wirt's family left Washington 
 for Richmond. The}*- had constituted almost the whole of my soci- 
 ety, and their absence was sensibly felt. For the cheerful and 
 agreeable evenings I had been accustomed to spend in their society, 
 I could hope for no equivalent substitute. To regularly recurring 
 delight I can only look that general gloom shall succeed. For in 
 solitude who can be cheerful, and in society, the recollection of 
 past enjoyment, weakens the pleasure of the present." 
 
 The entry of April 14 begins as follows : 
 
 1 Ante.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLANL CHASE. 131 
 
 " The remainder of Mr. Wirt's family left Washington to-day. I 
 rode to the steamboat, and staved with them until ten o'clock, when 
 .1 took a sorrowful leave, and returned to the city." 
 
 April 15 l has this memorandum: 
 
 " Called at Mr. Wirt's, who had read to me a letter from the young 
 ladies, in which I was pleased to find that I was affectionately re- 
 membered." 
 
 Next we have this entry : 
 
 " April 16. I found a melancholy pleasure in reading passages 
 which I used to admire with my absent friends. Thus sorrow can 
 beguile itself by recalling the image of the past to an association 
 with the present." 
 
 Surely, here is a poetic prose, with the unaffected language of a 
 truly genial, loving disposition. 
 
 April 20 witnessed this record of reflection and emotion : 
 
 "To-day, a large quantity of furniture which Mr. Wirt left be- 
 hind, was exposed to public sale. 1 attended less to purchase some 
 articles that had belonged to him than to pass once more through 
 the house. I went into the rooms where Elizabeth had performed 
 ihe duties of the toilet — where she had spent many a moment elab- 
 orating her French puffs while I was impatiently awaiting her ap- 
 pearance below. I passed into Mr. Wirt's study, which had often wit- 
 nessed his midnight vigil ; where he had invoked Fame and she had 
 come at his call; where he had disciplined himself for the strife, and 
 made sure the triumph of the forum. Could those walls have 
 spoken, what an instructive lesson they might have told ! I passed 
 into the garden, and stole a few flowers. This was the favorite spot 
 
 of Mrs. W . She delighted to tend the flowers — to watch their 
 
 blooming — and guard them against all nocent influences. But her 
 step was no more among them. She was far away. ... I went 
 home." 
 
 When I read such indications of our hero's inner life, and, if I 
 may so express myself, his inner character, I own myself in danger 
 of forgetting how imperious he often showed himself, how proud, at 
 times, even how vain at other times. Just now, he seems all spirit- 
 ual loveliness — a very sweet, yet very noble spirit, quite incapable of 
 domineering ; thoroughly in love with all the sacred objects of do- 
 mestic veneration and affection. 
 
 Certainly, he loved the Wirts with deep affection. 
 
 J The date of the original, evidently by mistake, is April 13. 
 
 10
 
 132 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SEEYICES 
 
 In the entry of April 14, 1829, part of which is elsewhere given, 
 are these eminently thoughtful words : 
 
 " Mr. Clay's family had gone before, and General Porter's. Few 
 were left in whom I felt any interest. Strangers will succeed. A 
 new Cabinet will fill, or rather occupy, the places of the old ; but 
 the society which has exisied here can not be renewed. A more 
 savage spirit breathes in the administration, and, as a natural con- 
 sequence, distrust has come in place of confidence, and reserve in- 
 stead of frankness. Men do not now speak their sentiments freely. 
 The spirit of cautious jealousy finds it a way 1 into the family circle, 
 and restraint is visible even in the intercourse of the fireside. How 
 long will these things be?" 
 
 We here begin to see the growing public spirit of our hero. We 
 begin to see his bias as a politician. 
 
 What he once thought of painting we may begin to see in this 
 transcript from his diary, under date December 4, 1829 : 
 
 "I went to Baltimore with Mr. King. I had expected my friend 
 Swann to accompany me on this visit, but, on the evening before I 
 started, I received letter from him, stating that inevitable duties de- 
 tained him in the country and would detain him there until after 
 Christmas. In Mr. King, however, I had a very agreeable com- 
 panion. He is a painter of great -merit. His representations of still 
 life, are said, by competent judges, to equal the productions of the 
 European masters. Unfortunately, however, he is not allowed to 
 indulge his own taste, or to apply his industry to that department 
 in which his genius eminently qualifies [him] to excel. Artists 
 must live, and there is not taste enough in our country, or, to speak 
 more truly, not wealth enough, to enable any one to be a munifi- 
 cent patron of arts. Multitudes, however, have enough to gratify 
 vanity, and an artist speedily finds that upon gratified vanity his 
 principal dependence must be placed. In order to live, he must 
 paint the living, and, therefore, [it] is that almost all our distin- 
 guished painters have been portrait painters." 
 
 Here is another suggestive extract : 
 
 ,^.-> v 
 
 " September 19. Called on Farley at G. T. [Georgetown] who 
 showed me some very fine engravings — among others one of Ca?sar, 
 sitting in a chair of State. This is the finest engraving I have ever 
 seen. The attitude is one of perfect dignity. The arm is extended 
 as in the act of command. The very fingers seem to indicate au- 
 thority and to be worthy of Csesar. The face is full of haughty 
 determination, daring genius, and lofty ambition. The tout en- 
 semble is a worthy representation of him whose nod did awe the 
 world. I spent a very pleasant hour with Mr. Farley, conversing 
 with him upon foreign scenes and men. He had been in Italy, 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 133 
 
 and showed me a representation of the Forum as it was and as 
 it is. 
 
 " The orator, in former times, spoke in the midst of the most glori- 
 ous mementoes. The trophies of conquest were everywhere around 
 him. The temples of religion were on the right hand and the left. 
 The Senate House 'was near. One would think that in such a place, 
 and before such an audience, stones might be eloquent. The scene 
 is much changed now. The trophies have mouldered into dust — 
 temples and triumphal arches have been broken down, and hut a 
 few solitary columns, or. here and there, naked and dilapidated walls 
 are alone standing. It is melancholy to think of the change. Still 
 more melanchol}' to reflect that the change which lias passed over 
 the Eternal City may be but a prophecy of what is coming upon us 
 when virtue has decayed, and licentiousness and anarchy have 
 struck upon the harp of time the discordant prelude to despotism 
 and ruin." 
 
 Nothing can be clearer than the aesthetic indications of those ex- 
 tracts. That the mind of Chase was one that might have taken 
 much deeper interest than it, in point of fact, did take in the art- 
 aspects of the Capitol, we saw in earlier chapters. Here we see clear 
 indications that in 1829, our hero had, in fact, attended with marked 
 interest to the possible effect of a true adorning of the city laid out 
 under the supervision of our first Chief Magistrate. 1 
 
 Chase could hardly have been indifferent to the architecture of 
 the Capitol as it then was, or to its sculpture. He could hardly 
 have been insensible that it is worthy of a great people to have 
 
 1 1 have the edition for 1842 of the little book, entitled Morrisons Stranger's 
 Guide to the City of Washington. Here is an extract: 
 
 "It would not do to omit, in a work of this kind, the very elegant Exhibition 
 Rooms of Mr. Charles King, artist. These rooms, comprised within a very tasteful 
 building, are situated on Twelfth Street. Mr. King has shown great taste in the con- 
 struction of his Exhibition House, and in the manner with which he has decorated 
 his grounds. 
 
 " His galleries are filled with many fine pictures by himself, and deserve the re- 
 peated visits of strangers. 
 
 " On F Street, near to Mr. King's, is Chapman's Studio. This distinguished 
 artist has no public exhibition room, but the walls of his Studio are ornamented 
 by some noble pictures, copied by him while in Europe from some of the old 
 painters. His easel, generally, is rich in smaller gems, the fruits of his finely cul- 
 tivated taste and exquisite handling. 
 
 "Thomas Doughty, the landscape painter, has a Studio, and resides also in 
 Washington. This distinguished painter, like Chapman, has no room of public and 
 paying exhibition, but a series of great and poetical landscapes is passing under 
 his brush. During the winter season numbers of artists, both European and na- 
 tive, flock to Washington, and, generally, through the politeness of heads of com-
 
 134 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 some reflection of its taste in architecture, in sculpture, and in 
 painting, perceptible at the seat of government. But did he find 
 the public buildings obeying the laws of expression indicated, if 
 you please, by Ruskin in his Stones of Venice? Did he find the 
 statues chiseled by the hands of masters? Did he deem the paint- 
 ings fit for their positions in our public structures? 
 
 Even if he did not, I am sure that he was not a carping critic. 
 He was never such a critic as to any thing, I think. We talked 
 about that, more than once. We may well suppose that, to him, 
 the suggestions of the works of art he viewed at Washington were, 
 on the whole, agreeable and elevating. 
 
 Is the nation right in so enriching and embellishing the Capital ? 
 According to Montesquieu, it was in the public structures of the ancient 
 Capital of the Romans — a city badly built at first, without order and 
 
 mittees, obtain a committee room in the Capitol for the prosecution of their studies 
 or professions. 
 
 " There are several other artists of Washington, portrait and landscape painters, 
 whose names as yet are unknown to fame." 
 
 Such was the state of things in 1842. We can infer from the statement some- 
 what as to the state of things in the years 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1830. 
 
 How was it in those years as to sculpture? Greenough's group was not as yet 
 even designed. His Washington was yet farther off — perhaps not quite far enough 
 off, but quite far in the future. Powers' Franklin — a great work — a work that may 
 be studied in all moods — a real master-piece — was not so much as thought of. But 
 why extend the list ? The Washington of those years was by no means the AVash- 
 ington of this day. 
 
 The work just cited has the following description: 
 
 " The Capitol of the United States is situated on an area of twenty-two and half 
 acres— is on an eminence, whence the eye runs along the distant shores of the 
 Potomac, the green-clad hills of Georgetown heights, and the umbrageous shores of 
 the Eastern Branch. Looking from its terrace, the vision is refreshed with beautj', 
 and the whole view, North, South, East, and West, combines a panorama of grandeur, 
 unsurpassed by any location in the country. From the grounds can be seen the 
 cities of Alexandria and Georgetown, the former lying some six or seven miles 
 down the river, and the latter three miles distant to the west. 
 
 "The exterior of this edifice presents a rusticated basement of the height of the 
 first story ; the two other stories are comprised in a Corinthian elevation of pilas- 
 ters and columns. The columns are thirty feet in height, and compose a portico on 
 the eastern front of one hundred and sixty feet in extent, the center of which is 
 crowned by a tympanum, embellished with a group of statuary, the composition of 
 the venerable J. Q. Adams, and the execution of Persico the Italian. 
 
 " The building is surrounded by a balustrade of stone, and covered with a lofty 
 dome in the center, and a flat dome on each wing." 
 
 No doubt, the frequent seeing of this basilica-like building had a favorable rela- 
 tion to the forming character of our hero.
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAXD CHASE. 
 
 135 
 
 without symmetry, having, properly speaking, not even streets l — 
 that the greatness of the Roman people early made itself apparent - 
 Washington, however, sometimes seems to me a new Pantheon, wor- 
 shipping, as demigods, distinguished men ; not always even heroes. 
 Do we show our greatness in this hero-worship ? Do we show our 
 greatness in our public buildings ? 
 
 Architecture, sculpture, painting are a trio — may not one say 
 trinity ? — of most valuable teachers. They repeat for us the mystery 
 of trinity in unity and unity in trinity at Washington. But is the 
 school in which they are instructors worthy of its objects? 
 
 Under date January 30, 1829, he wrote : 
 
 " Jan. 30, [1829]. This evening, I went again with the same ladies 3 
 to see the Papyrotomia, a gallery of cuttings from paper. ' The 
 young proprietor, a youth of sixteen years, received us, and exhib- 
 ited the results of his ingenuity. There were scenes of mountain 
 and glen and secluded lake so ingeniously executed as to have the 
 effect of the finest engraving. There were proud temples and 
 palaces, and scenes of the domestic fireside. There was a fair form, 
 bending gracefully to the harp, and an admiring circle gathered 
 round. The scissors of the boy had done the whole. 
 
 " He asked if he should take our profiles. Miss C assented, 
 
 and it was done with surprising rapidity. He took mine, also, 
 barely glancing at my face, and, presto ! the work was done. Of 
 course, in his haste, he was not always accurate, but his speed was 
 applauded, and he was satisfied." 
 
 Xext we have : 
 
 " Jan. 31. This day, I rode to the Papyrotomia with the younger 
 girls, and returned rich in half a dozen black profiles." 
 
 How was it with him as to studies of nature? Did he thoroughly 
 appreciate his opportunities in that behalf? The District of Colum- 
 bia and its environs were full of beauty ; did he act as though he 
 felt the local wealth of grounds, and streams, and skies? Did lie 
 
 1 " La ville n'avait pas meme de rues, si Ton n'appelle tie ce nom la continuation 
 des chemins qui y aboutissaient. Les maisons etaient placees sans oi'dre et ti'gs- 
 petites ; car les homines, toujours au travail ou dans la place publique, ne se tenaient 
 que dans les maisons." Considerations sur les causes de la Grandeur des Romaint >'t de 
 leur Decadence, chapitre premier. <: Mais la grandeur de Rome parut bientfit dans ces 
 edifices publics. Les ouvrages qui ont donne", et qui donnnent encore aujourdhui la 
 plus haute idee de sa puissance, ont £te faits sons les vois. On commencait dejy, a 
 bfttir la ville eteriu-lle." 
 
 2 Ibid. 
 
 3 Miss. E. Wirt and Miss £. Cabell.
 
 136 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 go boating, swimming, fishing? Were the banks of Iiock CreeK 
 often visited by him ? 
 
 In special memory of him, accompanied by the two boys who 
 went with me, as has been told, in that pious pilgrimage to Rock 
 Creek Church — which, let me say, took that name from the parish, 
 and was not near the stream — I visited the splendid scenery of Rock 
 Creek, on a day most favorable to that exploration. Picturesque 
 beyond all intimation are some portions of that scenery, and Theo- 
 dore and Charlie were decidedly enthused with all the sights and 
 sounds by which the adventure was rewarded. When we got to a 
 good place, deep, deep in the woods that border on the creek in 
 places, we were moved to join in singing first the Star Spangled 
 Banner, and then Dixie. If our musical performance was not grand 
 in the one case, or fine in the other, we could at least console our- 
 selves that had Chase been with us, in the body, as we fancied that 
 he might be in the spirit, he would have accepted our intentions in 
 excuse of our performance — he, who was, himself, no great musician, 
 but was equal to the best in patriotic fervor. 
 
 Here is an account of one of his excursions. It is taken from his 
 diary, page 53, and runs as follows : 
 
 " In the latter part of February, my friend Swann proposed an 
 excursion to Morven, his residence, near Leesburg. I agreed, and 
 having made the necessary preparations, on Monday morning we 
 started in the stage. Our companions were a young officer in the 
 army and his beautiful bride. She was formerly an admired belle, 
 but she loved and she married contrary to the wish of her father. 
 It was a stolen match, and the old gentleman had not yet forgiven 
 from the heart. I could not help pitying her as I saw a shade of 
 sadness stealing over her cheek, and a starting tear dimming her 
 bright eye. There was besides in the stage a man with singular 
 vision. He could see wit when others could discern nothing but 
 folly, and sense when others only perceived stupidity. He filled 
 evidently a high place in his own esteem, and doubtless should he 
 hereafter publish a spelling-book he will, like his immortal proto- 
 type, dedicate it to the universe.' 
 
 " After riding some miles, we stopped at a little house by the 
 road side, much like those which a New England farmer would 
 construct for the accommodation of his horses and pigs. Here we 
 same to breakfast. The house did not wear a very inviting aspect, 
 but as I make it a rule not to judge by the outward appearance, I 
 went in. The "breakfast was spread in the first room I entered. 
 The table was covered with poultry, and bacon, and beef, and vege- 
 tables. The bar was in close proximity, and the kitchen at no 
 great remove. But I must hurry to the end of the journey. At 
 night we arrived at Leesburg, and had a comfortable supper at Col.
 
 OP SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 137 
 
 Osborn's Hotel. Here we passed the night. Early next morning 
 we r<>sc, and, mounting the horses which our friends had provided 
 
 for us, rode out to Morven, a distance of about 3 miles. Our arrival 
 was quite unexpected, and we were obliged to go to the kitchen 
 until a lire could be kindled in the parlor of the mansion. Very 
 
 soon, however, every thing was in readiness. A cheerful lire was 
 blazing on the hearth and an excellent breakfast spread upon the 
 table. We were no! disposed to keep Lent, and the good things dis- 
 appeared beforeus like the chance snow-fall in April. Alter break- 
 fast 1 took a more leisurely survey of the mansion and its appurte- 
 nances. It is situated upon the side of one of the Catochin mountains : 
 by which it is protected from the north-west winds. A beautiful 
 valley extends below far to the south-east, where cultivated fields 
 and extensive woodlands form a variety delightful to the eye. At a 
 small distance in front of the house is a garden, a lovely spot in the 
 season of flowers, as Swann told me, though there was little there 
 now to attract the eye. The mansion itself is composed of a center 
 building and two wings, which are united by a narrow structure with 
 a colonnade in front. There is also a colonnade or rather portico 
 in front of the central edifice. In the rear of the whole are two 
 stout buildings for the overseer and house servants. Such is the 
 house and such are the grounds, according to the impressions I now 
 retain of a visit made last month. 
 
 •AtUr breakfast, we rode to Col. Tutt's to see the country ladies. 
 Here 1 saw a very pretty and agreeable girl and a plain, but kind- 
 hearted old lady. We chatted about an hour and went home for 
 dinner. After dinner, we rode to Raspberry Plain, the residence of 
 Mr. Hoffman. Here I saw two originals in the shape of young ladies. 
 Two agreeable, intelligent girls, who had read much, thought much, 
 and. perhaps, talked more. They made subtle distinctions with a 
 skill worthy of old Aristotle, and syllogized as if they had been 
 educated in the school of Duns Scotus or Thomas Aquinas. But 1 
 don't like argumentative ladies. They have no right to encroach 
 on our privileges. And is it not settled by gray-headed prescription 
 that the masculine is the more worth}- gender, and that we are 
 entitled to an exclusive monopoly of all the wit, sense, and learning 
 in the world? I thought I had two more pages, but must break off 
 abruptl}*." 
 
 Here is another specimen of his descriptive powers : 
 
 "December 26, [1829]. The next evening, as 1 I was going home 
 late. 1 observed a bright, red-colored light upon the southern sky, 
 which soon showed me that there must he a prodigious conflagration 
 in that quarter of the city. Every thing was perfectly still. No 
 alarm was heard in the Streets, and scarcely a soul was stirring. 
 The alarm, as I found afterwards, had been already given, and the 
 people had assembled in great numbers at the scene of action. Curi- 
 ous to witness the spectacle. I bent my steps in the direction of the 
 
 1 At Baltimore.
 
 138 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 light. I soon found that the fire was more distant than I anticipated, 
 but, unwilling to return until I had accomplished my object, 1 still 
 held on, and my perseverance was fully rewarded. A large sugar- 
 refining establishment was in flames. Large quantities of combust- 
 ible liquids were stowed away in the edifice, which, as fast as the 
 devouring element reached them, flashed out into fearful effulgence. 
 Thousands were gazing on the sight. Young children, old men, even 
 women, were out. The engines sent upon the burning pile rivers 
 of water, but it was turned to vapor, and supplied aliment to the 
 flame. One side of the building now fell in, with a tremendous 
 crash, and the fiery element leaped madly as if triumphing in its 
 fall. Hundreds were seen in the lurid [light] moving upon the 
 roofs of the adjacent buildings, pouring water, spreading blankets, 
 and [using] every precaution to save them. Only one building was 
 consumed beside that in which the fire originally commenced." 
 
 It is by no means certain that belles-lettres would not have proved 
 the true vocation of the man by whom that bit of pen-painting was 
 composed. One sees, I think, that fire, with the raging flames and 
 the active and cautious, yet daring, men and women who contended 
 with it as if in sheer battle. One can hear the tremendous crash of 
 the falling side of the fated building. 
 
 Here is a transcript from the same diary : 
 
 "July 31, [1829]. I left Washington to-day with a view of taking 
 a long journey northward. I traveled in the stage, which afforded 
 me many opportunities for observation, while it subjected me to 
 some inconveniences. He who travels in the stage for a consider- 
 able distance with the same companions, may see a miniature of this 
 world. Selfishness is constantly ready to appropriate the most com- 
 fortable seats; and politeness is ready to sacrifice its own ease to the 
 enjoyment of another. Physical strength gives its possessor a supe- 
 riority envied by the vulgar, and wisdom, an unusual inmate, some- 
 times vindicates her claim to a deeper homage. I confess that I 
 saw little of what I describe, and shall here describe little of what 
 I saw. It would [serve] no purpose to delineate scenes daily pre- 
 sented. It is enough to say that, after nine hours' riding thro' a 
 boiling sun, we were set down at the door of one of the principal 
 hotels in Baltimore. I desired to be shown to my room, and to be 
 furnished with a dinner. The room I found to be far from neat, and 
 resolved upon a change, in which resolution I was confirmed by Mr. 
 Barrel, who had stopped at the same hotel and had changed it for 
 Barnum's. After dinner, I followed his example, and soon found 
 myself very comfortably situated. 
 
 "After conversing with Mr. B., I called upon my old friends, the 
 Wirts. I found them preparing to go into the country, and, at the 
 request of the ladies, I joined the party. We rode to Mrs. Patterson's, 
 who has a lovely country-seat about two miles from the town. [A] 
 fine garden lies in the rear of the building, furnished with number- 
 less varieties of plants and flowers. A declivity, to north, descending
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 139 
 
 by a winding path, brings you to a perennial spring of water, which 
 gushes out of [the] ground, and wanders away to mingle its pure 
 waters with those of the Chesapeake. The Bay is seen from the 
 eastern windows, and the dim outline of the eastern shore of Mary- 
 land is traced in a deeper blue. We took tea with Mrs. P., and re- 
 turned to the city. 
 
 ••.Mrs. W. asked how long I was to remain in town. I told her 
 a day or two. She said she expected to have been consulted in my 
 arrangements, and that she intended to demand of me a week of my 
 time, at least. We found Mr. Wirt standing at the door, who had 
 just returned from the court at Annapolis. The girls threw them- 
 selves upon his neck, and seemed transported with joy; they Beemed 
 to forget that they were in the most public street of the city until 
 their mother reminded them of it, and drew them into the house. I 
 left them to their enjoyment, and returned to the hotel. 
 
 "The next da}* it rained, and the next I went early to the house, 
 but Mr. W. had gone. The clouds still threatened rain, but, like 
 many other menacers, performed nothing. In the evening, I walked 
 with Elizabeth and the younger girls into Howard Park, where the 
 monument stands. I thought little of the monument, however, or of 
 any thing but the noble creature at my side. We had rauch inter- 
 esting conversation, which was continued till we returned to the 
 house. Then the younger members of the family surrounded me. 
 Rosa and Ellen had chairs before me ; Catherine sat by my side ; and 
 little Agnes, a lovely girl of fourteen, threw herself caressingly on 
 the floor. To be in the midst of such a circle, and to be conscious 
 that I shared in the affections of that circle, was an exquisite delight. 
 The time, however, soon came that I must return to the hotel, and I 
 parted from them with regret. The next day I was again with them, 
 and again I passed some happy moments. 
 
 " E. showed me some rings she had received from her friends at 
 West Eiver. The motto on one was, • Pensez a moi ;' on another, 
 ' 2w ,uov &<; aya-td.' I dined with them to-day, and after dinner 
 departed, having prolonged my stay to the last moment possible. 
 ' Give my love to your mother and sisters,' said Catherine, as I left 
 the room. 'And mine,' added Elizabeth, but I did not — " ' 
 
 " July 31, [1820]. I left Washington to-day with a view of taking 
 a long journey northward. I traveled in the stage, which afforded 
 me many opportunities for observation, while it subjected me to 
 some inconveniences 
 
 "I reached the boat just before she started. I found my friend 
 Elliott from Washington witb his mother, and a pretty young lady 
 from Washington, on board. We had not got out of the Patapsco 
 upon the Chesapeake before the shades of evening gathered around 
 us. And a glorious evening it was. The dark blue waters beneath 
 and the magnificent arch above, and, between, the vessel moving 
 like a living thing, breathing smoke and fire. I sat upon the deck 
 a long time, admiring the beauty of the scene, and conversing with 
 my friend. I was still there, gazing with unsated admiration upon 
 
 1 The characters are here evidently wrong. They seem to be, " hecar." The word 
 intended may have been hear.
 
 140 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the heavens and the water, when a cry thro' the vessel roused the 
 sleepers to exchange their berths in the cabin for seats in the stage. 
 We had arrived at French Town. 
 
 "Scarcely were we in the stages when it began to rain, and contin- 
 ued without intermission, when we had reached the other boat, until 
 we arrived at Philadelphia. Here I immediately took a hack and 
 rode to my cousin, Geo. Ralston's, to transact some business for my 
 mother. He was not at home, but Mrs. R. supplied his place as 
 far as she could, and I returned to the boat. I found my baggage, 
 transferred by the kind attention of Elliott, to the New York boat, 
 which was just ready to depart. In a few moments we were rapidly 
 ascending the Delaware, and in a few miles (?) we were set ashore 
 at a place a few miles below Trenton, to cross the land to New 
 Brunswick. Our stage was small and ill-made ; our horses were 
 mere skeletons, and the road was horribly conditioned. The Jersey 
 roads are certainly the xc or st in the United States. 
 
 "We arrived at New Brunswick, as might be expected, after the 
 rest (who had taken the other route), and found that all the best 
 rooms in the tavern had been engaged. We procured beds, how- 
 ever, and early on the next morning we left New Brunswick for 
 New York, where we arrived before noon. I called upon Mrs. Bar- 
 rell, who was to proceed to Boston under my charge, and informed 
 her of my intention to leave in the afternoon in the Fulton. She 
 promised to be at the wharf in season, and I left her to perambu- 
 late Broadway and make some trifling purchases. Having com- 
 pleted them to my satisfaction, I went on board. Mrs. B. came 
 soon, and we left the City of Gotham. 
 
 " As we passed along, I observed a wreck, and inquired the cause. 
 I was informed that it was a vessel loaded with lime, which had 
 sprung a leak. The water came in contact with the lime, and 
 spontaneous combustion was the result. The vessel was burned to 
 the water's edge. 
 
 " There was a pair of runaway lovers on board, who had been to 
 New York to be married, and were returning to Providence. He 
 seemed to be a rake and she seemed to be an idiot, and so I took 
 little notice of them." 
 
 Another case of spontaneous combustion, one might think. What 
 a combination for a nuptial partnership ! An idiot at home, a rake 
 abroad ! But what may interest for a moment is the statement 
 that, throughout life, as far as I have been able to ascertain, the 
 love of chastity marked Chase's life and beautified his character, 
 though every body well acquainted with him supposed the sexual 
 feeling to be very strong in him. 
 
 " It was three o'clock, P. M., when we left New York. Night 
 overtook [us] when we had gone about forty miles, and I sought my 
 cabin. The next morning we were at anchor. A thick fog envel- 
 oped every thing, and the captain was afraid to proceed lest he 
 might run upon rocks, which are frequent in this part of the sound.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 141 
 
 [n this pleasant situation we remained some hours, when the fog 
 lifted itself a little and the captain gave orders to move. 
 
 "We held a political meeting in the fog, and nominated Henry 
 Clay for president, with great unanimity." 
 
 Here is an indication not to be forgotten. It must be recurred 
 to ; and I trust it will be borne in mind by every attentive 
 reader. 
 
 Chase proceeds as follows : 
 
 "Toward evening we met the Ben Franklin, from Providence. 
 She passed us as if on wings. 
 
 " The next morning we arrived at Providence, and took carriages 
 for Boston. I had been indisposed all the preceding day, and was 
 now so ill that I could hardly sit. However, I patiently endured 
 until we leached the Northern Athens, where I left my charge with 
 her father, Judge Ward, and hastened myself to the hotel and to 
 my room. Here I sent for a ph}'sician, who came and prescribed 
 medicine, which I did not take, and gave me some advice which I 
 did not follow. On the contrary, debilitated as I was, I took the 
 stage, and on the evening of the same day, arrived at Concord, New 
 Hampshire." 
 
 Here is the Chase will for you ! 
 
 " Here my friend Sparhawk called to see me, and stayed with me 
 all night. I rode with him to Hopkinton, where my mother resides. 
 Here I remained sick nearly a fortnight, and of course did not 
 deliver my master's oration. 
 
 "As soon as I was able to travel I set out on my return, going 
 down to Concord in the evening and spending the night with my 
 friend Sparhawk, and proceeding to Andover the next day. 
 
 " My old classmate, Ward, was my stage companion, and we had 
 a pleasant ride together, talking much of the persons and scenes of 
 by-gone times. When arrived with him at Andover, I walked with 
 him to the Theological Institution, where I saw one or two of my 
 old classmates and friends. One of them was going to Salem, and 
 I agreed to accompany him. I found a most cordial reception in 
 his family, some of whom were personally known to me before, and 
 I spent a day with them, going out, however, in the meantime, to 
 Ipswich to see my sister, there at school." 
 
 In another place is given his account of his going to Boston, 
 thence to New York, thence to Philadelphia, thence to Baltimore, 
 where he visited the Wirts. The diary proceeds: 
 
 "The next morning I quitted Baltimore, most unwillingly, for 
 Washington, where I arrived about noon, and found all my friends 
 well and apparently very glad to see me once more among 
 them."
 
 142 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Let us now go back a little. Here are two entries, as to which I 
 can not aid the reader's conjectures : 
 
 " Feb. 5, [1829]. I have for some time lived in a dream, from 
 which I was partially awakened to-day. 
 
 " March 30. Almost awakened from my dream." 
 
 "What was that dream ? No doubt, essentially, 'twas " love's 
 young dream " in some new fashion. More than that one can not 
 even fancy, safely. 
 
 Chase apparently took not a little pleasure in an innocent flirta- 
 tion. Here is an attractive indication : 
 
 " April 7. ' You must write a few lines in my album to remind 
 me of you when far away,' said Elizabeth Cabell to me, this even- 
 ing. Elizabeth is a pretty young lady of eighteen. She was born 
 and educated, I believe, in the city of Richmond, but one would 
 suppose that such a bloom could be bestowed only by the breath of 
 the mountain breeze. She is singularly sensible and intelligent, 
 but timid as a fawn. 
 
 '"My lyre is broken, Miss Elizabeth,' I replied. 
 
 '"Repair it then,' said she, 'for you shall contribute something 
 to my treasury of friendship's offerings.' 
 
 " ' Well, I will try,' and went home, and, before going to bed, 
 wrote a few lines. The following are near the conclusion : 
 
 '"Fain would I bind my meraovy to all 
 The glorious things of heaven, the beautiful 
 Creations of the earth, and teach the breeze 
 To whisper of my name, that I might be 
 The absent unforgotten.' " 
 
 Who does not remember with a mixture of delight and shame the 
 "halcyon" days when he wrote album verses? When acrostics 
 went on bravely till they came to the strange name of Emeline or 
 Emmeline Jane Smith or Dorcas Aspasia Binks ? 
 
 Our hero was a very human man ! Here is another indication in 
 the same direction : 
 
 "Jan. 29, [1829]. This evening I attended a concert with Miss 
 E. W. and Miss E. C. The music was fine ; the songs, especially 
 one by Mr. Pearman, were sufficient to take the prisoned soul and 
 lap it in Elysium. It was full of deep and touching pathos, and 
 voice and manner were admirably adapted to the sentiment. Mrs. 
 Feron, who assisted Mr. and Mrs. Pearman, sang several solos, but 
 there was too much art and too little nature in her manner. I can 
 see no reason why we should resort to a foreign land for singing, 
 when we have those at home who can vie with the best of the foreign 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 143 
 
 vocalists. Music is an universal language, and all men have been 
 taught the alphabet ; so it may be well that we should adopt foreign 
 airs, but let us sing such words as our own poets furnish, and 
 with the organs which nature lias given us. When we returned, 
 Mr. Swann occupied the vacant seat in the carriage." 
 
 On the last day of January, 1829, we have this entry : 
 
 " This day I rode to the Papyrotomia with the younger girls, and 
 returned rich in half a dozen black profiles. Mr. Wirt was indis- 
 posed, and I sat some time in his chamber, conversing on various 
 topics, but principally upon the future course that it became me to 
 pursue and upon the choice of a place of residence. In the evening 
 the young ladies claimed precedence over their father, and demanded 
 my attention to the song and the piano." 
 
 Kennedy records that Mr. Wirt himself "had a great fondness 
 for music and no small proficiency in it ; " that, indeed, "he often 
 amused himself with writing down tunes from his memory, and, 
 perhaps, composing in a small way;" and that, "this taste induced 
 him to cultivate the musical talent of his children;" who all, it 
 seems, " excelled in the art." 
 
 "Many friends," adds Kennedy, 1 "in Washington and Baltimore 
 will remember the pleasant family concerts which the group around 
 Mr. Wirt's fireside was accustomed to supply. During that period 
 "when the cholera detained him and his household at Berkeley 
 Springs — in August and September, 1832 — those who were there 
 "with him can not forget the well-arranged little musical parties of 
 the evening, in which he and his children were the only performers." 
 
 Under date September 29, 1829, Chase wrote: 
 
 "'Music, heavenly maid,' occasioned us a little trouble to-day. 
 One of the boarders was so fond of his instrument, that he greatly 
 annoyed a neighbor who was disposed to study. Neither would 
 yield, and as most of the boarders (the Goths f) took part with the 
 student, the votary of Haydn was compelled to take his flute, French 
 horn, flageolet, violin, and violincello and find other quarters." 
 
 Two days afterward the same pen set down the following account : 
 
 "Oct. 1. Called to-day on the banished Orpheus, and found him 
 very comfortably situated in the third story, whence he had a very 
 fine prospect of the windings of the Potomac. His table was covered 
 with musical instruments and papers, and he was himself studying 
 a mathematical theory of musical sounds." 
 
 1 Life of Wirt Vol. II, 377, 378.
 
 144 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Now let us look at another entry in which music is more than 
 mentioned : 
 
 " I spent the evening of the day I arrived in Baltimore at Mr. 
 Schroeder's. I had become acquainted with this family in Wash- 
 ington, and wished to continue the acquaintance. The evening passed 
 pleasantly. Conversation and music mingled their charms. The 
 conversation was interesting and the music sweet — very sweet. Miss 
 S. plays and sings delightfully. Her favorite instrument is the 
 guitar, and it is mine, too ; for it is associated with many pleasant 
 remembrances. I left at a late hour, intending and promising to call 
 again ; but, from circumstances, was obliged to leave Baltimore with- 
 out doing so." 
 
 So much for music. How about the cognate theme of poetry ? 
 Here is a sample of our hero's dalliance with one of the muses in 
 February, 1830, not long before he went to Cincinnati to reside. 
 The diary of the 23d of that month contains this record : 
 
 " To-day, I wrote for a young friend the following verses : 
 
 When Mary bids, once more the lyre, 
 
 Long hushed, I wake again, 
 Nor ask the Nine to aid my lay, 
 
 For Mary wills the strain. 
 
 "Dull lyre! why trembleth every string 
 
 With emulous desire 
 To tell, with sweeter tones, the flame 
 
 That Mary's charms inspire? 
 
 "To tell of all her witching grace, 
 
 Her winning smile, her beaming eye, 
 Her radiant, mind-illumined face, 
 
 Her voice of melody ? 
 
 " Not now the time — not thine the power 
 
 Such notes as these to swell; 
 Ah ! no ; for sadness claims the hour — 
 
 Thou canst but breathe, Farewell ! " 
 
 In another page of the same diary appears the following piece of 
 rhyme : 
 
 A Wish.— To M. G. M. 
 
 " His love be thine who is all truth, 
 
 All nobleness, all mind ; 
 The ardors of whose generous Youth 
 
 By virtue are refined.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 145 
 
 " Be, of the noblest and the best 
 
 The best and noblest, he; 
 Anil, summing in one word the rest, 
 
 May he be worthy thee ! " 
 
 The date of this effusion seems to have been February 23, 1830, 
 when the writer still remained at Washington.
 
 146 THE PRIVATE ETFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Washington in 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1830. 
 
 THE diary I have so often quoted gives, as we have partly 
 seen already, quite an interesting view of life at Washington 
 in 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1830. 
 Here is a suggestive entry: 
 
 "Jan. 1,[1829]. This levee differed in nothing from the one which 
 1 described elsewhere, excepting that I was somewhat more con- 
 spicuous in the crowd. The lady who leaned upon my arm was one 
 of the most brilliant in the room, and I shone a little b} r reflected 
 light. She was elegantly attired in a Scottish dress of the most taste- 
 ful description, and well did her accomplished manner become her 
 graceful array. The time, however, passed rather heavily off, as I was 
 in charge of one who attracted too many to allow me opportunity 
 for conversation." 
 
 Harriet Martineau has written : 
 
 " One of the most remarkable sights in the country is the Presi- 
 dent's levee. Nothing is easier than to laugh at it. There is probably 
 no mode in which a number of human beings can assemble which 
 ma}' not be laughable from one point of view or another. The Pres- 
 ident's levee presents many facilities for ridicule. Men go there in 
 plaid cloaks and leather belts, with all manner of wigs, and offer a 
 large variety of obeisance to the chief magistrate. Women go in 
 bonnets and shawls; talk about the company; stand upon chairs to 
 look over people's heads, and stare at the large rooms. There was a 
 story of two girls, thus dressed, being lifted up by their escorting 
 gentlemen, and seated on the two ends of the mantel-piece like 
 lustres, where they could obtain a view of the company as they en- 
 tered. To see such people mixed in with foreign ambassadors and 
 their suites, to observe the small mutual knowledge of classes and 
 persons who thus meet on terms of equality, is amusing enough. 
 But amidst much that was laughable, I certainly felt that I was see- 
 ing a fine speetacle. If the gentry at Washington desire to do away 
 with the custom, they must be unaware of the dignity which resides 
 in it, and which is apparent to the eye of a stranger, through any in- 
 conveniences which it may have. I am sorry that its recurrence is 
 no longer annual. I am sorry that the practice of distributing re-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 147 
 
 freshments is relinquished ; thought this a matter of less importance 
 and of more inconvenience." 
 
 Here is another extract from the same work of Harriet Martineau : ' 
 
 "Our party went out at eight o'clock. As we alighted from the 
 carriage, I saw a number of women, well attended, going up the 
 steps in the commonest morning walking dress. In the hall were 
 parties of young men, exhibiting their graces in a walk from end to 
 end ; and ladies throwing off their shawls, and displaying the most 
 splendid dresses. The President [Jackson] and some members of 
 his cabinet on either hand, stood in the middle of the first room, 
 ready to bow to all the ladies, and shake hands with all the gentle- 
 men who presented themselves. The company then passed on to 
 the fire-place, where stood the ladies of the President's family, 
 attended by the Vice-President and the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 From this point, the visitors dispersed themselves through the rooms, 
 chatting in groups in the Blue Room, or joining the immense prome- 
 nade in the great East Room. After two circuits there. I went back 
 to the reception room, by far the most interesting to an observer. 
 I saw one embassador after another enter with his suite ; the Judges 
 of the Supreme Court ; the majority of the members of both Houses 
 of Congress; and intermingled with these, the plainest farmers, 
 store-keepers, and mechanics, with their primitive wives and simple 
 daughters. Some looked 7iierry, some looked busy ; but none bash- 
 ful. I believe there were three thousand persons present. There 
 was one deficiency — one draw back, as I felt at the time. There were 
 no persons of color." 
 
 That was written, if I remember rigidly, in 1835 or in 1836. 
 How did Chase feel on that subject, in 1827, 1828, 1829, and part 
 of 1830, while at Washington? I can not answer. But I know 
 that he lived to congratulate his friend, Thomas Marshall Key, on 
 the passage of a bill, drafted by that strange character — the bill 
 abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. 
 
 Key, while a bachelor, was distinguished as the author of the 
 Married Woman's Law in Ohio. He was one of my most intimate 
 accpiaintances. I knew him well, and loved him well, although I 
 knew his faults and foibles almost as welt as I knew his face and 
 figure. We shall see much of him hereafter. 
 
 To return to Chase: it is with some reluctance, after much con- 
 sideration, that the following extract, from the diary so often quoted, 
 is presented to the readers of this work. But the scandal to which 
 it refers has been variously related in books and other forms of 
 published matter. The responsibility of suppression seemed to me 
 
 1 Society in America, III, 96. 
 11
 
 148 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 greater than the risk of censure in presenting the account that 
 follows : 
 
 It must be remembered that our hero took a northward journey, 
 expecting to deliver his master's oration at Dartmouth. Having 
 given of that journey the account we have already seen, he goes ou 
 as follows. 
 
 " Sept. 5. A singular chain of occurrences had commenced in my 
 absence. Mr. Campbell, a Presbyterian clergyman in Washington, 
 had stated in confidence to Dr. Ely, of Philadelphia, with a view to 
 prevent the appointment of Maj. Eaton to the Cabinet, that Mrs. 
 E. had been delivered of a child when she was Mrs. Timberlake, 
 supposed to be by Maj. E., and that various other reports, greatly 
 prejudicial to the character of both, had been for some time in circu- 
 lation. Dr. El}' had made no use of the information then but some 
 time afterward wrote to the President, informing him of the circum- 
 stances, and giving Mr. Campbell's name as the author of the report. 
 The President immediately sent for Mr. C, who confessed that he 
 had made the statement to Dr. E., explained his motives, and showed 
 his authority. The President was apparently contented. But, the 
 next day, he had changed his mind, and called upon Mr. C. to deny 
 his belief in the charge. Mr. C. replied that he could not — when 
 the President became angry, and talked of a suit for slander. Mr. 
 C. now thought it expedient to prepare for the worst, and with that 
 view requested me to call with him at Mrs. Williams 1 to-day. I went 
 and the old lady told us that she was a neighbor to Mrs. Timberlake, 
 and that Mrs. O'Neale, the mother of Mrs" T., had told her that she 
 had had twins in the absence of Mr. T. This was the amount of her 
 statement, but from other sources Mr. C. collected a mass of evidence 
 sufficient, and more than sufficient, to establish every allegation he 
 had made, not as of his own knowledge, but as resting upon the 
 credit of a particular individual and upon the strength of common 
 report. A few days afterward a conclave was held at the palace, 
 for the extraordinary purpose of taking this affair into consideration. 
 
 "Nearly the whole Cabinet was present, and some extra counselors 
 summoned for the special occasion. These last were Dr. Ely and Mr. 
 Auditor Lewis. Mr. C. was summoned to appear and answer for 
 himself. I can not state the particulars as they transpired. I have 
 now no note of the transaction, and the minutiae have faded from my 
 memory. However, the President became hignly exasperated, and 
 attributed the whole affair to the agency of Mr. Clay, and Mr. C. 
 left the room indignant at the treatment he had i*eceived, and deter- 
 mined to publish the w 7 hole affair to the world. Dr. Ely followed 
 him and entreated him to change his resolution. At last he con- 
 sented. Many other incidents grew out of this. The ladies of 
 Washington excluded Mrs. E. from their society, and so the matter 
 still rests. Eaton has threatened personal violence to Mr. C, but 
 will not probably execute his threat; and Mrs. E. called herself on 
 Mr. C, and after alternate abuse and entreat}', screaming and faint- 
 ing, finding the whole ineffectual, declared that his blood should be 
 spilt for his audacity."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 149 
 
 Whoever has examined Parton's version of this matter 1 must 
 allow that the evidence of Mrs. Eaton's guilt was not by any means 
 conclusive. I know Washingtonians of great respectability who 
 hold her guiltless. The extract just made from the diary of Mr. 
 Chase, by no means makes the case conclusive. Mr. Cha.<-e, no doubt, 
 believed, as did Dr. Campbell, what Mrs. Williams said that Mrs. 
 O'Xeale said that Mrs. Timberlake, her daughter, u should have 
 confessed," (as common parlance might express itself,) on this occasion. 
 After all, however, we have nothing here but very doubtful hearsay, 
 on the one hand, and, on the other, the presumption in favor of a 
 woman's chastity. 
 
 One of the most interesting indications of the quotation just made 
 is that of Jackson's making a cabinet matter of the guilt or in- 
 nocence of Mrs. Eaton. 
 
 How our hero then regarded Jackson is thus indicated in his diary 
 under date Jan. 7, 1830 : 
 
 "This evening I went with my friend Swann to the President's 
 drawing-room. The East Room, now furnished splendidly, but not 
 gorgeously, was open for the reception of guests. Near the south 
 center stood General Jackson, with whom I now shook hands for the 
 first time in my life. He is rather above the ordinary stature, and 
 has a graceful figure. His countenance would not inspire a disciple 
 of Lavater with an opinion of lofty talent or vigorous intellect. 
 True it is that age and hardship had done their work upon him ; but 
 the characters of mind are not to be effaced b}' causes whose influ- 
 ence reaches not beyond this diurnal sphere. General Jackson is 
 not a man of mind. In his manners he is graceful and agreeable, 
 and much excels his predecessor in the art of winning golden 
 opinions from all sorts of men. General Jackson's career should be 
 attentively observed by the political student, who is endeavoring 
 from the book of human affairs to glean the lessons of political 
 experience. If bis popularity continues it will be strange, for I 
 have read of no instance in the history of nations where popular 
 favor has for a long time followed an unworthy object." 
 
 Chase was then not quite two-and-twenty years of age. Was he 
 at that time " a disciple of Lavater ? " Had he studied physiognomy 
 as that enthusiastic Swiss defines the same? If so, he found some 
 true cognitions and some quite unscientific fancies in association. 
 Only part of physiognomy can be considered truly scientific. 
 
 Chase was, at least for some time, not without personal vanity. 
 In his character, as in so many others, one could see how a man may 
 be, at once, very proud and not a little vain. 
 
 Life of Jackson.
 
 150 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 And he was evidently vain of his fine person — vain and proud 
 of his commanding port and presence, as, indeed, most men who 
 have those fine possessions are. 
 
 I think just hereof three distinguished men of Ohio, with whom 
 I find myself comparing Chase with reference to person, port, and 
 presence. Each of them was long ago distinguished for high stature. 
 Two of them still live; one has departed. Thomas Ewing is the 
 vanished figure. Henry Stanbery and William S. Groesbeck, still 
 surviving, are the other type-figures here referred to. It is the more 
 proper to refer to them because the fame of each is national. Their 
 types were very different. Three tall, fine-looking men less like 
 each other I do not remember. Ewing was a massive man in body 
 and in mind. Neither Stanbery nor Groesbeck is so heavy. Well! 
 but I have perceived in each of them the pride and vanity of person 
 here in question. 
 
 Under date Februaiy 22, 1830, Chase, at Washington, made in 
 his diary an entry which contains these words : 
 
 "Judge Burnett, of the Senate, is a small man, of a not un pleasing 
 countenance. The indications of intellect are slight, but, by untir- 
 ing industry, he has acquired a high professional reputation. He 
 converses with some appearance of effort, and has been, as yet, a 
 silent member of the Senate." 
 
 It would seem that Chase had really considerable faith at judg- 
 ments of the physiognomic order. His ability to read character, 
 however, has been more than questioned. Mr. Whitelaw Reid, 
 ascribing to him deeper knowledge of mankind than I, for one, 
 discerned in him, attributes to him, on the other hand, profound 
 ignorance of men. 1 He was not so profoundly ignorant of men, I 
 think, nor was he so profound in knowledge of mankind. Profun- 
 dity, indeed, has never seemed to me a marked characteristic of 
 his knowledge. It was very various and rich ; but very deep it 
 never seemed to me. We shall find him writing to Mr. Mellen that 
 he was not fond of political metaphysics. Metaphysics, as every 
 body knows, is a term of fearful sound and sense to most hearers. 
 Chase was not so metaphysical, in any sense, as Ewing, for example. 
 Depth, in all respects, marked Ewing more than Chase. It does 
 not follow that the former was the greater man. If depth is neces- 
 sary to true greatness. Washington was very far from great ; and 
 
 1 Ohio in the War.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 151 
 
 neither Caesar, nor Charlemagne, nor Napoleon had true greatness, 
 while among the very greatest of the great arc Emerson, Carlyle, 
 and Goethe. 
 
 But it is of Chase's physioguomonic notions that the question is 
 at present. Were they fixed? Did they remain in him as he 
 passed from early manhood to the confines of old age'.' Probably, 
 they were considerably modified by more extensive intercourse and 
 more practiced observation. But of that I yet have found no direct 
 evidence. 
 
 Returning to the President, of whom Chase said that his coun- 
 tenance would not inspire a disciple of Lavater with an opinion of 
 lofty talent or vigorous intellect, I wish to say that all my efforts 
 to discern true greatness, physical or psychical, in Andrew Jackson, 
 have been wretched failures — almost as wretched as the scarecrow 
 effigies of him which make beholders far from comfortable in a 
 study of the sculptured wonders of this place. But there came a 
 time, we shall see, when Chase must have modified the feeling 
 toward Jackson, manifest in my last extract from the former's 
 diary. There came a time when, somehow, he could call himself 
 a Democrat of the Jackson and Benton school. 
 
 Of that, however, I propose to speak hereafter. Now, I wish 
 to call attention to this entry : 
 
 "January 1, [1830]. Among other places, I called at Mr. Smith's, 
 the President of the Bank of the United States. This family has 
 long been on the list of ni}- visiting acquaintances, but it is recently, 
 comparatively, that I have begun to esteem them as friends. .Mrs. 
 Smith has written several little works, one of which was translated 
 into French, and republished in Paris. She was here when the 
 Federal City was in its infancy, and knew all the great men who 
 have, at different times, adorned the councils of our republic, or who 
 have, from foreign lands, come to look upon our rising greatness. 
 In consequence of such association, she can tell much of by-gone 
 days and men. One evening, she related to me the following anec- 
 dote of Jefferson : 
 
 •A report had prevailed that J. had written a letter to Charles 
 Thompson, in which he professed a conversion to the Christian re- 
 ligion, and renounced the infidel opinions which he had formerly 
 held. Mrs. S., delighted to hear this, wrote to Mr. J. to inquire if 
 such was the fact. He replied that he had written no such letter to 
 Mr. Thompson, and that his religious opinions ought to be, and were, 
 known only to himself and God." 
 
 Here is another extract from the same document : 
 
 "At the drawing-room, this evening, I saw little to interest me
 
 152 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The usual motley crowd was present. The high and low, the ins 
 and the outs, the Avise and the foolish, the learned and the ignorant, 
 the old and the young, the black and the white, and every inter- 
 mediate here were congregated for various purposes. Some came to 
 see the President for the first time; some to bow and prattle to the 
 ladies ; some to exhibit their own important selves, to announce to 
 the world that they were yet alive ; and some to prosecute schemes 
 of political ambition. It were a curious speculation to follow to 
 quiet chambers these several characters, and trace their emotions of 
 gratified hope or disappointed expectation. We might see the belle 
 exulting as she numbered over her conquests, and the politician 
 reconstructing the intricate web of policy which that night's occur- 
 rences had sadly disordered. But it is idle to dwell upon such 
 fancies." 
 
 This entry is under date January 7, 1830. Another, dated 
 February 29, 1830, has this tenor: 
 
 "This evening I attended a party at Mrs. Ingham's. It was large 
 and brilliant. Miss Livingston was there in all her splendor, and 
 M. G. M. in all her attractive loveliness. Many other ladies were 
 there, but nearly all of them were strangers to me. I was dull, and 
 the hue of my feelings cast a shade all around me." 
 
 Under date October 4, 1829, we have: 
 
 " Called this evening with Smith at Mr. Pleasanton's. Miss 
 Matilda plaj^ed for us, and talked with us, and laughed at us, and 
 was rewarded by Smith with the denomination of 'a piece of statu- 
 aiy,' when we returned home. Whereat Dr. Collins was offended, 
 because, he said, it was indelicate to compare ladies to statues, the 
 latter being generally naked. Whereupon a learned discussion fol- 
 lowed, the particulars of which I do not remember, and if I did 
 should not probably deem them worthy of relation." 
 
 On the 9th of February, 1829, our young Mr. Chase wrote down 
 in his diary : 
 
 "Received, through the Wirts, an invitation to Mrs. Porter's. 
 They could not go, and I did not wish to do so ; but they wished a 
 description of the party, and so I went. Not a great many persons 
 had been invited ; but there were enough. Mrs. Porter kindly chid 
 me for not bringing the Wirts, but I assured [her] that the fault was 
 not mine, and she pardoned me. A laughable incident occurred. 
 Mr. Webster was standing engaged in conversation with some ladies 
 near the center of the room when a servant presented to him what 
 seemed to be wine. He took a glass and drank it off, not without 
 some involuntary grimaces, which attracted the notice of Mrs. Porter, 
 who inquired the cause, when she discovered, to her mortification as 
 well as amusement, that the servant, through mistake, had brought 
 us in some bottles of fine old whisky. As soon as propriety allowed,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 153 
 
 I took my leave and returned to Mr. Wirt's, where I spent a pleas- 
 ant hour before ' twal o'clock' summoned me, unwilling, to my 
 home. 
 
 Our hero did not only see society and hear the same. He read 
 society novels — whereof here is evidence, under date September 22, 
 1829: 
 
 "Read to-day the new novel, Devereux. It is, like the preceding 
 works of the same author, full of gorgeous and exaggerated descrip- 
 tions. It makes human nature assume a new aspect. It gives to 
 crime a sublimity of terror which attracts even while it terrifies. 
 It excites a feeling like that which one feels when gazing from an 
 overhanging precipice into a yawning gulf — a strange propensity to 
 plunge in, reckless of consequences. I deem them most pernicious 
 works — works which do more to taint the morality of society than 
 almost all others. The author is, doubtless, a gifted beins; — but he 
 has prostituted God's noblest gifts to the vilest purposes. He might 
 be great in the noblest sense; he is ouly great in evil." 
 
 Here is a remarkably suggestive entry, looking in another direc- 
 tion. In the same diary, under date February 4, 1829, our hero 
 wrote : 
 
 " Mr. Choy gave a party this evening, and I attended, as I had neg- 
 lected several previous evenings. When I arrived I found that the 
 company had not yet assembled, and, alter paying my respects to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Clay, I took my station near the door to observe the 
 various manners of the entering visitants. I soon tired of this em- 
 ployment and went into the next room and looked at the clock and 
 the company alternately until half an hour had elapsed, when I 
 took ni}' leave, glad to escape from the scene of ceremonious friv- 
 olity." 
 
 It seems, therefore, that ceremonious frivolity was not quite 
 pleasant to our hero. 
 
 He will do. Methinks, there ought to be no question now about 
 that. 
 
 Here is another entry of decided interest to all that is before us : 
 
 " November 18, [1829.] I was introduced this evening to Mrs. 
 Randolph, a daughter of Jefferson, at Mrs. Smith's. She is a dig- 
 nified woman. It is said that she inherits much of her father's in- 
 tellect. I had no opportunity this evening to judge the truth of 
 the opinion, but was willing to take it on trust. A weak mind 
 never inhabited a form so commanding, or imparted so much ex- 
 pression to a countenance. Some of her daughters were also pres- 
 ent, but, unfortunately, in our country, talent seems to go accord- 
 ing to the statute of distribution as well as estates. Very little of
 
 154 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the ancestor's possessions ever reaches an individual of the thh-d gen* 
 eration." 
 
 In the entry dated January 1, [1830]. we have the following ad- 
 ditional notice of Jefferson's daughter : 
 
 "She is a very dignified lady; converses extremely well hut spar- 
 ingly. She repeated to me, in his own words, a description of John 
 Adams by Dr. Franklin : 'Always an honest man, often a great 
 man, and sometimes a madman.' " 
 
 Madison also refers to this saying. So, I think, does Jefferson. 
 Doubtless, Franklin really so painted Adams, for the picture is at 
 once like Franklin's work and Adams' character. When Adams 
 babbled of court chamberlains and such things to our first President, 
 was he in his great mood or his mad mood? Or had he sometimes 
 purely silly moods? 
 
 Such questions seem to come up pretty often. 
 
 What did our hero think of the etiquette, and pomp, and pride^ at 
 Washington in 1829? Here is a brace of most suggestive tran- 
 scripts : 
 
 '' Called this evening upon , 'and found him and his family 
 
 at home. is one of a class of men always to be found in such 
 
 a place as Washington — mechanics who have suddenly grown rich. 
 But at W., instead of being elevated into notice among the fashion- 
 ables by their wealth, they must still be content to remain as they 
 
 were. One of his daughters is a pedant — the rest . I did not 
 
 stay long, but made my escape despite of requests from Miss 
 
 to prolong my visit, and went to Mr. Wirt's. 
 
 " What a change to pass from the purse-proud, vulgar and affect- 
 ed s into the midst of a pure, and gentle, and refined, and cul- 
 tivated circle ! It was enough to compensate me for facing a biting 
 north-west, through the intervening mile. Of Mr. Wirt I have spok- 
 en before, and it is needless to repeat my observations here. Mrs. 
 W is a lady of graceful manners, though, at times, a little tinc- 
 ture of aristocratic feeling makes a stranger somewhat uneasy in 
 her society. She has a cultivated taste, and has displayed it in form- 
 ing a Dictionary of the Floral language, which she intends yet to 
 give to the world. 2 Her person is good, rising to about the common 
 height, but not exceeding it. She has been religiously educated and 
 is herself, I believe, in communion with the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 1 There are, in Washington, survivors of the family here alluded to. No doubt, 
 our hero, as an old man, would have modified his language in describing, when he 
 was a very young man, the members of that household. I suppress, therefore, the 
 name. 
 
 2 Since published.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 155 
 
 As might be expected, she is not fond of the mixed society at Wash- 
 ington, and seldom goes abroad except when the courtesies of society 
 require of her the sacrifice. Her favorite spot is her own sweet 
 home, and her chosen employment the education of her daughters. 
 Under such a teacher, they could not but improve. As well might 
 the rose refuse its beauty and fragrance to the wooing breath of 
 Bpring." 
 
 Here is a quite interesting extract from the same diary : 
 
 "Jan. 28, [1829]. As Mr. Adams was soon to go out of office, his 
 last drawing-room was numerously attended. I had engaged to go 
 with Miss Wirt and Miss Cabell, and Mrs. Pleasanton was to mat- 
 ron ize them. At the proper time, I called for the ladies. They 
 were not ready. I sat patiently down to await their pleasure. Mrs. 
 P. came soon, and evinced no little dissatisfaction at the delay, 
 though she endeavored to conceal her displeasure under a mask of 
 affected ease and gaiety. 
 
 " At length, however, Ave were all in the carriage, and 'round and 
 round went the wheels,' until we arrived at the President's gate. 
 The whole avenue to the palace-door was filled with carriages of 
 those who had arrived before us, and we had onty the meager satis- 
 faction of not being the last of the train. Nearly fifteen minutes 
 elapsed before we were able to reach the door. At length we were set 
 at liberty and entered the house. An immense crowd was present. 
 Three rooms were full of guests. Music was heard in the great, and 
 yet unfinished, East Poom, inviting the dancers to engage in the 
 cotillion. Many accepted the invitation, and soon many light feet 
 were tripping over the floor. At ten o'clock, the dance broke off, 
 and the supper room was thrown open. Long tables were spread in 
 a spacious apartment, covered with every thing that could please the 
 eye or gratify the taste. They were soon surrounded by a crowd by 
 no means reluctant to disburden them of their load. As each com- 
 pany was satisfied and departed, others filled the vacant places, and 
 the banquet did not end until after eleven o'clock. Then the dance 
 was resumed for a little while, until, one by one, the gay group 
 diminished, when the music played ' Home, Sweet Home,' as a finale, 
 and the pleasures of the evening were ended." 
 
 Under date October 16, 1829: 
 
 "This evening I introduced Smith to the family of Mr. Ringgold, 
 and spent a few hours very pleasantly." 
 
 I suppose this was Mr. Hamilton Smith. With this gentleman 
 the life of our hero had much to do, as we shall see hereafter. How 
 I do not happen to have received from him any contribution to this 
 volume I could not explain without departing from the policy that 
 has governed me throughout, siuee the occurrence of some painful 
 things, to which I have already alluded. Possibly, the time raaj
 
 156 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 come when Mr. Smith and others will know why that policy forbade 
 me even to apply to them for anecdotes and other contributions. 
 
 To resume. Here is, it seems to me, a particularly interesting 
 entry : 
 
 "Dr. Hunt was married this evening to the youngest daughter of 
 Mrs. Ringgold. The evening was extremely unpropitious, yet a 
 great crowd was present. I went as a looker on. I saw Mr. Van 
 Buren moving about paying compliments and hunting 1 for good opinions. 
 Manj- beaux promenaded the rooms, and many belles seemed d}Miig 
 for their attentions. Mr. Ringgold was bustling around like a man 
 determined that if his guests were not pleased, it should be no fault 
 of his. The doctor was as happy as an old bachelor just escaped 
 from the barren confines of single blesseduess is apt to be on such 
 an occasion, and the bride was a very pretty bride. At ten o'clock 
 large folding doors were thrown open, displaying to the gourmands 
 of the company a most inviting spectacle. An instant rush was 
 made toward the tables; yet the gallantry of the gentlemen [caused] 
 them to desist until the fairer portion of creation had retired. Then, 
 however, hams, rounds of beef, chickens, were not spared. Pyra- 
 mids of ice were demolished in less time than is required to record 
 their fate. Wine flowed in rivers — and rivers were drank dry. 
 At length, however, the appetite of the most eager was sated, and as 
 there was nothing more to be seen I returned home." 
 
 Now let us go back a little. Under date January 1, 1829, an 
 entry, part of which has been already given, yields the following : 
 
 "After leaving the President's we called upon Mrs. Porter, the 
 lady of the Secretary of War. She is a very uncommon woman. To 
 the utmost ease she unites the most dignified propriety of manner. 
 She has the art of setting all who approach her perfectly at their 
 ease, while she never permits them to forget even for a moment the 
 respect which was [sic] due to her. All who had once been within 
 her magical sphere felt the influence of her spells, and none was ever 
 heard to breathe a wish for disenchantment. If ever I should be 
 joined 'for better or worse,' I would desire to be united to one like 
 Mrs. Porter, and having the added and more precious ornament of 
 pure religion." 
 
 This was not intended either as a slur or a censure. We must 
 bear in mind the marked religiousness of Chase's education and his 
 character. 
 
 Let me ask attention here to two extracts (out of many), indi- 
 cating his religiousness in 1829. The first of them reads thus: 
 
 "January 13, 1829. My birthday — and I have no guardian save 
 
 ; Have we here a pun, referring to the bridegroom?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 157 
 
 Him whose wards we are through life. I am twenty-one. 'To-mor- 
 row and to-morrow and to-morrow creeps in this petty pace, from 
 da}- to day,' yet at length the most distant imaginable point of time 
 will be reached. How precious a treasure is time, and how have I 
 lavishly squandered it ! Oh ! that J could recall some of it from the 
 abyss! Vain is the wish. Time lost can never be recalled or re- 
 deemed. Yet even now* there is time, if I will but resolve and act, 
 to do much. Knowledge may yet be gained, and golden reputation. 
 / nuiy yet enjoy the consciousness of having lived not in vain. Future 
 scenes of triumph may yet be mine. Let me awaken, then, to a just 
 sense of my great deficiencies. Let me struggle earnestly for the 
 prize of well-doing and leave the event to the great Arbiter of all 
 Destinies." 
 
 Under date January 1, 1829, we have: 
 
 "Among the most popular of the preachers at Washington is Mr. 
 Campbell. In the pulpit he has a mild and subdued expression, 
 which insensibly prepossesses the hearer in his favor. This favorable 
 impression, however, is usually neutralized when he begins to speak. 
 The tones of his voice are not agreeable to the unused ear, and the 
 variety of intonation excites a suspicion of affectation. After a while, 
 however, you forget all this, and then his graceful and emphatic elo- 
 cution never fails of its full effect. I never knew a pulpit-orator 
 whose action was so entirely free from fault. He knows well how to 
 impart to every gesture a meaning not less obvious and affecting than 
 that conveyed in spoken language. He is not eloquent — at least. 
 not eloquent in the truest sense of that word. But he is a perfect 
 master of rhetoric, and very few people know the difference. Pro- 
 found thought, clothed in language which has a meaning of associa- 
 tion, if I ma}* so speak, deeper than the import of its letter, is essen- 
 tial to an eloquent man ; and this Mr. Campbell has not. High-reach- 
 ing imagination and copious expression are his gifts, and upon a 
 skillful management of them his reputation is built." 
 
 Here is a markedly characteristic extract: 
 
 "July 12. I went with the Rev. Mr. Johns to a dilapidated build- 
 ing about four miles from the city, which goes by the name of Rock 
 Creek Church. As we went out the clouds accumulated in heavy 
 masses over our heads, and rolled heavily but rapidly along. I felt 
 that secret and sublime sensation which, I suppose, everybody is im- 
 pressed with at such moments — a feeling ?) of deep reverential awe, 
 as if in the immediate presence of awful omnipotence. Drops of rain 
 had begun to fall when we arrived at church. It was a very old 
 building, having stood there since the earliest settlement of the dis- 
 trict. It was never completed. The walls stood in their nakedness. 
 The roof was unconcealed by a ceiling. Bare rafters stretched their 
 enormous length from side to side. It was almost an uncomfortable 
 sensation to look up and see them impending above you. The con- 
 gregation, as might be expected in such a place, was very small. 
 At length the clergyman began, saying, -The Lord is in his holy
 
 158 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 temple, let all the earth keep silence before him; ' and the old fabric 
 gave back the echoed words as if conscious that even that rude place 
 might be a fitting temple for the Most High, if humble hearts and 
 contrite spirits were met to worship there. The service proceeded, 
 but soon the rain fell in torrents, and the ' thunder mingled its 
 dread tones with the rush of winds and the fall of waters.' The 
 tones of the preacher's voice were lost in the elemental roar, and he 
 was compelled to dismiss the congregation. They formed themselves 
 in groups around the building and awaited the abating of the storm. 
 Night was approaching when the rain partially ceased, and we all 
 seized the opportunity then offered to return into the city, where, 
 however, we did not arrive before the storm raged anew. Yet we 
 kept on through the midst of it and, in a short time, tho' * wet and 
 weary, reached home." 
 
 Let me now invite attention to my transcript of an entry dated 
 February 21, 1830, not long before our hero went to " settle" in the 
 Cincinnati valley. Here is one of the most interesting indications 
 that I have to offer: 
 
 " I have witnessed, this evening, a scene unlike any thing I have 
 ever imagined or heard of. There being no service at the othei 
 churches on account of the weather, I attended the Methodist chapel. 
 I was [prepared], in a degree, for the sermon by the prayer. It was 
 highly figurative, and impassioned, and earnest. The congregation 
 were much excited, and united audibly with the minister. Their 
 utterances, however, were not articulate language, but consisted of 
 exclamations and groans, and, at times, shouts of triumph. When 
 the sermon commenced, my attention was irresistibl} x drawn to the 
 preacher. He began in a low tone of voice, and proceeded, for some 
 time, in a simple, didactic strain. By degrees, however, he became 
 more and more animated, until, at length, he forgot every thing 
 around him, and gave free utterance to his crowding thoughts. 
 
 " 'What a paradoxical creed," said he ' do these Christians receive, 
 say the people of the world.' ' God in him and he in God ; how can 
 that be?' 'In yonder blacksmith shop, you see the iron in the fire 
 and the fire in the iron, and the more the fire is infused into it, the 
 more nearly does it assimilate itself to the nature of that element. 
 If this can be in material things, why not in spiritual?' Much sim- 
 ilar illustration was used throughout the sermon. He described the 
 nature of the Christian hope, and described the evidence of accep- 
 tance with God. The internal peace, which constitutes much of this 
 evidence, might, indeed, he said, be sometimes marred by an unhappy 
 
 1 Qu., Thoroughly ? 
 
 Not long ago, I paid, with two young companions, a pious pilgrimage to the spot 
 where stood that " dilapidated building," but where now stands a new church. I 
 love to visit every spot trodden by the footsteps of our hero as a young man, though, 
 as already more than once quite clearly intimated, he did never seem to me above 
 the reach of weakness and of worse than weakness.
 
 OF SALMON POKTLAXD CHASE. 159 
 
 physical constitution. ' The spirits of the believer may be depressed. 
 He may faint in his march Zi on ward ; and the tempter may thus 
 obtain power over him ; and his hope of glory may be obscured ; and 
 
 he may hang his harp upon the willows and sing no more the song 
 of Zion ; but in a little while the clouds will break away, and the 
 light of God's countenance will shine upon him, and he will take 
 down his harp from the willows, and tune it to a sweeter strain, and 
 strike the notes with a bolder hand, till every chord resound, Glory 
 to God.' 
 
 "He spoke of the delusive phantoms of pleasure which mock the 
 pursuits of the ungodly. He dwelt upon the divine declaration, 
 'there is no peace to the wicked.' He described the transition from 
 this state to the peace of God. 'At length, he said, 'the angel of 
 deliverance approaches, and the prison walls are shaken, and the 
 fetters fall off, and the soul emerges from its bondage into glorious 
 liberty. I tell you, a new song is put into his mouth, and he shall 
 sing it forever.' 
 
 " I am conscious that I but feebly imitate his language. It was 
 plain, plainer than that I have attributed to him, but more expres- 
 sive. There was, besides, a suddenness of transition from darkness 
 to light, and from deep horror to lofty rapture, and a manner of 
 delivery and a peculiarity of intonation which must be seen and 
 heard to be understood. The whole was intended for present effect. 
 And that end was answered. I never conceived it possible that 
 declamation could so affect even so ignorant an audience. Some 
 shouted aloud in anticipation of heaven. Some shrieked in dread 
 of hell. Sobs and groans resounded through the house, mingled 
 with the loud gratulations and thanksgivings of those who appro- 
 priated to themselves the rich promises of the preacher. Some 
 started wildly from their seats as if to rush to joy or escape from 
 woe, while many gazed with an earnestness of astonishment which 
 demonstrated that such a scene was not common even in a Metho- 
 dist meeting." 
 
 Bear this well in mind, discerning reader ! We shall find the 
 writer of it become a Methodist himself, and that in the full 
 maturity and strength of his faculties. 
 
 But, while thus attending to things immaterial, our hero could 
 attend to things material, with lively interest. Here is an extract 
 from his diary, under date December 27, 1829 : 
 
 "I went out to day to see the finished portion of the Baltimore 
 & Ohio Railroad. Only two miles have been as yet completed, but 
 this distance suffices for experiments. The cars are very long, and 
 about as wide as ordinary road-wagons — containing, without incon- 
 venience, from twenty to thirty people. The}' weigh, as I was 
 informed, about fifteen hundred pounds apiece. Yet I could set one 
 of them in motion and draw it along with my little finger. Friction 
 is reduced almost to nothing. I saw a horse draw a loaded car at 
 the rate of ten miles an hour, and, apparently, with ease. A small
 
 160 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 car, manned with a single sailor, was rigged with a mast and sails. 
 He admitted two or three passed [passengers], and the little vehicle 
 shot off before the wind, to the great amusement and delight of the 
 surrounding spectators. The railroad must be completed. It is a 
 project of too great consequence to the country to be suffered to 
 remain unexecuted. Many find fault with the proceedings of the 
 directors, and accuse them of a needless waste of the funds of the 
 company. I am not able to judge of the justice of this imputation; 
 but am willing to presume it to be without foundation. I know 
 how easy it is to discover imperfections, and I kuow how impossi-- 
 ble it is to be perfect. Mr. Niles, who is a man of great practical 
 intelligence, and. generally, fair and impartial, speaks well of them, 
 saying that 'the concern could not be placed in abler or better hands. 
 The board of directors is composed of an unusual number of deeply- 
 thinking, closely-calculating, and indefatigably-industrious gentle- 
 men.' I am willing to trust his judgment. 
 
 " The road is of incalculable importance. It removes the Alle- 
 ghanies. Annihilates them as an obstacle to the intercourse between 
 the East and the West, while it leaves them still to answer the great 
 ends for which Providence destined them. 
 
 "It makes Cincinnati and Baltimore neighboring cities, and ren- 
 ders every kind of communication between them as easy as it is 
 now between Baltimore and Xew York. It will open to the West a 
 market for their produce, and facilitate the introduction of the 
 manufactures of the East. But it is useless to attempt an enumer- 
 ation of the benefits to be derived from the completion of this great 
 work. Time alone can make out the catalogue, and time, I am 
 sure, will make out a larger and more splendid list than its most 
 sanguine advocates now anticipate." 
 
 These words were written, as indeed their own terms indicate, at 
 Baltimore. 
 
 Under date October 30, 1829, we have: 
 
 " I read to-day the life of Sir Isaac Xewton, as published by the 
 Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. How do the perse 
 vering exertions of such great minds to acquire knowledge and 
 extend the boundaries of science, put to shame my feeble efforts. 
 Yet I think to reach the pinnacle of learning. Alas! that I should 
 foolishly dream of extensive attainments when I suffer so much of 
 my time to glide away in reverie — when I devote a still larger 
 proportion to idle visiting. Under such circumstances, who could 
 do any thing worth the doing?" 
 
 On the 5th of the next month he wrote : 
 
 " The impressions mentioned in the preceding pages were con- 
 firmed powerfully by an article I read to-day upon Dwight's 
 Travels in German?/. Here I read of boys of eighteen whose 
 attainments in literature were far, very far, beyond mine, and 
 whose knowledge of the abstract sciences could hardly be compared
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 161 
 
 to mine. It would be as lOtoO. I consoled myself, in some degree, 
 by imputing my ignorance to a defective education. But this is 
 but miserable comfort ; had 1 possessed energy, resolution, Industry, 
 
 I might have made attainments large as theirs. But because I 
 could not be suited as to the mode of study; because I could not 
 surround myself with every thing that could assist Labor, or facili- 
 tate research, 1 became tired and idle. Until these things can be, 
 
 shall 1 refuse to labor? Then away with the fond expectations I 
 have long indulged ; they will never he gratified. Had the great 
 men, had the German scholars — deferred the labor of application 
 until placed in circumstances precisely according with their most 
 extravagant imagination, would their names ever have been com- 
 mitted to time as a trust of which he might be proud? Let me no 
 longer deceive myself — these miserable pretenses are nothing more 
 than apologies for laziness or cloaks for incapacity." 
 
 The love of study, in alternate harmony and conflict with the love 
 of wealth and fashion — or in other words of what is called society — 
 may appear to have strongly marked the life of him by whom these 
 words were written. 
 
 In the entry under date October 9, 1829, we have these interest- 
 ing sentences : 
 
 " As we were coming home, we passed a man, whose tattered rags 
 seemed to plead eloquently, tho* silently, for relief. I proposed to 
 the doctor to stop till he came up, and offer him some money. To 
 our surprise he refused it, but requested clothes. These we had not 
 to spare. He threw back his miserable cloak, exhibiting the 
 epitomized history of suffering under it, and exclaimed: 'Twenty 
 years ago, I was master of thirty thousand dollars, and now I have 
 not one picayune. Edward Livingston has brought me to this.' 
 I now wonder that I did not stop to hear some explanation of this 
 strange charge against a man who stands high in general esteem, 
 and. at the present moment, occupies a seat in the National 
 Senate." 
 
 Of the measure in which Salmon Portland Chase was charitable, 
 in the sense of being ready to do works of mercy to the body, I 
 know very little. I do not suppose that he was eminently charit- 
 able, eminently liberal, at any time. He never was an avaricious 
 man, however, or a man without pity. 
 
 Of his interest in reform and advancement, his diary, under date 
 May 25, 1829, affords a pleasant proof, as follows : 
 
 " I attended this evening a public meeting to consider upon the es- 
 tablishment of an infant school in this city. The meeting was very 
 respectably attended, and some addresses were delivered, of consider- 
 able interest. It is wonderful to reflect upon the progress and excite-
 
 162 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 merit of society. Carried on by that progress, and participating ir> 
 that excitement, it is not always perceptible to us. The stream 
 rushes on, but as we are borne upon its bosom, we are insensible of 
 its motion ; the atmosphere is hot and inflamed, but a fever rages 
 in our own veins, and we are not aware that the temperature is at 
 all changed. But if we remove ourselves, in idea — if we take a 
 high and commanding elevation — if we get above this dim spot 
 into the regions of pure and serene air, we obtain a view of the 
 most extraordinary character. Man is seen rousing himself from 
 the slumber of ages, and shaking off the bondage of ignorance and 
 intolerance. Governments are seen remodeling — the old tottering 
 to their fall, and the new springing up in beautiful proportions 
 and resting upon broad and stable foundations. Knowledge is 
 diffusing her influences among the nations. The wilderness is re- 
 ceding before the advance of civilization. Cities are springing up 
 where the forest recently stood, and States are born and grow up to 
 mature strength in less than half the time allotted to man upon 
 earth. Space is almost annihilated. Human invention is approx- 
 imating the remote and facilitating the difficult. The life of man 
 embraces a far greater variety of incidents, and may be made of 
 far greater importance to himself and to others than it ever could 
 before. And, as if to meet the new demands made upon human 
 intellect, new methods of instruction are devised, and the work is 
 commenced earlier. Infant schools begin with the earliest dawn. 
 They train the mind of the babe to activity and observation. They 
 store it with the thoughts of others, and teach it to think for itself. 
 The world is no longer a dull mass of matter of which the child 
 knows nothing and cares to know nothing. It is full of wonders, 
 and the very child now learns to send a delighted and intelligent 
 eye over them. Young creatures, whose fathers at their age but 
 learned to lisp nursery nonsense, have made large attainments in 
 really useful knowledge — knowledge likely to make them better, 
 happier, and more respectable. Yet the world is but half awake. 
 The wonderful capabilities of humanity are known but to few. 
 Colleges, schools, yet contain but a small portion of the population. 
 Physical labor yet bears heavily upon the great multitude, and 
 their noble faculties are almost unknown even to the possessors. 
 Yet this state of things can not last. The signs of this time indi- 
 cate the going on of a mighty revolution, and oppressed human 
 nature shall yet be redeemed from the thraldom of sin, and igno- 
 rance and the serpent's head effectually crushed." 
 
 Assuredly, the indications of these extracts as to the manner in 
 which the legal studies of our hero were attended, and, to some ex- 
 tent, peeuliarized, by other studies and pursuits, are such as one must 
 love to dwell on. 
 
 Here is, if I may so express myself, a thoroughly religious young 
 man of the world, preparing for the duties of the legal profession. 
 Such a man should have professional prospects. There should be, 
 for such a man, a splendid future at the bar.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 163 
 
 A lawyer as a lawyer, ought to be a gentleman. I have else- 
 where said that William Wirt was one of the most perfect gentlemen 
 that ever breathed. And Mrs. Wirt, in spite of that ' little tincture 
 of aristocratic feeling 1 was clearly a most lovely lady. Of her 
 daughter, Elizabeth, 2 Chase wrote, in 1829: 
 
 Elizabeth, the elder, is a noble creature. 
 
 " She is not very beautiful, and yet 
 
 There is that in her dark, bright, joyous eyes, 
 
 And in the expression of her speaking face, 
 
 Where, 'mid the graces, dwell perpetual smiles, 
 
 As sunshine dwells upon the summer wave, 
 
 Changing forever yet forever bright 
 
 With the sweet frankness of confiding youth 
 
 And the pure light that ever more pours forth 
 
 From the mind s fountain, that demanded more 
 
 Than the cold name of Beauty, which may be 
 
 The attributes of beings whom no ray 
 
 Of intellect illumines, and no charm 
 
 Of Loveliness invests. 
 
 " She has bright raven locks and a fine, frank, open, brunette 
 countenance. She moves like a wind-borne thing over the earth. 
 Her step is almost a dance, so much is she borne up by the excite- 
 ment of her joyous spirits. I would not trust her with a secret. If 
 her lips did not speak it her eyes would. Her sister is a more 
 Bjpiritudle being. There is more softness and more bland sweetness 
 in her manner. Her cheek is something paler and has a mournful 
 meaning. Perhaps she thinks of her lover, who is away on the sea. 
 Perhaps, she is only meditating upon the fleeting nature of all 
 sublunary enjoyments. Wherever you go, pure sisters, the friend 
 who writes these words shall send up his prayers for your unbroken 
 felicity, here and in a purer world." 
 
 Can there be the slightest question that association with the Wirts 
 and with their friends, was part of the best preparation of our hero 
 for the profession of the law? I think not. That profession was 
 to Salmon Portland Chase what it should be to every well-educated 
 man — what, for example, it was to Henri Francois d' Aguesseau, 
 when he wrote on the Independence of the Advocate, his discourse 
 on the Knowledge of Man, and his discourse on the Causes of the 
 Decline of Eloquence. 3 
 
 1 Ante, p. 154. 
 
 2 Now Mrs. Admiral Goldsborough. 
 " Oeuvres completes du Chancelicr cT Agaesseau, par M. Pardessus, tome premier pp. 
 
 : , 31. 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 1, 14, 31
 
 164 THE P11IVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 LEGAL STUDIES — ADMISSION TO THE BAR — FAREWELL TO WASHINGTON. 
 
 TN an entry under date " 1, 2, etc.," 1829, Chase wrote: 
 
 " December 1, 2, etc., [1829.] I was now engaged in reading large 
 quantities of law, daily. I read thirty pages in Espinasse's Xisi 
 Prius and thirty pages in Stephen on Pleading, besides attending to 
 numerous and urgent duties. Of course, I read superficially, but my 
 object was rather to finish a certain number of books before 1 applied 
 for admission to the bar than to acquire legal knowledge. I effected 
 my object, but at a great sacrifice. I have given strength to a habit 
 of superficial reading which was strong before. It will not now be 
 easy to eradicate it, and substitute for it a habit of close attention 
 and patient reflection. Yet this must be done, or my admission to 
 the bar will do me little good." 
 
 Were this a work of simple eulogy, I might insist that the con- 
 fession we have just seen must be ascribed to a habit of self-censure, 
 self-accusation, self-disparagement. On the other hand, were not 
 this work composed by a lawyer of reading, observation, and ex- 
 perience, it might be in danger of countenancing the disparagement 
 of our hero, as a legist, which has shown itself in certain quarters. 
 
 In another chapter I have 1 indicated my opinion of Salmon Port- 
 land Chase, as a legal practitioner. Here I wish to notice some 
 peculiarities of his preparation for the bar, and then to draw atten- 
 tion to some other matters. 
 
 Under date December 31, 1829, we have: 
 
 " The last day of the year has arrived — a year that to me has been 
 fruitful of events ; some of them of a not unpleasing character. My 
 vanity has been flattered by many proofs of the estimation in which 
 I am held by my acquaintance — though my conscience tells me I am 
 far from deserving it even in its lowest degree. During the past 
 year I have made some attainments in literature and science not 
 
 1 Chapter LIV.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 165 
 
 altogether valueless, yet when I compare what T have done with 
 what I might have done — when I place the reality b} T the side of 
 the possibility, and perceive into what insignificance it instantly 
 shrinks, I feel humbled and mortified by the conviction that the 
 Creator has gifted me with intelligence almost in vain. I am almost 
 twenty-two, and have, as yet, attained but the threshold of knowl- 
 edge. I have formed few settled opinions, and have examined but few 
 subjects. The night has seldom found me much advanced beyond 
 the station I occupied in the morning, and the^end of the year has 
 at length come round and finds me almost in the very spot I was 
 in at its commencement. I have learned little and have forgotten 
 much, and, really, to conclude of the future from the past, I almost 
 despair of making any figure in the world. Let me consider that I 
 have not reached the age when improvement is hopeless, and that 
 many obstacles have hitherto surrounded me and impeded my prog- 
 ress. Let me console myself by this reflection, and take courage. 
 Let me once more resolve to struggle earnestly for the prize of well- 
 doing, and, looking in humble confidence to him who is glorified in 
 all the attainments of all his creatures, press on again in the race 
 of virtue, of learning and science to the goal of virtuous and holy 
 reputation." 
 
 Was the way to virtuous and holy reputation to be found in the 
 profession of the law? How did this young man, intending to be- 
 come a lawyer, regard the general compatibility of the profession he 
 had chosen with aesthetics and with ethics? 
 
 From time to time, as we go forward, we shall find some clear in- 
 dications of the proper answer to this question. But, since the death 
 of Salmon Portland Chase and the dying away of the uudiscerning 
 laudation of him, in some of which so many persons, lawyers and non- 
 lawyers, ventilated their own vanity as well as glorified our hero, so 
 much has been said in disparagement of this man as a judge, that it 
 is in chapters relating to his judicial career and character that I 
 have thought proper to present the largest body of matter in rela- 
 tion to the view he took of polity and jurisprudence and of his pro- 
 fession. 1 
 
 Here I call attention to what I deem a very important extract 
 from his diary, under date February 14, 1829. It reads as follows : 
 
 "I heard Mr. Webster to-day for the first time in the Supreme 
 Court. It was a cause originally unimportant; but time and the 
 progress of improvement had greatly augmented the value of the 
 property in controversy. Years ago the land was a waste, unin- 
 habited and unimproved. A few dollars bought it and were applied 
 to the payment of the debts of an intestate. .Recently, the heirs 
 
 1 Post. Chapters
 
 166 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 have discovered a flaw in the chain of title, and have claimed the 
 land. It is now covered by factories and dwellings, and exhibits the 
 busy scenes of a prosperous manufacturing town. 
 
 '•Mr. Webster argued the cause for the heirs and with great power. 
 He states his case with great clearness, and draws his inferences with 
 exceeding sagacity. His language is rich and copious; his manner 
 dignitied and impressive; his voice deep and sonorous; and his senti- 
 ments high and often sublime. He argues generall} 7 from general 
 principles, seldom descending into minute analysis where intricacy 
 is apt to embarrass and analogy to mislead. He is remarkable for 
 strength rather than dexterity, and would easier rend an oak than 
 untie a knot. If I could carry my faith in the possibility of all 
 things to labor, so far as to suppose that any degree of industry 
 would enable me reach his height, how day and night should testily 
 of my toils ! " 
 
 We shall soon have to consider Salmon Portland Chase in the 
 special character of a legist agitator — of a lawyer, agitating, as a 
 lawyer, against the extension and perpetuation of the late "peculiar 
 institution of the South." We shall find him insisting on the strict 
 peculiarity of that institution — applying to it the strict rule in Shy- 
 lock's case, according to fair Portia's ruling. We shall not, how- 
 ever, find him talking wildly about higher laws or about covenants 
 with hell. If we shall find him mad, we shall find him showing 
 something quite like method in his madness. He will not deny that 
 slavery may exist, by force of unwritten, positive law, as ruled in 
 Commonwealth v. Aves. But, allowing full effect to the decision 
 in that case, and to the decision in the case of the Antelope, we shall 
 find him following Marbury v. Madison, in arguing, with pen and 
 lips, that a supposed legislative enactment which is in repugnance 
 to the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, is, by reason of that 
 repugnance, not voidable merely, but, from the beginning, absolutely 
 void. We shall find him arguing this about the act of Congress re- 
 lating to fugitives from service — or, in other words, to slaves. 
 
 We see, then, that it is important to this work, to introduce a 
 purely popular account of the legal system of the Union as Ave see 
 it, for example, in Ohio. 
 
 Though our hero studied in the District of Columbia, he did not 
 expect to live at Washington or elsewhere in the District. He ex- 
 pected to "go West." The legal system of this district is peculiar. 
 Let us take the legal system of Ohio for needed illustration. 
 
 Years ago, I "set up," in type, without writing, and caused to be 
 stereotyped, intending soon to publish a very little volume, con- 
 templating contribution toward proper popularization of the Law.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 167 
 
 It was to bear the name A Primer of the Late distinctively American. 
 It never came to seem to me quite fit for publication. But this ex- 
 tract from it may be found to serve uur present purpose : 
 
 If we look at the Legal System as it is applied to the life of 
 Cincinnati, we may raise our eyes from the least up to the greatest 
 in that system thus : 
 
 1. By-Laws of the local Private Corporations ; 
 
 2. Ordinances of the Municipal (Public) Corporation, called the 
 City of Cincinnati ; 
 
 3. So much of the Common Law of England as has not been abro- 
 gated by the cessation of its reason, ami as is harmonious with the 
 statutes and the Constitution of this State, with the genius, habits, 
 and ideas of the people, living in Ohio; with advanced civilization 
 and improved moral sensibility; with the legal system of the 
 Union, with the law of nations and with the law of nature ; 
 
 4. Statutes — that is, enactments by the General Assemblv — of 
 Ohio; 
 
 5. The Constitution of this State ; 
 
 6. The Supreme Law of the Land ; that is, the Legal System of 
 the Union ; 
 
 7. The Law of Nations ; 
 
 8. The Law of Nature. 1 
 
 Practically, recognition of the so-called law of nature — which 
 may be distinguished as the law of laws — the law of that which 
 ought to be the rule of conduct and the regulation of relation and 
 possession — can not be judiciously allowed to go beyond construc- 
 tion as applied to written constitutions. How with reference to 
 simple statutes *? Can a judge declare a statute void because it 
 seems to him repugnant to the law of nature, though not forbidden, 
 either expressly or by implication, in the written constitution ? I 
 would say not. But as to the legislation by city councils and the 
 like, the rule seems to be well established, that an ordinance may be 
 judicially disregarded on account of its repugnance to the law of 
 nature. 
 
 Chase was very much disposed to hold up the regard due to the 
 
 1 Another form of statement may be thus: 1. Rules and Regulations commonly 
 called By-Laws) of Private Corporations; '2. City Laws, comprehending Ordinances 
 and By-Laws, properly so designated; 3. An Ohio Modification of the English 
 Common Law, a like modification of Ecclesiastical Law, a like Modification of old 
 English Statutes, and the Law Merchant of Ohio; 4. the Statutes of Ohio; 5. the 
 State Constitution; 6. the Supreme Law of the Land, extending to all the States 
 and Territories of the Union, and comprising: a. the Acts of Congress; b. Treaties; 
 c. the Constitution of the Union; and 7. the Law of Nations with the Law of Na- 
 ture.
 
 168 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 law of nature. Sometimes, as in a case in which I had the honor to 
 be one of his professional opponents, 1 he appeared to me to carry to 
 the verge of sheer extravagance his views about that portion of the 
 legal system. 
 
 And he had some other peculiar views of fundamental law. In 
 the celebrated Vanzandt case, of which a full account is elsewhere 
 given, chiefly in our hero's own language, he insisted that the Ordi- 
 nance of 1787 for the government of the territory north-west of the 
 river Ohio, did not give place to the first constitution of the State 
 named after that river, but continued, in that State, to have the face 
 of a practically immutable law. 
 
 When did he form these views, and where? Was it here in 
 Washington while he had Wirt for a legal teacher, and was often at 
 least hearing of decisions by Chief Justice Marshall? 
 
 I am not able to answer. But this much, at least, is quite cer- 
 tain. Iu the already 2 cited lecture-essay on the Life and Character 
 of Henry Brougham, Chase, at three-and-twenty years of age, ex- 
 pressed himself quite in the fashion of a law reformer. 3 
 
 1 Ball vs. Hand. 2 Introduction. 
 
 3 He said: "The common law of England, originating in a barbarous age, in a 
 state of society where commerce and manufactures were unknown, and men were 
 divided into despised tillers of the ground and fierce wielders of the sword, is not and 
 could not be expected to be adapted to the exigencies of a civilized, manufac- 
 turing, and commercial community. As at present administered, the common law 
 may almost be said to be a common nuisance. True, many additions and altera- 
 tions have been made in the process of time. It is quite a different thing from 
 what it was; but it can hardly be said to be a better thing. It is now an immeuse 
 patch-work; the parts have been collected from a great variety of codes, fitted to a 
 great variety of times and circumstances. Some of it is Danish, some Saxon, some 
 Norman, and some Roman. Some of it is ancient and some of it is modern. It is 
 like a coat made of old cloth and new cloth, with sleeves for a baby, skirt for a boy, 
 and a body for a man. It is like a coat in another respect, too ; it. is found to fit no- 
 body. The administration of the law is more wretchedly defective than the law 
 itself. Justice is sold at an enormous price. The witty saying of Home Tooke is 
 too true. To one who said, ' the courts are open,' he replied, 'Aye, like the London 
 Tavern — to all who can pay the bill ! ' So high are these bills, so great is the expense 
 of legal proceedings, that it is frequently better to pocket an injury quietly and say 
 nothing about it, than to attempt to obtain redress at law. If any one in England 
 have a hundred dollars owing to him, and his debtor refuse to pay, it is cheaper to 
 let it go than to sue for it. If any one have paid a hundred dollars and taken a 
 receipt, and the man who has been paid demand a second payment, it is cheaper to 
 pay the money over again, than to go to law and defend the suit successfully. So 
 that it was not fancy, but sober truth, that guided Dean Swift's pen, when he repre- 
 sented the father of the famous Gulliver as ruined by gaining a Chancery suit with
 
 OP SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 169 
 
 Thus it is quite evident that very early, indeed, this " literary 
 lawyer" showed himself an agitator for reform of laws and legal 
 manners. Doubtless much of his enlightened liberality, in this 
 respect, he owed to intercourse with that other " literary lawyer," 
 his preceptor, William Wirt. 
 
 costs. To put the matter more plainly before our readers, we will narrate the lead- 
 ing circumstances of one case in which Mr. Brougham was himself employed, and 
 of which a meagre account may be found in Mr. Starkie's very valuable book on 
 Evidence. We shall use nearly the language of Mr. Brougham's speech on the Re- 
 form of the Law, in which we find a more detailed statement of the transaction. 
 
 " The case was in the Court of Exchequer, and Mr. Brougham was counsel for the 
 defendant. It became his duty to examine a witness for the Crown, who exhibited 
 strong indications of perjury ; but the verdict went against him, notwithstanding. 
 
 " On a new trial, however, the suspicion of perjury, before entertained, was turned 
 into certainty, and the defendant was acquitted. A prosecution for perjury was in- 
 stituted against that witness, and seventeen others connected with him. Eighteen in- 
 dictments were found, and the Crown removed the whole into the King's Bench. The 
 Attorney-General conducted the prosecution. On the first indictment, Meade, the per- 
 jured witness already mentioned, was clearly convicted. The other seventeen were 
 then to have been tried, but the Crown had made them all special jury cases, and, 
 of course, there was not a sufficient number of jurors present. A warrant was 
 prayed as is usual, we believe, in such cases, that the jury box should be filled from 
 the by-standers; but the Crown refused the warrant. Thus an expense of near 
 fifty thousand dollars was incurred, and a hundred witnesses were brought from a 
 great distance to London, all for nothing, except after the vexation, and trouble, 
 and delay he had endured, to work the ruin of the prosecutor, who had at first 
 been harassed on the testimony of the perjured witnesses. These poor farmers had 
 no more money to spend in law; all the other prosecutions were dropped. Even 
 the wretch who had been convicted obtained a rule for a new trial; but funds were 
 wanting to meet him again, and he, too, escaped; so that public justice was utterly 
 frustrated, as well as the most grievous wrong inflicted on individuals. Nor did it 
 end here. The poor farmer was fated to lose his life by the transaction. He lived 
 in the same village with Meade, the false witness; and, one evening, inconse- 
 quence, as was alleged, of some song sung by him in the streets, this man, Meade, 
 seized a gun and shot him dead on the spot. He was acquitted of murder, on the 
 ground of provocation, but found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to an impris- 
 onment of two years. A case of more complicated and enormous hardship, one 
 fraught with more cruel injustice to the parties, can scarcely be imagined to have 
 occurred in any country. Nor was this a very uncommon case. We have not sought 
 through many volumes to find it. Such cases occur frequently. The Courts are 
 familiar with them. The reports are full of them. They have almost ceased to be 
 shocking to the administrators of the law. 'So anxious' — we quote from Blackstone 
 by way of commentary — ' so anxious is the law of England to maintain and restore to 
 every individual the enjoyment of his civil rights, without intrenching upon those of 
 any other individual in the nation; so parentally solicitious is our whole legal 
 constitution to preserve that spirit of equal liberty which is the singular felicity 
 of the British nation.'
 
 170 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Writing to S. Teackle Wallis, Esq., Mr. Wirt drew off this 
 paragraph, with others : 
 
 " Bacon's Essay on the Advancement of Science, Locke on the Human 
 Understanding and on Government, and some of the preliminary chap- 
 
 " Strange that Mr. Brougham should desire to interfere with such striking mani- 
 festations of parental solicitude. Strange that the people of England should desire 
 to rid themselves of the guardianship and tender care of so kind a parent! Yet, 
 strange though it be, it is not the less true. The people and their great advocate, 
 influenced, doubtless, by some singular obliquity of moral vision, thought they saw 
 great and grievous defects and vices in that system, which, to the clearer eye of Sir 
 William Blackstone, seemed so perfect and so goodly. And Mr. Brougham set him- 
 self strenuously to the work of reform. He began by a speech in the House of 
 Commons, the report of which fills one hundred and thirty-nine closely printed 
 pages. It is perhaps, saying not too much of this speech to aflirm, that there is not 
 one, either ancient or modern, that contains a larger amount of information, all 
 bearing, with admirable adaptedness and resistless effect, upon the very question 
 under consideration. In this speech, he brought before the House the whole condi- 
 tion of the common law. No nook of the immense field had escaped his observa- 
 tion. He went, into every dark corner and hidden recess, as into familiar and fre- 
 quented haunts. And to this great knowledge of what the law was, he added a 
 clear and sound understanding of what, the law should be. While he pointed to the 
 evil, he did not omit to indicate the remedy. All that he said was said with so much 
 distinctness and simplicity, that no idea could be misunderstood; yet, with such 
 force and energy, that no mind could remain unimpressed. He concluded with 
 his celebrated motion for the reform of the law : ' That an humble address 
 be presented to his Majesty, praying that he will be graciously pleased to 
 issue a commission for inquiring into the defects occasioned by time or otherwise, 
 in the laws of this realm, and into the measures necessary for removing the same.' 
 He afterwards, for the sake of conciliation, made this motion less broad, by substitu- 
 ting the administration of justice in the Superior Courts, and the law of real prop- 
 erty, as objects of inquiry, instead of the laws of the realm generally. Thus 
 modified, the motion was carried unanimously. Two commissions were issued by the 
 Crown, and the reports of the commissioners have been elaborate and valuable. 
 There is a spirit now awake upon the subject that will not slumber again, until, in- 
 stead of the present cumbrous and unintelligible system of law and courts, like that 
 far-famed labyrinth, into which if a man once entered he never found his way out 
 again, England shall have a simple and intelligible code of laws, and a cheap and 
 prompt administration of justice. Mr. Brougham has already done much. He well 
 understood what was to be done, and how it was to be done ; and he went to work 
 cautiously, as a man should, who is dealing with the veins and arteries of the social 
 system. Last June, he brought, before the House the result of his labors. His bill 
 proposes to divide England into judicial districts of a convenient size. He would 
 have only one judge, who should have power to try and determine, with the aid of 
 a jury, all causes of a certain importance. If the parties desire it, the judge may 
 hear and determine any cause without a jury. When required, the judge must also 
 act as an arbitrator., and his award will have the force of a judgment. But the 
 most remarkable feature of the plan is this : Any party may cite another against
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 171 
 
 ters of Hooker on Ecclesiastical Polity, are on the same gigantic 
 scale of thinking. These essays of Burke, and the constitutional opin- 
 ions of Chief Justice Marshall, belong to the same great class of intel- 
 lectual effort, and you ought to become familiar with them." ' 
 
 If I am not mistaken, intimation has already been hazarded in 
 this volume, that life, law, and language seem to be the special 
 studies proper to the legist. 
 
 That the forum is, indeed, but life in little, 2 must be obvious. 
 Life, however, interests the legist, not only in the sense in which 
 the term life makes one think of manners, traits, passions, tenden- 
 cies, but in the special sense in which life is regarded by the books 
 on physiology, and in the system usually treated as comprising 
 medicine and hygiene. 
 
 Chase bound me to him not a little by the interest he took in a 
 work which, to the acceptance of by far the greatest number of 
 its reviewers, 3 though without extensive publication, undertook to 
 contribute toward the improvement of the system, which may well 
 be called forensic hygiene and medicine, and also of that which may 
 well be called State hygiene and medicine. 
 
 whom he has any claim or complaint, before the judge. When there, they are to 
 state their case in their own way, without any lawyer; and the judge, having heard 
 them both, is to give them his advice like a friend. If they agree to abide by it, 
 this advice acquires the force of a regular adjudication. This part of the plan 
 seems admirable in theory, and has worked well wherever it has been reduced to 
 practice. 
 
 •• We see no reason why such a plan might not be introduced into the courts of this 
 country with advantage. While we have great and just cause of grateful triumph 
 that so much of the absurdity and evil, pointed out by Mr. Brougham in the system 
 of English law, has been purged from our jurisprudence, we have also reason to be 
 ashamed that so much remains. Our modes of distributing justice, especially, are 
 far from perfect. And we may hope that it is not presumptuous to imagine, nor an 
 unpardonable irreverence of antiquity to suggest, that the present generation may 
 improve what a former generation has left susceptible of improvement. If our laws 
 and courts should be so improved that justice could no longer be represented, and 
 truly represented, as limping tardily along after a nimble rogue, and only catching 
 him, if she catch him at all, when he can get no farther, in the last court cf appel- 
 late jurisdiction, we may hope, also, that no lawyer would be found weeping in 
 secret over shrunk fees and a lean docket." 
 
 1 Kennedy's Life of Wirt, vol. II., page 385. 
 
 2 Warden, Man and Law. 
 
 3 Particularly the North American Review, the Independent, the Neio Englander, the 
 Freeman's Journal. Allibone's delusively defective dictionary of authors gives a 
 most imperfect notion of the manner in which that work was treated by reviewers.
 
 172 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 We shall find him taking a most painful interest in parts of 
 medical learning. 1 Did he, while preparing for the bar, concern 
 himself sufficiently with legal medicine? I think not. Of that, 
 however, I propose to say a word hereafter. 
 
 That he did not more devote himself to legal studies while at 
 "Washington, he seemed deeply to regret. But let us make correct 
 distinctions on that subject. He had Wirt for a legal teacher. Wirt 
 would naturally give far more attention to the reports of cases 
 decided in the Supreme Court of the United States than to any 
 other reports. It would naturally happen, then, that those reports 
 should be more interesting than any other to his legal pupils, of 
 whom Chase was probably the most considered. 
 
 Now, at this time, there should be no question but that the finest 
 reports we have are the reports in question. 
 
 Nothing more than evidence of law is yielded by decisions. 2 Law 
 is made by legislation, not by judgment. The expression "judge- 
 made law," like the expression " case-law," shows confusion of 
 ideas. Dieere -non dare — to declare law, not to make it — is the 
 function of the judge. But let us not forget the facts. All law is 
 not made. Great part of it is a mere growth. 
 
 I do not speak alone of law as fixed in usage. As to many interests, 
 the law is that that which ought to be, as ascertained by enlightened 
 judgment, shall be. Here we have, apparently, judicial legislation. 
 Alter all, however, the decision is not law, but only evidence of 
 law — a distinction of capital importance. 
 
 Did our hero, while preparing for the bar, pay due attention to 
 the interest of the law in language '? 
 
 Language, life, and law, I take it, are the preeminently proper studies 
 of a legist. Every completely educated American legist might well 
 be expected to know German, French, Greek, Latin, English. I 
 confess I know too little of the Greek, and not enough of Latin ; so 
 that I am rather taking exception to a common fault of legal edu- 
 cation than professing to have done all I should have done in lingual 
 study. 
 
 While I was, in aid of this work, for a short time private secre- 
 tary to our hero, there were interesting talks about linguistics between 
 "my chief," as he seemed pleased to have me call him, and myself. 
 
 ^ost, p. 21-2. 
 
 2 Gholson, J., in Shelley v. Jeff. Br. Bank, 9 Ohio State Rep., 606. And see 1 Bl 
 Comm., 70, 71.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 173 
 
 For my part, I was much fonder of linguistics than of language, if 
 I may so convey my meaning, while my chief was not so interested 
 in the science of the typical in speech, of etymology, etc. Indeed, 
 except as to Greek and Latin, and his mother-tongue, he appeared 
 to have comparatively little interest in language. True, he was not 
 ignorant of French, and he had learned a little German ; but I was 
 quite disappointed in his learning in linguistics. 
 
 Let us now examine whether Chase prepared himself sufficiently 
 for the service he would hope at least to have to render to his clients 
 as an orator. 
 
 The evidence relating to that subject we have partly seen already. 
 Let me now invite attention to another extract from his diary. 
 
 December 24, 1829, our fledging legist went to Baltimore with 
 artist King, whom he highly eulogizes. He set down about this 
 trip : 
 
 ' : When we arrived in Baltimore, I took lodgings at the hotel. 
 Mr. King had relations, with whom he found quartet's. The same 
 evening. I called at Mr. Wirt's, but having business in the city, did 
 not remain long. At night, I returned again, and spent some hours 
 in conversation with the family. The next day was Christmas, and 
 we were all to dine together at Mr. W's. In the morning, I went to 
 church. The Eev. Mr. Johns, of Baltimore, preached. It is the habit 
 of this clergyman to deliver his sermons memoriter. This gives him 
 a great advantage over reading, and over most extempore preach- 
 ers also. His discourses are beautifully written, and very im- 
 preseively delivered. They seem to come fresh from the heart of the 
 Bpeaker, and reach, I doubt not, the hearts of many of his auditors. 
 After church. I went to Mr. Wirt's, where most of the other guests 
 were already assembled. Our party was a very pleasant one, and 
 we sat at the table until dark. We then adjourned to the draw- 
 ing-room, where we spent the evening in social chat or innocent 
 amusement." 
 
 Still the Wirts— the Wirts! Thank Heaven for that! 
 September 26, 1829, we have this minute: 
 
 •• Called at Mrs. Elger's this evening, and ree'd. thro' Miss Mar- 
 garette a rather unexpected message from Miss E. G. W. : ' 
 
 October 9, 1829, appears : 
 
 "Eose early and went to Baltimore with Dr. Collins in his gig. 
 Stopped at Mr. Wirt's, and took the family by surprise. Elizabeth 
 and Catherine hail gone to bid farewell to Mrs. Ousely, who was 
 about to embark for Europe. They soon returned, and I conversed 
 with them for some time. I then went to my hotel and spent the
 
 174 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 night. The next morning, when I called, E — intrusted me with a 
 token leaf for a friend at Washington, and bidding them farewell, 
 we came away." 
 
 November 14, 1829, Mr. Chase set down in his diary : 
 
 "Calling on Mrs. Elgers to-day, she showed me a letter she had 
 just received from C. L. Wirt, in which she reproached me with neg- 
 lect of writing to them. I might say in the words of one mentioned 
 in the Old Testament: 'Is there not a cause?' " 
 
 I do not understand this ; and I dare not speculate about a theme 
 so sacred. 
 
 The Wirts Avere then at Baltimore. On the 28th of Febroary, 
 1829, at Washington, the head of the house wrote to Judge Carr a 
 letter, containing the sentences: 
 
 " My wife, on a full view of the whole ground, gives the preference 
 to Baltimore. She is delighted to get away from the threatening 
 storm and from the new association here — and my children are all 
 reconciled to it. I have, thank God, a happy, innocent, and most 
 affectionate family, and I have every prospect in a few years of 
 placingthem in independent, if not affluent, circumstances. I am bright 
 and buoyant with hope, and shall meet the spring of the year with 
 all its own appropriate gaiety and cheerfulness. As Erskine said, 
 when they turned him out of the office of chancellor, "I am much 
 obliged to them, for they have given me, in exchange for a dog's 
 life, that of a gentleman.' I have greater confidence in that God who 
 has never forsaken me, even in those headlong moments of my life, 
 when I have forgotten myself; and in addition to this, with so much 
 on earth to cheer and support me, such a family, such friends, I 
 should be a poor wretch, indeed, to despond. God willing, you shall 
 hear of me in time to come to my advantage." 1 
 
 Un 
 
 )t me in time to come to my advantage 
 der date, February 29, 1830, we have: 
 i the next dav. I went to Baltimore. 
 
 "On the next day, I went to Baltimore, and, having made some 
 other calls, visited Mr. Wirt. It was not as it was wont to be. Some 
 of the family were sick, others did not appear, and they who did 
 seemed changed. Perhaps, it was but the picturing of my fancy, 
 but I fear not. The next da}', coming out of church, I met one of 
 the young ladies. I had not seen her on the preceding day, and 
 perhaps my own manner was somewhat affected by the reception I 
 had met. She accused me of coldness. I defended myself as well as 
 I could, and went home with her. I called again the next daj T , and 
 bade them farewell." 
 
 That was but a passing cloud in the sky of our hero's friendship 
 with the Wirts. 
 
 1 Life of Wirt, by Kennedy, II, 227.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 175 
 
 " Amantium irce amoris redintegratio est,'" 
 is beautifully rendered by an English bard: 
 
 "The falling out of faithful friends 
 Renewing is of love." 
 
 But let us go back to our hero's preparation for the bar. 
 
 Did he, while with Wirt, study elocution? Did he then devote 
 himself to rhetoric except as we have seen? Having such a model 
 as he had in William Wirt, he could hardly have failed to study, 
 more or less attentively, the requisites of oratory such as is peculiarly 
 appropriate to the exercises of the advocate. Did he formally study 
 elocution, did he methodically study rhetoric, with reference to the 
 profession he had chosen ? 
 
 He could not have studied Rush 's wonderful book ; because it was 
 not written. But he could have studied other works on elocution, 
 and there were, at his command, good treatises on rhetoric. 
 
 In his profession, he would need a forensic logic for conducting 
 legal thinking, a forensic rhetoric for communicating the results of 
 legal thought. How far he recognized this truth, and acted on it, 
 it is now impossible to ascertain. But what is certain is, that he was 
 destined to become distinguished as a fine forensic speaker. 
 
 These three entries are of cognate interest : 
 
 "Dec. 7, [1829]. Went to Court to be admitted, but was not 
 examined. The Court assigned Tuesday for our examination. 
 
 "Dee. 9. Attended again, and the Court again put off our exami- 
 nation till the 14th. 
 
 "Dee. 14. Attended the Court, and, with several others, was 
 examined for admission to the bar. One was rejected, two were 
 deferred; three, of whom 1 was one, were admitted. So I am now 
 an attorney-at-law. I have a profession. Let me not dishonor it." 
 
 Here is a transcript of the entry made by our hero in his diary 
 under date, March 6, 1829 : 
 
 " When we see uncommon talent connected with uncommon weak- 
 ness; when we see great genius subjugated by vicious appetite; we 
 are apt to excuse Nature of injustice, and blame the unequal appor- 
 tionment of her favors. Why, we are apt to inquire, are not the 
 mighty in mind strong in principle? Why are not the emancipated 
 from ignorance secured from the worse thraldom of vice? These 
 
 reflections naturally arose in my mind when I saw Mr. T 
 
 displaying in the Supreme Court an acuteness and profundity of dis-
 
 176 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 cernmcnt and a comprehensiveness of grasp, wonderful in any man, 
 but especially wonderful in one so young, and reflected that he was 
 a slave to drink, and that in a few hours those astonishing powers 
 would be lost in intoxication. Here is a mournful proof that talent 
 and learning are ineffectual guards against vice, that it is not enough 
 that the light of reason beam brightly upon the path, unless her 
 decisions be carried into execution by strong moral principle. 
 Reason, indeed, may show us the right, but conscience, and con- 
 science alone, can impel us to walk in it. Mr. T is about 35 years 
 
 of age ; of a slender frame and expressive countenance. It is dark- 
 ened, indeed, b}* the influence of his vice, but all its original glory 
 is not yet lost. His mind still acts powerfully — the demon has not 
 yet-obtained the mastery over that — and, I suppose, when he is sober, 
 that is still alive to a sense of reputation. He exerted all his 
 strength to-day. Displaying a copious learning, an accurate re- 
 search, a rich and harmonious diction, a deep and minute analysis, 
 he treated the most abstruse subjects as school-boy themes, and passed 
 through the darkest fields of discussion as if they had been familiar 
 and accustomed walks. Every body was astonished by the unex- 
 pected display. As I went home from the court with the Attorney- 
 General, he remarked that, for twenty years he had heard nothing 
 equal to it. But his reputation will fade away. He might incorpo- 
 rate his fame with time, and build for himself an indestructible 
 monument — he might, but will not. And in a few years when he 
 himself has sunk into the final slumber, his name and his remem- 
 brance will pass away forever. Would that for his sake the opiate 
 which then shall have power over him might master him forever." 
 
 When Salmon Portland Chase left Washington, determined to 
 become a Cincinnatian, he resolved to be a sober man. He kept 
 that resolution. 
 
 Here is another extract of like indication : 
 
 "Nov. 15, 1829. Went to hear Mr. Hewitt preach on the subject 
 of temperance. . . . The largest audience I had ever seen gathered 
 in a Washington church listened with profound attention and 
 departed to their homes, all instructed and some, doubtless, reformed." 
 
 We have found our hero censuring himself on account of failing 
 to take advantage of his opportunities to study men and things at 
 Washington. Yet his diary is very rich in matter, more or less 
 reflective of the public life of this Capital at that time. 
 
 Here is, it seems to me, a very interesting proof of that which 
 I have just suggested : 
 
 " March 4, 1829. To-day, the ' Peoples' President ' was inaugurated. 
 Prodigious numbers assembled to witness the ceremony. Huge 
 masses of men covered all the area of the Capitol, in the portico of 
 which the G-eneral stood. The mob listened in breathless expecta-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 177 
 
 tion while the Inaugural Address was delivered, but not a word 
 reached their eager ears. The members of the last Cabinet were 
 invited, ami seats were prepared for them, but they did not choose to 
 attend to hear themselves abused by insinuation." 
 
 Tender souls ! Their courtesy was not of the first order, and one 
 might infer against their sense, according to Franklin's alteration of 
 the lines of Pope: 
 
 " Immodest words admit of no defense, 
 For want of modesty is want of sense." 
 
 "Now," saith Franklin, "is not want of sense (where a man is so 
 unfortunate as to want it) some apology for his want of modesty? 
 and would not the lines stand more justly thus? 
 
 "Immodest words admit but this defense, 
 That want of modesty is want of sense." 
 
 " This, however, I should submit to better judgments." l 
 
 Imitating an example so illustrious, I venture to submit to better 
 judgments whether want of courtesy does not at least strongly tend 
 to prove a want of sense? 
 
 How Adams behaved to Jackson when the latter approached him 
 on a certain occasion is well known. The anecdote is far from 
 creditable to John Quincy Adams. 
 
 To resume ! Chase continues in this fashion : 
 
 When the address was over, the President mounted, a horse and 
 rode toward the President's house. The multitude followed, shout- 
 ins, some on horseback and some on foot. The tide rolled on to the 
 house. Mr. Adams had left it a few days before, and retired to Meridian 
 Hill, calm and serene without and within." 
 
 1 Bigelow's Version of Autobiography, p. 101. 
 Laboulaye {Memories de Benjamin Franklin, 44), gives: 
 " II faut que je vous cite les deux vers : 
 Pour la presomption il n'y a point d'excuse, 
 Car manquer de modest ie, e'est manquer de sens." 
 " Cependant le manque de sens (quand on est assez malheureux pour en manquer) 
 n'est il pas en quelque sorte une excuse pour le manque de modeslie? et ces deux vers 
 ne seraient-ils pas plus justes, si Ion disait: 
 
 "Pour la presomption il n'y a qu'une excuse, 
 C'est que manquer de modest ie, e'est manquer de sens." 
 " Mais je laisse a des juges plus tclaires le soin de decider cette question."
 
 178 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 About that calmness, that serenity, one needs must doubt in spite 
 of Chase's judgment. 
 
 "He," continues Chase, "had performed his duty, and was con- 
 tent with that consciousness. The misled people could take from 
 him his office, but they could not deprive him of that." 
 
 Our hero did not know John Quincy Adams. Adams was, like 
 his father, a true worthy ; but he was not such a worthy as he 
 seemed to our young hero. Chase continues to relate as follows : 
 
 "Every thing in the house had been left in the neatest arrange- 
 ment. But half an hour threw every thing into confusion. Those 
 who entered first were obliged to find their way out through the 
 windows ; for, to return through the doors was almost an impossi- 
 bility. At length, curiosity was sated, and all had offered their con- 
 gratulations ; the General gave the last shake of the hand with more 
 pleasure than any before, and returned again to the hotel, that the 
 ravages of the mob might be rejniired, and the building prepared 
 once more for his residence. 
 
 " For me, I would prefer to fall with the fallen than to rise with 
 the rising." 
 
 Here is a reflection of Wirt's influence over Chase — of which a 
 farther word hereafter must be said. 
 
 Attention is next invited to an extract, bringing on the stage the 
 Kinderhook Magician. Under date Dec. 29, 1829, is this entry : 
 
 "When Mr. Van Buren first came to Washington, Mr. Swann 
 was among the very first citizens who opened his house to him 
 and extended to him the courtesies of hospitality. Mr. Van Buren 
 was then merely a Senator, with no apparent prospect of ever being 
 any thing more. Of course, Mr. Swann's attentions could be 
 prompted b} T no spirit of selfishness. Indeed, at that time, no one 
 thought it necessary to conciliate the favor of men in power in 
 order to retain the stations they might hold. Fidelity was a surer 
 guard than favor. Mr. Van Buren expressed and seemed to feel 
 gratitude for Mr. Swann's attentions. He visited frequently in the 
 family, and continued to do so from winter to winter until the 
 last, when he was elected Governor of New York. He had held 
 this station but a short time when he was appointed Secretary of 
 State by Gen. Jackson. 
 
 " Rumor had been busy in spreading the report of an anticipated 
 proscription, and Duff Green had announced the intention of the 
 executive 'to reward his friends and punish his enemies.' Many 
 gentlemen, friendly to the administration of Mr. Adams, who held 
 offices under the general government, became alarmed. Mr. Swann 
 was of the number. When Mr. Van Buren came to the seat of 
 government, Mr. S. and his son-in-law, Maj. Mercer, called upon 
 him. He did not reciprocate this civility. His intentions were
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 179 
 
 unknown. It was thought and rumored that he was against the 
 policy of proscription. It was surmised that he intended to pursue 
 a generous, magnanimous, and liberal course, and thus draw upon 
 himself the regards of all parties. The thing seemed feasible and 
 likely, and many expected that such would be his course; when 
 the sudden dismissal of six clerks from his office showed the 
 fallacy of all these suppositions and evinced his determination to 
 go far as the farthest. 
 
 " A friend of Mr. Swann, desirous to learn what would be his 
 fate, now called upon Mr. Van Buren. He found [him] sitting in 
 his office, and entered into a conversation with him upon general 
 topics. At length he carelessly asked : ' What is to be done with 
 old Swann? We must not let him go, until at least we have had 
 some more of his old Madeira?' Van Buren evaded the question, 
 but Hamilton, who was acting secretary, and was then writing at a 
 table in the room, raised his head from his paper, and gruffly re- 
 marked : ' He must go with the rest.' 
 
 " Some time after this, it was ascertained that it was not the in- 
 tention of Gen. J. to remove Mr. Swann, and Mr. Van Buren had 
 no sooner ascertained this fact than he hastened to return the calls 
 of Maj. Mercer and Mr. Swann, and appropriate to himself, and to 
 his kind interference, the whole merit of the service. But the 
 artifice was too shallow. The contemptible intriguer was detected, 
 and his renewal of civilities was looked upon with disgust and con- 
 tempt. Such is the character of Martin Van Buren, cold, selfish, 
 intriguing, base, and faithless. May he never reach the golden 
 round to which he so ardently aspires." 
 
 It is well known that Mr. Chase learned to think more favor- 
 ably of Martin Van Buren ; that, indeed, in 1848, he supported him 
 for the Presidency as the candidate of the Free Soilers, having been 
 a member of the convention, which, at Buffalo, put him in nomina- 
 tion. It is well, however, to know what Van Buren seemed to 
 Chase in 1829, as well as what he seemed to him in 1848.' 
 
 That diary-entry of December 29, 1829, proceeds as follows: 
 
 " An acquaintance of mine called lately on Gen. Jackson to re- 
 quest public employment of him. He said that the General told 
 him that his claims should be considered whenever a vacancy 
 occurred, but that he could not remove anyone to make a place foi 
 him. 'You see,' said he, 'what a fuss the people make about the 
 removals which have been made already.' " 
 
 There can be no doubt that the people, at that time, were not 
 disposed to sanction the extreme devotion of the political partisan. 
 
 Indeed, Jackson himself is represented as rather seeking to reward 
 personal attachment to himself and to punish personal hostility to 
 himself than to maintain strict party discipline. 
 
 Under date Januarv 20, 1830, we have : 
 13
 
 180 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Read Mr. Madison's letters to J. H. Cabell on the subject of the 
 tariff. They are characterized by his usual clearness and vigor, 
 and place the principle of protection on impregnable grounds. Yet 
 the violent opposition of the tariff will not, I think, be allayed by 
 it. It has its source, not in a sense of actual grievance, but in a 
 narrow sectional jealousy and the high-reaching ambition of some 
 sectional leaders. Assertion will, I think, be just as clamorous and 
 dogmatical as before, and pride will be as loud and as obstinate." 
 
 That our hero came to be in some sense a free trader is well known. 
 But I prefer to speak hereafter of his conceptions of political 
 economy. 
 
 Here is an entry of decided creditableness to the young citizen by 
 whom it was composed. 
 
 November 16, 1829, he said : 
 
 "I read, to-da}% the speech of Benjamin Watkins Leigh in the 
 convention of Virginia. It is an able and ingenious defense of the 
 ancient order of things, covering nearly eleven closely printed 
 columns of the Richmond Enquirer. A portion of the speech con- 
 tained sentiments in which I heartily concur — particularly in a 
 vivid and striking delineation of the degrading arts practiced by 
 office-seekers. To other sentiments expressed in it I could by no 
 means assent. The strange idea that the free laboring population 
 of non-slave-holding States was on the same level, in the ! point of 
 intelligence, and should be on the same level, in point of political 
 privilege, was unworthy of Mr. Leigh and utterly abhorrent to every 
 principle of equal rights." 
 
 Under date June 24, 1829, we have: 
 
 " My uncle from Ohio called. An unexpected pleasure, as I knew 
 not that he was east of the Alleghanies." 
 
 On examining the Reminiscences of Bishop Chase, to find some 
 notice of this meeting, I failed to find any notice of it. Then I 
 looked through the whole work to see if it, in any place, showed 
 any thing like appreciation of its author's gifted nephew. Does it 
 even mention him at all ? I think not ; but, perhaps, I may have 
 overlooked some passage. 
 
 I repeat, the article of uncle distributed to our hero does not seem 
 to me to have been very fine. What a contrast between the interest 
 taken by Philander Chase in Salmon Portland Chase, and the interest 
 taken in the last-named worthy by his legal teacher, William Wirt, 
 no relative at all? 
 
 1 Sic.
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 181 
 
 Under date February 22, 1830, there is a peculiarly interesting 
 entry in these words : 
 
 " Judge Burnett, of the Senate, is a small man, of a not implead- 
 ing countenance. The indications of intellect are slight, but by 
 untiring industry he has acquired a high professional reputation. 
 He converses with some appearance of effort, and has been as yet 
 a silent member of the Senate. I had, this morning, some conver- 
 sation with him, respecting Cincinnati. He said that the bar there 
 was crowded as it is every-where. That there were many young 
 men of fine talents and acquirements without business, tut that 
 this was imputable chiefly to their modesty. 1 ' Still,' he said, ' Cincinnati 
 is growing rapidly. Population and wealth are increasing. Living 
 is cheap. And, on the whole, it offers to you stronger inducements 
 than any other place in the West.' " 
 
 Ere long we shall go with our hero to the growing city, where 
 he is to make his name immortal. But before we bid adieu to 
 Washington, let us look at some other entries of considerable interest. 
 
 Here is an entry extracted from the same productive diary, under 
 date October 9, 1829 : 
 
 " When we arrived at our lodgings, I was pleased to find my 
 friend Smith awaiting my arrival. With him I had a long con- 
 versation on subjects of great interest to me, and asked his advice, 
 and finally obeyed the suggestion of my own fancy." 
 
 This characteristic anecdote reminds one of the anecdote already 
 related, 2 about sending for a physician, " who came and prescribed 
 medicine which " the patient " did not take, and gave " the patient 
 " some advice which " the patient " did not follow." 
 
 But we must be off to Cincinnati. We shall look back, now and 
 then, but now we must go forward. 
 
 1 I acknowledge the responsibility for the italics. 
 
 2 Ante, p. 141.
 
 182 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 FROM "WASHINGTON TO CINCINNATI. — CINCINNATI IN 1830. 
 
 UNDER date March 1, 1830, the diary so often quoted in fore- 
 going chapters reads as follows : 
 
 " March 1, [1830]. The few days after my return to "Washington, 
 before I began my journey to this place, were employed in arranging 
 my affairs and biddiug farewell to my friends and acquaintance. All 
 this was. at length, over, and on Thursday, the 4th of March, I finally 
 left Washington, which had been my home for more than three years, 
 and where I had found much kindness and man} 1 - friends. It was not 
 without regret that I looked, for the last time, perhaps, on those 
 familiar scenes. 
 
 " But we soon lost sight of them all, and my mind turned from the 
 contemplation of the past to the consideration of the future. It was 
 not with dismay or dread that I looked forward. True, there was 
 little to invite in the foreground of the picture. I was fully aware 
 t'hat I must pass through a long period of probation. That day and 
 night must be witness to the assiduity of my labors. That my mind 
 must be disciplined to habits of deep reflection and patient toil. That 
 many obstacles were to be overcome, many difficulties to be sur- 
 mounted ere I could hope to reach the steep wdiere Fame's proud 
 temple shines. All this I knew. But in the background were de- 
 served honor, eminent usefulness, and a 'crown of glory'; and pain, 
 and toil, and labor vanished from the sight which was directed over 
 and beyond them." 
 
 Was this man inordinately ambitious? Have we, thus far, seen 
 in him the lust of glory, place, and power? I think not. But I 
 am proud of the just-quoted indication, that he was aspiring and, in- 
 deed, ambitious. 
 
 He continues : 
 
 ' ; I will not describe our stage company farther than to say that it 
 consisted of a woman whose occupation I could not divine, a young 
 Yankee who was wise in his own eyes, a female convict just discharged 
 from the Penitentiary of Virginia, a young gentleman of the name 
 of Brown, from Washington, and myself." 
 
 Our hero was himself a young Yankee. We have seen him kick-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 183 
 
 ing hard the shins or some softer parts of a young Buckeye, because 
 the latter called him a Yankee. What did he mean, then, by writ- 
 ing so about a young Yankee, 
 
 "Wbo was wise 
 In his own eyes. - ' 
 
 The truth is, that, by the time he went "West" to live there, he 
 had ceased to be, in any sense, provincial. He was then a pure 
 American of the best type. 
 
 His narrative proceeds as follows: 
 
 " The roads were in a miserable situation. A frost had juat hard- 
 ened the surface enough to make it difficult for the horses to extri- 
 cate their feet, which went through at every step. The [stage] upset 
 once, but nobody was injured. When I pass this road again, I hope 
 to travel on a railicay. Nothing less will tempt me on it again, for 
 some time, at least." 
 
 He goes on as follows : 
 
 " In the course of time we arrived at Hagerstown. This is a small 
 place, with a mixed pojmlation of Germans and English, in number 
 about 3,000. Our host was a German, who, perceiving that an In- 
 dian boy who was with us, spoke English but imperfectly, addressed 
 him in Dutch, but, strange to tell, the boy still remained silent." 
 
 Have a care, thou intending Cincinnatian ! The city thou hast 
 chosen for thy future home is very " Dutchy." It is quite like 
 Hagerstown in having a mixed population, of which a large propor- 
 tion is (not "Dutch," indeed, but) German, or of German lineage. 
 
 That Indian boy and the German host seem to me very typical. 
 The one is the type of the race that is departing, and the other 
 seems to me the type of all that is most promising, at present, in 
 the population of this country. 
 
 Not a drop of German blood, or of blood derived from German 
 blood, is in my veins. I say what is here advanced about the Ger- 
 man element of our composite population, not because I am of 
 German blood, but because my studies of our population force me 
 to see things which persons who have not attended closely to that 
 population, may not have discerned. 
 
 Of this, however, more must be advanced hereafter. We have 
 this farther record of the rest at Hagerstown : 
 
 " I came very near losing all my money here by over-careful ness. 
 I am in the habit of leaving all the cash I have with me in my 
 pocket when I retire to rest. But, this evening, lest by possibility I
 
 184 THE PEIYATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 might lose it, I took my money and placed it, with my watch, under 
 my pillow. About midnight, we were called to take the stage, but my 
 friend Brown was too unwell to go on, and it went without us. Had 
 we then taken the stage, I should infallibly have left my money. As 
 it was. when I rose in the morning, I took my watch without once 
 think [iug] that there was any thing else. But Brown, after I had 
 left the room, looked under my pillow, saw it, and restored it to me. 
 I remained here two days, one of which was Sunday. 
 
 "I left Hagerstown on Monday morning, and, after two [days] and 
 a half of hard riding, night and day, arrived in Wheeling. This is 
 a pleasant little place on the banks of the Ohio. I visited their manu- 
 factury of cut glass, and was astonished and delighted by the ele- 
 gance and delicacy of the work. I remained in W. but a single 
 day, when I took the boat for Cincinnati. She was, by some mis- 
 nomer, called the Paragon, an appellation to which she had good 
 claim, if parvitude of size, meanness of accommodation, and slowness 
 of motion constitute one. 
 
 "On board the boat I became acquainted with Gen. Tipton, from 
 Indiana. This gentleman was born, I think, in Xorth Carolina or 
 Tennessee. His parents were indigent, and he, consequently, did 
 not enjoy the advantages of a scholastic education. But he received 
 one equally valuable. The difficulties with which he had to contend 
 were rough but efficient teachers to a mind like his. Besides, he 
 thought, and his mind became stronger by exercise. He is remark- 
 able for his enei'gy, and strength, and sagacity. He now strives to 
 acquire knowledge by every means, and I have heard him say that 
 a consciousness of his want of it has frequently forced tears from 
 his eyes." 
 
 Perhaps the general exaggerated somewhat. But it may be that 
 he uttered measured truth. The value of methodic education is 
 beyond the reach of easy calculation. One may have it, in some 
 circumstances, without living teachers. Books may yield it, so that 
 the great students of antiquity are drawn into the service of these 
 days as educators ; but the living voice is often better than the mute 
 instruction of the noblest books could be. 
 
 The education of our hero certainly was far from perfect. But it 
 had a pretty good beginning, and it was not suddenly cut off. Its 
 greatest imperfection, we shall find, was but the imperfection of its 
 methods. 
 
 Method is the very soul of teaching. More and more the miracles 
 that can be worked by method manifest the value of the schools, in 
 spite of their defects. 
 
 The theme is far from irrelevant. Our hero was for some time a 
 teacher by profession. In a certain sense, indeed, he never ceased to 
 be a teacher. But of that no more need be suggested now. The 
 subject must come up again hereafter.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 185 
 
 
 In the diary I have already so often quoted, I find also, as a 
 part of a long entry, the following memorandum : 
 
 "On Saturday morning early \w arrived at the lauding, of which, 
 at some future time, I may give a description." 
 
 In the Cincinnati American, he did, some time afterward, describe 
 the landing. Under the title, "Oar City," he, then aeting as editor 
 pro tempore of that paper, for his friends, James F. Conover and 
 Isaiah Thomas, furnished this characteristic article: 1 
 
 " ' Thirty-five years ago. over all that is now Ohio, there stretched 
 one vast wilderness, unbroken, except hy the small spots of civilized 
 culture, the one at Marietta and the other at Cincinnati. At these 
 little openings, hardly each a pin's point upon the map, the arm of 
 the frontiersman had leveled the forest and let in the sun.' 
 
 •■ These are the words of Daniel Webster in his first speech on 
 'Foot's Resolution.' They usher in a splendid description of the 
 wonderful transformation of the territory that now constitutes the 
 State of Ohio, from a wilderness in which dwelt savage men and sav- 
 age beasts, into a magnificent abode of civilization, opulence, taste, 
 and power. It has a merit, rare in such gorgeous paintings. It is a 
 perfect breathing image of what has been. The description was 
 molded upon facts and took their exact shape. Lofty and grand 
 though it be, it can not be grander or loftier than the scene it 
 pictures. 
 
 " Thirty-five } r ears ago our city was, as he said it was, a little open- 
 ing in the midst of a vast, unbroken forest. And what is it now? 
 Let us look around us. Let us walk around Cincinnati and take 
 note of what we see. First, there is the great landing, sloping down 
 from Front street to the water's edge, a declivity of between sixty 
 and seventy feet in perpendicular elevation, and reaching along the 
 river more than two whole squares. The noble stream is up now, 
 and a part of this immense work is hidden from view. Yet enough 
 is visible to show that it would be a difficult matter to find a struc- 
 ture like it anywhere. If the rise of water hides the landing it 
 shows the steamboats for the use of which the landing was made. 
 There they are. of a stately structure, frtting the river on whose 
 bosom they rush along, and the mighty territory whose productions 
 they carry to a distant market. As if Providence had designed this 
 spot for their use. the river, generally careering on with a rapid 
 current, here sweeps round an eddy, and thus forms a natural 
 harbor, as it were, for them. The}' are discharging and receiving 
 their cargoes. To-morrow almost every one of them will be gone, 
 and their places will he tilled with others. 
 
 "As we proceed eastward, coming up into the city a little, our ears 
 are greeted with the sound of busy occupation, and our eyes with the 
 
 1 Would Chase have been successful as a journalist ?
 
 186 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 sight of the numerous factories. There are the steam mill, and the 
 cotton factories, and the saw mill factories, and the engine factories, 
 and others that we have not room to enumerate. Here is the prin- 
 cipal source of the wealth and prosperity of our city. It is labor that 
 gives value to every thing. The raw material is worthless till it is 
 wrought. What purpose serves the iron in the earth ? "What good 
 does the cotton ere it be gathered? Labor must be applied before 
 value can be created. Ever since the decree went forth, ' In the sweat 
 of thy face shalt thou eat bread,' little has been the worth of the 
 earth's spontaneous productions, and so will it be ever. Where the 
 sweat of the face is, there will be bread; and where the laborious 
 population is, there will be the prosperous city and the flourishing 
 empire. We do not mean to assert that all our vigorous growth and 
 early maturity is due to mechanic labor alone. Commerce has its 
 share, and other causes have had their share of influence in operat- 
 ing the grand result. We only intend to say, that the mechanic has 
 been the principal, not the sole agent of the prosperity of the cit}'. 
 
 "We pass on eastward until we come to the waterworks, and then 
 climb up the hill that lies just down upon the river, until we attain 
 a commanding position for a panoramic view of the valley. The first 
 thought that strikes us is, that this spot must have been marked out 
 for a high destiny in the councils of heaven. That wide amphithe- 
 ater below must surely have been scooped out on purpose to be the 
 seat of a great city. On all sides it is guarded by the everlasting 
 hills, which seem, from this point, to be arrayed around the whole 
 valley, in the form of an ellipsis. We see La Belle Riviere entering 
 it from the north-east. It sweeps round in a beautiful curve, and we 
 see it again far off and seeming like a zone of silver, binding nature's 
 verdant apparelling, gliding away tranquilly toward the mighty 
 Mississippi. From the north and the south several small streams are 
 seen pouring in their scanty tribute. The canal comes in from the 
 north, and is covered with boats. We close our eyes for a moment 
 and listen. We hear, from the river, the roaring of the steam; from 
 the canal, the notes of the bugle; and from the entire city, that con- 
 fused noise of the rattling of wheels and the jar of machines, and the 
 clamor of voices, which always indicate the presence of a multitudin- 
 ous population. We open our eyes again and we almost imagine that 
 we see the city grow. We do see all the symptoms of vigorous growth. 
 There are factories, more than we saw when in the valley, and in 
 every part of the city. There are man}' churches, some of them 
 grand in their proportions, and splendid in their architecture. There 
 are the residences of some of our private citizens that show like 
 palaces. There are extending streets and multiplying erections of 
 every description, on the two levels that, with the connecting 
 declivity between them, form the area of this vast amphitheater. 
 There are the markets, not quite so neat fabrics as they might be, 
 but filled to overflowing with the abundance of the surrounding 
 countiy, and crowded by the great multitude who live to eat, or eat 
 to live. There, too, is not — alas! that w r e must say so — a city hall 
 worthy of the greatness and opulence of our city. 
 
 " Having now cast a general and rapid glance over the scene be- 
 fore us, we descend the hill, and we meet with men not yet past the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 187 
 
 prime of life, who tell us that when they were boys they used to 
 gather grapes and hunt squirrels and wild turkeys over the very 
 spot where these thick-crowding edifices now stand. 
 
 " This is a faithful outline of Cincinnati, as she now is. We in- 
 tended, when we began, to sketch, in the same brief way, her history, 
 and character, and prospects; to speak somewhat of the inducements 
 held out to emigrants, and to say what classes of men would, prob- 
 ably, find advantage in coming here, but we have no room to do all 
 this now. Perhaps we may resume the subject in our next or some 
 future number. In the mean time, we may observe that we do not 
 expect to edify our city friends with a description of what they see 
 every day, but to gratify the natural curiosity of those who, living 
 at some distance from us, have frequentty expressed a wish to know 
 something more about Cincinnati than they could learn from geog- 
 raphies." 
 
 The diary proceeds as follows : 
 
 "After breakfast we went to the hotel, where I obtained a room 
 much larger than I needed, indeed, for I am but six feet by one or 
 two, and the chamber was at least ten by six." 
 
 At that time he had been able for some time to stand up straightly. 
 No one could have been made to believe that he had been, in in- 
 fancy and boyhood, an ungainly, awkward being. But I have been 
 told, and there is reason to believe, that at school he was " picked 
 on/' and, at one time, had to have a champion — at least had one. 
 
 The diary proceeds as follows : 
 
 " After taking a survey of the premises, I called upon Mr. Caswell, 
 for whom I had a letter from Mr. Wirt. This gentleman ranks 
 among the first at the bar of Cincinnati ; but as I shall have occasion 
 to say more of him hereafter, I shall make no farther mention of 
 him here." 
 
 April 7th we have this record : 
 
 "I dined this day at Mr. Caswell's with a small company, consist- 
 ing, for the most part, of Kentuckians. The entertainment was not 
 in the profuse style of Virginia hospitality, but, I confess, in a style 
 much better suited to my taste. It was a little singular thai the 
 day was warm enough to make it expedient to ice tin; water and 
 wine. Every thing passed off pleasantly, tho', as usual at our Amer- 
 ican dinners, there was little conversation until we left the table. 
 In the evening there was a small party." 
 
 It appears from the next entry that our hero became at once 
 acquainted with Mr. Benhatu — whereof hereafter. Now I wish to 
 look back a little.
 
 188 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Under date April 2, 1829, at Washington, Chase wrote : 
 
 " Mr. Trist wished me to call with him at Mr. Wirt's ; we did so, 
 but finding no one at home, we left our cards, and returned to our 
 boarding-house. I invited Mr. T. into my room, where we sat con- 
 versing a long time, principally upon the extent of human knowledge. 
 Mr. T. has imbibed man}' of the notions of Wright and Owen, and, 
 misled by an ignis fatuus, which he believes to be a conductor to 
 rational freedom, he plunges headlong into 1 bottomless abyss of 
 infidel inconsistency. He read many extracts from the Free Inquirer, 
 with the hope of convincing me of the solidity of his opinions ; but 
 I was either too strongly wedded to my own sentiments or too 
 thoroughly persuaded of the fallacy of his, to be much affected by 
 them." 
 
 Next, attention is invited to the following transcript of the entry 
 dated April 10, 1830, at Cincinnati : 
 
 " On this da}-, I united with the church of the Eev. Mr. Johnston, 
 in commemorating the Lord's passion. It was in a small school- 
 room in the city that the holy rite was celebrated ; for an unhappy 
 division has taken place in the Episcopal Church here, and the 
 greater part of the communicants have withdrawn from the original 
 society. I trust I was actuated b} T proper motives in the act of 
 participation, and that it will be blessed to my spiritual welfare. 
 By conviction, I am a Christian. My reason is fully convinced, and my 
 understanding perfectly satisfied. My heart, also, I think, cordially 
 and gratefully assents to [the] plan of salvation thro' free grace and 
 Christ Jesus. May he, who endowed me with intellect, enlighten 
 my understanding. May he, who has given me affections, draw 
 them supremely to himself." 
 
 Now let us look forward a little. Under date April 30, 1843, 
 in the same diary — if such it may be called — appear these words: 
 
 " Up late ; attended Sunday school — few in attendance on account 
 of bad weather — contributions for missionary purposes small; at- 
 tended church — more free from wandering thoughts than usual; 
 Winthrop — good sermon on 'With the heart man believeth unto 
 righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' 
 He distinguished faith working by love and purifying the heart 
 from spurious faith, whether imaginative or intellectual — insisted 
 on vital faith and open profession of religion. Coming home, read, 
 before and after dinner, Bishop Chase's Reminiscences and D'Au- 
 bigne's Reformation. The bishop had more trials and more pleasures 
 in England than I was aware. His courage, faith, and forbearance 
 were exemplary. I exceedingly admire the character of Luther. How 
 he endured seeing the invisible! He lived, almost, out of the body. 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 189 
 
 To him, the clouds, the winds, the thunders, and the lightnings 
 uttered voices. Voices spoke to him from the recesses of his own 
 heart. He saw what no man else saw. He heard what no man else 
 heard." 
 
 The man who made that record was a born reformer, and he 
 could have been a Luther ; but I do not say he was one. 
 
 That he sometimes manifested some thing very like affection for 
 Vanity Fair, I have not hidden; but neither that love nor any 
 other weakness ever rendered him an irreligious man. As far as I 
 can see, his deep religiousness colored all his agitation against slav- 
 ery from, say, the year 1845 down to the breaking out of the civil 
 war, if not during the remainder of his life. Indeed, for a time, 
 the feelings which he cherished for the cause of the enslaved ap- 
 peared to border on that half-maniacal enthusiasm which we often 
 see in the zealots of religious faith. 
 
 Here is an extract from his diary, under date Sunday, February 
 22, 1845 : x 
 
 "Rose in pretty good season — private devotion in bed-room. I 
 feel so little my sinfulness, and so little my obligations lor mercies 
 received, that I am disturbed by it. Mr. Fenton, a young lawyer, 
 who stayed with me last night, breakfasted with me. Alice and Kate 
 in town ; Mr. Fenton left at half past nine. I spent the morning in 
 reading on slavery, and in perusing Milton's vindication of the action 
 of Parliament in executing Charles I. Dined alone; read Job and 
 other parts of Scripture , my understanding of what I read is very 
 imperfect, and, 1 fear, my spiritual apprehension of the truth still 
 more so. May God enlighten me by his Holy Spirit. Took tea 
 alone, and wrote above. Have not attended church to-day, chiefly 
 because of inconvenience of getting to town, having no place there 
 for my horses ; but parti}-, also, because 1 feel doubtful as to my duty 
 arising from the relation of the church to slavery. On one side, I can not 
 doubt that it is wrong for the church to maintain an indifferent if not 
 an hostile attitude to the cause of the enslaved; on the other, I feel 
 quite sure that other members of the church, who do not feel as Ido in 
 reference to the slaves, are far more zealous in other good works, and live 
 much nearer to Christ. lam anxious to see the path of duty in reference 
 to the subject of church connection more clearly than 1 do." 
 
 Again we must look back a little. Under date January 7, 1830, 
 we read : 
 
 "This day I called at Mr. Ingham's to see my friend . This 
 
 young lady has the most perfect skill in all the arts of pleasing, or, 
 to speak more truly of her, she has from nature the rare ability to 
 
 1 This appears to me a most important entry.
 
 190 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 please without art. Her face is not one which a sculptor would 
 choose for a model, yet it is beautiful in feature and still more beau- 
 tiful in expression. Even her looks of anger and scorn have a 
 pretty gracefulness which half disarms them. Her form is slight 
 and frail, but exquisitely molded. Her motion is free as the sum- 
 mer breeze, and, like it, soft and gentle, or animated and unreserved. 
 Every word and tone of hers is a sweet music — sweeter, because, 
 like the tones of the wind harp, they are unsubjected to the rules of 
 art." 
 
 Why turn back to this entry? Rather, why reserve it to be used 
 in this connection? Does it prove the depth of the religious senti- 
 ment in him who wrote it? Patience, gentle reader! Here is the 
 conclusion of that entry : 
 
 "I was very near falling in love with this lady — nay, I should 
 certainly have done so, had not our tastes been, in one particular, 
 wholly dissimilar. She is fond of the gay world — I have no desire 
 to partake in its vanities. She is disinclined to religion and its duties. 
 I value them more than any earthly possession." 
 
 Let us, then, go forward with the certainty that Salmon Portland 
 Chase was deeply, fervently religious, when he went to try his for- 
 tune or to find his fate at Cincinnati. 
 
 Still in April, 1830, we have this relation : 
 
 "Walking in the garden with E. P., I remarked to her that she 
 ought to give me a bouquet as a reward for aiding her in translating 
 Flora's Dictionary. She replied : ' I will. I will select such of 
 them as have an appropriate meaning.' ' I should prefer to be the 
 selector myself, Miss E. Perhaps } t ou might not choose such flow- 
 ers as I should wish. ' Oh, there is no fear of that,' she observed, 
 smiling. ' You would not want any flowers which I should not be 
 willing to give.' ' You must not be too confident,' I answered, for 
 you may be certain I shall choose the most expressive.' 
 
 " We left the garden with our party, and I escorted a part to their 
 old residence in a distant part of the city, and in the evening re- 
 turned to Mr. L's., where E. was staying. She told me that her 
 flowers had been taken away by some one, but she had a Geranium 
 left, which she gave me. ' I will look for its meaning,' said I. It 
 was Preference. ' I showed it to her. ' May I have it now ?' ' Yes,' 
 •'May I consider the gift as I think proper? 'Yes.' And I took it 
 and construed it as the artifice of a beautiful and admired coquette to 
 gain another admirer, and win another heart." 
 
 Was the construction right ? We can not know. Perhaps some 
 lovely possibilities were ruined by that reading. 
 
 In May, some day earlier than the twelfth, we have this account : 
 
 " I was one of a party to Gen. Taylor's. The mansion is pleasantly
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 191 
 
 situated, and is surrounded by many pleasant appurtenances. 1 
 shall remember the garden, because 1 there learned a secret which 
 
 surprised me not a little. I was conversing with Miss , and in 
 
 the course of our dialogue, I had occasion to ask, why she smiled. 
 'Oh ! I was merely reflecting your good humor.' ' I should be must 
 happy if yon would reflect me at all times, for then you must be- 
 come the image of me — another self.' ' That I can 't do,' she said. 
 'Let me have the reason, if it be not locked in the chamber of your 
 secrecy.' * "Won 't you tell ?' 'No.' 'Never?' 'Never, never.' 'To 
 no one in the world? ' 'Well, then,' said she, pulling off her glove, 
 and exhibiting her pretty white hand, and directing ni} r attention 
 to a ring upon one of her delicate fingers. 'See there! The ring 
 you know is binding.' 'Is there a name upon it?' said I. c No.' 
 ' May I ask the name of the favored one ?' ' H.' 'And what letters 
 of the alphabet compose the rest of the precious word ?' And she 
 told me. I was thunderstruck. I could not believe her ; for I had 
 heard her and seen her expressing feelings of repugnance toward 
 him, by word and look, which I thought then, and still think, had 
 too much nature in them to be feigned; and, besides, there was a 
 disparity of fifteen or twenty 3'ears between their ages. 
 
 " ' Is it possible ? ' I exclaimed. 
 
 " ' Aye, even so.' 
 
 " Just then, we were called, for our party was about to return to 
 the city." 
 
 Does not that read very like a comedy — or, rather, like a passage 
 of a tragi-comedy ? But it tells well for the narrator. 
 
 I suppose, the Gen. Taylor spoken of was the great man of New- 
 port. 
 
 The next entry, dated May 12, has the memorandum : 
 
 " I received to-day, from E. P., a promised bouquet, consisting of 
 Eose Geranium, Periwinkle, Holly, White Eose-bud, and a common 
 rose." 
 
 We have already seen that he had learned from Mrs. Wirt the 
 idiom of the flowers. 
 
 Under the same date we have this anecdote : 
 
 '"Don't you think that Mr. Girmke and I are somewhat alike?' 
 
 said Mr. G- to Mr. C . 'Yes,' replied the latter, 'you do 
 
 resemble him in the tone of your voice and mode of delivery.' ' Oh ! 
 it was not that I alluded to. I referred to his force of mind and 
 rapidity of thought. Indeed, I think he is the greatest man in the 
 State.' " 
 
 What old Cincinnatian can fail to fill up the blank in the desig- 
 nation of "Mr. G?" No doubt, it was Mr. Greene who asked that 
 modest question, and, to the response, replied as we have seen.
 
 192 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Here is another anecdote, recorded under the same date : 
 
 " Mr. B., another of our western lawyers, was one evening asking 
 a young lady to dance with him. She declining, our hero fell upon 
 
 one knee, and, drawing a dagger, exclaimed : 'Dance with me, or '. 
 
 ' Pray, sir,' said she, ' allow me to conduct you to the hearth lest your 
 blood might stain the floor.' " 
 
 Immediately following the mention of the Caswell party we have: 
 
 "Mr. Benham related to me an anecdote of Col. Davis, who fell in 
 the battle of Tippecanoe. 
 
 "A poor woman in Kentucky had been robbed of two or three 
 hogs and brought a civil action for damages against the thief. Mr. 
 Davis was employed for the plaintiff, and the cause came on for trial. 
 Mr. Davis ' began, and, in a short time, obtained complete possession 
 of the feelings of the jury. He described the poverty of the plaint- 
 iff, and painted her poor and miserable cabin. He depicted her 
 struggling for existence, alone and unaided, and spoke of the base- 
 ness and atrocity of that nature which could steal from such penury. 
 When he concluded, the jury retired hastily, and, after a very short 
 absence, brought in a verdict for 500 dollars damages. It was 
 thought unreasonable, and a second trial was granted in another 
 county. When the day came, Davis traveled to the court on foot; 
 the same scene was again exhibited, and he again obtained a verdict 
 for 600 dollars." 
 
 That, however, be it noticed, was not in Ohio. It was in Ken- 
 tucky ; where the influence of oratory always has been what it never 
 could have been in the adopted State of Mr. Chase. 
 
 May 22, 1830, his diary records : 
 
 "I spoke, this day, in the moot court, upon a case in which I was 
 counsel for the plaintiff, and failed completely. My voice was affected 
 by a severe cold, and my self-possession neaidy destroyed by the 
 presence of several of the faculty." 
 
 The diffidence of Chase was never wholly overcome. At times it 
 had a very beautiful effect. No doubt about its genuineness could 
 have been entertained by any one. Nor could any discerning person 
 have mistaken it for mauvaise honte. How much it must have cost 
 this man to play the part he so soon made famous ! 
 
 On page 75 of the diary we have : 
 
 " June — . I was in the beginning of this month admitted to the 
 courts of Ohio as a practitioner of law." 
 
 Now conscience took the form of moral courage. He was ready 
 
 1 Daviess is the true name.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 193 
 
 now for clients; and it became his duty to acquire more self-posses- 
 sion. Under date September 1st we have: 
 
 "Sept. 1. [1S30]. Commencing the practice of the law and assum- 
 ing, for the first time, the responsible duties of my profession, I feel 
 as 1 did when I entered Washington, more than three years ago, a 
 stranger and adventurer. 1 entered, asking the favor and protection 
 of the God of the fatherless, and that which I desired was signally 
 bestowed. 1 trust that I l'eel, now, the same confidence, and I believe 
 my confidence will not be disappointed." 
 
 Here are two quite interesting indications : 
 
 " Sept. 5, [1830]. I am in my own office now. Let this be the 
 commencement of a new era in my existence — an era marked by 
 devoted application, strenuous exertion, unremitting industry, and 
 much thought." 
 
 "Sept. 30, [1830].. The month is ended. Its days have not gone 
 without leaving a mark behind. My business has been very small, 
 yet exceeded my expectations. I have earned about fifteen dollars, 
 and perhaps shall be paid." » 
 
 In the elsewhere cited document, containing a biographic sketch of 
 our hero is the sentence : 
 
 "Mr. Chase's early professional life was like that of most young 
 lawyers who commence business without estate or influential friends 
 at home — a struggle for subsistence with ample opportunity to 
 repine over present neglect or indulge in visions of future success." 
 
 The truth is, Mr. Chase began with some advantages, which, but 
 for his diffidence, might soon have led to what he might have called 
 success. Yet he was once quite tried for want of money. Under 
 date August — , 1830, appears the entry : 
 
 "August — , [1830]. This month passed without any incidents 
 worthy of notice. I was somewhat einbarrascd in my pecuniary 
 concerns by a failure of expected remittances, but was relieved by 
 the kindness of a friend, whose pecuniary assistance can easily be 
 repaid, but whose prompt aid entitles him to the regard always due 
 to tried friendship." 
 
 The biographic document just referred to shows that this friend 
 was John Young. 
 
 Under date September 30, 1830, we have seen an entry beginning 
 as follows: 
 
 "The month is ended. Its days have not gone without leaving a 
 mark behind." 
 
 The same entry contains the statement :
 
 194 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " I have read, in law, about eight hundred pages in Starkie's Evi- 
 dence, of which the first volume pleases me best. The second can 
 not, of course, be so methodical as the first, a different arrangement 
 being adopted, but I do think that it is not so methodical as it might 
 have been. It seems to me that the author, aware that this division 
 of his subject was not so susceptible of luminous arrangement as the 
 first, threw his matter carelessly together, without design of method 
 or ambition of precision. I have, of course, read other books upon 
 cases I have had." 
 
 Of kindred interest is the statement in the same entry : 
 
 " I have been endeavoring to get a distinct and full knowledge 
 of Aristotle's life, character, and writing, and have made some prog- 
 ress, though the work is not half done yet." 
 
 The same memorandum contains the following statements: 
 
 " In history, I have read Pitkin's United States, a work abound- 
 ing in valuable information conveyed in a dry but perspicuous 
 style. In the newspapers, I have read the account of the new 
 French Re volution — the most wonderful event in the political history 
 of man. A great nation rending off the fetters rashly placed on it 
 by its rulers — overturning the old government without confusion, 
 though in the midst of carnage — depriving its governors of power 
 unworthily used — establishing a new and better rule — and then 
 quietly returning to its accustomed employments — and all this in 
 one week — is a spectacle of moral sublimity which can not be par- 
 alleled 
 
 "In general literature I have done little — almost nothing. When 
 I say I have read a few pages of Lucretius, in course, and a few 
 pages in other authors without order, I have completed the account. 
 
 " In the Bible, I have read almost the whole book of Psalms, find- 
 ing new beauties and new glories at every perusal. 
 
 "In composition I have done little with regularity. I have 
 brought up my journal by writing about fort}' pages in this book, 
 and have commenced several pieces, which are yet unfinished, be- 
 sides bringing up long arrears of an extensive correspondence." 
 
 It is often said that Salmon Portland Chase destroyed himself by 
 hard work. That is a hard thing to do. But certainly it was not 
 done by the hero of this work. As already intimated, he was a good 
 worker, though not even. Sometimes he would have a fearful fit of 
 work, and then he would, indeed, work wonders. But the indica- 
 tions of his diary, as well as my own observation of him, added to 
 his own account, to me, in conversation, warrant me in saying that 
 he was quite uneven in his application. 
 
 Under date July 4, 1830, we have the words : 
 
 " I went with my friends, the Longworths, to hear an oration
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 195 
 
 from a young gentleman of the Bar by the name of Peters. It was 
 a sensible and well written composition, displaying very consider- 
 able power of mind and giving tokens of more in reserve." 
 
 This entry, even if it stood alone, would suffice to prove that he 
 who wrote it was in what lie would himself, no doubt, have called 
 "the best society of Cincinnati." He was evidently fond of the so- 
 ciety of fashionable ladies, notwithstanding his religiousness. 
 
 He was always making coalitions, or endeavoring to make them, 
 was he not? Why not attempt to form a coalition between faith 
 and fashion? 
 
 Seriously, much as he liked the society of fashionable women, he 
 was never frivolous. All fashionable women are not frivolous, I 
 think — nay, know. 
 
 October 19, 1830, has this mournful record : 
 
 " I have this day assisted in the mournful duty of paying the last 
 tribute to a deceased acquaintance. His name was Appleton, a son 
 of the late President Appleton, of Bowdoin College, in Maine. He 
 came here a few months ago — in August — bringing with him an 
 enviable reputation. His openness of heart and gentleness of man- 
 ner, gained for him the regard of many. He commenced the study 
 of the law in the office of Messrs. Fales & Pendleton; but Provi- 
 dence had decreed that his blooming hopes should be blighted even 
 in their blossom. His progress in study was arrested by a violent 
 attack of typhus fever, which, in three weeks, brought him down 
 to the grave. He is buried in a strange land. There are none to 
 weep over his grave. A mother's and a sister's tears will be poured 
 out for him, but they will not water his silent resting-place. He 
 sleeps in the great valley of the West, where he gladly hoped to 
 reach the fabric of his fame — and we trust that ' he sleeps well.' 
 
 " This evening I wrote the following verses, and when I went to 
 tea presented them to Miss L. C. L.: 
 
 "The autumn wind sings mournfully, 
 
 The death song of the year, 
 And, yielding to Time's stern decree, 
 
 All bright things disappear. 
 
 ''The pleasant birds have flown away 
 
 To sing in climes more blest, 
 Where fields and skies in robes of May 
 
 Perennially are drest. 
 
 " The zephyr, that, with perfumed wing, 
 
 Played erewhile round our path, 
 Hath flown away with gentle spring 
 
 From winter's waking wrath. 
 
 14
 
 196 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " The beautiful and fragrant flowers, 
 Fair nature's crown and pride, 
 From rustic walks and garden bowers, 
 Have faded all and died. 
 
 "And I with sad presageful heart 
 Contemplate the decay, 
 Till, summoned in my turn to part, 
 I, too, shall pass away."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 197 
 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE HERO AS LECTURER AND ESSAYIST — MISCELLANY. 
 
 6 6 X^ the spring of 1830," says the elsewhere-cited biographic 
 document, " the Cincinnati Lyceum was organized. Mr. Chase 
 -*- took a prominent, part in drawing the public attention toward 
 the enterprise by newspaper articles and personal influence. He was 
 a member of the committee to draft the constitution. The leading 
 exercises of the Lyceum consisted of a series of lectures, and of these, 
 four were delivered by him — one on the '■Life and Character of Henry 
 Brougham, 1 which Avas published as an article in the North Ameri- 
 can Review, vol.; 1 another on the 'Effects of Machinery,' published 
 in the same Review, vol.; 2 and another on '■Galileo.' 1 " 
 
 It was not in the spring but in the autumn of 1830 that that 
 Lyceum was organized. As we have already seen, it was not till 
 that spring that our young legist went to fix his residence in the 
 Cincinnati valley. Moreover, I am able to set forth a relevant doc- 
 ument which bears the date October 28. That must have been 
 October 1830, because in October, 1829, the life we study still had 
 its home in Washington, and before October, 1831, one of those 
 Lyceum lectures had appeared as an article in the North American 
 Review for July, 1831. 3 
 
 That, however he may have used the names of others, and what- 
 ever he may have referred to others, he himself proposed this institute, 
 appears from the following article, composed by him : 
 
 1 33, p. 227. 
 
 2 34, p. 220. 
 
 3 The document referred to reads as follows : 
 
 "fi@"At particular request, several gentlemen met at the private room of Henry 
 Starr, on Monday last. The establishment of a Lyceum in the city of Cincinnati 
 became the subject of conversation; and for the purpose of distinctly ascertaining 
 the views and opinions of those present, Nathan Guilford was appointed chairman 
 and Henry Starr secretary. On motion, it was resolved that a committee of three 
 be appointed to draft a constitution, to be submitted to the citizens of Cincinnati for 
 their consideration. 
 
 " Messrs. Chase, Walker, and Guilford were appointed the committee, who will 
 report next Saturday evening, precisely at seven o'clock, at the Council Chambers
 
 198 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "For the Cincinnati American. 
 
 "A LYCEUM. 
 
 "I proposed, last week, the establishment of a Lyceum in our city, 
 and presented an imperfect outline of its plan. I shall attempt to 
 fill up that outline in this and subsequent communications, and trust 
 that the subject will engage the attention and excite the zeal of 
 maturer minds. It is a subject which belongs to every individual 
 among us ; for who is not interested in every scheme for the im- 
 provement of the public mind? Who is there, to whom benefit is 
 not derivable, from every addition made to the stock of public in- 
 formation ? If but one individual is made more enlightened than 
 before, those who are around him must participate in the advantage. 
 One communicates to another, who, in turn, diffuses what he has re- 
 ceived through the circle of his association. Knowledge, like light, 
 spreads itself far and wide. A beacon's radiance reaches far, but 
 the illumination of a single powerful intellect, reaches farther. But 
 here we do not propose the enlightening of one mind, but of manj-, 
 and not by the efforts of one intellect, but by the united and con- 
 centrated exertions of all who are willing to give their energies to 
 the cause. But it is time that I should describe the means by which 
 the results alluded to are to be reached, or, in other words, sketch 
 the plan of the institution intended to be established. 
 
 "In the first place, then, a lecture-room will be necessary, with 
 suitable accommodations for the lecturer and such an audience as 
 may be expected to assemble. The room formerly used as a chapel 
 in the College Edifice, with some slight alterations, would answer the 
 purpose well. Here our citizens could assemble and listen to plain 
 and perspicuous exhibitions of the truths of science, accompanied by 
 such illustrations as should render them intelligible to every capac- 
 ity. Our intelligent mechanics might be here instructed in the prin- 
 ciples of those arts whose practice they already understand so well. 
 The nature of the agents which they employ might here be fully 
 elucidated, and the thousand accidents and losses which are occa- 
 
 It was further resolved, that the proceedings of the meeting be published in the 
 papers of the city. 
 
 "N. Guilford, Chairman. 
 " Henry Starr, Secretary." 
 
 "LYCEUM NOTICE. 
 "The committee appointed to draft the constitution of a Lyceum, will report on 
 Saturday evening, at seven o'clock, at the Council Chamber; at which time and 
 place the citizens generally are invited and requested to attend. 
 
 "N. Guilford, 
 " S. P. Chase, 
 "J. Walker,* 
 
 Committee." 
 "October 28." 
 * Probably a missprint for T. Walker.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 199 
 
 sioned by a want of this knowledge, might be happily prevented. 
 If th« nature of steam, for instance, and the principles of its applica- 
 tion to the purposes of navigation, were fully explained in a course 
 of familial- lectures, it is probable that the disasters, resulting from 
 a mismanagement of this terrible power, would be far more (infre- 
 quent. But it is obviously impossible to enumerate the various 
 instances, in which the practical business of life would be aided by 
 the knowledge thus communicated; for there is an intimate connec- 
 tion between all the varieties of human action, so that no man can 
 acquire any particle of information, which at some period of life will 
 not be of service to him." 
 
 Here let us dwell a little. 
 
 The composer of this volume was connected with the " river men " 
 of Cincinnati through his relatives, two of whom were leading mem- 
 bers of that class of population and were practical mechanics. He 
 had much association with machinists, and especially with engine 
 builders. He cooperated with mechanics and others in the not 
 inconsiderable work of amelioration wrought, for some years, by the 
 Washington Lyceum. Before that institute was organized the Cin- 
 cinnati Lyceum had gone out of being. So had the Henry Institute. 
 And, after a tolerably vigorous existence of some years, the Wash- 
 ington Lyceum followed its illustrious predecessors. 
 
 It was found that such practical and scientific views as those ex- 
 pressed in the last foregoing extract, were less inviting to working 
 men than the opportunity to debate theology, aesthetics, ethics, pol- 
 itics, and the like. 
 
 Mr. Chase went on as follows : 
 
 " Let it be sufficient, then, to sa} r , in general, that the Philosophy 
 of Knowledge (by which expression, I mean the methods of study 
 and research which such men as Galileo, and Bacon, and Newton, 
 and La Place, have taught and exemplified), and the Theory or 
 Mechanics, and the Principles of Political Science will be prom- 
 inent objects of investigation, and that a vast body of historical, 
 political, and scientific lore will, of course, be connected with these 
 topics, in discussion and discourse. 
 
 " Farther, a Philosophical apparatus should be provided. The 
 necessity of this will be apparent to him who reflects upon the im- 
 perfectness of the ideas which language conveys to us, of physical 
 objects and mechanical operations. No description, however elabo- 
 rate and exact, will convey to a hearer so exact an idea of any object, 
 as he can obtain, in fifteen minutes, from personal observation. Let 
 us recur, again, to the instance of steam, and suppose the lecturer 
 to be describing the parts and the action of a steam-engine, without 
 the help of any apparatus whatever. The notions of bis audience 
 must be confused and perplexed, and no two will be likely to under-
 
 200 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 stand him alike. Attention will be wearied and patience will be 
 exhausted. But put into his hands a small engine, which can be 
 had for a trifling sum (though I am inclined to think that some 
 of our public spirited manufacturers will give one to the institution, 
 and every difficulty will vanish), his explanations will be easy 
 and intelligible, and his audience will depart instructed and pleased. 
 It is unnecessary, however, that an extensive apparatus should be 
 procured to begin with. An electrical machine, an air pump, and 
 a few optical instruments, would, perhaps, suffice. 
 
 "We propose, then, that a Lyceum be established in this city; 
 that lectures be delivered in it on the various topics of science and 
 literature ; that its members consist of all mechanics, manufactu- 
 rers, merchants, and professional men, who may be willing to com- 
 municate, or desirous to acquire useful knowledge ; that there be 
 procured for the use of the institution, a lecture-room (to be used 
 also as a forum), a philosophical apparatus, a library, and a cabinet ; 
 and that the north wing of the College Edifice be devoted to the 
 purposes of the institution. 
 
 " It is obvious that this plan comprehends the present Mechanics' 
 Institute, though it would enlarge its design and establish it upon 
 a sure basis. The public-spirited founders of that useful institution 
 would not be unwilling, it is believed, to have it merged in the 
 one proposed. 
 
 " The usefulness of Lyceums has already been tested in Germany, 
 in England (the one in Liverpool has a library of Twenty-five 
 thousand volumes), and in the Eastern States. Shall not Cincin- 
 nati BE THE FIRST TO ESTABLISH A LYCEUM IN THE WEST? C." 
 
 It appears to me that Chief Justice Chase was at fault in recol- 
 lection when he wrote as follows to Rev. Mr. Blanchard, in 1868 : 
 
 " It is curious how men best acquainted with each other mistake 
 as to matters of personal history. . . And you, too, are mistaken 
 in your facts. No mob ever rifled my sister's house. Mob violence 
 was threatened, and she took refuge in my father-in-law's house 
 one night. No injury was done to her dwelling. It was not for 
 any thing to her that I brought suit against some leaders of another, 
 or perhaps the same mob— my memory does not serve me. It was 
 for injuries to the office of the Philanthropist. I would, of course, 
 have brought the same suit for an injury to a Chinaman or a China- 
 woman ; but my heart's sympathies were with the persecuted 
 printers of the Philanthropist, as they would have been with any 
 other persecuted people. I was not an abolitionist, it is true, and 
 perhaps never was in the technical sense, but I had pretty strong 
 leanings that way, and pretty strong sympathies with them under 
 injuries. I was not a life-long Whig ; but a sort of independent 
 Whig with Democratic ideas, from 1830 say to 1841. Sometimes I 
 voted for a Democrat, but more generally for Whigs. Judge Burnet, 
 Groesbeck & Co., never cut me. Judge Burnet was a very kind, 
 personal friend; though neither he nor Mr. G. approved, I dare say, 
 of my anti-slavery views, and I should, no doubt, have been better
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 201 
 
 received in society had I better suited the prevailing Cincinnati 
 tone." 
 
 I think, the state of society at Cincinnati in 1831 was by no 
 means favorable to the reception of a lecture, offering to the consid- 
 eration of a public audience, what was said against slavery by Mr. 
 Chase in his lecture on the Life and Character of Henry Brougham. 1 
 
 Did the man who first used those words in a lyceum lecture at 
 Cincinnati, and then had them printed in the North American Re- 
 view, expect to be brilliantly successful at the West? Already had 
 " King Cotton " flourished his dark sceptre, his domain extending 
 even beyond the " river beautiful," which formed in the Cincinnati 
 valley the dividing line between the legal territory of his dread 
 " peculiar institution " and the institutions of free territory. 
 
 1 " In 1810, in consequence of the attempts to evade the prohibition of the Aboli- 
 tion Acts, he moved in the House of Commons, 'That this House will, early in the 
 next session of Parliament, take into consideration such measures as may tend 
 effectually to prevent such daring violations of the law.' In the course of the 
 debate on this motion, he pledged himself to bring in a bill for punishing slave- 
 trading as felony. The motion was carried unanimously, and in the next session, 
 he did introduce a bill, declaring ' all dealing in slaves by British subjects, or per- 
 sons within the British dominions, a felony, punishable by transportation, or im- 
 prisonment and hard labor, at the discretion of the court which tries the offense.' 
 This bill passed into a law, and has the high merit of being the earliest public 
 recognition of the principle that the traffickers in human flesh are pirates, and 
 ought to be treated as such. Mr. Brougham subsequently turned his attention to 
 the condition of the slaves in the West Indies. His humane exertions in behalf of 
 that friendless and unfortunate race of men are above all praise. But a few months 
 have gone by since he moved, in the House of Commons, ' That this House do resolve, 
 at the earliest practicable period of the next session, to take into serious considera- 
 tion the state of the slaves in the Colonies of Great Britain, in order to the mitiga- 
 tion and final abolition of their slavery, and more especially to the amendment of 
 the administration of justice within the same.' In his speech in support of this 
 motion, he placed the question on higher ground than that of simple expediency. 
 He went to the bottom of the merits of the case, and denied utterly the fundamental 
 principle of slavery, that man may be the subject of property. ' There is,' he ex- 
 claimed, 'a law above all the enactments of human codes; the same throughout the 
 world, the same in all times ; such as it was before the daring genius of Columbus 
 pierced the night of ages, and opened to one world the sources of power, wealth, and 
 knowledge, to another, all unutterable woes; such itis this day; it is the law writ- 
 ten by the finger of God on the heart of man ; and by that law, unchangeable and 
 eternal, while men despise fraud, and loathe rapine, and abhor blood, they shall 
 reject, with indignation, the wild and guilty fantasy that man can hold property in 
 man ! ' This motion however, was negatived ; and here the subject rests for the 
 present; but there is every reason to believe that public opinion will fiually force 
 Parliament to adopt the measures which it contemplated."
 
 • 202 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Salmon Portland Chase was willing to be unsuccessful, as men 
 say, in order to be thoroughly devoted to great causes; but I think 
 I do but justice to his memory in intimating that he sometimes 
 acted as if he believed that great success could be commanded by 
 desert, in spite of public ignorance and studiedly disseminated pre- 
 judices. 
 
 Indications of his early errors on that subject are very frequent 
 in that lecture-article on the Life and Character of Henry Brougham. 
 The Introduction to the present work gave one of them in the 
 words : 
 
 " It often happens that one man, by the force of circumstances, or by 
 the resistless energy of his own spirit, is placed or places himself in a situ- 
 ation to control, like an earthly God, the destinies of whole nations." 
 
 In the article thus quoted for the second time we have these 
 words also : 
 
 " While thus engaged in laying deep and strong the foundations 
 of his fame in a broad and comprehensive knowledge of men and 
 things and their infinitely diversified relations, he did not neglect 
 the more dry and abstruse investigations through which lies the 
 road, and the only road, to legal distinction. He had chosen the 
 profession of the law, and to choose a profession, and to determine 
 to be among the most distinguished of its members, were to him 
 one and the same thing. He set about giving effect to this deter- 
 mination with all that energy of will and perseverance of effort, 
 which he had already displayed so conspicuously in other pur- 
 suits." 
 
 These words, portraying Brougham, almost make a likeness of 
 their author. They betray, however, that the remarkably successful 
 and not less remarkably unsuccessful man who wrote them was once 
 in danger of falling into fixed error on the subject of success and 
 failure; that for a time, at least, in his early manhood, he had not 
 sounded the depths of the true philosophy respecting aspiration and 
 ambition, of achievement and of triumph. 
 
 That philosophy, in my opinion, does not allow us to ascribe so 
 much to simple merit in relation to success. It is not true, in point 
 of fact, that the only road to legal distinction, for example, lies 
 through "the more dry and abstruse investigations" just alluded 
 to. 
 
 The truth is, Chase set out, as a young man, with very false ideas 
 on the subject of the influence which a single individual of great
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 203 
 
 abilities may exercise over vast numbers of his fellow-men. In that 
 same lecture-article on Brougham stand the words : 
 
 •• We "vrould not be thought to have forgotten the maxim that 
 none but the dead can be accounted happy. We are aware that the 
 judgment of the dead was not, and is not peculiar to Egypt. Nor 
 is that judgment to be held in light esteem. Posterity will, no 
 doubt, pronounce more impartially upon the doings of a man. but, 
 perhaps not, therefore, more unerringly than his contemporaries. 
 The mists of prejudice may be dissipated — may be, but are not 
 always: yet much will be forgotten that is essential to a just decis- 
 ion ; and ignorance darkens judgment as much as prejudice mis- 
 leads it. There are important purposes to be answered by a con- 
 temporary trial of the living man. If he have done well, the 
 applause of the world will encourage him to do better; if ill, the 
 censure of the world will deter him from a repetition of the evil. 
 Public opinion, nowadays, takes cognizance of every man'sthouglits 
 and conduct, and binds him over to good behavior. It is well that 
 it is so. It is well for mankind, that public opinion cheers the 
 laborer in a good cause onward, while it rebukes the evil-doer in 
 tones of authority that must be felt and can not be disregarded.'' 
 
 That is a picture of ideal rather than of real life. It were, indeed, 
 well for mankind were public opinion so apt to cheer the laborer in 
 a good cause onward. It were well, indeed, happy for the world 
 were public opinion so apt to rebuke the evil-doer in tones of author- 
 ity that must be felt and can not be disregarded. But it is not so 
 in real life. 
 
 I next invite attention to an extract from the lecture-article on 
 the Effects of Machinery, which the Chief Justice told me he pre- 
 ferred to the piece devoted to the appreciation of the Life and Char- 
 mater of Brougham. We read : 
 
 " It has not been the fact . . . that men have applied them- 
 selves to the study of their own times with as much earnestness as 
 to the investigation of the records of the past. It has always been 
 extremely difficult to obtain contemporary information of events. 
 Intelligence has been transmitted from point to point very slowly. 
 And when it has finally reached its destination, it has come in so 
 questionable a shape, that its authenticity could by no means be 
 relied on. The consequence has been that men of learning and 
 study have turned away from so unpromising a Held of research. 
 Almost all writers, except those whose business was polities, have 
 occupied themselves in other tasks. It was a natural consequence 
 that science became speculative rather than practical. The ohject 
 of study was rather to gratify the instinctive desire of knowledge, 
 than to strikeout a light to guide the conduct, or to discover tin' 
 means of improving the condition of man. And thus men. instead 
 of believing that they were intrusted by Providence with the care
 
 204 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of their own fate, have been accustomed to think of themselves as 
 embarked, without a rudder, without a sail, without an oar, upon 
 the stream of destiny, hurried on, they know not how, and destined 
 to arrive, they know not whither." 
 
 Is it true that men are intrusted by Providence with the care of 
 their own fates ? Is it truly strange that even the most practical of 
 men should become, at last, accustomed to think of himself as 
 embarked, without a rudder, without a sail, without an oar, upon the 
 stream of destiny, hurried on, he knows not how, and destined to 
 arrive, he knows not where? 
 
 The article just quoted goes on to say : 
 
 "But there is a better philosophy than this — a philosophy that 
 attributes more to man and less to circumstance." 
 
 The subject seems to me of very great concern to this whole work 
 I therefore ask attention to another extract from the sketcli of the 
 Life and Character of Brougham. In the words about to be pre- 
 sented we shall see the same error as to failure and success, and, of 
 course, in respect to the force of the one in relation to the many 
 They are of this purport, referring to their hero, Brougham : 
 
 " His character has powerfully influenced the age. His example 
 of earnest, devoted, persevering labor to accomplish noble ends by 
 noble means, has been long before the world. If we were called 
 upon to name the man, who, in our opinion has done more for the 
 human race, we confess we should not know where to look. 
 Franklin alone, in modern times, may be compared to him as an 
 instance of what one man, animated by a noble and enlarged 
 philanthropy, may accomplish for his fellow-men ; and in his great 
 efforts for the diffusion of knowledge, he seems, constantly, to have 
 held the example of Franklin in full view. 
 
 "From his youth up, he has shunned no toil, however severe. 
 His whole life has been a life of intense labor, a series of great 
 exertions. He has evinced on all occasions a large and compre- 
 hensive benevolence; a sound and practical judgment; united 
 with a genius of the loftiest and most universal character. We 
 do not know that a single one of the numerous schemes of moment- 
 ous importance, which he has originated, can be said to have finally 
 failed." 
 
 We have seen that when he wrote the article just quoted, Mr. 
 Chase was only three-and-twenty years of age. Afterward he 
 learned more thoroughly the truth relating to success and 
 failure.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 205 
 
 Afterward, indeed, he learned, in bitterness of spirit, the true re- 
 lations of the one to the many, the many to the one. 1 
 
 Under date March 1, 1831, appears the entry of which this is a 
 transcript. 
 
 'March 1, [1831.] To-day. I resume my long-neglected journal, not 
 because 1 had nothing to record, but because I thought 1 could not 
 spare the time required. I have again renewed my former practice, 
 because I think it so useful as to warrant the abstraction of a lew- 
 moments from other occupations, to be devoted to this. This day 
 has not been a remarkable one. 1 have jogged on in my old path. 
 In the morning, I read the second case in the Ohio .Reports. The 
 principles involved were obvious and the merits of the case clear. 
 In the afternoon and evening, besides writing a column, I read two 
 books of Akenside's Pleasures of the Imagination. I once admired 
 this poem, but I now begin to lose my relish for it. It is stiff and 
 artificial. It wants life and feeling. In the evening Mr. Peters called, 
 
 and I went with him to Mr. L 's, where we found Miss C. L 
 
 and Miss M— — s just starting to go to the lecture. We joined the 
 
 party. I offered my arm to Miss C. L ; Peters, his to Miss 
 
 M s. The walk was pleasant, and the lecture very good, but 
 
 somewhat tiresome. When we came out, I had forgotten my over- 
 coat, and returned to obtain it, Miss C. L having said she 
 
 would await my return in the hall, with Mr. Peters ; when I came 
 out I found them gone. I followed in the way I supposed the}* had 
 taken ; but not finding [them] after walking half a square, I gave 
 up the pursuit and returned to my office." 
 
 The distinctively judicial mind, rather than the mind of one 
 formed to shine as an advocate, seems indicated in that part of the 
 foregoing extract which relates to legal reading. What of the re- 
 mainder of the extract? Does it indicate the beau, the dangler, the 
 ambitious gallant? I think not. Yet it shows a pretty marked 
 delight in the society of fashionable folk, and rich. 
 
 This man might, possibly, have married a poor woman. Had he 
 married a poor woman, he would have been a fond husband. He 
 was born, indeed, to be uxorious, if uxorious does not mean exactly 
 what the dictionaries indicate. According to the dictionaries, uxori- 
 ousness means fond submission to a wife. I think it means just 
 fond husbandhood, if that expression may be suffered, for the nonce, 
 to serve the purpose that I have in view. Now, fondness, in the 
 feeling of devotion to a wife may be of the submissive stamp, or of 
 the domineering type. One can not study life without observing in- 
 
 1 See letter to Miss Nettie Chase in 1864.
 
 206 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 dications of this truth, which, indeed, is constantly receiving illus- 
 tration all around us. 
 
 Chase could never have been a submissive husband. He was 
 born to be a fond, devoted husband; but he could be that without 
 ceasing to be imperious. 
 
 Had he married a poor woman of refined tastes and polished man- 
 ners, he would, probably, have been more aided in the proper 
 popularization of his character, his aspiration, his ambition. But, 
 in social life, he seems to have preferred the rich to the poor. He 
 was not, I have said, and I maintain, a snob ; but he was almost a 
 snob. He was almost what may be called a Christian snob, when he 
 was associating, as we have just seen, with the Longworths and 
 their friends at Cincinnati, in 1830 and 1831. But such a man 
 could never have been long a snob or much a snob in any 
 circumstances. 
 
 Here is the language of a most suggestive entry, under date 
 March 2, 1831. 
 
 " March 2, [1831.] I was a tardy riser this morning. Tiie sun an- 
 ticipated me by more than an hour. When up, I read the Scriptures, 
 finished Akenside's poem, perused an article in the Edinburgh Review 
 on the Effects of Machinery, and 1 accumulation, and about fifty pages 
 of the Wealth of Nations, and about a dozen pages of Say." 
 
 In the Introduction allusion has been made to a discredit- 
 able characterization of our hero, drawn by a contributor to 
 the very periodical that, almost four-and-forty years ago, pub- 
 lished Salmon Portland Chase's article on the Effects of 3fa- 
 chinery. Discreditable, indeed, appears to me that rash char- 
 acterization. 
 
 I would say that that man, whoever he may be, who represents the 
 hero of this work as having shown himself financially a fool, 
 judicially a trickster, may succeed in establishing his own unwor- 
 thiness; he must most ignominiously fail in his endeavor to defame 
 the memory of Salmon Portland Chase. 2 
 
 * Sic. 
 
 2 This, I need hardly say, is not a bid for favorable criticism. Have I not already 
 indicated my conviction that this life, at best, is but a battle with delightful 
 truces ? 
 
 From the first I anticipated that lively, if not terrific, would be the conflict of 
 this work with certain partialities on the one hand, and with certain prejudices on 
 the other. Have I not already learned how rational was that anticipation?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 207 
 
 Here is a sample of the precious article in question : 
 
 "We have commented at length upon Mr. Chase's public career 
 for the purpose of illustrating the ignorance, audacity, and reckless 
 levity, with which, in this country, affairs of the greatesl moment 
 
 are often conducted. There seems, in some directions, to be not only no 
 Statesmanship, but no capacity to learn and apply some of the simplest 
 truths in political economy." 
 
 That last sentence may be very true. I think it is quite true. 
 The very article on which I am commenting seems to me itself 
 abundant illustration of that truth, so far from creditable to the age 
 and to the country. But if there be talk concerning " ignorance, 
 audacity, and reckless levity," whither shall one go for choicer speci- 
 mens of them than in that self-same article, so full of sound, so little 
 marked by sense? 
 
 March 2, 1831, appears, after record of reading, this minute : 
 
 "I went with Miss L. L , to hear Mr. Durbin, but was disap- 
 pointed. Returning, walked with Miss E. L , the other lady 
 
 having taken the arm of her cousin. Mr. Young called and conversed 
 half an hour. Neither of us in very good spirits." 
 
 There was cause, no doubt, for depression at that time. Here is 
 a suggestive statement relating to our young lawyer : 
 
 "His first client paid him half a dollar for drawing a deed ; his 
 second, after having availed himself of his services and borrowed of 
 him half a dollar, never to be seen by him again." 
 
 After all, however, it is easier to defend our hero against all prejudices what- 
 ever than against certain partialities. 
 
 As for the North American Review, I was, beyond expression, pained to find in its 
 pages the article in question. I had not forgotten — I do not forget — that, noticing a 
 predecessor of this work, that same Review expressed itself as follows: 
 
 "Judge Warden manifests, throughout the volume, the attributes of aclear thinker, 
 an independent reasoner, and a vigorous writer. While he is guiltless of any start- 
 ling heresy or innovation, his work is, in the best sense of the word, original; many 
 of the opinions to which it gives voice bearing the impress of a first coinage, while 
 those that are old are evidently new-cast and freshly stamped." 
 
 That is high praise. I must forever show my gratitude therefor. But, if I must 
 be grateful to the author of the words just quoted, must I not be grateful, also, to the 
 man who so trusted and so honored me in making me his preferred biographer ? 
 
 I trust I do not suffer gratitude to make me undiscriminating in this work. On 
 the other hand, I do not infer the unworthiness of the North American Review because 
 it suffered a contributor, assuming the tone of an oracle, to pronounce such words as 
 those quoted in the text, respecting Salmon Portland Chase.
 
 208 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 That statement is in the biographic document referred to in 
 another place. No doubt, it is correct. 
 
 But the true stuff was in this man. Here is the record of a 
 vitally important resolution : 
 
 " I made this resolution to-day : I "will try to excel in all things, 
 yet if I am excelled without fault of mine, I will not be mortified. 
 I will not withhold from any one the praise which I think his due, 
 nor will I allow myself to envy another's praise, or to feel jealousy 
 when I hear him praised. May God help me to keep it ! " 
 
 It was in the diary, to which we have been thus far so much 
 indebted, that, under the date April 29, 1831, the hero of this work 
 recorded that characteristic vow and prayer. 
 
 It appears to me that prayer was answered. Far from faultless 
 — very far from blameless — marked with many, yea, with various 
 as well as many errors, as was the career of Salmon Portland Chase, 
 he who ran that course endeavored to excel in all things; yet, if 
 he found himself excelled without fault of his, he was not mortified. 
 He withheld from no one the praise which he considered due ; nor 
 did he allow himself to envy another's praise, or to feel jealousy 
 when he heard another praised. It would seem, indeed, that God 
 did help him to keep that noble resolution. 
 
 Under date July, 1831, we have an entry relating to Mr. Dane 
 and the Ordinance of '87 : 
 
 "This subject," he says, "has acquired much interest in conse- 
 quence of having been introduced into the debate in the Senate 
 between Messrs. Webster and Hayne. In an Appendix to his 
 Digest of American Law, Mr. Dane has taken the trouble to put the 
 merits of the case in a clear point of view. He states that the ordi- 
 nance was not copied from the resolve of Mr. Jefferson as Mr. Benton 
 asserted, etc." 
 
 We have seen that it was in July, 1831, that Mr. Chase could 
 read in print his lecture-essay on the Life and Character of Henry 
 Brougham. We have also seen, in the course of the present chapter, 
 that it was on the second of March, of the same year that he read 
 an article in the Edinburgh Revieic on the Effects of Machinery, 
 together with about fifty pages of Smith's Wealth of Nations, and 
 about a dozen pages of Say. It is proper now to say that on the 
 first of January, 1832, appeared in the North American Review his 
 lecture-essay on the Effects of Machinery. That piece contains these 
 words :
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 209 
 
 "We look upon the knowledge of the present circumstances of 
 society, of the transactions of our own age and country, of modern 
 science and modern art, as more important than an}' other. Yet it 
 is precisely the sort of knowledge, of which, until very recently, we 
 have had least. We would not be understood to undervalue any 
 species of knowledge. Every kind of information is precious. AVe 
 would only say. that that which instructs us where we are, what we 
 are, and how we are. has peculiar value. It is true that to know 
 the present, we must be, in some degree, acquainted with the past. 
 To understand the result, we must have knowledge of the cause. To 
 foresee consequeuces, it is necessary to know how consequences 
 have been heretofore produced. What we complain of is, not that 
 we know too much of what has been, but that we do not know 
 enough of what is ; — not that we are too familiar with the past, 
 but that we are not familiar enough with the present. And we 
 would go so far as to say, that, if any part of knowledge were to 
 be given up, it would be better to let alone the study of what hap- 
 pened before we were born, and the conjecture of what is to happen 
 alter we are dead, and confine our view within the horizon of our 
 present existence. It was demanded of the Spartan King, ' What 
 stud}- is fittest for the boy ? ' His answer was, ' That of the science 
 most useful to the man.' Utility measures the value of knowledge, 
 as of every thing else ; and, surely, on the scale of utility, the knowl- 
 edge of what is all around us, affecting us, physically, intellectually, 
 and morally, in countless ways, ranks far higher than the knowledge 
 of the circumstances of preceding generations." 
 
 These utilitarian views were certainly not of the selfish order. 
 They were taken by a mind which, if not made for poetry, was at 
 least poetic. But of that I do not wish to discourse at present. Let 
 us now attend to other thoughts. 
 
 The article just quoted is not inconsistent with the essay on the 
 Life and Character of Brougham. In that piece, a young legist 
 of the literary order tells his readers, as he had before told a Cin- 
 cinnati audience, that biography helps us to a better understanding 
 of the way in which the great machine of society works, the prime 
 forces that act upon it being the thoughts and feelings of individual 
 men, and it often happening that one man, by the force of circum- 
 stances or by the resistless energy of his own spirit, is placed or 
 places himself in a situation to control, like an earthly god, the des- 
 tinies of whole nations, or, still oftener, originates some new thought, 
 or makes some new discovery or invention, destined in its conse- 
 quences to change the whole aspect of society. Here we see the 
 author's conception of the practical philosophy taught by example 
 in biography. The holder of that conception may well maintain 
 that the knowledge of the present circumstances of society, of the 
 transactions of our own age and country, of modern science and
 
 210 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 modern art, — that that which instructs us where we are, what we 
 are, and how we are, — must be deemed more important than any- 
 other kind of knowledge. That biography and history are of that 
 most precious kind of knowledge, or at least directly tend to multi- 
 ply its cognitions, ought to be allowed without discussion. 
 
 But the question how much is to be credited to the individual and 
 how much to the multitude may long provoke discussion. That 
 discussion never can be very profitable till we learn to pay due 
 regard to the real laws that govern failure and success. Until that 
 time we shall not accurately measure either the force of the many or 
 the force of the few in art and science, in religion, and in govern- 
 ment. 
 
 I have elsewhere intimated my opinion on that subject. It is not 
 my purpose, here to add a word relating to that topic. But it seems 
 to me a subject, thoughts of which may well accompany our entire 
 progress through this work. 
 
 Returning to the article on the Effects of Machinery, I engage to 
 speak hereafter, as becomingly as possible, of what appear to me its 
 indications, touching its composer's views of public economics. 
 
 Let us now return to the hero's professional life. An entry dated 
 April 10, 1832, reads as follows: 
 
 "I this day formed a law partnership with Gen. E. King and T. 
 Walker. We are to divide the proceeds of the business equally. I 
 am to be cashier. Walker and I are to purchase what additional 
 books are wanted and to pay the expense of rent, fuel, light, and 
 servants." 
 
 June 9th of the same year furnishes this note: 
 
 " Gen. King went to Columbus to-day, and left me in charge of 
 our whole business." 
 
 June 12th, this : 
 
 " Wrote to King communicating the substance of a letter on busi- 
 ness from R. Biddle, of Pittsburg." 
 
 And June 16th, this : 
 
 "Received our new book-cases to-day, and made quite a change in 
 our office. Feel now rather more at my ease than for some months 
 past." 
 
 We have already l seen some indications that in the sense thus 
 indicated, our hero loved to be at his ease. 
 
 1 Ante, p. 160.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 211 
 
 The next entry to which I desire to call attention is dated Novem- 
 ber 1, 1832. It reads as follows: 
 
 "Dissolved partnership with King & Walker and formed a new 
 oue with D. J. Caswell. I am to give a bonus of* 81475 in a note 
 payable in 90 days, and to share equally in all business, including 
 that of the agency of the Bank of the United States for which Caswell 
 is solicitor." 
 
 The Walker of the dissolved partnership was destined to become 
 deservedly famous as the author of an admirable Introduction to 
 American Laic. It is with proud gratitude that I remember what 
 he did, or tried to do, for me as one of my preceptors in the law. 
 The Gen. King of the dissolved partnership was considered one of 
 the very ablest members of the Ohio bar. Mr. Caswell had less 
 reputation and not very great ability. 
 
 Under date February 14, we have : 
 
 "A few days ago the Ohio began to rise rapidly. After reaching 
 its ordinary height, when reckoned at full flood, the noble stream, 
 as if satisfied with that display of strength, flowed steadily on for a 
 while, without increase or abatement. After a few hours, however, 
 it began to subside, and continued slowly falling for some time. It 
 then rose again, and higher than before. Merchants, whose ware- 
 houses fronted on the river, began to remove their goods from the 
 lower story to the level of the bank. The river, like an animal eager 
 in pursuit as its antagonist retires, pressed closely on, and forced 
 them to remove their stores still farther, to the second stoiy. This 
 morning 1 went down to look at the stream. As I passed down 
 Broadway, across Columbia Street, I looked toward the eastern term- 
 ination of the latter. It was covered with water. At the foot of 
 Broadway, the river had filled the space between the two hotels, and 
 covered the floor of the western store in Cassily's buildings. I 
 stepped from the pavement (sidewalk) on board a woodboat, from 
 which I passed to a steamboat of the largest class, which lay so that 
 its side was parallel with the western front of Cassily's buildings. I 
 mounted the hurricane deck, and walked to the stern of the vessel. 
 My position afforded me a commanding view. 1 saw the water pour- 
 ing into the fourth story of the steam-mill, reckoning from the top. 
 Newport and Covington were both, in a measure, flooded, a great 
 part of the former being under water. The Ohio now swelled to an 
 immense flood, more than a mile from shore to shore, and seventy 
 feet in depth, rushed on almost without a ripple. It was sublime. 
 It was power, mighty, terrible, yet unostentatious. It was simple 
 grandeur ; a calm putting forth of gigantic energy. I looked to the 
 west. The whole quay, lately so dry, was now covered with steamers 
 riding majestically on the bosom of the water, crowded together in 
 close neighborhood. One was just about to start, and her engine 
 was working and throwing out vast volumes of steam. I returned 
 15
 
 212 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to the sidewalk and went on board another boat, from which I had 
 a complete view of the land side of the scene. The boats were re- 
 ceiving and discharging their cargo directly on the sidewalk, being 
 lashed, for the first time, I suppose, to the trees which had been 
 planted to shade it. The space between the steamboats and the 
 range of buildings was crowded with busy men. I have seen the 
 busiest streets of New York, but never have I beheld a scene of such 
 activity. The water was at the curbstone, and at the foot of Syca- 
 more and Broadway over the curbstone. On Commercial Row the 
 water was six inches deep in Owen's store, and the same, nearly, at 
 Broadwell's, corner of Sycamore and Front. I went to my office, but, 
 after a while, determined to visit the west end of the town to see 
 what had been done there. I passed along Fourth Street to its 
 termination. The whole western part of the city, except a ridge of 
 land immediately on the bank of the river, was inundated. Of one 
 house I could only see the roof, while others were visible from the 
 second story upward. I went down Elm Street until my progress 
 was stopped by the water. I then hired a waterman, with whom I 
 embarked. The boat, under the impulse of a strong and skillful arm. 
 shot swiftly down Elm until we reached Columbia Street. We con- 
 tinued our course along Columbia Street to Western Eow ; down 
 Western Row to Front Street, along Front to Elm, up Elm to Colum- 
 bia, along Columbia to Vine, on which street, at the distance of 
 about a square from Columbia, we were landed, after sailing in deep 
 water in the midst of the most populous part of the city for nearly 
 an hour. On Columbia Street, from Yine to its western termination, 
 the water was from four to six feet deep. The depth on Front 
 Street, between the same limits, was from two and a half to six feet. 
 Every thing that could float and sustain a man was pressed into 
 service. And multitudes were busied in saving the wreck of their 
 furniture. Many of the houses which we passed had been abandoned. 
 In others, the inhabitants still remained, but had retreated to the 
 second stoiy. As I passed the dwelling of a friend, between Elm 
 and Plum Streets on Front, I recognized some of the young ladies 
 of the family at a window in the second story. I ordered the boat- 
 man to stop, and conversed a few moments with them from the 
 street. The door was open into the hall, the floor of which, with 
 that of the parlors, was deeply submerged. On Columbia Street, 
 lumber was floating away in vast quantities, and, in one instance, a 
 small dwelling-house had been uplifted from its foundations. 
 
 ■ At the moment when I write, the water yet prevails, and is 
 rising !" 
 
 Saturday, the 18th, yields this addition : 
 
 " The water, after rising for more than a week, began to subside 
 to-day. The flood has been unprecedented. The whole of the city 
 south of Lower Market Street has been completely inundated. With 
 several friends, I took a boat for the purpose of observing the scene. 
 We embarked on Main Street, a little below Lower Market, and 
 proceeded through Columbia Street, through the whole length of 
 which a strong current was running, to Broadway. Passing the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 213 
 
 theater, we observed that the water was upon the platform of the 
 steps. We sailed down Broadway into the current of the Ohio on 
 the outside of the steamboats. The water covered the first pane in 
 the windows of the second story belonging to Oassily's buildings. 
 As we passed along down the Ohio, we observed that the doors of 
 the buildings at the corner of Water Street and the quay were 
 hardly visible. We entered the city again at Plum Street. As our 
 boat turned round, I had a full view of the magnificent stream. It 
 was a rushing ocean. The water at the corner of Front and Elm 
 was nearly at the tops of the doors. Many frame buildings in this 
 quarter were removed from their foundations, and some of them 
 descended the river. Others still remained, blocking up the streets, 
 or lying close to where they formerly stood. On Walnut Street, 
 the water approached within a few feet of Pearl Street houses, and 
 on Vine within a few feet of Third Street. Almost the entire popu- 
 lation of the inundated part of the town abandoned their habitations. 
 The consequent distress among the poor is very great, though the 
 citizens, with their usual prompt humanity, are exerting themselves 
 to relieve it as far as possible. Our party landed at Main Street ; 
 and I, probably, shall never again pass in the same manner over the 
 same ground, At all events, I hope no similar deluge will ever 
 again present an occasion for a like excursion."
 
 214 TKE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 LAW AND LOVE. — MISS GARNISS. — PROGRESS. 
 
 THAT Salmon Portland Chase was never a secessionist was ad- 
 vanced in the first chapter. Sometimes I have looked upon 
 him as the Calhoun of free territory. He was never that. But he 
 admired Calhoun and liked him. 
 
 Under date April 10, 1830, Mr. Chase's diary contains this 
 entry : 
 
 "This distinguished statesman is an unfortunate politician, yet 
 a very great man. Few men in our country are gifted with more 
 splendid abilities. He thinks with rapidity, yet with correctness. 
 The powerful impulse under which his intellect acts seldom forces 
 it out of the right line of reason. All that he does, and utters, and 
 imagines is marked by his grand, characteristic, impetuous energy. 
 It is said that he Avas desirous of supporting the administration 
 of Mr. Adams, but was overruled in his native State. 'He proposed,' 
 a gentleman who had ample means of knowing the truth 1 recently 
 remarked to me, ' to support the administration, in a caucus of 
 South Carolinians.' The proposition was received with disgust, 
 and Gov. Taylor rose and exclaimed: ' Crucify him? So decided dis- 
 approbation alarmed and discouraged him. He fell in with the 
 prevailing sentiment, and went for Jackson, yet Jackson still re- 
 members his original preference, and there is no love between them. 
 Calhoun afterwards composed the celebrated protest of the South 
 Carolina Legislature against the Tariff. 
 
 " It may be said of him, not ^inappropriately, 
 
 " On each glance of thought 
 Decision follows as the thunderbolt 
 Pursues the flash." 
 
 We must pay not a little farther attention to the sentiments 
 of William Wirt, the legal teacher of the man that wrote the 
 words just quoted. Evidence that Wirt and Wirt's wife and child- 
 ren were very near and dear to Chase, and that the head of the 
 Wirt family had a very high place in the affection, admiration, and 
 
 Was it E. S. Thomas ?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 215 
 
 esteem of his most distinguished pupil in the law, has been presented. 
 Well, Wirt also had a great opinion of Calhoun. But it does not 
 follow that the former ever approved the latter's doctrines on the 
 subject of nullification. 
 
 In a letter to Judge Carr, dated January 6, 1833, the man who, 
 a few years before, had been Chase's legal teacher, said : 
 
 " As to the right of a State to secede from the Union, I do not 
 recollect to have heard it made a subject of discussion in the high 
 times of '98-9 and 1800, and consequently, never heard the denial 
 of the right to secede treated as a high federal doctrine. I can not, 
 however, distinguish between the right of secession and the right 
 of revolution." 
 
 Wirt, who was, in my judgment, a much greater legist than he 
 seems to some admirers, was, in my opinion, right in intimating, as 
 we have just seen, that no distinction can be soundly taken between 
 the right of secession and the right of revolution. But it does not 
 follow that John Caldwell Calhoun was either a fool, a madman, or 
 a knave, because he did not agree with William Wirt in that respect. 
 
 " A man of the right stamp," says our always interesting, but so 
 often superficial Parton, "lives better than he writes; a man of the 
 wrong stamp writes better than he lives." 1 These words, referring 
 to the writings of Calhoun, are calculated, like, perhaps, most of 
 Parton's philosophizings, to mislead. I have elsewhere shown that 
 a good book is necessarily much better than its author, even if the 
 author be the best of men. However that may be, I almost agree 
 with Parton where he says : 
 
 "The writings of Mr. Calhoun, voluminous, argumentative, 
 difficult to read, seem to reveal to us an honest, earnest nature." 
 
 I go farther. I declare that, though the writings of Calhoun 
 are better than their author, they are very clearly the expressions, at 
 least for much the most part, of an honest, earnest nature. There 
 should be no question about that, in spite of the great odium that 
 has attached itself to the name of Calhoun. 
 
 A number of eventful years — years marked by darkest sorrow, 
 deepest suffering to so many of us — have passed since I first studied 
 the great work of the great Nullifier on Government, comparing it 
 with passages in the not less interesting work of James Balmes, 
 
 1 Life of Jackson, III, 447-447.
 
 216 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Protestantism and Catholicity compared in their effects on the Civili- 
 zation of Europe. Now, I find myself comparing it with Buckle's 
 so-called History of Civilization in England, with that book of 
 Balmes, with the works of Jefferson, and with the works of Chase. 
 
 The latter seem to me the nearest of them all to accuracy. Balmes 
 is not free enough ; he loves authority too much. Calhoun mistakes 
 the very nature of authority in States. The mentioned work of 
 Buckle seems to me hardly less morbid than suggestive — an unwhole- 
 some argument in favor of a noxious kind of skepticism. Jefferson, 
 I think, remarkably confounds important governmental principles 
 with fallacies of the most perilous description. Chase, it seems to 
 me, was wrong, at times, and erred on more than one occasion, very 
 dangerously. On the whole, however, his so very various contri- 
 butions to State Science are, in my opinion, of more value than is to 
 be found in any other contributions of the sort in American political 
 letters, not excepting even those of his illustrious judicial predecessor, 
 Marshall. 
 
 That the Cincinnati American had for editors Messrs. Conover 
 and Thomas has been stated. Chase, however, was at one time edi- 
 tor pro tempore of that very interesting paper, and it is evident that, 
 at other times, he furnished some of its editorial matter. Here is 
 an article he cut out of it and pasted in his scrap-book, which he so 
 long afterward placed in my possession while redeeming his engage- 
 ment, meutioned in the Introductory. It is evidently his own 
 work : 
 
 "It is high time for Mr. Calhoun, if he wishes to retain the confi- 
 dence of his western friends (and Ave believe that a large portion of 
 the Jackson party, so-called, in the West are his friends), to come 
 out with a clear disavowal of the odious doctrines of Nullification. 
 Does Mr. Calhoun wish to be king of South Carolina? Does he de- 
 sire to be president of a southern republic, to be bounded on the 
 north by the Potomac, and on the west by the Alleghanies ? We can 
 assure him that he has not the slightest chance of any thing else, so 
 long as he is thought to be a Nullifier. He may rely upon it, that 
 he has no more prospect of being president, entertaining nullifica 
 tory opinions, than he has of being king of the moon. That impu- 
 tation, if just, will be a millstone about his neck and a mountain 
 upon his head. Let him be strong as Enceladus — still he can not 
 rid himself of it. It will infallibly pull him down and crush him. 
 
 "If Mr. Calhoun be not a Nullifier, let him come out and say so. 
 Let him proclaim his real opinions — be they what they may — in 
 clear, decided language — in terms that can not bo mistaken or mis- 
 construed. The people have a right to demand this of him. They
 
 OF SALMON POKTLAND CHASE. 217 
 
 do demand it. We can tell Mr. Calhoun, that the imputation we 
 have referred to, makes his friends cold, and palsies their efforts. 
 It puts into the mouth of his enemies a sword with resistless edge. 
 And we can toll him, too, that Mr. MeDuffie's speech at Charleston 
 has done him no good. Mr. McDuffie is thought to he his intimate, 
 confidential friend. They are thought to have 'one mind, one soul, 
 one spirit, and two bodies.' If Mr. MeDuffie's sentiments are his — 
 why, then — 'farewell to all his glory.' If not, Mr. Calhoun owes it 
 to the country, to himself — to his own reputation for frankness and 
 sincerity — to come forward and disavow these doctrines. 
 
 ""We have made these remarks in no unfriendly spirit to Mr. Cal- 
 houn. We have ever admired his splendid talents and noble char- 
 acter. We would infinitely prefer him for President to Jackson or 
 Yan Buren, but not to CLAY. On this matter the preference of this 
 paper is known and is decided. 
 
 "We think that Mv. Calhoun has been misled. Perhaps the glare 
 — the false glare — of ambition misled him. Perhaps it w T as the evil 
 influence of friends, highly excited themselves, and communicating 
 their excitement to him. Whatever it may have been, one thing is 
 certain : Ever since 
 
 " ' He narrowed his mind, 
 And to party gave up what was meant for mankind,' 
 
 his fortune and his reputation have been declining together. Ever 
 since he turned oif from the high path he first chose to walk in, and, 
 instead of continuing as he began, national in his policy and national 
 in his feelings— contracted his strong intellect and noble heart into 
 cramped sectional dogmas and sentiments — his star has been sinking. 
 Most earnestly have we deplored it — most earnestly do we now de- 
 plore it; but not more earnestly, we are well convinced, than many 
 who stand in higher places and have a far greater influence. 
 
 '•Mr. Calhoun has now an opportunity to retrace his steps, and 
 retrieve his reputation. We do hope that the opportunity will not 
 be lost. It may never again occur." 
 
 The date of that utterance was some time in . 
 
 In another article of a little later date we have this explanation : 
 
 "Mr. McDuffie rejects the doctrine of Nullification, as a constitu- 
 tional remedy for State grievances, but he asserts the right of a sov- 
 ereign State to right her own wrongs, by the exertion of her sover- 
 eign authority, in cases of intolerable oppression, and he recom- 
 mends this remedy to the people of South Carolina. In other 
 words, he advocates disunion, without disguise; and maintains that 
 the sovereignty of the State would protect its citizens, engaged in 
 resisting the General Government, from the punishment of treason. 
 
 " These pernicious doctrines can obtaiu no currency. They are 
 too revolting to the great majority of the American people. And it 
 is with the profoundest regret that we behold a man so highly gifted 
 as Mr. McDuffie, so honest, and disinterested, and honorable as 
 he has uniformly shown himself to be, led away, we know not by 
 what delusion, into such fatal errors of doctrine."
 
 218 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 But it may be said : Here is not argument; here is but an ap- 
 peal to preconception, prejudice, blind patriotic sentiment. 
 
 The mind of Chase was never subtle. It delighted not in meta- 
 physics, and it took no pleasure in political abstractions. It was 
 always eminently practical in the best sense of that expression. 
 
 In the doctrine of the Xullifiers he found subtlety and sophistry. 
 He did not then consider that a serious treatment of it in the way 
 of argument would be necessary in addressing Cincinnatians. Per- 
 haps, in that particular, he erred. But the reasoning he used in 
 Texas vs. White, 1 certainly affords clear evidence and perfect proof 
 that he could have reasoned ably against the doctrine of nullifica- 
 tion, when he was a young man, had he felt that reasoning against 
 it was required. 
 
 Iu the summer of 1831, it seems, Mr. Chase, furnished with let- 
 ters to Webster and other notables of Boston, visited New England. 
 Of this "visit I can give no particular account. The biographic doc- 
 ument furnished me, as already stated, relates that Mr. Chase's art- 
 icle on Brougham, aided by the marked attentions of Mr. Webster, 
 insured him a very favorable reception, for so young a man, among 
 the prominent circles of Boston and Cambridge. 
 
 That our hero was decidedly what I have called a literary lawyer, 
 has been clearly shown. There are some yet unnoticed indications 
 of that fact in his diary. Among these is one under date June 18, 
 1832, as follows : 
 
 "Wrote to J. Longworth, at New Haven, and sent a prospectus 
 of the Review; asked his exertion for it; congratulated him on his 
 college honors, etc." 
 
 June 25, a letter to Timothy Walker, was thus noted : 
 
 " Letter. — Regretted that he did not see the Wirts ; made some 
 remarks on Concession and nullification ; told him of the failure of 
 the late attempt to unite the daymen and Anti-Masons ; of the re- 
 cent tariff meeting; of the cholera; urged him to exertion for the 
 Review; foretold its success, etc." 
 
 Under date July 3, a letter to Judge Hall was thus minuted : 
 
 "Agreed to superintend the publication of the Qu. M. M., and do 
 what I can for the work. Mentioned that Tannehill had been re- 
 quested to come here, and expressed a hope that the Judge would not 
 give up the idea of editing the Quarterly." 
 
 1 Post. See 7 Wallace, 700.
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 219 
 
 There is a memorandum of another sort, under date August 24th. 
 Two names are obliterated in the places indicated by blanks in the 
 following transcripts: 
 
 "As I went to dinner to-day, I saw , 'pouring his leprous 
 
 distillation ' into the ear of a 'workie,' whom he was probably en- 
 lightening as to his superior fitness as a candidate for Congress to 
 
 _— _ " 
 
 The next paragraph reads as follows, under the title, Description — 
 Eulogy : 
 
 "His face, sir, is an assault and battery upon physiognomy. He 
 was educated in a college where ignorance was taught as a science, 
 and he took the first honors as a proficient when he was graduated." 
 
 Earlier was given the following extract from a Xew Orleans 
 paper : 
 
 ""When you have found me a woman who prefers eloquence to 
 
 youth, beauty, and pomp, place me on marbled steep. There, 
 
 swan-like, let me sing and die, and my last notes shall be a poem in 
 her praise! But, before you do find me such a woman, you will 
 have assembled the unicorn, the salamander, and the phoenix, in one 
 cage, to which let me recommend you to add your lady who prefers 
 eloquence to youth, beauty, and pomp, and what a menagerie will 
 you have." 
 
 Here is the language of an entry, dated June 12th : 
 
 "Wrote to Dr. Lindsly to-day, inclosing the name of a subscriber 
 to his projected periodical, and expressing my regret that more could 
 not be obtained." 
 
 Here is a memorandum of a letter written to W. F. Chase, and 
 reads as follows : 
 
 "Letter — declined loaning him money — urged him to exertion and 
 self-reliance under Providence. The truth is, I am much in need of 
 money myself; business is dull, and I hardly know which way 
 to look." 
 
 Under a subsequent date, July 3, is the following memorandum 
 of a letter to Mr. Hamilton Smith : 
 
 "Eequested him to pa}- what is due me — about $40.48 — to Dryden & 
 Hunt. Advised him to leave his school, and commence the jn-actice 
 of the law." 
 
 At a later period, Mr. Smith often lent his credit, or his money, 
 to our hero. They appear to have been near and dear friends.
 
 220 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 A letter, under date June 25th, to E. Parker, is thus minuted : 
 
 "Letter — acceded to his proposition that I should become the 
 guardian to Helen ; requested the immediate remittance of her por- 
 tion of mother's property, and of what is due her from the estate; 
 requested general information as to the condition of the estate, etc." 
 
 The first entry for 1833 is under date January 18th, as follows : 
 
 "On Tuesday, the 18th ultimo, I was attacked by a violent head- 
 ache, which proved to be a rheumatic affection. I had exposed my- 
 self much to the weather the Saturday and Sunday previous ; and, 
 on the evening of Sunday felt the approaches of the disease. Think- 
 ing I was suffering from ordinary headache, I paid little attention to 
 my symptoms, until the neglected disease so increased in violence 
 that I was forced to my bed on the day first mentioned. For two or 
 three days the disease made little progress, and I felt hopes of a 
 speedy recovery. These hopes, however, were not to be realized. 
 One morning, after an unquiet night, the disease had left me free 
 from pain. Dr. Colby had left the house, thinking that I was doing 
 well, and required but little care. But, before noon, a fever super- 
 vened. 1 felt myself rapidly becoming worse; and when the doctor 
 returned in the evening, I described to him my symptoms. He 
 seemed somewhat alarmed — bled me, and remained with me to a late 
 hour that night." 
 
 I have laid a special stress on the words bled me. We shall find 
 Dr. Colby vainly protesting against bleeding in a case of almost 
 tragical concern to this whole work. 
 
 The narrative of Chase proceeds as follows : 
 
 " The next day I was very sick. My strength declined rapidly, 
 and, in a short time, I could, with difficulty, support myself. The 
 medicines I took had no effect." 
 
 How did he know that ? But so most of us reason as to medi- 
 cine. There was nothing in the world, except medicine, as to which 
 Chase would so have inferred. He adds : 
 
 "Finally, a consultation of physicians was called, and a different 
 plan of treatment was determined on. From that time, I began to 
 recover, and, in the course of a few days was able to leave my bed. 
 During this illness, I was seriously alarmed, as were also my friends, 
 lest I should never recover. I was led by this circumstance to re- 
 view my life; and in how different a light did many things appear 
 to me from that in which 1 had once regarded them. Some things 
 which 1 had thought almost venial, now appeared exceedingly sinful. 
 Yet I trust I was willing to depart in the hope that I should be with 
 Christ. I felt a confidence, that, though my transgressions were 
 multiplied and aggravated, yet the blood of Christ was sufficient to 
 wash away all sin. And I resolved, if I should recover, to try to 
 do more for God than I had before done; to live a more godly life, 
 and to be more instant in prayer, and more abundant in good works."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 221 
 
 From that time on, for many years, the tone of religiousness in 
 our hero grew gradually far from amiable. Now and then, indeed, 
 it showed some of the sunshine of the truly lovely in the Godward ; 
 but, for the most part, it darkened his mind and made him far from 
 happy. 
 
 Writing, as T am, as already intimated, in the house in which the 
 light of Lincoln's life went out, how natural it is that I should often 
 find myself comparing Chase with Lincoln? I compare them now 
 in point of piety — in other words, as to religiousness. 
 
 Dr. Holland, Lincoln's best biographer, thus far, insists that, not- 
 withstanding Lincoln's habit of relating stories of a certain stamp, 
 he was essentially religious. I agree that he was, at least, not irre- 
 ligious. No such man could have been irreligious. 
 
 But the type of the religious sentiment which we discern in Lin- 
 coln is quite different from the religious type which is to be dis- 
 cerned in Chase. 
 
 In neither Chase nor Lincoln is to be discerned complete consist- 
 ency in matters of religion. Let me say at once, however, that if 
 the reader of these paragraphs has never studied the phenomena of 
 moral and religious inconsistency and contradiction, he or she is ill- 
 prepared to read the revelations of this work. 
 
 The last-quoted entry concludes as follows : 
 
 '• During my illness I received a letter from Mr. Fairbanks at 
 Columbus, informing me that the Senate had subscribed for two 
 hundred copies of our proposed new edition of the Statutes, and that 
 the House of Eepresentatives would probably concur. The resolu- 
 tion, however, failed in the House by one or two votes, and was 
 amended afterward by reducing the number to one hundred, and then 
 passed." 
 
 The work so referred to is a splendid monument of Chase's talents, 
 tastes, and toils. I do not speak of it in terms of eulogy. I have 
 often, at the bar or on the bench, had occasion to examine it criti- 
 cally. It is unsurpassed in its department. 
 
 It presents, moreover, a preliminary sketch of the History of 
 Ohio — a sketch fitly foreshadowing the fine argument in the Van- 
 zandt case, in relation to the Ordinance of 1787. 
 
 The entry of January 21, 1833, is one of the most suggestive in 
 the diary. It reads as follows: 
 
 "Hose this morning without any strong consciousness of the pres- 
 ence and government of God — dressed and breakfasted — after break-
 
 222 THE PRIVATE LIFE AXD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fast retired to my chamber; read the Scriptures and prayed. Went 
 to ray office. Several friends called to congratulate rae on my recov- 
 ery, and Mr. Horton, a young member of the bar, well informed, of 
 fine natural endowments, and of prepossessing appearance and man- 
 ners, who has left a good practice in the smoky city of Pittsburg, to 
 come and settle among us, returned a call I made on him some days 
 since. 
 
 " I read Judge Ware's opinion on assignment, lately pronounced 
 in the District Court of Maine. The Courts seem to be setting their 
 faces against preferences effected through assignments ; but will it 
 avail any thing to cut off one head of the Hydra ? Partially ar- 
 ranged our library ; returned homeward. The acquaintances I met 
 on the streets seemed glad to see me once more abroad ; on my way 
 home, called on Mrs. King, and thanked her for the kindness she 
 showed me during sickness; dined and returned to ray office. Com- 
 pleted the arrangement of our library, a tedious and laborious busi- 
 ness. Mr. Cope called and conversed a good while. Eead article in 
 the American Jurist on the mistakes of the Westminster Review ; re- 
 turned home, took tea; heard Helen's lesson in French; studied the 
 history of the Federal Convention, preparatory to a lecture on that 
 subject; commenced an examination of the Ohio Reports, with a 
 view to a new edition of the Statutes of the State, which I am to 
 edit; studied the New Testament half an hour; reviewed the oc- 
 currences of the day — found a lamentable forgetfulness of God's 
 presence, goodness, and providence, and shall now, after prayer, re- 
 tire to bed. 11 P. M." 
 
 On the 22d of the same month, Mr. Chase received notification 
 of membership in the Hamilton County 1 Agricultural Society, the 
 meetings of which were held on the first Saturdays of March, June, 
 September, and December. Doubtless, he who wrote that article on 
 the Effects of Machinery — so important to the cultivation as well as 
 to fabrication — and who had taken part of his own various culture 
 as a farmer's boy — took lively interest in thought, at least, in 
 agriculture. 
 
 Here is an entry of quite different interest : 
 
 " April 27. I heard, to-day, that I had had a violent quarrel with a 
 gentleman of my acquaintance. There was not a word of truth in 
 the story; but it had been sent into circulation by some forger of 
 slanders, and had, by this time, I know not how many indorsers. I 
 mentioned the thing to the gentleman concerned, who was amused 
 by the tale, though displeased by its circulation. 
 
 "In the evening, heard Rev. Mr. Peabody lecture at the Mechanics' 
 Institute — lecture extempore, without much preparation. The In- 
 stitute has done, and is doing, much good. More than a hundred 
 scholars are receiving instruction in various branches of useful 
 
 1 The county in which lies Cincinnati.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 223 
 
 knowledge. They pay three dollars a year, which money goes to 
 increase the funds of the Institution. The best teachers in the city 
 render gratuitous services in instructing, every evening, all who 
 will come. 
 
 "After the lectm-e, I called on Mr. Townsend, and had a long talk, 
 principally interesting to myself alone. 
 
 "In the afternoon, Mr. G invited me to join his party in 
 
 riding. Declined the invitation and rode with Longworth and Mr. 
 Young. Met Mr. G 's party while out." 
 
 This Mr. G was, doubtless, Mr. Garniss, father of Catherine 
 
 Jane Garniss, destined to be the first wife of our hero. 
 The next entry reads as follows : 
 
 "Attended Dr. Beecher's church — sermon by Dr. Beecher on the 
 Christian Character. Text, 'Except ye be converted and become as 
 little children, ye shall, in no case, enter the kingdom of Heaven.' 
 The Christian sustains a filial relation to God, and must discharge 
 the duties and possess the feelings belonging to that relation. The 
 child has no separate interest from its pai*ents — is careful of their 
 honor; resents aspersions on their characters ; reposes implicit trust 
 in their wisdom; obeys, unhesitatingly, their commands; regards 
 them with affectionate love, and resorts to them with confidence in 
 every difficulty. So feels, so acts, a Christian toward his God. 
 
 " to-day, I have been at Dr. Colby's and Mrs. Foote's. Mr. Young 
 came in before church. 
 
 " I have read an Essay on the Progress of Society." 
 
 Then follows the account of the essay. 
 April 28 is marked by this memorandum : 
 
 "Called to see J. Longworth in the evening — spent an hour and 
 a half in chat— then went to the fair — spent about five dollars — 
 attended Helen to Mrs. Foster's — come home." 
 
 The 29th by this : 
 
 "Ptose at six o'clock — read newspapers — attended to the prepara- 
 tion of the Statutes till dinner — wrote to Judge Turner requesting 
 information as to the history of the territory etc.— prepared case 
 for Supreme Court — called on Longworth — coming away called back 
 
 by E. C. came to the door — retired — returned, brought 
 
 me glass of water — conversed awhile — good night — went to see 
 Helen— gave her money — called on Miss G. — returned home — went 
 to bed unwell." 
 
 The interest deepens ; that Miss G. was Catherine Jane Garniss. 
 April 30, with May 1, furnishes this record : 
 
 " After breakfast, said to Mr. G., that if Miss G. would like to at-
 
 224 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tend the May Day exhibition of Miss Hentz's pupils, I should be 
 happy to attend her. She assented, and we went on horseback. 
 The exhibition took place on a dusty side-hill, over which a 
 few bushes were sparsely scattered. An arbor was provided to screen 
 the throne from the ardor of the blazing sun. Thither the elected 
 queen was conducted, and crowned. Several addresses was then de- 
 livered — some good — some bad, and some indifferent. We came 
 home under a broiling sun, and agreed upon a ride in the evening 
 by moonlight. 
 
 " In the meantime, I was busy professionally. At six we started — 
 ten in company — four ladies and six gentlemen. I abominate large 
 'parties. The dust was intolerable, and the sultry air was almost 
 suffocating. The party generally, however, was in fine spirits. For 
 myself, I felt languid and unwell, and said little, nor said that little 
 well. I was reproached for my dullness, but reproaches had no 
 effect on me. Having at length arrived at home, I took tea at Mr. 
 Garniss's rooms." 
 
 That was at the Pearl Street House, the hotel of the bon ton at 
 that time, where our hero had his domicile. 
 The diary continues : 
 
 " Thence proceeded to Mr. Edmunds' wedding. Found bride and 
 groom walking on the pavement. Joined them, and chatted 
 awhile — Went into the house — chatted awhile— Came home, and 
 went to bed. Must think more and eat less to-morrow. 
 
 May 2 has this entry : 
 
 " Meant to call on Edmunds and Miss Elliott this morning, but 
 did not — Went to Clerk's office and examined docket — Spent some 
 
 time, after return, upon the new edition of the Statutes — Mr. 
 
 called. In the afternoon, read a few pages of Reports, and took 
 notes — Read a little miscellaneously — Called on J. Longworth — 
 talked half an hour, principally on the effect of the affections on the 
 happiness and true glory of human life. Saw the young ladies but a 
 moment at the gate. E. Miller and his sister were conversing with 
 them — Called on Miss Cassilly, spent an hour — Came home, and 
 now, after having read something in the Word, and having com- 
 mended myself to the keeping of my Greatest and best and only 
 true friend, I shall lay down to sleep." 
 
 The next day is thus accounted for : 
 
 " Rose rather late — Attended to making a report of bank business 
 — Was engaged for awhile on the Statutes — Went to Court in the 
 afternoon — Judges Lane and Wright. Called to see Longworth — 
 
 found him almost well — Saw Miss E. . Miss C. indisposed. 
 
 Called on the Judges — Spent an hour and a half very agreeably. 
 Called at Mr. G's. room — heard, as usual, a little slander. Came 
 home."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 225 
 
 May 4 affords the following : 
 
 " Made out and presented Report to Bank United States. Wrote 
 to Mr. Peters asking his kind offices in reference to an arrangement 
 proposed with the Bank — Wrote to Mr. Swann, to inquire whether 
 any law of the territory has probably been lost — In the afternoon, 
 wrote to Judge Pease [and] to Mr. James, of Urbana — Bought some 
 Psalms and Hymns of Corey & Fairbank — After tea called at Mr. 
 Foote's." 
 
 The next day has this self-reproachful record : 
 
 " I have this day deviated very far from the paths in which a 
 Christian should walk on the Sabbath. In the morning, after my 
 usual devotional exercises, and the cursory perusal of a chapter in 
 the Bible, I went to breakfast. The morning of the day of rest had 
 awakened no fitting sentiments of grateful love in my bosom, nor 
 did the bounties which spread the board have that effect. After 
 breakfast, I read a Review of Chatham's Letters and a sermon by 
 Doctor Beecher. The first Avas badly chosen employment for a holy 
 da} r . The second was good, and, I hope, did me good. After this, I 
 went to church with my sister. Mr. Root preached, but I listened 
 so negligently that I do not even remember the subject of his sermon. 
 
 " After this, I went to dine with Mr. Cope. No other person was 
 invited, and, as I have no other than a boarding-house, I did not scruple 
 to accept the invitation, but, instead of directing the conversation 
 to suitable topics, I suffered myself to fall into worldly and frivol- 
 ous talk, without bearing on an}^ thing good. After dinner, I went 
 to church. Dr. Beecher preached on the unreasonableness of unbe- 
 lief. After the sermon, the communion was administered. I did 
 not participate, having never communed in a Presbyterian church. 
 
 " After church, I accompanied Judge Lane to his room where, 
 after some thing said on matters connected with religion, the con- 
 versation took a literary and political turn. From the Judge's 
 room I went to tea — thence to my brother-in-law's, and thence to 
 my room, having spent a Sabbath as unprofitably and as sinfully as 
 I have done for years. May the Lord pardon me, and arm [me] 
 with sufficient resolution to avoid such conduct in future." 
 
 Is not that a strange self-accusation ? One would think that day 
 well spent. 
 
 May 7 has this record : 
 
 " This morning I arose with very serious reflections and earnest 
 determination to act with more system and consistency than have 
 marked my conduct of late. After breakfast I walked to the 
 Court-house, where I remained about an hour. I then came home, 
 and furnished some copy to the printer, and spent a little time on 
 the book. I then went to dinner. After dinner I worked awhile ; 
 then called on Mr. Jenks; thence went to Mr. G's. room, where I 
 was cheated of time till sundown. After tea, I called at Mr. Long- 
 worth's, whence I have just returned."
 
 226 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The entry under date of May 11 has this purport : 
 
 " Aroused this morning by an alarm of fire — Rose and went to the 
 window — It was raining, but a broad, red glare was spread over the 
 north-west quarter of the city. Not belonging to any fire company, 
 I returned to my bed, and remained there for an hour; then rose, 
 dressed, walked, and bathed. After breakfast, read a book of Mil- 
 ton — P. L., a chapter in the N. T , then called on Judge Lane, 
 
 and invited him to accompany me to church. He declined, and 
 I went alone. 
 
 " Dr. Beecher preached a plain and very powerful sermon. His 
 object was to show that no man who will not noiv repent and be con- 
 verted has the slightest reason to hope that he ever will. He en- 
 forced this topic by arguments drawn from experience and Scripture 
 with great earnestness and force." 
 
 Whoever heard Lyman Beecher as often as I heard him can 
 appreciate that tribute. Full of errors, this father of the most dis- 
 tinguished of the Beecher name, did not a little mischief in his 
 day. His Plea for the West was full of patriotic bias and religious 
 bigotry. But he was truly a great man and as good, at heart, as 
 he was great. I heard him often, and I always felt that I was 
 listening to one of the most earnest spirits that ever uttered 
 a sermon. Chase continues : 
 
 " He said he did not wish his hearers to resolve that hereafter 
 they would become Christians. He wanted to sever that strongest 
 of the cords of sin. He wanted to show that neither the promises 
 of God, nor the analysis of moral government, nor the experience 
 of men, justified any reliance upon resolutions of future obedience. 
 While men delay, habit strengthens and ties multiply, and, by and 
 by, the sinner will struggle, but he can't get loose. I listened to 
 the greater part of the sermon with much attention, and hope it 
 will be blessed to my soul." 
 
 On the 18th, he recorded only that he " sent precipe for sundry 
 executions in favor of B. U. S. to Columbus." 
 As brief is the record of the 20th. It runs : 
 
 " Wet and covered with mud on a ride." 
 
 The next day he recorded as follows : 
 
 "Was much amused by the following passage from the ' Ma Jade 
 Imayinaire'' of Moliere : 'Mais sur toute chose, ce qui me plait en 
 lui, et en quoi il suit mon exemple, c'est qu'il s'attache aveugle- 
 ment 1 aux opinions de nos anciens, et que jamais il n'a voulu com- 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 227 
 
 prendre, ni ecouter les raisons et les experiences des pretendues 
 decouvertes de notre su'cle, 1 touchant la circulation du sang, ei 
 autres opinions de la mC-ine facine." 2 
 
 In my eyes, this piece of pleasantry assumes a melancholy — nay, 
 a mournful interest, when I consider it as foreshadowing some pas- 
 sages in the same diary, showing how, according to the hero of this 
 work, the healing art fearfully blundered in bleeding to death — but 
 let us not anticipate that horror. 
 
 There is a business memorandum, under date May 22. The next 
 entry, dated August 2, reads as follows : 
 
 " The following shows the mortality in Cincinnati from the first 
 
 of up to this time, from cholera and other diseases : 1st week, 
 
 June, 24; 2d week, June, 48; 3d week, June, 43; 4th week, June, 
 40. 1st week, July, 42 ; 2d week, July, — ; 3d week, Julv, — ; week 
 ending July 23, 99 ; week ending July 30, 122." 
 
 The next entry, dated August 7, is a memorandum of a letter to 
 Hamilton Smith, as follows : 
 
 " Reply to his of July 25th or thereabouts — Xew edition of Statutes 
 — Loan of money — Advice and promises as to settlement in Cincin- 
 nati — Cholera — Drs. Smith and Staughton victims — Remembrances, 
 etc." 
 
 The next is a memorandum of a letter to W. F. Chase and Nathan 
 Guilford, as follows : 
 
 " To W. F. C, stating causes why Helen did not come to Lock- 
 port ; and giving general counsel. To N. G., inclosing notes for 
 several friends at the Yellow Springs — State of health improving 
 in town, etc." 
 
 The next, dated August 8, is a memorandum of a letter to T. 
 Swann, as follows : 
 
 " Letter — Introduction of Mr. Thai — Foreigners — Cholera in the 
 West — Inquiries for Miss Cabell — Reminiscences — Mr. Wirt's fam- 
 
 1 So accented in the original. 
 
 2 So in the original. Perhaps it may be well, with reference to some readers to 
 English, these words. I give this off-hand version: "But, above every thing, that 
 which pleases me in him, and in which he follows my example, is that he attaches 
 himself blindly to the opinions of our ancients, and that he has never been willing 
 to comprehend or even to hear the reasons and the experiences of the pretended 
 discoveries of our age, touching the circulation of the blood and other opinions of 
 the same fashion." 
 
 16
 
 228 THE PBIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SEEVICES 
 
 ily — Mr. Swann's family— Miss Maxey and Collins Lee — Rectifica- 
 tion of mistake about answer of letter from Fredericksburg." 
 
 Omitting several entries of no interest I next offer the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 " Nov. 20. To rise at half past six — Not done — Breakfast moder- 
 ately — Ful'd 1 — Read newspapers — Ful'd — Finish brief B. & R. ads. 
 B. C. & W. — Get letter-book and judgment-book from C. & F. — 
 Dine sparingly — Look over docket and arrange cases — Tea — Hear 
 Bishop Mcllvaine — Wrote Agricultural Address — Read — Bed." 
 
 Next we have : 
 
 " Dec. 3. Did not leave the house till after breakfast ; then went 
 to the office, and, before I had occasion to leave it, Smith came. I 
 walked with him toward the court-house. He left me, and I went 
 alone. After remaining a few moments at the C. H, I returned, 
 and was encountered by several Dutchmen, by whose business I 
 was obliged to return to the C. H. After spending some time in 
 examining papers in the clerk's office, I returned to my office, and 
 was closely occupied till dark. In the course of this day I lost my 
 specs. I am confident I had them in the morning. I went no- 
 where in the morning before seeing Smith, except to the post- 
 office. When I went to the C. H., I think I did not have them. 
 They must have been mislaid, then, either at the office or at home 
 before I left the house. 
 
 The next entry is a memorandum of a letter to Hamilton Smith 
 showing borrowing of that gentleman's credit on commercial paper, 
 and referring to the proposed taking of a debtor, on capias, in 
 Indiana. 
 
 The next entry must close this chapter. It is long, but it is full 
 of interest to this whole volume. It is of this tenor : 
 
 "Februarys, 1834. I awoke this morning, and remembered that 
 the day belonged to God, and gratefully acknowledged the benev- 
 olence which provided a special season for thought on eternal things. 
 I felt resolved that the day should be more appropriately employed 
 than my Sundays have lately been. 
 
 "At about seven I rose, and dressed and breakfasted sparingly. 
 After breakfast I returned to my room and read, but with little at- 
 tention, a chapter in Romans. I then offered m} T thanksgivings for 
 past mercies, and supplications for needed aids and blessings, to the 
 great All-Giver. I then put my Bible in my pocket, and went to 
 my office. An accidental reference had determined me to read the 
 book of Deuteronomy, and I occupied the hours till church time in 
 
 
 1 Fulfilled, no doubt.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 229 
 
 reading the first chapters. I was much affected by what I read, and, 
 I hope, instructed. The perversity and punishment of the Israelites, 
 their peculiar privileges, their singular institutions, the earnesl 
 prayer of Moses that he might be permitted to enter the promised 
 land, and his final exclusion, affected and interested me. I thought I 
 would look into Milman's History of the Jews, to see how he treats 
 these matters, and, to procure the book, went up to Mr. Perkins' 
 office. 
 
 "While there, I conversed principally on secular topics. 
 
 "At length I went to church. When near Dr. Beecher's, I met Mr. 
 G . and went with him to hear Mr. Lynde. The sermon was in- 
 different. The style was low, the ideas, sometimes, ludicrous, and 
 seldom impressive. On the whole, it was far below Mr. L's average. 
 Leaving the church, I walked home with Mr. G. In conversation 
 with him, and afterwards, I fell into the common fault of dwelling 
 chiefly upon the defects of the sermon without adverting at all to the 
 instructive thoughts thrown out in it. 
 
 "At Mr. G.'s, I found Mr. H. sitting with Mrs. G. She had Bulwer's 
 England and the English in her hand. We conversed on ordinary 
 topics. Miss G. remarked on the eccentricity of Mr. H., and men- 
 tioned a striking instance. She also told me that she had dreamed 
 of me last night; that we were together at Mr. Longworth's; that I 
 perceived a drop of water on her cheek, and, attempting to wipe it 
 off. discovered that she was rouged; that I upbraided her with de- 
 ception; that she declared it was the first time that she had ever used 
 paint, but that I would [not] believe her; that, finally, after endeavor- 
 ing in vain to restrain her feelings, she burst into tears, and actually 
 sobbed so violently that her mother heard her, and came into the 
 room and awakened her, when they both laughed heartily at the 
 incident. 
 
 ■ After sitting about half an hour, I declined an invitation to dine, 
 and went over to Mr. Longworth's. Here I was kindly and cordially 
 greeted. Miss B., who had been sick for the past week, came into the 
 room. After we were seated at the dinner-table, Mr. Jones came in, 
 and introduced Gen. Clarke. This gentleman resides far up the 
 Missouri, between the State of that name and the Rocky Mountains. 
 He was attired in a brown hunting shirt, which opened a little upon 
 the breast. It was furnished with a small cape which was copiously 
 fringed. A quantity of fringe also lined the back of the sleeve, from 
 the shoulder to the wrist. The skirts were also fringed. The whole 
 was confined to the body by a crimson sash, which was tied at one 
 side, and the ends hung down to the thigh. The whole dress was 
 extremely picturesque, and the whole expression of the old veteran 
 highly interesting. 
 
 He was asked if there was a post-office in his neighborhood, and 
 answered, with perfect naivete that there was one about a hundred 
 miles off, to which he sent twice a month. He described several pe- 
 culiar plants and flowers, and proved as interesting in conversation 
 as he was in appearance. 
 
 "After dinner, I went to church. Dr. Beecher preached. His 
 subject was the urgent necessity and the best adapted means of 
 moral and religious culture. He dwelt with great force upon the
 
 230 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 inadequacy of mere intelligence to the salvation of the nation. En- 
 lightened Greece had gone down. Eome, who borrowed her light, 
 had perished. America, too, must perish unless she improved upon 
 their example. He adverted to the various devices of corrupting in- 
 fluence — the influence of infidel publications and organized infidel 
 exertion ; the struggles of papacy to establish an influence in the 
 West; the tide of European emigration, augmented by existing agi- 
 tations, and the theatre and other amusements of the same class. 
 He then adverted to the change of condition in the country from 
 the time when every thing was regulated in law, to the time when 
 every thing must be accomplished by associated effort, and declared 
 himself glad of the change. He then spoke of the means of renova- 
 tion of infant schools, Sunday schools, Bible societies, etc ; declared 
 them to be ample, if rightly managed, and concluding by urging 
 upon his hearers the duty of active personal effort. 
 
 "After the sermon, I went to my brother-in law's, where I took 
 tea. Thence I returned to my office, read Eobert Hall on the Excel- 
 lency of the Christian Dispensation, and wrote these lines." 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 231 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 RETROSPECT — COMPARISON OF CHASE AND WIRT WIRT'S DEATH — 
 
 chase's FIRST MARRIAGE. 
 
 NO mention has yet been made of a letter, written on the 11th 
 of November, 1831, by William Wirt to Mr. Chase. The 
 whole letter I have never seen. That only extracts from it are given 
 in Kennedy's Life of Wirt l is, at least so far as the present work is 
 concerned, to be regretted. It appears to have been a long letter. 
 
 Kennedy suppressed Wirt in more than one instance where sup- 
 pression seems to have been at least of doubtful propriety. For 
 example, referring to a fragment of autobiography, running over 
 the first ten years of Wirt's childhood, the fastidious biographer 
 remarks : 
 
 "I shall select from these reminiscences what I find useful to my 
 present purpose, without venturing to submit the whole to the e} T e 
 of the public. They dwell upon incidents which, however grateful 
 in the telling to that affectionate circle to whom the memoir was 
 addressed, and who could find in it a thousand memories of family 
 endearment, would, I am fearful, be considered as too trivial to excite 
 the interest of those who are strangers to the genial spirit and house- 
 hold mirthfulness of the writer. Even for the extracts which I may 
 submit. I must deprecate, on this score, the too rigid criticism or 
 fastidious comment of my reader — asking him to remember that a 
 father, discoursing to his children assembled around their own 
 hearth, on topics which derive their agreeable savor from their love 
 to him. may claim a dramatic privilege from the critic, to have his 
 performance judged by its adaptation to the scene, the time, the 
 place, and the persons." 2 
 
 Taking into consideration the position of Mr. Chase, in 1849, 
 when that work was published, every line of the letter written to 
 him, as we have seen, would have had, in addition to its interest 
 as relating to Mr. Wirt, a special interest in its relation to the person 
 to whom it was addressed. Is there not reason to suspect that Mr. 
 Kennedy's feelings as a partisan had something to do with his 
 
 l VoL II, 311. 2 Vol. I, p. 17. ,
 
 232 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 giving only extracts from that letter ? Perhaps not. He seems to 
 have had a most imperfect notion of the clue minuteness of biogra- 
 phy. The Wirt he has portrayed was not exactly the true one, 
 though in spite of his suppressions, one can form at least a pretty 
 fair conception of the character in question. Here a very different 
 policy has been pursued, throughout. 
 
 The letter referred to was in relation to the presidential candi 
 dature of the-man from whose pen it emanated. Of that candidature 
 it is difficult to speak without offense either to Masons or to anti- 
 Masons. It was as an anti-Mason that William Wirt was a candi- 
 date for the Presidency. 
 
 Writing to Rev. Mr. Blanchard, on the 18th of November, 1868, 
 an already-quoted letter, Chief Justice Chase expressed himself as 
 follows : 
 
 " I am neither Mason nor anti-Mason. My father was a Mason, 
 and I always supposed the order did a great deal of good in their 
 way. I have never studied the subject." 
 
 I can not say that I have never studied the subject; but I can 
 say I always supposed the Free Masons did a great deal of good in 
 their way. 
 
 On the 11th of November, 1831, then, Mr. Wirt wrote to Mr. 
 Chase, then a young Cincinnati lawyer, a letter which contained 
 these words, with others: 
 
 "I am perfectly aware, with you, that I have none of the captiva- 
 ting arts and manners of professional seekers of popularity. I do 
 not desire them. I shall not change my manners ; thej T are a part of 
 my nature. If the people choose to take me as I am — well. If not, 
 they will only leave me where I have always preferred to be, enjoy- 
 ing the independence of private life. They may make some rents in 
 my garments in the meantime, but they will make none, I hope, in 
 my peace of mind." 
 
 How highly he who wrote those words appreciated the esteem of 
 the young man to whom he wrote, appears in the following para- 
 graph of the same letter: 
 
 " You have now the whole case before you, and I thought it due 
 to the friendship you have always professed for me, to state it at 
 large. I will not embarrass you with the question, whether you 
 approve my course or not. It is enough for me, that nry own con- 
 science approves it, and that I do not believe that it is condemned 
 in heaven." 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 233 
 
 That Chase was not induced to follow "Wirt, in this respect, is not 
 surprising. His own father, we have already seen, had been a 
 Mason. And the country generally seems to have considered, that 
 the party of the anti-Masons was not called for by the welfare of the 
 people. "We have seen that such men as Greeley and Seward may be 
 named among the anti-Masons of that day j but we have also seen 
 that the only vote carried for Wirt was Vermont. 
 
 To Chase, in the letter already quoted, "Wirt explained that, con- 
 sidering the strength of the anti-Masons and the rapidity with which 
 their party was increasing, he saw that unless their nomination could 
 be secured for Mr. Clay, he, Clay, could not be elected. Wirt pro- 
 ceeded to say ; 
 
 " Mr. Clay was the choice of my district, and I had been deputed 
 by it as a delegate to the National Kepublican Convention, whose 
 object I understood to be to confer on the selection of a suitable 
 candidate, giving the preference to Mr. Clay, if found that he would 
 be strong enough to displace General Jackson ; and if not, to prefer 
 any one else who could secure to us that result." 
 
 "When Mr. Wirt so wrote to Mr. Chase there is reason to believe 
 that there was an understanding between the writer and the re- 
 ceiver of that letter that the life of Wirt should be written by the 
 already practiced pen of Chase. 1 I have already offered part of that 
 evidence ; I now present another part. A letter-book of our hero 
 contains this memorandum : 
 
 " Cincinnati, February 27, 1836. 
 
 " A letter of friendship — general remarks — Congratulation to Wil- 
 liam on his planter life — Henry and Dabney fitting for college — 
 Miss Cabell and Mr. Daniel — Difficulties in the way of my writing biog- 
 raphy of Mr. Wirt — Suggest Mr. Kennedy — Affectionate remembrances 
 — Suggest ideas as to publication of Mr. W'fi works — 2 vols., oct., 
 not quite — Opinions, arguments, and speeches to be included — Old 
 works also and letters chronologically arranged, etc., etc. 
 
 " To C. G. Wirt, Wirtland, Florida." 
 
 Among the difficulties in the way of Mr. Chase were some which 
 he may or may not have recognized, but which he would hardly have 
 felt free to state fully in that letter. 
 
 I congratulate my readers and myself that the author of this work 
 was never so intimate with its hero as the latter was with William 
 Wirt. I congratulate the readers of this work that it is not written 
 
 Ante, Introduction.
 
 234 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 by a person who was ever intimate with the surviving relatives of 
 its hero as was Salmon Portland Chase with the surviving relatives 
 of William Wirt. I have, indeed, no doubt that the surviving rel- 
 atives of Wirt would have been entirely well disposed toward the 
 work of Chase had he gone forward, as he purposed. All they would 
 have consciously desired, if I may so express myself, would have 
 been a faithful narrative and a true portraiture. But whoever has 
 read Sir Joshua Reynolds on the subject of likenesses must remem- 
 ber what that writer so well says about the perils of the painter that 
 allows himself to take suggestions from the near relatives and friends 
 of the sitter. I admire and love the Wirts, although I have spoken 
 with but one survivor of the family. I seem to have known them, 
 to have lived beneath their roof, to have heard the ringing laugh 
 of the father, to have learned the language of the flowers from the 
 mother; to have assisted at their family concerts; surely, then, 
 what I am saying here is not intended to disparage them or any of 
 them. Yet I have no doubt that Chase would have been, and that 
 Mr. Kennedy actually was, greatly embarrassed by intimacy with 
 the members of that household. 
 
 Perhaps, there is no reason to suppose that Chase, in abandoning 
 the design of writing Wirt's life, was influenced by the consideration, 
 that he had been so intimate with Wirt and his household. Yet it 
 seems to me at least that that consideration must have come to 
 trouble him had he made progress in the work referred to. 
 
 How could he have painted Wirt as the latter was in his days 
 of free drinking? How could he have done justice to the first love 
 and first marriage of his hero? There is, indeed, perfect proof that 
 the second wife of William Wirt was tenderly, devotedly beloved 
 by her genial husband ; that she was to him an object of esteem as 
 well as affection ; that his admiration of her was, indeed, unbounded. 
 How he loved the children that she bore him it would be impossi- 
 ble to intimate. And yet the love and admiration that he had for 
 her, his love and admiration of her and his children, could not 
 annihilate the fact that his first love was not she — that his first wife 
 was not named Elizabeth but Mildred. How could Salmon Port- 
 land Chase have done justice to that fact ? 
 
 Examination of the manner in which Mildred's memory was dis- 
 posed of by the pen of Mr. Kennedy, though the latter never had 
 been intimate as Chase had been with the Wirt family, may at least
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 235 
 
 aid discerning readers to work out the proper answer to the question 
 just suggested. 
 
 But the theme is painful. Let me proceed at once to the state- 
 ment that a year and a few days had already passed since the death 
 of him who made the name of Wirt illustrious. Mr. Chase, an 
 actively employed young lawyer, lived at Cincinnati, far from the 
 surviving relatives of his deceased friend and preceptor. That he 
 had begun to gather materials for the contemplated biographic work, 
 is probable. An entry, dated June 17, 1834, shows that, on that 
 day he wrote to Fielding Lucas, of Baltimore, for " Wirt's Speeches, 
 etc. ;" but it is also probable that the assemblage of materials at Cin- 
 cinnati proved to be almost impossible. 
 
 The work which he gave up was finally done, as he suggested that 
 it should be, by John P. Kennedy, who was, like himself and like 
 the subject of the work, a so-called " literary lawyer." But I have 
 found in Tuckerman's Life of Kennedy this extract from a diary of 
 Mr. K. : 
 
 " December 24, 1843. Some time ago Mrs. Wirt deposited a large 
 number of papers containing the correspondence, etc., of her late 
 husband, Win. Wirt, with Mr. J. Q. Adams, who had undertaken to 
 write a biography and edit these papers. After retaining the collec- 
 tion for some time, Mr. Adams was obliged, very reluctantl}', as he 
 told me, to decline the enterprise. The family have since committed 
 it to me, and I have accepted. The papers are all in my possession, 
 and I have just begun to review them. I hope to make some 
 volumes of good stuff. Mr. Wirt was a very kind and intimate 
 friend of mine, which alone would prompt me to this duty. But he 
 Avas a man of a very rich character, of various interesting qualities, 
 and passed a life of attractive incident, out of which a most engag- 
 ing biography may be made. 
 
 "My plan is not yet adjusted, but if the correspondence and other 
 remains will enable me to present a narrative in which these may 
 be interwoven, I shall prefer that form. Some few hours labor a 
 day ought to enable me to get this work before the public in the 
 course of the year. I shall try." 
 
 No doubt, he did try. But his health was bad, and his appre- 
 ciation of his task remarkably imperfect. In point of fact, the 
 biography, already so inexcusably delayed, did not appear till 1849, 
 about fifteen years after the death of Wirt. The truth is, Kennedy 
 was a fine writer, and a good citizen ; but certainly he was a bad 
 biographer. 
 
 Of this, however, I have thought fit to speak farther in the chap-
 
 236 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 ter noticing the qualifications of our hero as a judge, as affected by 
 his indebtedness to Wirt as his legal 
 
 "Guide, philosopher, and friend." 1 
 
 I now invite farther attention to the obligations of this volume to 
 one of the most interesting documents furnished me by Chief Justice 
 Chase." I mean his letter-book, beginning with November 19, 1833, 
 The first copy of a letter is signed C. & C, and is in the handwriting 
 of Mr. Chase, as, indeed, is most of the matter in the book. Noth- 
 ing can be happier than the style and diction of these letters, viewed 
 as business papers. 
 
 Here is a letter of special interest, dated November 30, 1833, ad- 
 dressed to Booz M. Atherton, New Philadelphia : 
 
 "Cincinnati, November 30, 1833. 
 
 "Dear Sir: — Some time since I received a letter from my uncle, 
 Bishop Chase, informing me that he had directed you to commence 
 suit against the Trustees of Kenyon College for one thousand dollars, 
 given by him on condition that it should be expended in the erection 
 of a house for his accommodation and under his direction, and re- 
 questing me to aid you in the management of the cause before the 
 C. C. U. S. Please let me know what you have done in this and the 
 other business of the bishop. I shall attend the C. C. at the ensuing 
 term, and shall be at Columbus in two weeks. I shall be glad to 
 hear from you before I go or while there. 
 
 "Yours, etc., 
 
 "S. P. C." 
 
 Several of the other business letters contain such words as these : 
 
 " You may rely upon our attention to your interests. You will 
 confer a favor on us by making the circular on the third page known 
 to as many of your friends as convenient. We shall always be 
 happy to receive any orders from them or yourselves in the way of 
 our ju'ofession, and remain, etc." 2 
 
 Here is the memorandum of another letter, indicating proper at- 
 tention by our hero to his own advancement : 
 
 JPost. Chapter LI. 
 
 Solicitation of professional employment is not always direct. It is often indirect. 
 It is not always at once bold and modest; it is often sneaking and apparently 
 almost too humble to make its wishes known. There was no cant, no sham, no flam, 
 about our hero. AVhat he was he seemed, and what he seemed he was. What he 
 desired he plainly showed that he desired. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 237 
 
 " Cincinnati, January 27, 1834. 
 
 "This was a letter requesting him [Hon. Sam. F. Vinton, M. C. 
 Washington Cit}*] to use his influence to procure for me the ap- 
 pointment of visitor to West Point at the next examination, and 
 thanking him for his favorable opinion of my historical sketch." 
 
 This was the already mentioned historical sketch, prefixed to 
 Chase's Revision of the Ohio Statutes. 
 
 A letter, dated January 31, 1834, addressed to Rev. M. T. C. Wing, 
 related to the claim of Bishop Chase on Keuyon College. It cou- 
 I tided : 
 
 •■ AVill you have the goodness to submit the whole matter, together 
 with this letter, to Bishop Mcllvaine, to whom I beg you to present 
 my assurances of high veneration and regard." 
 
 The next is to Bishop Chase himself, and refers to the Wing letter. 
 
 Now we come to the most delicate and difficult undertaking of 
 this work. It is now necessary to speak of the first marriage of the 
 hero. 
 
 The diary from which I have drawn so often is less particular in 
 its account of Miss Garniss than is another document, furnished me 
 by the Chief Justice. 
 
 One of the most touching things I know about hiin is the tender 
 care with which he preserved memorials of his first love and his first 
 marriage and of the death of his first wife. Of the second wife also 
 there are very interesting notices in my possession; but it was of 
 the first wife only that he put at my disposal separate memorials. 
 
 Let no rash inference be drawn from that. For my part, I draw 
 none whatever, in this work or elsewhere, without taking into con- 
 sideration that any inference of that description may be very false. 
 I never even thought of trying, here, to measure how much love the 
 hero gave to this wife or to that. No such measurement is possible. 
 But it seems quite safe to say that the death of the first wife was so 
 peculiar — in a sense, so tragical — that the sorrow for it colored all 
 the days of the after-life of him whose griefs and joys engage our 
 thoughts throughout this work. 
 
 Among the most precious of the documents confided to me is one 
 entirely distinct from the register so often quoted. I found it tied up 
 with other memorials of the first love and the first marriage of our 
 hero. It is in appearance a mere memorandum-book, leather cov- 
 ered. The entries are partly in penciling and partly in ink.
 
 238 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Here is one of them : 
 
 " The first time I ever saw Miss Garniss was at the house of M. 
 P. Cassilly. I had just returned from the Eastern States, whither I 
 had been on a visit to my friends und relatives. It was, I think, in 
 the month of November, 1831. I was paying a morning visit to 
 Miss Mary Cassilly when Miss Garniss came in. Her appear- 
 ance did not please me. I thought her features large and her face 
 plain. I had little conversation with her, and have no recollection 
 of that little." 
 
 Let me introduce, just here, an extract from a letter written tc 
 me in the interest of this work, by my distinguished friend, General 
 Thomas Kilby Smith, one of the most meritorious of our citizen- 
 soldiers, during the civil war. That letter contains these words : 
 
 " His first wife, Miss Garniss, I retain a vivid recollection of. She 
 was one of the most brilliant and beautiful women of the West. Her 
 carriage and bearing were superb, at the period of their marriage, 
 while he was awkward and ungainly in person. It was some years 
 after that his person filled out, and gave him the august presence 
 and dignity of bearing so admirable. His hands were delicate, and 
 soft as a woman's." 
 
 Chase himself continues: 
 
 "Not long after this, I was invited to a party, on Front Street, at 
 Mr. Heni*y Emerson's, whose niece, Miss Mary Smith, had recently 
 arrived in the city from New England. I asked the favor of being 
 permitted to escort Miss Cassilly, and it was arranged that a party 
 should go from her house. At the appointed hour, Miss Garniss, 
 with her father and one or two young gentlemen, came in, and we 
 all went together. 
 
 " Shortly after, or perhaps before this, I called on Miss Garniss, at 
 Mr. Hamilton's, with Mr. Young. She received us very politely. I 
 conversed a little with her. I can not recollect the subjects of con- 
 versation, but I believe we talked a little about books. I remember 
 that Miss Garniss sat almost in front of the door into the hall, about 
 one-third of the distance from the door to the fire-place. The im- 
 pressions then made upon me were favorable. 
 
 " I had, at this time, I know not how, taken up an impression that 
 the Garniss family were pretenders to style, and were ambitious to 
 lead the fashions here. M}~ idea of Miss Garniss was that she was an 
 affected and shallow girl — with little real delicacy or refinement of 
 character. Oh! how mistaken was I in this estimate! How vastly 
 did I underrate her! What genuine delicacy and depth of feeling, 
 what devoteduess and self-sacrifice, did she afterward evince ! 
 
 "I do not remember — yes I do — I did see her again that win- 
 ter. It was on New Tear's Day. I was coming out of a house on 
 Broadway — I think Mr. Lawler's or Mrs. Wood's. A large sleigh, 
 drawn by four fine horses, stopped at the door, and a half dozen
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 239 
 
 laughing, merry girls came dancing into the house. Among them, 
 and most conspicuous, was Miss Garniss. She looked beautiful. 
 Her countenance was full of animation, and she moved along with 
 light and elastic tread. I merely bowed to her as she passed me ; 
 but I frequently saw that party of sleigh-riders in the streets that 
 day, and never without a feeling of half regret that I was not 
 among them. 
 
 " I do not remember that I saw her again that winter. She went 
 to New Orleans in February, where she reigned as a belle, for a sea- 
 son, and then returned to Cincinnati. The family, on their return, 
 took lodgings at the Broadway House. I do not remember seeing 
 her during the spring. Early in the summer she went to the White 
 Sulphur Springs, of Virginia, whither I also had a strong inclina- 
 tion to go, and talked of so doing with Mr. Armstrong. I did not, 
 however, go. When Miss Garniss returned from the Springs, her 
 family took lodgings at the Cincinnati Hotel. Here also, for a short 
 time, lodged Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Carlton, of New Orleans. I 
 called on Miss Carlton several times — never on Miss Garniss. Miss 
 Carlton, at this time, was the affianced bride of my friend, Thomas 
 Swann. 
 
 "In the fall of 1832, while Miss Carlton was in Cincinnati, Miss 
 Kuhamah Pike was married to Mr. Kenner, of New Orleans. I 
 was at the wedding party, and so was Miss Garniss. I merely re- 
 member speaking to her. I have a vague idea of her personal ap- 
 pearance then, but it floats in my mind like mist. Nothing is dis- 
 tinct. Miss Carlton was at this party, and I paid much attention to 
 her. She gave me a bouquet of flowers, of which I was silly enough 
 to be vain. 
 
 God bless him for that silliness! Our hero was a right lover, 
 was he not ? He adds : 
 
 " In December, 1832, I was attacked by a violent disease, which 
 nearly terminated my existence. Shortly after my recovery, Dr. 
 Colby was taken ill, and my cousin Dunbar and myself, who then 
 boarded together at Dr. Colby's, were compelled to seek new lodgings. 
 Dunbar went to Mrs. Eaton's. I went to the Pearl Street House — 
 sometime late in January or early in February — a new establish- 
 ment which had been opened the preceding spring, and was then 
 kept by Dexter & Alexander. Dexter afterward died of cholera, as 
 did also one of his daughters, soon after child-birth. Mr. Garniss 
 and his family also, at this time, boarded at the Pearl Street House; 
 and I had not been there long before I called at his rooms. I found 
 Kitty and her mother seated at the the table, and Kitty was en- 
 gaged in animated conversation with a Mr. Warfield. I was much 
 pleased with her this evening, and repeated my visits frequently. 
 One evening, when we were sitting at the table together, talking of 
 I know not what — but trifles surely — I wrote on the blank side of a 
 card these lines : 
 
 '"Young love presided o'er thy birth 
 
 And named thee, then, the Queen of Mirth;
 
 240 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 While on thy head the smiling Hours 
 
 Placed, fittest crown, a wreath of flowers. 
 
 And oft Love would implore to be 
 
 A dweller in those eyes of thine, 
 
 And oft he promised, nay, he swore, 
 
 Wouldst thou but list to his request, 
 
 That he would be a harmless guest. — But." 
 
 " These lines were slightly altered from some which I had written, 
 three or four years before, for and of a young friend of mine, one 
 of the daugthers of Mr. Wirt. Since the death of my dear Kitty 
 I have found the card on which these lines were written. She pre- 
 served it from that time. In giving it to her I intended nothing more 
 than a piece of gallantry, the import of which I purposely left 
 doubtful." 
 
 A philosopher in love is apt to be a little diplomatic; but, for all 
 that, Mr. Salmon Portland Chase was thoroughly in love when he 
 performed that " piece of gallantry," the import of which he pur- 
 posely left doubtful. 
 
 " While I boarded at this place, Mr. Drake and Mr. Bullitt, of 
 Louisville, visited Cincinnati, and a few friends were invited to Mr. 
 G-.'s rooms, to meet them. I was charmed this evening by the grace 
 with which she received her visitors. But I was most interested by 
 observing her when standing perfectly quiet, with her fine counte- 
 nance in repose. Her face then assumed a pensive and almost melan- 
 choly expression, which, to me, was extremel}' interesting. The 
 singing was delightful, and the evening passed pleasantly away. 
 There was a settee, cushioned, on the west side of the room, and I 
 have a vague remembrance of sitting there with my Kitty and having 
 some very pleasant conversation; but it is extremely indistinct. 
 
 "At this time, we used to assemble frequently in the parlor of the 
 hotel after tea, and spend some time in conversation. Miss Town- 
 send used to play and sing, sometimes. 
 
 " I used to sit near Kitty, at table. On one occasion, she gave me 
 one-half of a double Almond as a Phillipina. 1 and having, at our next 
 meeting, anticipated me in the utterance of the magic w T ord, I gave 
 her a book. It was the Percy Anecdotes, and, on a blank leaf, was 
 written: 'Phillip to Phillipina. 2 Some time after this, I gave her 
 half of a double Almond in the same way, and brought her in my 
 debt. I looked with considerable anxiety for the result, hoping that, 
 from the nature of her present, I could gather some idea of the state 
 of her feelings toward me. I hoped that her present would indi- 
 cate preference. I was disappointed ; for, with the maidenly delicacy 
 and propriety which characterized every action of her life, she gave 
 me a blank album. I turned its leaves, hoping to find something 
 written there. There was nothing. 
 
 1 So in the original. 
 
 2 Sic. The authorities give Philopena, or Fillipeen.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 241 
 
 • 
 
 "About this time, my friends began to rally me upon my atten- 
 tions to -Miss tr., and rumors began to be circulated of our approach- 
 ing wedding at the Pearl Street House. I had not, however, at this 
 time, any fixed purpose of addressing her, nor do 1 think that she 
 
 had learned to regard me in any other light than that of a friend, 
 and. perhaps, that word is too strong. 
 
 ••Some time about the middle of April, I remember riding out 
 with my dear Kitty, her father, and Mrs. Lawler. I rode with 
 Kitty; Mr. CI. rode with Mrs. L. "We went down the river, and re- 
 turned over the hill below Mill Creek. "We rode several miles, and, 
 as we were returning, my fair companion and I trotted on rapidly 
 before the rest of our company, until we were induced to diminish 
 our speed by the repeated calls of her father, who now came up, quite 
 heated. He was very severe in the reproof of his daughter, and un- 
 civil in his language to me. I took no notice of it, however, at the 
 time, nor afterward, but I felt it deeply ; and, but for my par- 
 tiality to Miss Of., my visits to his family would then probably have 
 ceased." 
 
 I can see Mr. Garniss, "in my mind's eye," as he thus misbe- 
 haved. He was, at times, a man of far from even temper, far from 
 pleasing manners; nor did lie, at any time, I think, inspire profound 
 respect. Yet he was, in effect, a worthy member of society. 
 
 It was on the 4th of March, 1834, that, at the house of Mr. John P. 
 Garniss, Salmon Portland Chase and Catherine Jane Garniss were 
 married by Rev. Lyman Beecher. 
 
 Mr. Garniss then lived at the south-east corner of Broadway and 
 Fourth street, Cincinnati. 
 
 A fanciful biographer would make up, here, a wedding-piece; a 
 pen-picture of great beauty. Marriage is the very top of bliss for 
 the young husband. Erskine has, however, said all that can be 
 said of that felicity. The speech in which he paints the rapture of 
 complete and innocent possession is hardly surpassed in any set of 
 words in the English language. 
 
 It was not a little thing to have a husband such as Salmon 
 Portland Chase assuredly was, on the 4th of March, 1834. It was 
 surely no little thing to have such a wife as she who on that 
 happy day bestowed her hand, with her heart in it, on our hero. 
 
 My attention has been called to this paragraph, cut from a pub- 
 lic print : 
 
 " A correspondent of the Courier-Journal, who knew intimately 
 Catherine Garniss, the first wife of Chief Justice Chase, sends this 
 incident, apropos of the recent prominence which has been given to 
 that lady's name. I knew from her own lips how difficult it was for 
 her to decide to marry Mr. Chase, and shall never forget her apology
 
 242 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 for not bringing him to see me on one occasion : 'He is so uncouth, 
 and has such an unmanageable mouth ! Wait until I polish him up 
 a little — then I will bring him to you and show him off." These were 
 ber laughing words. They were just married then, and he was 
 scarcely the sort of person to submit to a polishing process. Eighteen 
 months later, she was dead." 
 
 The facts stated in that paragraph can easily be reconciled with 
 the extract already made from Gen. Smith's letter, 1 and they are 
 quite in harmomy with what we have found our hero saying, in the 
 Trowbridge letters, about himself. What is the proper inference 
 from them? Is it, that Catherine Jane Chase, of that name the 
 first, did not admire as well as love her devoted husband ? Is it 
 that this woman did not see the treasure God had given her in such 
 a husband? Surely, no such inference is warranted. And we shall 
 clearly see, as we proceed, that this wife and this husband very dearly 
 loved each other. 
 
 Well ! he was not rich in gold and gear. He had not then the 
 charm of person, port, and presence. To a friend his wife could 
 jestingly speak of him as we have seen, without, indeed, expecting 
 that her words should go before the public, long after her depart- 
 ure, as an indication that she did not appreciate her great husband's 
 heart and brain; but -who doubts that, when she so jested, she knew 
 well the jewel she would polish ? On the other hand, her husband 
 suw in her a very belle. Was he not proud of her attachment to the 
 man he felt himself to be, in spite of his then ungainly look and 
 bearing ? 
 
 Gen. Smith farther says of our hero : 
 
 " He had a terrific temper, though under almost perfect control. 
 
 "I knew him once alight from his carriage and give a burly team- 
 ster a most severe thrashing for unprovoked insult and outrage. 
 Upon another occasion, I saw him kick a powerful man out of his 
 office and down stairs because of some (what he considered) base 
 proposal." 
 
 What did Uncle Toby's angel do with that offense of our hero? 
 Ah ! this man was very human, after all. 
 
 "He was," continues Gen. Smith, "intensely satirical, and of 
 ready wit as a young man." 
 
 Perhaps, a little exaggeration marks that sentence. But who 
 1 Ante, p. 238.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 243 
 
 knows bettor than the writer of that letter? When I first became 
 acquainted with the man whose character 1 here endeavor to portray, 
 the seal of sorrow had been fixed forever on his face. I did not 
 know his manners before the death of his first wife. 
 
 But we must now change the theme. On the 25th of March, 
 1835, Mr. Chase wrote, in substance, as follows, to his brother, 
 Edward Ithamar, then at Lockport, New York : 
 
 "My Pear Brother: — Why have you not written to me? Wil- 
 liam proposes to go to St. Louis — Will go with Mr. Wiggins, a man 
 of property, who will introduce him — Hope he will get Mr. W.'s bu>i- 
 ne>s — needs nothing but care and industry to succeed — Has improved 
 much. His debt will am't to $750 — too much to owe. I propose to 
 remit 8125 each ; to get his note to Dr. Colby, indorsed by the Dr. 
 and myself, discounted for the balance. You must guarantee the 
 Dr. Alice will come shortly; her visit has been unpleasant — sorry, 
 but could not help it. Hear nothing from Helen. Love to all. 
 " Yours, most affectionately, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 To his father-in-law, Mr. J. P. Garniss, he wrote, March 25, 
 1835, a letter, which he registers as follows: 
 
 •• My Dear Sir : — Your letter this morning received — answer im- 
 mediately to meet you in Philadelphia. Ferryboat does well. City 
 elections coming on — several candidates for Mayor. Business reviv- 
 ing. Xo opposition in bank election. All well, etc. etc." 
 
 On the 3rd of April, of the same year, he wrote to Richard 
 Peters, Esq., at Philadelphia, a letter, of which his letter-book gives 
 this abstract : 
 
 "Glad to see you intend new edition Chancery Reports; suggest 
 such publication that purchasers can take whole or part ; avoid ty- 
 pographical errors; not condense too much. Send prospectus, and I 
 will get subscribers. Respects to Mrs. P. and family." 
 
 A letter to Rev. A. Ganills, Georgetown, Kentucky, dated May 
 8, 1835, reads as follows: 
 
 "Dear Sir : — The time has arrived when an answer must be tiled 
 to Bishop Purcell's bill. I have prepared one for you. Shall I send 
 it to you at Georgetown, or shall you visit Cincinnati ere Long? I 
 have received Mr. James Denison into partnership. Please ad- 
 dress Chase & Denison. Yours, etc., 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next letter speaks of Mr. Denison as a young gentleman. 
 17 
 
 /
 
 244 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 A letter to Hamilton Smith, Esq., dated May 29, 1835, after 
 disposing of some business matters, thus proceeds: 
 
 "The books came, at last, safe to hand. I am much obliged to 
 you for the trouble you have taken in this matter; though I can not 
 say that I am much pleased with my purchase. The books are old 
 and in bad condition ; but perhaps this is the case with all Kentucky 
 reports. Cincinnati is going ahead again like a young race-horse 
 recovered from a sprain ; how long it will be before another halt, 
 human intelligence can not foresee. My wife is tolerably well, and 
 if she knew of my writing would join in atfectionate remembrances. 
 Finish your cottage, and I will come and see you. 
 '• Yours, faithfully, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The friendship thus referred to stood always. It is one of the 
 very beautiful things in the life we are following throughout its 
 course. 
 
 And it is a thing of which Mr. Smith, the survivor, may well be 
 proud. I know that Mr. Whitelaw Reid, in his Ohio in the War, 
 has said, in effect, of Mr. Chase, that while profoundly versed in 
 man, he was profoundly ignorant of men ; so that the merest char- 
 latan could deceive him into confidence; and very many instances 
 might be given in apparent justification of that judgment. But, in 
 point of fact, Chase was neither so deep in man nor so shallow in 
 men as that judgment indicates. It is a superficial judgment. But, 
 however that may be, when Mr. Chase had opportunity to study 
 individuals as he had Opportunity to study Mr. Smith, he judged as 
 well as most men ; and his friends are not to be discredited by the 
 notion that he was profoundly ignorant of men. 
 
 Here is a little note that shows that he was not so ignorant of 
 men as he may have seemed. It is most precious to my eyes. It 
 was dated June 3, 1835, and addressed to " Nicholas Longworth, 
 Esq., Present;" and it said to the rich, eccentric, shrewd, but some- 
 times partially deranged Cincinnatian : 
 
 "My Dear Sir : — I have considered the proposition submitted by 
 you yesterday, and in reference to it say: 1st, that I am much 
 obliged, to you for the favorable estimate which the proposition itself 
 implies; and. next, that I do not perceive how I can, consistently 
 with m3 r duties as solicitor of the Agency Office, enter into the pro- 
 posed arrangement with you. In behalf of the bank, I have been 
 already engaged in one or two suits adversely to you, and may 
 hereafter be emplo} T ed in more. But, this objection apart, I should 
 hardly feel willing to enter into an arrangement which would de- 
 volve upon me the care of your entire business in addition to that 

 
 OF SALMON POKTL.AXD CHASE. 245 
 
 which I now have. My business now, though not so largo as ] 
 might attend to, perhaps, is yet sufficient for a young lawyer, and 
 increases steadily in a ratio at least as great as my capacity to 
 transact it. 1 should distrust my ability to fulfill my duties to my 
 present clients and, at the same time, satisfy your just expectations. 
 I must, therefore, decline your offer. Yours, truly, 
 
 "S. P. C." 
 
 Now this little document establishes, first, the high standing of 
 our hero as a practicing lawyer at the Cincinnati bar, when he 
 was only twenty-seven years of age ; and, second, his high princi- 
 ple and character as a professor of the law.
 
 246 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CHIEFLY POLITICAL — m'lEAN AND HARRISON — PROFESSIONAL PROG- 
 RESS — THE FIRST CHILD. 
 
 THIS chapter is devoted chiefly to matter of distinctively politi- 
 cal concern. It introduces John McLean and William Henry 
 Harrison — a man distinguished chiefly as a legist and a man distin- 
 guished chiefly as a soldier. 
 
 Both of them I saw more than once. I never talked with Har- 
 rison. I had more than one conversation with McLean. The per- 
 son, port, and presence of the latter were quite striking. John 
 McLean was a great man in body, and perhaps in mind. He evi- 
 dently seemed, at one time, a great man to our hero. I confess, I 
 never found in him much evidence of intellectual magnitude, much 
 evidence of moral grandeur. As for Harrison, he neither seemed 
 nor was a man of intellectual or moral massiveness. He was a 
 worthy citizen, an amiable character, a warm-hearted, ready-handed 
 friend and neighbor ; but, I own, beyond that, I could never see in 
 him much to point out for special praise. 
 
 Here is, in part, the tenor of a letter, written to Hon. Samuel F. 
 Vinton, February 8, 1835, by Mr. Chase: 
 
 "Dear Sir: You are probably fully informed as to the extent 
 and character of the feeling which exists here in favor of Gen. Har- 
 rison as a candidate for the Presidency. As it is extremely desir- 
 able, however, that there should be no misapprehension on this 
 point, I have concluded to write you a few lines, in which I shall 
 try to state the exact truth. Where the nomination of Gen. H. 
 originated you probably know better than I do. You could tell, I 
 doubt not, whether it proceeded from the spontaneous combustion 
 of Pennsylvania feeling, or whether the torch that ignited the ' fire 
 in the mountains/ was sent from Ohio. It was received in this 
 quarter coldly. The leading papers barely mentioned it— one in 
 terms of direct censure, the other, Mr. Hammond's, as a measure of 
 doubtful expediency. Some individuals, however, appeared to be 
 delighted by the movement. 
 
 " Of these the most conspicuous was Judge Hall, the editor of the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 247 
 
 Western Monthly Magazine, and a few others, like himself, formerly 
 
 attached to the Jackson party, and always inimical to Judge 
 McLean." 
 
 The expression " the Jackson party" ought to be considered for a 
 moment. 
 
 Mr. Chase as a young man admired Calhoun and Clay, and almost 
 hated Jackson. He considered Jackson, as we have already seen, 
 unworthy of the honors given to him by his countrymen. The so- 
 called democratic party was, to Mr. Chase, as a young man, nothing 
 but a Jackson party — the party of the President. I well remember 
 how the Adams men and Clay men of Cincinnati spoke of Jackson 
 and the Jackson party in the years from 1832 to 1836, inclusively. 
 It was with deepest disdain. The " Jackson party " then appeared 
 to me, and to most of my boy acquaintances, the Devil's own party ; 
 and in Jackson I saw only the worst man in the best place. 
 
 How Chase afterward regarded Jackson I can not precisely say. 
 I know, however, that the former came to look upon the latter as at 
 least not a mere savage, as not quite a moral monster. There came, 
 indeed, a time ' when Chase could write of himself as a democrat of 
 the Jackson and Benton school ! 
 
 The letter to Vinton goes on as follows: 
 
 "These gentlemen exerted themselves with so much zeal that 
 meetings were held in Delhi and in Miami, in this county, for the 
 purpose of seconding the ' Pennsylvania nomination.' These meet- 
 ings were tolerably well attended for county meetings, and passed 
 resolutions which have appeared in print. The great body of the 
 Whigs in the county, and the still greater body of the Jaeksonians, 
 remained, however, altogether quiet. 
 
 " After these preliminary movements in the country, it was 
 thought expedient to try the experiment of a city meeting. A call 
 was accordingly circulated for signatures. It was signed by about 
 two hundred and fifty persons, some of whom are persons of influ- 
 ence, ability, and respectability. How many signed the call as 
 friends of Gen. Harrison, how many as Whigs willing to deliberate 
 as to the fittest nomination to be made — to see, in short, who was 
 the strongest man — it is impossible to say. I know that one 
 argument used to persons, persuaded to attend, was, that the object 
 of the meeting was not to nominate Gen. Harrison, but to ascertain 
 who was the strongest man. I have no doubt that many attended, 
 in consequence of these representations, whose first choice does not 
 seek Gen. H. 
 
 1 Post, Chapter L.
 
 248 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " On the day of the meeting, about two hundred and fifty persons 
 attended — no more — though the Chronicle, a paper advocating the 
 General's pretensions, had asserted that a thousand names would 
 be attached to the call. Of the two hundred and lift v, a consider- 
 able number, doubtless, attended from motives of curiosity. Reso- 
 lutions were adopted and a committee appointed, with Judge Wright 
 as chairman, to draft an address to the people of the United States. 
 Judge Wright was not present at the meeting, and afterward, in 
 the Daily Gazette, denied the authority to use his name. The whole 
 thing went off badly. I presume, the address to the people will 
 never be drafted. 
 
 " I have thought it my duty to make these statements that you 
 may know how far the military fever prevails here. I am aware 
 that those under its influence, like men affected by other fevers, 
 see with an indifferent vision. But I think my statements are cor- 
 rect in the main. I believe that Judge McLean is the choice of 
 the reflecting men of our party in this quarter, and that the whole 
 party will go for him as soon as he is nominated, in other States or 
 at Washington. In union upon him they see a probability of 
 success which they discern in no other quarter. They see also in 
 his election the period of military rule, of corruption, and of execu- 
 tive encroachment. 
 
 " Our friends now look anxiously to Washington. I believe the 
 part}' as a mass will be for the man there nominated. Mr. Webster 
 has been nominated by Massachusetts. Judge McLean has been 
 nominated by Ohio. Xo other will probably be brought into the 
 field from the ranks of the Whig party. Let our friends at Wash- 
 ington decide between these gentlemen. Gen. H.'s claims have 
 been named by various primary meetings. Let his claims be also 
 fairly weighed. 
 
 " As a very humble individual, deeply interested, nevertheless, 
 in the approaching struggle, in common with all Americans, I 
 feel extremely solicitous that a nomination should be made before 
 Congress rises. 
 
 " We have been too long without a rallying point. In a country 
 like ours, we can never carry 'measures' without 'men.' Give us 
 a man as an index of measurers tending to the restoration of the 
 country to its former healthful condition — a man not obnoxious to 
 popular prejudice on account of past or present party connections 
 — and he can not fail to succeed. 
 
 " I remain most respectfully and 
 
 " Most truly yours, etc., 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " P. S. You will, of course, see much of Judge Burnet in Wash- 
 ington. He can state to you the result of various attempts made 
 in this county to elect Gen. H. to Congress, and so to the State Leg- 
 islature, at times when other Whig candidates succeeded. I must 
 add, however, in justice to Gen. H., that he only wishes that the 
 opinions and preference of those by whom he has brought forward 
 should be fairly considered, and that he is prepared to second an- 
 other nomination, should one be made, with all his influence. In 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 24i) 
 
 this he acts with the magnanimity which has always characterized 
 him." 
 
 At Cincinnati, February 16, 1835, Mr. Chase wrote as follows to 
 Judge McLean himself: 
 
 "Deab Sie : Some few days since a letter was received in town 
 from Mr. Edward Everett, in which it was slated (as I have been 
 
 informed by Mr. Walker, who received the letter) that you had ex- 
 pressed to your friends at Washington a determination not to per- 
 mit yourself to be longer considered as a candidate for the Presi- 
 dency. This report, coming from such a source, is likely to do 
 injury if it be not true. If it he true, I must regard it as a public 
 misfortune. So long as a hope remains of healing the unhappy 
 division in the ranks of the Whig party, and of saving the country 
 by an united effort, it seems to me that no man is at liberty to with- 
 draw himself from the people." 
 
 Here is a characteristic sentiment. Here is a clear indication of 
 our hero's fixed idea as to candidature for the Presidency. Let 
 us not forget it as we pass, from point to point of progress, in 
 these pages. 
 
 Mr. Chase went on as follows in that memorable letter : 
 
 " In my poor judgment, the grand error of those who think that 
 the government needs reform, lies in this, that any man nominated 
 by the Whigs can succeed. Of consequence, the present is regarded 
 as a favorable opportunity of pushing individual pretensions in the 
 hope of securing tins nomination, or of thus reaching the 'golden 
 round.' In the din of this contention, the voice of wisdom is un- 
 heard. In the smoke of this great controversy, the great questions 
 at issue are lost sight of. The people come to look upon this con- 
 test, not as one about vital principles, but as one about men. 
 Numbers retire in disgust from a party destined to defeat in con- 
 sequence of divisions among its prominent men. And thus mis- 
 rule and unconstitutional encroachment are encouraged and per- 
 petuated. How much it is to be wished that the magnanimity 
 which seems to actuate Mr. Calhoun might be imparted to the other 
 distinguished men of the Whig party." 
 
 Thus it seems that, as late as 1831, John Caldwell Calhoun was 
 rated by the hero of these pages as a Whig. But Mr. Chase pro- 
 ceeded in this fashion : 
 
 "I should for myself be better pleased with Mr. C. did his dis- 
 claimer of party connections and personal objects spring from a 
 devotion to the interests of the whole country rather than to those 
 of a particular State ; but as it is, I can not but look on him with 
 admiration and delight."
 
 250 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 As already intimated, it has been my fancy, sometimes, that in 
 Chase one might consider that the country saw the Calhoun of Free 
 Territory. But the fancy is not sound. Of that hereafter. Mr. 
 Chase continues in his letter to Judge McLean, as follows : 
 
 " I write thus freely to you because I believe I possess some 
 measure of your regard, and am unwilling that you should be 
 ignorant of what has been written to this point and to others in 
 respect to your intentions. I wrote some days ago to Mr. Vinton at 
 the instance of some of your friends, giving as impartial account 
 as I could of Harrisonism in this quarter. I think I can not be 
 mistaken in the opinion that Gen. H. is not the choice of any con- 
 siderable party in Ohio. The late meeting here was thinly attended, 
 and no enthusiasm could be excited. The Whigs can not with con- 
 sistency support a man for the Presidency on the sole ground of 
 
 military services. But, I presume, at XV , Gen. H. is not thought 
 
 of. Judge Burnet expected to be at Washington ere this ; but had 
 been confined b}^ indisposition. Your son, under my care, has been 
 very punctual to the office for some time past, and, I think, makes 
 good progress. I should be pleased to hear from you if convenience 
 permits — and to know how the cases of Beers vs. Houghton, and the 
 Bank United States vs. Robert Piatt, have been decided. Please present 
 to Mrs. McLean m} 7 own assurances of great respect and regard, and 
 my wife's love, and believe me, etc., " S P CHASE " 
 
 On this interesting letter it is obvious to remark that it shows at 
 least that its writer, in 1835, when he was twenty- seven years of 
 age, discerned no impropriety in a presidential candidature on the 
 part of a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. We 
 shall see that in 1868, when he was sixty years of age, and in 1872, 
 when his years had numbered four and sixty, he himself, as Chief 
 Justice of the Union, felt at liberty, if well invited, to become a 
 presidential candidate. 
 
 I own that, while, as a general rule, it may be wrong for a judge 
 of the Supreme Court of the United States to seek the Presidency, it 
 appears to me that there are circumstances forming exceptions to this 
 rule ; and that the case of Judge McLean as well as our hero's case 
 may well be treated as exceptional. 
 
 And now I must present a few words more about our hero's bias 
 and his prejudices as a politician during early manhood. The Cin- 
 cinnati American, of whose date notice has been already taken, 1 con- 
 tains an editorial, headed Party Violence. I have no doubt that it 
 was written by Chase. At least, he preserved it in a scrap-book. 
 It reads as follows : 
 
 1 Ante, Chapter XV.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 251 
 
 "We do not intend that the American shall be a violent party 
 paper; but we desire that our ideas of this matter may be under- 
 stood. We wish our readers to know what we mean by violence; 
 that they may not accuse us of disregarding a pledge, when we are 
 only acting on principle. We do not then think it violence to call 
 things by their right names ; but we do think it violence to apply 
 to any person or thing a harsher name than the strictest truth will 
 warrant. We regard every attack upon personal character for specu- 
 lative opinions as violent and altogether unjustifiable ; but we 
 think it very right and not at all violent, to say of a man who 
 commits a reprehensible deed, whatever the deed deserves. An 
 example or two will make our meaning plainer. We do not scruple 
 to say of the Secretary of War's compositions, that they are mani- 
 fest transgressions against the peace and dignity of our American 
 Speech ; but we should say of these transgressions nothing harsher 
 than that they indicate an ignorance of our language hardly decent 
 in so high an officer. We are unwilling to say of one who holds in 
 theory the nullifying doctrines, that he entertains a treasonable 
 design ; but we should not beat all fastidious about calling the man 
 who would himself do, or would excite others to do, an act of nulli- 
 fication, a traitor. Let us not be mistaken. We are in earnest in 
 the cause we have espoused. We hold, with undouhting faith, all 
 the articles of the National Republican creed. We are in favor of 
 the principle of Protection, and of the principle of Internal Improve- 
 ment. We think our present national rulers to be hostile to these 
 principles. We think that the Government is not administered 
 by them as a national government, but as a party government. 
 We are of opinion that they have caused the nation to break its 
 faith with the feeble and dependent Indians. We doubt not that 
 they have carelessly wasted large amounts of public money. We 
 are, therefore, opposed to the present administration. And believing, 
 as we do, that Henry Clay is a man of other principles, and that 
 his administration will be marked by a higher, and nobler, and 
 better, and more national policy, therefore, are we the advocate of 
 Henry Clay. 
 
 " We shall, it is likely, use strong expressions, not, we hope, 
 without strong facts to warrant them. We shall, however, be care- 
 ful to mistake no facts, and to misrepresent no opinions. We hope 
 to overcharge no description, and never to soil our sheet with the 
 filthiness of abuse. Keeping within these limits, our own con- 
 science will acquit us of party violence ; and if that reproach us 
 not, we care little what is said of us by friend or foe." 
 
 Under date June 12, 1835, is another entry reflecting light on 
 the material prosperity of Mr. Chase. It reads as follows : 
 
 " Resolved, from and after this date for the period of one year, I 
 will not ask a discount of any note (except renewals, and except as 
 indorser for Mr. Garniss if he request it), either drawn or indorsed 
 by me, unless, in the meantime I shall have sold the St. Clair 
 property."
 
 252 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 We come now to domestic matter of great interest. As to some 
 of it I hardly know just what to offer. I now refer particularly to 
 an entry which begins as follows : 
 
 " On the evening of Saturday, the 14th of November, 1835, 1 came 
 home to tea in the evening and found that my dear wife had been 
 extremely busy all day in household affairs." 
 
 Most of the remainder uf this very interesting entry I have felt 
 at liberty to withhold from readers. There may come a time when 
 false delicacy will no longer be allowed to order the suppression of 
 such revelations ; but, at present, I feel bound to omit the greater 
 part of the entry in question, but to say that the whole of it is full 
 of evidence that he who made it was a fond, devoted husband. 
 
 But here is a passage I can not omit : 
 
 " At half-past two, or, perhaps, nearer three in the morning, her 
 labor terminated in the safe delivery of a little daughter. When 
 she was informed that it was over, she lay back in the bed and ex- 
 claimed, ' Oh, Heavenly Father ! I thank thee ! ' "
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE HERO'S GREATEST SORROW — UNEXPECTED DEATH OP THE 
 FIRST WIPE. 
 
 REFERENCE has already been made to the fact that, according 
 i to Kennedy and others, Wirt died of a broken heart. How 
 long a broken heart may live, has not been calculated by the cold 
 conclusions of psychologists and physiologists. One can imagine 
 cases in which broken hearts may live on, brokenly, through many 
 years of usefulness, and aspiration, even of ambition. 
 
 Sorrow has outwrought the works of joy. It is not when the 
 mouth is filled with laughter and the tongue with singing, 1 that the 
 master-pieces of endeavor and of aspiration, whether in the arts or 
 elsewhere, are accomplished. 
 
 Kennedy distinctly says that after the death of Agnes her devoted 
 father lost, never to recover it entirely, the " buoyancy of spirit 
 which, heretofore, even in his gravest moments, was wont to break 
 forth in sudden and irrepressible sallies," and that " this sad event 
 even affected his health, and secretly preyed upon his mind to a 
 degree which is supposed to have hastened the termination of his 
 life.' " 
 
 Was he, then, a mere weakling? 
 
 William Wirt may seem to have been vain and weak, because, 
 not being by profession what we call a man of letters, he wrote 
 books and minor compositions of general interest for publication. 
 But this eminent, successful lawyer clearly understood that one is 
 not necessarily trying to " ride two horses" if, in the midst of active, 
 various practice as a lawyer, he writes, now and then, for the general 
 world of readers. 
 
 No! this man whose death followed the death of his daughter with 
 so much likeness to the succession of an effect to its cause, was not a 
 weakling; he was no mere trifler. 
 
 1 Psalm cxxvi, 2.
 
 254 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 It is healthy to remember lives like that for which he so poeti- 
 cally sorrowed. It is wholesome to remember his devotion, though 
 it was at once too idolatrous and too ideal — though, to many readers, 
 it may seem more woman-like than manly. Would that we had 
 more men of that "unmanly" mold among us! Then we might 
 begin at least to civilize our cultivated savageism. 
 
 This man was " only" Agnes' father ; he was not, according to the 
 common sense of words, her lover; why did he so love her, why did 
 her departure hasten his descent into the grave? 
 
 According to Kennedy, the letters of Agnes' father to her prove 
 that he attributed to her precocity of understanding; and his biogra- 
 pher considers that he did not err in that behalf. This lovely girl, 
 it seems, " was her father's constant companion in his study, arranged 
 and indorsed his papers for him, collected his books of authority 
 when he was studying his cases, made notes for him, and by a thou- 
 sand affectionate assiduities so associated herself with his happiest 
 hours as to render her presence one of his highest delights, and 
 frequent letters to her when absent almost indispensable to his con- 
 tent." 
 
 We also learn that Alice Wirt " possessed a remarkable intel- 
 ligence and aptitude of mind, which was developed in a devotion 
 to study very unusual to her years and sex." Mr. Kennedy has 
 added: "It was not less expressed in her face, which sparkled with 
 physical and intellectual beauty. Her manners won all hearts by 
 their gentleness and grace." 
 
 Wirt himself thus pictures his lost daughter: "Young as she was 
 she seemed to be the seal and connecting bond of the whole family. 
 Her voice, her smile, her animated, graceful, movements, her count- 
 less little acts and expressions of kindness and love, those ' small, 
 sweet courtesies of life' which she was so continually rendering to 
 all around her with such exquisite grace of manner, had made her 
 necessary to the individual happiness of every member of the house- 
 hold. When she was lost to us, it was as if the key-stone of the 
 arch had been removed. There was a healthfulness in the glow of 
 her fresh and young affections which animated the rigid nerves of 
 age, and a pleasantness and beauty in the play of her innocent 
 thoughts and feelings which could smooth the brow of care and light 
 up a smile even in the face of sorrow. To me she was not only the 
 companion of my studies, but the -sweetener of my toils. The painter, 
 it is said, relieved his aching eyes by looking on a curtain of green.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAXE CHASE. 255 
 
 My mind, in its hour of deepest fatigue, required no other refresh- 
 ment than the one glance at my beloved child as she sat beside me." 
 Almost infinite seems the divisibility of love, even in the order 
 known as finite. The father of Agnes almost reproached himself* 
 for his devotion to her memory when he looked on her surviving 
 mother and his yet "remaining circle of affectionate children." 
 After all, perhaps, what he gave to Agnes was no real robbery of 
 the surviving members of his household, though it seems quite 
 certain that her loss aged him very quickly, even when occurrences 
 might have disposed him to cry out with Hamlet: 
 
 " Hold, hold, my heart, 
 And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, 
 But bear me stiffly up." 
 
 According to " the Burr School " and some other schools, it is 
 weakness to mourn and wisdom to enjoy. But, perhaps, one may 
 find means to justify the doctrine that the author of the poem which 
 relates the ill effects of Helen's beauty, understood true courage 
 quite as well as Aaron Burr. How beautifully Lessing shows that 
 old Greek's fine philosophy of feeling ! Having pointed out the 
 tendency of modern European manners to refine away emotion or 
 conceal it, and referred back to the old barbaric days in Europe — 
 how extremes will meet! — which were illustrated in the command of 
 Palnatoko to fear nothing and not even to name the word fear, he 
 says : " Not so the Greek ! He felt and feared ! He gave outward 
 indication of his pains and of his trouble; he was ashamed of none of 
 the human weaknesses, only none of them must keep him back on 
 the way to honor, or from the performance of his duty. When 
 Homer leads the Trojans to battle with wild cries, the Greeks on the 
 contrary, in determined stillness ; thereupon, the annotators very 
 well remark that the poet thereby means to paint those as barbarians, 
 these as mannered people. I wonder that they have not remarked 
 in another passage a like characteristic contrast. 
 
 " The hostile armies have struck a truce. They are busied with 
 the burning of their dead, which on both parts goes not off without 
 tears. But Priam forbids his Trojans to weep. He forbids them 
 t;> weep, says Dacier, because he apprehends that they may too much 
 weaken themselves, and on the morrow go with less courage to the 
 conflict. Well; but I ask, Why must Priam only apprehend this? 
 Why does not Agamemnon also publish to his Greeks the same 
 interdict? The true meaning of the poet goes deeper. He will
 
 256 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 teach us that only the civilized Greek can at once weep and be brave, 
 while the uncivilized Trojan, in order to be full of courage, must 
 first smother all humanity." 
 
 In vain does Parton's facile but too often superficial pen exert 
 itself to paint the stoicism of his hero as if it had something in it 
 less repugnant than a studiedly ignoble selfishness. Aaron Burr, in 
 spite of antecedents, was a born barbarian, and all his education 
 (unintentionally I concede) but tended to make him an accomplished 
 and resolved barbarian. 
 
 I say all these things by way of introduction — let me say of 
 mournful prelude — to the showing that I am about to make of 
 Chase's conduct under the supreme affliction of his private life. 
 
 He, like Wirt, abhorred the doctrine — so abhorrent to each Christian 
 heart — that it is weakness to mourn and wisdom to enjoy. He knew 
 that it is often wisdom to mourn and weakness to enjoy. He knew 
 that sorrow can Avork wonders quite impossible to joy. He knew 
 that life itself is one long sorrow with reliefs of pleasure. 
 
 I have quoted a diary especially devoted to the memory of his 
 first great sorrow. Here is another passage that seems fit to be 
 presented here : 
 
 "I did not go to court in the morning. I walked down to my 
 office, however, and mentioned the birth of my babe to Mr. Caswell, 
 whom I overtook on the way. At night, about half past nine or ten, 
 Kitty suddenly became delirious. I had gone up stairs to bed; but, 
 hearing something unusual below, I hastened down stairs, and found 
 my dear wife talking incoherently. I ran for the doctor, who soon 
 came, and, having ascertained her condition, requested a consulta- 
 tion. Her father and I objected, fearing to alarm her. The doctor 
 observed that he was satisfied as to the nature of the attack, and as 
 to the course to be prescribed ; but that he had proposed a consul- 
 tation in deference to our feelings. I told him, if he was satisfied, to 
 go on. I was greatly alarmed, and trembled violently. He said he 
 thought he ought to bleed. He went home and procured his lancet, 
 but when he returned the delirium had passed off. 
 
 " At this time, or before, I went to the bedside and asked Kitty 
 if she would like to have another physician. She replied, 'No,' say- 
 ing that she had the greatest confidence in Dr. Colhy, and when I 
 urged it farther she said, ' Do n't you talk so, you will hurt his feel- 
 ings.' Her father then interposed, saying that the doctor had him- 
 self proposed it, and I, fearing lest, if she knew that the proposition 
 had emanated from the doctor, that she might be inj-uriously alarmed, 
 dropped the subject. I followed the doctor out of the room, however, 
 and, as he went down stairs, said to him that, as Kitty did not seem 
 to be alarmed by the idea of having another physician, I would go 
 for Dr. Eberle if he still thought it expedient. He thought it unnec-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 257 
 
 essary, and I did not go. After the delirium passed off, the doctor 
 concluded not to bleed her. After charging the nurse to call me if 
 any thing should happen, I went to hed again. 
 
 " When I went un stairs, I knelt down and earnestly implored God 
 to spare the life of my dear wife; to give wisdom to the physician, 
 and efficacy to his remedies ; and especially to prepare her for all His 
 holy will. Nothing farther occurred that night." 
 
 I must omit much other matter, the presentation of which affected 
 delicacy might condemn. The next sentences to which I think 
 proper to invite attention read as follows: 
 
 "It was on the evening of this day, I think, 1 that a serious con- 
 troversy took place about the name of the child. I wished to have 
 it called Catherine Jane, after its mother. Kitty wished to have it 
 called Amelia Catherine or Amelia Janette, after its two grand- 
 mothers. Mrs. Grarntss wanted to have it named after herself. 1 
 felt thoroughly disinclined to this, but was willing that it should be 
 called Catherine Amelia ; and this, indeed, was the name we had 
 agreed upon before its birth. Mrs. G. then said that she did n't care 
 how it was called — that she would not take any more notice of it, 
 and a great deal of the same import, and in the same temper. I 
 made no reply, but felt much displeased." 
 
 Under date November 19th, are the words : 
 
 "I remember very little of Kitty's appearance this day, but she 
 seemed much improved." 
 
 The next day, Friday, has this record : 
 
 " Kitty seemed to be getting better to-day, also, quite fast ; so 
 much, that, in a conversation with the president and cashier of the 
 Lafayette Bank, I expressed a willingness to go to Philadelphia on 
 the business of the bank should there be nothing at home to prevent 
 it. At noon, I went home and suggested the possibility of my being 
 sent to Philadelphia. Kitty seemed pleased with the idea of my 
 going, and, on my remarking that probably I should not get any 
 compensation for going, she observed, ' but you will get reputation 
 by it.' 
 
 L - Shortly after this she spoke to me about naming the child. I 
 told her that I should leave it entirely to her. She said, 'No, it 
 rested with me. The name should be as I pleased.' ' Well,' I replied, 
 'it shall be as you have said.' She wished me to have the name of 
 Amelia Janette placed on the child's bracelets. I tried to evade a 
 promise ; but she insisted on it, saying that if I promised I should 
 be sure to do it. At length 1 promised, and, immediately on going 
 out after dinner, went to the jeweler. Mr. MeGrew's, and gave him 
 the proper directions. By some accident, however, the jeweler did 
 not execute my order; and my dear Kitty, seeing the bracelets re- 
 
 1 November 18.
 
 258 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 turned unmarked, never knew that I had complied with her request. 
 I did not see my Kitty again till I came home to tea, having 
 been engaged all the afternoon, arguing a cause at court." 
 
 Under date Xovember 21, I find: 
 
 "On going to the bank this morning, the cashier inquired of me 
 if I had concluded to go to Philadelphia. I replied that I had, if it 
 was desired. He said that it was urgently desired. I then went 
 immediately home, and found the doctor in my wife's room. I asked 
 him if it was safe and prudent for me to go. He said that it was. 
 I asked him if there was no danger that something might go wrong 
 in my absence. He said he could not say there was no danger; but 
 there was no probability of any thing amiss. I then turned to Kitty. 
 She did not seem as bright as yesterday. She had taken morphine 
 the previous evening. I had a vague idea that she did not wish me 
 to go. I expressed it. 'Yes,' said she, 'I do want you to go.' 
 ' Kitty do n't want me to go,' said I to her mother. ' Yes, she does,' 
 was the reply. I then concluded to go, but reluctantly. Kitty 
 seemed to take an interest in the preparations for my departure. 
 She told me to clothe myself warm — to take my overshoes — not to 
 ride over the inclined plane, etc. It was near four in the afternoon 
 when I kissed her, and bade her farewell. Little did I dream that 
 it was for the last time ! " 
 
 Saturday, Xovember 22d, yields this entry: 
 
 " Came on the ' Philadelphia' with the intention of going to Phila- 
 delphia. The P. is a boat of the middling class, with an upper cabin. 
 A large number of passengers (about forty) were already on board. 
 and I had some difficulty in procuring a berth. I secured one, how- 
 ever, but it was near the wheel. The passengers were nearl}* all 
 strangers to me, but I was introduced by Mr. Lytle to Mr. Greene, 
 of Richmond, and Mr. Bainbridge, of Louisville. We left the land- 
 ing at Cincinnati about six o'clock. It was twilight, then, and twi- 
 light soon deepened into darkness, relieved by a faint starlight. The 
 weather was cold and cheerless, and I was faiu to remain in the cabin 
 and while away the time by reading, and by a game of chequers 
 with Mr. B., of Portsmouth. My antagonist was easily vanquished 
 at the first evng, (?) and did not seem disposed to renew the contest 
 
 " Mr. B. had been visiting Cincinnati, and had been introduced 
 into the family of Mr. Moore. He was pleased with the young 
 ladies. I rallied him on his state of unblest singleness. He con- 
 fessed that he did not find much pleasure in it. and expressed a firm 
 determination to wed before spring. He said that he had lately 
 
 journeyed from Cincinnati to Portsmouth with Mrs. A . of whom 
 
 he spoke in such terms that I was induced to tell him that I had 
 
 heard authentically that the fair lady was engaged to Mr. M , of 
 
 Cincinnati. He received the intelligence with absolute consternation, 
 and could not be persuaded that the report was correct. He left the 
 boat at Portsmouth. 
 
 " About nine, I sought my berth, and, except that the jar of the
 
 OF SALMON TOETLAND CHASE. 259 
 
 wheels and noise of stopping, etc., frequently disturbed me, passed 
 a comfortable night." 
 
 The next entry reads as follows: 
 
 "Sunday, November 23. I rose early this morning, and, to my 
 surprise, found the guards of the boat and the banks of the river 
 covered with snow. The atmosphere was still charged with mingled 
 rain and snow. I was obliged, with the rest of the passengers, to 
 perform my ablutions in the open air, and to use the common towel. 
 I evaded the disagreeableness of the latter necessity, however, by 
 seizing my opportunity, when the first towel, being completely 
 blackened, was removed and another substituted in its place. Early 
 in the morning I took my Bible and a couple of volumes of Dick's 
 works from my trunk. At first, fear of ridicule had nearly induced 
 me not to take out my Bible. I did not, however, yield to this un- 
 worthy feeling, and, in the course of the day, had the pleasure, not 
 only of using my Bible 1113-self, but of seeing it much used br- 
 others."' 
 
 A clean-minded man is apt to be a clean-bodied man. I look 
 upon the revelations of this little entry as quite precious. I should 
 say, however, that the entry itself was made before the entries re- 
 hearsing the story of the wife's illness and the birth of the child. 
 
 The next of the last-mentioned entries reads as follows : 
 
 "Sunday, November 22. There was a violent snow storm to-day. 
 Mr. Garniss wrote to me that Kitty was better, and that the babe 
 was well. She continued to drink the porter." 
 
 Thursday, November 24, has this record : 
 
 " The nurse says Kitty continued to improve. She was not, how- 
 ever, very lively; nor did she, at any time during her illness, man- 
 ifest much disposition to have her babe with her, though she ex- 
 pressed the liveliest concern about every thing relating to its wel- 
 fare. She continued to drink the porter." 
 
 Then the record goes on in this fashion : 
 
 ; - Wednesday, November 25. Kitty still continued to mend slowly. 
 She continued to take the porter. 
 
 'Thursday. November 26. To-day Kitty complained of a pain in 
 her ear and of deafness, or, rather, of a slight difficulty in hearing. 
 The doctor syringed her car. Mr. Garniss wrote me that her health 
 continued to improve, but that her spirits were rather low. She 
 continued to take porter. 
 
 " Friday, November 27. Kittj r commenced taking quinine pills 
 to-day, and kept on drinking porter. She began also to eat the soft 
 parts of oysters as well as to take oyster soup. She took very little, 
 however, of any thing, for her appetite was poor. 
 18
 
 260 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Saturday, November 28. The same course of medical treatment 
 and diet continued to-day. In the evening, she sat up for some 
 time." 
 
 The next entry is, in part, unfit, according to received aesthetic 
 views, for presentation to readers ; but every word is instinct with 
 the proper feeling on the part of him from whose heavily afflicted 
 pen it emanated. Real delicacy would receive each syllable of it ; 
 the canons of true art in biographic writing would completely sanc- 
 tion full presentation of its contents. But the time has not yet come 
 for full respect to those true laws of biographic writing. Here is all 
 I dare to offer: 
 
 " Sunday, November 29. This morning Mrs. Garniss came into 
 the room, and wished Kitty to get up, but she did not feel very 
 well, and was disinclined to rise. Her nurse told her if she did not 
 feel as if she wanted to get up to lie still — there was no need of her 
 getting up. About noon she expressed a wish to rise, and the nurse 
 assisted her out of bed into her chair. She leaned back in the chair 
 as usual, and so remained till after dinner. At dinner, two or three 
 oysters and a small piece of boiled turkey was 1 sent up to her. She 
 ate the soft parts of the 03'sters, and, as the nurse says, a part of 
 the turkey. Two little bits of turke}^ remained, which the nurse 
 
 urged her to eat, and she did take them A little while 
 
 after this, she was put back into bed, and the nurse observes that 
 she then noticed that she seemed more helpless than she had before 
 — that she did not help herself so well. But all this seems to have 
 passed without farther attention. Toward evening Mrs. MeCandless 
 and Mrs. Emerson came in. She said she felt cold — a kind of crawl- 
 ing sensation, and asked that the bed clothes might be put close 
 around her neck. This was done and she seemed comfortable and 
 conversed with them. In the evening she was up again and was 
 sitting up, reclining back in the chair." 
 
 The remainder of the record goes on in part as follows: 
 
 " Monday, November 30. . . . It was now morning, and Eliza, 
 one of the servants, came into the room. She told her to call her 
 mother: When her mother came she told her to send her father 
 for the doctor, for she was very sick. Her mother did so immedi- 
 ately and then asked her why she had not sent for her. She ans- 
 wered, 'She would n't let me.' The doctor soon came. . . About 
 eleven o'clock the doctor came in again. The nurse said that Kitty 
 was doing very well, and, as she had not slept any during the night, 
 the doctor did not disturb her. About two o'clock in the afternoon 
 Mrs. Grarniss, who had been very much alarmed by Kitty's unusual 
 manner of breathing, sent for Mrs. Colby, notwithstanding the assur- 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 261 
 
 ances of the nurse that all was well. As soon as Mrs. Colby came 
 she said that Kitty was very sick, and went home and sent the 
 doctor over. AVhen he came he also pronounced her to be very ill, 
 and requested a consultation. Her father proposed to send for Dr. 
 Drake, who was accordingly summoned immediately. Before he had 
 arrived, Dr. Colby had made preparations for bleeding her, thinking 
 immediate bloodletting necessary, and that a high state of peritoneal 
 inflammation existed. Dr. Drake concurred, and they proceeded to 
 bleed. When six or eight ounces of blood had been abstracted. Dr. 
 Colby, thinking that she had been bled as much as her constitution 
 would bear, and becoming satisfied also, from the effects of the bleed- 
 ing, that the high state of inflammation supposed did not exist, ar- 
 rested the flow of blood. Dr. Drake was much dissatisfied, and in- 
 sisted on a more copious bleeding. The bandage was accordingly 
 removed, and more blood was taken. It was then replaced. Dr. 
 Drake still remained dissatisfied, urging that it was necessary to 
 bleed to fainting. He rejiresented the difference of opinion to Mr. 
 and Mrs. Garniss, and spoke of leaving the house. Mr. Garniss en- 
 treated him not to do so. He then suggested that another physician 
 should be sent for, and suggested Dr. Marshall. Mr. Garniss ob- 
 jected to him. He then proposed Dr. Eichards. This was acceded 
 to, and Dr. Drake went for Dr. Eichards himself. When they came, 
 both soon agreed as to the necessity of bleeding, and she was again 
 bled, contrary to Dr. Colb} r 's opinion and wish. Forty grains of 
 calomel were then administered. Thirty ounces of blood had been 
 taken. Still Drs. Drake and Eichards were not satisfied; they 
 thought further bleeding necessary, but postponed it till morning. 
 While this bleeding was going on, Drs. Drake and Colby each 
 counted Kitty's pulse — the latter rej^eatedly. Dr. Drake affirmed 
 that the pulse was diminished in frequency from one hundred and 
 forty-five to one hundred and twenty, and Dr. Colby was equally 
 confident that it was accelerated from one hundred and forty-five to 
 one hundred and seventy. Drs. Drake and Colb}' remained in the 
 house all night, and Dr. Colby, fearing the result of the bleeding, and. 
 still more, the consequence of a repetition of it, exerted himself to 
 prevent any opinion of its necessity. Warm fomentations and warm 
 drinks were copiously used. Kitty was thrown into a profuse per- 
 spiration, which continued through the night, and in the morning all 
 her symptoms were better. . . . 
 
 "Tuesday, December 1. Such was her condition on the morning 
 of this unhappy day. There was a fair prospect of recovery. All 
 the symptoms boded well. But Drs. Drake and Eichards were of 
 opinion that she had not been bled sufficiently, and that the disease 
 was not subdued. They, accordingl} T recommended further bleed- 
 ing. Dr. Colby opposed it, saying that all her symptoms were im- 
 proved, and the}' ought to watch the result. The other physicians 
 insisted, however. Dr. Colby then urgently recommended that Dr. 
 Eberle 1 should be sent for. Mr. Garniss went for him, and returned 
 with him. On the way, he told him that Kitty was suffering from 
 
 1 One of the most eminent obstetricians in the city.
 
 262 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a violent inflammation. Dr. Eberle remarked that such inflamma- 
 tion rarely, if ever, occurred so late after confinement. When ho 
 arrived, Drs. Drake and Richards stated their view to him, and Dr. 
 Colby stated his. He concurred with the majority, and further 
 bleeding was, consequently, resolved upon. It was anticipated that 
 the effect would be to reduce the frequency of the pulse and augment 
 its volume. Kitty was told that the doctors thought of bleeding her 
 again, and was asked if she was willing. She said ' Yes, any thing.' 
 She was then raised up in the bed, and twenty ounces of blood 
 were taken from her. The effect upon the pulse was the exact con- 
 trary of what was anticipated. It became more frequent and more 
 feeble. But, in other respects, she seemed somewhat easier. The 
 physicians seemed to entertain some hope of her recovery, and 
 agreed upon a course of treatment to be adopted. 
 
 "Her father came into the room, exclaiming, 'Thank God! my 
 child ! the doctors say there is hope.' She said nothing. All hope 
 soon vanished. Her difficulty of respiration returned. It was not 
 painful, but tiresome and wearying. It was plain that she was 
 dying. 
 
 " Her father came to her bedside and said : 
 
 " ' My daughter, do you know your father?' 
 
 " : Oh ! yes,' she said, ' I know my father.' 
 
 " ' My daughter, do you know that you are dying? ' 
 
 "To this, her father says, she answered 'yes.' Mrs. Cope, who 
 was also at the bedside, thinks she answered ' no.' 
 
 " ' My daughter, have you thought of Cod ? ' 
 
 " ' Oh ! yes,' she answered, ' long and seriously.' 
 
 "'Are you willing to die, m}^ daughter?' 
 
 " She faintly answered in the affirmative, and seemed to sink, to 
 sink, 1 to sleep. Dr. Drake felt her pulse, and said that she was 
 dead. 
 
 " ' My daughter!' exclaimed her father. She partly opened her 
 eyes, and then closed them again, forever. Those who were near 
 her during those two last awful days, say that her whole demeanor 
 was inexpressibly sweet and gentle. Her faculties were unclouded. 
 Her complexion was clear. Her eyes were larger and more lustrous 
 than usual, and her whole countenance was illumined by an almost 
 celestial radiance. She passed away almost insensibly — without a 
 struggle — without even a sigh. 
 
 "I was far away. At the moment of her death, I was in Phila- 
 delphia, thinking of her, I believe, but little dreaming of her situa- 
 tion. The next morning I left Philadelphia on my return home; 
 arrived in Baltimore the same day. Visited several of my friends 
 in the evening, and, early, on the following morning, Wednesday, 
 continued my journey homeward. My whole soul was occupied by 
 the idea of reaching home, and receiving the welcome embrace of 
 my dear wife. From Baltimore we traveled day and night, and 
 readied Wheeling about midnight between Saturday and Sunday. 
 
 "Sunday morning, the 'Leonidas' came down from Pittsburg, and 
 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 263 
 
 I. fearing the river would be frozen over, resolved to proccd in her 
 without delay. Before leaving the hotel, however, I sent a servant 
 to the post-office, who brought me three letters — one from her father, 
 dated Thursday, the 26th November, stating that Kitty's health was 
 improving, but that her spirits were low ; another from Mr. McCand- 
 less, dated Monday. 11 o'clock, P. M., stating the sudden and alarm- 
 ing accession of disease ; and another, dated the next day. announc- 
 ing the fatal termination. 
 
 " My cup of anticipated enjoyment was thus dashed suddenly from 
 my lips, and I was made to drink the dregs of sorrow. 
 
 •■ I went immediately on board the steamboat. On Tuesday night, 
 about twelve o'clock, we arrived at Cincinnati. I hurried up to the 
 house, hoping, even against hope. The black crape at the door an- 
 nounced that death was within. I felt afraid to disturb her parents, 
 and determined to return to the boat. I walked several squares 
 through the silent streets. I returned, passed the house, and went 
 to Dr. Colby's. I roused them, and went in, and made some in- 
 quiries about Kitty and about the family. I then went over to the 
 house. After some time, Mr. Garniss was awakened, and opened 
 the door. 
 
 "I shall not attempt to describe my meeting with him, or with the 
 broken-hearted mother. I went up stairs. There, in our nuptial 
 chamber, in her coffin, lay my sweet wife. 'Lovely in death the 
 beauteous ruin lay.' She was but little changed in features — but. 
 oh ! the look of life was gone. The sweet smile, the glance of affec- 
 tion, the expression, the mind, was gone. Nothing was left but 
 clay. 
 
 " I kneeled before her, and implored God to restore her to me. 
 My prayer was not heard. I kissed her cold lips. They returned 
 no pressure as they were wont. I pressed her cold, but still noble, 
 forehead. She was dead. 
 
 "From this time till Thursday I was almost continually by her 
 dead body. It was a mournful satisfaction even thus to have her 
 near me ; but it was soon to end. On Thursday we committed her 
 bod}- to the tomb. Since then I have visited her grave every day 
 except twice, when circumstances which I could not control, pre- 
 vented. She lies, for the present, in the family vault of Geo. Y\\ 
 Jones, Esq., but we shall build one for her (and for ourselves when 
 we may be summoned to join her) in the spring." 
 
 Lessing paints a work of ancient art, figuring a winged youth, 
 who stands, in deeply pensive attitude, the left foot thrown across 
 the right, beside a corpse, with his right hand and his head resting 
 upon a reversed torch, which is supported upon the breast of the 
 dead, and in his left hand, which reaches round the torch, holds a 
 wreath with a butterfly. This figure, says Belleri, 1 must be Love, 
 who extinguishes the torch — that is, the Affections — upon the breast 
 
 1 Admirandis, tab. Ixxix.
 
 264 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of the dead man. " Arid I," says Lessing, " I say, this figure is 
 Death ! " x 
 
 But it is hard to figure Death as Love. And we shall find that 
 all the piety of our hero — all his deep and dark religiousness, if I 
 may so express myself — did not enable him to stifle sorrow. He 
 inordinately grieved under the terrible affliction shown in the pre- 
 ceding narrative. Indeed, we shall find something very morbid for 
 a time in his mourning — so morbid that, if I could escape the duty 
 uow to be performed, I would be more relieved than I can intimate. 
 
 This is not a poem — it is not a play. It is a Life. The views of 
 Schlegel 2 and others, touching the artistic handling of harsh effects 
 in tragedy can not govern a biography. I must show the life re- 
 lated as it was; the character portrayed must be represented truly. 
 Not, indeed, severely — not at all. 
 
 Before proceeding farther, let me call attention to one of the vain 
 efforts made to console this heavy mourner. 
 
 The following letter was mailed at the place named iu the date- 
 line, on the day of the date : 
 
 " Philadelphia, December 12, 1835. 
 
 "My Dear, Dear Friend : — I have this moment taken a letter 
 from my brother George, who announces with great feeling and 
 affection for you, the heavy hand of God that has been laid upon 
 you. With my whole soul, my dear friend, do I sympathize with 
 you at this most afflicting dispensation. Blessed be God that you 
 have made your peace with him — and can go to his throne of grace, 
 and there pour out all the deep feelings of your soul. Blessed be 
 God that you feel that his declarations are true and faithful — that 
 troubles do not spring from the dust nor afflictions from the ground — 
 but that they are sent from him for all-wise purposes — to wean our 
 hearts more and more from the vain things of this world — and to 
 make us build for heaven. What is wealth — what is fame — what 
 are all the honors of this world ? The grave, with superhuman elo- 
 quence, answers — nothing, nothing. 
 
 " But, my dear, dear friend, I can offer you no consolation. But, 
 blessed be God, that we have an advocate with the Father — even 
 -Jesus Christ the Righteous — Him who was touched with the feelings 
 of our infirmities. My most fervent prayer to God is, that he would 
 sustain you at this most trying hour; that he may give the conso- 
 lations of His holy word, which are neither few nor small. 
 
 " Do not, I entreat you, reflect upon yourself, for leaving your 
 dear wife. You would not have done it, unless to all human appear- 
 ances there was perfect safety in doing so. You came at the call of 
 
 1 Wie die Alien den Tod gebildet. Lessing's gasamelte Werke, Erster Band, 401. 
 
 2 In his Vorlesungen ueber dramatishc Kunsl und Literalur.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 265 
 
 duty. But God seeth not as man Beeth. And oh ! what a voice issues 
 even from the very grave of a dearest friend. Our light afflictions, 
 which arc but for a moment, will work out for us a far more ex- 
 ceeding and eternal weight of glory. 
 
 "My dear Alison joins with me in the deepest sympathy. Your 
 loss is our only theme. But 'be still, and know that it is God.' 
 The struggles of this delusive world will soon he over with us all; 
 then, if we have made our peace with God, we shall join our dear 
 Christian friends, who have gone before us, and be forever together, 
 where friends no more go out, and foes no more come in. 
 
 " With feelings of deepest sympathy I am, dear friend, yours in 
 the bonds of friendship, and the bonds of the Gospel of Peace. 
 
 "CHARLES D. CLEVELAND." 
 
 The next entry in the register so often cited reads as follows : 
 
 "December 25, [1835.] I rose at my usual hour this morning. 
 One thought filled my mind, one emotion occupied m} T whole soul : 
 my great, my irreparable loss; my wife, my dear wife, gone, never 
 to return. Oh ! how I accused myself of folly and weakness in 
 leaving her when yet sick ; how I mourned that the prospect of a 
 little addition to my reputation, a little pecuniary compensation, 
 should have tempted me away from her at a time of such interest. 
 Yet every one told me that there was no danger, the doctor and the 
 nurse. She and her father and mother seemed desirous that I should 
 go; I went, alas! I took my last leave of my precious wife, I im- 
 printed my last kiss on her conscious lips ; she was dead ere I re- 
 turned. 
 
 "After dressing and offering my morning devotions, I went down 
 stairs to breakfast. Before breakfast, I prayed with my father and 
 mother-in-law. We three breakfasted. After breakfast, I read 
 awhile, then went to my office, where I saw Mr. Wiggins, and 
 held some conversation with him on business — about Hey's bill to 
 foreclose mortgage on the leasehold interest of Dawson, in premises 
 belonging to G-. & W., on Water Street, about debts due from Wil- 
 liams 1 estate, and about pa} T ment for stock lately purchased by him 
 for G. and myself, in New York. After Mr. W. left the office, I 
 went home, and from thence to church. 
 
 ■While in the house of God, I endeavored to fix my thoughts on 
 the solemn service, and pra3 T ed for strength so to do ; but I was sit- 
 ting in the same place, joining in the same service, and listening to the 
 same hymns as a year ago, when my dear wife was with me. I saw 
 the wife of the clergyman, who was not a professor of religiou, go 
 forward to receive the sacraments, and I thought how I had antici- 
 pated the pleasure of seeing my dear wife do the same. How myste- 
 rious are his ways who ordereth all things after the counsel of his 
 own will ! My wife was cut off without the opportunity of publicly 
 testifying her faith in Christ, though not, I trust, without such faith. 
 
 "I kneeled at the Lord's table, and renewed my vows of love and 
 obedience. Oh! for grace to enable me to keep them. 
 
 "After the communion, I returned home to wee]) and mourn. I 
 went to my chamber, whither, a year ago, I had returned with the 
 partner of my bosom, and could not restrain my feeling
 
 266 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "After awhile, I went down to dinner. I then came up again, 
 and again surrendered myself to grief. At length, I calmed my- 
 self and w T alked out. I went to the vault which contains the mortal 
 part of my dear departed one. I prayed for grace to sustain me 
 under my bereavement. I came home. I had hardly exchanged my 
 boots for my slippers when Mr. Read, the Prosecuting Attorney, 
 came in. He informed me that Maguire, a man who was shot on the 
 21st by a man named Gedne}^, who, having been committed for the 
 crime of shooting with intent to kill, was let to bail in §1,000 — that 
 Maguire was dying, and suggested a new warrant for the appre- 
 hension of G. I advised against this course until the event in regard 
 to Maguire should be ascertained, and proposed to go and see. He 
 assented, and we went together. We found that Maguire was dead, 
 and immediately sent for a magistrate. Two, Wing and Wiseman, 
 refused to issue a new warrant. Harrison, however, issued it, and 
 committed him to prison. I conceived a higher estimate of Read's 
 character this evening than I had previously held. He talked to me 
 of the loss of his two children last summer, and of the dangerous 
 illness of his wife, and seemed to entertain very correct and even 
 religious views. After leaving the magistrate's office, I came home, 
 and after prayer with the family came to my lonely room. I have 
 now no wife to whom I can narrate any incident that concerns or 
 interests me." 
 
 Then we have this record : 
 
 "December 26. I rose this morning at my usual hour with the 
 one engrossing thought in possession of my soul — my loneliness, my 
 utter desolation. After reading the Bible, the 3d chapter first epistle 
 of John, and praying in my room, I went down stairs and read the 
 Bible, and prayed with the family. I then breakfasted, and went to 
 my office. I spent the morning in preparing an answer in Chancery 
 for Messrs. G. & W., and in fruitless attempts to prepare an argu- 
 ment for the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. G. handed 
 me Mr. Wiggins' receipts for $10,050. I came home to dinner, re- 
 turned to my office; accomplished nothing; visited the resting-place 
 of ray dear wife; every thing was still, except the clamors of two 
 or three dogs. Came home, took tea, had a very long conversation 
 with my mother-in-law about Kitty. Mrs. G. thinks that Dr. C. did 
 not act with sufficient efficacy; that he was not explicit enough with 
 the family; that he was negligent of her the morning before she died. 
 I think her death was occasioned by excessive bleeding — -a measure 
 which was advised by Dr. Drake, and adopted against Dr. Colby's 
 wishes. Went to my office, did nothing; returned home. Alarm of 
 fire; went to the spot, Ninth Street, between Sycamore and Main; 
 some frame buildings on fire; two brick buildings and some frames 
 in danger. Returned home, joined in family worship; came to my 
 room and wrote these lines; heard David read; he makes slow 
 progress. 
 
 "December 27. I rose this morning with a heavy hearty 1 had 
 been dreaming of accompanying my dear wife to church, and I 
 awoke to the mournful conviction that never more should we walk 
 
 .
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 267 
 
 to the house of God in company, or take sweet counsel together. 
 The day was very fine, and it pained my heart to think that never 
 more would my dear wife be gladdened by the brightness of the sun. 
 At length I endeavored to seek God in prayer. ] read the last chap- 
 ter in the first epistle of John, in which he sets forth so strongly the 
 preeminent necessity and excellence of Christian love, and went 
 down stairs, where I was soon joined by my mother-in-law and father- 
 in-law, and we united in family prayer. Oh ! that God would give 
 me a deeper sense of my own sinfulness and destitution, that I might 
 pray with more earnestness and humility ; greater love for others, that 
 1 might pray for them more heartily. After breakfast I took my 
 little daughter in my arms, and held her for some time. Dear remem- 
 brancer of thy departed mother ! may I supply to thee a mother's 
 care and watchfulness. And ma}^ God be to thee better than father 
 and mother. The natural pilot of thy life's bark God hath taken 
 from thee at the very commencement of thy voyage. May he him- 
 self be the pilot and the Savior. I spent the morning until church 
 time chiefly in thinking of my loss, and mourning that it was irre- 
 parable. What grieves me most is, that I was not, while my dear 
 wife lived, so faithful with her on the subject of religion as I should 
 have been; and I have now no certain assurance that she died in the 
 faith. I am not, blessed be God, without strong hope ; but I have 
 not that clear evidence of her salvation, which might reasonably have 
 been expected to result from more faithful and diligent efforts on my 
 part for her conversion. Oh ! if I had not contented myself with a 
 few conversations on the subject of religion, with a few recommen- 
 dations of religious books, with faint prayers ; if I had incessantly 
 followed her with kind and earnest persuasion ; if I had ceaselessly 
 besought God's blessing on my efforts; if I had ever exhibited be- 
 fore [her] an example of the Christian life, she might have been, 
 before her death, enrolled among the professed followers of the Lamb. 
 But I procrastinated, and now she is gone. 
 
 ''I attended church in the morning at St. Paul's. Mr. Howell con- 
 ducted the service and preached. My thoughts wandered much; 
 and once during the sermon I fell asleep. May God pardon these sins. 
 When I returned home, I went to my home [room], and read various 
 passages, chiefly such as were calculated to bring my dear wife to re- 
 membrance. In the afternoon, I went over to my sister's, to see my 
 cousin, James Dennison, who is sick ; found him convalescent. I 
 then went to the grave-yard, where my Kitty's remains were de- 
 posited. Oh ! how I wished that I could once more see even her life- 
 less corpse. There are a multitude of graves in the two contiguous 
 yards ; most of those who lie there are younger than I am, few much 
 older; may I feel the warning. My afflicted father-in-law joined me 
 at the grave of my dear wife, who is laid, for the present, in the family 
 Vault of George W. Jones. We returned home together. In the 
 evening we all went to church. Mr. Brooke preached a sermon on 
 the folly of the common maxim, that it is no matter what a man 
 thinks, provided he be sincere. My thoughts wandered less than in 
 the morning. After church I attempted to learn David the Lord's 
 prayer, but made little progress; 1 shall persevere, however. I 
 then wrote the foregoing journal of the day.
 
 268 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " December 28. Before going to bed last night, I told David that 
 I would allow him a cent every morning if he would make my 
 fires by daylight, to be laid out in books for him ; and this morning 
 I had a fire very early. I rose earlier than usual in consequence. 
 I had been dreaming that my beloved wife was dangerously ill, 
 and I rose, with my mind full of her. After dressing and private 
 prayer, I went down stairs, and joined in family prayers. Oh ! how 
 I mourn that my dear wife can not join us in our devotions, but I 
 trust she is joining in a purer and more acceptable service than 
 can be rendered on earth, even in that offered by the glorious com- 
 pany of angels and by the spirits of just men made perfect. 
 
 "After breakfast, I went down to my office Mrs Bigelow 
 
 came in. We conversed about my dear wife, and she seemed to 
 sympathize sincerely with me. How much almost any person may 
 become endeared to us by sympathy! I gave her some deeds and 
 leases belonging to her, and she went away. Mr. Wm. Maguire 
 came in to know if he ought to retain additional counsel in the 
 prosecution of Gedney. I told him I thought it unnecessary. 
 I advised him to send Joiner and Brummel, two of his witnesses, 
 to me, that I might ascertain the exact purport of their testimony. 
 After I had got through with my morning visitors, I ap- 
 plied myself to the preparation of an argument in the case of Bank 
 United States vs. Longworth and others, in the Supreme Court of the 
 United States, and continued engaged upon it until dinner time ; 
 after dinner I returned to my work, and continued at it till I went 
 to visit the grave of my Kitty. It was twilight — a solemn hour, 
 in a solemn place. I stood at her silent resting-place, and prayed 
 for strength to perform the will of God and to suffer it. As I came 
 [away] I thought — and oh ! how terrible was the thought — of meeting 
 my dear wife as an accusing spirit at the bar of God ; that she 
 might reproach me for my unfaithfulness to her in spiritual things 
 
 as the cause of her misery. But I hope for better things 
 
 I spent some time in dipping into Dr. Dewee's book on Midwifery. 
 I feel extremely sorry that I did not study this subject before the 
 sickness of my wife. It might have prevented me from leaving 
 her. At nine o'clock I came home, bringing Dewee's and Good's 
 Study of Medicine with me. 
 
 "After family prayer, came to my room, and attempted to teach 
 David the Lord's prayer, and heard him read. The child certainly 
 makes some progress. May the Lord enable me to be a blessing to 
 him. I shall spend, by the permission of God, the remainder of 
 this night, until I go to bed, in reading Dewees, my Bible, and in 
 prayer. 
 
 " December 29. The sun had hardly risen when I left my bed 
 this morning, full, as usual, of sad and mournful recollections. How 
 can I become reconciled to the loss of my chief earthly treasure? 
 After reading the Scripture, the epistle of John, and prayer, I 
 went down stairs and joined in family devotion. After awhile, 
 the nurse came down stairs with my dear little motherless child. 
 I ought to be, and I hope I am, thankful, that I have been able tc 
 obtain such good nursing for the child, and that her health is good. 
 
 "After breakfast, I went to my office After dinner, I
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 269 
 
 went to work again, and continued so employed until evening, 
 when I again visited the resting-place of my dear wife. Several 
 young wives of about her own age sleep very near her. 
 
 ''I returned home, hut, after tea, again went to my office, where 
 I stayed until near nine o'clock, when I came home bringing with 
 me Dewees on Females, and Eberle on Children, in which books I 
 read with little profit until the approach of midnight summoned 
 me to devotion. 
 
 " December 30. David came into my room this morning, just 
 after daylight. I made a fire; hut I did not rise till some time 
 after. When risen, I endeavored to offer my morning prayer and 
 praise to God, but my heart was heavy, and I felt that I did not 
 pray aright. Oh, for a closer walk with God — for greater degrees 
 of conformity to bis will! After prayer, I went down stairs. After 
 breakfast, I went to my office 
 
 " I have this day been engaged nearly the whole time in prepar- 
 ing the argument already mentioned. It is heavy work now with 
 me. I have no longer a wife at home interested in all that I do, 
 and gratified by all my success. I am no longer stimulated by a 
 wish to please one whom I love far better than myself. But I have 
 duties to perform, and I ought to exert myself from love to God and 
 my fellow-men. Would that I could feel so devoted to God that I 
 might do every thing with all my might for the sake of pleasing 
 him 
 
 " Toward evening, I went to the grave-yard. The rain and snow 
 were falling fast and the north-west wind blew chill. It was a 
 melancholy evening, but it harmonized well with my feelings. I 
 felt a sad pleasure in standing once more at the spot where her 
 mortal remains were deposited. I offered up a silent prayer to God 
 for more conformity to his will, and reluctantly turned my steps 
 homeward. 
 
 'After writing the above, I went to a prayer-meeting at Mr. 
 Brooke's church with my father and mother-in-law. It was held in a 
 room in the basement story. Not many were present. The exer- 
 cises were to me very solemn and interesting. Short addresses were 
 delivered both by Mr. Howell and Mr. Brooke — by the former on 
 bringing all our sorrows and sins and laying them at the foot of 
 the cross— by the latter on the joy of believing and the inconsist- 
 ency of Christians in living so far away from God. Deeply and 
 bitterly did I regret that my poor wife could not hear the messages 
 which I heard, and join in the solemn services ; but I do hope she 
 needs no message now to tell of her Savior, and that she constantly 
 joins in a better service. Oh ! could I but be sure of this how gladly 
 would I embrace my lot ! 
 
 "This day, Gen. Findlay was borne to his tomb — Gen. James 
 
 Pindlay He was a kind-hearted and most amiable man, 
 
 and had many friends. He has left a widow but no children." 
 
 The next day affords this record : 
 
 " Dec. 31, [1835.] The last day of the old year ! The old year- 
 strange name for a portion of time so lately begun — so speedily ter-
 
 270 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 urinated. The old year; but yesterday as it seems it was ushered 
 in as the New Year. How little did I then anticipate what has 
 come to pass. This year found me a husband ; it has left me wife- 
 less; it found me childless, it has left me charged with a solemn 
 trust — the welfare of the sole pledge of my departed wife's affection ; 
 it found me rejoicing in the hope of worldly advancement, it has 
 left me with all such wishes annihilated ; it found me receding from 
 God, it has left me, I trust, drawing nigh to him ; it found me lay- 
 ing up treasures on earth, it leaves me convinced of the vanity of 
 such occupations, and anxious, chiefly, to lay up treasures in 
 heaven. In professional attainment and reputation, it found me 
 nearly as it leaves me. I have, during this year, completed the 
 edition of the Statutes of Ohio, on which I have been so long engaged, 
 by publishing the third volume. This book my beloved wife used 
 to say she would keep for her oldest son. Alas ! she never saw the 
 third volume." 
 
 The first day of the New Year is thus recorded : 
 
 " This day, the first of the new year, usually with me a day of 
 gladness, has been a day of gloom. My dear wife, who shared the 
 joys of the last new year's, has gone. Every thing reminds me of 
 her. Just so gloriously did the unclouded sun ascend the sky last 
 year, just so did he magnificently sink to rest. Just so mild was the 
 temperature of the air, just so serene the expanse of heaven. Here 
 she sat at the breakfast table, bidding me admire her New Year's 
 gift to her father, and when I remarked that every one in the house 
 had a gift but me, she said nothing. When I wanted to go out 
 and attempted to draw on my boots, I found a difficulty in the way. 
 Something had got into my boot ! Half fretfully and half expect- 
 ingly, I drew it out. It was a gold pencil-case. On it was inscribed: 
 i Pen8ez a moi.' It was my wife's New Year's gift. 
 
 "Delightful gift, yet not half so delightful as the kiss which ac- 
 companied it. How often has she adverted since to this little cir- 
 cumstance, and said : ' How bad I should have felt had there in- 
 deed been nothing for you ! When you complained, I could hardly 
 help from telling you to look in your boot ! ' Dear, dear Kitty, 
 life of my life, is it possible that thou art gone ? That I shall no 
 more hear that kind and gentle voice — no more receive that kind, 
 affectionate caress. I can, at times, hardly realize it, yet I know it 
 is so. l Pensez a moi.' Yes, I will think of thee as long as I live. 
 
 "We all went to church this morning ; but Mr. Haight, the rec- 
 tor, being indisposed, there was no service. After leaving the 
 church, I walked up to the grave-yard where my Kitty lies, with 
 her mother. We talked of her all the way, going and returning 
 home. When we got home, I told her what I thought, respecting 
 the management of her disorder by the physicians. 
 
 " Mrs. Anderson, with her little baby, and Mrs. McCandless, with 
 her little children, came to see me this morning. They passed 
 through childbirth safely, but my Kitty died. 
 
 " This afternoon, I went down to my office with the intention of
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 271 
 
 finishing ray argument in the ejectment case, but I did not write 
 a line. Toward evening, I walked up to the vault where lies the 
 mortal part of all that was most dear to me on earth. Here I lin- 
 gered for some time — until the twilight was rapidly merging in 
 darkness. 
 
 " This evening I went again to my office, where I began to copy 
 my argument for the press. Before I went, Mr. G., at table, told a 
 Btory about Gov. Root, and Elisha Williams, and Thomas J. Oakley. 
 How discordantly it struck upon my ears. 
 
 "Jan. 2, [1836.] The same subject continues to occupy my 
 nightly dreams and daily thoughts — my great and irreparable loss. 
 Oh! that I could live over again the last two months, how different 
 would be my conduct ! Let this make me inquire : May not [some- 
 thing] happen within two months which would make me wish 
 that the conduct of to-day had been different? My wife is indeed 
 gone. She can no longer be the object of care and kindness. But 
 duties remain; are they fulfilled? 
 
 " The day has been very different from yesterday. I has rained 
 nearly all day, and the clouds have completely shut out the sun. 
 Every thing has looked gloomy. 
 
 " I have attended to little business to-day. I intended to com- 
 plete my argument, but I have hardly touched it. I have settled 
 a few claims on Thorp's estate — little else. I received a notifica- 
 tion to attend a meeting of the Committee on the Dividend of the 
 Lafayette Bank; but forgot the duty at the hour. 
 
 " I have repeated my visit to my wife's grave. It was nearly 
 dark, and it was raining fast ; but I like to go there. I have lately 
 become accustomed to grave-yard walks. Oh ! that the solemn 
 voices which seem to issue from all those tombs might humble and 
 sober every high thought in me. 
 
 " I walked over to Mrs. Colby's after tea, and conversed with her 
 a long time about my dear wife. Mrs. C. thinks it probable she 
 would not have recovered, even had not the treatment of Dr. C. 
 been departed from. I think otherwise, and am agonized by the 
 thought that had I been at home she would have recovered ; but I 
 was far from her 
 
 "I have had some talk with David this evening since prayers. 
 His conduct has been quite bad of late. He has been remiss in 
 getting his lessons — insolent and abusive toward the other serv- 
 ants, and extremely dirty in his personal appearance. I have 
 warned him that unless he mends his ways I shall be compelled 
 to punish him." 
 
 In conversation with the Chief Justice about David, he told me 
 that the boy had been, perhaps, too severely governed, and that at 
 length he went off, none knew whither. But it must be quite ap- 
 parent that the severity in question, if, indeed, there was a real 
 severity, was conscientious. It was not the dictate of an unloving 
 heart, the act of an unpitying hand. It had been well for David,
 
 272 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 doubtless, had he stayed with Mr. Chase, as Mr. Chase had stayed 
 with his almost despotic uncle, as we have already seen. 
 
 For it is well to be with such men as he whose life is here related. 
 More and more I feel that as we go forward. 
 
 Yet there are some things in this sad record which require most 
 delicate treatment. Let me point out an example in this memo- 
 randum : 
 
 " I have been reading lately on medicine. The barbarous jargon 
 makes rny progress slow. It is like reading Greek. I am compelled 
 to have a dictionary by and use it constantly." 
 
 Such is the entry, made in most painful mood, in the diary under 
 date January 2, 1836. 
 
 I have long acted on the conviction that I ought, from time to 
 time, to study medicine and hygiene almost as if I had intended to 
 devote myself to the practice of the healing art. While composing 
 this work I have had more than one occasion to review and extend 
 my medical and hygienic reading and reflection. It is not, how- 
 ever, my design to vindicate the healing art, or, on the other hand, 
 to question that it is, in some respects, of real service to the world. 
 Undoubtedly, the practice of it is not such as it should be ; but to 
 say that it is wholly worthless, in all cases, would be going very far. 
 Nor am I disposed to make too much of the exception to medical 
 writings, taken in the last extract from our hero's diary. An art 
 has always its distinctive technical terms. Perhaps, much of the 
 so-called jargon of medical books is inevitable. And we ought to 
 bear in mind the mood in which our hero wrote the words last 
 quoted. 
 
 As for the fault found by the bereaved husband with Dr. Drake, 
 it seems to me at once quite natural and quite unjust, if I may so 
 express a thought not easy of expression. 
 
 I have studied the life and character of Daniel Drake, in his 
 writings and elsewhere, almost as thoroughly as I have studied the 
 life and character of Salmon Portland Chase. Let any one com- 
 pare the autobiographic letters of these two men as I have compared 
 them. Let their other writings be compared with due discrimination. 
 Let the life of Drake, by Mansfield, be compared with the present 
 work. No man can then doubt that Daniel Drake was as true and 
 high a worthy as the hero of these pages, or as any other man that 
 has appeared in this new world.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 273 
 
 Daniel Drake was a man of strong convictions and deep sense of 
 duty. What he did, after that decision, he did far from ignorantly, 
 and according to his best judgment. Simple justice to the memory 
 of a great, good man demands this judgment ; and I who knew that 
 man, am certain that no more than justice is involved in the conclu- 
 sion so expressed. 
 
 We must not forget the facts. Dr. Drake differed with Dr. Colby. 
 Dr. Richards being called in, agreed with Dr. Drake. But even 
 that is not all. Dr. Drake was farther supported by Dr. Eberle, 
 one of the most distinguished obstetricians of the West. 
 
 January 5th affords this entry : 
 
 "Yesterday was a wet and cheerless day — only that now and then 
 for a little while the sun would shine out from behind the clouds 
 with cheering beams. To-day the weather has been delightful. 
 To-day, had my dear wife lived, she would have called for me at my 
 office, and we would have been walking, arm in arm and heart in 
 heart, beneath the pleasant sun. But she — where is she ? Rejoic- 
 ing. I hope, beneath the far brighter beams of the sun of righteous- 
 ness. 
 
 "My little babe continues to improve. She enjoys the most per- 
 fect health, and now takes considerable notice of many things. She 
 smiles and laughs, now and then, awake and in dreams. The serv- 
 ant girl of our next neighbor says that when she smiles in dreams 
 it is because she sees an angel passing. She begins to endeavor to 
 make her wants known by sounds ; at least, so I think. She is quite 
 fat, or rather plump. Her eyes arc blue; her forehead is slightly 
 depressed just above the eyes. Her hair is brown. Her eye-lashes 
 are long and her eye-brows, I think, will be heavy. Her cheeks 
 are now full. Her mouth is not very pretty. Her lips are too thick 
 and the upper overhangs the lower too much. Her chin sometimes 
 looks a little too pointed, then again it is quite round. She is very 
 gentle and mild — seldom crying or fretting. Everybody says she 
 is a sweet and very pretty child. Her grandmother, grandfather, 
 and I think so. May God, of his infinite mercy, make her his child." 
 
 The next entry I think fit to offer has this tenor : 
 
 "January 9. For three or four days past I have written nothing 
 in this journal, because nothing unusual has occurred. The return- 
 ing hours have brought with them their appropriate duties, which 
 1 have attempted to perform in the strength of one mighty to sup- 
 port and save. Far short, indeed, have I come of the standard of 
 purity and zeal exhibited in the gospel. When shall I learn to sub- 
 due all hastiness of temper, all petulance, all selfishness? When 
 shall I be thoroughly imbued with a humble, self-denying, holy 
 spirit? Lord, my Savior, do thou assist and teach me. I have been 
 diligently engaged for two weeks on an argument for the Supreme 
 Court of the United States, which I have finished to-night, in the
 
 27-4 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 case of the Bank of the United States vs. Longworth and others. 
 My object has been to establish a title, made under an order of sale 
 in the course of certain proceedings in attachment. The proceed- 
 ings were extremely irregular and defective ; but I attempted to 
 sustain the title on the ground that the order of sale was made by 
 a court of competent jurisdiction, and could not in this suit be col- 
 laterally questioned. I think I shall succeed. 
 
 " I argued this same case a year ago, last July, at Columbus in the 
 Circuit Court. My dear wife was with .me then. We roomed at 
 Mrs. Robinson's, where Judge McLean and his lady also boarded. I 
 remember expressing some anxiety to my wife about this case, tell- 
 ing her that a fee of $150 depended on my success, and that the next 
 day she said playfully to the Judge that he must decide this case for 
 me at any rate, that J might get the fee." 
 
 Thus we see how the almost tragic death of the first woman who, 
 became wife to Salmon Portland Chase affected that strong man. 
 Yet no ! God alone saw that completely — God alone can see it fully 
 now. 
 
 The mourner was to love again. The object of that second love 
 was to prove fully worthy of it, and, when she, too, too early passed 
 away, he was to mourn her far from lightly. But he was yet again 
 to love, again to marry, and again to mourn the death of a well-be- 
 loved wife. True, there is but one first love, but one first wife. 
 Even when a first love is turned to hatred, or, still worse, to mere 
 disgust, the truth remains, that it affects the lover as no other love 
 can possibly affect him : even when a first wife is to become an object 
 of disgust or detestation, she remains the first wife forever. 
 
 It is not for me to constitute anew the human heart, or to create, 
 for the readers of this work, a new world of intellections and affec- 
 tions. We must take our hearts and lives as God has ordered us 
 to take them. 
 
 But the other day, I read these words in a newspaper: 
 
 " ' When we come to the separation of Mr. Dickens from his wife, 
 we can not but admire the delicacy and reserve with which Mr. 
 Forster treats it. This is the one event in the life of the illustrious 
 novelist which darkens his fame. We do not sympathize with that 
 morbid and unhealth}' sentiment which gloats over the frailties of 
 men of genius — the unhappiness of a Byron, a Shakspeare, or a 
 Milton. Men like these, supremely gifted and richly endowed, 
 have lives apart from the doings and adventures of the mere body. 
 However Byron may have sinned, to us he is and always must be 
 'Childe Harold.' But Dickens, during his own life, called atten- 
 tion to his sorrows, and, after dismissing his wife and the mother 
 of his children from a home in which she had lived for a quarter of 
 a century, publicly entreated the world to justify him in the act."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CFIASE. 275 
 
 The paragraph is full of affectation and injustice. It is false in 
 sentiment and false in pretense. But God knows how ardently I 
 have desired, throughout, at once to keep away from real indelicacy 
 and to avoid false delicacy. 
 
 Surely, this work has had a singular history. That history, how- 
 ever, it does not propose to tell in full. Elsewhere, its author, 
 though no longer young, and, therefore, not concerned as young men 
 are about the bubble, reputation, may, with more or less minuteness, 
 tell so much of that strange story as a due regard for certain very sacred 
 interests may seem to order or at least to allow. Then, it will appear 
 that if, in advance of publication, this work was assailed with un- 
 precedented defamation, on account of its alleged indelicacy, that 
 was not because its author had not taken equally unprecedented 
 pains to avoid even the appearance of indelicacy. 
 
 We shall find that when the second marriage took place there was 
 a perfectly angelic little child yet living — daughter of the first 
 wife, whose name she bore. The second mother of this lovely, emi- 
 nently spiritual child was perfectly devoted to it — as devoted as a 
 second mother can be. 
 
 When the second wife, in turn, departed, she, too, left a daughter — 
 not the little child just mentioned — that had apparently illustrated 
 the lines of Montgomery, which I quote from memory: 
 
 "In some rude spot where vulgar herbage grows, 
 If chance a violet rear its purple head, 
 The careful gard'ner moves it, ere it blows, 
 To thrive and flourish in a nobler bed. 
 
 "Such was thy fate, dear child! thy opening such; 
 Preeminence in early bloom was shown, 
 For earth too good, perhaps, and loved too much : 
 Heaven saw and early marked thee for its own;' 
 
 That daughter of the second marriage, named either after the child 
 so early taken, or after the mother of that child, is now living, one 
 of the most beautiful, accomplished, and distinguished women of her 
 day. Perhaps the third wife was to her devoted as was the second 
 wife to the surviving issue of the first marriage; but of that I had 
 no information when the hero of this work descended to the tomb. 
 He had not, directly, furnished me with special memorials of the 
 third wife. 
 
 Mrs. Hoyt, the sole surviving child of the third marriage, I have 
 never met since she was quite a child. She writes delightful letters, 
 19
 
 276 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and she is, I have no doubt, as accomplished and as well endowed 
 with genius as her reputation indicates ; but, for certain reasons, I 
 do not feel free as I could wish to write of either Mrs. Hoyt or Mrs. 
 Sprague. This is, I know, anticipation, but it seems to me but 
 proper, in the circumstances. 
 
 Let me add, in this connection, that it was not to wound any one's 
 feelings, that, after much consideration, while Chief Justice Chase 
 still lived, it was resolved to include in this work the foregoing ex- 
 tracts, relating to the first great grief of him whose life engages our 
 attention. On the contrary, the sole object of presenting those ex- 
 tracts always has been to make proper use of the means at my com- 
 mand of making readers well acquainted with the inuer life of the 
 man so often named throughout this work. 
 
 It may be thought questionable whether it was well to furnish 
 such material. I do not say it is; I say only that it may be. My 
 opinion, after much reflection, is, that to furnish that material was 
 well; and, after much consideration, I resolved, as just stated, to 
 use it as it has been actually used thus far. For, even if the fur- 
 nishing of that material had seemed to me of doubtful discretion, I 
 could not have felt at liberty, as a biographer, to suppress the reve- 
 lations here in question. 
 
 I may make at once a similar remark respecting certain diaries, 
 markedly showing the martial aspects of the life before us. As to 
 them I was greatly perplexed ; and, in spite of my resolution not to 
 submit any part of this work to the suppression or to the dictation 
 of its hero, I acquainted him with the nature of the doubt to which 
 I now refer. He was unwilling to decide for me; but he intimated 
 that, whatever doubt I might have on that subject ought to be re- 
 solved in favor of insertion rather than of supervision. He, he said, 
 was interested. He had left all to my discretion, which was wholly dis- 
 interested ; and to that discretion he must still leave the whole matter. 
 
 Take into consideration, how this man, even since his death, has 
 been maligned. How important it is to show the depth of feeling 
 in him — how important to make use of all the means at my com- 
 mand of showing him just as he was! Had [ suppressed the fore- 
 going extracts, would not my offense have been almost unpardonable? 
 
 The motto of this work will bear deep study. Let it be remem- 
 bered here. To interpret the enigma in the life of Salmon Portland 
 Chase, without the aid afforded by the matter here in question, 
 would have been impossible.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 27' 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SORROWING AND TOILING PRIVATE LIFE AND LIFE IN PUBLIC. 
 
 THE conclusion of the entry under date January 9, 1835, is as 
 follows: 
 
 "I have attended this evening a meeting of a committee on the 
 subject of obtaining the public school-houses for the use of the Sab- 
 bath schools. I was appointed one of a committee to ascertain to 
 whom application for this privilege should be made." 
 
 The record then goes forward in this manner : 
 
 "January 17. My little babe was vaccinated yesterday by Dr. 
 Drake 
 
 " To-day I have attended church with little profit. My mind has 
 wandered exceedingly. The incident of yesterday has been suffered 
 to occupy too much of my attention, and I have made little or no prog- 
 ress in the divine life. I have attended church three times — twice 
 at Dr. Haight's and once at Mr. Brooke's. I have visited, as usual, 
 the vault where lies the mortal part of her who was to me the life of 
 life. It was mist}' and rained a little. Oh ! how ardently I wished. 
 as I stood by the silent tomb, that the door might open, and that 
 she, who slept within, might be restored to me ; but it might not be. 
 And not my will, but thine, O God ! be done. I feel that the stroke 
 is just. I feel that I have deserved far more evil than has fallen to 
 my lot. I desire humbly to submit myself to the Divine Will, and 
 magnify the name of the Lord. Yet could I be assured of her sal- 
 vation, much of the bitterness of the cup would be removed. 1 
 strongly hope that she is safe — but the evidence is not clear and 
 full. 
 
 "Jan. 18. I had a conversation this morning with my mother-in- 
 law, in regard to the employment of a physician for the child, and 
 I am grieved to say that I allowed myself to exhibit an improper 
 spirit. It is my duty to be firm and decided in that course which my 
 conscience approved ; but I should remember how much older than I 
 she is; I should remember that she is the mother of my dear departed 
 wife, and in every way entitled to respect and deference from me. I 
 do hope and pray that I may not thus offend any more. After this 
 conversation I went to my sister's and told her that I thought I 
 should be obliged to employ another physician, and that I should 
 select Dr. Eberle. She said that she should be satisfied to have Dr.
 
 278 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Eberle attend the baby. She then conversed much on the circum- 
 stances of Kitty's hist illness. These conversations unfitted me 
 entirely for the business of the morning. I went down to the office. 
 ... In the afternoon, I wrote to Helen, inviting and urging her to 
 come out here, should a suitable opportunity present. This evening 
 I have attended a meeting of our vestry. 
 
 " Jan. 22. For the last two or three days I have been engaged in 
 conducting, in aid of the prosecuting attorney, a criminal trial. 
 Charles F. Gedney, lately one of the city watch, was indicted for 
 maliciously and purposely shooting Isaac Maguire. The charge was 
 for murder in the second degree. The examination of witnesses 
 commenced on Wednesday, and was continued until about five 
 o'clock last night, when I addressed the jury. The examination of 
 the witnesses was extremely fatiguing. The evidence related to a 
 transaction which took place in three or four minutes and was 
 witnessed, from different points in the room, by different persons. 
 There was, of course, a great deal of discrepancy in the testimony, 
 and a great deal of testimony was introduced in relation to a previ- 
 ous difficulty between M and Gr , when the former was 
 
 arrested by the latter and taken to the watch-house. I spoke about 
 an hour and a half, and was listened to with great attention by a 
 crowded audience. I have reason to think that in the judgment of 
 my hearers I acquitted myself well." 
 
 I well remember that case. And I have not forgotten the bad 
 verses in which Gedney made some of his appeals to public sym- 
 pathy. 
 
 Mr. Chase continues : 
 
 " To-day, Mr. Fox and Mr. Benham have addressed the jury in 
 behalf of the prisoner. I heard but little of Mr. F's speech. He is 
 earnest and some times ingenious ; he is vehement in manner and 
 boisterous in enunciation. His main defect is want of logical con- 
 secutiveness." 
 
 Judge Fox himself will recognize that character as a well-drawn 
 pen-portrait, as far as it goes. Mr. Chase goes on as follows : 
 
 "Mr. Benham has a high reputation as a speaker. He is a very 
 portly man — somewhat obese, indeed — with a lull, long, and broad 
 face, surmounted by a forehead high but narrow and pyramidal. 
 He has a good voice, but was, to-day, affected by a severe cold. His 
 manner is good. He is perfectly self-possessed — understands his 
 subject well — is slow and deliberate in his enunciation. He is ver- 
 bose, however, and, to use a word which 1 to-day heard for the first 
 time, very repetitionary. He expands, dilates, and repeats a great 
 deal too much, and is, of course, excessively prolix. He spoke to-day 
 over five hours. It was his first speech since his return from Louis- 
 ville, and he put forth all his powers. He commenced by a very 
 unwarrantable attack upon me in regard to my appearance there for 
 the State. He said that I reversed the chivalry of my profession by 
 appearing in the prosecution rather than the defense of criminals.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 279 
 
 I had, he said, remarked that I could not conscientiously refuse my 
 services when required. He did not envy me such a" conscience. 
 This language was highly improper, especially as coming from one 
 so much my senior.'' 
 
 Of this portraiture I can not speak with certainty. I never heard 
 Mr. Benham, though I very often heard of him, at the time in ques- 
 tion. 
 
 The entry of the 22d also contains the following: 
 
 "I have been quite unwell to-day, and oh! how much do I miss 
 the endearing attentions of my dear wife. How much do I regret 
 that I can not tell her of my speech, and impart to her all my feel- 
 ings. I made my way out of the Court-house while Mr. B. was 
 speaking, and went to her grave, and ejaculated a brief prayer to 
 God for strength and patience to do and suffer his will. 
 
 '•I have spent this evening at my office, reading two articles in 
 the London Quarterly Review — one reviewing brief 1 Reed and Mache- 
 sotis Tour, Latrobe's Rambles in America'' 1 Abel's Tour, etc., and 
 another reviewing, with some severity, AVillis 1 Pencillings by the Way." 
 
 The next entry reads as follows: 
 
 '•January 26. I dreamed last night — as I do almost every night 
 — of my dear departed wife ; bat I can not now recollect my dream. 
 It has passed from me like the vision of Nebuchadnezzar. I ruse 
 later than usual this morning, for it was intensely cold. After 
 prayer in my room alone I went down stairs and joined in family 
 prayer. Oh ! how my heart aches when I think that my dear wife 
 ie not permitted to join in these delightful exercises, but I do hope 
 that she is worshiping the same God. in a better society. I remem- 
 ber her saying frequently that sin was the only cause of unhappiiu >s 
 in our family; and I am sure it would have gladdened her heart to 
 kneel at the family altar with her father, mother, and husband. 
 
 "After breakfast, in conversation, her mother remarked that, about 
 two hours before her death, she asked the doctor if her milk would 
 not return when she should get well, saying that she could not bear 
 the idea of not nursing her own babe. From this it seems that she 
 was not at all aware other immediate danger, or other approaching 
 dissolution. Surely, this was very wrong. 
 
 "After breakfast, I went to my office, where I have spent the greater 
 part of the daj- in arranging my papers, which have been, for some 
 time past, much deranged. 
 
 "This morning, conversing about a proposed amendment of our 
 charter, Mr. George W. Xett' remarked that they must send me to 
 the Senate, next year, and get it through. I observed that I would 
 have it done if they would send me. 'Well,' said Mr. Neff, ' if you 
 will say you will accept the nomination I will assure you of my 
 efforts in your behalf ' Why,' said I, ' I should like to go there 
 
 1 So in the original. 2 A delightful book.
 
 280 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 one winter very well, if I could make it comport with my business. 
 ' Well,' said he, ' I shall probably have some influence next year, and 
 I will remember you.' JVous verrons, as Mr. Kitchie says. Who 
 can tell what may happen ere another year rolls around ? I havo 
 heard within a few hours that Mr. Garrard, one of the candidates for 
 the legislature at the last election, lies even now in the grasp of 
 death ; and I have just returned from my evening visit to the tomb 
 of my dear wife who was then in full health. Let me study to be 
 ready for the coming of the Lord." 
 
 Here is a precious record : 
 
 "January 27. To-day I have been engaged in arranging my letters 
 and in bringing up the arrears of my correspondence. I opened 
 some old letters and read them. Among them are three from my 
 dear and now sainted mother, written while I was at college. How 
 precious are these remembrances of her now. How painfully pleas- 
 ant to read over her good advice, her lessons of thrift and economy; 
 lessons which she rigidly practiced from an earnest desire to have 
 her children well educated, but which I, alas ! too little regarded. 
 How delighted she was to hear that her children had done well ; but 
 how much more she was anxious that they might win the favor of 
 God ! ' I hope they will be good, and that will be great to me.' 
 How willing she was to spend, and be spent for us all ! Oh! how 
 little I deserved such a mother and such a wife as I have had and 
 lost ! Would that they could have been spared to me a little while 
 longer, that I could have given more proofs of my affection to them. 
 But God has seen fit to order otherwise, and I submit." 1 
 
 The next memorandum offered is as follows : 
 
 " February 10, 1836. I received a letter this evening from Mrs. 
 Wirt. It was full of kind sympathy for a loss which seems to me 
 greater and greater every day." 
 
 This letter is a fair specimen in exterior of the missives then 
 despatched by mail by condoling friends. There yet clings to the 
 paper the black sealing wax with which the enclosure was com- 
 pleted and made sacred. The whole letter, which is without en- 
 velope, being simply folded, as was then the fashion, bears upon its 
 face these characters, the " 25," like the post-mark, being in red 
 
 ink: 
 
 25. 
 Salmon P. Chase, Esq., 
 
 Cincinnati, 
 
 Ohio. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 281 
 
 But no ordinary hand could have penned the contents of that 
 folded, sealed paper. Reverently, I present this copy of them : 
 
 "Richmond, February 3, 1836. 
 
 " Could I alleviate one pang of the agony under which you are now 
 suffering, my very dear friend, what is there that I would not do? 
 But alas! in the dark season of distress and desolation, which has so 
 suddenly overwhelmed you, crushing the heart almost to extinguish- 
 ment, what can be offered by the truest friendship but sympathy? 
 Hearts steeped in affliction as ours have been, know full well the 
 impossibility of receiving other solace. 
 
 "The soothing Christian views of such separations, which you have 
 so beautifully presented under similar trials and bereavements, can 
 never be erased from my heart's memory; and could I do justice to 
 the deep feeling of sorrow, with which we have heard of your afflic- 
 tion, and, like you, with heavenly eloquence draw off the suffering 
 heart from the corroding present to the hopeful and blissful future, 
 wIk-u there will be no more parting, no more sorrow, my pen should 
 not soon be laid aside. 
 
 "The first intimation of your bereavement we received a few days 
 since from Judge Randall, who was hastening to Washington on 
 urgent business, partly connected with the alarming disturbances in 
 Florida. We tried to hope that it might not be true, but were 
 obliged to yield to the sad conviction of its reality, the judge hav- 
 ing "seen the announcement [in the N. Intelligencer] of the departure 
 of the gifted and lovely partner of your bosom's joys and griefs to 
 her congenial skies. 
 
 "Ma}" the Almighty hand that has wounded impart the healing 
 balm which can alone flow from heavenly sources ! May He, whose 
 wisdom directeth all things in mercy, allay the storm of grief which 
 now rends your heart, and bestow that peace, resignation, and sub- 
 mission, which He alone hath power to give! 
 
 " My children unite with me in expressions of deep sympathy and 
 love. You are indeed, and always have been, one of our most cher- 
 ished and valued friends. Your sorrows find a responding chord in 
 each bosom, and our prayer is, that you may be supported and com- 
 forted in this your heavy and great trial. 
 
 "Affectionately and respectfully your deeply sympathizing friend, 
 
 "E. W. Wirt. 
 
 " To Salmon P. Chase, Esq." 
 
 But the sorrow so addressed was too deep for even such consolation. 
 It was most alleviated, I doubt not, by such exercises of the pen as 
 this : 
 
 "February 17. Rose this morning at my usual hour; washed, 
 dressed, and breakfasted as usual. My dear little babe grows finely; 
 but I can discover little or no resemblance to her departed mother. 
 She takes a great deal of notice of many things — attends to sounds. 
 Yesterday, she observed a picture very attentively. She has been
 
 282 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 twice vaccinated, without effect. She is very good tempered, cries 
 very little, and gives, so far as I have observed, very little trouble. 
 She was three months old yesterday. To-day completes eleven 
 weeks since her mother died. Oh ! could she have been spared to 
 witness the growth and improvement of our dear babe, how de- 
 lighted she would have been ! How often should I have been called 
 upoH to note one and another little feat of infancy ! How happy we 
 should have been ! And it seems so strange that she should have 
 been taken away. There was no cause for her death in the disease 
 itself, had it not been aided by injudicious treatment."' 
 
 Another part of the same is, excepting two omissions, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " Going to the Court this morning, I met Mr. , on the side- 
 walk. This individual has manifested a singular feeling of malevo- 
 lence toward me ever since He avoids meeting my 
 
 eye, and shuns speaking to me. I do not regret this in itself, be- 
 cause his character is such as to render association with him unde- 
 sirable; but / am unwilling to be on bad terms uith any one. I cherish 
 no malevolent feelings toward him. On the contrary, I sincerely 
 forgive his assault upon me, and was willing to speak to him to- 
 day, but he looked the other way as he passed me, and we did not 
 speak." 
 
 I must omit many things which I would like to present. The 
 next document to which I ask attention is this letter to Mr. Trow- 
 bridge : 
 
 "Washington, March, 16, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Trowbridge: In March, 1837, some anti-slavery 
 men called at 1113' office in Cincinnati, and said that a woman, named 
 Matilda, had been seized, and was about to be carried out of the 
 State under the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. though, in reality, a free 
 woman. 1 inquired into the circumstances, and found that she had 
 been a slave in Virginia, and that her master, taking her with him to 
 Missouri, had stopped at Cincinnati on the boat, which was fasteued 
 to the shore, at the public landing, in the usual way. from this boat 
 Matilda had come up into the city with, or without, the knowledge 
 and consent of her master, and found employment, and was now a 
 servant in the house of James (x. Birney. Under these circum- 
 stances she was claimed as a fugitive slave ; while, in her behalf, it 
 was insisted that, having come to the landing with the consent of her 
 master, and, being thus within the territorial limits of the State of 
 Ohio, she could not be taken from them without her own consent. 
 1 had no doubt of the correctness of this position, and readily con- 
 sented to do what I could to protect her. With this view, I ob- 
 tained a writ of habeas corpus, under which she was taken from 
 those who held her under the writ issued by the Justice of the Peace.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 283 
 
 and brought before Judge Este. the President Judge of the Court of 
 Common Pleas. 
 
 "The cause was heard by him with courtesy and fairnesss, but, 
 like almost all lawyers, and. indeed, almost all other men at that 
 time, he looked upon claims lo slaves as more entitled to favor than 
 claims to liberty, lie heard me asserting what I believed to be the 
 true principles of constitutional construction, and legal as well as 
 natural right, with very much the same sort of indulgence and in- 
 difference with which a kind-hearted professor of the Aristotelian 
 philosophy may be supposed to have listened to a youthful disciple 
 of the doctrine of the earth's motion around the sun. On the other 
 side, the appeals of the counsel for the slave claimants were 
 vehement and passionate, and were supported by the prejudices 
 and sympathies of nearly the entire community. The Judge de- 
 cided against the claim of Matilda, and she was remanded into 
 slaverv. My argument in her case was printed and quite widely 
 circulated, and, perhaps, contributed something toward the forma- 
 tion of juster opinions. 
 
 • Nor was this case without some effect upon my future fortunes. 
 It so happened that, in the audience, there was a young student of 
 medicine, then, and fir many years afterward, a stranger to me, full 
 of generous sympathy with the oppressed, who listened to my argu- 
 ment with great satisfaction. This young student went to Europe 
 and pursued his studies in the schools of Paris and other cities of 
 the continent. When he returned to the United States, he estab- 
 lished himself in one of the towns of northern Ohio, where he prac- 
 ticed his profession with great reputation and success. He retained 
 his early principles, and enjoyed the confidence not only of those 
 who agreed with him in opinion, but of the whole community in 
 which he lived. 
 
 a In 1S48, this 3*oung physician was elected to the Ohio Legisla- 
 ture, and was one of the small number who, independent of both 
 parties, ami willing to act with either for the advancement of their 
 principles, secured, through the co-operation of the old line Demo- 
 crats, the repeal of the odious code of oppressive enactments 
 against the colored people, known as the 'Black Laws,' and my 
 election to the Senate of the United States. It was the argument 
 in the Matilda case which secured the confidence and attach- 
 ment of Dr. Xorton E. Townshend, and his earnest advocacy of my 
 election. 
 
 "The Matilda case had another connection of another character. 
 Mr. Birney, who had employed Matilda as a servant, was indicted upon 
 the charge of having harbored her ; for harboring a slave in Ohio was 
 then an offense under the existing laws of the State. The case was 
 tried before the same Judge -who had heard the argument for -Ma- 
 tilda. 1 defended Mr. Birney, hut he was found guilt}' and sen- 
 tenced to pay a fine of fifty dollars. From this decision I took an 
 appeal to the Supreme Court, and the case was again heard before 
 that tribunal. There was a manifest defect in the allegations of the 
 indictment, to which I had not even invoked the attention of the 
 Court of Common Pleas. In the Supreme Court I purposely avoided 
 directing attention to this defect, because I was anxious to have a
 
 284 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 decision upon the main question, whether Matilda, having been 
 brought within the State by her master, remained a slave. If not a 
 slave, Mr. Birnej', of course, did not harbor a slave. 
 
 "At this time, a rule of the Supreme Court existed, prohibiting 
 the publication of any reports of the arguments of counsel, except 
 upon the special discretion of the court. The report of the case of 
 the State against Birney, shows that the court reversed the judgment 
 of the Common Pleas upon the technical ground to which their at- 
 tention had not been directed, and directed the publication of the argu- 
 ment, though not in the slightest degree touching the point decided. 
 The truth was, doubtless, that the court was satisfied that the judg- 
 ment ought to be reversed, and yet was unwilling to meet the 
 question presented by the ai'gument; and yet not only willing, but 
 desirous, to have the argument itself brought to the notice of the 
 profession through the reports. 
 
 "I think it is not too much to say that this argument as well as 
 that upon the habeas corpus for Matilda, had some influence upon 
 professional and general opinions. 
 "Yours, truly, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The only entry for 1837 begins as follows: 
 
 " August 24. It was just after daybreak when I awoke this morn- 
 ing. My little daughter was wide awake, and urgent to be taken 
 up. I gratified her wish, and she was soon willing to return to bed. 
 Not long, however, was she quiet. She wanted to go to grandma, 
 and I took her to the door and let her go in. I then washed and 
 dressed myself, and attended to my morning devotions — I trust, 
 not without profit. I then walked down to my office, but did noth- 
 ing there before breakfast. Pound Helen waiting to see me, and 
 urged her to be sure and consult the doctor about her symptoms, 
 coughing, etc." 
 
 The remainder of the entry reads as follows: 
 
 "On returning to the office, saw and conversed with several per- 
 sons; with E. Bailly, the carpenter, to whom I gave several copies 
 of my speech in Matilda's case; with Mr. Morgan, the bookseller, 
 with whom I advised as to the best mode of collecting a debt from 
 ; Dr. Waldo, who consulted me as to the expediency of ob- 
 taining insurance on his life, which I rather discouraged. I, also, in 
 the course of the morning, prepared a mortgage to be executed by 
 Mr. S. E. Poote to the Lafayette Bank. After dinner, I went to the 
 court-house and filed several declarations, and searched the appear- 
 ance docket. After returning to my office, settled some busiuess 
 with Mr. Owens, the shoemaker, and, with the assistance of Truman 
 Thorp, arranged my book-cases and books. Since then, I have taken 
 supper; heard Freeman's verses out of the titles of Christ: read the 
 Philanthropist and Ohio Political Register, and written the above. I 
 shall now so home and to bed. Ten o'clock."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 285 
 
 The Cincinnati Gazette, in February, 1838, thus introduced an 
 article communicated by our hero : " The author is one of the most 
 distinguished lawyers of the State, and is not an abolitionist. " The 
 article so introduced reviewed a report of the judiciary committee 
 of the Senate of Ohio against the granting, by the State, of trial by 
 jury to alleged fugitives from service.
 
 286 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE SECOND "WIFE — DEATH OF THE FIRST DAUGHTER — BIRTH OF THE 
 SECOND DAUGHTER — OTHER MATTERS. 
 
 IN one of the books furnished me by the man whom we follow 
 through the course of his remarkable career, was one which, 
 under the head of Family Memoranda, contains this entry : 
 
 " S. P. Chase and Eliza Ann Smith (who [was] born in Cincinnati, 
 November 12, 1821, and daughter of Edmund C. Smith and Mary 
 Smith) married September 26, 1839. Rev. Henry Van Slyke Johns." 
 
 For many reasons, I deeply regret that I am not able to furnish 
 a more complete account of the lady who became the second wife of 
 Mr. Chase, and who seems to have been so worthy of her place in 
 his heart and at his hearth. But we shall see, ere long, more than 
 a little of her unpretending love and sacrifice. 
 
 Here are several extracts from the registry so often quoted : 
 
 "May 2, [1846]. After a long interval, I resume this journal. 
 What a change, since the last entry was made, has a single circum- 
 stance wrought. My dear little daughter's death ! What sorrow, 
 and yet, blessed be God ! what consolation. My most cherished hope 
 blasted ! but she safe forever. 
 
 " This day I have done little, almost nothing. Read but little 
 Scripture this morning, and have read nothing else of consequence 
 during the whole day. Rode out to Edgeforest with wife, Eliza, and 
 Mr. Gallagher; gathered Avild flowers. Mr. Gallagher at supper. 
 After supper wrote to Mrs. Garniss. I go now to prayer, and then 
 to bed. 
 
 " May 4, 8 o'clock, A. M. Yesterday I was greatly troubled with 
 wandering thoughts, and my mind was far too little affected by the 
 sacredness of the da}-. Was dull at Sunday school and in church. 
 Young Mr. Gassawa}' preached, and well. Read, at home, two Nos. 
 Journal Christian Education. .Many valuable ideas suggested worth 
 reflecting on — especially, how, in common schools, can gospel mo- 
 tives be substituted for worldly motives to gain knowledge and 
 perform duty. Read, also, from Cowper, to wife, his glowing de- 
 scription of the coming millennium — the Sabbath of the world."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 287 
 
 Under date July 1, 1840, is the entry : 
 
 "As I was going to my office after dinner, was joined by Mr. 
 Whiteman, who wished to secure my vote in council for James F. 
 Irwin, an old school-fellow of mine, who desires the appointment 
 of Secretary of the Waterworks. I told him that I had already 
 determined to cast my vote for Mr. Richards, if no other candidate 
 of superior qualifications presented himself, and I thought Mr. 
 Irwin's not superior. If, however, Mr. Richards should decline, and 
 I could do so consistently with my public duty, I should be happy 
 to further Mr. Fa views." 
 
 Not much of the politician there! I can imagine Chase's man- 
 ner: kind, yet almost frosty. He continues, introducing an anec- 
 dote of a very interesting personage : 
 
 " "While we were talking, Gen. Harrison came from the opposite 
 direction. We met and exchanged the usual greetings. I saw that 
 something disturbed the General, and was not long left to guess the 
 cause. ' Do you know a person named Bailey ? ' said he, addressing 
 me. ' Very well,' I replied. He then requested me to call on him 
 with Mr. Greene, or alone, and inquire of him what foundation he 
 had for the charges published against him yesterday morning in 
 the Philanthropist. I said I was willing to go alone, but would pre- 
 fer not to be associated in a mission of that sort with Mr. Greene. 
 Mr. Owen, near whose door we stood, said, ' Let Mr. C. go alone,' 
 and the General assented. The General, at the same time said he 
 had never called on Dr. Bailey but once, and had said nothing 
 which could give color to the charges against him, unless it might 
 be a remark he had made that he would as soon appoint an aboli- 
 tionist to office as anybody else if qualified. He said he particu- 
 larly wanted to know if, in any conversations with Dr. B., he had 
 ever been understood to retract any of the sentiments expressed in 
 the Vincennes or Cheviot speeches. Soon afterward I called on 
 Dr. B. I told him what I wanted, and made the particular inquiries 
 which the General suggested. He said the speeches were not defi- 
 nitely named or referred to in the conversation. I remarked that 
 I thought he had dealt with unwarranted harshness by Gen. H. 
 He said that I was not more sorry for it than he was that the occa- 
 sion had arisen." 
 
 Here is an important record, under date July 12, 1840: 
 
 "Formed no definite plan for the employment of the day. Rose 
 about 6; went to the library; recommitted 16 verses of the 109th 
 Psalm, and read the 2d chapter of Matt., Gr. Text ; private devotion ; 
 ate moderately ; attended Sunday school— about 80 present. Two 
 young gentlemen from Texas called to see the school, and afterward 
 sat with me in church. They were teachers, they said, in a Sunday 
 school in Austin, in Texas. It is said that the Episcopal Church is 
 more favorably regarded than any other church in Texas. Can this be
 
 288 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 diving to the fact that the Episcopal Church has taken no ground against 
 Slavery, but, on the contrary, has a slave-holding ministry? " 
 
 Under date July 14, 1840, is the record : 
 
 " Miss Carneal gives a fashionable party to-night. A political 
 meeting is held in the 3d Ward. Mr. Benham, once a rising star, 
 bright and brightening, distinguished for talent, for oratory, and 
 for personal advantages, afterward a bankrupt in fortune and fame, 
 both sacrificed to appetite, lies at a public hotel, the victim of dis- 
 ease, near the termination of his mortal career. In an obscure 
 street, nursed by a mother, herself rude and uneducated, if not in- 
 temperate, lies a young man, suffering the last agonies of long-pro- 
 tracted disease, but cheerful, grateful, supported by a hope that 
 never fails — at least I so judge. What contrasts of fact, and of 
 opinion, and of emotion are here ! " 
 
 On the 15th, the death of Mr. Benham is thus noticed : 
 
 " Mr. Benham had died and his body had been committed to the 
 tomb." 
 
 July 15, 1840, has the record: 
 
 " Until half-past seven, I recommitted 24 verses of the 119th 
 Psalm ; attended family prayers, breakfasted, and read the Gazette ; 
 the only article of permanent interest was that the Sultan had 
 given a Constitution to the Ottoman Empire — a striking event in 
 the history of the age, and probably the herald of events more strik- 
 ing still. Another article was an elaborate vindication, by the affi- 
 davits of old citizens, of Gen. Harrison, the Whig candidate for the 
 Chief Magistracy of the Republic, from the charge of ancient 
 Federalism— from the sin of having agreed with Washington, with 
 Hamilton, with Jay ! " 
 
 AVas that the sentiment of an independent Whig with Democratic 
 ideas? Let us not too rashly answer. Nice discriminations must 
 be made in this behalf, or none. 
 
 July 16, Mr. Chase made this record : 
 
 "Formed no plan this day; attended to business as usual; read 
 about 35 pages Confl. Laws ; Mr. Clay's speech — a masterly effort. 
 Went into the country in the evening five miles to see my wife, 
 who returned with me. A gentleman handed me the call for an anti- 
 slavery convention, wishing me to sign it. I declined, and reasoned with 
 him on the impropriety of the step at the present time; but, I think, with- 
 out much effect. 
 
 July 26, 1840, has this, in part, pathetic record : 
 
 " For more than a week I have neglected to frame any plan, and 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 289 
 
 though I have continued to read with some diligence, I have omitted 
 several duties, through forgetfulness, which I think I should have re- 
 memhered had I looked forward through each day, and assigned to 
 each hour its appropriate employment. 
 
 "This morning I did not rise till past seven o'clock, and had time 
 only for family prayer and breakfast, after dressing, before the bell 
 rang for the Sunday school, which 1 attended. The number present 
 exceeded seventy; I purposed addressing them, but did not. After 
 Sunday school I returned home, not being willing to be absent longer 
 from my wife in her present state of health; found her, on my re- 
 turn, asleep. Spent the morning chiefly in reading various articles 
 of a religious character, in the Xew York Evangelist; was interested 
 particularly by a condensed sketch of the results of missionary en- 
 terprise. How few are at any pains to inform themselves on this 
 subject, the most deeply interesting, except one's personal salvation, 
 to every true Christian. 
 
 "After dinner had a most interesting conversation with my dear 
 wife. It was made up of reflections on the providential dealings 
 of our heavenly Father with us, and especially in relation to our 
 dear little departed one. From every subject of reflection m}- mind 
 constantly reverts to my little one in heaven. 
 
 "Lizzy said that one da}*, as she was sitting on her grandfather's 
 knee, he used some harsh expressions in relation to an absent indi- 
 vidual. She looked up, and said, ' Grandpa, is that right? only wicked 
 people call folks such names.' Her grandfather's eyes filled with 
 tears, aud she added, ' Grandpa won't do so any more ; will you, 
 grandpa?' 
 
 " When playing with little children, if asked to play any part, as 
 pretending to visit, etc., she would ask if that was right to saj* what 
 was not the truth. Not long before her death, her grandfather, 
 coming into the parlor, found her kneeling before her mother's pic- 
 ture, and asked her what she was doing. She answered, he told me, 
 that she was praying her mother to take her to heaven. I hardly 
 think this was so, for she was alwaj's taught to pray only to God, 
 and she was much in the habit of praying to him when in any little 
 affliction. She probabl}- said that she had been praying to God to 
 take her to heaven to her dear mother. This was a wish she often 
 expressed. On one occasion, she came and told me that a meal was 
 ready, and I asked some one to see if it was; she seemed hurt, and 
 said, 'Pa! don't you think I tell the truth?' 
 
 ■• Whenever I denied any thing to her she invariably acquiesced, 
 saying, ' Pa knows what is best for his little daughter,' and never 
 fretted or cried on account of it. 
 
 "After the conversation which revived these reminiscences, I re- 
 viewed the latter part of the 119th Psalm. This is the third 
 time I have gone over the whole of this Psalm in addition to my 
 other Bible reading. I mean to continue to do so, until I can repeat 
 it with facility from beginning to end." 
 
 The next day we have: 
 
 " Pose at half-past five. Took a bath, and, while doing so, repeated
 
 290 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 nearly 40 verses of 119th Psalm ; dressed, and at a quarter past six 
 had family prayer. Called Warren, and told him to hire a carriage 
 for me to go to Lawrenceburg. It is now half-past six. ]\ly plan 
 for the day must be short: from half-past six to eight, Bible, private 
 devotions, breakfast, etc ; eight to twelve, ride to L. ; twelve to four, 
 dinner, conversation with brother, etc. ; four to eight, ride home ; 
 eight to nine, tea, etc.; half an hour, Fr. Rev. j 1 till ten, review, plan, 
 devotion, and bed." 
 
 Perhaps, no man of genius in the ordinary sense of that expres- 
 sion, could have lived, or resolved to live as, we see, did the hero of 
 this work. But it is hard to define genius. Much that bears the 
 name of genius might well bear the name fatuity. But, whether 
 Chase was, or was not, a genius, he was certainly a man who knew 
 the preciousness of time. 
 
 Here are farther extracts : 
 
 "August 4. How rapidly time fleets; already the fourth day of 
 the last month of summer, and but yesterday the summer begun. 
 
 "August 12. When I came home, this evening, I found my dear 
 wife suffering a good deal of pain, but sitting up, and, apparently, 
 otherwise well. Her suffering increased, however, and, after tea, I 
 insisted on sending for the physician and her mother. The latter 
 came first, and it soon became apparent that Lizzie was about to be 
 confined. The servant was sent again, to hasten the doctor, and I 
 sent for Mrs. Ball, a kind friend, deservedly dear to us all. She came 
 as soon as she could, but, before she arrived, I had sent for the nurse, 
 and the doctor (Dr. Rives) had come. ... I went apart, and, 
 kneeling down, prayed God to support and comfort my dear wife, to 
 preserve the life of the child, and save both from sin. I endeavored 
 to give up the child, and all into his hands. I went, once or twice, 
 into the room where my suffering wife lay, and, occasionally, whis- 
 pered to her words of consolation. She bore her pains with great 
 fortitude, and, I believe, was strengthened b}* her heavenly Father 
 to endure. At length, after full trial of her patience, by a protracted 
 labor of four hours, a little daughter was born. Mrs. Ball came to 
 announce the tidings to me. But, lying in the next room, I had 
 heard the pleased exclamation of the kind physician, after all was 
 safely over. After awhile, I went into the room. The birth had taken 
 place at two o'clock, A. M., on the 13th. After I had seen my wife 
 and child, 1 went into the library, and read a few pages in Eberle's 
 book on children — a judicious treatise. At last, I became tired, and, 
 though it was now day, lay down, and slept awhile. The babe is 
 pronounced pretty. I think it quite otherwise." 
 
 The father was mistaken. He had been mistaken, at first, as to 
 the beauty of his first wife. He was mistaken, at first, no doubt, as 
 to the beauty of the child whose birth he recorded in this fashion : 
 
 1 Thiers' French Revolution.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAD CHASE. 291 
 
 " Catherine Jane Chase, second daughter of S. P. C, and E. A. C. 
 born August 13, 1840. 
 
 That daughter is the celebrated Mrs. Sprague, whose beauty, ac 
 cornplishments, and distinction, were mentioned in a former chapter 
 The delighted father, and fond husband, proceeds as follows : 
 
 " It is, however, well formed, and I am thankful. May God give 
 the child a good understanding, that she may keep his command- 
 ments. I have done little this day, besides reading a few pages in 
 
 Story's Conflict of Laics. Saw Mr. Piatt about 's debt to me. 
 
 Wrote to Mr. about his debt to me. — My wife has been very 
 
 comfortable, to-day, and has slept well. The child has been rest- 
 less and uneasy. . . . Since I came home this evening, I have re- 
 peated the whole of the 119th Psalm, being obliged still, however, fre- 
 quently to refer to the book." 
 
 The register, so often called a diary, contains, under date August 
 13, 1840, this additional record : 
 
 " I have also written to Mr. Neil on the subject of property offered 
 me by Mr. Piatt. 
 
 " I now lay down this plan for to-morrow : 
 
 " Rise at half past rive to six ; dress ; to seven, repeat Psalm — devo- 
 tions ; to eight, family prayer, breakfast, etc: to nine, Story on Con- 
 flict and Accidental* 1 ; to one P. M., court-bouse, office business, 
 especially preparation of causes; bank, and business again ; to two, 
 dinner; to six, office business; private business; to eight, tea, etc.; 
 to ten, History of French Revolution ; to half-past eleven, journal, etc." 
 
 But the next entry is dated August 20. It is very suggestive, I 
 consider. Here it is : 
 
 " I have omitted to form any regular plans for each day, as it 
 seems impossible for me to do more than sketch the outline of each 
 day's action as it takes place, whether planned or no. 
 
 "This morning, I rose about half past six o'clock — was inter- 
 rupted in dressing, and did not get ready for family prayers until 
 about half-past seven. Then attended family prayers, but was cold 
 and formal. Neither my thoughts nor my affections seemed free. 
 Repeated, as usual, while dressing, a considerable part of the 119th 
 Psalm, and afterward, during the day, the whole of the residue. I 
 do hope the word thus hid in my heart will keep me from sinning 
 against God. Nothing saves me from absolute despair, in the con- 
 templation of the perverseness and guilt of my heart, but the cer- 
 tainty that the atonement is infinite, and that the Holy Spirit is 
 pledged to those who ask.'' 
 
 1 So I make out the word. 
 
 20
 
 292 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 That is a true photograph of a true spirit. Faults there were 
 and great faults in this earnest, rather dark-minded man ; but he was 
 true at heart, and to the heart's core, when he wrote those words. 
 
 Sunday, August 29th, affords the following hardly less important 
 indication : 
 
 "After breakfast, we went to church, where I superintended the 
 Sunday school as usual, and addressed the children, briefly, on 
 topics suggested by the hymn for to-day. Must pay more attention 
 to these addresses, and try to make them more interesting and in- 
 structive. Attended church. A strange sermon, sound, but badly 
 composed and delivered. Why can not clergymen speak to their fellow- 
 citizens in a frank, kind, and natural manner — as a man icould speak to 
 a friend whom he was warning against evil habits and dangerous courses? " 
 
 " Why, indeed ? The pulpit and the press — how powerful they 
 might be — nay, they are — yet how much more powerful for good 
 might they become, could the preacher and the printer only be 
 brought to comprehend the possibilities alluded to! 
 
 The entry last quoted concludes as follows : 
 
 " In the afternoon, committed part of 137th Psalm, and read Life 
 of Chrysostom. In evening, attended church ; Mr. Johns preached; 
 text, God be merciful to me, a sinner; walked to near home with 
 Col. Dudley; found Mrs. Garniss with wife; went home with her; 
 wrote the foregoing, and now to bed." 
 
 Under date December 25, 1840, appear the words: 
 
 " When I ceased writing in this journal, last August, I intended 
 only to omit it for a day or two. The day or two, by procrastina- 
 tion, has been extended to near four months. Yet idleness has not 
 been the cause of the omission. I have allowed other things, of less 
 real importance, to engross the time. 
 
 "During the interval, I have been at Lockport, in New York, 
 and at Chicago, in Illinois. Went to Chicago from Cleveland, in 
 steamboat of that name. Encountered storm on Lake Huron. Read 
 History of Michigan and Cobbett on Paper Money, on board the boat. 
 
 "Since my return, have been almost constantly occupied in pro- 
 fessional duties and public engagements. Have, nevertheless, con- 
 tinued to read Thiers, and have commenced De Tocqueville de la 
 Democratic des Etats Unis. 
 
 "To-day I rose too late; attended to private and family prayer; 
 afterward read several chapters in Leviticus; having again began 
 to read the Scriptures in course, intending to read the Old Testa- 
 ment in private and the New with the family; the 19th chapter; 
 analyzed and compai-ed its precepts with the ten commandments, 
 which it expands and enforces in a most admirable manner. It is 
 my deliberate opinion that all the writings of all moral and politi-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 293 
 
 cal philosophers do not contain so much practical wisdom, whether 
 applicable to States or persons. While analyzing this chapter, my wife 
 
 came in, ready to go to church. We went; an excellent sermon from 
 Mr. Johns, on the Divinity of our Savior, from Mai., 'The Lord whom 
 ye seek,' etc. After sermon, communion. Before church received a 
 letter from several clergymen in reply to a note signed by myself 
 and others as a committee of Young Men's Bihle Society, in answer 
 to a remonstrance on their part against the election of Unitarians 
 as officers, or the selection of such as speakers for the Society. 
 Thought the letter weak as an argument. 
 
 " After church, read a few pages in French Revolution, and then 
 went to Mr. Ball's to dine. A small and not very interesting party. 
 Might have made it more interesting and profitable had I taken the 
 proper course. 
 
 " Coming home, called at Mrs. Smith's, where we had left our 
 baby, who has now grown finely, and is very healthy. After coming 
 home, went to Mr. Garniss', where we sat talking some time; then 
 home again to tea; then to my office, whence returned immediately 
 without doing any thing. Read Thiers' Geography of Switzerland, and 
 wrote. Wife unwell from cold, and retired early. 
 
 " Wife made Christmas presents — Margaret, dress ; Nancy, shawl ; 
 Betsey, half dollar ; me, suspenders. I gave Warren a silver pencil 
 case." 
 
 Does it not seem strange to any one who is old enough to remem- 
 ber 1840 clearly — does it not seem strange to any such reader that 
 these words should have been written during that year by Salmon 
 Portland Chase ? 
 
 Was this man a politician at that time? Was he ambitious 
 then ? Did he contemplate presidential possibilities ?
 
 294 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 FROM 1840 TO 1845 — THE VANZANDT CASE — POLITICS AND PROFES- 
 SIONAL OCCUPATIONS — DEATH OF THE SECOND WIFE. 
 
 THE mad fashion of 1840 was little to the liking of the man whose 
 character we more and more perceive assuming grand propor- 
 tions. Chase, indeed, supported Harrison ; but the support was not 
 markedly enthusiastic. Its character may be somewhat indicated 
 by this entry, under date February 13, 1841 : 
 
 " Wrote to Gen. Harrison by Maj. Clarkson, recommending ap- 
 pointment of C. to post-office in Cincinnati, E. to consulate in 
 Europe, or some other suitable port, and G. to consulate in Europe, 
 and advising the General to make no allusion to the subject of 
 slavery in his inaugural address." 
 
 Gen. Harrison did not heed this counsel. He followed the ex- 
 amples of his predecessors, Van Buren and Jackson. Slavery was 
 strong, and Harrison was weak. 
 
 The death of Harrison, however, was an event which very natu- 
 rally interested Chase. 
 
 I can not find room for a very pleasant account of a river trip, on 
 w-hich our hero went with his wife and their little daughter, who 
 were on the way to New Orleans, as far as Louisville. We must go 
 forward rapidly ; and much that I would like to offer must be un- 
 presented. 
 
 Very marked was the course of Mr. Chase in Council as a foe to 
 King Alcohol. One entry in the register so often quoted contains 
 the sentences : 
 
 " On Wednesday evening, at the Council, I openly declared my 
 resolution to vote for no more licenses to sell intoxicating drinks, 
 whether to taverns or other houses, and I took some pains to pre- 
 vent the grant of a license to a new house proposed to be established 
 on Main Street, in which I succeeded. I do n't know what 
 
 ;
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 295 
 
 the effect may be on me personally, but I believe that I have done 
 right." 
 
 That is not the language of a politician. It is not the language 
 of a man preferring popularity to self-esteem and self-approval. 
 It is pleasant to encounter such paragraphs as this : 
 
 "Greatly disappointed getting no letter from my wife, Miss 
 Hewson having received one from Mr. Hewson, who went in the 
 same boat, dated on the 12th, the boat having arrived on the 10th. 
 Wrote to wife ; sent one letter by New Orleans steamboat, the 
 other by mail. Went to Miss Hewson's in the evening, hoping to 
 hear something of her — in vain." 
 
 On the next day, Sunday, Mr. Chase, " after church, read on the 
 subject of Temperance with a view to oppose farther licensing of 
 houses for sale of liquor by City Council." 
 
 The following Sunday he marked with an entry, opening as 
 follows: 
 
 " This is Sunday — always a welcome day to me, though, in one 
 sense, it can hardly be called a day of rest." 
 
 The same entry concludes : 
 
 " Afterwards, read Dymond's Essays, Temperance Documents, 
 and Bible ; reading desultory, and, of course, comparatively unprofit- 
 able." 
 
 On the 23d of May, 1841, is the record : 
 
 " Conversed with my dear wife. She said that if she should die 
 she should have great pain in parting with little Kate, but did not 
 doubt that the Lord would take care of her. ' You don't know,' 
 said she, ' how delighted I was when you kneeled down with me 
 after we were married. I thought I should be inexcusable if I did 
 not become pious — all difficulties seemed to be taken out of the way.' 
 My dear wife is not well, though, I trust, not in great danger. It 
 is delightful to feel that she sympathizes with me in religious views 
 and feelings, and to believe that she is indeed a 1 child of God. 
 How much sanctity, how much tenderness, does this thought add 
 to the marriage relation." 
 
 In November, 1841, the Cincinnati Gazette contained the first call 
 for a State Liberty Convention in Ohio, as follows : 
 
 " It is desirable that the friends of Constitutional Liberty should 
 meet in convention at Columbus for the purpose of nominating a 
 
 1 I can not make out the adjective.
 
 296 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 candidate for Governor at the ensuing election, and for mutual con- 
 ference with a view to efficient political organization and the pub- 
 lic declaration of their political principles by a suitable address and 
 resolutions." 
 
 It is said this call was " originated " by Mr. Chase. Perhaps 
 that statement is not quite correct. But, however that may turn out, 
 the call was signed by our hero, with Samuel Lewis, Thomas Morris, 
 John Joliffe, and W. Revs. It named Columbus, and December 
 29, 1841, for time and place. 
 
 Accordingly, delegates from thirty-six counties repaired to Colum- 
 bus on that day. Some of the delegates were opposed to nomina- 
 tions and to action as a party. But Hon. Leicester King, of 
 Trumbull County, was nominated for Governor, Mr. Chase actively 
 working for that result, and for an efficient organization in the 
 world of party politics. The address, unanimously adopted by the 
 convention, was drawn up by him. And he harangued the people 
 at various places, in favor of the action so taken by the convention. 
 Mr. King received between five and six thousand votes. 
 
 Here is an entry under the head, " Family Memoranda : " 
 
 " Lizzie Chase, daughter of S. P. C. and E. A. C, born May 30, 
 1842 ; died August 30, 1842." 
 
 The next matter to which I invite attention is a letter of great 
 interest. It reads as follows : 
 
 " March 18th. 
 
 " Dear Sir : — John Vanzandt, Avho is the original of the famous 
 John Van Trompe in Uncle Tom's Cabin, was an old man who had 
 emigrated from Kentucky, and owned and occupied a small farm 
 in Hamilton County. His means were slender and his education 
 limited, but his heart was rich in benevolence, and his honesty was 
 doubted by none. He was an abolitionist from principle and from 
 sympathy. He believed that slave-holding was wrong, and his 
 kindly nature was prompt to succor the distressed, and found espe- 
 cial gratification in aiding fugitives from the oppression of slavery. 
 
 " On the night of Friday, 22d of April, 1842, a number of slaves 
 from Kentucky escaped into Ohio. Their escape was probably vol- 
 untary. There are very few cases, I believe, in which persons other 
 than slaves themselves, have had any thing to do in prompting, or 
 even assisting, their original flight. This party of slaves consisted 
 of nine persons. 
 
 " On reaching the Ohio, they, doubtless, found friends who con- 
 ducted them to Walnut Hills, in the vicinity of Lane Seminary. 
 There Vanzandt, returning from the Cincinnati market, where he 
 had been selling the products of his farm, found them, and, moved 
 by sympathy, undertook to convey them, in his wagon, to Lebanon 
 or Springfield. One of the slaves, Andrew, acted as driver. They
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 297 
 
 were met, some fifteen miles north of Cincinnati, by some ruffians, 
 who, suspecting them to be fugitive slaves, undertook to seize them. 
 They succeeded, except as to Andrew, the driver, who jumped from 
 his seat and escaped. 
 
 "Such was the temper of the times, and such the countenance 
 given, by the decisions of the Supreme Court, to such practices, that 
 this abduction of persons from this jurisdiction of Ohio into Ken- 
 tucky could not be punished. A prosecution was commenced against 
 them, and there was a sort of trial as to some of them. The prose- 
 cuting attorney, however, evinced little zeal, while they were defended 
 by Thomas Corwin and John B. Weller, both men of marked ability. 
 The}' were acquitted, more by the public sentiment than by the jury, 
 who rendered the verdict of acquittal. 
 
 " Vanzandtwas sued by Jones, from whom the slaves had escaped, 
 for harboring and concealing them. I was called upon to defend 
 Vanzandt, and very willingly undertook the cause. It came to 
 trial before Judge McLean, at Cincinnati, in July, 1842. The evi- 
 dence having been submitted on the part of the plaintiff, a motion 
 was made by Thomas Morris, who was associated with me in the 
 defense, to overrule the evidence, on the ground that, admitting all 
 the facts proved, they established no case of unlawful harboring or 
 concealment, and no notice to the defendant that the alleged fugitives 
 had escaped from Kentucky into Ohio. These propositions were 
 full}* discussed by Mr. Morris and myself, on the one side, and by 
 Messrs. Fox and Southgate, on the other. My argument occupied 
 nearly three hours, and I really thought I had established, to the 
 satisfaction of the court, that, in order to charge a citizen of Ohio 
 with the penalties denounced by the Fugitive Slave Act against, har- 
 boring and concealing persons escaping from slavery, there must be 
 proof of actual notice, to the person charged, that the objects of his 
 charity had escaped from a slave State into the State where he 
 received them. The words of the Fugitive Slave Act itself were 
 express, that, to create a liability to penalty, the acts charged must 
 be ' after notice,' and I insisted that the words ' after notice ' must 
 be taken to mean notice by the claimant of the fact of escape, or, at 
 least, actual notice given by somebody of that fact with a view to 
 charge the party notified. I think the general impression in the 
 large audience of intelligent gentlemen who listened to my argument, 
 was, that these points, at least, were established. Indeed, such was 
 the impression made upon the mind of the plaintiff, Jones, that he 
 came to me, after the adjournment of the court upon the close of the 
 argument, and said he was sorry that he had brought the suit, and 
 should not have done so if he had not been badly advised. The 
 next morning, however, scattered my anticipations. The judge came 
 into the court and overruled the motion. 
 
 "Upon this, the cause went to the jury, and was again fully ar- 
 gued ; but, under the law, as stated from the bench, there was no 
 possible hope of a favorable verdict. It was against the defendant, 
 with damages to the amount of $1200. 
 
 " I then made a motion for a new trial, and another for an arrest 
 of judgment. They were argued together. The judge did not decide 
 the motion in arrest, but, in the course of his opinion upon the other
 
 298 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 motion, stated principles which would necessarily decide that motion 
 in favor of the defendant. I did not press the motion in arrest 
 farther at that time, nor did I take the new trial. 
 
 "Besides this suit for damages, an action had been prosecuted 
 against Vanzandt to recover the penalty of $500, given b}' the act 
 of 1793. In this action, as in the other, the verdict was for the 
 plaintiff. Several questions, however, which arose during the pros- 
 ecution, and several questions which arose upon the motion to arrest 
 the judgment in this case, were carried to the Supreme Court of the 
 United States for final decision. I preferred to await the decision 
 upon these questions before determining what course I should pursue 
 in relation to the verdict for damages. 
 
 " At the December term, 1841, the cause was argued upon certified 
 questions before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Sen- 
 ator Moorhead appeared for Jones, while Gov. Seward and I repre- 
 sented Vanzandt. The case was reached upon the docket sooner 
 than, through information from one of the judges, I had been led to 
 expect, and, at my instance, a postponement was asked. The court 
 denied it, but consented to receive written arguments if presented 
 within fifteen days. The time was short, but the arguments were 
 submitted, and the case decided, upon all points, adversely to Van- 
 zandt. When the certificates of these decisions were presented in 
 the Circuit Court, final judgment for the penalty was, of course, 
 entered. 
 
 " I then moved in arrest of the judgment in the suit for damages, 
 but the judge had changed his opinion on the controlling points, 
 and the decision was again adverse. I then proposed to accept the 
 new trial upon the terms of the order already made; but the court 
 had changed its opinion upon this question also, and denied the 
 motion, and judgment was entered against Vanzandt for the $1200 
 damages as well as for the penalty. The character of the eminent 
 judge who made these decisions forbids the supposition that he was 
 controlled by any other than upright purposes ; but I could never 
 help thinking that, in the absence of the universal bias created by 
 the dread of the slave power, the decisions would have been very 
 different. 
 
 " My connection with these cases necessarily terminated with the 
 judgments. Both Mr. Seward and myself gave our services without 
 compensation. A small sum was contributed by friends for the 
 actual expenses of the defense, but it was not sufficient even for that 
 purpose. The loss Vanzandt suffered embarrassed him seriously, 
 and, I believe, he never recovered from its damaging effects. He 
 has long since gone where the Supreme Judge of all certainly holds 
 humanity no crime. Vanzandt's best monument is in Mrs. Stowe's 
 immortal book. Yours, truly, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 December, 1842, was marked by the action, at Columbus, of a 
 State convention of the Liberty Party. Mr. Chase was chairman 
 of the committee on resolutions and address. He also spoke to 
 the convention in a set speech.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 299 
 
 This remarkable discourse insisted that slavery could not, consti- 
 tutionally, exist within the jurisdiction of Congress, whether in the 
 Territories, in the District of Columbia, or in vessels on the high 
 seas. It set forth the importance of international negotiations for 
 the free admission of the agricultural products of the West into the 
 markets of Europe. It declared against a mere paper money sys- 
 tem of currency, and against the frauds and undue expansions of 
 banks and their suspensions of payment on their issues and deposits. 
 The speaker confessed his faith in favor of free trade, yet so as that, 
 while the expenses of government should continue to be derived 
 from duties as imports, those duties should be so arranged as to en- 
 courage any branch of production or fabrication which would 
 thereby, in a reasonable time, become so established as no longer to 
 require protection. 
 
 Mr. Chase was never a no-party man. The address drafted by 
 him for the convention, under notice, ably and spiritedly argues 
 the necessity of the new party. 
 
 Under date June 1, 1843, is an entry which contains the sen- 
 tences : 
 
 "About a quarter before one, a little stranger was ushered into 
 the world; another daughter. I can not be sufficiently thankful 
 that my dear wife has passed through the crisis so well." 
 
 Under date June 20th, we have : 
 
 "I have concluded not to attend Anti-Slavery Convention at 
 Bloomingsburg. Lizzy still improves; baby opens her eyes a 
 little. Dr. lets Lizzy have some strawberries." 
 
 June 23d witnessed the memorandum of a visit, to which this note 
 was added : 
 
 " Came home and called at Dr. Bailey's, just returned from Bloom- 
 ingsburg Convention; the best yet held in the State; 1500 people; 
 excellent speeches ; King, Lewis, Morris, Hudson, and others ; en- 
 thusiastic and resolute. Lizzy and baby still doing finely; Lizzy 
 sitting up most of day." 
 
 The entry dated June 26th, reads, in part, as follows : 
 
 "Rose late; in private and family prayer cold; alas! when shall 
 I overcome wandering thoughts and worldly imaginations. Break- 
 fast late; obliged to send for bread. Mr. Buchler and Mr. Hendry 
 Oast introduced by Mr. B. F. Wade), called at office. Discussed
 
 300 THE PRIVATE LIFE A>'D PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 with him (H.) principles of Liberty men as distinguished from 
 abolitionists." 
 
 In the entry dated July 2d, appear tne sentences : 
 
 " Mr. Cleveland, in prayer, asked for the deliverance of the land 
 from slavery, among other sins and evils, and in his sermon spoke 
 of the imprisonment of Butler and Worcester in Georgia Peniten- 
 tiary. Coming out of church, Mr. Ewing asked me how I liked 
 their stranger. On my expressing the gratification I felt, he said 
 his anti-slavery feelings stuck out too much for that congregation 
 — that his allusion to the imprisonment in the Georgia Peniten- 
 tiary was evidence of it. ' Why, I replied, ' that was no allusion 
 to slavery! Butler and Worcester were the missionaries, impris- 
 oned by the Georgia authorities, for whom Wirt made his great 
 speech.' It seemed that he supposed they were abolitionists impris- 
 oned for some aggression on slavery — and this gent, is one of the 
 most intelligent members of the church." 
 
 The Buffalo Convention of 1843 was a most important body, and 
 the role of our hero in it was not second to that of any other mem- 
 ber. He prepared the platform. But he did not propose or approve 
 the resolution in favor of treating a clause of the Constitution, when- 
 ever applied in the case of a fugitive slave as utterly null and void, 
 and consequently as forming no part of the supreme law of the land, 
 "whenever called upon or sworn to support it." 
 
 The truth in this respect was made known by Senator Chase in 
 reply to Mr. Butler, of South Carolina. Said Mr. Chase: 
 
 " I have only to say, I never proposed the resolution ; I never 
 would propose or vote for such a resolution. I hold no doctrine of 
 mental reservation. Every man. in my judgment, should say pre- 
 cisely what he means — keeping nothing back, here or elsewhere." 
 
 Rev. John Pierpont, of Massachusetts, was the real father of the 
 fanatical folly in question. It was submitted to the Committee on 
 resolutions. Mr. Chase opposed it, and the committee rejected it. 
 But Mr. Pierpont was not vanquished. He proposed his resolution 
 in open convention, when Mr. Chase was not present, and it was 
 adopted without discussion, in a blaze of enthusiasm. 
 
 Mr. Chase, in 1844, supported James G. Birney. 
 
 At a meeting of the Loyal National Repeal Association of Ireland, 
 held May 10, 1843, Daniel O'Connell said some things, in his fash- 
 ion, far from favorable to the Irish-American supporters of the then 
 "peculiar institution of the South." Such eminent Irish-American
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 301 
 
 repealers as David T. Disney were greatly concerned about that 
 utterance of the great Irish leader. They responded to the liber- 
 ator. Mr. Disney was thought to have surpassed himself in that 
 response. But Mr. O'Connell, in a letter, dated October 11, 1843, 
 replied, more suo. 
 
 Whereupon such eminent Irish-Americans as Salmon Portland 
 Chase took up the tale. " The Friends of Liberty, Ireland, and 
 Repeal," assembled in Cincinnati, and Mr. Chase as one of a com- 
 mittee, prepared an address, reviewing the relations of the Federal 
 Government to slavery at the period of its organization, setting 
 forth the original anti-slavery policy and the subsequent growth of 
 the opposite policy, and vindicating the Liberty Party. 
 
 It was surprising to find how much Irish blood and Irish extrac- 
 tion showed themselves in born Americans at that time. 
 
 I knew Mr. Disney well. He w r as a very able man. I have no 
 doubt that he was just as conscientious as were Chase and the other 
 " Liberator ; " conscientiousness does not always enable one to dis- 
 cern truth ; and, alas ! it does not always make one just toward his 
 fellow-men. Mr. Disney believed that Mr. Chase was keeping back 
 the day of deliverance for the slave by agitating so excitedly in favor 
 of emancipation and against what Mr. Disney deemed the constitu- 
 tional status of the slaveholder. Status did not seem to Mr. Disney 
 presently necessary to the slave. For a century or so, he could con- 
 tent himself with the assurance that by and by something might 
 turn up to induce the slaveholder to give up his human chattel. 
 
 I would not be understood that abolitionists did not keep back the 
 day of freedom. That is a theme of which I speak not now. Here- 
 after I may say a word about the subject, notwithstanding its great 
 delicacy. 
 
 Here is another entry under the head, " Family Memoranda : " 
 
 " Lizzie Chase, 2nd daughter of S. P. Chase and E. Chase, born 
 June 1, 1843; died July 24, 1844." 
 
 From July 3, 1843, to April 22, 1849, there is no entry in the 
 register so often quoted. l I have found, however, another book of 
 
 1 The entry under date July 3, 1843, is as follows : "Read, after dressing, a Psalm, 
 the 50th, and the four first chapters of Matt, Some earnestness in prayer. Was 
 obliged to correct my dear little Kate. Prayed with ber. Brought up the journal 
 from June 26."
 
 302 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 entries, which contains the following mournful record, under date 
 Nov. 24 ; 1845: 
 
 " I resume my journal after a long intermission, during which the 
 saddest affliction has fallen upon me. I have recorded its details in 
 separate sheets which, with other intervening events I may yet note 
 in this book. ' If so the preceding page will exhibit a reference to 
 them." 
 
 In another book, under the head " Family Memoranda," we have 
 the entry : 
 
 " Eliza Ann Smith, born Nov. 12, 1821 ; married S. P. Chase, Sep. 
 26, 1839 ; died Mon. 2|, P. M., Sep. 29, 1845; 23 y. 10 m. 17 d." 
 
 The entry under date Nov. 24th, goes on as follows : 
 
 " This day has been marked by no extraordinary event; rose, as 
 usual, of late, before sunrise; breakfasted with sister Alice and little 
 Kate. Eead Scriptures (Job) to little Kate, who listened and seemed 
 to be pleased, probably with the solemn rhythm — for she certainly 
 can understand very little ; then prayed with her ; then to town in 
 omnibus; unshaven, for want of time." 
 
 It concludes as follows : 
 
 " Home in omnibus. Eead newspapers; read Landscape Gardening. 
 Heard little Kate read a little poem ; also in Bible ; and wrote above. 
 A little more time now on Vanzandt case, and then to bed." 
 
 Under date Nov. 25th, is an entry, from which I draw these words : 
 
 " Supper. Prayers. Heard Kate read Bible. Before coming 
 down called on Whitney, railroad king — he full of enthusiasm, which 
 he has breathed into Cist, who now admits himself mistaken as to 
 the destiny of Cincinnati to be the greatest city in the world, which 
 preeminence is, in his opinion, reserved for the city to be at the 
 Pacific termination of the railroad." 
 
 Dec. 2d, has the entry : 
 
 " I wrote nothing on Sunday or Monday night because I felt too much 
 indisposed. On Sunday, however, I was at church in the morning, 
 and in the afternoon attended funeral services of Sam. Lewis' child, 
 at his house on Broadw^vy. He is said to have been a very bright 
 child, just turned of 4 years — only two months younger than my 
 dear little Kate, 2 and destroyed by the same dreadful disease— the 
 scarlet fever. During the night, Sunday, I was quite ill, and much 
 alarmed by my symptoms — sinking faintness, palpitation, violent 
 shaking. Dear sister Alice wrapped me up warm — made a fire in 
 my room and gave me hot drink, and, after a while, I got bettei. 
 
 1 Not done. 2 The first daughter. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 303 
 
 Monday I was in town, and devoted most of my time to stating an 
 account of my debts, which were more than I expected. I thought I 
 had reduced them to about £!•, 000, but found them to exceed $11,000. 
 Abstained from dinner in hope of benefit from it. To bed soon after 
 prayers, and rather restless eight. Very cold this morning. Rather 
 restless night. Thermometer this morning 8° above zero. To town 
 in sleigh omnibus. Busied chiefly as yesterday, but a good deal 
 interrupted. Dined temperately at Mrs. Capt. Smith's. Home about 
 5. Much better than for several days. Heard dear little Kate read 
 verses and Bible, and pray; talked to her. Bead conclusion of Job, 
 and wrote foregoing before family prayers." 
 
 Part of the next entry reads as follows : 
 
 " Saturday, Dec. 6. Up this morning betimes. Prayers. Break- 
 fast. Heard Kate read a little. To town in omnibus. Morning 
 somewhat interrupted by callers, and a good deal frittered away. 
 Eead President's message — able, clear, and firm ; erroneous, I think, 
 as to Texas and postage, but creditable to the author as a whole." 
 
 In a previous entry (under date Nov. 26th), occurs the sentence : 
 
 "Mr. Lewis called. Talk about his being candidate for Governor 
 of Liberty men. He coyly willing." 
 
 Samuel Lewis was a very able man, and as an orator he had few 
 equals. But he seemed to me not without jealousy. Perhaps he 
 never felt quite at ease with our hero — one of the least jealous men 
 I ever knew. 
 
 It is necessary henceforth to give our chief attention to the public 
 life of Salmon Portland Chase. In studying his private life so 
 closely up to this time, our chief object has been to ascertain his char- 
 acter and tendencies as a public man. 
 
 Thus far we have bad reason to regard him with esteem and 
 admiration. He appears to have been in 1845 an eminently con- 
 scientious man. The type of his religiousness is not the type that 
 I most love; but it is true and noble. Public virtue appears in him 
 associated with private virtue. 
 
 In Chase, it seems to me that public virtue shone most lustrously 
 in combination with most precious private virtue, down to the days 
 when he was busy toward assembling the so-called Southern and 
 Western Liberty Convention. That convention was actually held 
 at Cincinnati, June 11 and 12, 1845. It was early in the spring of 
 that year that Mr. Chase, with Samuel Lewis, Dr. Wm. H. Bris- 
 bane, of Ohio, and Judge Stevens, of Indiana, began to obtain sig- 
 natures to the call, which contains the words:
 
 304 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "It is not designed that the convention shall be composed exclu- 
 sively of the Liberty party, but of all who, believing that whatever 
 is worth preserving in republicanism can be maintained only by 
 eternal and uncompromising war against the criminal usurpations 
 of the slave power, are resolved to use all constitutional and honor- 
 able and just means to effect the extinction of slavery in the respec- 
 tive States, and its reduction to its constitutional limits in the United 
 States. We therefore earnestly invite all who desire to cooperate 
 for the deliverance of our beloved and otherwise glorious country 
 from its greatest curse and most appalling danger, by speech, by the 
 pen, by the press, and by the ballot, to give to the convention the 
 sanction of their personal presence and to aid in its proceedings by 
 their counsels. Our fellow-citizens also, of all parties, slaveholders 
 and non-slaveholders, who desire to acquaint themselves with the 
 true nature and probable results of the Liberty movement in the 
 United States, are cordially invited to come and see and hear. And 
 may God's blessing help the good cause." 
 
 I do not wish to exaggerate the distinctions of the address drawn 
 up by Mr. Chase for the convention, actually held as already hinted. 
 I hold in my hand a little volume, published at London, in 1867, 
 on the title-page of which appear the words, "Anti-Slavery Addresses 
 o/1844 and 1845. By Salmon Portland Chase and Charles Dexter 
 Cleveland." In a note, Prof. Cleveland says : 
 
 " Of the two addresses I place the Philadelphia first, simply be- 
 cause it was the first in the order of time. Had I placed them ac- 
 cording to their merits, the Cincinnati address would, of course, come 
 first ; and the other next, indeed, but in the expressive language of 
 Milton, 'long after next.' " 
 
 I can imagine Mr. Chase according the palm to the address to 
 which beyond all question that prepared by him was under so much 
 obligation. It was at a convention of delegates of the Liberty party 
 of the eastern section of Pennsylvania, held in Philadelphia, Febru- 
 ary 22, 1844, that Prof. Cleveland was made the chairman of a 
 committee to prepare the address which he afterward actually, so 
 ably, did prepare. In some respects this paper is inferior to that of 
 Chase, by which it was followed. On the whole, the one is quite 
 equal to the other, in my judgment. 
 
 In the Chase address are these words : 
 
 "What, then, is the position of the political parties of the country 
 in relation to this subject? One of these parties professes to be 
 guided by the most liberal principles. ' Equal and exact justice to 
 all men;' 'equal rights for all men ;' 'inflexible opposition to oppres- 
 sion,' are its favorite mottoes. It claims to bo the true friend of
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 305 
 
 popular government, and assumes the name of Democratic. Among 
 its members are. doubtless, many who cherish its professions as 
 sacred principles, and believe that the great cause of* freedom and 
 progress is to be served by promoting its ascendancy. But when we 
 compare the maxims of the so-called Democratic party with its acts, 
 its hypocrisy is plainly revealed. Among its leading members we 
 find the principal slaveholders the chiefs of the oligarchy. It has 
 never scrupled to sacrifice the rights of the free States, or of the 
 people, to the demands of the slave power. Like Sir Pertinax 
 licSycophant, its northern leaders believe that the great secret of 
 advancement lies in ' bowing well.' No servility seems too gross, no 
 self-degradation too great to be submitted to. They think themselves 
 well rewarded if the unit}* of the party be preserved and the spoils of 
 victory secured. If, in the distribution of these spoils, they receive 
 only the jackal's share, they content themselves with the reflec- 
 tion that little is better than nothing. They declaim loudly against 
 all monopolies, all special privileges, all encroachments on personal 
 rights, all distinctions founded upon birth; and compensate them- 
 selves for these efforts of virtue, by practicing the vilest oppression 
 upon all their countrymen, in whose complexions the slightest trace 
 of African derivation can be detected. 
 
 "Profoundly do we revere the maxims of true Democracy ; they are 
 identical with those of true Christianity, in relation to the rights and 
 duties of men as citizens. And. our reverence for Democratic principles 
 is the precise measure of our detestation of the policy of those who are 
 permitted to shape the action of the Democratic party. Political con- 
 cert with that party, under its present leadership, is, therefore, 
 plainly impossible. Nor do we entertain the hope, which many, no 
 doubt, honestly cherish, that the professed principles of the party will, at 
 length, bring it light upon the question of slavery. Its professed princi- 
 ples have been the same for nearly half a centuiy, and yet the sub- 
 jection of the party to the slave power is, at this moment, as com- 
 plete as ever. There is no prospect of any change for the better, 
 until those Democrats whose hearts are really possessed by a gen- 
 emus love of liberty for all, and by an honest hatred of oppression, 
 shall manfully assert their individual independence, and refuse their 
 support to the panders of slavery. 
 
 ••There is another party which boasts that it is conservative in 
 its character. Its watchwords are, 'a tariff,' 'a banking system,' 
 •the Union as it is." Among its members, also, are many sincere 
 opponents of slavery : and the party itself, seeking aid in the at- 
 tainment of power, and anxious to carry its favorite measures, and 
 bound together by no such professed principles as secure the unity 
 of the Democratic party, often concedes much to their anti-slavery 
 views. It is not unwilling, in those States and parts of States where 
 anti-slavery sentiment prevails, to assume an anti-slavery attitude, 
 ami claims to be an anti-slavery party. Like the Democratic party, 
 however, the Whig party maintains alliances with the slaveholder. 
 It proposes, in its national conventions, no action against slavery. 
 It has no anti-slavery article in its national creed. Among its lead- 
 ers and champions, in Congress and out of Congress, none are so 
 honored and trusted as slaveholders in practice and in principle.
 
 306 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Whatever the Whig party, therefore, concedes to anti-slavery, must be re- 
 luctantly conceded. Its natural position is conservative. Its natural 
 line of action is to maintain things as they are. Its natural bond of union 
 is regard for interests rather than for rights. There are, doubtless, 
 zealous opponents of slavery, who are also zealous Whigs ; but they 
 h-ave not the general confidence of their party ; they are under the 
 ban of the slaveholders; and in any practical anti-slavery movement, 
 as, for example, the repeal of the laws which sanction slaveholding 
 in the District of Columbia, would meet the determined opposition 
 of a large and most influential section of the party, not because the 
 people of the free States would be opposed to the measure, but be- 
 cause it would be displeasing to the oligarchy and fatal to party 
 unity. We are constrained to think, therefore, that all expectation 
 of efficient anti-slavery action from the Whig party, as now organ- 
 ized, will prove delusive. Nor do we perceive any probability of a 
 change in its organization, separating its anti-slavery from its pro- 
 slavery constituents, and leaving the former in possession of the 
 name and influence of the party. With the Whig party, therefore, as 
 at present organized, it is as impossible for us, whose mottoes are 'Equal 
 rights and fair wages for all,' 1 and l the Union as it should be,' to act in 
 alliance and concert, as it is for us so to act with the so-called Democratic 
 party. We can not choose between these parties for the sake of any 
 local or partial advantage, without sacrificing consistency, self-respect, 
 and mutual confidence. While we say this, we are bound to add, 
 that were either of these parties to disappoint our expectations, and to 
 adopt into its national creed as its leading articles, the principles 
 which we regard as fundamental, and enter upon a course of unfeigned 
 and earnest action against the system of slavery, we should not hesitate, 
 regarding, as we do, the question of slavery as the paramount question of 
 our day and nation, to give to it our cordial and vigorous support, until 
 slavery should be no more.'" 
 
 The last of the foregoing sentences opens the way to understand- 
 ing of the following extract : 
 
 " With what party, then, shall we act ? Or shall we act with 
 none ? Act, in some way, we must ; for the possession of the right 
 of suffrage, the right of electing our own law-makers and rulers, 
 imposes upon us the corresponding duty of voting for men who Avill 
 carry out the views which we deem of paramount importance 
 and obligation. Act together we must, for upon the questions 
 which we regard as the most vital we are fully agreed. We must 
 act then; act together; and act against slavery and oppression. 
 Acting thus, we necessarily act as a party; for what is a parti/, 
 but a body of citizens, acting together politically, in good faith, upon 
 common principles, for a common object? And if there be a party 
 already in existence, animated by the same motives and aiming 
 at the same results as ourselves, we must act with and in that 
 party- 
 
 " That there is such a party is well known. It is the Liberty party of 
 the United States. Its principles, measures, and objects we cordially
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 307 
 
 approve. It founds itself upon the great cardinal principle of true Democ- 
 racy and of true Christianity, the brotherhood of the Human family. It 
 avows Us purpose to wage war against slaveholding as the direst form of 
 oppression, and then against every other species of tyranny and injustice. 
 
 Its views on the subject of shivery in this country arc, in the main, 
 the same as those which we have set forth in this address. Its 
 members agree to regard the extinction of slavery as the most im- 
 portant end which can, at this time, be proposed to political action ; 
 and they agree to differ as to other questions of minor importance, 
 such as those of trade and currency, believing that these can be 
 satisfactorily disposed of, when the question of slavery shall he 
 settled, and that, until then, they can not be satisfactorily disposed 
 of at all. 
 
 " The rise of such a party as this was anticipated long before its 
 actual organization, by the single-hearted and patriotic Charles 
 Follen, a German by birth, but a true American by adoption and 
 in spirit. ' If there ever is to be in this country, 1 he said, in 1836, ' a 
 party that shall take its name and character, not from particular 
 liberal measures or popular men, but from its uncompromising and 
 consistent adherence to freedom — a truly liberal and thoroughly 
 republican party, it must direct its first decided effort against the 
 grossest form, the most complete manifestation of oppression ; and, 
 having taken anti-slavery ground, it must carry out the principle 
 of liberty in all its consequences. It must support every measure 
 conducive to the greatest possible individual, and social, moral, in- 
 tellectual, religious, and political freedom, whether that measure 
 be brought forward by inconsistent slaveholders or consistent free- 
 men. It must embrace the whole sphere of human action, watch- 
 ing and opposing the slightest illiberal and anti-republican tendency, 
 and concentrating its whole force and influence against slavery 
 itself, in comparison with which every other species of tyranny is 
 tolerable, and by which every other is strengthened and iusti- 
 fied.' .. 
 
 "Thus wrote Charles Follen in 1836. It is impossible to express 
 better tic want which enlightened lovers of liberty felt of a real 
 Democratic party in the country — Democratic, not in name only, but 
 in deed and in truth. In this want, thus felt, the Liberty party 
 had its origin, and so long as this want remains otherwise unsatis- 
 fied, the Liberal party must exist, not as a mere abolition party, 
 but as a truly Democratic party, which aims at the extinction of 
 slavery, because slaveholding is inconsistent with Democratic prin- 
 ciples ; aims at it, not as an ultimate end, but as the most important 
 present object ; as a great and necessary step in the work of reform ; 
 as an illustrious era in the advancement of society, to be wrought 
 out by its action and instrumentality. The Liberty party of 1845 is, 
 in truth, the Liberty party of 1776 revived. It is more: it is the party of 
 Advancement and Freedom, which has, in every age, and with varying suc- 
 cess, fought the battles of Human Liberty, against the party of False Con- 
 servatism and Slavery." 
 
 We hear and read that the man who could so express himself in 1845, 
 21
 
 308 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 when lie was thirty -seven years of age, was inordinately ambitious. 
 I can not believe it. 
 
 I have not forgotten that it was his pen that wrote these words in 
 1845: 
 
 " No question half so important as that of slavery engages the 
 attention of the American people. All others, in fact, dwindle into 
 insignificance in comparison with it. The question of slavery is, 
 and until it shall be settled, must be, the paramount moral and 
 political question of the day. We, at least, so regard it, and, so re- 
 garding it, must subordinate every other question to it. 
 
 " It follows, as a necessary consequence, that we can not yield 
 our political support to any party which does not take our ground 
 upon the question." 
 
 So said Mr. Chase as the author of the " Cincinnati Address," 
 before referred to. Was he faithful to the doctrine which we have 
 just seen ? I answer that I confidently expect to show that he 
 always wished and endeavored to be faithful to that view of action, 
 in and with the parties of his day. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 309 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE WATSON CASE — THE THIRD MARRIAGE — POLITICS. 
 
 BEFORE one of the ablest judges ever commissioned in Ohio — 
 before Judge Read — of whom we have already seen a little in 
 our notice of the Gedney Case 1 — our hero argued the well-known 
 Watson Case, in 1845. 
 
 I heard that argument. I heard the judgment it called out. 
 Never were Bench and Bar more finely illustrated. 
 
 In that case, as in the Matilda Case, 2 Mr. Chase argued, among 
 other propositions, that a slave, by being brought, by the master, 
 within the limits of free soil, was, ipso facto, set at liberty. 
 
 Here is a very interesting letter on the subject : 
 
 ''March 19. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : — The case of Watson is so fully stated in the 
 pamphlet annexed to this, that I do not think it worth while to re- 
 write its history. You will observe that the logic of Judge Read's 
 position, namely, that a slave taken beyond the influence of the laws 
 which create the relation of slavery, must be free, led, inevitably, to 
 the conclusion that Watson was a free man, and entitled to be dis- 
 charged from restraint. But the judge avoided this conclusion b}~ de- 
 claring that the Ohio River was, for the purposes of navigation, under 
 the slave laws of Kentucky as much as under the free laws of Ohio, 
 and overlooked the fact that Watson, when arrested, was not upon the 
 boat, but upon the landing, and was not seeking to escape. Had the 
 general public opinion favored as decidedly the rights of men as it 
 aid the claims of masters, Watson would have been, probably, dis- 
 charged. The fact that during the pendency of his case, Mr. Polk. 
 then recently elected President, passed through Cincinnati, and was 
 Welcomed by Judge Read, who was a prominent member of the same 
 party, had, also, it is likely, some influence on the result. 
 
 "Ten years afterward, 1 was myself a candidate for the office of 
 Governor of Ohio. The part which I took in the Watson case, and 
 the speech 1 made on receiving the testimonial presented to me by 
 the colored people, were used as potent electioneering arguments 
 against me. The editor of one of the leading presses advocating my 
 election, but far from sympathizing with my anti-slavery views, was 
 
 'Ante, Chapter XVII. 2 Ante, Chapter XVII.
 
 310 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a good deal exercised about the effect of these appeals to prejudices. 
 I wrote him to tell the leading paper making these attacks that I 
 valued the gratitude of an oppressed people, manifested by the testi- 
 monial presented to me, more than I did any office, even that of 
 Governor of Ohio, and to bid him put that in his pipe and smoke it. 
 The result showed that prejudice was not so powerful as it had been. 
 •After my election. I took a great interest in the organization of 
 the military system of the State, thinking it wise to be prepared for 
 all contingencies, though I little dreamed of the contingencies which 
 have since arisen. The military men of the State took my efforts in 
 good part. They held a convention at Columbus, to aid in obtaining 
 such legislation as was essential. During its sitting, the members 
 called upon me. Among the refreshments of the occasion, the 
 pitcher was kept filled with lemonade for such as chose to partake 
 of it. Most of them had been opposed to my election, and recognized 
 the pitcher from the prints of it which had been circulated. Gen- 
 erally they took this quiet declaration of adhesion to my principles 
 
 in good part, but some refused to drink any thing from that 
 
 pitcher, characterizing it in terms more emphatic than polite. This 
 I heard afterward, for nobody indulged in any expressions of that 
 sort when I was present. Yours, very truly, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE. 
 " J. T. Trowbridge, Esq., Somerville, Mass." 
 
 Here is another letter, relating to the life of our hero, agitating, 
 as a legist, against " the slave power : " 
 
 "March 19. 
 
 "Dear Sir: — Francis D. Parish was a lawyer of Sandusky, Erie 
 County, Ohio, of unblemished character and good abilities, and well 
 informed in his profession. He enj'03'ed, in an unusual degree, the 
 respect and esteem of the community in which he resided. 
 
 " In February, 1845, a woman named Jane Garrison was living in 
 his house as a servant, and with her her little boy, Harrison, about 
 five years old. In the latter part of that month, a man, named 
 Mitchell, made his appearance in Sandusky, claiming the woman 
 and her child as fugitive slaves. He went to the house of Mr. Parish, 
 and. meeting that gentleman near his residence, inquired if Jane 
 Garrison and her son, Harrison, were at his house. He replied that 
 they were, and, returning with Mitchell, went into the house and 
 brought Jane out. After some conversation, Mitchell, with Driskell, 
 son of the claimant, went away. Suit was subsequently brought 
 against Mr. Parish for obstructing the arrest of the woman and 
 her child, and, also, for harboring and concealing them. Upon the 
 trial. I, with Mr. J. AY. Andrews, of Columbus, defended Mr. Parish. 
 Mr. Henry Stanbery and J. H. Thompson appeared against him. 
 There was no evidence in the case againts Mr. Parish except that ot 
 Mitchell and Driskell, and the whole of it related to the transaction at 
 Mr. Parish's house. Mitchell stated that he attempted to arrest Jane 
 and the child in virtue of a power of attorney, which Parish said he 
 did not wish to see, for he wanted judicial authority for such an act. 
 Mitchell insisted upon arresting them, but Parish said he could not
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 311 
 
 arrest them there, and pushed the woman and child into the house, 
 and went in himself. Several gentlemen, who were present during 
 some proceedings growing out of the arrest of other children in 
 which Mr. Parish was called as a witness, stated that, in his testi- 
 mony then given. Mr. Parish said that at the interview between 
 himself and Mitchell, lie had only claimed for the alleged slaves that 
 they should have a fair trial, after which, if Mitchell should estab- 
 lish his legal right to do so, he could take them ; to which Mitchell 
 said that he did not wish to take them otherwise; and that, after 
 some conversation with the woman, Mitchell and Driskell went 
 away without taking, or attempting to take, the alleged fugitives. 
 These witnesses also stated that Mitchell, on this occasion, made a 
 statement in which he agreed substantially with Mr. Parish, saying 
 nothing about any attempt or claim to arrest, or any pushing or 
 ordering the slaves into the house, and nothing even of any refusal 
 by Mr. Parish to give them up without judicial authority. Upon 
 this evidence, after argument and charge by the court, the case went 
 to the jury, who found Mr. Parish guilty of harboring and conceal- 
 ing the alleged fugitives, and obstructing their arrest, and assessed 
 against him two penalties of $500 each. It seems incredible now 
 that such a verdict upon such evidence could ever have been ren- 
 dered, but it was rendered, and the court refused to set it aside, and 
 the money and costs were actually collected from Mr. Parish. 
 
 " I cannot help feeling great mortification when I reflect how little 
 my services, in this and other like cases, availed the defendants. My 
 consolation is, that they contributed something towai'd the prepara- 
 tion of a better state of opinion and feeling concerning the whole 
 subject of slavery. Very truly 3'ours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " J. T. Trowbridge, Esq., Somerville, Mass." 
 
 It was in October, 1845, that Mr. Chase addressed to the Liberty 
 Convention, which was then in session at Boston, a characteristic 
 letter. Here we find him stating the object of the Liberty party 
 to be the denationalization of slavery; pointing out the means by 
 which it may be accomplished, and exhibiting the hostility of the 
 slaveholding interest to Democracy and all liberal measures. 
 
 Under the head, "Family Memoranda," a document already more 
 than once referred to has this entry : 
 
 " S. P. Chase married, November 6, 1846, Sarah Bella Dunlop Lud- 
 low, daughter of James C. Ludlow, and granddaughter of Israel 
 Ludlow, one of the founders of Cincinnati; born April 20, 1820; 
 married, at Mr. Justice McLean's, Fourth Street, Cincinnati, by Rt. 
 Rev. C. P. Mcllvaine." 
 
 Here is another entry in the same document, under the same head : 
 
 " Sarah Bella D. L. Chase, died at Clifton, near Cincinnati, where 
 she was then residing, January 13, 1852."
 
 312 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 And here is another of happier tenor : 
 
 " Janette Ralston Chase, born September 19, 1847." 
 
 The last entry records the birth of the present Mrs. Hoyt— a lady 
 whose delightful letters and whose genius have been already men- 
 tioned. 
 
 But there is another little entry which is not to bo overlooked. 
 It reads : 
 
 " Josephine Ludlow Chase, born July 3, 1849; died at Morris- 
 town, New Jersey, July 28, 1850." 
 
 " Ah! no ye lovelie blossoms, ye 
 Telle us how soone things have 
 Their ende though sweete and brave," * 
 
 Is the sum of all that one can say about such death, and yet to 
 parents — but the theme is difficult as well as delicate. Let us pass 
 to others. 
 
 To Hon. John P. Hale, of New Hampshire, Mr. Chase, on the 
 12th of May, 1847, wrote as follows: 
 
 "You will no doubt think it somewhat strange that I have so 
 long delayed an acknowledgment of your very kind letter of the 
 2d ult. ; but I am not so much to blame as I seem to be. 1 wrote 
 you a long letter within three or four days after receiving yours, 
 and supposed, until recently, that it was duly mailed ; but within 
 the last few days I found it, mislaid, among the papers. 
 
 "You received, I suppose, numbers of the morning Herald, con- 
 taining some extracts from your letter. I took the liberty of hand- 
 ing to the printer your letter with the extracts marked, but with 
 instructions to omit all the rest. By a blunder, partly of his, and 
 partly of mine, in not being quite so explicit as I might have been, 
 the data of letter, ' Dover, New Hampshire, April 2,' went into 
 print. This, of course, revealed the writer, which was contrary to 
 my intention, and vexed me not a little. I explained the whole 
 matter in a letter which was mislaid, fearing you might think I 
 had taken an unwarrantable liberty with your letter, though there 
 was nothing in the extract which you would not publicly say, or 
 which is not in m} T judgment fully vindicated by the facts. I hope, 
 however, you may not have been as much chagrined by the circum- 
 stance as I was. 
 
 " I am very much gratified by the very kind and favorable notice 
 which my argument for poor old Vanzandt was received. I hail it 
 as an auspicious augury of approaching deliverance from the des- 
 potism of the slave power and of pro-slavery construction. Among 
 the friendly letters I have received none has given me more satis- 
 
 1 Quoted from memory. Perhaps wrong.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 313 
 
 faction than yours, unless I make an exception in favor of Seward's, 
 which was kind, cordial, and generous beyond measure. 
 
 "It is strange that the pro-slavery construction of the constitu- 
 tion, so utterly indefensible upon history or by reason, should be so 
 tamely acquiesced in by the courts, and I agree with you, that at 
 the bar, and elsewhere, we should be open, bold, indignant, and em- 
 phatic in our denunciation of it. It can not stand exposure and re- 
 buke. If it rinds sanctuary in courts of justice it must be dragged 
 out and denounced before the people. In the result it must tall. 
 If courts will not overthrow it, the people will, even if it be neces- 
 sary to overthrow the courts also. 
 
 '•Your remark on the policy of the slave power, that when 'they 
 want any thing peculiarly infamous done in favor of the peculiar in- 
 stitution, to put it on some suppliant and servile northerner to do 
 it, rather than do it directly themselves,' only expresses a sentiment 
 common to many in all parties. I received, a day or too since only, 
 a letter from a leading Democrat in the south-eastern part of the 
 State, which contained this passage: 'The task of delivering an 
 opinion against law and right fell upon fitting shoulders. The dirty 
 work of the South has always found northern hands to perform it, and 
 I can well imagine the deep scorn and contempt swelling in the 
 bosoms of the southern judges, as they behold Levi on his belly 
 crawling through that opinion.' There are a great many in this 
 State would say amen to this. I regretted very much to learn 
 that in my native State the pro-slavery democracy was permitted to 
 triumph. I should regret it less, however, if the returns did not 
 show a diminution of the independent vote. It affords me some 
 consolation, however, to know that the pro-slavery folks themselves 
 were compelled to come so far upon the right ground as to assume 
 the defense of the Wilmot proviso. 
 
 "I notice, what can not fail to have attracted your own attention, 
 that a great diversity of sentiment exists among anti-slavery men 
 as to the best course to be pursued hereafter. Upon this subject I 
 should be very glad to have your views ; and, by way of example, 
 will candidly give j'ou my own impressions. I have acted with the 
 Liberty party in the State for more than six years. We nominated 
 our first candidate for Governor in December, 1841, and issued a 
 declaration of principles and measures. Our candidate, Judge 
 King, was one of the ablest, and, as a Whig, one of the most popu- 
 lar men in the State. He received, in a vote exceeding 250,000, 
 5,000 votes. Our candidate last year was Mr. Lewis, formerly 
 Superintendent of our Common Schools for the State, a man able, 
 indefatigable, and universally respected. He received less than 
 11,000 votes. I see no prospect of greater future progress, but rather 
 of less. As fast as we can bring public sentiment right, the other 
 parties will approach our ground, and keep sufficiently close to it 
 to prevent any great accession to our numbers. If this be so, the 
 Libert}' party can never hope to accomplish any thing as such, but 
 only through it. an indirect action upon the other parties. In other 
 words, it takes the position of an expounder of a theory, which 
 others are to reduce to practice. Now, it seems to me, we can do 
 a better work than this. If an anti-slaveiy league can be organized
 
 314 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 nationally, with divisions in each State, and county, so far as the 
 States are prepared, the fundamental principle of which shall be to 
 vote for no man who is not reliably known to be opposed to the ex- 
 tension of slavery, and in favor of expelling it from the grounds 
 which it now unconstitutionally holds, and of discouraging and dis- 
 countenancing it by example and recommendation, where constitu- 
 tional power will not reach, and where no such man is nominated 
 by existing parties, to nominate candidates of their own on inde- 
 pendent grounds, but not permanent party grounds, it seems to me 
 that we shall be able to carry forward the anti-slavery work much 
 more vigorously and efficiently than we now do. To build up a 
 new party is by uo means so easy as to compel old parties to do a 
 particular work. It is quite true, that if the anti-slavery Whigs 
 and anti-slavery Democrats had come boldly out upon a common 
 platform of opposition to slavery, at the date of the organization 
 of the Liberty movements, properly so-called, in 1841, a great, pow- 
 erful, and victorious party could have been created. But they did 
 not choose to do so, and I see nothing in the past to warrant 
 the expectation that they will act differently in future. These 
 things being so, it seems to me that an anti-slavery league, operat- 
 ing upon both parties from without, aided by the anti-slavery men 
 already in the ranks of the two parties, and who would come in 
 from the Liberty party, would, in the best manner, and in the short- 
 est time, accomplish the great work of overthrowing slavery. Many 
 anti-slavery men look with most hope to the Whig party. I do not. 
 At the present moment there are, doubtless, more abolitionists in 
 the Whig party than in the Democratic party ; but I fear that the 
 Whig party will always look upon the overthrow of slavery as a 
 work to be taken up or laid aside, like other measures, as expediency 
 may suggest; whereas, if we can once get the Democratic party in 
 motion regarding the overthrow of slavery as a legitimate and nec- 
 essary result of principles, I would have no apprehension at all of 
 the work being laid aside until accomplished. The approaching 
 presidential contest will, probably, involve the slave question to an 
 unprecedented extent. The South, or rather the dominant slave- 
 holding faction in the South, is preparing to do battle against the 
 Wilmot Proviso. This had its origin among the Democrats, and is 
 looked upon with no favorable eye by many leading Whigs, who, 
 while the}' dare not openly take ground against it. are willing to 
 have it smothered by the cry of no territory, which is the merest 
 delusion, and the most palpable delusion in the world. 
 
 ••The Whigs and the entire South will probably unite on General 
 Taylor, though some of the northern Whigs may make a stand for 
 Scott. General Taylor, in my humble judgment, will have the nomi- 
 nation if he will take it. Now what is the obvious policy of the 
 Democrats? Is it not to bring out some man — on Wilmot Proviso, or 
 constitutional opposition to slavery ground (and what man more fit 
 than Silas Wright?) and rally the anti-slavery sentiment against the 
 hero-sentiment? Mr. Schenck, remonstrating with a leading editor 
 here, against the nomination of Taylor, said that should he be nomi- 
 nated, the Democrats Avould unite on Silas Wright and carry every 
 free State.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 315 
 
 "I had some conversation with Eobcrt Dale Owen, the other day, 
 who seems to be much impressed with this view. 
 
 "I shall be very glad to have your views upon it and the other 
 topics of this letter. How would it do to issue a call for a national 
 convention to form a national anti-slavery league? A call might 
 be prepared here or with }'OU, and sent to all the leading anti- 
 slavery men in all parties tor signatures, and then issued simul- 
 taneously in different parts of the Union. I inclose such a call us I 
 would like to see issued. Can you not visit us in the West this sum- 
 mer? Our railroad is now so far completed to Sandusky that there 
 are but 32 miles land travel. i T ou can come in four days from Dover. 
 You would be most cordially welcomed. 
 
 " Very truly your friend, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Do you know Preston King and Silas Wright, or either? If so, 
 can you not learn their views ? " 
 
 The biographic sketch furnished me, as elsewhere stated, and for, 
 which I suppose Mr. Chase himself to be responsible, contains this 
 language : 
 
 " In the autumn of 18-17, Mr. Chase attended the National Conven- 
 tion of the Liberty party at Buffalo, of which he acted as presiding 
 officer. In view of the agitation of the prohibition by Congress of 
 slavery in the territories, in the shape of the Wilmot Proviso, created 
 by the proposed organization of the territory of Oregon, and the 
 contemplated acquisition of territory from Mexico, as part of the 
 treaty of peace. Mr. Chase anticipated, as close at hand, a new and 
 more general anti-slavery movement, which would attract large 
 numbers who had hitherto acted with the Whig and Democratic 
 parties. Xo calm observer of political events could reasonably 
 expect that either of those parties would, in their coming National 
 Conventions, proclaim themselves in favor of the constitutional pro- 
 hibition of slavery in the national Territories ; on the contraiy, it 
 was more probable that they would be induced by their southern 
 wing, to place themselves in hostility to it, either in their platforms 
 or their nominations. Such a policy was not likely to be acquiesced 
 in by thousands, in the free States, who clung with fast affection to 
 the illustrious ordinance of 17S7, which shielded the north-west ter- 
 ritory from the curse of slavery, and nurtured to unshackled man- 
 hood live mighty commonwealths. Mr. Chase, desirous of promoting 
 the free action of such new movements, opposed the presentation of 
 any candidate for the Presidency. In his opinion, the position of 
 John P. Hale, on whom all eyes were centered as the standard-bearer 
 of the Liberty party, during the coming campaign, would be injuri- 
 ously affected before a convention which combined these large and 
 fresh accessions, by a nomination at that time. Tluy were likely to 
 out-number the Liberty party, and would naturally desire candi- 
 dates whose recent political relations had a nearer resemblance to 
 their own. 
 
 " The action of the Buffalo Convention of 1848 justified these 
 views of Mr. Chase. If Mr. Hale had not been presented by the
 
 316 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Liberty Convention, and if his party relations had not been thus 
 distinctly declared, he would have commanded a fuller support from 
 those members, who had hitherto acted with the Whig party — 
 enough, probably, to have secured his nomination. 
 
 "The agitation of the Wilmot Proviso, instead of subsiding, in- 
 creased till, in the spring of 1848, it appeared destined to be the 
 controlling issue of the next presidential election. It had absorbed 
 the deliberations of Congress, then occupied in discussing territorial 
 governments for Oregon and the vast regions to be acquired from 
 Mexico. By no political casuistry, and by no partisan diplomacy, 
 could it be excluded from the contest. Mr. Chase was desirous that 
 the anti-slaveiy sentiment, to which the rejection of the Wilmot 
 Proviso by the Whig and Democratic Conventions would give new 
 force, should have means already provided for organizing it into 
 vigorous action. 
 
 "Accordingly, in the spring of 1848, he originated a call for a con- 
 vention of the people of Ohio, to be held at Columbus on the 20th 
 and 21st da} T s of June. Its declared purpose was to consider the 
 political condition of the countiy, and in case candidates for the 
 Presidenc} 7 , who were unworthy of the confidence of the free States, 
 either on account of their active cooperation with the slave power, 
 or silent acquiesscence in its designs, extend slavery over the terri- 
 tories to be acquired from Mexico, should be nominated at the 
 approaching conventions — take such action as the exigency should 
 require. The call was signed by three thousand voters, Whigs, 
 Democrats, and Liberty Party men, in almost every county in the 
 State." 
 
 On the 8th of January, 1848, was held at Columbus in Ohio, 
 one of the most important State Conventions ever assembled by the 
 Democracy of Ohio in its best days. How proud one could then be 
 of adherence to that party ! 
 
 Hon. David T. Disney, of whom we have already seen a little, 
 was permanent president of that convention. My friend and 
 partner, Henry Roedter, also of Cincinnati, was first vice-president. 
 
 Mr. Disney said that the convention was composed of the best 
 material in Ohio; and, if the remark be read with application to the 
 Democrats alone, he spoke the simple truth in that behalf. 
 
 Mr. Thurman, of Ross, (now Senator Thurman — what a marked 
 illustration of the saying, tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in Mis!) 
 was chairman of the committee on resolutions. He has not changed 
 more with the times than some of the rest of us have changed ; but 
 it is curious to read of him as offering, among other resolutions, 
 these : 
 
 "Resolved, That the people of Ohio, now, as they always have done, 
 look upon the institution of slavery, in any part of the Union, as an
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 317 
 
 evil and unfavorable to the full development of the spirit and prac- 
 tical benefits of free institutions; and that entertaining these senti- 
 ments, they will, at all times, feel it to be their duty to use all power, 
 clearly given by the terms of the national compact, to prevent its 
 increase, to mitigate, and, finally, to eradicate the evil. And be it 
 further 
 
 "Resolved, That the Democracy of Ohio do, at the same time, fully 
 recognize the doctrine held by the early fathers of the Republic, 1 and 
 still maintained by the Democratic party in all the States, that to 
 each State belongs the right to adopt and modify its own municipal 
 laws; to regulate its own internal affairs; to hold and maintain an 
 equal and independent sovereignty with each and every other State; 
 and that, upon these rights, the National Legislature can neither 
 legislate nor encroach." 
 
 However intended, these resolutions were received with something 
 quite like rapture by young Democrats throughout Ohio. I have 
 heard Judge Spauldiug publicly narrate the inner history of these 
 resolutions. According to him, they were intended, from the begin 
 ning, to serve the Good-Lord-Good-Devil policy. Perhaps, in some 
 measure, he was mistaken as to that — indeed, I am quite sure he 
 must have been somewhat in error in that statement. Certainlv, 
 however, these resolutions and their reception by the better sort of 
 Democrats, throughout Ohio, had much to do with the subsequent 
 career of Salmon Portland Chase. 
 
 The National Whig Convention of that year would have none of 
 the Wilraot Provisio; and they nominated good old Rough-and- 
 Ready — brave, but, in the matter of ideas, rather bald — a born 
 thrall, moreover, to the interests of slavery. And the national con- 
 vention of the Democratic party did, at Baltimore, a work even 
 worse than that of the Whigs at Philadelphia. The former nomi- 
 nated General Cass, a northern dough-face — one of those men who 
 remind one of the verses equally intolerable to the gods and un- 
 pleasing to men. The Nicholson letter of this curiously constituted 
 phenomenon of politics had, in the ercpuseulum-Wke action of its 
 author's intellections, argued, (almost as learnedly as the grave-digger 
 in Hamlet argued questions of crowner's quest law,) that the congres- 
 sional prohibtion of slavery in the Territories was invalid on account 
 of its repugnance to the constitution. 
 
 Turn we now to a convention of another mold. This body met 
 at Buffalo, August 9, 1848. It continued in session through that 
 and the next dav. Mr. Chase was a delegate. He w r as a member 
 
 1 Early fathers is a good phrase — as good as the " molded queen."
 
 318 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of the committee to report a plan for permanent organization. He 
 was the president of the. convention of delegates. Many urged his 
 nomination for the vice-presidency. He was also a member of the 
 platform committee; and it is related that the platform adopted was 
 substantially drawn by him. 
 
 Here is part of a letter relating to the subject : 
 
 " March 21. 
 
 "Dear Sir: The New York Convention, which was in session at 
 the same time, adopted resolutions in favor of the exclusion of 
 slavery from the Territories, and nominated Mr. Van Buren for Pres- 
 ident and Gen. Dodge, of Wisconsin, for Vice-President. A resolu- 
 tion was also adopted authorizing the delegates of the New York 
 Democracy to the convention at Baltimore to attend and take part 
 in any convention of the free States which might be called for the 
 purpose of collecting and concentrating the popular will in relation 
 to the Presidency. 
 
 "When the convention of the 9th of August met, the New York 
 delegates, under this resolution, took their seats as members. The 
 attendance was very large. Eighteen States were represented by 
 four hundred and sixty-five delegates, and there was, moreover, an 
 immense mass convention, numbered by tens of thousands. Gen. 
 Dodge had declined, or rather rejected the nomination for the Vice- 
 Presidency tendered him by the New York Convention, and Mr. Yan 
 Buren had not accepted the nomination for the Presidency. The 
 whole subject of national nominations was, therefore, considered as 
 open, Mr. Hale having placed his name at the disposal of the con- 
 vention. It was the pleasure of the Ohio delegation that I should 
 take a very active part in the pi'oceedings of both the mass conven- 
 tion and the convention of delegates. At an informal meeting, which 
 preceded the organization of the former, there were indications of a 
 division as to platforms. Knowing Mr. Preston King's sentiments, I 
 took the liberty of calling upon him for a speech, and at its conclu- 
 sion moved that he be requested to reduce its leading propositions to 
 writing, and that his speech should be considered as the platform 
 recommended by the meeting. This motion seemed to allay all 
 jealousies on the part of the New York Democrats, and was unani- 
 mously agreed to. The next day the mass convention assembled, 
 and Mr. King reported resolutions embodying the propositions of 
 his speech. The} T declared, 1st, that it was the duty of the Fed- 
 eral Government to relieve itself of all responsibility for the exten- 
 sion or continuance of slavery wherever it had constitutional author- 
 ity to do so, and was responsible for its existence; 2d, that it had 
 neither responsibility nor constitutional authority to interfere with 
 slavery within the States; and, 3d, that it had authority and should 
 promptly exercise it to prevent the extension of slavery into free 
 territoiy, and to prohibit its existence in such territory by an act of 
 Congress. These resolutions were received with universal approba- 
 tion. Mr. Adams presided over the mass convention. A committee 
 on resolutions were appointed, consisting of three persons from each
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 319 
 
 State represented. I was one of the members of this committee from 
 Ohio, and the resolutions reported were almost entirely drafted by 
 me. They were, however, very carefully considered by the com- 
 mittee, and very fully discussed before they received its sanction. 
 The resolution on the tariff was adopted at the instance of Mr. White, 
 of New York. 
 
 '•The delegate convention for the nomination of candidates for the 
 Presidency and Vice- Presidency, met in a church near the square on 
 which the mass convention was assembled. I had the honor to pre- 
 side over this convention. To ascertain the views of members in re- 
 spect to the Presidency an informal ballot was taken, the result of 
 which showed a clear majority for Mr. Van Buren over all others. 
 Mr. Hale received nearly the whole vote not given to Mr. Van 
 Buren. After the preference of the convention had thus been shown, 
 Mr. Lavitt, of Massachusetts, moved the unanimous nomination of 
 Mr. Van Buren, and was earnestly seconded by Mr. Lewis, of Ohio. 
 As these two gentlemen had been the most active and able as well 
 the most zealous friends of Mr. Hale, the motion was adopted with- 
 out hesitation and by acclamation. Mr. Adams was nominated also 
 by acclamation for Vice-President. The nominations thus made were 
 announced by me, as President of the convention of delegates, to the 
 mass convention, and were received with the most enthusiastic dem- 
 onstrations. 
 
 " Thus ended the work of this great convention, to the assembling 
 and acting of which is attributed, and I think justly, the passage of 
 the bill organizing the Territory of Oregon with the prohibtion of 
 slavery, which was then pending in the Senate of the United States. 
 
 "In the canvass which followed I took a very active part, but con- 
 fined m}' labors almost wholly to Ohio. The election showed both 
 the power of party and the power of principles. Except in Ohio and 
 Massachusetts, the Whig party almost every-where supported the nom- 
 inees of the Philadelphia Convention, and, except in New York, the 
 Democratic part}* almost every-where supported the nominations of 
 the Baltimore Convention. In New York, the recognized organiza- 
 tion of the Democratic party was in the hands of the friends of Mr. 
 Van Buren. His vote, therefore, in that State was very large. In 
 Massachusetts and in the northern counties of Ohio, the profound 
 anti-slavery convictions of the people made it impossible for them to 
 support national nominees without any declaration against the ex- 
 tension of slavery. Mr. Van Buren received in all 291,G78 votes out 
 of 2,882,121, the whole number given. Of these votes, 120,000 were 
 given in New York, 38,133 in Massachusetts, and 35,494 in Ohio. 
 Gen. Taylor was elected."
 
 320 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 SENATOR CHASE — EXCITING STRUGGLES — TESTS AND TRIALS. 
 
 ON the 18th of February, 1848, the Whig legislature of Ohio 
 passed a supposed law, which Democrats generally regarded as a 
 nullity, by reason of its repugnance to the constitution of the State. 
 It was entitled, "An Act to fix and apportion the representation of 
 the General Assembly of the State of Ohio." It purported to divide 
 the county in which Mr. Chase then lived — Hamilton County — into 
 two election districts. Such division of a county, Democrats main- 
 tained, was not within the constitutional discretion of the legislature. 
 The distinguished George E. Pugh and Mr. Alexander IS. Pierce 
 received from Edward C. Roll, Esq., Clerk of the Court of Common 
 Pleas for Hamilton County, certificates of election, which treated the 
 supposed legislation as invalid. After most exciting scenes in the 
 House to which they were elected, that House decided that the certif- 
 icates were well given; that the supposed law was an infraction of 
 the constitution, and that Messrs. Pugh and Pierce were entitled to 
 the seats they claimed. One consequence of all this was the sending 
 of Mr. Chase to the Senate of the United States. 
 
 The action of Mr. Roll, to which attention has been called, took 
 place under the advice of counsel, and I was (in spite of my age) at 
 that time his chief professional adviser. Afterward, I appeared with 
 Judge Read 1 and Hon. William S. Groesbeck, as his counsel in a 
 case, 2 in which that decision of the House of Representatives was 
 drawn into discussion. 
 
 It is not my purpose, to set forth the whole deeply interesting 
 history of that discussion. But, with reference to the merits of it, 
 and to its particular relation to the course and character of Chase, I 
 wish to call attention to a letter, in which, referring to the facts and 
 law involved in that discussion, the new Senator expressed himself 
 as follows: 
 
 1 Ante, Chapter XVII. 
 
 2 State of Ohio, ex rel., etc. vs. Edward C. Roll, 7 Western Law Journal, p. 121.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 321 
 
 " Cincinnati, August 15, 1849. 
 " Col. John F. Morse, Painesville, 0. 
 
 " My Dear Friend : I read your letter with a great deal of in- 
 terest, and shall look for your letter giving the results of the con- 
 vention with anxiety. I hope it may reach me before I have home, 
 which I shall de to-morrow, and be absent for some weeks on pro- 
 fessional business. 
 
 '• I still adhere to the opinion I expressed long ago, that the true 
 policy as weil as duty of the Freesoilers of the Reserve on the 
 adjournment of the Legislature, was, to take the grounds on the 
 questions in relation to the apportionment law, and the Hamilton 
 County question, which you, and Townshend, and Swift, and Smart 
 took in the Legislature. I feel so entirely confident that the appor- 
 tionment law was fraudulently and unconstitutionally placed on 
 the Statute Book, and that, even if regularly passed and valid, 
 it could not, constitutionally, have the effect of dividing a county, 
 that I would not be afraid to risk our hopes of success upon an in- 
 vestigation of these questions before any body of men who have no 
 interest in deciding them in favor of the Whigs; and the Free 
 Democracy have certainly no such interest. Fearless advocacy of 
 what we believe to be right, and the open expression of opinions 
 on all questions which the representatives of the people must be 
 called on to decide, is, always, it seems to me, the safest as well as 
 the most honorable course. It may cost some supporters — but they 
 can be spared, and their places filled by better and more reliable 
 men. 
 
 " Of course, if I were upon the Reserve, I should have been per- 
 fectly willing to meet the Hamilton County and apportionment 
 questions, and should have been far from willing to allow these 
 questions or differences in regard to them to be made grounds for 
 asking men, through whose self-sacrificing spirit all was gained for 
 Freesoil that was gained, to stand aside at the coming election. 
 
 " I admire the spirit you manifest in your letter. I know right 
 well that you, who made far greater sacrifices of feeling last winter 
 than this, would never urge your claims as a candidate, if the 
 cause of Free Democracy required you to forbear. It may be 
 that, under the existing circumstances, you ought to decline being 
 a candidate. I doubt it, however, and I feel quite sure that no cir- 
 cumstances should exist which should so operate upon you. 
 
 "I shall hope to hear that you are a candidate — nominated as 
 such and supported by the entire body of our friends. If. however, 
 you are not brought forward now, I am sure that Mr. Giddings' pre- 
 diction that you will not be forgotten hereafter will be fulfilled. 
 The people hardly ever fail to discriminate between those who are 
 faithful to a great cause and those who are only faithful to them- 
 selves. In haste, yours most truly, 
 
 «S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Another letter of great interest relating to the same affair, reads 
 thus :
 
 322 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Cincinnati, October 15, 1849. 
 " John Hutchings, Warren, Trumbull Co., 0. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I am glad to hear of the election of yourself and 
 friend Riddle by such decided majorities. 
 
 " Here, the Democrats who voted for me and for the repeal of the 
 Black Laws have been nobly sustained. The Free Democracy met 
 just before the election, and resolved to nominate no ticket under 
 the existing apportionment law (so called), but to give their support 
 to the Democrats who had voted for the repeal of the Black Laws, 
 and were nominated. These gentlemen were opposed by those 
 ultra-negro, who issued the most disgusting appeals to the lowest 
 prejudices against the blacks, and were adopted by the Whigs as 
 their candidates. Neither Whig adoption nor anti-niggerism 
 availed them any thing, however. They were defeated by over- 
 whelming majorities. The Free Democracy have, almost with one 
 mind, denounced the apportionment law as a fraud and as uncon- 
 stitutional ; and this conviction, together with the course of the 
 Whigs, will account for the course they pursued. I was absent for 
 near two months until the night before the election, and saw none 
 of our friends until the next morning. I mention this that the 
 course of our friends may not be ascribed to me. I had nothing to 
 do with it further than to write a little letter to a young friend ad- 
 vising against the nomination of a ticket, and in favor of adopting 
 resolutions expressing the sense of the Free Democracy in relation 
 to the apportionment scheme. 
 
 " I understand that the judges of election and the clerk have 
 decided in favor of giving certificates of election to the Senator and 
 Representative having a majority of the votes cast in the entire 
 county. I suppose the representatives will be allowed to take their 
 seats without question, and that no serious contest will be made 
 afterward. The Old Line Democrats will have, if not a majority, 
 so near a majority in the House, that their votes with those of 
 Spellman and Thompson will render opposition unavailing. Under 
 these circumstances I trust that our friends will unanimously agree 
 to respect the decision of the last House, Avhich, in my judgment, 
 was clearly right, and admit the certificated members to seats. Such 
 action as this will strengthen us every way. 
 
 "The only serious question will be that which will arise in the 
 Senate in respect to the admission of Johnson. He will present 
 himself with a certificate showing him entitled as duly elected from 
 Hamilton County. The law, admitting its validity and constitu- 
 tionality, apportions two Senators to Hamilton County, and although 
 it proceeds to provide that they shall be elected by distinct districts 
 of the county, yet treats them, when elected, as Senators from the 
 county. The certificate will therefore be valid on its face. It will 
 be just such a certificate as Senator Dubbs was admitted under last 
 winter. I do not, therefore, see how Mr. Johnson can be excluded in 
 the first instance. 
 
 " The question as to his final right to the seat in contest involves 
 other considerations. 
 
 " 1st. As to the validity of the apportionment law. Lpon this
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 323 
 
 point I have, ever since I examined this subject, been of opinion 
 that the apportionment law has no validity except as a rule adopted 
 by common consent, in the absence of a constitutionally enacted 
 statute. Not having been adopted by any Buch consent as to the 
 clauses dividing Hamilton County, it is not valid. 
 
 '•I'd. As to the constitutionality of the division. I was at first 
 induced to think that although counties could not he divided into 
 smaller election districts for representatives, yet they might he so 
 divided into senatorial districts. On more reflection, the better 
 opinion seems to me to he that the Legislature can not divide coun- 
 ties into senatorial or representative districts. Senatorial districts 
 spoken of by the constitution, are districts composed of more 
 counties than one, not of a part or parts of a count}' or of several 
 counties. 
 
 " 3rd. As to the true construction of the law itself. It is main- 
 tained, with much force of reasoning, that the law having appor- 
 tioned two Senators to the entire county, the subsequent clauses 
 providing fur the election by districts, must be disregarded as incon- 
 sistent with the apportionment. I express no opinion as to this, 
 having formed none. 
 
 " I shall be glad to learn your views of these matters, and Riddle's. 
 What course will Randall take now? Did Brown support you and 
 Riddle, or the Whig ticket? Where does he stand now. and what 
 are his views and sentiments? Give my best regards to Judge 
 King, Hoffman, our friends the Sutlifife, R. Asher, Parker, and my 
 other acquaintances, and believe me 
 
 " Cordiallv your friend, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE" 
 
 At a meeting of the Cincinnati Bar, held on the occasion of our 
 hero's death, Judge Whitman thus expressed himself: 
 
 " It would be ill-fitting and entirely out of place, of course, in the 
 presence of so many gentlemen who were the early companions of 
 Judge Chase in youth, in manhood, and in his later life, for me, a 
 comparative stranger here, to undertake at all at length to discuss 
 the character or attainments or position of the Chief Justice. I 
 rise to a single point, and had it not been, sir, that charges have 
 been made and repeated over and over again throughout this State 
 and elsewhere, and, I am very sorry to say, that they have been re- 
 peated within a recent period — charges which imputed to Mr. 
 Chase in his political struggle, dishonor, want of principle, mean- 
 ness, and trickery — I say, sir, had it not been for these charges, I 
 would in this presence have remained silent. It happened to me 
 many years ago to be a member of the Legislature which elected 
 Mr. Chase to the Senate, and to have the honor and the pleasure of 
 voting for him. In consequence of that election, which happened 
 under very peculiar circumstances, charges were made, and have 
 been continued to be made, that Mr. Chase, in making then his first 
 Btep, for that was his first prominent step in public lite, acted in an 
 underhand, and in a mean and trickv way to secure his election. 1 
 22
 
 324 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 was intimate with Mr. Chase, and I have here to say, sir, that not 
 one word of truth is contained in any such charge. There are other 
 gentlemen sitting around me — I see several who were as familiar 
 with the facts as I am — who I know will bear me out in the remark, 
 that in that extraordinary conjuncture of public affairs, when an 
 ordinary man, the ordinary demagogue, the third-rate politician of 
 this day and generation, the miserable charlatan of public affairs, 
 who lives upon intrigue, upon chicanery, upon management devoid 
 of principle, would have resorted to all the well known arts of low 
 and despicable character ; when, if there ever was a casa, the tempta- 
 tion to use low means was strong ; when, if ever there was a case, 
 outside pressure was heavy and strong, .and it was at such a time 
 Mr. Chase was brought forward as a candidate. The contest lasted 
 an entire winter, or nearly so. From first to last, in every thing 
 that was said, in every thing that was done, in every thing that 
 was counseled by Mr. Chase, whether to his immediate friends and 
 representatives, Dr. Townshend, of Loraine, and his colleague, Mr. 
 Morse, or any of the thirteen Freesoilers holding the balance of 
 power, or in his conferences and communications with and to the 
 Democrats and Whigs, there is not a man that can, with truth, say 
 that Mr. Chase either sank the gentleman or the man of honor in 
 the slightest degree. And I can say here, what I know to be true, 
 that if Mr. Chase had been the kind of man he has been charged to 
 have been, upon that and other occasions, he never could have been 
 elected, for there were gentlemen in that body who would have 
 been utterly disgusted at the ordinary arts of a trickster. Stand- 
 ing as Mr. Chase there did, as the representative of thirteen dele- 
 gates of a small portion of the people of the State, representing as 
 he did neither the Democracy nor the Whigs, neither party liking 
 him, neither party particularly desiring him, if it had not been 
 for his manly course from beginning to end, not only in his personal 
 intercourse with the members of that Legislature, but in the coun- 
 sels that he gave, in the acts he did, and had not all been of that 
 high, honorable, frank, and manly character that won upon the 
 confidence and respect of his opponents, he never would have been 
 elected; and I say here, stating what I know to be the case, that 
 these very elevated qualities which my friend, Judge Hoadh r , has 
 so eloquently and so beautifully depicted (together with other gen- 
 tlemen) those innate qualities, honor as a gentleman, attachment 
 to principles, firmness in what he believed to be the right; if it 
 had not been for those qualities, he never could have been elected; 
 and it was these which had more to do with giving him that step 
 forward in public life than all the other curious circumstances at- 
 tending that strange election. It may be out of place here to say 
 what I have said, but I like to hear the truth spoken at all times, 
 and particularly of the dead. Be the individual high, or be he low, 
 the truth should be told, and I have no doubt, sir, that there are 
 yet in our State, judging from what I have seen lately, many good 
 men and true who have been misled by those charges, and who, 
 however much otherwise they may admire and revere the character 
 of the late Chief Justice, still have hanging about them the rem- 
 nants of old prejudices and of old partial or complete beliefs in his
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 325 
 
 want of honor and principle in that matter. And it is, if possible. 
 that, speaking here from personal knowledge, I may, in some faint 
 degree, if such partial beliefs and prejudices still exist, aid in dis- 
 pelling them, that I have ventured to make these few remarks. I 
 should apologize, also, perhaps, for saying them, for the reason that 
 no defense of Mr. Chase absolutely is necessary ; and yet if there be 
 the faintest stain or discoloration on a beautiful bust, or a speck of 
 dust that by accident has lodged upon a portrait or petal of a flower, 
 that is drooping through accident, it is surely pleasant and proper 
 to brush away the dust, smooth off the spot or raise the petal. The 
 bust remains, the portrait is there, of course, with all the grand and 
 imposing lineaments not permanently defaced by such a spot, yet 
 perhaps more perfect if it be fully understood that a man who was 
 maligned for a long time for a supposed want of principle in start- 
 ing into public affairs, was unjustly maligned than if otherwise." 
 
 On the same occasion, Mr. Pugh was reported, in part, as follows : 
 
 "I had really not intended to have said any thing on this occa- 
 sion, although I knew Mr. Chase from the time when I was a stu- 
 dent at law. I was a tenant of his while he was engaged in the 
 practice of law, before we had a law library, and when we often 
 resorted to each other's offices to borrow books. I was associated 
 with him in the trial of cases, and appeared in opposition to him. 
 If the vile charge to which Judge Whitman referred has been re- 
 vived, I have never seen such an article. I thought Mr. Chase had 
 lived it down years ago. I unite with my friend as one of those 
 who voted for Mr. Chase to the Senate of the United States, in pro- 
 nouncing the charge utterly false. "What more shall I say? lie 
 was the Governor of our State for two terms, and discharged the 
 duties of the office in such a manner as to give an increase to his 
 own great reputation. He entered the office of the Treasury at 
 Washington, and I really did begin to suppose that he had reached 
 the limit of his ability ; he who had been a lawyer and a states- 
 man having risen to the height of financial skill with which he 
 conducted that great office in such troublous times. I am glad, sir, 
 that he never was President. I would rather that he should have 
 been where he was on the day of his death. I think his fame will 
 be greater in the future, and that when the disappointment of his 
 friends has passed away, and they look along the record of his life, 
 it will be prouder for them and prouder for his family that he died, 
 not only in the great office of Chief Justice, but he died with his 
 harness on." 
 
 It must be evident enough that, very close attention should 
 be given to the question whether he, whose life we study, made 
 his way to the Senate by a crime only less appalling than the 
 crime of John Wilkes Booth, when he made his way to the " box of 
 state," in Ford's Theater, and slew the unsuspecting President of the 
 United States.
 
 326 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 How I would scorn the memory of Chase, had I, with the already 
 indicated knowledge of the facts, the slightest reason to suspect him 
 of a willingness to slay the law in order to advance his lust of place 
 and power, I will not attempt to intimate in this place or elsewhere. 
 But, thank Heaven ! no man living knows more about the designs 
 and the desires, the aspiration and ambition of Salmon Portland 
 Chase, at the time referred to, than is known to the composer of 
 these pages. Of the transactions in question, also, I knew more 
 than a little at the time. As already stated, I was the confidential 
 counsel of Edward C. Roll, in taking the course recited in the case 
 of State of Ohio ex rel. Broadwell and others vs. Roll, reported in the 
 Western Law Journal; 1 and Mr. Roll, in giving the certificates to 
 Pugh and Pierce, without the giving of which Mr. Chase would not 
 have gone to the Senate, acted as advised by me, at once his friend 
 and his legal adviser. 
 
 I do not conceal that there were timid Democrats who reasoned in 
 this fashion : Though, in their opinion, the pretended law was clearly 
 no law at all, yet Mr. Roll, in spite of his oath — in spite of his clear 
 duty as a citizen — would, as a ministerial officer, be safer in treating 
 it as valid till its invalidity should be judicially declared. 
 
 I do not intimate that Mr. Roll had reason to have great regard 
 for my opinions, but I do declare that he actually had it; and I 
 have reason to believe that, had I judged as did the timid Demo- 
 crats just referred to, he would not have pursued the course that he 
 at last considered as required by his official duties as well as by his 
 obligations as a private citizen toward the State constitution. I 
 believe he had no consultation, direct or indirect, with Mr. Chase. 
 I believe that, had he consulted Mr. Chase, the latter would have 
 advised him against taking the responsibility that I advised. 
 
 But, in any view, did Chase and his associates, on the occasion 
 referred to by those letters — did Judge Read and others — undertake 
 to nullify an act of legislation ? 
 
 That which is already null can not be nullified. That which is 
 void from the beginning is not voidable merely. 
 
 So I had the honor to suggest, by propounding to Judge Walker, 
 in the course of the discussion of State of Ohio ex rel. Broadwell 
 et al. vs. Roll, already cited, a question with which he suffered me 
 to interrupt his argument. 
 
 i Vol. 7, p. 121 .
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 327 
 
 He was arguing that, even if the court should come to the con- 
 clusion that the legislative act in question was, as Roll alleged, a 
 violation of the constitution, the court must still find him guilty of 
 official misconduct. Why? Because he was merely a ministerial 
 officer, and as to him the act in question was a law, no matter how 
 repugnant to the constitution. 
 
 The distinguished advocate who so insisted, had (as I have already 
 stated) been ray legal teacher, after Judge Read ceased to take direc- 
 tion of my legal studies. I was very certain that he would receive 
 kindly the scrap of paper which I handed him, having first written 
 on the same the words, as now remembered : 
 
 "Will Judge Walker suffer me to interrupt him with a question, 
 which I promise shall be brief and pertinent ? " 
 
 Judge Walker courteously allowed the desired interruption. 
 Then I handed him, on another slip of paper, the question : 
 
 " Is an unconstitutional act of the Legislature voidable only when 
 ascertained, by judicial decision, to be in repugnance to the consti- 
 tution, or is it void ab initio?" 
 
 That was all the argument I wished to make ; for I knew how 
 Judge Walker would be forced to answer. He responded, promptly 
 that a legislative act in clear violation of the constitution was always 
 held to be absolutely void, from the beginning, on account of its 
 repugnance to the fundamental law ; but still he argued, that the 
 clerk had misbehaved, in any view, in presuming to decide a ques- 
 tion of constitutional law for himself! 
 
 Mr. Chase, on looking thoroughly into the matter, came to a dif- 
 ferent conclusion. He considered at that time, that a legislative 
 act in clear, certain violation of the fundamental law, could have 
 no legal sanction as to any citizen in or out of office. 
 
 That he understood the dread responsibility, in or out of office, of 
 refusing to obey a pretended law on account of its clear unconstitu- 
 tionality, I need not say. He always understood that it is only 
 where there is no reasonable doubt of the unconstitutionality of a 
 pretended legislative act, that that act can be disregarded, even by a 
 court of justice. But his mind was quite too clear and strong to 
 suffer him to say, that an act of the legislature, in clear, certain re- 
 pugnance to the constitution, could have legal force for any purpose, 
 as to any person.
 
 328 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 True, there came a time when he seemed to distinguish between a 
 construction of the constitution in the face of civil war, and the con- 
 struction of the same instrument in time of peace. I think lie erred 
 in that respect, and I do not feel free to turn away from the indica- 
 tions of his real or apparent inconsistency in that particular. 
 
 Of that, however, I propose to speak hereafter. Here I wish to 
 keep attention fixed, for a few moments longer, on the subject of the 
 course pursued in 1848-1849 by Mr. Chase, with reference to the 
 attempted division of Hamilton County. 
 
 Under date November 22, 1848, in a register of Mr. Chase, ap- 
 pear these words — words which a fraudulent biographer would care- 
 fully conceal : 
 
 " Saw number of lawyers, some of whom mentioned my probable 
 election as Senator. Might believe it myself if it did not seem so 
 absolute^ out of the question whenever I seriously think of it. 
 Saw Donn Piatt, of Logan, whosays hewillbeat Columbusat opening oj ses~ 
 don. He reports that Judge Read says the Freesoilers ma} r have the 
 Senator if they will give the Democrats the other offices. Told him 
 I hoped the Freesoilers would act with conscientious regard to right, 
 and let consequences take care of themselves." 
 
 Who " Donn Piatt, of Logan " was and is, I need not tell the 
 average American reader. He is known to the whole country as the 
 editor-in-chief of the Capital, having first attained national distinc- 
 tion as the Washington correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial. 
 
 In the last letter written to rhe author of this volume, by its hero, 
 evidence appears that Col. Donn Piatt Avas intimate with Salmon 
 Portland Chase down to the time of the latter's last days. He was 
 in co-operation with our hero in 1848, but not in 1852, Again in 
 1856 they were together. 
 
 Now, a word about Judge Read. He seemed to me the greatest 
 legist in Ohio, even while our hero seemed to me a very learned 
 jurist and an able advocate. In Read, one did not see the stately 
 presence, the commanding manner, the peculiar tone of Chase ; but 
 Read, also, was a man of noble mien when he was most himself; and 
 certainly no man whom I have ever met was, all things considered, 
 equal to him as a legist, and on the bench. 
 
 Now, this Judge Read was a brother-in-law of "Donn Piatt, of 
 Logan," whom, as we have just seen, Chase set down, on the 22d of 
 November, 1848, as " reporting" that Judge Read had said that the 
 Freesoilers might have the Senator if they would give the Demo-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 329 
 
 crats the other offices ! I think, my friend Donn is also a an enigma;" 1 
 but Judge Bead was clearly an enigma, if Donn had rightly under- 
 stood him, as early as the 22d of November, 1848, to say that he 
 was willing to give the Freesoilers the Senator, on any terms. I 
 think Donn Piatt must have misunderstood Judge Head or been 
 misunderstood by Chase. 
 
 I was quite intimate with Read. He always Roberted me ; 
 always talked to me without reserve. He talked with me most 
 freely, at the time referred to. He had set his heart on going to the 
 Senate. Afterward, at all times, he excepted to the course of Chase 
 in joining in the arrangement by which the Senator was given to 
 the Freesoilers. Once, not long afterward, having come up to 
 "Billy McDowell" (afterward Judge McDowell, of Kansas) and 
 myself, at the corner of Walnut and Fifth Streets, Cincinnati, just 
 as we were left by Senator Chase, he " opened up " in this fashion : 
 
 " Boys ! I see you have been talking with Chase. He is court- 
 ing you young men. Avoid him. He is a political vampire. Xo ! 
 He's a sort of moral bull-bitch." 
 
 Then followed a few words which, not on account of Chase, nor 
 on account of Read, but on account of other persons, I will not 
 repeat, though I have often repeated them in private. 
 
 I defended Chase as I defend him now. I told Judge Read then 
 as I tell my readers now, that what I knew about the facts con- 
 nected with the senatorial candidature of Mr. Chase would not allow 
 me to believe that he had yielded to ambition rather than observed 
 a due regard to public obligations, in participating in the movement 
 that had made him Senator. 
 
 Let me now invite attention to these entries : 
 
 " January 1. [1849]. Began the new year at Columbus. Engaged 
 on argument in Lane Seminary case, but subject to a good many 
 interruptions. The argument of the disputed seats from Hamilton 
 County in the Ohio House of Representatives commences to-day : 
 Geo. E. Pugh for himself and Pierce ; O. M. Spencer for himself 
 and Banyan. 
 
 " January 2. Went over to the House to-day to hear Spencer and 
 Pugh. At noon, "wrote out proposition, or rather engagement, to be 
 signed by such gentlemen of the Democratic party as might see fit, 
 to the effect, that, in case Pugh and Pierce should be admitted, no at- 
 tempt should be made to keep in Sheldon, a Democratic member from 
 Portage, having the clerk's certificate given to him in consequence 
 of a mere mistake, through which a number of votes, making a 
 
 1 See motto of this volume.
 
 330 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 majority for his opponent, were not counted. Saw Judge Smart, of 
 Highland, in company with Dr. Townshend. He assured us that 
 he would give no countenance to any attempt to keep Sheldon in, 
 but would unite with the Freesoilers against the Democratic candi- 
 date for Speaker, unless be would pledge himself to make a fai-r com- 
 mittee on elections. This interview was before the House met in 
 the morning. Handed the paper written, at noon, to Dr. T., just 
 before the P. M. sitting. Pugh concluded his argument, which was 
 both able and eloquent. Dr. T. moved an adjournment. It was lost. 
 I told Disney, who was near me, that if the question on the right to seats 
 should be taken now, Pugh and Pierce would be excluded. He went over 
 to speak to the Democrats. Breslin consulted Dr. T. He. thinking Van 
 Doren would vote for P. and P., said adjournment unnecessary. Ques- 
 tion then taken on P. and P.'s right. Ayes 35 ; nays 35 — only Towns- 
 hend voting with Democrats, Van Doren voting against them. Next, on 
 Spencer and Runyan's right: ayes 32, nays 38. Among the latter, 
 Townshend, Morse, Van Doren, Piddle, Smart. The Democrats were 
 much excited — charged bad faith on. Freesoilers. Several came to see me. 
 Told them to keep cool. Many threatened to go home and break up 
 Legislature, but finally concluded to take another day for consideration, 
 if enough Freesoilers would vote with them to adjourn next day without 
 electing a Speaker, etc., which they agreed to do. 
 
 "January 3. There was a good deal of consultation to-day. The 
 Democrats still much excited and inclined to break up the Legisla- 
 ture. The adjournment look place as agreed. Starr came up to- 
 night, arriving about one, A. M. 
 
 " January 4. This morning it was finally understood that the Demo- 
 cratic candidate, for Speaker should be elected, Stanley Matthews, Free- 
 soiler, Clerk; and that a Committee on Priv. and Election should be 
 constituted of one Freesoiler, two Democrats, and two Whigs. The House 
 met at ten. Breslin, Democrat, was elected Speaker ; Matthews, 
 Clerk ; and House, after several ballots for Sergeant-at-arms, ad- 
 journed. I was not present at either morning or afternoon session, but 
 busy at my argument, except when interrupted by callers. Monfort and 
 Long called in the evening to ask if it was desired to elect Purdy, 
 Freesoil nominee, by Democratic votes. I could not tell." 
 
 Enough appears, I think, to satisfy every fa if- minded reader that 
 the course of Chase at this time was governed, not by low ambition, 
 not by lust of power, but by his devotion to the cause of constitu- 
 tional agitation against slavery. 
 
 I did not then regard that devotion as well guarded and restrained. 
 As I review it even now, it seems to me much as it then appeared 
 to me. But even then it seemed to me, at least, sincere and con- 
 scientious, and it seems to me, after so many years — after so many 
 sorrows — after so many trials — not less conscientious, not less earnest, 
 not less patriotic, than it seemed to me in 1848-1849. 
 
 But I do not fancy that I have disposed of all the difficulties in 
 the way of simple justice to the memory of Chase, as affected by
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 331 
 
 the part betook with the Democratic party in 1848-1849, and down 
 to 1852. I do not imagine that I have silenced the objection that 
 he was not "a loyal party man." Nor have I the slightest expec- 
 tation of disposing of that objection in the present chapter. But the 
 charge has been made, that the man these pages name so often was 
 disloyal as to church and party both. It has been charged that he 
 passed over from the church in which he was educated to the 
 Methodist communion in the interest of an unholy lust of power; 
 and it has been charged that he passed from the Whig party to the 
 Liberty party, from the Liberty party to the Democratic party, from 
 the Democratic party to the Republican party, and from the Repub- 
 lican party back again to the Democratic party, in the same selfish, 
 evil interest. 
 
 I propose to say something about these charges ; and, first, I have 
 something farther to say about the changes from party to party. 
 
 In a letter to Lyman W. Hall, Esq., under date August 6, 1849, 
 Senator Chase said : 
 
 "I am sure I had no idea that I was so bad a man as I have dis- 
 covered myself to be since my election to the Senate. I always tried 
 to pursue a straight-forward, frank course, conciliating always where- 
 soever conciliation did not involve a sacrifice of principle; but always 
 ready to avow and maintain whatever principles I really held and to 
 abide by them no matter how small the minority. 
 
 "/ was educated in the Whig school, and as a lawyer rather than as 
 a politician. In my latter capacity I was always tolerably independent ; 
 hut I held in the main the views which are now generally denominated 
 Whig (though, at tiie time, they were almost equally shared, by both 
 parties) up till 1840. In that year I supported Harrison, though an 
 advocate myself of the sub-treasury system. I took, however, very 
 little part in politics at that time. In 1841, having become satisfied 
 that the Whig administration would be as pro-slavery as the Demo- 
 cratic had ever been, I united with a few others in the call for the 
 Liberty Convention of December s in that year. Convinced now that 
 tlie question of slavery was the paramount one, and satisfied that tin great 
 principle of equal rights was correct, I began to test opinions by tin's stan- 
 dard. I was thus led to quite different views on the questions of bank 
 tariff and government, frorti those I had taken up, in trust without exam- 
 ination, and became unreservedly a Democrat — with Democratic princi- 
 ples too strong to allow of any compromise with slavery. Holding these 
 principles, I icas content to go into the minority of the Liberty party and 
 labor in it. when men counted me mad for so doing. 
 
 "These principles, however, led the Democrats to consent to my support 
 last winter, and I now hold them as unreservedly, and as absolutely, with- 
 out compromise, as ever. All 1 desire is to see the old Democracy follow 
 out their principles to the same conclusions. Then we can all stand to- 
 gether.
 
 332 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "For these views I am reproached and vilified beyond measure; 
 but I shall go straight on. I rejoice to hear that in Portage and 
 Summit the two wings of the Democracy will be united on princi- 
 ple. I wish it could be so every -where throughout our State. Then 
 a glorious victory would surely await us." 
 
 Here is the copy of a letter written by him to a Democratic edi- 
 tor at a very critical time : 
 
 " Cincinnati, July 30, 1849. 
 '•'Hon. Asa G. Dimmock, Millersburgh, O. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I regretted exceedingly that 1 could not see you 
 at Cleveland. I wished very much to have a full conversation with 
 you on matters and things in general. 
 
 "An attempt is being made, I see, to fasten the doctrine of non- 
 intervention with slavery again upon the Democratic party. The 
 Washington Union takes the lead — General Cass follows suit — divers 
 papers join the cry. Now it does seem to me that this attempt 
 should be honestly and decidedly met and resisted. The Democratic 
 party was wrecked on this rock last fall. Is it worth while to run 
 right on it again? 
 
 "For General Cass, personally, I have a high respect. But he 
 made a grand mistake when he abandoned his original Wilmot Pro- 
 viso ground, and promulgated the doctrines of the Nicholson letter 
 — doctrines condemned by all our history — by the action of every 
 administration, including Mr. Polk's and the common sense construc- 
 tion of the constitution. To leave the old ground now, and make 
 these indefensible doctrines the platform of the Democratic party is, 
 I think, to insure defeat. 
 
 "Such a course makes union with the free Democracy impossible, 
 and, at the same time, drives out of the regular ranks a great num- 
 ber of the truest Democrats in them, into the ranks of the former. 
 
 "In this State I have been inclined to believe that the old Democ- 
 racy and the free Democracy would succeed in carrying the Legisla- 
 ture this fall, and that the representatives of the two wings would 
 not find it difficult to agree on a common platform, as they have done 
 in Vermont and Wisconsin. But if the Democratic presses which 
 supported General Cass insist on the non-intervention doctrine, great 
 difficulties will be introduced into the canvass before the people, a8 
 well as into action in the Legislature, supposing the two parties of 
 the Dcmocrac}" again to have a majority. 
 
 "Can you not write something upon this subject? My general 
 view of the relation of slavery to our National Government is stated 
 fully in my argument of the Vanzandt case, in which, also, I give 
 some account of the ordinance of 1787. I believe I have sent you a 
 copy heretofore, but it will do no harm to send you another. 
 
 "I sec Vaughan, of the True Democrat, and Gray, of the Plain-Dealer, 
 have got at Avar. Perhaps it 's nothing very serious, but I am sorry 
 to sec it. Gray is a clever fellow and an able writer, and his sym- 
 pathies, I am sure, are fully with the free Democracy. Yaughan's 
 article in eulogy of the Whigs of Harrison was injudicious and per-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 333 
 
 haps Avorse ; but I wish Gray had spoken to him privately about it 
 instead of making it the subject of annoying comment. 
 
 "Do you correspond with Medary? What is his disposition in 
 reference to the future? I see he had an article indorsing the Wash- 
 ington Union Platform, but of late he has said nothing about it. 
 " I shall be glad to hear from you, and, meanwhile, remain, 
 
 "Faithfully yours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 It may seem strange that a man so well informed about the Dem- 
 ocratic party as the writer of that letter might have been, should 
 have expected so much from that organization. But that letter was 
 written more than eighteen months after the representation in the 
 State convention of the Democratic party in Ohio, passed that "mit- 
 igate" and "finally eradicate" resolution. 
 
 Chase, who then somewhat idealized the Democratic party and the 
 members of that party, had, no doubt, the expectation that the senti- 
 ments of the eleventh resolution would ere long become almost uni- 
 versally prevalent in the Democratic party of Ohio. 
 
 On the 6th of August, 1849, he wrote again to Mr. Dimmock, 
 who was then editing the Ohio Farmer. The letter last referred to 
 says : 
 
 " To me it seems clear that the true interest and duty of the Dem- 
 ocratic party in the free States points to union with the free Democ- 
 racy, instead of alliance with the slaveholders. The former secures 
 ascendancy in the free States — the latter, ascendancy in the slave 
 States. The former may throw the Democracy into minorities in the 
 slave States, but will still leave them strong in numbers and stronger 
 in character. The latter will, almost certainly, bj* making it impos- 
 sible for the free Democrats to cooperate, throw the Democracy into 
 minorities in almost all the free States, and thus make the successful 
 issue of a presidental contest nearly impossible, while the striking 
 contrast between the maxims and the practices of equal rights pro- 
 fessing, but slavery supporting, Democracy must rob the party of all 
 moral power." 
 
 The same letter contains these words: 
 
 " I do not agree with you that the question as to the division of 
 Hamilton County is the main obstacle to a union between the Dem- 
 ocrats and Freesoilers. The true difficulty is in the position of 
 Gen. ('as-: and the Washington Union, seconded by such papers as the 
 Democratic Banner, the Georgetown Standard, the Chillicothe Advertiser, 
 and countenanced, though not very zealously, by the Ohio Statesman. 
 Oh, if the Democracy of the State would just repudiate this platform, 
 and, planting itself upon the resolution adopted by its last guber- 
 natorial convention, and boldly proclaiming as the true meaning of
 
 334 THE PEIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SEEVICES 
 
 that resolution — prohibition of slavery in the Territories and the 
 separation of the general government from all support of slavery — 
 how soon you would find the free Democracy gathering in solid 
 array around you, resolved to conquer with you for the great prin- 
 ciples of freedom and equal rights. Then you would find the frauds 
 of the apportionment law and the iniquities of the Hamilton County 
 division scattered like chaff before the tempest of popular indigna- 
 tion. Be assured, my friend, that nothing is needed to the com- 
 plete triumph of the Democracy in Ohio except fidelity to its own 
 glorious principles and a faithful application of them to slavery." 
 
 The next day he said in a letter to C. R. Miller, Esq., of Toledo, 
 Ohio: 
 
 " I feel solicitous about the action of the Freesoilers on the 
 Reserve — especially in relation to Townshend and Morse. These 
 men were faithful to the cause, and took not one single step with 
 any personal objects. Without any interested motive, they stood 
 in the breach, at the greatest hazard and amid an unprecedented 
 storm of obloquy. But for them the Black Laws would not have been 
 repealed — and but for them no permanent advantage to the free 
 Democracy would have accrued from its representatives in the Leg- 
 islature. If any men ever deserved to be sustained, they do. 
 
 " For myself, Ihave no love for political life ; 1 am in it from necessity, 
 not choice or advantage. Cheerfully would I resign my position to any 
 man who would do my work in it. I am not insensible to its honors or 
 advantages ; but in my judgment, they are more than counterbalanced by 
 its responsibilities and its discomforts. But I won't bore you with this, 
 but, finding myself at the bottom of the second page, bid you fare- 
 well. Yours truly, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Attention is next invited to this document : 
 
 " Cincinnati, August 2, 1851. 
 
 " Dear Sir : On my return home, after an absence of some six 
 weeks, I found your letter of July 25th, for which I beg you to accept 
 my thanks. 
 
 " I am not prepared to express any opinion at present, in relation to 
 the next presidential election. I can only say that, while I greatly 
 desire the union and harmony of the Democracy, I shall act, when 
 action becomes necessary, as my principles require. 
 
 " I wish that Democrats in all parts of the Union could return to 
 the simple platform of the father of American Democracy, and be 
 content to leave slavery and the extradition of slaves to the several 
 States to be acted upon, under the obligations of the Constitution 
 of the United States, according to their own discretion — thus sever- 
 ing the National Government from all connection with these mat- 
 ters, and leaving to it only the duty, so far as this subject is con- 
 cerned, of maintaining all persons, where its jurisdiction is exclu- 
 sive, in the enjoyment of personal freedom. This, however, is hardly
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 335 
 
 to be hoped for at present. The next best thing would be cordial 
 toleration in Congress, and out of Congress, of differences of opinion 
 
 and action on slavery among Democrats, leaving, in good faith, the 
 decision of the questions in controversy to the people and their rep- 
 resentatives, after untrammelled discussion. Such toleration, per- 
 haps, is as little to be expected as agreement. 
 
 "I entertain for Gen. Houston a very sincere regard. His kind- 
 ness and courtesy toward me during our association in the Senate 
 could not fail to win it. Should he be nominated for the Presidency 
 I should wish to support him. Whether 1 should do so or not, how- 
 ever, would depend upon the positions which he, and the convention 
 making the nomination, should think proper to take. 
 
 •• Should you return to the South through this city I shall be 
 happy to see you, and if you will remain a few days with us, will 
 endeavor to make your stay as agreeable as possible. 
 " Very respectfully and truly yours, etc., 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Let me next invite attention to this letter : 
 
 " Cincinnati, November 23, 1849. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Looking over some old papers this evening, I 
 find the inclosed receipt, which I forward to you. You will remem- 
 ber the remittance of the $10 for the Colored Orphan Asylum which 
 the receipt acknowledges. 
 
 "What changes have occurred since our last exchanged letters! 
 Your position is greatly advanced since then. My own remains 
 unchanged. I have been looking over, this evening, some of the 
 papers on the subject of slavery, which I wrote in 1841-2, and have 
 been really surprised by the exact agreement in purport and ex- 
 pression with my most recently published views. Very possibly 
 you will think this stationary position not creditable to me. Per- 
 haps you are right, but I have never been able to persuade myself 
 of the validity of the arguments used to urge an advance from it to 
 the ground you occupy. And I have now the satisfaction of seeing 
 a large body of the people occupying the platform which I once 
 stood upon with few associates ; and of believing that the time is 
 not distant when the support of the National Government will be 
 withdrawn from slavery. My efforts shall not be wanting to hasten 
 the time. With great regard, I am, as ever truly your friend. 
 " Gerritt Smith, Esq., Petersboro, N. Y. S. P. CHASE."
 
 336 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 THE SENATORIAL SERVICE OF THE HERO — CHASE AND DOUGLAS — BLEED- 
 ING KANSAS. 
 
 THE letter to Mr. Trowbridge, giving account of the Buffalo 
 Convention, contains also the following paragraphs : 
 
 " Immediately after the election, the northern Democracy, which 
 had supported General Cass, claiming that under the doctrines 
 maintained by him, slavery, though not prohibited by law. could 
 find no ingress into the Territories, passed by an easy transition into 
 the profession of the doctrines entertained by the Independent 
 Democracy which had supported Mr. Van Buren. Every-where in- 
 dications became visible of a disposition to unite upon the platform 
 of slavery prohibition. Besolutions were adopted in many of the 
 States, both by the old line and Independent Democrats, uniting the 
 two organizations, and in others, where actual union did not take 
 place, there was more or less concert of action. In Ohio, I was elected 
 to the Senate by the united votes of the old line and independent 
 Democrats, and took mj T seat in that hod}' in March, 1849. I was 
 not, however, satisfied that the union between the two organizations 
 could be perfect or permanent until, in a national convention, the 
 old line Democracy of the free States should either succeed in ob- 
 taining the adoption of a national platform, declaring the party in- 
 dependent of slaveholding dictation, or by breaking the bond of 
 adhesion to the slave interest by open separation. 
 
 "I, therefore, declined to go into the Democratic caucus of the 
 Senate, or commit myself to the organization otherwise than by sup- 
 porting its candidates in Ohio so long as the party in that State 
 should maintain an anti-slavery position. The event justified my 
 apprehensions. It soon became evident that the leaders of the 
 Democratic party were not prepared to surrender the supposed ad- 
 vantages of their slaveholding alliance. In 1850. the compromise 
 measures, including the fugitive slave act, were supported by almost 
 the entire party in Congress, though opposed by a majority of the 
 Ohio Representatives. They were almost universally denounced by 
 the Democratic press in Ohio, and for a time it seemed possible that 
 they might be repudiated by the northern Democracy. 
 
 " When the convention met at Baltimore, however, it soon became 
 apparent that no such hope was to be realized. Besolutions were 
 adopted approving the compromise measures, and denouncing all 
 agitation of the slavery question, by which was understood all re- 
 sistance to the pretensions of slaveholders. General Pierce was
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 337 
 
 nominated for President, and Mr. King, of Alabama, for Vice-Presi- 
 dent. The Whig Convention nominated General Seott tin- President, 
 and Mr. Graham, of North Carolina, for Vice-President. Its plat- 
 form was almost identical in spirit and substance with that of the 
 Democratic Convention. After these nominations and declarations I 
 did not hesitate what course to take. I addressed, at once, a letter 
 to Mr. Butler, of New York, declaring my own determination to 
 adhere to principles announced at Buffalo, and to act with the only 
 party faithful to them; that is to say, with the Independent Demo- 
 cracy which had maintained its organization, and had called a con- 
 vention to meet at Pittsburg. I earnestly urged him, and the Jk-mo- 
 crats who had acted with him at Buffalo, to maintain the ground 
 they had then taken. 
 
 •• I shall ever lament that this appeal was not heeded. The party 
 of freedom had given, while unorganized, in 1840, one vote in every 
 350 of all the votes cast in the United States, for its candidates. 1 
 In 1844 it had given one vote in forty-four, and in 1848 it had 
 given one vote in ten, and almost one in nine. This, it must be 
 remembered, was the proportion, in the free States, of the whole 
 vote of the United States. The proportion in the free States con- 
 sidered by themselves must, of course, have been much larger. It 
 can not be doubted, I think, that had the New York Democracy 
 adhered to the principles avowed in 1848, and refused to support 
 the Baltimore nominations upon a platform repugnant to the senti- 
 ments and convictions of a large majority of the northern people, 
 a vote would have been given for the nominees of the Independent 
 Democracy, which, if not sufficient to elect its candidates, would 
 have insured the election of General Scott, and, consequently, the 
 union of nearly the wdiole Democratic party in the course of the fol- 
 lowing year upon the principles of the Independent Democracy. 
 The Democracy of the Union, united upon these principles, would 
 have been invincible, and slavery, excluded from the national Terri- 
 tories, would have been ameliorated, diminished, and, finally, abol- 
 ished in the States by State action. The Bebellion, in all probability, 
 would have been avoided, and the Union would have been preserved 
 unbroken, and preserved not for slavery, but for freedom. I took great 
 pains to explain these views to many, and a good deal of apprehension 
 was manifested by certain slave State Senators lest they should be 
 adopted. 
 
 " The New York Democrats, however, saw the matter otherwise 
 than I. They went over, almost unanimously, to the support of Mr. 
 Pierce, who was, of course, elected. Their defection, and that of 
 those influenced by their example, in other States, reduced the vote 
 of the Independent Democracy from 291,678, in 1848, to 157,296, in 
 L852. The whole number given was 157.29G, and the Independent 
 Democratic vote was one in twenty. Near three-fourths of the 
 whole defection was in New Y'ork. 
 
 ''The agreement of the two old parties upon substantially the 
 same platform, and the election of General Pierce, devolved upon 
 the Democratic party the whole responsibility of that platform. The 
 
 1 American Almanac, 1860, p. 201.
 
 338 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 reorganization of parties became inevitable, and, as the platform of 
 the Independent Democracy alone represented antagonism to the 
 compromise Democracy, it was also evident that the principles of 
 that party must form a basis of opposition to the administration, 
 which must inevitably be driven into new concessions to the slave 
 power. 
 
 "It was not long before this logic of events exhibited its natural 
 consequences, in the introduction of the Nebraska bill into the Sen- 
 ate, with its clauses repealing the Missouri prohibition. At first 
 there was great uncertainty among Whig Senators and Representa- 
 tives as to the course which ought to be pursued. The entire body 
 of southern Whigs in Congress went over to the administration upon 
 this question, and very few Democrats, either north or south, ven- 
 tured to oppose the repeal of the prohibition. A few of the inde- 
 pendent Democrats conferred together, and resolved to draw up an 
 appeal to the people, to be signed by all those opposed to the repeal. 
 An appeal was, accordingly, drawn up by me — the same which was 
 afterward printed and widely circulated — but it was found impossi- 
 ble to procure the signatures desired. Almost all seemed to dread 
 committing themselves against slavery. It was then proposed to 
 issue the appeal with the signatures of the Ohio Senators and Repre- 
 sentatives alone. Some were ready to sign it, but others were un- 
 willing. So, finding unanimity, even in Ohio, unattainable, the 
 paper was signed by the Independent Democratic Senators and Rep- 
 resentatives alone, and sent forth as their appeal to the people 
 against the meditated wrong." 
 
 In order to appreciate this language it is necessary to go back a 
 little. 
 
 Senator Chase prepared a draft of a platform for the " Free Demo- 
 cracy," at Pittsburg, in 1852. It was substantially the platform 
 adopted at the convention held at that time, in that city. Passing 
 mention may be made of the fact that, " against his own expressed 
 wishes," his name was brought before that body as a presidential 
 candidate. 
 
 In 1853, he " took the stump" in Ohio, with the more eloquent 
 Samuel Lewis, the candidate of the Free Democracy for Governor 
 of Ohio. He was afterward the legislative nominee of the same 
 party for reelection to the Senate of the Union, but, as indicated in 
 his letter to Mr. Prentiss, of New Hampshire, 1 he was not success- 
 ful. Hon. George Ellis Pugh was chosen his successor. 
 
 Plight is one of the most finished, fluent, forcible of speakers. As 
 an orator he has, and he has had, few equals, either at the bar or " on 
 the stump." But he was not a senatorial character. He rather 
 
 1 Ante.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 339 
 
 diminished than increased the lustre of his reputation, in the Senate. 
 In the stormy House, he would have made himself world-famous; 
 in the Senate he was more out of place than Brougham in the House 
 of Lords. 
 
 We must go back a little. We must look at Chase as he appeared, 
 " every inch " a Senator of the United States. 
 
 Among the men whom he encountered in his own characteristic 
 fashion was "the Little Giant/' Stephen Arnold Douglas. 
 
 Douglas was, in many things the very opposite of Chase. He 
 was, as I have elsewhere shown and said, an ultimately patriotic 
 demagogue. He knew the people well. Here is a fine account of 
 his oratory by Rev. Mr. Milburn : 
 
 " The first time I saw Mr. Douglas was in June, 1838, standing on 
 the gallery of the Market House, which some of my readers may 
 recollect as situate in the middle of the square at Jacksonville. 
 He and Colonel John J. Hardin were engaged in canvassing Morgan 
 County for Congress. He was upon the threshold of that great 
 world in which he has since played so prominent a part, and was 
 engaged in making one of his earliest stump speeches. I stood and 
 listened to him, surrounded by a motley crowd, of backwoods farmers 
 and hunters, dressed in homespun or deerskin, my boyish breast 
 glowing with exultant joy, as he, only ten years my senior, battled 
 so bravely for the doctrines of his party with the veteran and ac- 
 complished Hardin. True, I had been educated in political senti- 
 ments opposite to his own, but there was something captivating in 
 his manly straightforwardness and uncompromising statement of 
 his political principles. He even then showed signs of that dex- 
 terity in debate, and vehement, impressive declamation, of which 
 he has since become such a master. He gave the crowd the color 
 of his own mood as he interpreted their thoughts and directed their 
 sensibilities. His first-hand knowledge of the people, and his 
 power to speak to them in their own language, employing arguments 
 suited to their comprehension, sometimes clinching a series of 
 reasons by a frontier metaphor which refused to be forgotten, and 
 his determined courage, which never shrank from any form of diffi- 
 culty or danger, made him one of the most effective stump-orators 
 I have ever heard." 
 
 I heard Chase often, Douglas only thrice, in public. Frequently 
 I talked with the former; seldom had I opportunity to talk with 
 the latter. But my recollections of them both are very clear and 
 vivid. Mr. Milburn's account of Douglas would be perfect, if it 
 only noticed his hard voice, sometimes a little harsh, and often coarse. 
 
 1 Ten Years of Preacher Life. 
 
 23
 
 340 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The very difference between voice and voice made a great contrast 
 between Chase and Douglas. Chase was not a fluent, easy speaker. 
 Some impediment affected his delivery when I first heard him at the 
 Cincinnati bar, and it continued to affect his utterance to the end of 
 his days. But his organ was, in some respects, a finer one than the 
 voice of Douglas. It was more manifestly the voice of thoughtful- 
 ness — of a thought-fond spirit — if I may so express myself. On the 
 other hand, while he had, (perhaps as teacher,) gained the power of 
 speaking to the people, if not " in their own language," at least in 
 language easily intelligible to them — the power of popularization, 
 it may be called, perhaps — his " first-hand knowledge of the people " 
 was far more limited than that of Douglas ; and he could not please 
 the crowd as could the latter, either " on the stump," or at the bar, 
 or in the legislative hall. 
 
 He was the greater man, but Douglas was the greater orator. 
 
 Such are some of my conceptions of two men who were made 
 almost combatants by the mad crime of one of them in 1854. 
 
 Yes ! I must consider, now, that Douglas committed a mad crime 
 in January, 1854, when, in the interest of his then base ambition, 
 he took the initiative in repealing the Missouri Compromise. 
 
 That Compromise was, indeed, itself an unwise measure ; but the 
 motive of its undoing was as bad as bad could be. 
 
 The history of the Missouri Compromise is known to school-boys. 
 It purported to prohibit involuntary servitude forever in all the ter- 
 ritory acquired from France north of 36° parallel of north latitude. 
 That territory was a far-reaching tract of land, some parts of which 
 were singularly favored by the hand of nature, singularly fit for 
 human habitation. Some have calculated its area as twelve times as 
 large as Ohio and equal in extent to the combined Territories of 
 France, Spain, and Italy. 
 
 The Senator who had written the historical sketch of Ohio, else- 
 where mentioned ; who had so laboriously and skillfully compiled 
 the legislation of that great State ; who had so deeply studied the 
 relation of the Ordinance of '87 to the growing glory and the empire- 
 like power of that member of the Union ; was to be expected to take 
 prominence in opposition to that mad-guilty scheme of Douglas. 
 
 Chase was very prominent, indeed, in the debates occasioned by 
 that scheme, and in the other action that it caused or provoked. 
 
 Let us now go back to the last-quoted Trowbridge letter. After 
 having mentioned, as we have already seen, the appeal of the Inde-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 341 
 
 pendent Democratic Senators and Representatives alone, that letter 
 thus goes forward : 
 
 "It was copied every-wherc and read every-whore. The people, 
 always in advance of the politicians upon questions of principle. 
 took the alarm, and their potential voice was heard in Congress. The 
 
 doubting were decided, and the timid took courage. The alliance of 
 the administration Senators and Representatives with the whole 
 body of the southern Whigs, secured, it is true, the passage of the 
 bill ; but the Senators and Representatives who voted against it, 
 represented a majority of the people of the free States. It was no 
 longer doubtful upon what ground the reorganization of parties 
 would take place. It must necessaril}- find its only bond of union in 
 opposition to the extension of slavery." 
 
 Let me anticipate somewhat by now offering this letter: 
 
 "Columbus, May 11th, 1857. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I need not say to }'ou that I felt a very great 
 satisfaction in hearing of your success as Mayor of Leavenworth. 
 To the pleasure which every friend of freedom derived from the elec- 
 tion of a free State mayor, I added that which the success of a per- 
 sonal friend always gives. 
 
 "Very little direct intelligence has reached me from the Territory 
 for some time past. I learned from a gentleman connected with the 
 committee at Chicago, that active efforts would be made to canvass 
 the State and ascertain the exact position and amount of free State 
 strength, with a view to the adoption of a plan of action somewhat 
 akin to that which 1 explained lo }'on in conversation; and I had 
 some advice to a similar effect from Lawrence. Lane, also, wrote 
 me upon his arrival in the Territory, saying that he soon would write 
 again ; but I have since heard nothing from him. 
 
 " I wish you would write me and let me know exactly the true 
 state of things. At in}' distance, it looks as if the free State men of 
 Kansas were to be left to their own care, so far as the General Gov- 
 ernment is concerned. Nothing, in my judgment, can be safely 
 hoped either from Walker or Stanton, unless, what is very possible, 
 the administration has been buying '//'Woodson, Emery, and the rest, 
 to a course of fairness and liberality by their late appointments. I 
 do not think such a purchase impracticable, but I doubt the willing- 
 ness or rather the liberty of the administration to make it. The 
 slave power is not yet prepared to let go its hold upon Kansas. 
 
 "It still seems to me that the free State men ought to organize in 
 view of the coming election for Constitutional Convention. If 
 such an organization were made as 1 suggested to yon, 1 do not think 
 that Walker could refuse the proposition which the Lawrence men 
 are reported to have made to Stanton, with a view to a fair election. 
 
 "For example, suppose the free State men should hold a conven- 
 tion and there resolve : 
 
 "1. That the acts of the self-styled Legislature were acts of usur- 
 pation without law. and therefore null, except so far as they may be 
 hereafter confirmed by a duly and freely chosen Legislature.
 
 342 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " 2. That the Topeka Constitution is a true expression of the will 
 of the people of Kansas, and that Kansas has a right to be admitted 
 as a State under it. 
 
 "3. That the two foregoing propositions being denied by the pro- 
 slavery party, the free State men of Kansas in convention accept the 
 act of 'the usurping legislature, as a challenge to a trial of strength at 
 the polls; and so accej)ting, insist that the trial shall be a fair one. 
 
 "4. That all citizens of the United States who have been actual 
 residents of Kansas for, say 60 or 30 days preceding the election, 
 and who intend permanently to reside therein shall be allowed to 
 vote, and no others. 
 
 "5. That the judges and clerks of election shall be so arranged as 
 to exclude the probability, if not possibility, of unfairness. 
 
 " 6. That, to guard against the possibility that no such arrange- 
 ment of judges and clerks can be had, judges and clerks should be 
 appointed provisionally by the convention, or upon a plan to be pro- 
 posed by it, who should receive the votes of all voters qualified 
 according to the fourth proposition, and register the name of each 
 voter, his residence, and the facts constituting his qualification, 
 which register should be duly authenticated by the oaths of the 
 judges and clerks, and carefully preserved. 
 
 " You will recognize this as the outline of the plan which I sug- 
 gested to you. My impression is strong that the adoption of the 
 plan, with an active and thorough organization, would secure such 
 practical concessions as would give the free State men a fair oppor- 
 tunity to test the relative strength of parties at the polls; should 
 this be the case, and the free State men prove to be the most numer- 
 ous, the Topeka Constitution could be re-adopted and the past action 
 of the free State men be thus fully vindicated. On the other hand, 
 should no such concessions be made, the provisional organization 
 would enable the free State men to show their whole strength, and 
 give their friends in the States a full answer to all charges of frac- 
 tiousness, and clear proofs of the unfairness of the pro-slavery party, 
 and of its contemptuous disregard of the real voice of the people. 
 
 " Such were my views as expressed to you and others, and I have 
 seen no occasion to change them. Still I am far from believing that 
 we at a distance can judge as well of the proper course to be adopt ed 
 as }^ou who are upon the spot ; and, for one, I feel disposed to sustain 
 those on whom the immediate responsibility of decision and action 
 is cast, whether they agree with me or not. But I shall be glad to 
 know from you what has been actually determined on, and what the 
 prospects are. 
 
 " With best regards to our friends, I remain yours faithfully. 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Hon. H. J. Adams, Leavenworth, K. T." 
 
 On the 11th of March, 1858, Governor Chase wrote as follows to 
 William H. Seward ; 
 
 "It gave me great pleasure to read your speech. It was worthy 
 of yourself and of the occasion. It illustrates the nature of the in- 
 ter-communication which makes us one people and interdicts dis-
 
 OP SALMON "PORTLAND CHASE. 343 
 
 union, that I read your speech here, within forty-eight hours after 
 delivery, in a paper printed more than two hundred miles from the 
 place where you spoke. You and 1 have long labored together, 
 though in somewhat different relations, for the same great cause of 
 enfranchisement and progress. 1 shall distrust your devotion to it, 
 when 1 distrust my own. Having this confidence in you, may I not 
 say, that I regretted the apparent countenance 3011 gave to the idea 
 that the Douglas doctrine of popular sovereignty will do for us to 
 stand upon for the present. The true doctrine of popular sov- 
 ereignty I accept as cordially as any man, hut I can not give my 
 adhesion to that notion of it which sanctions the enslavement of man 
 by his fellow-man, provided only the majority agree to it, or to any 
 party based upon it. It seems to me that in the regular process of 
 mental and political developments, working singly and irresistibly, 
 a transition and transformation of parties, the Republican organiza- 
 tion has grown up, not so much by choice as by necessity. Our true 
 policy and true wisdom is to adhere to it, instead of changing, to 
 strengthen its base. Another course may seem to give greater im- 
 mediate accessions of strength, but will result, I verily believe, in 
 defeat. Yours faithfully, 
 
 " Hon. William H. Seward. S. P. CHASE."
 
 344 THE PRIVATE TJFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 RELATIONS OP CHASE TO THE KNOW NOTHINGS GOVERNOR OF OHIO. 
 
 "ATEXT, attention is invited to this letter: 
 
 "Washington, March 19, 1864. 
 
 My Dear Sir : In March, 1855, the Rev. Mr. Dennison, of Louis- 
 ville, Ky., requested a friend to take charge of Eosetta, a colored 
 girl, of sixteen yeai*s of age, and convey her from Louisville to 
 Virginia. This friend brought Eosetta to Cincinnati, and started 
 with her, by railroad, to Wheeling. While remaining at Columbus, 
 she was taken before a judge upon a writ of habeas corpus, declared 
 free, and, being a minor, was placed under the guardianship of a 
 gentleman named Yanslyke. While under this guardianship, she 
 was seized by a deputy-marshal, who surreptitiously gained admis- 
 sion to the house in which she was employed, seized the girl, and 
 hurried her to the depot, and started at once for Cincinnati. For- 
 tunately, her guardian was promptly notified of her capture, and, 
 hastening to the depot, entered the cars just as they were moving off, 
 and went on the same train with the girl and her captor to Cincin- 
 nati. This was on the 23d or 24th of March. 
 
 " It was the plan of Dennison and the captor of Eosetta to take 
 her at once to Pendery, the commissioner, have an immediate exam- 
 ination, and carry her off at once into Kentucky. Mr. Yanslyke 
 defeated this plan by obtaining a writ of habeas corpus under my 
 counsel, upon which writ Eosetta was brought before Judge Parker, 
 of the Court of Common Pleas. I appeared in behalf of Eosetta; 
 Judge Timoth} 1- Walker, one of the most eminent and respected mem- 
 bers of the bar, and Mr. E. B. Hayes, a young lawyer of great prom- 
 ise, appeared with me ; while Mr. Pugh and Judge Flynn appeared 
 on behalf of Mr. Dennison. 
 
 '■The case was very thoroughly argued, and the court ordered 
 that Eosetta, having been brought into Ohio by the master or his 
 agent, was free, and should be delivered to the custody of her guar- 
 dian. As there was some danger that the girl, if delivered in the 
 court-room, would be immediately seized again by the marshal, I 
 applied to the court for an order, that the sheriff should protect her 
 until put into the charge of her guardian at some safe place. The 
 order was made, and Eosetta was taken to the Woodruff House by 
 the sheriff, and there restored to Mr. Vanslyke. Shortly afterward, 
 she was, as was feared, again arrested by the marshal, and taken
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 345 
 
 before the commissioner, Pendery, who heard arguments for and 
 against the claim of her alleged master. Fortunately, in this ease, 
 the commissioner, though notoriously venal, did not venture to con- 
 front the public indignation certain to be aroused by an order for 
 her surrender, after she had been declared entitled to freedom by 
 the decisions of two courts. He accordingly discharged her from 
 custody. 
 
 " While this proceeding before him was going on, Mr. Walker and 
 myself asked the Court of Common Pleas for process in contempt 
 against the marshal. The court issued its writ accordingly, and 
 the marshal was taken into custody by the sheriff. In his turn, he 
 applied for a writ of habeas corpus to Judge McLean, and was dis- 
 charged by him upon the ground that the State Court had no 
 jurisdiction to protect the liberty of any person claimed and seized 
 as a fugitive slave under process authorized by the fugitive slave 
 act. This decision of Judge McLean attracted a great deal of 
 attention, and received general condemnation. As Rosetta was at 
 liberty, however, the interest excited by it was less general and less 
 intense than it would have been, had the decision been followed by 
 practical results. 
 
 " In the argument upon the habeas corpxis before Judge Parker of 
 the Court of Common Pleas, and in the application for an attach- 
 ment for contempt against the marshal when he re-arrested Rosetta, 
 and in the argument of the haJ>eas corpus for the liberation of the 
 marshal, I argued the questions involved on the side of freedom 
 with all the earnestness and all the ability I possessed. I was 
 most ably supported by Judge Walker, while Mr. Hayes acquitted 
 himself with great distinction in the defense of Rosetta before 
 Pendery. Mr. Pugh and Mr. Wolf, of Louisville, represented the 
 first, the marshal, and the second, the Rev. Mr. Dennison, the slave 
 claimant. 
 
 ••Mr. Pugh had been elected as my successor in the Senate. My 
 term had just expired, and I was again among the people. It was 
 remarked by many that the ex-Senator was as ready to defend 
 rights as the new Senator was ready to attack them. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 "J. T. Trowbridge, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "A vain attempt," says our hero to Mr. Trowbridge, "was made 
 to turn the current of public sentiment into other channels, by the 
 organization of the American, or 'Know Nothing' party, but its 
 first national convention was broken up by a division upon the slav- 
 ery question, and the party, after a brief existence, disappeared 
 from political contests." 
 
 If Chase trimmed, he generally trimmed, not to policy, but to 
 principle. But I do not attempt to vindicate his coalition with 
 the Know Nothings. Then he seemed to me most dangerously 
 wrong; and now I find no reason for supposing that my judgment, 
 then, did him injustice.
 
 346 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 He continues in this fashion : 
 
 "While the American party was yet powerful, I, though not a 
 member of the organization, was nominated for Governor of Ohio by 
 an Anti-Nebraska Convention, in which the Americans, so-called, 
 had a decided majority. Opposition to slavery, however, was so 
 much stronger in their hearts than zeal for the principles of the 
 organization, that my nomination was carried by a vote of nearly 
 two to one. The canvass which followed was unusually sharp. A 
 considerable number of Whigs, retaining the animosities excited by 
 my election to the Senate, refused their support, and joined in stren- 
 uous efforts to defeat me by withdrawing enough votes from the 
 Anti-Nebraska force to secure the election of the administration 
 candidate. Their efforts were unsuccessful, and I was elected. 
 
 "I at once addressed m}-self to the duties of my new position. I 
 sought to promote all practicable reforms; encouraged, by all the 
 means in my power, the interests of education ; endeavored to re- 
 organize the military system of the State ; and omitted no oppor- 
 tunity of making the voice of Ohio heard on the side of freedom 
 and justice. At the same time, I endeavored, as far as practicable, 
 to conciliate opposition founded on misapprehension, and succeeded, 
 finally, in organizing a compact and powerful party, based on the 
 great principles of freedom and free labor." 
 
 The next document I wish to offer reads as follows : 
 
 "Washington, March 13, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: The Garner case comes next in order, and is in- 
 vested with a peculiar interest by its tragic circumstances. 
 
 "It is impossible to state the facts except in the merest outline; 
 but even an outline will convey a pretty accurate idea of the whole 
 transaction. 
 
 "On the night of the 27th of January, 1856, a party of slaves 
 escaped from Boone County, in Kentucky, into Storrs Townshi}), ad- 
 joining Cincinnati, on the Ohio River. Among the persons compos- 
 ing the party were an old man, named Simon Garner, and his wife — 
 so far as a slave woman could be a wife — Mary; a son of the old man, 
 also named Simon, and Margaret, his wife, and their four children. 
 
 "They took refuge in a colored man's house, near the river bank, 
 below Millcreek, a stream which divides Storrs from Cincinnati. 
 They were tracked immediatel}', and a warrant for their apprehen- 
 sion was obtained the next morning, Monday, the 28th, from one 
 Pendery, a commissioner appointed by Judge McLean, under the 
 fugitive slave act of 1850. Provided with this warrant, the United 
 States Marshal — named Robinson — with a gang of officers and the 
 slave claimants, hastened to the house where the fugitives had taken 
 refuge. Their entrance was resisted. Young Simon, who was armed 
 with a six-shooter, fired four shots on the party of official and un- 
 official slave-hunters, before he and his companions were seized. 
 While this was going on, his wife, Margaret, who was naturally of 
 a violent disposition, and now frenzied by excitement, seized a 
 butcher knife and, declaring she would kill all the children before
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 347 
 
 thoy should be taken across the river, actually succeeded in killing 
 one, a little girl of three years of age, named Mary. 
 
 '•The survivors were taken in custody and conveyed to the Police 
 Station House. 
 
 " The friends of the slaves procured the same day a writ of habeas 
 corpus returnable before the Probate Judge of the county, which was 
 executed by the sheriff so far as to take the slaves into custody and 
 convey them to the county jail. 
 
 '•The Probate Judge immediately proceeded to Columbus to con- 
 fer with me as to the proper course of procedure. 
 
 "The hostility to abolitionism, under which name men included 
 all earnest anti-slavery action, was at this time intense in southern 
 Ohio, and nowhere more intense than in Cincinnati. At the elec- 
 tion which had been held for Governor, only three months before, I 
 had received, in Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, only 
 forty-five hundred and sixteen votes out of twenty-three thousand 
 two hundred and eight}*. The rest, divided between the Democratic 
 and Know Nothing candidates, represented hostility to my political 
 and especially to my anti -slavery opinions and principles. 
 
 " I had been Governor just fourteen days when the Probate Judge 
 called to confer with me. It was not necessary for me to inform 
 him that in my judgment the fugitive slave act was unconstitu- 
 tional and void; it had been proclaimed on too many occasions to 
 leave in ignorance a man so well informed. Nor did I think it 
 right to make any suggestions to a magistrate concerning a decision 
 to be made by him. What he naturally desired to know, and had a 
 right to know, w T as, whether the Executive of the State would sus- 
 tain the process of the State in the midst of a community in which, 
 by most persons, any decision against the claims of masters would 
 be regarded as little better than treason to the Constitution and the 
 Union. 
 
 " I did not hesitate to assure him that the process of the State 
 Courts should be enforced in every part of the State, whether in 
 Hamilton or any other county, and authorized him to say to the 
 sheriff that in the performance of his duties he would be sustained 
 by the whole power at the command of the executive. 
 
 "The case, for some reasons satisfactory to the friends of tho 
 slaves, was not brought to a hearing before the Probate Judge on 
 the writ then issued. Proceedings under it were abandoned, and the 
 sheriff had already, on Tuesday, and upon the return of the judge, 
 notified the Federal marshal that he did not regard the fugitives in 
 his custody (though they might remain in jail), but as in that of the 
 officers of the United States. 
 
 '•The slave act commissioner, under _ whose warrant the seizure 
 had been made, then declared his purpose to hear the case on the 
 claim for surrender; but delays of various kinds were interposed 
 until, on Friday, February 8th, the grand jury reported an indictment 
 against the two Garners and their wives for the murder of the child 
 Mary, and, all four being still in jail, they were again taken in cus- 
 tody by the sheriff. The three children remained in jail also, and 
 were regarded as in the custody of the marshal. 
 
 "Matters remained in this condition for some days, until the mar-
 
 348 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 shal applied to United States District Judge Leavitt for a habeas 
 corpus against the sheriff for the four fugitives, for the purpose of 
 bringing them before him to determine, not whether they were un- 
 lawfully deprived of liberty, but whether the sheriff was entitled to 
 their custody under the criminal process of the State rather than the 
 marshal under the slave act commissioner's warrant. It was a man- 
 ifest abuse of the writ of habeas corpus, thus to convert it into a sum- 
 mary replevin ; but the counsel for the sheriff, one of whom, in con- 
 versation with the judge, had heard him express the opinion that the 
 prisoners could not be removed from custody under arrest for crime 
 by any proceeding under the fugitive slave act, made no opposition 
 to the allowance of the writ. It was accordingly granted, and a 
 hearing was had on Tuesday, the 26th of February, upon the re- 
 turn of the sheriff that he held the four persons indicted under the 
 process of this State to abide their trial on the charge of murder. 
 
 "After the argument before Judge Leavitt was closed, the judge 
 allowed the fugitive slave act commissioner to take his seat and an- 
 nounce his decision in the proceeding commenced by his warrant. 
 As was expected, he denied to the fugitives the claims to freedom 
 asserted in their behalf, and ordered that all should be delivered to 
 their respective claimants. 
 
 ' ; The slave act commissioner in this case was a weak, mercenary 
 fellow; but his decision is written in judicial style, and bears the 
 marks of a very different order of intellect from his. Who wrote it? 
 
 "Meanwhile another writ of habeas corpus had been issued by 
 Judge Burgoyne, the probate judge, for the three children, on which 
 a hearing was had before him on the same day, Tuesday, February 
 26th. in which Pendery, the slave act commissioner, delivered his de- 
 cision as just stated. After arguments on the constitutionality of the 
 slave act, and particularly that part of it which United States Com- 
 missioners Judges in cases arising under it, he deferred his judgment 
 until Saturday following, having made a special order that the chil- 
 dren should not be removed from the jurisdiction of the court until 
 final decision. 
 
 " On Thursday morning, however, Judge Leavitt announced his 
 decision in the case which had been argued before him. He de- 
 clared, to the surprise of every one, unless some had foreknowledge 
 of his conclusions, that the custod}- of the sheriff as against the 
 claims of the marshal under the fugitive slave act was unlawful, and 
 ordered the former to deliver the indicted prisoners to the latter. 
 
 " With this order the marshal at once proceeded to the jail where 
 the sheriff delivered to him, not only the four indicted prisoners, but 
 also the three children, notwithstanding the order of the probate 
 judge as to the latter. All the fugitives were immediately hurried 
 into an omnibus, which was surrounded by a number of special 
 deputy-marshals — there were five hundred of these specials ap- 
 pointed, the purchase of whose claims for fees, it is said, afforded good 
 chances for speculation to the marshal and his regular deputies and 
 the slave act commissioner — and immediately driven to the river, 
 and taken across in the ferryboat to Kentucky. Hardly one hour 
 elapsed after Judge Leavitt had made his order before the fugitives 
 were lodged in a Kentucky jail.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 349 
 
 "I had observed the proceedings in these eases with great interest 
 and with deep solicitude for the late of the slaves. All that I could 
 do in their behalf, under the circumstances then existing, was done. 
 
 They were represented by able counsel, and the power of the State 
 was pledged to maintain the process of the State. No one imagined 
 that any judge could be found who would undertake to transfer by a 
 proceeding in habeas corpus, prisoners indicted under a State law 
 to Federal custody under the fugitive slave act. Nor did any one 
 imagine that persons held under an order of a State Court during 
 the pendency of a writ of habeas corpus, would be carried off 
 beyond the jurisdiction and in violation of that order. But such a 
 judge was found, and such an abduction was perpetrated. 
 
 " I could not prevent this any more than I could prevent the com- 
 mission of other outrages. I could not foresee such transactions, and 
 if I could have foreseen. I had no more power to prevent them than 
 any private citizen possessed, except in the single contingency that 
 the sheriff might need the pow r er of the State to enforce the execution 
 of process in his hands. Except in that contingency, I had no power 
 other than that, the whole weight of which was given to the side of 
 the fugitive, in every form of encouragement, counsel, and support to 
 those engaged in their defense. I was not in Cincinnati during the 
 proceedings. The legislature was in session. I had only a fortnight 
 before the seizure of the fugitives entered an office, wholly without 
 experience in its duties, and my constant presence was required at 
 Columbus. Had I been at Cincinnati, I do not now see that I should 
 have been likely to add any thing to the ability or the zeal with 
 which the cause of the fugitives was defended, or to suggest any thing 
 which did not occur to them. And certainly, if they on the spot 
 could devise no way to prevent the surrender and carrying off of the 
 fugitives under the unanticipated circumstances of that da}', it is not 
 wonderful that I could devise none, while a hundred and twenty 
 miles off and wholly uninformed of the outrage which was heing 
 enacted. 
 
 '•Some abolitionists distant from the scene have blamed me since, 
 because I did not in some way prevent the carrying back to slavery 
 of Margaret Garner. The}* saw- the tragic circumstances of her case 
 and felt peculiar sympathy for her; but they did not see the extra- 
 ordinary efforts made to save her. That these efforts were unsuc- 
 cessful all humane persons must lament; but how more effort could 
 have been made, or with what more likelihood of success, no one 
 has yet pointed out. And no one conversant with the circumstances 
 and concerned in the efforts made in her behalf, has found fault with 
 what I did. All those approved my action and were grateful for my 
 support. It must be remembered that Margaret Garner was but one 
 of seven fugitives, each of whom was entitled, if not to equal sympa- 
 thy, certainly to equal rights and equal efforts for their protection. 
 None of them were forgotten or neglected. 
 
 "After they were surrendered the prosecuting attorney sent mo 
 Copies of the indictment and proceedings, and suggested that though 
 the indicted prisoners could hardly be considered as having fled from 
 justice in Ohio, yet it might he proper to regard them as having 
 constructively done so, and to issue a requisition for their delivery
 
 350 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to an agent of the State, to be brought back within its jurisdiction. 
 T felt keenly the humiliation of being reduced to this mode of assert- 
 ing the right of the State to the custody of persons indicted under 
 the laws. It was obvious that when returned to the custody of the 
 sheriff they would be in precisely the same relations as when they 
 were taken from his custody by Judge Leavitt's order, and there 
 would be no legal obstacles which did not exist to the original order 
 to a repetition of it. A friend, however, volunteered, if I Avould 
 issue a requisition, to go with the agent and purchase the freedom of 
 the three children; and it seemed probable, if the others could be 
 brought back, that an arrangement might be made also with their 
 claimants for the relinquishment of their claims on them. So I over- 
 came my reluctance to adopt the theory of constructive escape and 
 issued the requisition. 
 
 " My agent and the gentleman Avho had volunteered to accompany 
 him, immediately departed on their mission and obtained a warrant 
 of extradition from the Governor of Kentucky, who doubtless gladly 
 embraced the opportunity of making a precedent of constructive 
 escape, which he hoped would be useful to claimants of slaves found 
 in Ohio, but not actual fugitives from a slave State. 
 
 " With the warrant thus obtained the agent proceeded to Louisville, 
 but the slave-masters continued to evade him, and the slaves were 
 sent South notwithstanding all efforts to recover them. 
 
 " Subsequently, hearing that Margaret had been brought back to 
 Covington, I wrote to the prosecuting attorney to go over and 
 demand her. He went, and was told she had been there, but was 
 again sent South. It is doubted whether she was, in fact, ever 
 brought there. 
 
 "Nothing has been heard of the Garner family since. Perhaps 
 the Eebellion has restored the liberty of which the cause of the 
 Rebellion caused the loss; and we may yet hear of these slaves as 
 among those rejoicing in the new-found freedom which God's Provi- 
 dence has given to so many." 
 
 Another of the Trowbridge letters reads as follows : 
 
 " March 19, 1864. 
 " My Dear Sir : In May, 1857, a slave-hunt was conducted b} 7 some 
 deputy-marshals and Kentuckians in Champaign County. Their suc- 
 cess did not equal their expectations. They went to Cincinnati and 
 procured warrants for the arrest of four citizens of Ohio, whom they 
 accused of defeating their enterprise. Under these warrants they 
 arrested several citizens, whereupon, a writ of habeas corpus was 
 obtained by their friends, and placed in the hands of the sheriff. 
 The execution of this writ was resisted by the slave-hunters, who 
 beat and fired pistols at the sheriff. Another writ was procured in 
 the next county — Greene — through which they passed, and placed in 
 the hands of its sheriff, who, with a posse, pursued the slave- 
 catchers, and overtook them. One of the deputy-marshals fired 
 upon the sheriff's party, and several of his men also fired. They 
 were, however, taken into custody, and brought back to Xenia, the 
 county seat. The two deputies gave bail for their appearance, and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 351 
 
 their associates were committed to jail for trial. Judge Leavitt; at 
 
 Cincinnati, then issued a writ of habeas corpus directed to the sheriff, 
 requiring him to produce his prisoners. The writ was obeyed, and 
 application was made to me to have the case represented upon the 
 hearing. I at once directed the attorney-general to appear, who 
 
 did so, and argued the questions arising in the case with great 
 ability. Mr. i'ugh and Mr. Yallandigham appeared on the Bide of the 
 Slave-catchers. The result was what was indeed foreseen — an order 
 by Judge Leavitt discharging the prisonei'S. 
 
 •• The leading administration paper denounced my action as a 
 declaration of war on the part of Chase and his abolition crew 
 against the United States. I was indifferent to it. 
 
 "In this case, as in the Garner case, I exerted all the power the 
 constitution gave me, for the vindication of the rights which the 
 constitution guaranteed. 
 
 "The decision of Judge Leavitt in this case, like that in the Gar- 
 ner case, denied the right of the State to execute its own criminal 
 process, or civil process, where that execution interfered with the 
 claims of masters under the fugitive slave act. 
 
 "These transactions made a profound impression upon the public 
 mind, and no doubt contributed much to the political revolution 
 which took place in 1860. Yours truly, 
 
 " Mr. J. T. Trowbridge, Somerville, Mass. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In an elsewhere-quoted letter, of the same series, our hero relates 
 as follows : 
 
 "One of my most trying duties arose from the misconduct of the 
 State treasurer. He succeeded a brother-in-law who had misap- 
 plied nearly half a million dollars belonging to the State. The 
 defalcation was concealed from me, and from all the State officers, 
 almost a year and a half. The treasurer had accomplished this by 
 representing the money as having been actually received from his 
 predecessor, and as being actually in the treasury, and by deceiving 
 the legislative committees and the officers of the State who examined 
 its condition. At length, finding it impossible to procure sufficient 
 funds to pay the July interest of 1857, he disclosed the existence of 
 the defalcation to the State auditor, who communicated the fact to 
 me. 1 at once called upon the treasurer, and, after some conver- 
 sation, insisted upon his resignation. He denied my authority to 
 require it. I admitted 1 had no such authority, but said to him that, 
 as he had represented the money which had been abstracted as 
 being actually in the treasury, and as he now admitted it was not 
 there, he was by his own showing a defaulter, and I could not 
 assume his explanation of the defalcation to be true, until estab- 
 lished by proof. I went on to say that the constitution authorized 
 the governor to fill any State office made vacant by disability, and 
 that I should take the responsibility, if he did not resign, of assum- 
 ing a defalcation, and instituting a prosecution against him as the 
 author of it, the first step in which would be his own fraud of con- 
 sidering his arrest as creating a disability, and thereupon of
 
 352 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 appointing his successor. He then asked time to consider and to 
 confer with his legal advisers, to which I readily assented, and 
 appoiuted 2 o'clock as the hour at which I would call and learn his 
 decision. I left, and called again at the hour agreed upon. He at 
 once handed me his resignation, and his successor was appointed, 
 gave bond, and entered upon his office the same afternoon. 
 
 " Few things have ever given me greater pain than the necessity 
 of this action. The treasurer was a generous, open-hearted man, of 
 fine talents, and greatly beloved by his friends, among whom there 
 were few who cherished for him a warmer regard than I did myself. 
 Excepting this transaction, I do not know that his fidelity to any 
 trust was ever questioned. He has since served the country faith- 
 fully at the head of an Ohio regiment in the field. Duty required 
 the action which I took. It was necessary to protect the interests 
 of the State, and to defend the party which had intrusted to me the 
 executive power of the State from virtual responsibility for the de- 
 falcation. The credit of the State was saved, and means were 
 promptly provided for the payment of the July interest. 
 
 "Against my wishes, I was soon after renominated for governor 
 by acclamation. The election of Mr. Buchanan in the preceding 
 year, the lassitude and depression which usually follows ill success 
 in a presidential canvass, and, above all, the defalcation, which the 
 opponents of the State administration did not hesitate to charge 
 upon me, made the canvass for re-election peculiarly disagreeable 
 and difficult. I was obliged to go through the whole State and 
 explain the facts to the people every-where. There was no con- 
 gressional election to awaken an interest in national topics and 
 secure the aid of candidates for Congress pleading their own cause 
 before their constituencies. Notwithstanding all disadvantages, 
 however, I was reelected, though by a small majority, and re- 
 mained in office two years longer, pursuing the same general course 
 as hitherto." 
 
 June 15, 1857, the governor wrote to Mr. Stone as follows : 
 
 "Dear Sir: Mr. Gibson, your predecessor, sent to my office, after 
 1 had left it on Saturday night, the two inclosed statements. They 
 did not come to my hands until last evening. I avail myself of my 
 earliest opportunity, this morning, of placing them in your posses- 
 sion. Yours truly, 
 
 "Hon. A. P. Stone, Treasurer of State. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Of all the errors committed by our hero, one of the very worst 
 was the appointment of Mr. Stone State treasurer. There never 
 was a more unfortunate appointment. Mr. Stone was totally unfit 
 to be a public officer of any grade or kind whatever. But 1 have 
 no reason for supposing that the governor discerned his real char- 
 acter, or knew how the people of Columbus generally regarded Mr. 
 Stone. 
 
 "The author" — what a wretched aflWation is that manner of ex-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 35S 
 
 pression ! — thought, not long ago, there was, for him, occasion to 
 employ these words : 
 
 "According to the wittiest of lecturers on moral philosophy, there is 
 a word more powerful than the cry of fire in the crowded play-house 
 when Belvidera is left to weep unheeded on the stage, and all the 
 
 audience seek exit in hot haste. That more alarming word is not 
 economy; it is a word of still more formidable magnitude. 'T is 
 metaphysics. But there is a word more formidably fearful than that 
 dreadful polysyllable — more alarming, far, than economy — much 
 more terrible than the cry of fire in the crowded play-house. Yet 
 it is a very little word — a matter of a monysyllable, an uni literal 
 word — a very little word, indeed. On one's own lips, indeed, it often 
 if not always makes, to one's own ear, delightful music ; but, emitted 
 by the lips or by the pen of one's neighbor, it becomes at once in- 
 vested with most terrible repulsive force. That little word is I." 
 
 A shrewd gentleman I know, but must not name, has been heard 
 proposing to amend these words of David Hume: 
 
 " It is difficult for a man to speak long of himself without vanity.'' 
 
 The proposed amendment would have the tenor : 
 
 "It is impossible for a man to speak long of himself without 
 lying." 
 
 Shrewdness is not wisdom. Wisdom would not second that 
 amendment. Hume is clearly right, and the shrewd gentleman, 
 who would improve Hume's just-quoted saying, is as clearly wrong. 
 It is not impossible for one to speak long about himself without 
 lying; but it is quite difficult for any man to say much about him- 
 self without displaying vanity. 
 
 In spite of my desire to pay all due regard to this considera- 
 tion, I have felt compelled to use the first personal pronoun more 
 than once in the foregoing pages. In endeavoring to do simple jus- 
 tice to our hero, as to the events of 1848 and 1849, I felt obliged 
 to say something of myself in the course of that endeavor. Now, 
 I see occasion, again, to speak of my own action, with strict refer- 
 ence, however, to the object of properly setting forth the course of 
 our hero. But here I must be suffered to declare with emphasis, 
 that the sole object of this work has been, and still is, to give a 
 proper account of the life and character of Salmon Portland Chase. 
 It is not the object of these pages to serve any party. It is not 
 their object to serve any living person's interests, except as that sort 
 of service may be rendered, in a due devotion to the common weal.
 
 354 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The author, for example, has not felt, and does not feel, at liberty 
 to use this opportunity, either to indicate or to vindicate his own 
 ideas, save as an occasional indication and vindication of them is 
 required by simple fairness toward readers, or by simple justice to 
 the life whose tenor he has undertaken to set forth. 
 
 This explanation made, however, let me be allowed to speak with 
 proper freedom of the things to which I am about to ask attention. 
 Very soon their intimate relation to the body of this volume must 
 distinctly manifest itself. 
 
 Here is a document to which I must refer, in order that what 
 follows may be clearly comprehended. 
 
 In a diary of Governor Chase, I find the words : " Mr. "Wade, 
 Senator, and Judge Warden, alone (except Judge Welker, who 
 visited few [places] with me), accepted opportunity to speak in the 
 different counties." Thus my memory is called upon to review the 
 special opportunities I had in 1857 to learn more and more of the 
 man who had so long been to me an object of so much interest, 
 although I had so seldom found myself of his opinion, either in 
 religion or in politics. 
 
 Already I had been, from time to time, quite intimate with him, if 
 intimacy may exist between a man who loves the thing that calls 
 itself, par excellence, society, and a man who early learned almost to 
 hate that thing, and, perhaps, never can regard it with affectionate 
 esteem. But in 1857 he revealed himself to me most thoroughly, 
 as to his politics at least. 
 
 Referring to the canvass of that year, the diary last quoted has 
 
 preserved this record : 
 
 " The canvass of 1857 was somewhat remarkable. I had been 
 nominated for reelection by acclamation, and with remarkable 
 manifestations of enthusiasm and confidence. But we were sur- 
 rounded by great difficulties. We were responsible for all the ac- 
 tion of a legislature, b}~ no means harmonized by devotion to a 
 common principle or unanimous in their views of public meas- 
 ures. The Whig and American elements were largely preponder- 
 ant over the Democratic and anti-slavery, even among those who 
 acted together as Eepublicans. Hence, amid much legislation that 
 was wise and beneficial, was some which was neither wise nor 
 beneficial, resulting from demands on one side, and compliance, in 
 fear of alienating needed support from anti-slaveiy measures, on 
 the other. Of all these mistakes, real or imputed, our adversaries 
 were prepared to take every advantage. Then the defalcation, com- 
 mitted by one of their own party, was to be charged upon ours, 
 under cover of the false representations of Gibson, for whose acts I 
 was to be held responsible."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 355 
 
 Among the somewhat various and almost numerous considera- 
 tions which may be supposed to have influenced the hero of this 
 work in so unreservedly placing in my hands his diaries and let- 
 ters, in order to enable me to do the present service to his memory, 
 was the fact that I was one of Mr. Gibson's counsel. But that 
 diary goes on as follows : 
 
 '• Then the cry of negro equality, amalgamation, and the like, 
 were to be employed to the uttermost to prejudice us with the 
 ignorant; then the financial troubles, which arose soon after the 
 nomination, were also pressed into the service. These things pre- 
 sented formidable difficulties, and it soon became apparent that I 
 was to have little aid in the canvass. Is"o man had been nominated 
 who was a speaker. The members, of Congress on our side, by the 
 policy of the State committee, were directed to labor in their re- 
 spective districts, which operated in most instances as a direction 
 not to labor at all. Several presses and many of the electors re- 
 pudiated one of the nominations of the State committee, that of 
 Mr. Blickensderfer." 
 
 Then we have the already-quoted statement as to Senator Wade 
 and the author of this work, as cooperating with our hero " on 
 the stump " throughout the State. In some instances I went with 
 the governor, and spoke with him, as, for example, at Marietta, 
 Pomeroy, and Cincinnati; but, in general, I was entirely unaccom- 
 panied. The governor seemed very anxious to have me represent 
 him accurately to the audiences I was to address in his behalf. He 
 furnished me, therefore, with "documents" and oral explanations, 
 very carefully presented on his part. 
 
 The next year he caused me to be invited to attend a conference 
 held in the office of the State treasurer. I heard him, in that con- 
 ference, deliver, with a boldness as remarkable as the clearness of 
 his language, a most carefully considered exposition of his uncom- 
 promising views as an anti-slavery Democrat. 
 
 Again, next year, when the action of the party he continued to 
 support, and his own action, in connection with that party, seemed 
 to me to border on mere insurrection, he explained to me in private 
 his ideas, his aspiration, and ambition as to public service. 
 
 I need hardly say that, being one of Mr. Gibson's counsel, I did 
 not discuss the question, so constantly started, " Who stole the peo- 
 ple's money?" Governor Chase did not expect me to discuss that 
 question. He preferred me to explain, if I would, his own distinc- 
 tions as a political agitator, his political ideas, his ambition, if you 
 please, his aspirations as a public man. He furnished me with 
 24
 
 
 356 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 documents to prove that, except as to pro-slaveryism and pro- 
 southernism, lie was of the Democrats. He explained to me his 
 purpose to labor for what, I suppose, may well be called the Demo- 
 cratization of the Republican party, notwithstanding the vast num- 
 bers of original Whigs within its memberhood. He called on me, 
 most earnestly, to labor with him to that end. 
 
 I listened most attentively, but then intimated neither opinion 
 nor intention. He was evidently disappointed ; but he knew that 
 whether I thought well or ill, I was an independent thinker. So 
 he did not urge me overmuch. 
 
 On my return from one of my tours, he questioned me as to the 
 reception of the documentary matter he had given me with the 
 indicated object. Some of his almost habitual imperiousness ap- 
 peared aroused on my quietly reporting that I had not used those 
 documents at all, or even referred to them. But I said to him, 
 without excitement, as I now remember, something like this: 
 
 " Governor, you know me quite too well to think that I will 
 suffer any man to put words into my mouth, or to call me to 
 account, in any form, for words by me spoken to the people. I did 
 not use the matter you refer to for two very simple reasons. In the 
 first place, you had failed to convince me, myself, that you were ever 
 really a Democrat of the Democrats. I think that you idealize as 
 well the Democratic party as your own brief relation to that party. 
 In the next place, I can see no expediency whatever in the handling 
 of such a theme by me, at present." 
 
 Then I went on to make explanations, which I do not consider 
 sufficiently of interest to be set forth in any chapter of this volume. 
 I was most attentively heard, and the explanation seemed to be 
 satisfactory. 
 
 Then and afterward, I related to the hero of this work, that at 
 a little place, the name of which I have forgotten, I made a speech, 
 not set down in the original programme of my appointments. Was 
 it at Russellville? I rather think that was the name. I spoke in a 
 church to fanatical abolitionists, who had resolved not to vote for 
 Chase because, as they alleged, he had not been true to his convic- 
 tions. They assumed that he had been an abolitionist, and had 
 fallen from grace in order to get office. Yet, strangely enough, 
 they had expressed a particular desire to hear me, who had never 
 been supposed to be an abolitionist. I did my best, for some time, 
 without any demonstration whatever on the part of my male and
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 357 
 
 female hearers, though they seemed attentive. Now and then, the 
 tallow-candle lights burned dim, and my discourse seemed to burn 
 dim in sympathy. But a tall, angular figure went about, from time 
 to time, and snuffed the candles and my speech at the same moment. 
 I was very thankful to this man, who seemed to be a sort of select- 
 man, or head-centre, when he rose and thus, in nasal tone, addressed 
 the speaker: 
 
 "Friend, I understand that you were always a Democrat; is 
 that so ? " 
 
 The speaker said that he had been a Democrat ever since his 
 fifteenth year. Whereupon the interrogator pronounced, more 
 nasally than ever: 
 
 "Wal! friend, for a man of your an -te-ce- dents, you talk 
 remarkably well ; but haow do you defend Salmon P. Chase, 1 who, 
 having seen the light, hath departed therefrom? " 
 
 I could hardly keep my face or use my voice in attempting to re- 
 spond. There was, however, a murmur of evident sympathy with the 
 questioner; and I had to answer seriously. What the answer was 
 it is not necessary to set forth. It was, however, made the pretext 
 of a resolution, after all, to vote for Chase. I say the pretext, for, 
 in my opinion, those fanatical hearers of mine only wanted a good 
 excuse for abandoning their ill-considered opposition to the man 
 whose opposition to slavery had made him known to the whole 
 country. 
 
 I must now present another matter, which, at first, may seem 
 intended rather to display the author than to set forth the hero of 
 these pages. But I promise, very soon, to show, quite plainly, that 
 here again the object is legitimate and otherwise wholly unexcep- 
 tionable. 
 
 I felt bound to decline an invitation to attend a mass conven- 
 tion of the " Foes of Slavery and Despotism," to be held May 24, 
 1859. 
 
 The agitation I refused to countenance, on that occasion, was 
 directed against the fugitive slave law. But the great objection 
 to such agitation was (I considered) that it attempted to direct, or 
 to overawe, judicial action. It was soon followed by the politi- 
 cal beheading of Judge Swan, of the Supreme Court of Ohio, 
 
 1 1 never heard him called Salmon Portland Chase till after he became Chief 
 Justice.
 
 358 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 on account of his judicially pronouncing an opinion, following 
 the settled doctrine of the courts, on the subject of the legislation 
 by Congress under the constitutional provisions for the extra- 
 dition of fugitives from service. I had been in service as a judge; 
 and I had, as I trust I may always have, a hearty hatred of all 
 attempts to influence judicial action by the utterances of impassioned 
 public meetings. Having done all that was possible to me, within 
 the Republican party of that period, against the agitation just re- 
 ferred to, I made known my purpose to oppose that party, as I 
 honorably might, by speech and pen. 
 
 At the City Hall, Columbus, I delivered a highly applauded and, 
 certainly, rather vigorous and vehement denunciation of the course 
 of Chase in reference to the agitation that appeared to me so lawless 
 and so perilous. A few days afterward, I met him at White Sul- 
 phur Springs, in presence of many gentlemen well acquainted with 
 us both. He called me up, and, at once, most courteously and feel- 
 ingly expressed his deep regret that my sense of duty — for he said 
 he knew it must have been a sense of duty — had compelled me to 
 rejoin the Democratic party. He subjoined, as I remember: 
 
 " We need such men as you in the Republican party. No party 
 is infallible ; and it may be, you are right and we are wrong. But, 
 however that may be, we need such earnest and outspoken think- 
 ers as you in our new party. But I have, nevertheless, a crow to 
 pick with you on my personal account." 
 
 I answered, thanking him for his good opinion of my motives, 
 and assuring him that I was ready for the crow- picking, then and 
 there. He intimated that he wished to make a private explanation ; 
 and I took a seat with him alone. 
 
 His explanation was to the eifect that he regarded the Cleveland 
 meeting very much as I regarded it, except that he considered, per- 
 haps more than I did, the good intentions of the men by whom that 
 meeting had been called. He told me that he still adhered to the 
 ideas which he had explained to me in 1857, when, as already stated, 
 we went out together on a tour as public speakers, and which I had 
 heard him less at large explain in an informal conference of leading 
 Republicans in 1858. 
 
 A marked feature of the governor's administration was the spirit 
 in which he exercised the power to pardon, vested in his office by 
 the laws.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 359 
 
 Here is a letter that affords some indication of that spirit, though 
 the case is one of commutation only : 
 
 " Columbus, March 10, 1857. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I inclose to you an envelope containing my war- 
 rant to the sheriff in the case of Summons, and a letter to the 
 prosecuting attorney, requesting him to deliver it to that officer, 
 and to see that the proper steps are taken in compliance with it. 
 
 " It gives me real satisfaction to find myself able to comply with 
 your wishes in this matter, and to find my conscientious con- 
 victions of duty so fully in accordance with my sympathies with 
 
 the afflicted friends of the prisoner. 1 I shall immediately give 
 
 my reasons for this act to the press, that all may see that 1 have 
 been governed by no capricious impulse, but by well-considered and 
 sufficient facts and reasons. I can not doubt that my conclusion 
 will be approved by the vast majority of those who were interested 
 in it. Very sincerely your friend, 
 
 " Col. F. T. Chambers, Cincinnati, Ohio. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Well do I remember the censure with which that act of clemency 
 was now and then spoken of; but the governor was generally 
 deemed to have regarded only right considerations. If he erred, 
 his error was, for the most part, ascribed to a mistake of judg- 
 ment. 
 
 Summons was a poisoner, and, above all, a parricide. 
 
 On the 29th of April, 1857, we find the governor addressing 
 Adjutant-General Harris and Quartermaster-General Glenn about 
 the arms of the State, and appointing a few days afterward Jonathan 
 F. Neeramer to collect all arms belonging to the State, in Franklin 
 County, except those in the possession of organized volunteer com- 
 panies, and to convey the arms so collected to the State arsenal in 
 Columbus. 
 
 A letter to Wm T. Nealis, Esq., at St. Joseph's College, near 
 Somerset, Ohio, in relation to the proposed arming of a college com- 
 pany of soldiers, breathes the careful and considerate spirit so char- 
 acteristic of the whole administration under view. It points out 
 difficulties, but it also shows the path to obviation. 
 
 We have considerable correspondence about military matters. 
 Brigadiers and major-generals of the "Milish" were greedy of 
 glory in those pacific days, as brigadiers and major-generals were 
 to be greedy of distinction and some other things, during the 
 rebellion. 
 
 1 The copy shows the blanks just indicated, if that is not a hull.
 
 360 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE A3TD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The subject of extradition more than once and more than slightly 
 occupied the cares and called into play the legal learning of the 
 governor. 
 
 A letter, addressed May 8, 1857, to Timothy A. O'Conner, Esq., 
 (then prosecuting attorney, now judge of the Superior Court of 
 Cincinnati), reads as follows: 
 
 '• Dear Sir : I have written to Mr. Ruffin expressing the opinion 
 that the pardoning power can not properly be exerted for the pur- 
 pose of exercising the power of extradition. I know of no instance 
 in which it has been so employed. 
 
 '' The proper course will be to obtain a requisition in the usual 
 form from the governor of Louisiana, upon the presentation of 
 which I will issue my warrant of extradition to the sheriff of Ham- 
 ilton, to be executed immediately upon the expiration of the 
 present sentence of the fugitive, by delivering him to the agent of 
 the governor of Louisiana. It would be a reflection upon the ad- 
 ministration of criminal justice in Hamilton County to defeat the 
 execution of a sentence by a pardon upon the ground that the pris- 
 oner may otherwise escape before its expiration, and thus defeat the 
 effect of a warrant. Very truly yours, 
 
 i: T. A. O'Conner, Esq., Pros. Atty. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The letter to Mr. Ruffin contains the words : 
 
 " Columbus, May, 8, 1857. 
 
 " My Dear Sir: On reference to the act of Congress relating to 
 extradition, you will see that it is made the duty of the executive 
 to surrender criminals on requisition, and to secure such surrender, 
 to cause then to be detained for six months in custody; but the 
 uniform practice is not to issue a warrant of extradition to operate 
 upon a fugitive from another State, actually undergoing punishment 
 in this, for a violation of our laws, until the expiration of his sen- 
 tence; and I think it would be an abuse of the pardoning power to 
 exercise it for the simple purpose of extradition. It will always be 
 my pleasure as it is my duty to reoperate with the officers of justice 
 in their praiseworthy endeavors to bring offenders, either against our 
 own laws or against the laws of sister States, to justice. I regret 
 that I can not consistently, with my views of public duty, interpose 
 in this case, in the mode suggested by you. 
 
 " Very respectfully yours, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 •■James L. Ruffin, Esq., Chief of Police, Cincinnati, Ohio." 
 
 Let me now invite attention to another extract from the last- 
 quoted Trowbridge letter. That document contains these words : 
 
 " In the last year of my second term, John Brown's famous raid 
 upon Harper's Ferry occurred, and reports were spread through Vir- 
 ginia that large bodies of men were being organized in Ohio with a
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 361 
 
 view to rescue him from his Virginia captors. Governor Wise ad' 
 dressed a letter, remonstrating against the organization and threat- 
 ening to pursue any invaders of Virginia into the State of Ohio. I 
 replied that his apprehensions of military organizations in Ohio 
 were unfounded, and that I trusted he would not undertake to follow 
 into Ohio any alleged offenders against Virginia, for the legislation 
 of Ohio was adequate to the fulfillment of all her duties to her sister 
 State, and the executive of Ohio was bound to repel any aggression 
 upon her soil." 
 
 I can not even try to justify the bearing of our hero toward the 
 Brown raid. But what I have to say about that bearing must be 
 said, most carefully, in a few words. 
 
 John Brown was not a madman ; but he was, as I have elsewhere 
 argued, non-sane on some subjects. He was a heroic character, fa- 
 natical but pure ; at heart a patriotic-martyr ; wrong as wrong could 
 be in act, but right as right could be in motive. 
 
 Many weeks I passed, in 1866, the honored, grateful guest of 
 Captain John Brown, Jr., at Put-in-Bay, assisted and directed by my 
 genial host in studying the grape and John Brown, Sen. Captain 
 John Brown, Jr., told me that, in his judgment, the best account of 
 his beloved, honored father's character was that given by Thoreau. I 
 read that account and other tributes to the memory of him of Harper's 
 Ferry fame. I talked often and freely with the son about the father, 
 and I brought away with me a very veneration for that father's memory. 
 
 Yet, I repeat, the bearing of our hero toward the Brown raid was 
 not, in my opinion, worthy of approval. It was far from patriotic, 
 far from statesmanlike. It was in truth the conduct of a dema- 
 gogue if it was not that of a fanatic. 
 
 Now and then, our hero seemed to try to play the sorry part of a 
 mere demagogue. He always miserably failed. He was not born 
 to be a demagogue. 
 
 I can not dwell on the repulsive theme. Let us pass on to other 
 topics.
 
 362 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 CHASE AND LINCOLN. 
 
 ""TIEBRUARY 17, 1859, appears this mournful record : 
 
 " My dear sister Alice died to-day. She had been apparently in 
 perfectly good health for some months — going out so freely and 
 taking such part and interest in all that went on that I had no 
 uneasiness about her. I knew, indeed, that she was liable to attacks 
 of heart trouble ; but so uniform had been her health that I had 
 almost ceased to fear it, and, as well as herself, had relaxed the pre- 
 cautions I formerly observed, such as seeing, myself, that she did 
 not walk any considerable distance or do any thing which might 
 unnecessarily fatigue or startle her. So, last evening, when, after 
 tea, she said she was going to church (the Wednesday evening 
 lecture), I let her go without inquiring how she was going, or, in- 
 deed, making any inquiries at all. On her return, she left her 
 escort at the yard gate, and must have been seized with an apoplec- 
 tic fit immediately after ; for she had just strength enough to reach 
 the door where she fell on the threshold. My daughter Katie heard 
 some one groan there, and ran to the library, and called me. I 
 hastened to the door and found my dear sister. I got her into the 
 house without delay, and sent for medical aid. In a very few 
 minutes Dr. Carter came and, soon after, Dr. Smith. Her suffering 
 from headache was dreadful for some time. At last she seemed to 
 get relief and her symptoms became more favorable The improve- 
 ment, however, was but temporary. About 2 o'clock this morning 
 she began to sink, and continued to fail gradually until about half 
 past one, when her spirit departed. 
 
 " Thus have I lost a dear and good sister ; and with the painful 
 circumstances that, from the attack to her death, she was not able 
 to converse with any of us, so great was, for part of the time, her 
 suffering, or, during the remainder, her delirum or unconsciousness. 
 She had been long a member of the Episcopal Church, and was, I 
 trust and believe, a true Christian. Doubtless, our loss is far over- 
 matched by her gain." 
 
 The remainder of the entry and the entry of the next day are 
 omitted. 
 
 There was much in the Columbus life of Governor Chase, at home
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 363 
 
 or abroad, of which detail might here be given; but some parts of 
 it would require more space than could be properly devoted to them. 
 On the whole, I have concluded not to go farther in relating what 
 occurred at Columbus to afflict our hero, or to give him pride, or to 
 yield him pleasure. 
 
 "At the close of my term," continues Mr. Chase, " Governor Den- 
 nison succeeded me, and I was soon after elected to the Senate for 
 the second time. The presidential election followed in the same 
 year. The Republicans of Ohio honored me by a declaration of their 
 preference in the State convention, which was held to appoint 
 delegates at large to the nominating convention. The Ohio Con- 
 vention, however, did not nominate, as did many other State con- 
 ventions, the district delegates, but left the selection of these to 
 district conventions. This gave an opportunity to the partisans of 
 other candidates to foment divisions, and secure the selection in 
 several districts of delegates unfriendly to me. The result was the 
 division of the Ohio delegates in the nominating convention and 
 the destruction of their influence. Without its united support there 
 was not much ground for expecting much support from other dele- 
 gations, in which I had numerous friends ready to unite with the 
 Ohio delegation had that delegation been itself united. Notwith- 
 standing these disadvantages, my support was respectable, though 
 not sufficient to warrant any expectation of success. Mr. Lincoln 
 was nominated, and I gave him my cordial support." 
 
 The true date of the following letter appears in the answer made 
 to it by Abraham Lincoln : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I congratulate you, most heartily, on your nom- 
 ination ; and shall support } T ou, in 1860, as cordially and earnestly 
 as I did in 1858. 
 
 " The excellent platform adopted, and the selection of that true 
 and able man, Hannibal Hamlin, as your associate on the ticket, 
 completes my satisfaction with the results of the convention. They 
 will prove, I am confident, as auspicious to the country as they are 
 honorable to the nominees. . 
 
 " Mr. Seward has much reason to be gratified by the large and 
 cordial support which he received, and especially by the generous, 
 unanimous, and constant adhesion, without regard to personal pref- 
 erences, of the entire delegation from his own great State. Doubt- 
 less, the similar adhesion of the Illinois delegation affords a higher 
 gratification to you than the nomination itself. The only regret I 
 feel connected with the convention is excited by the failure of the 
 delegation from Ohio to evince the same generous spirit. 1 In this re- 
 gret I am quite sure you must participate; for I err greatly in my 
 estimate of your magnanimity if you do not condemn, as I do, the 
 conduct of delegates from whatever State, who disregard, while 
 
 1 The word spirit was substituted for the words good faith, which stand in the 
 first draft.
 
 364 THE PRIVATE LIFE AST) PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 acting as such, the clearly expressed preference of their own State 
 convention. 1 Yours cordially, 
 
 "Hon. Abraham Lincoln. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Lincoln answered as follows : 
 
 " Springfield, III., May 26, I860. 
 "Hon. S. P. Chase. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : It gave me great pleasure to receive yours, mis- 
 takenly dated May 17. Holding myself the humblest of all whose 
 names were before the convention, I feel in especial need of the 
 assistance of all ; and I am glad — very glad — of the indication that 
 you stand ready. It is a great consolation that so nearly all — all ex- 
 cept Mr. Bates and Mr. Clay, I believe — of those distinguished and 
 able men are already in high position to do service in the common 
 cause. Your obedient servant, 
 
 ' : A. LINCOLN." 
 
 Next I ask attention to this little note : 
 
 " Columbus, November 7, 1860. 
 "My Dear Sir: You are President elect. I congratulate you, 
 and thank God. The great object of my wishes and labors for nine- 
 teen years is accomplished in the overthrow of the slave power. The 
 space is now clear for the establishment of the policy of freedom 
 on safe and firm grounds. The lead is yours. The responsibility is 
 great. May God strengthen you for your great duties. 
 
 " Truly yours, 
 "Hon. Abraham Lincoln. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next document I wish to offer is as follows : 
 
 "Springfield, III., December 31, 1860. 
 "Hon. S. P. Chase. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: In these troublous times, I would like a confer- 
 ence with you. Please visit me here at once. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "A. LINCOLN." 
 
 The last-cited Trowbridge letter proceeds as follows : 
 
 "After his election he invited me to Springfield to confer with me 
 as to the selection of his Cabinet. He said that he had felt bound to 
 offer the position of Secretary of State to Mr. Seward as the generally 
 recognized leader of the Republican party, intending, if he should 
 decline it. to offer it to me. He did not wish that Mr. Seward should 
 
 1 The words, " disregard, while acting as such the clearly expressed preference of 
 their own convention," were substituted for the words, '• violate good faith by disre- 
 garding the preference of their political brethren, explicitly declared through a 
 regular State convention."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 365 
 
 decline it, and was glad that he had accepted, and now desired to 
 have me take the place of Secretary of the Treasury. He had feared 
 there might he some objections to this in Pennsylvania, hut had heen 
 assured none would be urged. I replied that I did not wish and was 
 not prepared to say that 1 would accept that place if offered. A good 
 deal of conversation followed in reference to other possible members 
 of the Cabinet, but every thing was left open when we jDarted, and I 
 returned to Columbus. 
 
 " Shortly after this, in December, South Carolina seceded, and eveiy 
 thing indicated great irresolution and timidity on the part of the ad- 
 ministration. I wrote a very earnest letter to General Scott, entreat- 
 ing him as head of the army to take the necessaiy measures to se- 
 cure the public safety and rely upon the country for its sanction and 
 support. The general replied very kindly, but did not evince a dis- 
 position to assume the responsibility of the crisis. In February, 
 Virginia invited a conference of the States at Washington, and ap- 
 pointed commissioners on her part. This conference, doubtless, was 
 intended as a means of extorting new concessions to the slave inter- 
 est from Congress. To prevent injurious results it seemed necessary 
 that there should be a general representation from all the States — 
 from free as well as from the slave States which had not become in- 
 volved in secession. I was one of the commissioners selected by the 
 governor to represent Ohio. IT nfortunatel}* I was the only one who 
 was prepared to resist the purchase of peace by undue concessions. 
 I was quite willing to give to the slave States the strongest assur- 
 ances that no aggression upon their rights or real interests were 
 meditated, but I was not at all willing to disguise from them the fact 
 that the further extension of slavery could not be allowed. The 
 death of Judge Wright and the appointment of Mr. Wolcott in his 
 place, gave me one resolute and like-minded associate in the commis- 
 sion ; but we were a minority. The vote of Ohio in the conference 
 was Bteadily on the side of submission. The commissioners whose 
 general views agreed with mine, finally determined to propose to re- 
 fer all matters of difference to a national convention, and in the 
 meantime to arrest the progress of disunion by assurance that no in- 
 vasion of State rights over the subject of slavery or over any other 
 subject, was meditated or would be attempted. In support of this 
 proposition, I addressed the conference with great earnestness and 
 with great plainness. I warned them of the consequences which 
 must follow secessiou, and implored them not to reject the only propo- 
 sition which, in my judgment, was likely to save the country from 
 a civil war. The proposition was, nevertheless, rejected, and the 
 vote of Ohio was cast for its rejection. Instead of it, a proposed 
 amendment to the constitution making large concessions to the slave 
 interest was forced through the convention in disregard of its rules, 
 and submitted to Congress. There, as I had predicted, it received 
 little favor. I am not certain that any thing which the conference 
 could have done would have saved the country from the insurrec- 
 tion which has since assumed such fearful proportions of civil war. 
 It is only certain that nothing which was done had the slightest 
 salutary effect upon the disastrous course of events. The conven- 
 tion was an abortion."
 
 366 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Let us now go back a little. Here is a most interesting docu- 
 ment — a document inestimably precious, I conceive : 
 
 "Columbus, November 30, 1860. 
 "Mrs. Eandall Hunt, New Orleans. 
 
 " My Dear Sister Ammie : Displeased with you ? No. I honor 
 the sense and patriotism of your letter and feel prouder than ever 
 of my sister. Would to heaven that it were in my poAver to compose 
 the strife which disturbs the peace of our country! Certainly, there 
 is in my heart no feeling but good-will toward every part of it. 
 
 "But what can be done? I mean what could be done by a pri- 
 vate citizen ? If the executive power of the nation were in my hands, I 
 should know what to do. I would maintain the Union, support the Con- 
 stitution, and enforce the laws. 
 
 "And just here let me say that in the Commercial 's report of my 
 Covington speech (of which a copy directed to Mr. Hunt's address 
 is mailed with this letter) a passage is left out, which appeared in 
 the verbatim report of the Gazette. After stating, as my chief objec- 
 tion to the Bell-Everett platform, that it proposed nothing which 
 all parties did not agree to, and was, therefore, inadequate to the 
 demands of the times, I went on to say that what seemed to me 
 the distinguishing characteristic of the party supporting Mr. Bell, 
 and also of the party supporting Mr. Douglas in the South, was a 
 true devotion to the Union and a resolute determination to sustain 
 it against the designs of disunion entertained by a portion — though 
 I hoped not a very large portion — of the supporters of Mr. Breck- 
 enriclge. So that, in the South, whatever might be the case in the 
 North, their platform did propose a practical issue, on a practical 
 question, and that in that issue all my sj-mpathies were with them. 
 
 "2 abhor the very idea of a dissolution of the Union. If I were Presi- 
 dent I would, indeed, exhaust every expedient of forbearance, consistent 
 with safety. But, at all hazards, and against all opposition, the laws of 
 the Union should be enforced, through the judiciary wherever practicable, 
 but against rebellion by all necessary means. The question of slavery 
 shoidd not be permitted to influence my action, one way or the other. But, 
 while I would thus act when circumstances should demand action, I 
 would not shut my eyes to the fact, manifest to every body, that it 
 is from the slavery question that our chief dangers arise, and I should 
 direct whatever influence I might possess to an adjustment of it, not 
 by any new compromise — for new compromises on\j breed new dan- 
 gers — but honest provision for the honest fulfillment of all constitu- 
 tional obligations connected with it. Nothing seems to me clearer 
 than that, under the constitution [slavery is a] State institution, and 
 that much embarrassment would have been avoided had this princi- 
 ple never been lost [sight of] It would have assured peace to the 
 States in which slavery exists, by uniting nearly all men of all opin- 
 ions against any aggression upon them. Let this principle be now 
 once more fully recognized, and it will redress much of our trouble. 
 The slave States can lose nothing, for few of their statesmen expect 
 an}' farther extension of slavery. Disunion certainly is not extension. 
 Disunion rather is abolition, and abolition through civil and servile
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 367 
 
 war — which God forbid ! It is precisely because they anticipate abo- 
 lition as tbe result that the Garrison abolitionists desire disunion. 
 Why. then, may not all — slave States and free Slates alike — frankly 
 accept the actual condition of non-extension — determined, in the 
 Union, by the irreversible judgment of the people — determined, out 
 of the Union by irrestible destiny? Such acceptance would be a 
 long step toward peace. 
 
 "Besides this question of extension there seems to me to be but 
 one other which need occasion any anxiety. I refer of course to the 
 extradition of escaping slaves. I have no doubt that the consti- 
 tution stipulates for such extradition; but I can not help seeing 
 that natural sentiment and conscientious convictions make the 
 execution of this stipulation every-where difficult and, in the free 
 State-, well nigh impracticable ; and I would not delude, or attempt 
 to delude, any body with the notion of its execution under what 
 some people call a 'fair law," for all such propositions mean erosion, 
 and I would evade nothing. It is high time to have done with 
 evasiun. Let us recognize facts as they are, frankly and boldly, and 
 not try to creep away from them. In this spirit I would recognize 
 tbe fact of constitutional obligation and the fact that it can not be 
 fulfilled with any thing like completeness; and then I would see 
 what could be done instead of literal fulfillment. It seems to me 
 that compensation and provision for sending the fugitives out of the 
 country would be better than any thing else that is practicable. It 
 would be better for the slave States, because the return of the fugi- 
 tive is not in itself a desirable thing either for the individual from 
 whom or the State from which he Hies. Jt would be better for the 
 free States, because it would involve nothing repugnant to the sen- 
 timents and convictions of the people. It would be better, infinitely 
 better, for all than disunion. With these questions thus adjusted, 
 peace would return, and harmony, and prosperity. Is there any 
 better way? I see none. It is useless to attempt impossibilities. 
 It i< useless to try to reverse public opinion. It is useless to con- 
 tend with the general course and progress of civilization. It is use- 
 ful only to endeavor so to modify and direct that course as to make 
 the current, capable of becoming a destructive flood, a beneficent 
 and fortifying stream. You have my thoughts honestly though 
 hastilv expressed. Cordially yours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is another letter which appears to me of capital concern : 
 
 Columbus, December 29, 1860. 
 
 " General : It is reported here, that, in a certain contingency, 
 you mean to throw up your commission. 
 
 " At this moment, the country looks to you with more hope than 
 to any other man. Your loyalty to the Union, tested every way in 
 Mexico, is now to be put to the highest proof. 
 
 "Imbecility, or treason, or both, mark all the action of the 
 existing administration. Yesterday, while the armed bands of a 
 State in open hostility against the National Government, were seiz- 
 ing Federal forts at Charleston, the so-called President and his Cab-
 
 368 THE PRIVATE LIFE AXD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 inet were in shameful conference with the commissioners of rebel- 
 lion. And rebellion is treason until successful — which God forbid! 
 for successful rebellion must needs be followed, and followed with 
 swift steps, by civil and servile war. 
 
 " Under these circumstances, General, you must not resign. Re- 
 flect, rather that you and not this condemned and expiring admin- 
 istration, now impersonate the American people. All good men 
 honor and applaud your deference to the civil authority ; but when 
 that authority is, and for a few days must remain in the hands of 
 men, willing, or in some mysterious way, constrained to use it for 
 the ruin of their country, should not the obligation of deference 
 give place to the higher and holier duty of maintaining the Union 
 which they betray ? 
 
 " Take, then, the responsibility. In virtue of a commission which 
 no other American, save Washington, ever held, you command the 
 army of the United States. Preserve the Union which he estab- 
 lished. Sustain Major Anderson. Reinforce him, if necessary. 
 Permit no obedience, by any officer under your command, to any 
 order of President or Secretary, requiring the surrender of posts or 
 stores to rebels or traitors. 
 
 " In a few weeks, Mr. Lincoln, in obedience to the will of the 
 country, will organize a new administration of the General Gov- 
 ernment, faithful to every constitutional obligation and just to 
 every State. Then, we may hope, disunion will hide its hateful 
 head. Then, your greatest work, nobly accomplished, you can re- 
 tire if you will. But, if the wishes of a grateful people may prevail, 
 you will not retire. You will retain the commission of Washington, 
 and with it only less of the admiration and veneration of mankind 
 which consecrate his name. 
 
 " I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect 
 and esteem, Very truly vours, 
 
 " General Scott. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 That this letter counseled revolutionary conduct is too clear for 
 question. But it proves at least that its writer did not countenance 
 the political heresy of the Secessionists, in 1860. 
 
 Here is another extract from the Trowbridge letter that describes 
 the Peace Convention : 1 
 
 " Before its adjournment the President arrived in Washington, 
 having come through Baltimore in the night and in disguise. It 
 was said that this was necessary to defeat a plot for his assassination. 
 I can not think it was necessary. At any rate, it seemed to me 
 that the President elect should not have entered otherwise than 
 openly and by daylight. Meantime, Congress was full of schemes 
 for pacification, all of them involving more or less an abandonment 
 of the principles which had been deliberately proclaimed by the 
 Republicans in relation to slavery. Threats were openly made that 
 
 1 Ante, p. 365.
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 369 
 
 unless such abandonment should be conceded, there should be no 
 inauguration. To these menaces, I, for one, replied, ' Inauguration 
 first, adjustment afterward,' and these words were caught up and 
 repeated by loyal newspapers as a popular motto. They were not, 
 perhaps, without their influence. 
 
 " Notwithstanding these menaces, the inauguration took place 
 without disturbance and in the presence of a vast multitude. The 
 President, without any conference with me on the subject, sent in 
 my name to the Senate as Secretary of the Treasuiy. I had already 
 taken my seat as Senator, but did not happen to be in the chamber 
 when the nomination was sent in, and knew nothing of it until a 
 few minutes afterward when, returning to my place, I was informed 
 that it had been unanimously confirmed as soon as made. I went 
 at once to the President and expressed my disinclination to accept 
 the position. After some conversation, in the course of which he 
 referred to the embarrassments which my declination would occa- 
 sion him, I said I would give the matter some further consideration, 
 and advise him the next day of my conclusion. Some rumor of 
 my hesitation got abroad, and I was immediately pressed by most 
 urgent remonstrances against any declination on my part. I finally 
 3'ielded to this, and surrendered a position every way more desirable, 
 to take charge of the disordered finances of the country under cir- 
 cumstances most unpropitious and forbidding. 
 
 " Immediately after the organization of the Cabinet, the question 
 of what should be the policy of the Government in respect to the 
 seceded States demanded the most serious attention. Anderson with 
 his little company of soldiers was holding Fort Sumter, and the first 
 question was, Shall he be relieved? General Scott declared that 
 complete relief was impracticable with a less force than twenty 
 thousand men. He thought, however, that the fort might be de- 
 fended for several months if reinforced and provisioned. But that 
 reinforcement and provisioning were impracticable as the fire of 
 the enemy's batteries would be concentrated upon any vessel which 
 might make the attempt, both while entering the harbor, and 
 especially when endeavoring to land men and cargoes at the fort. 
 The President finally determined to make the attempt to send pro- 
 visions to the garrison. 
 
 " Information that the attempt would be made was transmitted 
 to the Governor of South Carolina, and its receipt was promptly 
 followed by an order from the rebel authorities to reduce the fort. 
 How this was accomplished is historical, and it is also historical how 
 the country was aroused by the rebel guns which opened on the 
 fort. The call for seventy-five thousand men immediately followed. 
 It soon became evident that nothing beyond the mere defense of 
 Washington was to be accomplished by this force. 
 
 " I took the liberty of urging upon General Scott to occupy Man- 
 assas and compel the rebels to evacuate Harper's Ferry and the 
 Valley of the Shenandoah. It has since become evident that this 
 might have been thus done, and it is even probable that a vigorous 
 use of the force then at the disposal of the Government might have 
 driven the rebels from Richmond. The action proposed, however, 
 was thought to involve too much risk. The rebels were suffered for
 
 370 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 weeks to occupy Alexandria with an insignificant force, to excite 
 insurrection in Baltimore, and to destroy the national property at 
 Norfolk, except that which was destroyed under orders by ourselves. 
 At last, after long delays. Baltimore was recovered, Alexandria was 
 occupied by national troops, and the rebels were driven from Harper's 
 Ferry. Meanwhile it had become evident that the seventy-rive 
 thousand men originally called for would not be sufficient. To re- 
 place them I took the liberty to propose to call for sixty-five thousand 
 volunteers. This proposition, after having been modified so as to 
 include an increase of the regular army was sanctioned by the 
 President, who, with the consent of the Secretary of War, directed 
 me to prepare the necessary orders. I invited to my assistance Gol. 
 Thomas, Maj. McDowell, and Captain Franklin; and after a good 
 deal of consideration the Orders Xos. Fifteen and Sixteen were 
 framed, the one for the enlistment of volunteers and the other for 
 regular regiments." 
 
 The letter addressed to Mr. Lincoln on the policy of provisioning 
 Fort Sumter reads as follows : 
 
 " Treasury Department, March 16, 1861. 
 
 " Sir : The following question was submitted to my consideration, 
 by your note of yesterday : 
 
 " ' Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort Sumter, 
 under all the circumstances, is it wise to attempt it?' 
 
 " I have given to this question all the reflection which the en- 
 grossing duties of this department have allowed. 
 
 " A correct solution must depend, in my judgment, on the degree 
 of possibility ; on the combination of reinforcement with provision- 
 ing ; and on the probable effects of the measure upon the relations 
 of the disaffected States to the National Government. 
 
 "I shall assume, what the statements of the distinguished officers 
 consulted seem to warrant — that the possibility of success amounts 
 to a reasonable degree of probability ; and, also, that the attempt to 
 provision, is to include an attempt to reinforce — for it seems to be 
 generally agreed that provisioning without reinforcement, will ac- 
 complish no substantially beneficial purpose. 
 
 " The probable political effects of the measure allow room for 
 much fair difference of opinion ; and 1 have not reached my own 
 conclusion without serious difficulty. If the proposed enterprise 
 will so inflame civil war as to involve an immediate necessity for 
 the enlistment of armies and the expenditure of millions, I can not, 
 in the existing circumstances of the country, and in the present 
 condition of the national finances, advise it. But it seems to me 
 highly improbable that the attempt, especially if accompanied, or 
 immediately followed, by a proclamation, setting forth a liberal and 
 generous, though firm, policy toward the disaffected States, in ac- 
 cordance with the principles of the inaugural address, will produce 
 such consequences; while it can not be doubted that, in maintaining 
 a fort belonging to the United States, and in supporting the officers 
 and men engaged, in the regular course of service, in its defense,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 371 
 
 the Federal Government exercises a clear right, and, under all 
 ordinary circumstances, discharges a plain duty. 
 
 "I return, therefore, an affirmative answer to the question sub- 
 mitted to me. And have the honor to be, 
 
 M With the highest respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 " To the President. * [signed] S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is a piece of writing of like interest : 
 
 "Washington, April 28, 1861. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: To correct misapprehensions, except by acts, is 
 an almost vain endeavor. You may say, however, to all whom it 
 may concern, that there is no ground for the ascription to me by 
 Major Brown, of the sentiment to which you allude. 
 
 "True it is that before the assault on Fort Sumter, in anticipa- 
 tion of an attempt to provision famishing soldiers of the Union, I 
 was decidedly in favor of a positive policy and against the notion 
 of drifting — the Micawber policy of waiting for something to turn 
 
 U P" 
 
 "As a positive policy, two alternatives were plainly before us. 
 
 (1.) That of enforcing the laws of the Union by its whole power 
 and through its whole extent ; or (2.) that of recognizing the 
 organization of actual government by the seven seceded States as 
 tin accomplished revolution — accomplished through the complicity of 
 the late administration, and letting that Confederacy try its experi- 
 ment of separation; but maintaining the authority of the Union 
 and treating secession as treason every-where else. 
 
 "Knowing that the former of these alternatives involved de- 
 structive war, and vast expenditure, and oppressive debt, and 
 thinking it possible that through the latter these great evils might 
 be avoided, the Union of the other States preserved unbroken, the 
 return even of the seceded States, after an unsatisfactory experi- 
 ment of separation, secured, and the great cause of freedom and 
 constitutional government peacefully vindicated — thinking, I say, 
 these things possible, I preferred the latter alternative. 
 
 "The attack on Fort Sumter, however, and the precipitation of 
 Virginia into hostility to the National Government, made this 
 latter alternative impracticable, and 1 had then no hesitation about 
 recurring to the former. Of course, I insist on the most vigorous 
 measure^, not merely for the preservation of the Union and the de- 
 fense of the Government, but for the constitutional re-establish- 
 ment of the full authority of both throughout the land. 
 
 " In laboring for these objects I know hardly the least cessation, 
 and begin to feel the wear as well as the strain of them. When my 
 critieizers equal me in labor and zeal, I shall most cheerfully listen 
 to their criticisms. 
 
 "All is safe here now. Baltimore is repenting and by repent- 
 ance may be saved, if she adds works meet for repentance. Soon 
 something else will be heard of. Yours truly, 
 
 " Hon. Alphonso Taft. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I do not ask the reader to concede that Mr. Chase w r as right in 
 25
 
 372 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the sentiments and views of policy thus acknowledged. Of that I 
 do not wish to say a farther word at present. What I wish is 
 merely to set forth the truth in the particular to which attention is 
 now given. 
 
 Let me now invite attention to another letter. Here is one which 
 seems to me of very interesting tenor : 
 
 " Washington, March 10, 1861. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: A friend has placed in my hands a number of 
 the Baltimore Exchange of the 7th inst., containing the article from 
 the Richmond Dispatch, purporting to give an account of the conver- 
 sation between us, to which you refer in your [letter], received on 
 Friday last. 
 
 " The article is very far from a correct statement of what was 
 said. A great deal essential to any true understanding of the con- 
 versation is omitted ; and what is stated, is so stated as to convey a 
 totally erroneous idea of its spirit and substance. 
 
 <c You called on me, and I welcomed you as a friend— as a former 
 pupil — as a son of William Wirt, my friend and instructor in the 
 law in other days — as a member of a family for every individual 
 of which I have long cherished the warmest regard. I understood 
 you also to be a friend of the Union, although earnest in maintain- 
 ing what you believed to be the rights of the slave States. The 
 peace conference was in session, and I was a member, deeply inter- 
 ested in the object of its discussions. 
 
 '• Naturally, therefore, our conversation was very free, and, just as 
 naturally, it turned to the existing state of the country; not. how- 
 ever, as stated in the article, with reference to any connection I 
 might have with the incoming administration, for I did not then 
 expect, and I never wished, to be charged with a Department ; but 
 with reference, simply, to matters before the convention, and their 
 relation to the general condition of the country. 
 
 " What I chiefly desired to impress on your mind was the anxiety, 
 deeply felt by me in common with all patriotic citizens, for a peace- 
 ful solution of existing difficulties. This solution, I suggested, might 
 be found in the organization of Territories without any mention of 
 the subject of slavery, one way or the other, in the organic acts, 
 and in a legislative provision for compensation for fugitives from serv- 
 ice, in lieu of extradition — an arrangement likely, as I thought, to 
 prove more beneficial to the slave States, and more acceptable to the 
 free, than the existing law. If legislative solution, in this or some 
 similar way. should be found impracticable. I suggested a national 
 convention, to propose amendments of the Constitution, as the best 
 means of composing present troubles, or, in the deplorable contin- 
 gency of impossible adjustment, of providing for peaceful separation. 
 
 "You, on your part, expressed great solicitude that no attempt 
 should be made to reinforce Fort Sumter, and stated your conviction 
 that any such attempt would impair the Union sentiment in the 
 South, and lead many Union men to make common cause with the 
 secessionists.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASB. 373 
 
 "In reply to observations of tin's nature-. I expressed my confidence 
 that nothing would be willingly done to weaken the cause of tin- 
 Union in the Southern States; hut observed farther, that I did not 
 see how the President could be absolved from his oath to defend the Con- 
 stitution and execute the laws, which seemed to bind him to support Major 
 Anderson in tin position his duly had require/ him to take. 
 
 "This led to b discussion of the possibility of war from this and 
 other causes, and of its possible issues. We both deprecated such a 
 conflict, and with equal earnestness. As arguments against it, I 
 urged that, even in the event of a complete combination of all the 
 slaveholding Slates against the Federal government, a population 
 of eleven millions, of which four millions were slaves, could hardly 
 hope to contend successfully against a population of twenty millions, 
 with no such incumbrance ; that a civil war must almost inevitably 
 lead to servile war; that the institution of slavery could not stand 
 the shock of such a conflict ; and that, even if the institution should 
 survive, and a separation of the States should be thus accomplished, 
 through violence, still, after all. the slave States could by no possi- 
 bility be more secure, or find better guaranties for the security of 
 slavery, in a separate Confederacy than in the Union. 
 
 "How different all this is from the spirit attributed to me in the 
 article, is apparent enough. Nor was the actual character of your 
 part in the conversation less different from that attributed to me. 
 
 "For example, you are represented as Baying to me in a certain 
 connection, 'What is 3-0111* object?' and I am represented as reply- 
 ing. • To free the slave, who is the cause of the war.' No sucli ques- 
 tion was put to me, in any connection, leading to such a reply, and 
 no such reply was made by me to any question whatever. Again, 
 it is represented that you asked me if I ' expected the slave States 
 to return to the Union after their homes had been threatened and 
 their couutry devastated." and that I had answered, 'We do not want 
 them to return. It' the slave States remain in the Union, they will 
 have to be satisfied with much less than they are now demanding.' 
 This statement, too, conveys a totally erroneous idea of what was 
 said. I do not remember your language or my own ; but I remember 
 very well that what 1 said about terms of remaining in the Union 
 had reference to the demand made in the peace conference of a new 
 constitutional sanction and guaranty of slavery in national Terri- 
 tories, of which I remarked that the slave States would have to be 
 satisfied with less than that. Again, what was said about peonage. 
 compensated labor, and colonization, had no reference, such as the 
 article makes it have, to Liberation through civil or servile war, but 
 to emancipation, possible at some future time, through gradual im- 
 provement of the slave population, and to the voluntary action of 
 the slave States — just such emancipation as Jefferson, your own 
 honored father, and other illustrious statesmen formerly antici- 
 pated, and some southern patriots and philanthropists, I believe, yet 
 anticipate. 
 
 "This is enough. If you derived any such impressions of me or 
 ray views as this article indicates, from our conversation. I sincerely 
 regret it. It was a frank, unstudied, unguarded talk between old 
 friends, of differing opinions. -Misconception was, of course, possible.
 
 374 THE TRIVATE LIFE AND TUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Certainly, what I said was greatly misconceived, if you think it war- 
 ranted any such statement as that which has, unfortunately, found 
 its way into the public prints. 
 
 " I wish no ill to the slave States ; but rather all good. For Vir- 
 ginia and Maryland, the circumstances of my earlier manhood inspired 
 in me the interest of a sincere attachment. More than any State, 
 however, I love the Union our fathers made. In the Union, so far 
 as I am concerned, the rights of every State and every citizen shall 
 be scrupulously respected. Through no conscious agency of mine 
 shall harm come to the Eepublic." 
 
 Then followed certain counsel to the person so addressed. The 
 next document I wish to offer reads as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, April 26, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I thank you for your note and its inclosures. 
 
 "It avails little to consider what might have been. Our duty is 
 with what is and what may be. I am sure that whatever differences 
 of opinion there may have been between those who thought as I did, 
 and those who thought as you did, in times past, on the subject of 
 slavery, no such differences are likely to exist hereafter. 
 
 " Mr. Brown entirely misapprehended me, if he received from 
 any thing I said early in 1861 the impression that I was willing to 
 let the then seceded States depart in peace, without the most sub- 
 stantial guaranties of the loyalty and fidelity to the Union of the 
 Border States against the heresy of secession. ~No man has been a 
 more earnest and determined opponent of that heresy, or more ear- 
 nest and resolute for the suppression of the rebellion without }"ielding 
 one iota to armed treason than myself. 
 
 " Yours, very truly, 
 
 " Rev. Dr. E. Fuller, Baltimore, Md. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 All readers may not be prepared to say, with Ruskin, that " nations 
 have always reached their highest virtue, and wrought their most 
 accomplished works in times of straightening and battle; as, on the 
 other hand, no nation ever yet enjoyed a protracted and triumphant 
 peace without receiving in its own bosom ineradicable seeds of future 
 decline." 1 Ruskin adds: "I will not so argue this matter, but I 
 will appeal at once to the testimony of those to whom that war has 
 cost the dearest." 
 
 The Crimean war was that referred to. Ruskin adds : " I know 
 what would be told me, by those who have suffered nothing; whose 
 domestic happiness has been unbroken ; whose daily comfort undis- 
 turbed ; whose experience of calamity consists, at the utmost, in the 
 incertitude of a speculation, the dearness of a luxury, or the increase 
 
 1 III Modern Painters, 334.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 375 
 
 of demands upon their fortune which they could meet fourfold 
 without inconvenience. 
 
 " From these," proceeds this remarkable writer, " I can well believe, 
 be they prudent economists, or careless pleasure seekers, the cry for 
 peace will rise alike vociferously, whether in street or senate. But 
 I ask their witness, to whom the war has changed the aspect of the 
 earth, and imagery of heaven, whose hopes it has cut off like a 
 spider's webb, whose treasure it has placed, in a moment, under the 
 seals of clay. Those who can nevermore see sunrise, nor watch the 
 climbing light gild the eastern clouds without thinking what graves 
 it has gilded, first, far down behind the dark earth line ; who never 
 more shall see the crocus bloom in spring without thinking what 
 dust it is that feeds the wild flowers of Balaklava. Ask their wit- 
 ness, and see if they will not reply that it is well with them, and 
 with theirs; that they would have it no otherwise; would not if they 
 might, receive back their gifts of love and life, nor take again the 
 purple of their blood out of the cross on the breastplate of England. 
 Ask them ; and though they should answer only with a sob, listen 
 if it does not gather upon their lips into the sound of the old Seyton 
 war cry — ' Set on. ' " 
 
 That is but splendid rhetoric. Let us respect, not only the sacred 
 silence of the dead, laid low by war, but the sacred sorrow of the 
 hearts that have 
 
 " Brokenly lived on " 
 
 since war became to them a terrible reality. Let us not interrogate 
 survivors of the fallen whom our own great conflict put to death. 
 Let us invoke no resurrection of the brave at rest, no testimony of 
 our sleeping loved ones, who went out to battle in our names, for 
 our behoof, and to our benefit, however we regard their loss. We 
 know they died for us, and for them that shall come after us; and 
 who would call them from their sleeping-places, to encounter again 
 temptation — possibly to sin again, and certainly to suffer? We 
 know not what their incorporeal lips might syllable, could they bear 
 witness to our hearing, touching war and peace. 
 
 Enough, that war as well as peace is part of human life — that the 
 life of man is a battle, now as in the days of Job — that war as well 
 as peace is quite 
 
 " Connatural to man." 
 We speak of him that dies at home, attended by his family, watched
 
 376 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 bv his wife ami children, uttering to listening hearts the latest whis- 
 pers of the lips on which the hush of death is falling, as dying a 
 natural death. Is, then, the death of him that falls in battle for his 
 country, an unnatural departure? War is not a casualty. It is part 
 of the divinely given right and might of nations. 
 
 Superstition sees not now a goddess or a god, directing battles. 
 We behold no Pallas, with her aegis, where the chassepot or the 
 needle-gun incarnadines the grass or reddens the river. But phi- 
 losophy and faith still agree in calling life a battle. 
 
 Yet it follows not that war should be desired at all times. Ruskin 
 may be right so far as goes his doctrine, that it is in times of straight- 
 ening and battle that nations have exhibited their highest virtue, and 
 wrought their most accomplished works. The same eloquent but 
 sometimes not well-balanced writer may, alas ! be right in teaching, 
 that no nation ever enjoyed a protracted and triumphant peace with- 
 out receiving in its own bosom ineradicable seeds of future decline. 
 But, though life be a battle, it has armistices. In the lines, 
 
 "Under the sun I have marched and I've wandered ; 
 
 Life is a battle, yes! but it hath truces; 
 During the truces I've wandered, and pondered 
 
 Much on this life in its aspects and uses," 
 
 there may be little poetry, but I consider them as indicating toler- 
 ably well a truth too seldom well considered. 
 
 Peace, although it may appear exceptional, is, in a certain sense, 
 not so abnormal as its opposite. In war, we generally struggle for 
 a glorious peace.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 377 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE PEACE CONFERENCE — THE CIVIL WAR — CHASE IN THE TREASURY. 
 
 IN order to do justice to our hero's views respecting the doc- 
 trine of the secessionists, I have anticipated somewhat. Let 
 me now invite attention to a letter, addressed to Thaddeus Stevens, 
 and relating to that interview between Chase and Lincoln. Let 
 me ask for that letter close attention. It is full of interest to every 
 farther revelation of this work. Its tenor is as follows : 
 
 "Columbus, Ohio, January 9, 1861. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Your note came when I was in Springfield, al Mr. 
 Lincoln's request. I arrived after your Pennsylvanians had all 
 gone. Mr. Lincoln conversed frankly and fully. He is a man to be 
 depended on. He may, as all men ma}*, make mistakes; but the 
 cause will be want of sufficient information, not unsoundness of 
 judgment or of devotedness to principle. It is the business of Re- 
 publicans occupying responsible positions, or possessing, in private 
 stations, the confidence of their fellow-citizens, to give him that in- 
 formation which is indispensable to right conclusions. 
 
 •■ I am glad to find your course, in opposing concessions of prin- 
 ciple, approved throughout the north-west. Why can't Republi- 
 cans await the coming in of their own administration, and then act 
 generously, as well as justly. 
 
 "I shall always be glad to hear from you, and you may be sure 
 your confidence will be respected. Your friend, 
 
 "Hon. T. Stevens. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Such, according to the judgment of our hero, was the man, who, 
 during the armed uprising of the South, was to be, ex-ojficio, com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army and navy of the Union. Whether that 
 judgment was correct or not I do not here examine. 
 
 The speech of Mr. Chase in the Peace Conference was one of the 
 best efforts of his heart and lips in oratory. It was delivered on 
 the 26th day of February, 1861. No trace of sympathy with the 
 seceders, either as to doctrine, or as to the desire of dissolution, can 
 be found in it. It is, however, marked by some distinctions which 
 may seem, to some readers, not quite statesmanlike. 
 
 It proposed, in effect, to agitate for certain terms of peaceable
 
 378 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 adjustment. Chase said, as reported by Mr. Chittenden, the substan- 
 tial accuracy of whose report we shall find him acknowledging in a 
 letter to that gentleman : 1 
 
 " You profess to be satisfied with slavery, as it is, and where it is. 
 You think the institution just and beneficial. The very able gentle- 
 man from Virginia (M. Seddon), who commands the respect of all, 
 by the frankness and sincerity of his speech, has said that he be- 
 lieves slavery to be the condition in which the African is to be edu- 
 cated up to freedom. He does not believe in perpetual slavery. He 
 believes the time will come when the slave, through the beneficent 
 influence of the circumstances which surround him, will rise in in- 
 telligence, capacity, and character, to the dignity of a freeman, and 
 will be free. 
 
 "We can not agree with you, and, therefore, do not propose to 
 allow slavery where we are responsible for it, outside of your State 
 limits, and under national jurisdiction. But we do not mean to in- 
 terfere with it at all within State limits. So far as we are concerned, 
 you can work out your experiment there in peace. We shall rejoice 
 if no evil comes from it to you or yours. [Mr. Chase's time hav- 
 ing expired, he was unanimously invited to proceed.] 
 
 "Aside from the Territorial question — the question of slavery 
 outside of slave States — I know of but one serious difficult}". I 
 refer to the question concerning fugitives from service. The clause 
 in the Constitution concerning this class of persons is regarded 
 by almost all men, north and south, as a stipulation for the surren- 
 der, to their masters, of slaves escaping into free States. The people 
 of the free States, however, who believe that slaveholding is wrong, 
 can not, and will not, aid in the reclamation ; and the stipulation 
 becomes, therefore, a dead letter. You complain of bad faith, and 
 the complaint is retorted by denunciations of the cruelty which 
 would drag back to bondage the poor slave who has escaped from 
 it. You, thinking slavery right, claim the fulfillment of the stipula- 
 tion ; we, thinking slavery wrong, can not fulfill the stipulation 
 without consciousness of participation in wrong. Here is a real 
 difficulty; but, it seems to me, not insuperable. It will not do for 
 us to say to you, in justification of non-performance, 'The stipula- 
 tion is immoral, and, therefore, we can not execute it ; for you deny 
 the immorality, and we can not assume to judge for you. On the 
 other hand, you ought not to exact from us the literal performance 
 of the stipulation when you know we can not perform it without 
 conscious culpability. A true solution of the difficulty seems to he 
 attainable by regarding it as a simple case where a contract, from 
 changed circumstances, can not be fulfilled exactly as made. A 
 court of equity in such a case decrees execution as near as ma}" be. 
 It requires the party who can not perform to make compensation 
 for non-performance. Why can not the same principle be applied 
 to the rendition of fugitives from service? We can not surrender — 
 but we can compensate. Why not, then, avoid all difficulties on all 
 
 JSee Chapter XXXI X.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 379 
 
 sides, and show respectively good faith und good will by providing 
 and accepting compensation where masters reclaim escaping serv- 
 ants, and prove their right of reclamation under the Constitution? 
 Instead of a judgment for rendition, let there be a judgment for 
 compensation, determined by the true value of the services, and let 
 the same judgment assure freedom to the fugitive. The cost to the 
 national treasury would be as nothing in comparison with the evils 
 of discord ami strife. All parties would be gainers. 
 
 • What I have just said is, indeed, not exactly to the point of the 
 present discussion. But I refer to this matter to show how easily 
 the greatest difficulties may be adjusted if approached in a truly just, 
 generous, and patriotic spirit. 
 
 •'I refer to it also in order to show A'ou that, if we do not concede 
 all your wishes, it is because our ideas of justice, duty, and honor 
 forbid, and not because we cherish any hostile or aggressive senti- 
 ments. We will go as far as we can to meet you — come you as far 
 as you can to meet us. Join, at least, in the declaration we propose. 
 Your people have confidence in you. They will believe you. The 
 declaration, made with substantial unanimity by this conference, 
 will tranquillize public sentiment, and give a chance for reason to 
 resume its sway, and patriotic counsels to gain a hearing. 
 
 "Do you say that, after all, what we propose embodies no substan- 
 tial guaranties of immunity to slavery through the perversion of 
 Federal power? We reply that we think the Constitution as it 
 stands, interpreted honestly and executed faithfully, is sufficient for 
 all practical purposes; and that you will find all desirable security 
 in the legislation or !!on-legislation of Congress. If you think other- 
 wise, we are ready to join }-ou in recommending a national conven- 
 tion to propose amendments to the Constitution in the regular and 
 legitimate way. Kentucky, a slave State, has proposed such a con- 
 vention ; Illinois, a free State, has joined in the proposition. Join us, 
 then, in recommending such a convention, and assure us that you 
 will abide by its decision. We will join you and give a similar assur- 
 ance. 
 
 "This, gentlemen, is the proposition we make you to-day. It is 
 embodied in the amendment just submitted. Is it not a fair proposi- 
 tion ? It is a plain declaration of facts which can not reasonably be 
 questioned, and a plain submission of all disputed questions to the 
 only proper tribunal for the settlement of such questions — that of the 
 American people, acting through a national convention. 
 
 "The only alternative to this proposition is the proposition that 
 the present Congress be called upon to submit to the State a thir- 
 teenth article embod3'ing the amendments recommended by the com- 
 mittee. In order to the submission of these amendments to the States 
 by Congress, a two-thirds vote in each House is necessary. That I 
 venture to say, can not be obtained. Were it otherwise, who can 
 assure you that the new article will obtain the sanction of three- 
 fourths of the States, without which it is a nullity? As a measure 
 of pacification, I do not understand it. There is. in my judgment, 
 no peace in it. Gentlemen here, of patriotism and intelligence, think 
 otherwise. I am sorry that I can not agree with them. 
 
 "Gentlemen say, if this proposition can not prevail, every slave
 
 380 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 State will secede ; or, as some prefer to phrase it, will resort to revo- 
 lution. I forbear to discuss eventualities. I must say, however, 
 and say plainly, that considerations such as these will not move me 
 from my recognized duty to my country and its Constitution. And 
 let me say for the people of the free States, that the}* are a thought- 
 ful people, and are much in earnest in this business. They do not 
 delegate their right of private judgment. They love their institu- 
 tions and the Union. They will not surrender the one nor give up the 
 other without great sacrifices. Upon the questio?i of the maintenance of 
 an unbroken Union and a whole country they never were, and it is my 
 firm conviction they never will be, divided. Gentlemen who think they 
 will be, even in the worst contingency, will, I think, be disappointed. 
 If forced to the last extremity, the people will meet the issue as best 
 they may, but be assured that they will meet it with no discordant 
 councils. 
 
 " Gentlemen, Mr. Lincoln will be inaugurated on the 4th of March. 
 He will take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the 
 United States — of the whole — of all the United States. That oath 
 will bind him to take care that the laws be faithfully executed 
 throughout the United States. Will secession absolve him from that 
 oath? Will it diminish, by one jot or tittle, its awful obligations? 
 Will attempted revolution do more than secession ? And if not — and 
 the oath and the obligation remain — and the President does his duty 
 and undertakes to enforce the laws, and secession or revolution 
 exists, what then ? War! Civil war ! 
 
 "Mr. President, let us not rush headlong into that unfathomable 
 gulf. Let us not tempt this unutterable woe. We offer 3*011 a plain 
 and honorable mode of adjusting all difficulties. It is a mode which, 
 we believe, will receive the sanction of the people. We pledge our- 
 selves here that we will do all in our power to obtain their sanction 
 for it. Is it too much to ask of you, gentlemen of the South, to meet 
 us on this honorable and practicable ground? Will you not, at least, 
 concede this to the country?" 
 
 On parchment, sealed with the great seal of the United States, is 
 the following document: 
 
 "Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America. 
 To all who shall see these presents, greeting: Know ye, that repos- 
 ing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, integrity, and 
 abilities of Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, I have nominated, and by, aud 
 with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him to be 
 Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and do authorize and 
 empower him to execute and fulfill the duties of that office according 
 to law, and to have and to hold the said office, with all the powers, 
 privileges, and emoluments thereunto of right appertaining, unto him, 
 the said Salmon Portland Chase, during the pleasure of the President 
 of the United States, for the time being. 
 
 "In testimony whereof, I have caused these letters to be made 
 patent and the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed. 
 
 "Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the fifth day 
 of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 381 
 
 sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America, 
 the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 '•By the President: William II. Seward, Secretary of State." 
 
 A fateful, one might almost say, a fatal commission ! Never should 
 our hero have been Secretary of the Treasury. In some respects, 
 indeed, he was most admirably qualified for that high office; but in 
 most respects, he was remarkably unfit to hold an office of that 
 character. 
 
 " An act to establish the treasury department/' approved by 
 Washington, September 2, 1789, created "a department of treas- 
 ury, ' in which were to be "a secretary of the treasury, to be deemed 
 head of the department ; a comptroller, an auditor, a treasurer, a reg- 
 ister, and an assistant to the secretary," to be by him appointed. 
 
 Prominent among the definitions of the secretary's duties was 
 the requirement that he should " digest and prepare plans for the 
 improvement and management of the revenue, and for the support 
 of the public credit," and should " prepare and report estimates of 
 the public revenue and the public expenditures." 
 
 The final section of that most important piece of legislation pro- 
 vided that no person, appointed to any office instituted by the act, 
 should, directly or indirectly, be concerned or interested in carry- 
 ing on the business of trade or commerce, or be owner in whole or 
 in part of any sea-vessel, or purchase by himself, or another in 
 trust for him, any public lands or other public property, or be con- 
 cerned in the purchase or disposal of any public securities of any 
 State, or of the United States, or take or apply to his own use any 
 emolument or gain for negotiating or transacting any business in the 
 said department, other than what should be allowed by law; and 
 that if any person should offend against any of the act's prohibi- 
 tions, he should be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and 
 forfeit to the United States the penalty of three thousand dollars, 
 and should upon conviction be removed from office, and forever 
 thereafter incapable of holding any office under the United States. 2 
 
 1 1 United States Statutes al Large, 66, 67. 
 
 2 The long list of our hero's financial predecessors runs as follows, as indicated by 
 the United States Treasury Register, for July 1, 1872: 
 
 SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY— 178'J TO 1861. 
 Name. Whence appointed. Date of Commission. Expiration of service. 
 Alexander Hamilton New York Sept, 11, 1789 January 81, 1705.
 
 382 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Our hero's leading objects as a financier seen to have been unex- 
 ceptionable. In his last report he says : 
 
 " In the creation of debt by negotiation of loans or otherwise, the 
 secretary has kept four objects steadily in view : (1) moderate in- 
 terest; (2) general distribution; (3) future controllability; and (4) 
 incidental utility." 
 
 But he paid too much and too minute attention to the prosecution 
 of the war against the insurgent South. But for his poor judging 
 faculty as to man, he should have been War Secretary, if any mere 
 civilian ought to have had that place. He would, in any case, it 
 seems to me, have shown himself far fitter than Stanton proved to 
 be to deal with martial men and martial measures as War Minister. 
 But, being Secretary of the Treasury, he was entirely too attentive to 
 
 Name. Whence appointed. Date of commission. Expiration of service, 
 
 Oliver AYolcott, Jr Connecticut February 2, 1795.. Dec. 31, 1800. 
 
 Samuel Dexter Massachusetts ....January 1, 1801. .May 6, 1801. 
 
 Albert Gallatin Pennsylvania May 14, 1801 April 20, 1813. 
 
 George W. Campbell Tennessee February 9, 1814. .Sept. 26, 1814. 
 
 Alexander J. Dallas Pennsylvania October 6, 1814. ..October 21, 1816. 
 
 William II. Crawford Georgia October 22, 1816..March 3, 1825. 
 
 Richard Rush Pennsylvania March 7,1825 March 3, 1829. 
 
 Samuel D. Ingham Pennsylvania March 6, 1829 June 20, 1831. 
 
 Louis McLean Delaware August 8. 1831. ...May 29, 1833. 
 
 William J. Duane Pennsylvania May 29,1833 Sept. 23, 1833. 
 
 Roger B. Taney Maryland Sept. 23, 1833 June 24, 1834. 
 
 Levi Woodbury New Hampshire. ..June 27, 1834 March 4, 1841. 
 
 Thomas Ewing Ohio March 5, 1841 Sept. 11. 1841. 
 
 Walter Forward Pennsylvania Sept. 13, 1841 February 28, 1843. 
 
 John C. Spencer New York March 3, 1813 May 2, 1844. 
 
 George M. Bibb Kentucky June 15, 1844 March 7, 1845. 
 
 Robert J.Walker Mississippi March 9, 1845 March 5, 1819. 
 
 William M. Meredith Pennsylvania... March 8, 1849 July 22, 1850. 
 
 Thomas Corwin Ohio July 23, 1850 March 7, 1853. 
 
 James Guthrie Kentucky March 7, 1853 March 6, 1857. 
 
 Howell Cobb Georgia March 6, 1857 December 8, 1860. 
 
 Philip F.Thomas Maryland Dec. 12, 1860 Tanuary 14, 1861. 
 
 John A. Dix New York January 11, 1861. .March 6, 1861. 
 
 The same valuable publication contains the following statement of the succes- 
 sion down to Mr. Richardson : 
 
 Name Whence appointed. Date of commission. Expiration of service 
 
 Salmon P. Chase Ohio March 7, 1864 June 30, 1864. 
 
 William P. Fessenden Maine July 1, 1864 March 3. 1865. 
 
 Hugh McCulloch Indiana March 7, 1865 March 4. 1869. 
 
 George S. Boutwell Massachusetts ....March 11, 1869...
 
 QF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 383 
 
 the men and measures of the war. And then he was, in his own 
 department, infinitely damaged by his inability to discern the ten- 
 dencies of men with whom he had to deal. 
 
 Of purely intellectual characteristics and of culture, he was as good 
 a judge as other men of his own rank in point of intellect and culture. 
 Moral traits he somehow could not well discern. lie could see the 
 brain where the heart defied his penetration. 
 
 That was bad for him and for the country while he was financial 
 minister to Lincoln. 
 
 Albert Gallatin was, I think, our great financier. He seems to 
 me to bear the palm as Secretary of the Treasury. In theory and 
 practice both, he was, I think, superior to Salmon Portland Chase 
 as well as to the combative little man from Nevis whom Burr shot 
 in " honorable " fashion at AVeehawken. 
 
 But we must not underestimate the merits of our hero as a finan- 
 cier. We must not say of him, with a recent writer : 
 
 Mr. Boutvvell having resigned, it was on the 17th of March, 1873, that William 
 A. Richardson, of Massachusetts, became his successor. 
 
 We must remember, also, the assistant secretaries. What the country owes to 
 their comparatively undistinguished and comparatively unrewarded services, 
 every practical man is ready, yet perhaps no man is fully able, to acknowledge. 
 Here is a list extending down to our hero's term of service: 
 
 ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF THE TREASURY. 
 
 Name. Whence appointed. Date of commission. Expiration of serrice. 
 
 Tench Coxe Pennsylvania Sept. 11, 1789 May 8, 1792, office 
 
 abolished. 
 
 Charles B. Penrose Pennsylvania March 12, 1849... , 1st.). 
 
 Allen A. Hall Tennessee October 10, 1849.. , 1850. 
 
 William L. Hodge Pennsylvania Nov. 16. 1850 , is;,:;. 
 
 Peter G. Washington Diet. of Columbia-March 4, 1850 , is">7. 
 
 Philip Clayton Georgia March 13, 1857. ..January 10, 1861. 
 
 George Harrington Dist. of Columbia. .March 13, 1801. ..July 11, 1865. 
 
 The successors have been as follows: 
 
 Name. Whence appointed. Date of commission. Expiration of service. 
 
 Maunsell B. Field New York March 18, 1864. ..June 15, 1865. 
 
 William Eaton Chandler New Hampshire.. .June 5, 1865 Nov. 30, 1867. 
 
 John F. Hartley Maine July 11, 1865 
 
 Edmund Cooper Tennessee Nov. 20, 1867 May 31, 1868. 
 
 William A. Richardson Massachusetts ....March 20, 1869... 
 
 Frederick A. Sawyer South Carolina. ...March 19, 1873...
 
 384 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " It is certain that he never grasped a single principle l} r ing at 
 the foundation of monetary science. His stately and flowing rhet- 
 oric can only be accounted for by his entire ignorance. Every 
 thing was plastic to his touch, to be molded at will into just such 
 form as suited his fancy or caprice. Such instances are not rare. 
 Men are usually fluent in proportion to their want of knowledge 
 of the subjects they discuss.' ; 1 
 
 Now that last sentence is quite true. And never was it better 
 illustrated than by the fluently false censure, uttered and published 
 as and for criticism in the article in which the words just quoted are 
 contained. 
 
 Secretary Chase w T as not enabled to open, in the treasury depart- 
 ment, for the use of the President, the Congress, and the country, 
 such a school of economics as I trust we may hereafter see at the 
 Union capital. 2 But, when he became secretary of the treasury, the 
 man whom that fluent censor in the North American Review would 
 have us regard as financially a fool, judicially a knave, had read 
 much and thought more about political economy. His motives were 
 entirely patriotic; his aspirations high, and his ambition creditable. 
 If he erred, who that has succeeded him has erred less ? 
 
 He who defames the memory of Salmon Portland Chase may find 
 that he has done more damage to himself than to the object of his 
 defamation. 
 
 We have seen that as long ago as 1831 our hero read articles and 
 books devoted to the exposition of political economy. We have seen 
 that he was long a bank attorney and for some time a dealer in 
 stocks. There is no reason in the world to suppose that any man 
 in the country paid a better attention to the substance of the learn- 
 ing which may well be designated public economics than did Salmon 
 Portland Chase. 
 
 1 Article in the North American Review for January, 1874, about The Currency and 
 Finances of the United States, p. 114. 
 
 2 Over the nom de plume, Citizen, I ventured to say, lately, to readers of the 
 National Republican, at Washington: 
 
 " An Institute of Economic Science at the capital of the United States might do 
 great credit to the country and great service to the world. 
 
 "The times are favorable to the indicated project. They are hard times, indeed; 
 times of pecuniary trouble ; but, unfavorable to most projects which involve ex- 
 penditure, they almost seem to point to the establishment of such an institute as 
 that here advocated as a proper preparation for the economic future of the country. 
 
 " At, the outset, little money would be needed. The beginnings of the institute 
 may well be limited to comparatively inexpensive things. A few lectures, as to
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 385 
 
 But very false this book would seem to its compiler did it not 
 accuse its hero of attending, in a manner prejudicial to the public 
 service, and, eventually, very prejudicial to himself, to martial men 
 and martial measures. 
 
 Yet he was not as to martial men and measures a mere meddler. 
 In a letter to General Hooker, on the 21st of December, 1863, 
 he said : 
 
 "Things here are pretty much at the old rate. There has been a 
 deal of talk about recalling }"ou, and placing j*ou in command of the 
 Army of the Potomac, which one of the chaplains, in a recently pub- 
 lished letter, calls, not altogether without reason, 'This poor, old, 
 strategy-possessed army.' I wish it might be done. But, of course, 
 my wishes go for little in such matters. What right, indeed, has a 
 secretary of the treasury, whose business it is to provide money for 
 the people to spend, to have any wishes at all about the results of 
 
 which the expenses should be confined to the cost of the hall and of advertising, 
 might well begin the work. But as soon as possible the institute should be endowed 
 with liberality by private citizens. 
 
 "This project is not local; it is national. The citizens of Washington, indeed, 
 should feel a special interest in all such projects; they should take great pride in 
 forwarding such enterprises. More than any other citizens of the United States, 
 they are called upon, by situation and condition, to take lively interest in such sug- 
 gestions as those here submitted; but the institute proposed would be of national 
 relations and concern. 
 
 •• An Institute of Economic Science may, however, seem impossible. Some one 
 may say, There is no science of economy, political or non-political. A science, we 
 may hear, is a complement of cognitions— truths arranged in systematic order ; and 
 political economy is no such system of cognitions, no such complement of truths. 
 
 " Is there a science in the system known as Medicine? We have academies of 
 medicine. Does any one pretend that, because some parts of medicine are not of 
 scientific certaintj-, there is no science whatever in connection with the so-called 
 healing art? Is anatomy no more positive than therapeutics? No one ought to 
 say that all of physiology is pure speculative. Everybody, in a word, should be 
 prepared to acknowledge that the system known as medicine, in spite of its defects, 
 contains cognitions of the scientific order. 
 
 '•Wealth is economic health. Excessive riches are not wealth. They are like 
 penury in this, that they are morbidly abnormal. A truly wealthy people is not to 
 be found where the material of wealth is ill-distributed. Wealthy individuals may 
 there be found in force, but not a wealthy people. But however that may be, the 
 thing with which the economic sciences concern themselves is wealth, just as the 
 thing with which medicine and hygiene concern themselves is health. There must 
 be, so to speak, an economic hygiene, an economic medicine. There must be a true 
 science of political economy as well as a true science of economy at home. Imper- 
 fect as the economic sciences remain, they certainly exist. They have existed ever 
 since Plato wrote his The Republic (or The State), and they had then existed for one 
 can not say how many ages."
 
 386 TKE PRIVATE LIFE AST) PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the expenditure? Is not that exclusively the concern of the Presi- 
 dent and of Congress? I suppose I ought to shut my eyes and sup- 
 j^ress my feelings, but really it is a little hard, when one thinks one 
 sees how much might be economized of action, power, and resources, 
 not to say something of what he thinks and feels." 
 
 The thing to which almost above all others I have wished to lead 
 the thinking of my gentle reader, is, that the whole public life of 
 the man, who wrote those words to General Hooker, may be said to 
 have led to or from the bloody, indescribably ravaging, and unutter- 
 ably desolating struggle, in which the country, at that time, found 
 the object of its thoughts and feelings, day and night, and in all the 
 moods in which anxiety and pain may be discerned, in spite of every 
 endeavor to conceal them. 
 
 Yes ! the whole public life of Chase led to or from that fearful 
 struggle. I have written this whole work, indeed, with reference 
 to that consideration. 
 
 In a letter written to Mr. Trowbridge, Secretary Chase related in 
 this fashion : 
 
 " I was indebted for my success, in great part, to the confidence 
 and support, most generously given me, of a number of distinguished 
 citizens having large influence in financial circles, and I endeavored 
 to merit what they gave by frankness, fairness, and firmness. 
 
 "Congress assembled on the 4th of July, 1861, and soon afterward 
 passed an act to authorize a national loan, and for other purposes. 
 Under this act, and acts amending it, I took measures to secure the 
 funds necessary to cany on the war. 
 
 "With this object. I invited representatives from the banking in- 
 stitutions of New York. Boston, and Philadelphia, to meet me in 
 New York, and they promptly responded to my invitation. 
 
 "Our conferences were full and unreserved. I explained to them 
 the situation of the country ; the large, inevitable expenditure for the 
 suppression of the rebellion ; my hopes of vigorous prosecution of all 
 measures necessary to that great end ; my wishes for economy; my 
 views of the inexpediency of high rates of interest, which might 
 suggest a possibility of future inability to pay it. They, on their 
 sidu. explained the position of the banks; their disposition to sustain 
 the government ; and their inability to take more bonds than their 
 disposable capital allowed, without a prospect of an eaidy sale and 
 distribution. They thought my ideas as to interest rather too strin- 
 gent ; and, on some other points, they thought me rather illiberal — 
 not sufficiently considerate, perhaps, of the interests they represented. 
 I was obliged to be very firm, and to say, ' Gentlemen, I am sure 
 you wish to do all you can. I hope you will find that you can take 
 the loans required on terms which can be admitted. If not, I must 
 go back to Washington and issue notes for circulation ; for, gentle- 
 men, the war must go on until this rebellion is j>ut down, if we have
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 387 
 
 to put out paper until it takes a thousand dollars to buy a break- 
 last,' 
 
 " The result of the conference was an agreement by the banks of 
 three cities to unite as associates, and advance to the government 
 fifty millions of dollars at once, or as wanted, on the secretary's 
 drafts in favor of the assistant treasurers ; in consideration of which, 
 1, on my part, agreed to appeal to the people for subscriptions to a 
 national loan, on three years' notes bearing 7.30 per cent, interest, 
 and convertible into twenty-year bonds bearing six per cent. ; and 
 to pay over the proceeds of the subscriptions to the banks, in satis- 
 faction of their advances, so far as they would go, and to deliver to 
 them 7.30 notes for any deficiency. 
 
 "This agreement was faithfully fulfilled. I opened books of sub- 
 scription to the national loan in all parts of the loyal States, and 
 the people responded with alacrity. About forty-five millions were 
 thus subscribed and paid to the banks, and the remainer was made 
 good by the delivery of the promised seven-thirties. 
 
 "This operation enabled the banks to make a second advance of 
 fifty millions on nearly the same terms. It had become evident 
 that the popular subscription would not continue as large and 
 prompt as at first, and the inconveniences of its management by 
 the department had proved to be very great. The accounts of the 
 subscription agents were therefore closed, and the notes for the 
 second loan were delivered directly .to the bankers who distributed 
 them, as best suited themselves. This simplified the transaction 
 to the treasury; and the arrangement, though not quite so advan- 
 tageous to the banks as the first, was every way more convenient. 
 
 "By these two loans I obtained one hundred millions of dollars, 
 paying under the immediate exigency a rate of interest only one 
 and three-tenths per cent, higher than the ordinary rate of six per 
 cent., and that only for three years. The sums needed beyond the 
 amounts thus obtained, were supplied by the negotiation of notes 
 at two years and sixty days, and by issuing United States notes as 
 circulation. 
 
 "The banks declined to make another loan of fifty millions for 
 seven-thirty notes, and I was obliged by the absolute necessity of 
 providing means for military and naval disbursement, to offer an- 
 other description of securities. The act authorizing a national 
 loan provided for the disposal of six per cent, bonds with such de- 
 duction from their face value as would make them equivalent to 
 seven per cent, bonds, redeemable after twenty years, disposed of at 
 par. I was extremely reluctant to avail myself of this power, but 
 the emergency was great, and there was no other resource, and I 
 submitted. Fifty millions in six per cent, bonds were equal to 
 §45,795,478.48 in seven per cent, bonds, redeemable after twenty 
 years ; and accordingly I gave the banks fifty millions in six per 
 cent, bonds for $45,795,478.48 in coin. 
 
 "The banks had constantly urged me to forego the farther issue 
 of United States notes, and draw directly upon them for the sums 
 subscribed, and placed on their books to the credit of the government. 
 'In what funds will my drafts be paid?' I asked. 'We in New 
 York are entirely willing to pay in coin,' was the reply. ' But how 
 26
 
 388 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 will it be in Boston? how in Philadelphia? How, if you in Xew 
 York give the draft holder a check on Cincinnati or St. Louis, will 
 the check be paid?' 'In whatever funds the holder of the draft 
 or check is willing to receive.' ' That is to say,' I answered, ' in 
 coin, if the holder insists on coin, and the bank is able and willing 
 to pay; but in bank notes if he will consent to receive bank notes. 
 I can not consent to this, gentlemen. You ask me to borrow the 
 credit of local banks in the form of circulation. I prefer to put the 
 credit of the people into notes and use them as money. If you 
 can lend me all the coin required or show me where I can borrow 
 it elsewhere at fair rates, I will withdraw every note already issued, 
 and pledge myself never to issue another; but if you can not, you 
 must let me stick to United States notes, and increase the issue of 
 them just as far as the deficiency of coin may require.' This reso- 
 lution, seen to be unalterable, was followed by important conse- 
 quences. 
 
 " The negotiation of the seven per cent, loan (for such it really 
 was) took place on the 16th of November. The bankers could not 
 pay their subscription in coin unless they could find a market for 
 their bonds, and prices declined instead of advancing. It soon be- 
 came plain that the bank note circulation could not be sustained 
 at the par of coin, unless made receivable by the Government, and 
 that it could not be made so receivable without risk of serious and 
 perhaps irretrievable financial embarrassment and disorder. In 
 other words, it became plain that suspension Avas inevitable, except 
 by sacrifices, which the banks would not make. The banks of New 
 York suspended on the 30th of December, 1861, and their example 
 was followed throughout the country. This suspension made it 
 certain that the government could no longer obtain coin on loans 
 in any adequate amounts; some of the banks, indeed, which had 
 subscribed to the seven per cent, loan, declined to pay their sub- 
 scriptions in coin, and even asked to be relieved from payment in 
 notes of the United States. Under these circumstances I had no 
 choice but to suspend payment of these notes in coin, and take 
 measures to provide a currency in which loans could be negotiated 
 and the transactions of the government carried on. I wished to 
 avoid the necessity of making notes of any kind a legal tender; 
 and proposed several modes of doing it. To none could the unani- 
 mous consent of the banks be obtained. Some of them manifested 
 a disposition to discredit the national circulation wholly, whether 
 issued in notes bearing interest, or issued in notes bearing no in- 
 terest; and if possible, force upon the country the circulation of 
 the suspended banks."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 389 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE CIVIL WAR AND SLAVERY PURSE AND SWORD THE TRENT AFFAIR. 
 
 LET us now turn away a little from the financial life of our hero. 
 Here is, to me at least, a deeply interesting letter on another 
 subject : 
 
 "Washington, November 6, 1861. 
 •'Dear Judge: Let me thank you for your admirable article. It 
 teaches a necessary lesson. We must learn to imitate the grand 
 patience of God; yet, in doing so, let us not shrink from the imitation of 
 /('■-■justice and constant energy also. 
 
 " Sincerely vours, 
 " Hon. R. B. Warden. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The significance of the expression just distinguished by italics, can 
 not be completely indicated without stating that the article it praises, 
 attempted to expose the fallacy of Mr. Brownson's notions, that the 
 Union had no battle-cry sufficiently responsive to the slogan of the 
 South, and that some such battle-cry as Down with Slavery/ was es- 
 sential to success on the side of the North. The article which, as we 
 have just seen, Secretary Chase called admirable, earnestly insisted 
 that impatient and unconstitutional opposition to slavery could do 
 no good and might work not a little evil ; but, in the same piece, 
 readers were counseled to prepare their minds and hearts for the 
 downfall of slavery as a necessary incident of the civil war then raging. 
 
 On Monday, December 9, 1861, the secretary of the treasury 
 talked with Messrs. Stevens and Vail about reimbursement. They 
 contended that the banks were entitled to be reimbursed, in coin, for 
 all two years bonds and sixty day notes, received in payment of sub- 
 scriptions, whether paid by the banks themselves on account of depos- 
 its, or by individuals for bonds. The secretary denied the right of the 
 banks to reimbursement for bonds paid by them, but promised to 
 take the other into consideration. 
 
 On the next day, Mr. Haight, member of Congress, from New 
 York, called, and stated the results of the bank meeting held on the 
 9th. He represented that Mr. Gallatin only opposed the payment
 
 390 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of the first installment, objecting that the secretary had recommended 
 a tax on bank circulation, and so had broken his agreement. 
 
 December 9, 1861, Mr. Cisco telegraphed that the banks had paid 
 the first installment of the seven per cent. loan. 
 
 On the same day, the annual report went to Congress. On the 
 next, copies of it were sent to Messrs. Ketchum, Williams, Gallatin, 
 and Coe, with letters expressing the hope of their concurrence in its 
 views. 
 
 Mr. Hooper, member of Congress, from Boston, expressed a cor- 
 dial approval of the report. 
 
 December 10, 1861, has the suggestive entry: "A number of 
 gentlemen called at the office on applications for office and otherwise." 
 The next day's record opens with the sentence, "A multitude of 
 callers at the office this morning, among them Wade, of the Senate, 
 and Ashley, of the House, Chairman of the Territorial Committees 
 in their respective Houses." To both of them the secretary gave his 
 views, in brief, as to the relations of the insurrectionary States to the 
 Union. 
 
 It appears that he explained his views as follows: That no State 
 or any portion of the people could withdraw from the Union or ab- 
 solve themselves from allegiance to it; but that when the attempt 
 was made, and the State government was placed in hostility to the 
 Federal government, the State organization was forfeited, and it 
 lapsed into the condition of a Territory, with which we could do 
 what we pleased; that we could form a provisional government, as 
 was done in Western Virginia, or, when we occupied any portion of 
 a rebellious State, such as Beaufort, we could organize territorial 
 courts, and, as soon as it became necessary, a territorial government; 
 that those States could not properly be considered as States in the 
 Union, but must be readmitted, from time to time, as Congress 
 should provide. 
 
 It seems Messrs. Wade and Ashley expressed their concurrence. 
 
 On the same day, conversation took place in the Cabinet in re- 
 spect to organizing courts at Beaufort; and it was agreed that Sec- 
 retary Chase should see certain southern gentlemen and then confer 
 with Attorney-General Bates as to what should be done. 
 
 The same day it was proposed to invite General McClellan to a 
 meeting of the Cabinet the next day, to learn his plans. But, ob- 
 jection being made by Mr. Blair, the President took it into con- 
 sideration.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 391 
 
 At the same meeting, General Hunter's application for authority 
 to muster a brigade of Indians was considered in connection with a 
 proposition of General McClcllan to invade Western Texas from the 
 north and from the gulf simultaneously. Secretary Chase ex- 
 pressed his approval of the latter and his disapproval of the former 
 for want of power, the President having already exhausted the 
 authority, given him by Congress, to raise men. This view was 
 generally concurred in and the subject dropped. 
 
 Secretary Chase directed the attention of the President to com- 
 plaints made against General Smith at Paducah, and " was glad to 
 learn that General McClellan had already directed him to be super- 
 seded." 
 
 On the 12th, General McClellan called at noon, and remained 
 about an hour and a half. Of the conversation I know nothing. 
 Would that it had made the interlocutors better acquainted with 
 each other ! 
 
 On the 11th of December, 1861, Senator Johnson, of Tennessee, 
 called on Secretary Chase, and gave an account of the military op- 
 erations in Kentucky, during the summer, of which he was a wit- 
 ness. He said there was nothing to prevent a march into Tennes- 
 see and the possession of Knoxville, immediately after the battle at 
 Camp Wild Cat; but that General Sherman was so intimidated by 
 Buckner's alleged strength and purposes, that he was much of the 
 time incapacitated for command ! 
 
 Now, isn't that rather rich? How fit was Andrew Johnson so 
 to talk about William Tecumseh Sherman ? 
 
 Gen. Meigs and Judge Advocate Lee called at request of Secre- 
 tary Chase, Dec. 11, 1861, the former more especially with reference 
 to the collection and disposition of cotton at Port Royal. He prom- 
 ised to place bagging, bale-rope, etc., for 1000 bales at the disposal 
 of the agent of the treasury department there. The secretary pro- 
 posed to transfer the whole business to him ; but it was not deter- 
 mined whether the transfer should be made. 
 
 With Major Lee and also with Gen. Meigs, the secretary had 
 some conversation about government for the seceded States. Major 
 Lee seemed to favor military commissions for the trial of questions 
 not cognizable by courts martial. He promised to send an order of 
 Gen. Scott's, issued in Mexico, which might serve as a precedent. 
 
 The secretary wrote to Messrs. Aspinwall, Sprague, and Mint urn, 
 giving them the substance of what Gen. Meigs had said about the
 
 392 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 cotton business, and telling him that, should he retain the manage- 
 ment, he should be glad to avail myself of their counsel and support. 
 
 Mr. Speed, of Louisville, called the attention of the secretary of 
 the treasury, on the 11th of December, 1861, to restrictions placed 
 by our special agent upon shipments of provisions to Louisville. 
 The secretary told him that Louisville, being a loyal city, stood 
 upon the same footing as "Washington, and that Mr. Mellen should 
 be instructed accordingly. 
 
 On the next day, in the morning, Judge Key called on Secretary 
 Chase and read draft of bill for the emancipation of slaves in the 
 District of Columbia. We shall have occasion to turn back to this 
 interesting fact. 
 
 Col. Sullivan, of Ohio, being at Washington on business con- 
 nected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, on the day last named, 
 called on Secretary Chase, and represented his interviews with Gen. 
 McClellau as highly satisfactory. Among other things, it seems, 
 he stated that when Gen. Kelley advanced upon Romney, the rebels 
 supposed he designed to attack Winchester — that they called upon 
 Johnston, for help — that he at first refused to send any, and finally 
 sent only a regiment of raw recruits, who had recently gone to 
 Manassas from Winchester, thus showing that, important as Win- 
 chester was, no troops could be spared from Manassas. 
 
 Mr. Chase sent the dispatch by Col. Barstow to Gen. McClellan, 
 and wrote to Gen. Lander, who had been ordered to the command 
 at Romney. 
 
 Senator Chandler came in to converse about Gen. McDowell being 
 put in command of the Army of the Potomac and of military affairs 
 generally. Mr. Chase considered that his visitor " evinced an excel- 
 lent spirit." 
 
 The next morning, Mr. Chase received from McClellan's aid a 
 note, saying that the general had read the dispatch sent him the 
 night before, and would take immediate measures to protect the 
 road ; that reinforcements would be immediately sent to Hancock ; 
 and that Gen. Banks had been ordered to support Lander. 
 
 In fulfillment of an engagement with the president of the Ameri- 
 can Bank Xote Company, the secretary of the treasury went to 
 Ulke's, who took a number of photographs. 
 
 On the 26th of December was held a Cabinet meeting in refer- 
 ence to the celebrated, and to this country at least, far from creditable, 
 Trent affair. Was that affair creditable to Great Britain? Clearly
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 393 
 
 not. It was not creditable to any one concerned therein, except as 
 its examination and discussion brought out such remarks as those 
 made as follows, in Lincoln's Cabinet, on the day last named, by 
 Secretary Chase: 
 
 '• The secretary said that, in his judgment, the case stood precisely 
 thus: In taking the rebel envoys and their secretaries from the 
 'Trent.' without invoking or proposing to invoke the sanction of 
 any judicial tribunal. Captain Wilkes clearly violated the law of 
 nations, and in that very principle which the United States have 
 ever most zealously maintained. Great Britian, therefore, had a 
 right to ask from us a disavowal of the act, and the restoration of 
 the persons to the condition in which they were taken; and, if this 
 right was insisted on, it was our duty, however disagreeable, to do 
 what was asked. 
 
 " He considered, on the other hand, that the circumstances under 
 which the act of Captain Wilkes was done, not only repelled the 
 imputation of aggressive or unfriendly intent, but entitled him to 
 commendation for the motives by which his conduct was governed, 
 and reduced the seizure and removal from the 'Trent' of the rebel 
 commissioners, to a mere technical violation of the neutral rights 
 of England. Mason and Slidell were commissioners bearing dis- 
 patches from the rebel government to Europe, and their character 
 and charge were known to the commander of the ' Trent.' At the 
 time of the seizure, therefore, the 'Trent' was knowingly employed 
 in violation of English law, of the royal proclamation, and of her 
 duty to the United States as a friendly nation. Conscious of the 
 fact, the commander refused, when requested, to exhibit his passen- 
 ger list. The capture was, of course, warranted, and Captain Wilkes, 
 in making it, performed only his plain duty to his government. He 
 had a right to break up the voyage, and send the steamer as prize 
 into a port for trial and condemnation. But the steamer was em- 
 ployed in the conveyance of mails and passengers; and Captain 
 Wilkes was desirous to avoid the public injury of delaying the trans- 
 mission of the former, and the private hardship likely to result from 
 interrupting the voyage of the latter. 
 
 "Governed mainly by these motives, he obeyed what seemed to 
 him the dictates of humanity and friendly consideration for a 
 friendly nation, by removing the contraband persons from the 
 'Trent' with the least possible inconvenience to all concerned, 
 and suffering the vessel, with her other passengers and mails, to 
 proceed to her destination. In doing this he surrendered a prize 
 which might have tempted cupidity, without a thought that, by 
 the self-same act, he was depriving himself of the only means of 
 justifying the capture, either of persons or vessel, through a judi- 
 cial decision. 
 
 " .Mr. Chase thought it certainly was not too much to expect of a 
 friendly nation, and especially of a nation of the same blood, relig- 
 ion, and characteristic civilization as our own, that in consideration 
 of the great rights, she would overlook the little wrong; nor could 
 he then persuade himself that, were all the circumstances known
 
 394 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SEPvVICES 
 
 to the English government, as to ours, the surrender of the rebel 
 commissioners would be insisted upon. 
 
 The secretary asserted that the technical right was undoubtedly 
 with England. As rebels or as traitors to our government, the pre- 
 tended commissioners would have been safe on a neutral ship. It 
 was only in their character as envoys that they were subject to 
 arrest as contraband. They could not rightfully be taken from the 
 ship until after the judicial condemnation of the ship itself, for re- 
 ceiving and carrying them. However excused or even justified by 
 motives, the act of removing them as prisoners from the ' Trent,' 
 without resort to any judicial cognizance, was in itself indefensible. 
 We could not deny this without denying our history. Were the 
 circumstances reversed, our government would, Mr. Chase thought, 
 accept the explanation, and let England keep her rebels ; and he 
 could not divest himself of the belief that, were the case fairly un- 
 derstood, the British government would do likewise. 
 
 "But," continued Secretary Chase, "we can not afford delays. 
 While the matter hangs in uncertaint}* the public mind will remain 
 disquieted, our commerce will suffer serious harm, our action against 
 the rebels must be greatly hindered, and the restoration of our pros- 
 perity — largely identified with that of all nations — must be delayed. 
 Better, then, to make now the sacrifice of feeling involved in the 
 surrender of these rebels, than even avoid it by the delays which 
 explanations must occasion. I give my adhesion, thei*efore, to the 
 conclusion at which the secretary of state has arrived. 
 
 " It is gall and wormwood to me. Bather than consent to the 
 liberation of these men, I would sacrifice every thing I possess. But 
 I am consoled by the reflection that, while nothing but severest 
 retribution is due to them, the surrender, under existing circum- 
 stances, is but simply doing right — simply proving faithful to our 
 own ideas and traditions under strong temptations to violate them ; 
 simply giving to England and the world the most signal proof that 
 the American nation will not, under any circumstances, for the sake 
 of inflicting just punishment on rebels, commit even a technical 
 wront; against neutrals."
 
 OF SALMON POBTLAND CHASE. 39! 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 opening of 1862 — m'clellan and m'dowell — port royal — 
 Cameron's resignation. 
 
 OX the first of January 1862, Secretary Chase, accompanied by 
 his two daughters and his friend, Miss Walker, went to the 
 White House. Afterward, he and his daughters received at their 
 own house, Mrs. General McDowell, Mrs. Bridge, and Miss Walker 
 assisting Miss Kate. All the Diplomatic Corps, except Stoeckel, 
 and many officers of the army called. When Lord Lyons came in, 
 Mr. Chase saluted him with " Pax esto perjjetua" and the English 
 minister, responding to that wish, expressed the hope that his own 
 conduct had always been that of a peace-maker. 
 
 Under date January 2, we have the suggestive memorandum : 
 
 "In the evening, Kate had a big turkey, and Mr. Sumner and 
 General McDowell dined with us." 
 
 Xot the big turkey, but the big talk of the great man from Mas- 
 sachusets, would 1 like to be able here to serve up to my readers. 
 But I must proceed to other matters. 
 
 Here is the tenor of a note written to Secretary Chase on a 
 card : 
 
 "I have just been with General McClellan, and he is much better. 
 " January 2, 1862. A. LINCOLN." 
 
 McClellan and McDowell are names intimately connected with 
 the most important revelations of this work. They were both un- 
 fortunate, and both, perhaps, failed to seize fortune and to catch suc- 
 cess where men of less abilities and less nobleness of mind would 
 have made better use of time and chance. 
 
 How busy was our hero in those days ! How variously he took 
 part in all that was within his reach! In a letter that conducts us 
 toward Port Iloyal and the wonders there progressing, he said to 
 Mr. Edward L. Pierce: 
 
 " I sent, yesterday, your commission and formal instructions to
 
 396 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 New York. I now write, that you may more clearly understand the 
 spirit of my instructions. 
 
 "Colonel Eeynolds, the agent already appointed, is, I think, a 
 man of excellent business capacity, and unimpeachable personal in- 
 tegrity. He is so commended to me by Governor Sprague, in whom 
 [ have great confidence. 
 
 " Whether he will sympathize with the laborers, however, or 
 strive to promote their personal well-being, I do not know ; nor can 
 I foresee, whether he will bring to the organization of their labor 
 that judgment and patience which are essential to success. 
 
 "You have been tried, and, besides, I know you. Your sym- 
 pathies are, first of all, with the country; but you do not lose sight 
 of what is due to the poor people, who are, by the event of the war, 
 cast on the protection of the United States. Your judgment is cool 
 and sound, and will not allow mere sjnnpathy to mislead you. 
 
 "I wish, therefore, to put you in communication with Colonel Rey- 
 nolds, and that he may avail himself of } - our counsel and aid in organ- 
 izing the laborers which he must employ, and in providing for them. 
 Of course, I do not desire to supersede Colonel Reynolds, or interfere 
 with him in any way, but simply to promote the general objects of 
 his agency, and to secure, at the same time, as far as may be, the 
 well-being of the unfortunate people who must be employed. 
 
 "I will add here that, in my judgment, the persons who have 
 thus been abandoned by their masters, and who are received into the 
 service of the country, can never, without great inhumanity on the 
 part of the government be ever reduced again to slavery. You will, 
 therefore, in what you do, have reference to fitting them for self- 
 support by their own industry hereafter. 
 
 "Please report to me all you do, and your observations and judg- 
 ment on the state of things within the sphere of your labors, so far 
 as connected with the general object of them." 1 
 
 1 To Colonel Reynolds, Mr. Chase wrote as follows: 
 
 " My Dear Colonel : The cotton which was shipped by the quarter-master to 
 New York and Philadelphia, will be disposed of under the direction of the quarter- 
 master-general. That which you ship will be consigned to Hiram Barney, collector 
 at New York, who will take care of its disposition. I am solicitous that the connec- 
 tion of this department with the business may be marked by the utmost efficiency, 
 economy, and practiaal benefit to all concerned. 
 
 " After much reflection, and in view of his rare judgment, integrity, and practi- 
 cal experience with the contrabands at Fortress Monroe, I have thought it best to 
 send Mr. Pierce, of Boston, to you, to aid in the organization of labor and proper 
 provision for the laborers. Mr. Pierce is a young gentleman who has already 
 attained a professional and social position of deserved distinction. At the first 
 summons of the President's proclamation, in vVpril, he enlisted as a private and 
 served three months at Fortress Monroe. After the expiration of his term he de- 
 clined all offers of commission and returned to his profession, which he now only 
 leaves for the sake of doing some substantial good. If I do not mistake you, you 
 will welcome his aid in your arduous undertaking, and enter heartily into his 
 views, as he will, doubtless, into yours. 
 
 "Pray, let me hear from you often."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 397 
 
 Under date Jan. 5th, to Hon. T. C. Day, the Secretary said : 
 
 "Is there any possibility of guarding against mischance and 
 events? I don't see it. 
 
 "Do the best I can, I find myself exposed to so much misconstruc- 
 tion b}- best friends, that I have come absolutely to hate public life." 
 
 The same letter has the paragraphs : 
 
 " In getting Rogers, I thought I had a man whom no one would 
 assail with any chance of credit. He seems now to me to be honest 
 and faithful. He says the iron contract you refer to was awarded to 
 Stacy, a good man personally and politically, and that Handy was 
 not at the time to his knowledge, interested in the business, though 
 he afterward signed the contract. He says further that he was 
 utterly ignorant of Handy's disloyal proclivities. 
 
 "In one respect, the transactions of the department may be subject 
 to some exceptions politically, not usually attendant on mere appoint- 
 ments. The law inquires advertisements and awards to the lowest 
 re>ponsible bidders. It says nothing of political qualifications, and 
 I should not be faithful to my oath of office if I made them a con- 
 dition so as to exclude from contracts, loAvest responsible bidders of 
 political views hostile to mine. 
 
 "I agree with you, that the administration has put too many 
 enemies in places of great power and influence, and has acted most 
 unwisely in so doing. No part of this responsibility, however, is 
 mine, unless the appointment of McClellan be an exception. I really 
 thought he was the very man for the time. I was mistaken, and 
 make no more rash dependencies." 
 
 January 5th was Sunday. In the evening, Mr. Chase (having 
 attended Trinity Church in the morning) was compelled to attend 
 to matters of secular concern. He received a dispatch from Mr. 
 Garrett, President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, stating that 
 the enemy had advanced to Hancock, and were shelling the town ; 
 
 In another letter, pointing to Port Royal, are the words, addressed to Rev. W. H. 
 Pierson: 
 
 " Understanding that yon feel a deep interest in the condition of the colored popu- 
 lation of the islands now occupied by the United States troops in Carolina, I venture 
 to suggest the expediency of your taking measures, in concert with the Rev. M. 
 French and others of similar views, for supplying to them the means of religious 
 instruction, ordinary education, and medical care. 
 
 "Reports made to me hy officers charged with the collection of cotton, and by a 
 special agent directed to inquire, among other things, into the condition of this 
 population with a view to its amelioration, present a case well calculated to excite 
 the sympathies of humane and Christian men and women. 
 
 "The action of this department, within the range of its legal authority, will be 
 cheerfully and gladly directed in aid of any voluntary benevolent movement, such 
 as that referred to."
 
 398 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 that the Union troops had fallen back to the Maryland side; and 
 that the enemy was in possession of a considerable portion of the 
 newly prepared road. 
 
 On the Eighth of January, the special loan committee from 
 New York were at Washington. 
 
 The same day, the Secretary of the Treasury gave the usual 
 dinner to committees of finance of the two Houses. Present, 
 Messrs. Fessenden, Simmons, Sherman, Howe, and Pearce, of the 
 Senate, and Messrs. Stephens, Morrill, Spaulding, Corning, Horton, 
 Stratton, Hooper, and Maynard, of the House. Messrs. Bright and 
 McDougall, of the Senate, and Mr. Phelps, of the House, were 
 absent. Did those present talk about " Old Hickory?" 
 
 Mr. Jay Cooke, of Philadelphia, was one of the distinguished 
 dined, on this occasion. 
 
 After dinner, Messrs. Coe, Russell, and Vermilye came in. The 
 first and the last were very desirous that the secretary should cancel 
 so much of the loan as remained unpaid. Mr. Chase " promised 
 consideration, but declined giving any definite answer." 
 
 The next morning, Thursday, Mr. Russell broke his fast with Mr. 
 Chase. After breakfast, the host and the guest discussed somewhat 
 the latter's financial suggestions. He proposed, it seems, a board 
 of exchequer, to be appointed by the President and Senate. To this 
 board should be issued the bonds of the United States, and the 
 board should return 80 per. cent, of the amount in circulating 
 notes ; and similar bonds should be issued by the board, and 75 per. 
 cent, of the amount issued to any depositor and redeemed, if neces- 
 sary, by the government. Associations for banking purposes should 
 be authorized, to whom 90 per. cent, of bonds deposited may be 
 issued, with provisions for reserves of specie, etc. 
 
 Going to department, Mr. Chase called at the photographer's. 
 At the department, he attended to the usual business and made an 
 appointment with the committees from Philadelphia and New York, 
 to come to his house at eight, P. M. 
 
 The Secretary then wended his way to the Capitol. He heard 
 Sumner's speech on the Trent affair. 
 
 He has recorded the opinion that that utterance of Mr. Sumner 
 " was, in the main, admirable in manner and matter." But, it 
 seems, the Secretary told the Senator he thought he had better omit 
 the word penitent, applied to England in connection with her implied 
 recantation of ancient pretensions by her demand for Mason and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 399 
 
 Slidell ; and also that it would have been well to omit the argument 
 against the right to capture and bring in the ship for having com- 
 missioners or dispatches on board, inasmuch as that argument eon- 
 tradicted the position taken by Mr. Seward on the same question. 
 
 Most of the foreign ministers were present, and the galleries 
 were full. 
 
 Returning to the department, Mr. Chase was visited by General 
 McDowell. The military man showed the civilian his map, and 
 pointed out the relative positions of our own and the enemy's forces 
 near the seat of government. 
 
 Miss Kate Chase and Mr. Cooke came in, saying that Miss Nettie 
 Chase was ill, but doing well, at Philadelphia. Miss Kate deter- 
 mined to go by the evening train with Mr. Cooke, and telegraph 
 her father at night. 
 
 The Secretary was a loving father and a proud one. 
 
 On the 10th, the bank committees were in Washington. 
 
 On Saturday, January 11th, there were many callers at the de- 
 partment of the treasury, among them Gen. McDowell and Col. 
 Key. Gen. McDowell inquired about McClellan's plans, and Mr. 
 Chase told him what he knew of them, in strict confidence. 
 
 Col. Key was about to have an interview with Gen. McClellan, 
 and wanted to know what the Secretary would recommend. The 
 Secretary replied that McClellan should, 
 
 1st. Relieve himself of the imputation of nepotism and favoritism 
 in the selection of his staff; 
 
 2d. Not allow the President to wait on him, but honor the office 
 by sending one of his aids regularly to the President; and, 
 
 3d. Call into his counsels the most experienced and able men in 
 the army, and insist on the appointment of McDowell as major- 
 general at once. 
 
 On the same day, the Secretary of the Treasury talked with Mr. 
 Stanton about Lander, McClellan, and others, and requested Col. 
 Sullivan to see War Department about Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. 
 
 The finance committees and bank committees met at Secretary 
 Chase's office. 
 
 On the 13th we have the entry : 
 
 "To -day. General Cameron resigned his place as secretary of war, 
 and E. M. Stanton, of Pennsylvania, was appointed in his stead." 
 
 And is that all? Is that all our hero's diary has to say about a 
 matter so important?
 
 400 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 When the hero of this work departed, I alone was authorized to 
 use his diaries, his letter-books, and the like, and no man, no 
 woman, had the moral or the legal right to use those documents. 
 In the Introduction is a brief statement on that subject. In other 
 Chapters will be found farther statements of like effect. I had 
 no exclusive right to prepare for the press a life of Salmon Portland 
 Chase, and I never fancied that my right to write a biography of 
 him was an exclusive one. But I was unquestionably his preferred 
 biographer, and, in effect, his literary executor. And the right I 
 thus had, in the documents in question, teas exclusive. It has never 
 been surrendered, modified, or forfeited. Yet it is from a work 
 entitled Memories of Many Men and of Sonic Women, that I draw the 
 quoted paragraphs which follow : 
 
 " I take the following extract from one of the little diaries in which 
 Mr. Chase was accustomed to jot down daily occurrences and tran- 
 scribe some of his most secret thoughts. He wrote with a pencil, 
 and, as he was in the habit of carrying these little books loose in his 
 pocket, much of the writing is wholly or partly obliterated. I have, 
 however, been able to make out the following, but not without a 
 great deal of difficulty. 
 
 "January 12, 1862. At church this morning. Wished much to 
 join in communion, but felt myself too subject to temptation to sin. 
 After church went to see Cameron by appointment; but, being 
 obliged to meet the President, etc., at one, could only excuse myself. 
 At President's, found Generals McDowell, Franklin, and Meigs, and 
 Seward and Blair. Meigs decided against dividing forces, and in 
 favor of battle in front. President said McClellan's health was much 
 improved, and thought it best to adjourn until to-morrow, and have 
 all then present attend with McC. at three. Home, and talk and 
 reading. Dinner. Cameron came in. Advised loan in Holland, 
 and recommended Brooks, Lewis, and another whom I have forgot- 
 ten. Then turned to department matters, and we talked of his 
 going to Russia ami Stanton as successor, and he proposed I should 
 again see the President. I first proposed seeing Sewai'd, to which 
 he assented. He declared himself determined to maintain himself 
 at the head of his department if he remained, and to resist hereafter 
 all interferences. I told him I would, in that event, stand by him 
 faithfully. He and I drove to Willard's, where I left him and went 
 myself to Seward's. I told him, at once, what was in my mind — 
 that I thought the President and Cameron were both willing that 0. 
 should go to Russia. He seemed to receive the matter as new, ex- 
 cept so far as suggested by me last night. Wanted to know who 
 would succeed Cameron. I said Holt and Stanton had been named ; 
 that I feared Holt might embarrass us on the slavery question, and 
 might not prove quite equal to the emergency ; that Stanton was a 
 good lawyer, and full of energy ; but 1 could not, of course, judge 
 him as an executive officer as well as he (S.) could, for he knew him
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 401 
 
 when he was in Buchanan's Cabinet. Seward replied that he saw 
 much of him then ; that he was of great force — full of expedients, 
 and thoroughly loyal. Finally, he agreed to the whole thing, and 
 promised to £0 with me to talk with the President about it to-mor- 
 row, .lust at this point Cameron came in with a letter from the 
 President, proposing his nomination to Russia in the morning ! He 
 was quite offended, supposing the letter intended as a dismissal, and, 
 therefore, discourteous. We both assured him it could not be so. 
 Finally he concluded to retain the letter till morning, and then go 
 and see the President. Seward was expecting General Butler, and 
 Cameron said he ought to be sent off immediately. I said, 'Well, 
 let's leave Seward to order him off at once.' C. laughed, and we 
 went off together, I taking him to his house. Before parting, I told 
 him what had paAsed between me and Seward concerning Stanton, 
 with which he was gratified. I advised him to go to the President 
 in the morning, express his thanks for the consideration with which 
 his wishes, made known through me as well as by himself orally, 
 had been treated, and tell him frankly how desirable it was to him 
 that his successor should be a Pennsylvanian, and should be Stanton. 
 I said I thought that his wish, supported as it would be by Seward 
 and myself, would certainly be gratified, and told him that the Pres- 
 ident had already mentioned Stanton in a way which indicated that 
 no objection on his part would be made. I said, also, that, if he 
 wished. I would see Seward, and would go to the President after he 
 had left him and urge the point. He asked why not come in when 
 we should be there, and I assented to this. We parted, and I came 
 home. A day which may have — and, seemingly, must have — great 
 bearing on affairs. Oh ! that my heart and life were so pure and 
 right before God that I might not hurt our great cause. I fear Mr. 
 Seward ma}* think Cameron's coming into his house pre-arranged, 
 and that I was not dealing frankly. I feel satisfied, however, that 
 I have acted right, and with just deference to all concerned, and have 
 in no respect deviated from the truth." 1 
 
 1 Op. cit. 2G7. I repeat, the exclusive right, referred to in the text, has never 
 heen surrendered, modified, or forfeited. How rich has been the supply of original 
 material for this work its pages show. 
 
 Yet there has been some interference with my right. 
 
 Under an arrangement made by Chief Justice Chase with me, I was to occupy, at 
 will, while working on my life of him, a sleeping room at Edgewood, and to be at 
 home there in the library and in the parlors during the same period. Order, there- 
 fore, was made accordingly, and I left, at Edgewood part of the material — especially 
 some printed matter — which I contemplated using. Mr. Schuckers confessed to me 
 that, after the death of the Chief Justice, and before the qualification of the executor, 
 he, said Schuckers, thereto ''authorized'' by Mrs. Sprague, removed the body of that 
 material beyond my reach. 
 
 Nor is this all. The same person, claiming to be "authorized" in the same 
 manner, prevailed, it seems, on the executor (in whose banking house I had, under 
 an arrangement made with him with reference, as he pretended, to safety against 
 fire, deposited the body of the matter furnished for my biographic use, the most 
 precious portions of that matter being in my own trunk), to cause my locked trunk,
 
 402 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Here is another extract from the same book : 
 
 "From that time forward my personal relations with Mr. Seward 
 became quite intimate. I used frequently to meet him socially at 
 the tables of the foreign ministers, and I often visited him at his own 
 house. The latter was particularly the case during the months of 
 July and August in the year 1864. The intense heat had depleted 
 Washington, driving from the city every body except those officials 
 who found it impossible to get away. The great Bedouin camp had 
 struck its tents for a season. One's evening visiting list thus became 
 very much circumscribed, and Secretary Seward's house was one of 
 the few where one could call with any probability of finding the 
 master at home. At this time I often passed uninterrupted hours in 
 his company. I frequently found him swinging in a hammock, which 
 was slung upon the back porch, and smoking the inevitable cigar of 
 portentous size and strength. As a smoker, Mr. Seward was in no 
 way behind General Grant. Sometimes, however, our interviews 
 took place in the front parlor. The conversation was always of the 
 most unreserved and familiar character. Upon one occasion, I re- 
 marked to the Secretary, that I supposed he had kept a diary, or, at 
 least, memoranda of every thing that had occurred at Cabinet meet- 
 ings since the incoming of the administration. He told me in reply, 
 that, during several months in the beginning, he had faithfully done 
 so ; but that very soon the personal relations between some of his 
 colleagues became so inharmonious, and so much unworthy bicker- 
 ing, and even quarreling, was indulged in upon these occasions, that 
 he discontinued making a record, and destroyed the notes which he 
 had already taken." 1 
 
 Every body may not see, as I discern, the shallowness of the sin- 
 ister design betrayed in the just quoted sentences. And really I 
 
 the key of its lock being in my pocket, to be secretly and falsely opened; and there- 
 upon the person Schuckers, it appears, proceeded to invade that trunk. 'Tis said 
 that he was deeply disappointed, and that quite grotesque was his display of disap- 
 pointment. Many of the birds he sought had flown, and those the very best of the 
 whole aviary. Through the indiscretion of Mr. Maunsell B. Field, in talking to a 
 friend of mine, I had learned more about the fraud that had been practiced on me; 
 and I had removed the most important diaries and letter-books. But I forgot those 
 "little diaries." 
 
 I never could command myself sufficiently to go back to that trunk. May God 
 forgive me, and may the fair-minded reader pardon me; but I confess that when I 
 learned of that rifling of my trunk, I was excited in a manner which it is not pleas- 
 ant to remember even now. 
 
 I think, no lack of courage kept me back. And yet it was pure fear that forbade 
 me to go back again into that bank. I am but human ; and for me, as for all other 
 human beings, it is well, from time to time, to fear and shun temptation. 
 
 Now, I think, the reader may at least begin to conjecture why it is that I am 
 recapturing the matter just taken from that flashy, trashy book of Mr. Field. 
 
 i Op. cit., 262, 263.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 403 
 
 hardly know how to be down-rightly angry with the author of them. 
 Though I am 'about to show their utter un reliableness, I declare I 
 find myself almost as much disposed to make fun of tliem as to treat 
 them seriously. But of that hereafter. 
 
 Let me now advise the reader to turn back to that extract from 
 the little diary. We learn from that extract that, as late as Janu- 
 ary, 1862, the relations of Chase and Seward with each other, with 
 Blair, and with Cameron, were not such as they would have been 
 had the Cabinet been disgraced by the alleged bickering and quar- 
 reling. True, there was talk by Cameron of a determination, if he 
 remained Secretary of War, to maintain himself at the head of his 
 department, and thereafter to resist all interference. But whose in- 
 terference ? Xot that of Seward, I conceive; not Blair's, I judge; 
 not that of Welles, assuredly. Was it Bates who interfered ? Or 
 was it Smith? I would say not. Undoubtedly, the interference 
 meant was that of Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 Xow, let us look again at the account given by Mr. Maunsell B. 
 Field, of the alleged "unworthy bickering and even quarreling" 
 indulged in by members of the Lincoln Cabinet. I counsel readers 
 to scrutinize that account. It is, at best, the narrative of hearsay ; 
 and the motives of the witness as well as his general tone should put 
 us on our guard against the statement here in question and some 
 others; for example, his account of talk he had with Mr. Lincoln in 
 1864. 
 
 It is quite safe to say that ardent love of accuracy does not mark 
 that book of Mr. Field. It seems to me, moreover, that he could 
 have had no good purpose in relating, as we have seen, what he says 
 Mr. Seward said to him about that bickering and even quarreling. 
 
 If Mr. Seward did say that, what we have seen already clearly in- 
 dicates that, in saying so, he uttered one of the most wanton false- 
 hoods ever uttered by the lips of man. 
 
 It is evidently not true, and Mr. Seward never could have fancied 
 it was true, that there was, at one time, "so much unworthy bicker- 
 ing and even quarreling" among his colleagues. The revelations 
 drawn herein from our hero's wonderfully interesting diaries and 
 letters clearly and conclusively establish that the relations which 
 actually existed among the members of the Lincoln Cabinet, were 
 not of such a nature that there could have been such unworthy bick- 
 ering and quarreling. 
 
 But this is not all. Had the facts which Mr. Seward is reported 
 27
 
 404 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to have stated to Mr. Maunsell B. Field existed, what should we 
 have thought of Mr. Seward's making that communication, orally, 
 to such a man as Mr. Field has shown himself, and leaving the com- 
 munication to the tender mercy and the wise discretion of that liter- 
 ary gossiper? And, supposing Mr. Seward to have been at once so 
 foolish and so base, what must we think of Mr. Field's now giving 
 to the public the account in question? 
 
 Mr. Field, however, thus proceeds with his report of Mr. Seward's 
 alleged statement : 
 
 "He said that a truthful statement of these occurrences, if ever 
 published, would bring disgrace upon the country, and that they had 
 better be buried in oblivion." 
 
 Were they buried in oblivion by Mr. Seward, when, supposing Mr. 
 Field's account to be correct, those words were spoken as we have 
 just seen, to be reproduced in that flashy volume with that taking 
 tide? 
 
 But I can afford to beg my readers not to be too hard on Mr. 
 Field. 
 
 His title page runs thus : 
 
 "Memories of Many Men and of Some Women; being Personal 
 Eeoollections of Emperors, Kings, Queens, Princes, Presidents, States- 
 men, Authors, and Artists, at home and abroad, during the last thirty 
 years." 
 
 That title page reminded me at once of the language, put in this 
 fashion, by Shakspeare, on the lips of Dogberry : 
 
 "Write down — that they hope they serve God; and write God 
 first; for God defend, but God should go before such villains." 
 
 One can almost fancy Mr. Field exclaiming: God defend, but 
 emperors, kings, queens, and princes should go before presidents; and 
 God defend, but presidents, look you ! should go before statesmen ; 
 and, lastly, God defend, but statesmen should go before such poor 
 devils as authors and artists. 
 
 We are told by this reporter of conversations with Seward and, as 
 we shall find, of talks with Lincoln, that 
 
 "At the dinner parties of the foreign ministers, which Mr. Seward, 
 being secretary of state, frequently attended, he was looked upon as 
 rather a tedious guest."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 405 
 
 Now, who gave Mr. Field that sweet tit-bit of scandal ? But 
 we must not fail to go a little farther. Mr. Field subjoins the 
 sentence : 
 
 "Speaking no language but English, he compelled the conversa- 
 tion to be carried on in a tongue which was not familiar to many of 
 those usually present." 
 
 Mr. Field knows French and other foreign idioms, my dear 
 reader! And he is an fait in etiquette of all sorts and sizes; as is 
 partly hinted in this passage: 
 
 " I was well accredited to Mr. Henry Wheaton, our minister at 
 Berlin, and the distinguished writer upon international law. Upon 
 my arrival I sent my letter with my card to the legation, and the 
 next day the minister called upon me, and, not finding me within, 
 left for me my own card, with 'Mr. Wheaton, written over my 
 name. It was surprising that such a solecism in manners should be 
 committed by a diplomatist of Mr. Wheaton 's experience. Of course, 
 no offense was intended ; but I did not return the call." 1 
 
 One fairly pities the poor shade of Wheaton thus rebuked in Mem- 
 ories of Many Men and of Some Women. 
 
 Seriously, is it not a thing to wonder at that it should have been 
 about a man such as this Mr. Maunsell Field that Chase and Lincoln 
 should have parted company? 
 
 We shall see more of Mr. Field, however, as we pass. I now in- 
 vite attention to the fact that though Secretary Cameron resigned on 
 the 13th. it was not till the 20th of January that the new secretary, 
 for good or for evil, took formal possession of the War Department. 
 On that day Mr. Chase paid his respects " to the outgoing and in- 
 coming secretaries." 
 
 January 14, 1862, the official day was wholly occupied as to Sec- 
 retary Chase in conferences with members of the bank committees 
 and boards of trade of the three cities, who were at Washington on 
 financial matters, and with Senators and others who called in regard 
 to the change in the Cabinet. Mr. Fessenden, of the Senate, and 
 Mr. Stanton were together with the secretary for more than an 
 hour. 
 
 Mr. Rodman, chief clerk of the department, died suddenly that 
 morning, and at two o'clock Mr. Chase attended the funeral services. 
 The remains were taken to Philadelphia. 
 
 1 Page 272.
 
 406 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 It appears that, on the loth clay of January, 1862, the consulta- 
 tion with bankers and members of the boards of trade from New 
 York, Boston, and Philadelphia terminated. The result was re- 
 duced to writing, as follows : 
 
 " I. The general views of the secretary of the treasury are as- 
 sented to. 
 
 " II. The banks will receive and pay out the United States de- 
 mand notes freely, and sustain in all proper ways their credit. 
 
 U III. The secretary will, within the next two weeks, in addition 
 to then current daily payment of a million and a half of dollars in 
 United States notes, pay the further sum of at least twenty millions 
 of dollars, in 7-30 three years bonds, to such public creditors as de- 
 sire to receive them, and thus relieve the existing pressure upon the 
 community. 
 
 "IV. The issue of United States demand notes not to be extended 
 beyond the fifty millions now authorized; but it is desired that 
 Congress will extend the provisions of the existing loan act, so as to 
 enable the secretary to issue, in exchange for United States notes, 
 or in payment to creditors, notes payable in one year, bearing 3.G5 
 per cent, interest, and convertible into 7-30 three years bonds, or to 
 borrow under the existing provisions to the amount of two hundred 
 and fifty or three hundred millions of dollars. 
 
 "V. It is thought desirable that Congress should adopt a general 
 law relating to the currency and banking associations, embracing 
 the general provisions recommended by the secretary in his report. 
 
 " VI. It is believed that this action and legislation will render the 
 making of United States demand notes a legal tender, or their in- 
 crease beyond the fifty millions now authorized unnecessary." 
 
 Assenting to these propositions were, from New York, Mr. Coe ; 
 from Boston, Mr. Walley ; and from Philadelphia, some one not 
 named in the register here followed. Each of these gentlemen, it 
 seems, agreed to urge the plan embodied in the paper upon the 
 banks of his city, and expressed his belief that it would be cor- 
 dially sustained. 
 
 About an hour afterward a sub-committee from the House com- 
 mittee of ways and means called at the treasury department. It 
 consisted of Messrs. Spaulding, Hooper, and Horton. Mr. Hooper 
 expressed his decided opinion that the United States notes must 
 necessarily be made a legal tender. Messrs. Spaulding and Horton 
 expressed no opinion ; and it was agreed that the secretary should 
 confer with Mr. Stevens, chairman of the committee, that evening. 
 
 Thursday, January 16, news reached Washington of the rise in 
 the value of stocks in New York, a rise occasioned by the receipt 
 there of telegrams communicating the result of the financial con-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 407 
 
 ferences of the past few days. The bankers left for home after 
 receiving tidings of the rise. No doubt, they left in liner feather 
 than they wore when they came on to Washington. 
 
 The next day Mr. Chase wrote to Mr. Stevens, expressing the 
 hope that the arrangement adopted on Wednesday would meet his 
 approval, and he sanctioned by the hanks. 
 
 Monday, January 20, 1862, Mr. Walley telegraphed that the 
 Boston banks would not assent to the proposed arrangement, and 
 advised the immediate making of United States notes a legal tender. 
 
 Not uninteresting seems to me this entry, under date of Jan- 
 uary 22d : 
 
 "A committee from the Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati 
 waited on me this morning, to urge the location of the proposed 
 new armory at Cincinnati. They also represented the earnest feel- 
 ing of the people of Cincinnati and the West in favor of greater 
 energy and decision in the conduct of the war, and alluded to the 
 state of politics in Ohio. Told them that Cincinnati, 'never very 
 kind, was always very dear, to me,' and that I had already presented 
 her claims for the armory, and should continue to do so. As to the 
 conduct of the war, I gave them every assurance, and especiallj* ex- 
 pressed confidence in Mr. Stanton as a man who would be master of 
 his department, and yield to no one save the President. On politics, 
 1 said that the Democratic party must be reconstructed as a party of 
 freedom.'" 
 
 On the same day, Messrs. Cisco, Barney, and Andrews came to 
 Secretary Chase from New York, to confer about government prop- 
 erty there. Mayor Opdyke accompanied them, but returned the 
 same dav. He favored a le<ral tender law.
 
 408 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 THE LEGAL TENDER CASES. 
 
 I 
 
 N a letter to Hon. Rush R. Sloan, January 27th, the Secretary 
 said : 
 
 " I am not a candidate for the Senate. Should the supporters of 
 the present effort to suppress the rebellion — an effort, I trust, soon to 
 he crowned with success — think fit to require my services in an}' other 
 place than that of which I am now trying to discharge the duties. 
 I shall not hesitate to obey the summons, no matter to what duty I 
 might be called. If they think it best that I remain where I am, I 
 shall be equally content. It is my wish, therefore, not to interfere 
 in any way in the election in Ohio, nor to have my own name men- 
 tioned in connection with the election. There is no reason for think- 
 ing that a contingency can arise in which the mention of it can be 
 useful. 
 
 " Mr. Wade is worthy of re-election, eminently worthy. I had, I 
 thought, some cause to complain of his course last year ; and the Re- 
 publicans of the State, who had manifested so decided a preference 
 for me as the choice of Ohio, had I thought even more cause to com- 
 plain of his course than I had. But I prefer to forget all that. His 
 course in his place has been bold, manly, and in my judgment, wise. 
 I trust no friend of mine will oppose his reelection because of any 
 supposed grief of mine or ours. 
 
 '• Should any circumstances make Mr. Wade's reelection impossi- 
 ble, it seems to me that the southern part of the State would be en- 
 titled to the senator, and I know nobody better entitled than Judge 
 Key or Judge HoadJy. Judge Key has been of great service here, 
 and is now very much of your and my way of thinking. In naming 
 these gentlemen, don't regard me as becoming the partisan of any- 
 body. The legislature, I am confident, will elect nobody not thor- 
 oughly reliable for the present and the future, and with its choice I 
 shall be content." 
 
 In a letter of the next clay, was said to Judge Gans : 
 
 ' : I do not propose to take any part in the contest concerning the 
 senutorship in Ohio. My time is wholly absorbed here. The men- 
 tion of my name is unauthorized by me. I am not a candidate. 
 Judge AVade will doubtless be a candidate for re-election; he has 
 served the State and country faithfully. Judge Spaulding is a per- 
 sonal and political friend, whom I honor and esteem greatly, and to
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 409 
 
 whom no place could be given, as I believe, which he would not fill 
 worthily. I have heard also all the other names mentioned in the 
 article you sent me, and more besides, among whom there would be 
 no difficult}- in selecting a good man. I am quite satisfied to leave 
 the matter where the constitution leaves it — with the legislature, 
 the members of which will doubtless consult the public sentiment of 
 Ohio, and reflect it faithfully." 
 
 Next comes a letter, the importance of which could hardly be 
 overstated. It reads as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, February 4, 1862. 
 
 "Mr Dear Sir: Your feelings of repugnance to the legal tender 
 clause can hardly be greater than my own ; but I am convinced that, 
 as a temporary measure, it is indispensably necessary. From vari- 
 ous motives, some honorable and some not honorable, a considerable 
 number, though a small minority, of the business men and people are 
 indisposed to sustain the United States notes \>y receiving and pav- 
 ing them as money. This minority, in the absence of any legal ten- 
 der clause, may control the majority to all practical intents. To 
 prevent this, which would at this time be disastrous in the extreme, 
 I yield my general views for a particular exception. To yield does 
 not violate any obligation to the people, for the great majority, will* 
 ing now to receive and pay these notes, desix*e that the minority 
 may not be allowed to reap special advantages from their refusal to 
 do so ; and our Government is not only a government of the people, 
 but is bound in an exigency like the present, to act on the maxim, 
 1 Salus populi suprema lex.' 
 
 '• It is only, however, on condition that a tax adequate to interest, 
 reduction of debt, and ordinaiy expenditures be provided, and, that 
 a uniform banking system be authorized, founded on United States 
 securities, and, with proper safeguards for specie payments, secur- 
 ing at once a uniform and convertible currency for the people, and, 
 creating a demand for national securities, which will sustaiu their 
 market value and facilitate loans; it is only on this condition, I say, 
 that 1 consent to the expedient of United States notes in limited 
 amounts being made a legal tender. 
 
 "In giving this consent, I feel I am treading the path of duty, and 
 shall cheerfully, as I always have done, abide the consequences. I 
 dare not say that I care nothing for personal consequences; but I 
 think I may truly say, that I care little for them in comparison with 
 my obligation to do whatever the safety of the country may re- 
 quire. Yours truly, 
 
 - W. C. Bryant, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Let me next invite attention to this document : 
 
 " Washington, May 18, 18G4. 
 
 "Dear Sir: I have too sincere a friendship for 3-ou to be indif 
 ferent to any thing you say or write. It may not always be in my
 
 410 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 power to agree with friends, or to manifest my sentiments toward 
 them as they or I would wish ; but they are never forgotten, nor do 
 their services to our common cause ever cease to be gratefully re- 
 membered. 
 
 "Your letter and the petition inclosed with it have both been 
 carefully read. 
 
 "I do not agree with you in thinking that the constitution pro- 
 hibits the issue of legal tender notes under the authority of Congress ; 
 but I do agree in the opinion that an inflated paper currency is a 
 great evil, and should be reformed as soon as possible. 
 
 "The difficulty is, in the practicability of the reform, so long as 
 expenditure so largely overgoes income. 
 
 "In my judgment, if Congress will 'perfect a good and judicious 
 excise law' and give the country a National Banking System instead 
 of State Banking Systems, and State Banking without system, it 
 will not be difficult to return to specie payments. We must pay as 
 we go, or very nearly that, if we want to maintain credit at its high- 
 est point. As long as the government spends four or five times as 
 much as it collects, there can be no permanent financial safety. It 
 was well enough to borrow at first, when the military authorities 
 told us that the rebellion would be suppressed ' in a year,' or after 
 a ' short, sharp, decisive struggle ; ' but as soon as it became man- 
 ifest that borrowing was going to any amount over a thousand, or at 
 most fifteen hundred, millions, Congress ought to have provided taxes 
 sufficient to make it certain that the debt should not be carried be- 
 yond say two thousand, or at most, twenty-five hundred, millions. 
 It is not too late even now for Congress, by retrenchment and taxa- 
 tion, to insure this; but retrenchment and taxation are not popular, 
 if Congress should want to be popular. To be sure a crash will 
 come, and there will be a reckoning ; but every one says, 'after me 
 the deluge.' 
 
 " Your redemption plan would be good if there were not a better; 
 but where would you get coin, unless redemption of specie payments 
 comes just to pay the first instalment of redemption bonds? In 
 my judgment, the first step is to economize and systematize expen- 
 diture, then the most energetic energy in the prosecution of the war ; 
 next, exclusion of State bank notes from circulation ; next, adequate 
 taxation ; next, resumption sustained by the whole power of the 
 government. Many details I can not notice; but the general out- 
 line indicates, where, in my judgment, lies the path of safety. 
 
 "You say nothing about your family. I shall be glad to know how 
 you all are ; and what you are doing. 
 
 " Sincerely your friend, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Jesse Baldwin, Esq., Youngstown, Ohio." 
 
 It is necessary, in disposing of this matter, to do justice to the 
 language of Chief Justice Chase, first in Hepburn vs. GriswoldJ and 
 
 l 8 Wallace, 003.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 411 
 
 next in the Legal Tender Cases, 1 in order to possess ourselves of all 
 that is of interest to this investigation. 
 
 In the first of these cases, the Chief Justice, after pronouncing 
 the legal tender clause repugnant to the constitution, said : 
 
 "It is not surprising that amid the tumult of the late civil war, 
 and under the influence of apprehensions for the safety of the Re- 
 public almost universal, different views, never before entertained by 
 American statesmen or jurists, were adopted by many. The time 
 was not favorable to considerate reflection upon the constitutional 
 limits of legislative or executive authority. If power was assumed 
 from patriotic motives, the assumption found ready justification in 
 patriotic hearts. Man}' who doubted, yielded their doubts; many 
 who did not doubt, were silent. Some, who were strongly averse to 
 making government notes a legal tender, felt themselves constrained 
 to acquiesce in the views of the advocates of the measure. Not a 
 few, who then insisted upon its necessity, or acquiesced in that view, 
 have, since the return of peace, and under the influence of the 
 calmer time, reconsidered their conclusions, and now concur in those 
 which we have just announced. These conclusions seem to us to be 
 fully sanctioned b} T the letter and spirit of the constitution." 
 
 The dissenting opinion of the Chief Justice, reported in the 
 Legal Tender Cases, contains this language, with other sentences: 
 
 "The reference made in the opinion just read, as well as in the 
 argument at the bar, to the opinions of the Chief Justice, when Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury, seems to warrant, if it does not require, some 
 observations before proceeding further in the discussion. 
 
 "It was his fortune at the time the legal tender clause was in- 
 serted in the bill to authorize the issue of the United States notes, 
 and received the sanction of Congress, to be charged with the anx- 
 ious and responsible duty of providing funds for the prosecution of 
 the war. In no report made by him to Congress was the expedient 
 of making the notes of the United States a legal tender suggested." 
 
 So far quotes a remarkably reckless article in the North American 
 Review for January, 1874, thereupon proceeding to say : 
 
 " Such a direct denial of acts, of one of which, at least, he was the 
 author, and all of which he recommended to Congress and pressed 
 with whatever eloquence and influence he could command, is an ex- 
 ample of political profligacy without parallel in the history of this 
 country. It has laid the late Secretary open to the grave charge 
 that his decision in the late legal tender case was influenced by im- 
 proper motives, and has left an indelible stain on his memory." 
 
 Indeed ! Why not then quote the whole paragraph, a part of 
 
 1 12 Wallace, 570.
 
 412 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 which is thus recklessly characterized ? The Chief Justice went on 
 to say of himself as Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 " He urged the issue of notes payable on demand in coin, or re- 
 ceivable as coin in payment of duties. "When the State banks had 
 suspended specie payments, he recommended the issue of United 
 States notes, receivable for all loans to the United States and all 
 government dues except duties on imports. In his report of Decem- 
 ber, 18G2, he said that 'United States notes receivable for bonds 
 bearing a secure specie interest are next best to notes convertible 
 into coin,' and after stating the financial measures which in his judg- 
 ment were advisable, he added : ' The Secretary recommends, there- 
 fore, no mere paper money scheme, but, on the contrary, a series of 
 measures looking to a safe and gradual return to gold and silver as 
 the only permanent basis, standard, and measure of value recognized 
 b}' the constitution.' At the session of Congress before this report 
 was made, the bill containing the legal tender clause had become a 
 law. He was extremely and avowedly averse to this clause, but 
 was very solicitious for the passage of the bill to authorize United 
 States notes then pending. He thought it indispensably necessary 
 that the authority to issue these notes should be granted by Con- 
 gress. The passage of the bill was delayed, if not jeoparded, by the 
 difference of opinion which prevailed on the question of making 
 them a legal tender. It was under these circumstances that he ex- 
 pressed the opinion, when called on b}' the Committee of Ways and 
 Means, that it was necessary ; and he was not sorry to find it sus- 
 tained by respected courts, not unanimous indeed, nor without con- 
 trary decisions of State courts equally respectable. Examination 
 and reflection under more propitious circumstances have satisfied 
 him that this opinion was erroneous, and he does not hesitate to de- 
 clare it. He would do so just as unhesitatingly if his favor to the 
 legal tender clause had been at the time decided, and his opinion as 
 to the constitutionality of the measure clear." 
 
 The next document- 1 offer takes us back a little, as follows: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 28, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : You know me too well, I trust, to believe for a 
 moment that I would interfere, directly or indirectly, in a matter 
 which pertains so exclusively to the legislature of the State, as the 
 choice of a senator. It was 1113- pleasure, as it was my duty, to con- 
 tribute my little quantum of aid to the success of the Union cause in 
 Man hind, without the slightest knowledge of the predilections of 
 any Union candidate for the legislature in respect to the senator to 
 be chosen by the legislature. I trust you are mistaken as to the rep- 
 resentations said to have been made by Mr. Hoffman ; but certain 
 it is that no one has any warrant for attributing to me the slightest 
 expression of preference, either before or since the State election. 
 u Very sincerely your friend, 
 
 "Hon. Keverdy Johnson. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 413 
 
 Does not this letter testify well in favor of its writer? 
 In a letter of February 5, addressed to some one whose name is not 
 shown in the copy furnished me, are the words : 
 
 "I send an official letter about a permit to Mr. Norton, which ex- 
 plains itself. A similar permit has been, I believe, granted to Mr. 
 Forbes, of Boston, and it is desirable to avoid even the appearance 
 of discrimination against men not less worthy, though less promi- 
 nent. 
 
 "The Vice-President and Senator Wilson know Mr. Norton, and 
 vouch for his integrity and merit." 
 
 On the 19th, in a letter to X. H. Wilson, Esq., the same pen 
 said : 
 
 "An agent of this department — Mr. Allen A. Hall, a well-known 
 citizen of Nashville — has already gone to Tennessee to attend to the 
 commercial intercourse with that region. He will collect and send 
 on cotton, and do whatever else may be necessary in the premises. 
 I have granted also, experimental!}*, a few permits to take bagging 
 and bale rope into the insurrectionary region, and to bring thence 
 cotton. If these work well I may grant others. At present I pro- 
 pose to await the result of the experiments. May Ave not hope for 
 military results which will dispense with all restriction and permits 
 by reconstitution of State governments?" 
 
 On the 27th General Dix was thus addressed by letter : 
 
 "Dear General: Some time since, on your suggestion, I in- 
 dorsed on a letter from General Lockwood or yourself a leave to take 
 some salt to North Carolina for a Mr. Smith, with a view to its ex- 
 change for cotton seed. Learning that this was thought likely to 
 prejudice the blockade, I revoked the leave. 
 
 •Since then representations have been made to me which induce 
 me to think that a pass in the inclosed form, suggested by Mr. 
 Hodge, may be properly granted. You will observe that it contains 
 no authority to carry goods to the insurrectionary region, but 
 simply allows the importation of cotton seed into Baltimore. As Mr. 
 Smith bore General Lockwood's letter and your indorsement, I 
 prefer, before giving this authority, to consult you, so that, if you 
 think best, you can communicate my intention to Mr. Smith, cither 
 directly or through General Lock wood, and assure him of my will- 
 ingness to grant to him whatever is granted to any other person? 
 
 "Do you know Mr. Win. B. Dobbin, for whom Mr. Hodge desiros 
 a license, and with whom he will be interested in the cargo? Is he 
 a thoroughly loyal man, and in sympathy with the administra- 
 tion? ' 
 
 By way of postscript we have : 
 
 "Officers in the civil, naval, or military service of the "United
 
 414 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 States are requested to respect the pass which may be issued by 
 
 Major-General John A. Dix, U. S. A., to to bring a cargo 
 
 of cotton seed to Baltimore, Mr. complying with the 
 
 terms and conditions of said pass." 
 
 Before passing from this subject it is proper to touch a matter of 
 some delicacy. In Ohio, among the evidently unfounded charges 
 against Secretary Chase, was one imputing to him and Mr. Mellen a 
 corrupt combination with other persons I forbear to name ; and 
 there were charges of other corruption. All these charges supposed 
 Mr. Chase to be corruptly speculating in cotton; but they never 
 commanded much attention. The high character of Mr. Chase pro- 
 tected him then, as it had protected him before. I have no doubt 
 at all about his purity in public as in private life. 
 
 But was it not unfortunate for him and the country that he be- 
 came Secretary of the Treasury, and so had to deal with such mat- 
 ters? As Chief Justice, but for his career as Secretary of the Treas- 
 ury, he would have been acknowledged to have had no superior 
 
 Here is another letter showing farther how, as Secretary of the 
 Treasury, he had to occupy his attention : 
 
 " Treasury Department, February 5, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Have just sent you a telegram in these words, as 
 nearly as I recollect them : 
 
 "' Your letter just received — am exceedingly solicitous on your ac- 
 count, and on the account of our Cincinnati mechanics that the mor- 
 tar beds be finished at the day — don't fail — will write by mail.' 
 
 " This dispatch explains itself. I only add a word,, lest you may 
 think that I suppose the government will refuse to take the mortar 
 beds, on account of a day or two of delay in finishing them. I do 
 not suppose such will be the case ; though I am unable to speak def- 
 initely of what is in another department. 
 
 "But I shall he mortified exceedingly, if, after what I have said, 
 and you have said, to the President, there should be any failure or 
 any delay. The honor of our Cincinnati mechanics is in some sort 
 pledged, and I want it redeemed, even if they have to accomplish im- 
 possibilities. I know they can accomplish impossibilities when they 
 try. I mean, of course, what most men would call impossibilities, 
 
 "Any delay, would involve the necessity of explanation and ex- 
 cuse, and I want to have no occasion for either, where our people are 
 concerned. Yours sincerely, 
 
 " Edward M. Shield, Esq. S.P.CHASE." 
 
 A letter, dated February 17, 1862, and addressed by Secretary 
 Chase to Mr. M. D. Potter, now deceased, then of the Cincinnati 
 Commercial ', contained these words :
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 415 
 
 "Several friends have written rae on the subjecl of the United 
 States Senatorship, desiring me to be the successor of Wade. I have 
 no wish to be so. I came into the Treasury Department against my 
 
 own counsel; but imw 1 am in, I do not desire even to seem to shrink 
 from its responsibilities. 1 have entire faith in our ability to crush 
 out the rebellion, and entire confidence — if I can get my views of 
 finance into laws — that we shall save the eost of the war in our 86- 
 cured and improved currency. 
 
 "But 1 do not regard the Senator question with indifference. lam 
 really anxious to have the support of at least one personal friend 
 from Ohio. Wade is not : though I must do him the justice 1o say 
 that he i-s bold, faithful and. able ; and I should prefer his election in- 
 finitely to that of some man not so faithful, able, and bold as him- 
 self. We must have, now, men of ideas and energies. 
 
 " Of such men are Hoadly, Key, and Spaulding. Under all the 
 circumstances, as I see them. I think neither Judge Key nor Judge 
 Hoadly likely to be taken up with probabilities of success. "Why 
 not. then, take Judge Spaulding? He is a man of great energ}' and 
 ability, and of irreproachable character. Some years since, it is true. 
 he was addicted to occasional sprees ; hut this is all reformed, thor- 
 oughly and completely, and for years. The only objection that can 
 possibly be made to him is. that he is too radical. But he is no more 
 radical than myself or. tioic. Key. In fact, in public bodies, he has 
 always shown himself singularly wise and discreet. Why not, then, 
 give him a good setting forth in the Commercial? I am told there 
 are many on both sides, whose nominal and perhaps real choice is 
 some other general, who will gladly or cheerfully support him; while 
 his positive original strength is quite as respectable as that of several 
 other prominent men. How would it do to talk to Shield and let 
 him go to Columbus, and see what can be fairly and prudently done? 
 " Very truly and faithfully, 
 
 " M. D. Potter, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Intimacy between such a man as he who wrote and him who was to 
 read that letter could work mischief; it could work no good. It 
 showed our hero's growing disposition to control or influence con- 
 ductors of the press.
 
 416 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
 
 FEBRUARY 17, 1862, the Secretary of the Treasury wrote 
 to Bishop Mcllvaine: 
 
 "We entertain here now no fear of foreign intervention. The 
 recent successes dispel all doubt of the ability of the Nation to deal 
 with the rebellion. 
 
 "The capture of Roanoke Island with near three thousand prison- 
 ers; the capture of Fort Heniy, followed so rapidly by that of Fort 
 Donelson, with fifteen thousand, and among them two of the ablest 
 of the rebel generals, Johnson (Albert Sidney) and Buckner; the 
 splendid march and success of Lander on the Upper Potomac, which 
 will soon open the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, are each crushing 
 blows. The time has now come for dealing decisively with the army 
 in front of us; weakened by sickness, desertions, and withdrawals 
 of troops, until a victory over it is deprived of more than half its 
 honor." 
 
 The conclusion of the letter contains this sentence : " You are 
 doing a great work and a good one." 
 
 The same day, a letter to M. D. Potter, now deceased, contained 
 the words : 
 
 "I have just heard the glorious news from Fort Donelson. The 
 underpinning of the rebellion seems to be knocked out from under 
 it; thanks to divine Providence in the first place, and next to the 
 agency of the President, seconded by the genius of Halleck, and the 
 skill and courage of the generals and soldiers in the field. Lander, 
 too, has done gloriously on the Upper Potomac. He is a man of 
 the noblest temper and of equal genius. These blows, with the 
 splendid triumph under Burnside and Goldsborough, will go far 
 towards finishing the rebellion. But the finish must yet be given." 
 
 Next, attention is invited to this letter: 
 
 "Washington, February 20, 1862. 
 "Dear Sir: Most gladly would I unite with the citizens of New 
 York in celebrating the anniversaiy of the birth-day of Washington, 
 could I leave, oven for such a purpose, my post of duty at this 
 time, but I must remain.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 417 
 
 "The celebration which you propose, and similar celebrations, 
 spontaneously springing from the same impulse, all over the coun- 
 try, justify the oope that the memory of Washington, ever living in 
 the hearts of his countrymen, will lend an appropriate inspiration 
 to all our endeavors to restore the Union which he contributed so 
 much to establish. We need his patience, his disinterestedness, his 
 true courage, his lofty sense of justice, his enlightened zeal for 
 impartial freedom. These are the virtues which, exorcised in such 
 degree as men are capable of, will not only restore the Union but 
 reestablish it in more than its pristine vigor, compactness, and 
 beneficence. Yours, very trul}', S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Elliot C. Cowden, Esq., Chairman, etc., New York City." 
 
 The indications of this note may be differently viewed : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, March, 1862. 
 " My Dear Cousin : I have recommended your appointment to 
 the President, and have asked Mr. Senator Conness to present your 
 letters and papers. 
 
 "I hope you may obtain what you want 
 
 " Affectionately, your cousin, * 
 
 " Eev. Dudley Chase. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 For my part, I rather like that little note. 
 March 6th the diary yields as follows: 
 
 "To-day the President sent a message to Congress, recommending 
 cooperation by Federal Government with States in abolition of 
 slavery within their limits. 
 
 "The following is a draft of a message on this subject, prepared 
 and submitted to the President during the last week of December: 1 
 
 1 Here is the draft so mentioned : 
 
 "MESSAGE. 
 
 "In my annual message, communicated to Congress at the commencement of the 
 present session, I took occasion to say: 
 
 "The Union must be preserved; and hence all indispensable means must be 
 employed. We should not be in haste to determine that radical and extreme meas- 
 ures, which may reach the loyal as well as the disloyal, are indispensable. 
 
 "Reflecting since, with great solicitude, upon the condition of the country, and 
 sharing in full proportion the desire which pervades the whole community for a 
 Bpeedy suppression of the rebellion, I have reached the conclusion that it is my duty 
 to submit to the consideration of Congress some suggestions which seem to me to 
 deserve their most serious attention. 
 
 "It is known to all that the most potent falsehoods by which the fomenters of 
 discontent and promoters of insurrection inflamed the minds of citizens of the slave- 
 holding States, and prepared them for rebellion under the guise of secession, was
 
 418 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 March 9th, Secretary Chase wrote as follows to General Halleck : 
 
 "General: I received your telegram late last night, and an- 
 swered it to-day. 
 
 "Your order, opening the navigation of the Cumberland, was 
 taken every-where as a commercial measure, and the seeming pref- 
 erence given to St. Louis merchants excited much feeling at Cincin- 
 nati and Louisville, and the surveyors at both ports telegraphed me 
 for authority to grant permits, which, under the law, I could not 
 give. Of what Mr. Mellen has done, I am uninformed, but presume 
 he has sought to bring commercial intercourse with the insurrec- 
 tionary region under the regulations required by law. I am conn- 
 dent he has had no thought of interfering with any military move- 
 ment or measure of yours, or of treating any order which you have 
 
 the assertion that the party by which I was chosen President of the United States 
 designed to interfere, through the agency of the Federal Government, with the insti- 
 tution of slavery in the States where it existed. It is equally well known to all 
 who have taken any pains to inform themselves, that such interference was never 
 designed or sanctioned by that party, but was, on the contrary, in all its declarations, 
 whether by National or State Conventions, distinctly and emphatically disavowed 
 and repudiated. No well-informed person can now reasonably doubt that, under 
 an administration conducted upon the principles set forth in those declarations, the 
 institution of slavery, existing under State constitutions and laws, would have been 
 as absolutely safe from Federal interference as it had been under any administra- 
 tion since the establishment of the Union. 
 
 " It is true that the majority of the people, by whose suffrages the existing ad- 
 ministration was called to the concerns of government, cherishing on this subject 
 the sentiments of Washington and Jefferson, of Franklin and Adams, opposed the 
 extension of slavery beyond State limits, and proposed to afford it no governmental 
 support within the sphere of exclusive national jurisdiction. But it is equally true 
 that they regarded slavery within State limits as beyond that sphere, and meant to 
 perform fully, in reference to slaves held under State laws, as well as in reference 
 to every other matter of duty to every citizen of every State, every constitutional 
 obligation. 
 
 "The rebellion, therefore, except so far as its chiefs and some of their more de- 
 luded followers were concerned, was inspired and is sustained by a delusion. Were 
 the people of the rebellious districts even now to reject the counsels of their mis- 
 leaders, reorganize loyal State governments, and again send senators and represent- 
 atives to Congress, they would find themselves at peace, with no institution changed 
 and with their just influence in the national councils unabridged and unimpaired. 
 With peace so restored, prosperity and happiness would return. 
 
 "A pacific conquest of this delusion having been made impossible by the bom- 
 bardment of Sumter, it became necessary to preserve the Union by war; and the 
 question now most imperatively demanding attention and solution is, by what 
 means can this war be best abridged without sacrificing its object? 
 
 " Without now adverting to the military measures demanded for the suppression 
 of the rebellion, it seems fit to direct your attention to one of another nature. I 
 have already observed that the rebellion, so far as the people of the slave States
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 419 
 
 thought proper to make, whether military or otherwise, otherwise 
 than with the greatest respect. If in any matter connected with 
 his duties, he finds himself in apparent or real conflict with you, it 
 is his business first to refer the matter to yourself, and to advise me, 
 and then, if you require what seems to him to infringe the law, to 
 acquiesce in your decision until the matter can be adjusted here by 
 the President, or b}' the War and Treasury Departments. It is of 
 the first importance that your operations be in no respect embar- 
 rassed, and they certainly shall not be through any act or omission 
 of mine. 
 
 "Be assured, General, that no one rejoices more heartily than my- 
 self in your success, or feels more grateful for the zeal, ability, and 
 wisdom with which, at this critical moment, you are serving your 
 country. Yours most cordially, 
 
 "Major-General Halleck. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 participate in it, is prompted by a delusion — by the groundless fear of interference 
 with State concerns, and especially in the matter of slavery, by Federal authority. 
 The real motives with its chiefs and the initiated are, first, resentment at defeat of 
 their schemes for the subjection of the Federal administration to the permanent 
 supremacy of slave-holders as a separate ruling class ; and, secondly, ambition to 
 found a government, either consolidated or federal, republican or monarchical, of 
 which slavery shall be the central idea, and which they themselves may administer 
 and control. 
 
 "To dispel the illusion of the masses, and to deprive the leaders of the hope of 
 success in their cherished schemes, will go far toward extinguishing the rebellion, 
 by withdrawing its aliment. 
 
 '•I suggest, therefore, for the consideration of Congress, the expediency of offer- 
 ing, by joint resolution, to the acceptance of the several States within whose limits 
 slavery exists under sanction of loyal State governments, a compensation not 
 exceeding a certain sum for each person held as a slave according to the last census, 
 to be paid to the States and distributed to individuals in proportions ascertained 
 by their own legislation, in case the people thereof, through their own conventions 
 or legislatures shall see fit to accept such compensation and make provision for 
 emancipation. 
 
 "Such a proposition on the part of Congress, submitted frankly to the free 
 acceptance or rejection of the loyal States, would be a distinct and emphatic repu- 
 diation of all pretense of Federal authority to interfere with slavery within State 
 limits, by referring the whole subject to the States and people immediately inter- 
 ested. It would afford clear evidence of fraternal sentiments, by manifested readi- 
 ness to assume as a common burden the cost of a benefit shared by all, but by none 
 more largely than by the enfranchising States; and it would, so far as accepted by 
 the loyal slave-holding States, strengthen the bonds of union between themselves 
 and their brethren, while it would in the same degree destroy the hope of bringing 
 these loyal States into their scheme of extending the slave-holding empire yet cher- 
 ished by the leailers of the rebellion; compel thern to see for what wretched husks 
 of sovereignty they have prodigally wasted their rich inheritance of safety, honor, 
 prosperity, and power under the Federal constitution, and arouse in the minds of 
 the misled masses irresistible desires to return to the Union, from which, in an evil 
 hour, under coercion or delusion, they have attempted to withdraw.'" 
 
 28
 
 420 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The next clay our ever busy hero wrote as follows: 
 
 "Dear Wilson : It is said that the nomination of General Blenker 
 will not be confirmed by the Senate. If this be so, I am sure the 
 President is disposed to nominate Carl Schurz in his place. The 
 nomination of Schurz would be a decided benefit, in my judgment, 
 to the army and the administration. 
 
 " I know nothing of Blenker's case, and do not wish to be under- 
 stood as expressing any wish in reference to it, except for immediate 
 action. If he is worthy he ought to be confirmed without reference 
 to Schurz; if unworthy, he should be rejected without reference to 
 the question of a successor. But why not act in the matter, and at 
 once? It is desirable all round. Yours truly, 
 
 "Hon. II. Wilson. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the same clay Rev. Dr. Fuller, of Baltimore, called on the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, and asked advice as to the course he 
 should pursue in regard to his plantations and slaves at Port Royal. 
 He wished to know what were his rights in respect to them. 
 
 Mr. Chase told him that, as a loyal man, he was proprietor of 
 the land. 
 
 11 How about the negroes ? " asked the Reverend loyalist. 
 
 " They are free," responded Secretary Chase. 
 
 The Doctor thought his right to them was the same as his right 
 to the land. He was told that opinions would differ on that point, 
 but that, for one, his interlocutor would never consent to the invol- 
 untary reduction to slavery of one of the negroes who had been in 
 the service of the government. The Secretary went on to intimate 
 what he thought of the character of the rebellion, its results, etc. 
 
 Dr. Fuller said he was willing to acquiesce in the experiments of 
 the government, but expressed grave doubts of the success of the 
 undertaking at Port Royal. He quoted Machiavelli's saying, " next 
 to making freemen slaves, it is most difficult to make slaves free- 
 men." 
 
 In connection with this anecdote, let me relate another. 
 
 On the first of May following, General Saxton came to breakfast 
 with the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Rev. Mr. French, just 
 arrived from Port Royal, happened in. Port Royal matters were 
 talked over. In recording some account of this conversation, Mr. 
 Chase put down these words : 
 
 "Inter alia, Mr. F. don't like many things; thinks the Unita- 
 rians don't get hold of the work in the right way. The negroes 
 are mostly Baptists, and like emotional religion better than ra-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 421 
 
 ti on al, so called. They ' to Jesus,' and can not understand a 
 
 religion that is not founded on His divinity. Many marriages have 
 been 'confirmed' among thorn. He had laid much stress on the 
 duty of regular marriages between those who have been living to- 
 gether without thai sanction. On some plantations the masters had 
 allowed and encouraged marriages by ministers — on others, little 
 was cared about it. A good deal of cotton had been planted, and 
 more corn. The work of cultivation was going on as well as could 
 be expected. Mr. F. thought Mr. Suydam would make a good col- 
 lector. I talked to General S. about the work before him. He said 
 the Secretary of War had authorized him to procure one or two 
 thousand red flannel suits for the blacks, with a view to organiza- 
 tion. No arms to be supplied as yet" 
 
 March 10, the Secretary made this entry : 
 
 " This morning Judge (Col.) Key came into the office, dressed for 
 the march toward Manassas, which the Arm}* of the Potomac is 
 making. He bade me good-bye most cordially, thanking me repeat- 
 edly tor my kindness, by which, he said, I had won his faithful and 
 life-long friendship ; there was no man in the country for whom he 
 had so high a respect and regard — no man whose advancement he 
 so much desired; not one whom he so wished to serve." 
 
 A marked man, Judge (Col.) Key, of whom more must be said 
 hereafter. 
 
 March 17, the Secretary made this record : 
 
 " W. D. Bickham, of the Cincinnati Commercial, called, having just 
 returned from Manassas. 
 
 "He reports that the stories of wooden guns and absence of 
 fortifications are fully sustained by the facts ; that the rebels must 
 have been evacuating for weeks; that they left neither a cannon nor 
 a good gun behind them; that we left more property to be wasted 
 and destroj'ed in our own camps when we made the movement than 
 we found at Manassas. He says that what was left shows that the 
 rebels have lived well — having molasses, sugar, rice, and corn-meal 
 in abundance. They did not leave more than $20,000 worth of prop- 
 erty behind them, consisting of clothing and useless guns, and somo 
 swords." 
 
 This letter seems to me of marked significance, in view of the 
 time when it was written : 
 
 " Washington, March 26, 1862. 
 " My Dear Mr. Mellen : I am not fond of political metaphysics. 
 The article in the Evening Post which you send me suits me well 
 enough. While I think that the government, in suppression of re- 
 bellion, in view of the destruction by suicide of the State govern 
 ments [which] with the actual or strongly implied consent of the
 
 422 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 majority of the citizens of the several rebel States, have so far for- 
 feited all right to be regarded as States, might justlj' treat them as 
 Territories, I have never proposed to make this opinion the basis of 
 political measures. I am willing and indeed much prefer to regard 
 each State as in existence, and to have no change of boundaries, 
 except such as may he freely consented to by them. I want to keep 
 all the stars and all the stripes — and to keep the States with all their 
 old names and ensigns. South Carolina, even, should be South Caro- 
 lina; but reformed, I hope. The bill which I prepared provided 
 only for provisional governments; not to destroy, but to preserve. 
 It is entirely within the principle of the Post's article. But I prefer 
 civil provisional governments authorized by Congress to military 
 governments instituted by the President. 
 
 " I am glad you are right with Halleck, and Halleck with you. 
 He is the ablest man yet. Yours truly, 
 
 « William P. Mellen, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 It was not strong to say, " I am not fond of political metaphy- 
 sics." Metaphysics is a much-abused good name of a good thing. 
 Such writing as that just quoted is but a sort of clap-trap for the 
 shallow. Economics, as a science, may be deemed a species of "po- 
 litical metaphysics." 
 
 The same day Secretary Chase wrote as follows: 
 
 "My Dear General: I inclose an article from the Cincinnati 
 Commercial, hitherto one of the ablest and most earnest defenders of 
 General McClellan. It grieves me to see the confidence of the 
 country, which was revived by the late movement of the Army of 
 the Potomac, already relapsing into distrust. Let me beg you to 
 do all that is possible to inspire vigor and energy. Permit me also 
 to suggest the expediency of having no more reviews. The country 
 is in no mood to hear of anything, however useful and valuable in 
 itself, which savors of show rather than action. Think how much 
 is to be done and how near is midsummer. 
 
 " If you can not inspire activity and even dash into the army, you 
 ought to seek some other command, unless certain that the outcome 
 will prove the delay to be Fabian, and only a means to surer and 
 larger success. 
 
 " I write as a true friend. Cordially, 
 
 " Major General McDowell. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 28th of March, at Washington, Mr. Chase wrote as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Your letter of the 4th of March reached me yes- 
 terday, and I beg you to accept my thanks for it and for your earlier 
 letters, to which I should have regularly replied, had my incessant 
 occupations permitted. I will be as good a correspondent as I can, 
 and trust your kindness for the overlooking of all sins of omission. 
 
 "I quite agree with you in your views of our duties, both in the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 423 
 
 prosecution of the war and in relation to slavery. It was nry opin- 
 ion from the first that we should strike the insurgents :is hard' and as 
 fast as possible. I remember — how well ! — going to General Scott, in 
 May, nearly two weeks before Virginia voted on secession, and urg- 
 ing him to seize Manassas and Alexandria. At that time, the rebels 
 had no force of any strength or importance at either point, and only 
 a few hundred men at Harper's Ferry. I argued that Manassns, 
 commanding the two railroads, was of great strategic importance; 
 that with Manassas in our possession, the rebels would he obliged to 
 fall back from Harper's Ferry and Winchester, which would leave 
 the valley of the Shenandoah and a large space on the Potomac clear 
 of them, and give us command of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
 to Wheeling. With this support. I further insisted that Virginia 
 might be carried against secession bj* the popular vote and that in this 
 way the whole State might be saved. General Scott was a good deal 
 impressed by these views; but his military prudence decided him 
 against the measures I proposed. The opportunity passed by. 
 Manassas was occupied by the rebels, and you know the history. 
 
 " There have been many other occasions in the course of the strug- 
 gle, in which it seemed to me that a different course from that ac- 
 tually adopted would have been better. This is especially true in re- 
 lation to slavery. It has seemed to me from the early days of the 
 conflict that it was bad policy as well as bad principle to give any 
 support to the institution. I was quite willing to let the loyal States 
 do with it what they would, just as if we were at peace, but I never 
 could see the expediency or propriety of upholding it. My idea was, 
 not to declare emancipation, but simply to treat the population 
 just as we found it, as loyal or disloyal, and a black loyalist better than 
 a white rebel. I could see no valid objection to enlisting acclimated 
 colored men, loyal and willing to serve, where the Northern men 
 could not serve without decimation by disease, and white men would 
 not serve either because actually rebels or afraid of rebels. But I 
 have not been able to make my friends in the administration see as I 
 have seen, and I certainly don't claim that all the wisdom is mine 
 and none theirs. 
 
 '• Where, therefore, I have been overruled, I have quietly submit- 
 ted, doing all I could to carry forward the cause and the work, if not 
 in my preferred way, yet in the best way possible for me. 
 
 "Just now, things are looking very well. The expenditures are be- 
 ing gradually reduced — the armies are moving — success seems every- 
 where to settle on our banners — the credit of the government is won- 
 derfully sustained, considering all disadvantages. The papers of 
 course give you all the details, and you will not expect them from 
 me. Besides, I must close this letter — somewhat too long already. 
 
 " Can you send me any good books, showing systems of revenue 
 and taxation in Denmark, in English or French ; books or docu- 
 ments? Your friend, 
 
 " Hon. Bradford Wood. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 March 31, we have this letter : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : The President's policy in regard to emancipation
 
 424 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 meets my most cordial approval, and will have my heartiest Bup- 
 port. 
 
 " Our friends in Maryland are about making a movement in ac- 
 cordance with it. 
 
 " The only danger will be in too high valuations. This will, of 
 course, require attention. 
 
 " An eminent Marylander tells me that the average valuation for 
 assessment does not exceed 8150 per person. The valuation for in- 
 franchisement ought not greatly to exceed that for taxation, as the 
 whole labor remains, and remains more valuable than before. 
 
 " Yours cordially, 
 
 "Key. W. G. Elliot. S. P. CHASE.'' 
 
 April 1, in a letter to Colonel Geo. P. Este, the Secretary said : 
 
 "You are mistaken about the potentiality of a word from me in 
 the matter of brigadier-making with the President and Secretary of 
 War. I have referred }*our letter to the latter, however, with a cor- 
 dial indorsement. 
 
 "I can not approve the haste or inconsideration with which briga- 
 diers and other high officers are made. The consequences are all 
 evil — evil morally, evil financially, and evil politically." 
 
 Under date April 11th, we have this entry : 
 
 " The House of Bepresentatives, after a long and exciting session, 
 passed the Senate Bill, abolishing slavery in the District of Co- 
 lumbia, without amendment. 
 
 " The vote in the Senate was, yeas 29, nays 14. The vote in the 
 House was, yeas 92, nays 38.' 
 
 Wednesday, April 16, has the memorandum : 
 
 " The President signed the Emancipation Bill this morning." 
 
 April 23 yields this letter : 
 
 " Dear Sir : I am much gratified by your note of yesterday. 
 The general oversight of affairs at Port Royal, connected with the 
 culture of the lands and provision for the laborers, will soon be 
 transferred from this to the War Department. It was assumed by 
 me. as an incident to the collection of cotton, without any legal 
 authority beyond that of appointing a special agent. It was 
 assumed solely because the work seemed to be important and the 
 War Department was not ready, at that time, to take charge of it. 
 
 ••I welcome the cooperation of the benevolent associations, one of 
 which you represented. Indeed, without that cooperation it would 
 have been impracticable to prepare for the cultivation of the lands, 
 Or ameliorate, in any degree, the condition of the laborers. So far, 
 the work conducted by the Treasury agent. Mr. Pierce, and the 
 judiciously selected agents of the associations, has gone on as well 
 as could be hoped. Under the charge of the War Department it 
 will be conducted, I trust, even more successfully.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 12-"; 
 
 "I have reason to believe that officers will he selected for the 
 charge of the work who will be animated by the same spirit which 
 has guided the action of Mr. Pierce. I hope, indeed, that Mr. 
 Pierce may consent toacccpt a responsible appointment in connection 
 with it. Yours truly, 
 
 " Charles C. Leigh, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Under date, Thursday, May 1st, Chase wrote : 
 
 " This has not been an eventful day, though it has brought 
 information of great events." 
 
 On that day, Governor Dennison, with Colonel Milliken and 
 Messrs. Donaldson and Butler, called on Mr. Chase. Governor 
 Dennison commended Colonel Milliken to the Secretary. 
 
 In the same we find an entry, for the same day, as follows : 
 
 "To department and usual morning business — applications for 
 office from senators, representatives, and others. Promised nothing 
 to nobody. Wilmot most urgent for McKean, but Dunn quite so for 
 his nephew. Colonel Milliken came in and related case — read his 
 letter — wrongfully dismissed — my old friend T. C. H. Smith mixed 
 up in it. Indorsed strongly his statement to Secretary of War. 
 E. J. Walker and F. P. Stanton came in with argument in Porter 
 case, which I took and promised to examine. Saxton and French 
 came in — had seen Secretary of War, and S. had received instruc- 
 tions — read them and found them nearly same as had been written, 
 omitting reference to my Instructions to Agents of Treasury 
 Department, Went over to War Department about 5 P. M. — Stan- 
 ton gone to dinner — read despatches. Banks thinks his work done 
 in Shenandoah Valley and wishes to advance. McDowell reports 
 force in front, on authority of deserters from Yorktown — impressed 
 men who had got away and were trying to reach their homes. 
 Four regiments and some cavalry and artillery under Smith 
 (Gus.), say 3,000 — about 3,000 more under Jackson coming to join 
 them with, say 5,000 to 10,000. Whole force not over, I judge, from 
 12,000 to 16,000, and mostly raw and badly armed. Smith's force 
 in large part detailed from Yorktown, where I do not believe the 
 rebels now have 60.000 men — not equal to 40,000 good troops. 
 Strange that McClellan dallies and waits in eternal preparation. 
 Strange that the President does not give McDowell all the disposable 
 force in the region and send him on to Richmond. Telegram from 
 McD. copies extracts from Richmond papers, giving correspondence 
 between Mayor of Xew Orleans and Commodore Farragut. Mayor's 
 letter insolent. Also gives account of fall of Fort Macon, where 
 rebels were permitted to retire with honors of war, which I think 
 wrong. 
 
 '•Home about 6 to dinner. Judge Lane dined with me. Knew 
 McClellan when Superintendent of Central Railroad. Was a 
 good superintendent, but had no occasion for display of abilities 
 needed now. Knew * * * * well — unscrupulous in action
 
 426 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 against persons he disliked — sanguine, not always judicious, but 
 capable where work and energy and not much breadth and solidity 
 required. 
 
 "[Mr. Lathrop came in at department; told him he had been 
 appointed Collector at New Orleans, and would have instructions as 
 soon as confirmed. Chandler came in — introduced him to Mr. L. 
 Asked him to have conf n, and bill extending powers to prevent 
 aid to rebels passed, which he promised.]" 
 
 Now we come to a letter to our hero's " darling Nettie.'' It is 
 one of the most interesting letters in the book. Here is its tenor: 
 
 " Hevenue Steamer Miami, off Fortress Monroe, 
 
 "May 7, 1862. 
 
 "My Darling Nettie: I write to you from the cabin of the 
 steamer Miami, just outside of the steam transports loaded with 
 troops, embarked for a proposed attack on Norfolk. 
 
 " We came here night before last, having left Washington on Mon- 
 day evening. Our party consisted of the President, Secretary Stan- 
 ton, and General Viele, who had just returned from Port Eoyal, 
 where he had commanded a brigade charged with the most import- 
 ant duties in the reduction of Fort Pulaski. Our staunch little 
 steamer bore us rapidly and pleasantly down the river until we were 
 some ten or fifteen miles below Alexandria, when the night, which 
 had come on with a drizzling rain, became so thick and dark that 
 the pilot found himself unable to discern the right course. We were, 
 therefore, obliged to cast anchor and wait for a clearer sky. 
 
 "By 3 o'clock of Tuesday morning, we were again on our way. 
 We passed Aquia about day, and found ourselves about noon toss- 
 ing on the Chesapeake. It would have amused you to see us take 
 our luncheon. The President gave it up almost as soon as he began, 
 and, declaring himself too uncomfortable to eat, stretched himself at 
 length on the locker. The rest of us persisted ; but the plates slip- 
 ped this way and that, the glasses tumbled over and slid and rolled 
 about, and the whole table seemed as topsy-turvy as if some spirit- 
 ualist was operating upon it. But we got through, and then the 
 Secretary of War followed the example of the President, and General 
 Viele and I went on deck and chatted. 
 
 "Between 8 and 9 o'clock we reached our destination. Mr. Stanton 
 at once sent a message to General Wool, notifying our arrival, and, 
 after a while the General and a number of his staff came on board. 
 It was near 10 o'clock ; but after a short conference it was determined 
 that the President. Mr. S., General W., and myself, with General V., 
 should visit Commodore Goldsborough, and talk with him about the 
 condition of things 1 and the things to be done. As it was not easy 
 to get along side the Minnesota in the night on the revenue steamer, 
 we took a tug and were soon within hail. As directed, in response 
 to our hail, we went to the port side. And there were the narrow 
 
 1 Tbe copy I Lave copied is full of abbreviations, which I have not followed.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 427 
 
 steps up the loft}- side, with the guiding ropes on either hand hardly 
 visible in the darkness. It seemed to me very high and a little fear- 
 some. But etiquette required the President to go first, and he went. 
 Etiquette required the Secretary of the Treasury to follow, and I 
 followed. We got up safely, of course, and when up it did not seem 
 so very much of a getting up stairs after all. 
 
 "But I must not stop to describe the Minnesota, though the noble 
 ship is worth description ; nor shall I tell you of the conference, ex- 
 eept that it related to military and naval movements in connection 
 with the dreaded ' Merrimae.' 
 
 '• The next morning — yesterday, "Wednesday — we of the Miami 
 were up pretty early, for it isn't easy, somehow, to sleep on ship- 
 board. We were to breakfast at 9 o'clock with General Wool, and 
 Mr. Stanton proposed we should visit the Vanderbilt first. She was 
 all readj' for her encounter with the Merrimae, enormousby strength- 
 ened about the bow with timbers, so as to be little else for man}- feet 
 (say 50) from the prow than a mass of solid timber, plated outside 
 with iron. We stood a moment on her wheel-house, and looked 
 down through the immense diameter of her wheels, the frame-work 
 of which seemed slight and curiously interlaced ; but was in fact of 
 the strongest wrought-iron bars, and adjusted carefully to the great- 
 est strength. The weight of one wheel was 100 tons, and the diam- 
 eter through which we looked, 42 feet. 
 
 "From the Vanderbilt we sailed round the Monitor and Stevens, 
 and then back to the wharf; but I must omit in this letter the break- 
 fast, the visit to the Monitor and Stevens ; to the Rip Raps, Commo- 
 dore G-.'s coming, and discussion, the appearance of the Merrimae 
 and disappearance, the review, the visit to ruined Hampton, the de- 
 termination to direct Commodore Goldsboi-ough to send the Galena 
 and two gunboats up the river; how it was determined to attempt 
 the reduction of the batteries at Sewell's Point next morning; how 
 we went to the Rip Raps ; how the fleet moved to the attack ; how the 
 great guns of the Rip Raps joined in the tray, throwing shot and 
 shell more than three miles ; how the Merrimae came down and out; 
 how the Monitor moved up and quietby waited for her; how the big 
 wooden ships got out of the way, that the Minnesota and Vander- 
 bilt might have fair sweep at her and run her down ; how she 
 wouldn't come where they could ; how she finally retreated to where 
 the Monitor alone could follow her — all this, and much more, I must 
 leave untold this evening; for, since I wrote the first half and more 
 of this letter, a night is past and the sun of the 8th of May has 
 risen splendidly over Fortress Monroe. 
 
 "Your affectionate father, S. P. C." 
 
 The letter next in order reads as follows : 
 
 " Head-quarters Department of Virginia, 
 
 Fortress Monroe, Va., May 8, 1862. 
 "Mr Darling Nettie: I was obliged to close my letter to you 
 this morning quite abruptly, with a mere synopsis of events. I 
 will now give you a little better idea of what took place yesterday.
 
 428 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Yesterday morning we came ashore early. Commodore G. came 
 at the same time, on a summons from the President, and it was then 
 that the attack on Sewell's Point Batteries was determined on. 
 After the orders had been given, the President. Mr. Stanton, and 
 myself, went over to the Rip Raps in a tug to observe its execution. 
 It was not a great while before the great ships were in motion. The 
 Seminole took the lead, the San Jacinto and the Dakota, and, finally, 
 the Susquehanna followed, whose captain, Lardner, was the com- 
 manding officer of the vessels engaged. With these ships were 
 the Monitor and little gunboat Stevens, which Commodore Stevens 
 presented to the Treasury Department, and which I christened 
 'Stevens,' in honor of him. 
 
 " By and by, the Seminole reached her position, and a belch of 
 smoke, followed in a few seconds by a report like distant thunder, 
 announced the beginning of the cannonade. Then came the guns 
 from the Rip Raps where Ave were, and soon the Monitor and the 
 Stevens joined. In a little while, the small batteiy at the extreme 
 point was silenced, and the cannonade was directed on a battery in- 
 side the point, a half mile or a mile nearer Norfolk. "While this was 
 going on a smoke curled up over the woods on Sewell's Point, five or 
 six miles from its termination, and each man. almost, said to the 
 other, 'There comes the Merrimac ;' and, sure enough, it was the 
 Merrimac. But, before she made her appearance, we had left the 
 Rip Raps, and had reached the landing on our way to head-quarters. 
 
 "Just as we were going ashore, the Monitor came slowly about 
 from behind the Point, and all the big wooden vessels began to haul 
 off. The Monitor and Stevens, however, held their ground. The 
 Merrimac still came on slowly, and in a little while there was a 
 clear sheet of water between her and the Monitor. Then the great 
 rebel terror paused — then turned back — and having finally attained 
 what she considered a safe position, became stationary again. 
 
 "This was the end of the battle. Its results were, on our side, 
 nobody and nothing hurt, with the certainty that the battery at the 
 extreme point was useless to the rebels, and the battery on the in- 
 side much less strong and much less strongly manned than had been 
 supposed. The results on the rebel side we can't tell, but only know 
 that their barracks were burnt by our shells. Another certainly is 
 that the rebel monster don't want to fight, and won't fight if she can 
 help it, except with more advantage than she is likely to have. 
 Enough for one day." 
 
 Next we have : 
 
 " Steamer Baltimore, May 11, 1862. 
 " My Darling Nettie : I believe I closed my letter to you with an 
 account of the bombardment. That was thought to have shown the 
 inability of an attempt to land at Sewell's Point while the Merrimac 
 lay watching it; it at once became a question, what should now 
 be done? Three plans only seemed feasible: to send all the troops 
 that could be spared around to Burnside, and let him come on Nor- 
 folk from behind — that is, from the south ; to send them up James 
 River to aid McClellan ; or to seek another landing place out of
 
 OF SALMON .PORTLAND CHASE. 429 
 
 reach of the Merrimac. I offered to take the Miami, if a tug of less 
 draught, and capable, therefore, of getting nearer shore, could accompany 
 me, and make an examination, in company with an officer, of the coast 
 east of the Point. Colonel Cram offered to go, and General Wool 
 said he would accompany us. We started accordingly, and being 
 arrived opposite a point which I mark ' A ' on the poor draft I send 
 you, sent a boats crew on shore to find the depths of water. Wc 
 had already approached within some five hundred yards in the 
 Miami, and the tug had approached within perhaps one hundred, 
 of the shore. The boats went very near the shore, and then pulled 
 off, somewhat to my surprise. But when they returned to the boat, 
 the mystery was explained. They had seen an enemy's picket, and 
 a soldier standing up and beckoning to his companions to lie close, 
 and they had inferred the existence of an ambush, and had pulled 
 off to avoid being fired upon. When the officer of the boat and 
 Colonel Cram came on board, they could still see the picket on horse- 
 back, and pointed his position out to me ; but I, being near-sighted, 
 could not see. It was plain enough that there was no use in landing 
 men to be fired upon and overcome by a superior force, and so the 
 order was given to get under way to return to Fortress Monroe. We 
 had. indeed, accomplished our main purpose, having found the water 
 sufficiently deep to admit of landing without any serious difficulty. 
 But just as we were going away, a white flag w r as seen waving over 
 the sand-bank oa shore, and the General ordered it to be answered 
 at once, which was done by fastening a bed-sheet to the flag-line, 
 and running it up. When this was done several colored people ap- 
 peared on shore — all women and children. Fearing the flag and the 
 appearance of the colored people might be a cover, intended to get 
 our people within rifle-shot, I directed two boats to go ashore, with 
 full crews well armed. They went, and pretty soon I saw Colonel 
 Cram talking with the people on shore, while some of the men were 
 walking about on the beach. Presently one boat pulled off toward 
 the ship, and when she had come quite near I observed the colored 
 people going up the sand-bank, and Colonel Cram preparing to re- 
 turn with the other boat. It oceurred to me that the poor people 
 must have desired to go to Fortress Monroe, and might have been 
 refused. So I determined to go ashore myself, and jumping into 
 the returned boat was quickly on the beach. The Colonel reported 
 his examination entirely satisfactory, and I found from the colored 
 people (one of whom, however, turned out to be a white woman, 
 living near by) that none of them wanted to leave, and we all 
 returned to the ship. These women were the soldiers who had 
 alarmed our folks. 
 
 • We had made an important discovery — a good and convenient 
 landing place, some five or six miles from Fortress Monroe, capable 
 of receiving any number oftroops, and communicating with ^Norfolk 
 by quite passable roads, with a distance by one route of eight or nine, 
 and by another of twelve or thirteen, miles. 
 
 •• When 1 got back to Fortress Monroe I found the President had 
 been listening to a pilot and studying a chart, and had become im- 
 pressed with a conviction that there was a nearer landing, and 
 wished to go and see about it on the spot. So we started again and
 
 430 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 soon readied the shore, taking with us a large boat and some twenty 
 armed soldiers from the Kip Raps. The President and Mr. Stanton 
 were on the tug and I on the Miami. The tug was, of course, near- 
 est shore, and as soon as she found the water too shoal for her to go 
 farther safely, the Rip Raps boat was manned and sent in. Mean- 
 time, I had the Miami got ready for action, and directed the captain to 
 go ashore with two boats and ail the men they could take, fully armed. 
 Before this could be done, however, the other boat had pulled off 
 shore, and several horsemen, who appeared to be soldiers of the 
 enemy, were seen on the beach. I sent to the President to ask if we 
 should fire on them, and he replied negatively. We had again 
 found a good landing, which at the time I supposed to be between 
 two and three miles nearer Fortress Monroe, but which proved to be 
 only one-half or three-quarters of a mile nearer. 
 
 " Returning to Fortress Monroe, it was agreed that an advance 
 should at once be made on Norfolk from one of these landings. 
 General Wool preferred the one he had visited, and it was selected. 
 It was now night, but the preparations proceeded with great activity. 
 Four regiments were sent off and orders given for others to follow. 
 Colonel Cram went down to make a bridge of boats to the 
 landing, and General Wool asked me to accompany him the next 
 morning. 
 
 " Next morning (yesterday) I was up early, and we got off as soon 
 as possible. As soon as we reached the place, 1 tOQk the tug which 
 brought us down, and went up the shore to where the President's 
 boat had attempted to land the evening before. I found the distance 
 to be only three-quarters of a mile, and returned to the Miami, 
 where I had left the General. He had gone ashore, and I at once 
 followed. On shore I found General Viele, with an orderly behind. 
 He asked if I would like a horse, and I said yes. He thereupon di- 
 rected his orderly to dismount, and I mounted. I then proposed to 
 ride up to where the pickets had been seen the night before. He 
 complied. We found a shed where the pickets had staid, and fresh 
 horse tracks in many places, showing that the enemy had only with- 
 drawn a few hours. Meantime, Mr. Stanton had come down, and on 
 my return to General Wool, asked me to go with the expedition, and 
 I finally determined to do so. 
 
 "Accordingly, I asked General W. for a squad of dragoons and 
 for permission to ride on with General Viele ahead of him. He 
 granted both requests. After going about five miles, General V. and 
 myself came up with the rear of the advance (which had preceded 
 us three or ibur hours), and soon heard firing of artillery in front. 
 We soon heard that the bridge which we expected to cross was 
 burnt, that the enemy's artillery was posted on the other side, and 
 that Generals Mansfield and Weber were returning. 
 
 "About one-half or three-quarters of a mile from the burning 
 bridge ,we met them, and of course turned back. Returning, Ave met 
 General Wool, who determined to leave a guard on that route and 
 take another to Norfolk. 
 
 " There was now a good deal of confusion, to remedy which and 
 provide for contingencies General Wool sent General M. to Newport 
 News to bring forward his brigade, and brigaded the troops with
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 431 
 
 him, assigning General Viele to the command of one and General 
 Weber to the command of the other. The cavalry and Major Dodge 
 were in advance, General Wool and stall' next, then a body of sharp- 
 shooting skirmishers, then the main body of Viele's brigade, and 
 
 thru Weber's. We stopped everybody from whom we could obtain 
 information, and it was not long before we were informed that tho 
 intrenched camp, where we expected the rebels would fight, if any- 
 where, had just been evacuated, and that the barracks were tired. 
 This pleasant intelligence was soon confirmed by the arrival of one 
 of Dodge's dragoons, who told us that the cavalry were already 
 within it. 
 
 " We kept on, and were soon within tne work — a very strong 
 one, defended by many heavy guns, of which twenty-one still re- 
 mained in position. The troops, as they entered, gave cheer after 
 cheer, and were immediately formed into line for the farther march, 
 now only two miles to Norfolk. General Wool now invited General 
 Viele, General Weber, and Major Dodge to ride with us in front, and 
 so we proceeded until we met a deputation of the city authorities, 
 who surrendered the city in form. General Wool and myself en- 
 tored one carriage w 7 ith two of the deputation, and General Viele 
 another, with others, and so we drove into town and to the City 
 Hall, where the General completed his arrangements for taking pos- 
 session of the city. These completed, and General Viele being left 
 in charge as military governor, General Wool and myself set out on 
 our return to Ocean View, our landing-place, in the carriage which 
 had brought us to the City Hall; which carriage, by the wa}', was 
 that used by the rebel General Huger, and he had, perhaps, been 
 riding in it that very morning. 
 
 " It was sundown when we left Norfolk — about ten when we reached 
 Ocean View — and near twelve when we readied Fortress Monroe. 
 The President had been greatly alarmed for our safety by the report 
 of General M., as he went by to Newport News; and you can im- 
 agine his delight when we told him Norfolk was ours. He fairly 
 hugged General Wool. 
 
 "For my part, I was very tired, and glad to get to bed. 
 
 "This morning, as the President had determined to leave for 
 Washington at seven, I rose at six, and just before seven came into 
 the parlor, where Commodore Goldsborough astonished and gratified 
 us that the rebels had set fire to the Merrimac, and had blown her 
 up. 1 It was determined that, before leaving, we would go up in the 
 Baltimore, which was to convey us to Washington, to the point 
 where the suicide had been performed, and above the obstructions in 
 the channel, if possible, so as to be sure of the access to Norfolk by 
 water, which had been defended by the exploded ship. This was 
 done; but the voyage was longer than we anticipated, taking us up 
 the wharves of Norfolk, where, in the Elizabeth River, were already 
 lying the Monitor, the Stevens, the Susquehanna, and one or two 
 other vessels. General Wool and Commodore Goldsborough had 
 come up with us on the Baltimore ; and, as soon as they were trans- 
 
 'Sic.
 
 432 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PPBLIC SERYICES 
 
 ferred to the Susquehanna, our prow was turned down stream, and 
 touching for a moment at the Fortress, we kept on our way toward 
 Washington, where we hope to be at breakfast to-morrow. 
 
 " So has ended a brilliant week's campaign of the President ; for 
 I think it quite certain that if he had not come down, Norfolk would 
 still have been in possession of the enemy, and the Merrimac as 
 grim and defiant, and as much a terror as ever. The whole coast is 
 now virtually ours. There is no port which the Monitor and Stev- 
 ens can not enter and take. 
 
 " It was sad and pleasant to see the Union flag onoe more waving 
 over Norfolk, and the shipping in the harbor, and to think of the 
 destruction accomplished there a little more than a year ago. 
 
 " I went to Norfolk last night by land with the army ; this morn- 
 ing, by water, with the navy. My campaign, too, is over."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. .};>.; 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 CHASE, M'DOWELL, HUNTER, EREMONT, POPE, AND M CLELLAN. 
 
 M 
 
 AY 14, 1862, our martial-minded Minister of Finance wrote 
 as follows to Major General McDowell : 
 
 • My Dear General : I have time for but a word. Stanton told 
 me he should release you from the prohibition against the advance 
 yesterday. I hope he has done so. I have never exactly seen the 
 cogency of the reason for withholding- when you had the communi- 
 cation by Belle Plain as well as that by Acquia. But I am not mil- 
 itary. 
 
 "It has been one of my prime objects of desire that you should 
 advance towards and to Richmond. 
 
 "McClellaa surrounded by a staff of letter-writers, gets possession 
 of public opinion, and even those who know better succumb. Then 
 he lags. 
 
 "If the President, Stanton, and myself had not gone to Fortress 
 Monroe, all would have lagged there, too. 
 
 "You want to move, I understand, but it is not judged wise. 
 Well. 
 
 '• What I saw and heard at Fortress Monroe, on the march to Nor- 
 folk, and at Norfolk, taught me a little. 
 
 "I feel sure that you can get to Richmond if you are allowed to 
 move, and do actually move. There are disadvantages, I know; but 
 they are not insuperable. 
 
 '■ With 50,000 men and you for a general, I Avould undertake to 
 go from Fortress Monroe to Richmond, by the James River, with my 
 revenue steamers Miami and Stevens, and the Monitor, in two days. 
 
 'Excuse this disjointed letter. In great haste and exceedingly 
 pressed. Your friend, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On leaving for Philadelphia, Saturday, May 16th, Mr. Chase 
 wrote the following letter to the President : 
 
 "AYashington, May 16, 1862. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Obliged to go to Philadelphia this afternoon, I 
 can not confer with you as 1 wish in relation to the military order of 
 Major-General Hunter enfranchising the slaves in his department. 
 
 "Of course, I do not assume to judge of the military necessity; 
 but it seems to me of the highest importance, whether our relations 
 at home or abroad be considered, that this order be not revoked. Tt 
 has been made as a military measure, to meet a military exigency.
 
 434 THE PEIYATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and should, in my judgment, be suffered to stand upon the respon- 
 sibility of the commanding general who made it. 
 
 "It will be cordially approved, I am sure, by more than nine- 
 tenths of the people on whom you must rely for support of your ad- 
 ministration. 
 
 "Pardon this brief and hurried note, and believe me, 
 " Most cordially and respectfully yours, 
 
 '• To the President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Lincoln answered thus informally : 
 
 "No commanding general shall do such a thing, upon my respon- 
 sibility, without consulting me. A. LINCOLN. " l 
 
 June 2d, we have the letter to Samuel G. Ward, Esq.: 
 
 "Sir: Your letter, with copies of Mr. Forstall's protest against 
 the seizure of $800,000, alleged to be qualified property of Messrs. 
 Hope & Co.. of Amsterdam, but claimed by General Butler to be the 
 property of the United States, and of General Butler's letter to the 
 European consuls at New Orleans, is just received. 
 
 "You may assure your correspondents, unhesitatingly, that the 
 United States will carefully respect the rights of private property 
 in the subjects of friendly foreign powers; and that no apprehension 
 need be felt that, in case the deposit of Mr. Forstall on account of 
 Messrs. Hope & Co. with the Consul of the Netherlands shall be 
 proved to have been made in good faith, and of coin, bona fide the 
 property of the Citizens' Bank of Louisiana, and therefore subject 
 to valid transfer by that bank, no loss by the parties interested will 
 result from the seizure by General Butler. 
 
 "Of course I do not assume to decide, or even intimate an impres- 
 sion, upon aiu* question of fact. 
 
 "En passant, permit me to express my regret that assurances 
 
 1 David Hunter was borD in Washington July 21, 1802. He was, therefore, less 
 than six years older than the man with whom we have our chief concern ; and 
 about six years older than Abraham Lincoln. He is of Virginian antecedents, at 
 least in the paternal line. 
 
 His father was an army chaplain. David was graduated at West Point in 1822. 
 Appointed second lieutenant of the Fifth Infantry, he became first lieutenant in 
 1828. and captain in the First Dragoons in 1833. 
 
 He remained in the military service until 1838, when he resigned, in order to be- 
 come a forwarder of goods and merchandise at Chicago. Five years afterwards 
 he became paymaster in the army. In 1861, he was paymaster with the rank of 
 colonel. May 14th, he was appointed colonel of the Sixth Cavalry, and at the first 
 battle of Bull Run, he had a most important command, and was severely wounded 
 in the neck. 
 
 By the way, accompanying Mr. Lincoln from Springfield, Illinois, en route to the 
 National Capital, he suffered, at Buffalo, in the pressure of the crowd, a dislocation 
 of the collar bone. 
 
 In the course of this work will be found some farther account of him and his ideas.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 435 
 
 apparently reliable, reach me that prominent members of the house 
 of Baring Brothers & Co. have manifested throughout our recent 
 troubles a strong sympathy with the rebellion against the United 
 States. 
 
 " With great respect and esteem, yours truly, 
 
 "S. P.CHASE." 
 
 On the 26th of June the Secretary dictated as follows : 
 
 "On Sunday morning, May 11th, the President, becoming uneasy 
 on account of his long absence from Washington, determined to 
 return forthwith. The explosion of the Merrimac, however, de- 
 tained him long enough to go to the spot, ascertain the exact condi- 
 tion of things, and return to Fortress Monroe, whence we proceeded 
 immediately toward Washington. On our way up, I remarked 
 on the probability that a small force, say 5,000 men. em- 
 barked on transports and convoyed by gunboats, might contrib- 
 ute largely to the taking of Richmond, if sent immediately up James 
 River. But nothing was determined on. After our return to Wash- 
 ington I frequently spoke of the matter, and urged the sending of 
 General Wool up James River with all his disposable force. It was 
 thought General McClellan could be reinforced more effectually in 
 another direction. 
 
 "General McDowell was ordered to concentrate his whole corps, 
 including Shields' division, at Fredericksburg, with a view to march 
 upon Richmond from that point. Shields' division, which had been 
 in the valley of the Shenandoah, was marched across the country 
 and joined McDowell. 
 
 "On Friday, May 23d, the President and Secretary of War visited 
 the army at Fredericksburg, and returned to Washington on Satur- 
 day morning, highly gratified by the condition of the troops, and 
 anticipating an imposing and successful advance on the Monday 
 following. On the afternoon of the same Saturday, I was sent for to 
 the War Department, and found that intelligence had been received 
 of the taking of Front Royal and the annihilation of Kenley's regi- 
 ment on the preceding day. The enemy was reported to have 
 pushed forward to Middleton and cut otf the retreat of Banks, sup- 
 pose'! to be at Strasburg. An order was immediately despatched to 
 General Fremont to advance to Harrisonburg, and do all in his 
 power for the relief of Banks. An order was also sent to General 
 McDowell to detach 20.000 — or one-half his force — sending them 
 partly by land to Catlett's Station, and partly by water to Alexan- 
 dria and Washington. To expedite these movements. I was directed 
 to proceed immediately to Fredericksburg, and confer personally 
 with General McDowell. I left accordingly, the same afternoon, 
 and reached Fredericksburg about 1 o'clock Sunday. I found that 
 General McDowell had given all the necessary orders for the move- 
 ments directed by the President. The march began early the next 
 morning, and successive divisions and regiments followed until, 
 during the course of the day. the whole 20,000 were on their march. 
 I returned to Washington Sunday night, accompanied by General 
 Shields, and found the President, with the Secretary of War, Secre- 
 29
 
 436 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tary of State, and several senators and representatives, at the War 
 Department. By this time intelligence had been received that Banks 
 had retreated, early on Saturday morning, from Strasburg, reaching 
 Winchester the same night, and that his retreat had been continued 
 through Sunday, and that a portion of his troops had already 
 arrived at Williamsport. General Saxton had been ordered to Har- 
 per's Ferry, and reinforcements had been and were still rapidly 
 being pushed forward to that point. 
 
 "On Monday Shields' division arrived at Catlett's Station, and 
 Geary's division, which had been stationed along the line of the 
 Manassas Gap Railroad, had fallen back to Manassas. Ord's divis- 
 ion followed, partly by water and partly by land, and, with Shields', 
 was concentrated within a day or two at Manassas. McDowell 
 came from Fredericksburg, at the instance of the President, and 
 took command in person, having ordered King's division to advance 
 toward Martinsburg as a supporting column. Shields pushed for- 
 ward to Front Royal, which place he reached on Friday. McDowell 
 followed, also reaching Front Royal on Saturday. The object of 
 this movement was to cut off the retreat of Jackson through Front 
 Royal. 
 
 "Meantime Fremont, observing the spirit though not the letter 
 of his orders, had marched to Moorfield. and thence to Wardensville, 
 and cut of the retreat of Jackson by that road. Unfortunately Fre- 
 mont did not reach Strasburg until Jackson, defeated by Saxton on 
 Friday in his attack upon Harper's Ferry, and being apprised, no 
 doubt, of the movements in his rear, had passed through Strasburg, 
 on his retreat down the valley. 
 
 "While this combined movement, intended to capture Jackson 
 and his force was in progress, General McClellan was constantly 
 asking for reinforcements at Richmond. I had no confidence in his 
 ability to handle a great army, but, inasmuch as the President icas un- 
 willing to give the command to any other General, I thought it of great 
 importance that he should be reinforced as far as possible. To this end, 
 in the course of the week, I urged on several occasions that one-half 
 of McCall's division be sent down to form a junction with McCIellan's 
 army, and that General Wool, with 10,000 of his force, be sent up 
 from Fortress Monroe and Norfolk, by James River, to effect, if pos- 
 sible, the capture of Fort Darling, or at least to cooperate with 
 McClellan, whose lines, I supposed, could be extended from Bottom's 
 bridge to the James River. These reinforcements were not sent, partly, 
 as 1 suppose, because the President was unwilling to weaken the 
 advance at Fredericksburg, and partly because he was unwilling to 
 order General Wool, who was at variance with McClellan, to a coop- 
 erate, which might lead to collision between the generals and so 
 to unpleasant results. 
 
 " I also urged that, inasmuch as McDowell's force had been drawn 
 over into and near the Shenandoah Valley, his three divisions — 
 Shields', Ord's, and King's — should be massed and ordered forward 
 to Charlottesville and Lynchburg. This movement had been pro- 
 posed by General Shields, as a movement to be executed from Fred- 
 ericksburg. General McDowell also had proposed the same. As
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 437 
 
 much reluctance was manifested against undertaking the movement 
 as had been in respect to the reinforcement of Meridian. 
 
 "On Friday, June 14, the President determined to send 20,000 
 men to McClellan. To effect this object, he directed the embarka- 
 tion of the whole of McOall's division at Fredericksburg, and an- 
 nexed the Department of Virginia, which had been under General 
 Wool, to the command of McClellan, Wool was transferred to Bal- 
 timore, and Dix to Fortress Monroe, to avoid the apprehended diffi- 
 culties from placing the department, while under the command of 
 General Wool, also under the command of McClellan. Most of the 
 drilled troops of Fortress Monroe, of whom there were about 14,000, 
 were sent to McClellan, and their places supplied mainly with new- 
 levies. Thus, long after I had proposed the reinforcement, the ar- 
 rangement was made by which they were sent. 
 
 " On the same day, upon the President expressing his gratifica- 
 tion that the reinforcements had been sent to McClellan, I replied to 
 him that his satisfaction would be much increased if he would order 
 McDowell, with his three divisions, strengthened, if necessary, by 
 portions of Banks' and Fremont's commands, on the southward ex- 
 pedition to Charlottesville and Lynchburg. I endeavored to impress 
 upon him the idea that this movement would be of great importance 
 to McClellan by creating a diversion in his favor by cutting off the 
 supplies which reached Richmond through Lynchburg from East 
 Tennessee. I was not successful in impressing the President with 
 the correctness of my views. I suppose that his difficult}' arose, 
 partly from a desire to have McDowell in a position from which 
 he could directly reinforce McClellan, and partly from apprehen- 
 sion of disagreement between the major-generals commanding the 
 separate bodies which it might be necessary to combine in the 
 Charlottesville expedition. This, of course, is mere conjecture. 
 What is certain is, that the expedition was not organized or at- 
 tempted. 
 
 "Subsequently (June 24), the President, having become con- 
 vinced of the necessity of combining these three bodies under one 
 command, created the Army of Virginia (to consist of these three 
 bodies), and placed it under the command of General Pope, who 
 was junior in rank, though of the same grade as major-generals 
 Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, who were made subject to his 
 orders. 
 
 "I understand that the object of this consolidation was, to make 
 the movement upon Charlottesville, which I had been so anxious 
 to see attempted." 
 
 Here is an extract from the locked diary : 
 
 "Monday, July 21, 1862. 
 "Early this morning, Count Gurowski called and told me that 
 yesterday, at a great dinner at Mr. Tassara's — the only Americans 
 present being Governor Seward and Senator Carlile — Governor 
 Seward remarked that he had lately begun to realize the value of 
 a Cromwell, and to appreciate the coup d'etat; and that he wished
 
 438 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 wo had a Cromwoll or a coup d'etat for our Congress. The Count 
 said that the diplomats present were very much disgusted, and that 
 the language of Governor Seward injured the administration much 
 in the estimation of all intelligent foreigners. 
 
 "After the Count left, I received a notice to attend a Cabinet meet- 
 ing, at 10 o'clock. It has been so long since any consultation has 
 been held that it struck me as a novelty." 
 
 Adam, Count Gurowski, was not a trustworthy witness, so far as 
 what he said involved judgment. 
 
 Messrs. Speed, Holloway, and Casey called on Mr. Chase on the 
 21st day of July, 1862. The first was a distinguished lawyer, of 
 Louisville, who was then postmaster of that city and had been State 
 senator ; the second was a large slave-holder in south-western 
 Kentucky ; Mr. Casey was a member of Congress from the south- 
 western district, Messrs. Speed and Casey were decided in favor of 
 the most decided measures in respect to slavery and the employment 
 of negroes in whatever capacity they were fitted for. They assured 
 Mr. Chase that Mr. Holloway (though a large slave-holder) was in 
 favor of every measure necessary for success, and that he held no 
 sacrifice too great to insure it. He would cheerfully give up slavery, 
 if it became necessary or important. 
 
 Mr. Casey, Mr. Horton, and Gen. Pope dined with Secretary Chase 
 that day. Mr. Horton condemned severely the conduct of the cam- 
 paign on the Peninsula and the misrepresentations made to the 
 public in regard to it. General Pope expressed himself freely and 
 decidedly in favor of the most vigorous measures in the prosecution 
 of the war. He believed that, in consequence of the rebellion, 
 slavery must perish; and with him it was only a question of pru- 
 dence as to the means to be employed to weaken it. He was in 
 favor of using every instrument which could be brought to bear 
 against the enemy; and while he did not speak of a general arming 
 of the slaves as soldiers, he advocated their use as laborers in the 
 defense of fortifications, and in any way in which their services 
 could be made useful without impairing the general tone of the 
 service. He said he was now waiting, by request of the President, 
 the arrival of General Halleck, and he regarded it as necessary for 
 the safety and success of his operations that there should be a change 
 in the Army of the Potomac. He believed that General McClel- 
 lan's incompetency and indisposition to active movements were so 
 great that if, in his operations, he should need assistance, he could 
 not expect it from him. He had urged upon the President the im-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 439 
 
 portance of superseding General McClellan before the arrival of 
 Halleck, representing the delicacy of Halleck's future position, and the 
 importance of having the field clear for him when he assumed the 
 general command. The President, however, had only promised that 
 he (General Pope) should be present at his interview with General 
 Halleck, when he would give the latter his opinion of McClellan. 
 
 From the same register, under the same date, are taken the fol- 
 lowing extracts : 
 
 "I went at the appointed hour, and found that the President had 
 been profoundly concerned at the present aspect of affairs, and had 
 determined to take some definite steps in respect to military action 
 and slavery. He had prepared several orders, the first of which 
 contemplated authority to commanders to subsist their troops in the 
 hostile territory; the second, authority to employ negroes as labor- 
 ers; the third, requiring that both in the case of property taken and of 
 negroes employed accounts should be kept with such degrees of cer- 
 tainty as would enable compensation to be made in proper cases. 
 Another provided for the colonization of negroes in some tropical 
 country. 
 
 " A good deal of discussion took j)lace upon those points. The 
 first order was universally approved. The second was approved 
 entirely, and the third by all except myself. I doubted the expedi- 
 ency of attempting to keep accounts for the benefit of the inhabi- 
 tants of rebel States. The colonization project was not much 
 discussed. 
 
 " The Secretary of War presented some letters from General 
 Hunter, in which he advised the department that the withdrawal of 
 a large proportion of his troops to reinforce General McClellan ren- 
 dered it highly important that he should be immediately authorized 
 to enlist all loyal persons, without reference to complexion. Messrs. 
 Stanton, Seward, and myself expressed ourselves in favor of this 
 plan, and no one expressed himself against it. (Mr. Blair was not 
 present.) The President was not prepared to decide the question, 
 but expressed himself as averse to arming negroes." 
 
 On the same day, Mr. Stantou brought forward a proj30sition to 
 draft 50,000 men. Mr. Seward proposed that the number should 
 be 100,000. The President directed that whatever number were 
 drafted should be part of the 300,000 already called for. No 
 decision was reached, however. 
 
 Tuesday, July 22d, 1862, has this record : 
 
 "This morning I called on the President with a letter received 
 some time since from Colonel Key, in which he stated that he had 
 reason to believe that if General McClellan found he could not other- 
 wise sustain himself in Virginia, he would declare the liberation of
 
 440 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the slaves; and that the President would not dare to interfere with 
 the order. I urged upon the President the importance of an imme- 
 diate change in the command of the Army of the Potomac, repre- 
 senting the necessity of having a general in that command who 
 would cordially and efficiently cooperate with the movements of 
 Pope and others; and urging a change before the arrival of General 
 Halleck, in view of the extreme delicacy of his position in this re- 
 spect, General McClellan being his senior major-general. I said that 
 I did not regard General McClellan as loyal to the administration, 
 although I did not question his general loyalty to the country. 
 
 " I also urged General McClellan 's removal upon financial grounds. 
 I told him that if such a change in the command was made as would 
 insure action in the army, and give it power in the ratio of its 
 strength, and if such measures were adopted in respect to slaver}' as 
 would inspire the country with confidence that no measure would be 
 left untried which promised a speed}- and successful result, I would 
 insure that, within ten days, the bonds of the United States, except 
 the five-twenties, would be so far above par that conversions into the 
 latter stock would take place rapidly, and furnish the necessary 
 means for carrying on the government. If this was not done, it 
 seemed to me impossible to meet necessary expenses. Already 
 there were §10,000,000 of unpaid requisitions, and this amount 
 would constantly increase. 
 
 "The President came to no conclusion, but said he would confer 
 with General Halleck on all these matters. I left him, promising to 
 to return to Cabinet, when the subject of the orders discussed yester- 
 day would be resumed. 
 
 "Went to Cabinet at the appointed hour. It was unanimously 
 agreed that the order in respect to colonization should be dropped; 
 and the others were adopted unanimously, except that I wished 
 North Carolina included in the States named in the first order. 
 
 " The question of arming slaves was then brought up, and I advo- 
 cated it warmly. The President was unwilling to adopt this mea- 
 sure, but proposed to issue a proclamation on the basis of the Con- 
 fiscation Bill, calling upon the States to return to their allegiance — 
 warning the rebels [that] the provisions of the act would have full 
 force at the expiration of sixty days — adding, on his own part, a 
 declaration of his intention to renew, at the next session of Congress, 
 his recommendation of compensation to States adopting the gradual 
 abolishment of slavery — and proclaiming the emancipation of all 
 slaves within States remaining in insurrection on the first of 
 January, 1863. 
 
 "I said that I should give to such a measure my cordial support; 
 but I should prefer that no new expression on the subject of com- 
 pensation should be made ; and I thought that the measure of eman- 
 cipation could be much better and more quietly accomplished by 
 allowing generals to organize and arm the slaves (thus avoiding 
 depredation and massacre on one hand, and support to the insurrec- 
 tion on the other), and by directing the commanders of departments 
 to proclaim emancipation within their districts as soon as practi- 
 cable ; but I regarded this as so much better than inaction on the 
 subject, that I should give it my entire support. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 441 
 
 "The President determined to publish the first three orders forth- 
 with, and to leave the other for some farther consideration. The 
 impression left upon my mind by the -whole discussion was, that, 
 while the President thought that the organization, equipment, and 
 arming of negroes, like other soldiers, would be productive of 
 more evil than good, he was not unwilling that commanders should, 
 at their discretion, arm, for purely defensive purposes, slaves coming 
 within their lines. 
 
 " Mr. Stanton brought forward a proposition to draft fifty thousand 
 men. Mb. Seward proposed that the number should be one hundred 
 thousand. The President directed that, whatever number were 
 dratted, should be part of the three hundred thousand already called 
 for. No decision was reached, however." 
 
 It appears to me that these and other entries furnish indications 
 that too much attention was devoted by our hero to war measuros 
 and to military men. Perhaps he would have been better able to 
 promote a financial reform had he been more devoted to finance and 
 less to war. 
 
 We have, under date Friday, July 25, 1862: 
 
 "No Cabinet to-day. Went to War Department in the morning, 
 where I found the President and Stanton. We talked about the ne- 
 cessity of clearing the Mississippi, and Stanton again urged sending 
 Mitchell. The President said he would see him. Stanton sent for 
 him at Willard's, and sent him to the President. 
 
 "In the evening, I called for Mitchell to ride, with H. Walbridge 
 Asked him the result. He said the President had asked him with 
 what tone he could take Yicksburg and clear the river, and, with 
 the black population on its banks, hold it open below Memphis; and 
 had bid him consider. He had replied that, with, his own division 
 and Curtis' army, he could do it, he thought, but he would consider 
 and reply. 
 
 "I told him now was the time to do great things." 
 
 The next entries to be offered read as follows : 
 
 " Saturday, July 26. 
 
 " Sent order to close and en crape the department, in respect to ex- 
 President Van Buren, just deceased. 
 
 " The President came in to talk about the controversy between 
 the Postmaster-general and sixth Auditor, in regard to rooms. 
 Agreed to see the Attorney-general, for whom I afterward sent. The 
 Attorney General had not heard Of Babe's removal, of which I spoke 
 to him, and I directed Mr. Harrington to telegraph Eabe that the 
 removal had been made without my knowledge or that of the At- 
 torney-General. 
 
 "General Pope came in about 1 p.m., and went to photograph- 
 er's with me and Colonel Welch. He talked as if McClellan might 
 be retained in command, and retrieve himself, by advancing on Rich-
 
 442 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 mond, which was now quite feasible, there being but few troops on 
 the north side of the James. I replied that no such advance would 
 be made ; or, if made, and successful, would only restore undeserved 
 confidence and prepare future calamities. 
 
 " Mitchell called. He had seen the President, who had postponed 
 his decision until he could consult Halleck. Mitchell had all his or- 
 ders ready for rapid movement. Told him his only course was to 
 wait and see. 
 
 " Talked with Pope about Mitchell, who inclined to think him vis- 
 ionary. Asked him to get acquainted with him, which he promised. 
 
 •• Wrote Mrs. E. in reply to letter received from her." 
 
 Saturday, July 27, has a notice of a telegram from General Mor- 
 gan to the Secretary. In that dispatch, General M. advised Mr. 
 Chase of his resignation, and signified his wish that the Secretary 
 would procure its prompt acceptance. 
 
 "I went, therefore, to the War Department," records Mr. Chase, 
 "wishing to oblige him, and also to secure Garfield's appointment in 
 his place. Mr. Stanton was not in, but I saw Watson." 
 
 From the War Department, after a conversation with Mr. Wat- 
 son, to which I have elsewhere asked attention, Secretary Chase be- 
 took himself to the President's, to whom he spoke of Morgan's res- 
 ignation, and suggested Garfield's substitution. This, he says, seemed 
 to please the President. 
 
 Conversing with the President on the 27th of July, the Secretary 
 of the Treasury spoke " of the financial importance of getting rid 
 of McClellan ; and expressed the hope that Halleck would approve 
 his project of sending Mitchell to the Mississippi." But the record 
 says of the President : " On these points he said nothing." 
 
 Then the conversation turned on Jones, the sculptor ; and Mr. 
 Chase suggested the fitness of giving him some consulate in Italy 
 which the President, we learn, " liked the idea of." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln read a statement (pronounced " very good" by 
 Chase), which was in course of preparation, in reply to a letter, for- 
 warded by Mr. Bullit, from some one in New Orleans. 
 
 After some farther talk, and reminding the President of the im- 
 portance of a talk between Halleck and Chase about finances, as af- 
 fected by the war, Secretary Chase went home, too late for church. 
 
 A parenthesis of the paragraph from which I draw the last forego- 
 ing information, reads as follows : 
 
 " (By the way, he told me he desired Halleck to come and see me 
 last Monday, but he didn't come.) "
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 443 
 
 Halleck was not without caution. He was a slow man — a real 
 worthy — but a little slow. 
 
 Being, as we have just seen, too late for church, Mr. Chase read 
 various books — among others, Whitfield's Life. " What a worker!" 
 is the comment on the last perusal. 
 
 Spending the evening with his daughters, he read Beecher's last 
 sermon in the Independent. 
 
 The conclusion of the entry here made tributary is as follows : 
 
 " Not a caller all day — si sic omnes dies! "
 
 444 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 HALLECK AND THE CABINET — MERITS OF GENERALS — TOWARD EMAN- 
 CIPATION. 
 
 4 UGUST 1 is thus characterized : 
 
 "Xo events of much importance to-day. A Cabinet meeting was 
 held, and a great deal of talk took place, but no results. Blair sent 
 me his paper on colonization, to which he referred in our long talk 
 of yesterday. A nice letter from my friend, Mrs. Eastman. Spent a 
 few moments at the War Department — telegram came that the enemy 
 had been shelling McCiellan's position from Point Coggin. Wrote 
 to General Pope and General Butler, touching, in both letters, the 
 slavery question. Called on General Halleck in the evening, and 
 talked a good while with him. Judged it prudent not to say much 
 of the war. He spoke of Buell as slow but safe ; of Grant, as a 
 good general, and brave in battle, but careless of his command; of 
 Thomas, he spoke very highly." 
 
 On the evening of the same day, Secretary Chase had several call- 
 ers. Here is the close of the entry relating to that day, noticing the 
 callers : 
 
 " Beebe, from Ravenna, a faithful friend ; John R. French, Smith 
 Homans, Chas. Selden, and some others. Selden says that, at Cincin- 
 nati, old Mr. Molitor and Rev. Edw. Purcell spoke very kindly of me." 
 
 Had not this man a kind heart? Was he a mere politician? 
 Was his soul absorbed by ambition ? 
 
 August 2, Secretary Chase went neither to the President's nor to 
 the War Department. He was all day in his own department. 
 
 General Shields called and talked over the movement up the Shen- 
 andoah. "He told me," says Mr. Chase, "that when he received 
 peremptory orders to return, he had held communication with Fre- 
 mont, and Jackson's capture was certain. I told him of my urg- 
 ing that McDowell should be ordered forward with his entire 
 command from Warrenton and from Front Royal to Charlottes- 
 ville and Lynchburg; that the President was not ready to act; 
 that McDowell himself was apparently disinclined, preferring con- 
 centration at Manassas, and then advance to Richmond. Plain
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 445 
 
 enough now, lie said, that this was the true movement. He had 
 himself telegraphed McDowell that Jackson would be Patterson- 
 
 ized by recall of troops from pursuit. The troops were neverthe- 
 less recalled; and, by peremptory order from the President him- 
 self, those of Shields were directed to return to Manassas, and 
 those of Fremont to resume position as a corps of observation. 
 
 " Here," proceeds the record I am citing, " was a terrible mis- 
 take. It would have been easy to take Charlottesville and Lynch- 
 burg, very easy : the capture of Jackson, though not at the time 
 seen at Washington to be practicable, was, nevertheless, within easy 
 possibility ; his defeat and the dispersion of his force certain. Our 
 troops were called off when they were just upon him. The course of 
 the whole movement was changed, for no reason that I could 
 see. Charlottesville and Lynchburg were saved to the enemy, with 
 their stores, and the railroads on which they are situated, forming 
 the great east and west communications of the rebels. A wide 
 door for Jackson to Richmond was opened — the very door through 
 which, a little later, he passed; fell, in cooperation with the rebel 
 army at Richmond, on McClellan's right, left unsupported as if to 
 invite disaster ; defeated it, and then, with the same army, pursued 
 the Union main body to the James. Sad ! sad ! yet nobody seems 
 to heed. General Shields and I talked all this over, deploring the 
 strange fatality which seemed to preside over the whole transaction. 
 He dined with us, and, after dinner, rode out with brother Edward 
 and Nettie." 
 
 Next morning, General Shields came to breakfast and to visit 
 the Ohio men of his command in the Cliff burne Hospital. " He 
 told me," records Mr. Chase, " he desired greatly to have a com- 
 mand of 5,000 men, and be allowed to dash as he could, breaking 
 the lines of communication of the enemy. My daughters went 
 with him to the hospital. Soon after they left, I received a sum- 
 mons to a Cabinet meeting." 
 
 At the Cabinet meeting of August 3, 1862, "there was a good 
 deal of conversation on the connection of the slavery question with 
 the rebellion." Having so stated, Secretary Chase subjoins: 
 
 "I expressed my conviction for the tenth or twentieth time, 
 that the time for the suppression of the rebellion, without interfer- 
 ence with slavery, had long passed — that it was impossible, proba- 
 bly, at the outset, by striking the insurrectionists wherever found, 
 strongly and decisively ; but we had elected to act on the principles
 
 446 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of a civil war, assuming that the whole population of every seceding 
 State was engaged against the Federal Government, instead of treat- 
 ing the active secessionists as insurgents and exerting our utmost 
 energies for their arrest and punishment; that the bitterness of 
 the conflict had now substantially united the white population of 
 the rebel States against us; that the lo3'al whites remaining, if they 
 would not prefer the Union without slavery, certainly would not 
 prefer slavery to the Union , that the blacks were really the only 
 loyal population worth counting; and that, in the Gulf States, at 
 least, their right to freedom ought to be at once recognized ; while 
 in the Border States, the President's plan of emancipation might be 
 made the basis of the necessary measures for their ultimate enfran- 
 chisement ; that the practical mode of effecting this seemed to me 
 quite simple; that the President had already spoken of the impor- 
 tance of making the freed blacks on the Mississippi, below Tennes- 
 see, a safeguard to the navigation of the river; that Mitchell, with a 
 few thousand soldiers, could take Vickshurg; assure the blacks free- 
 dom on condition of loyalty ; organize the best of them in compa- 
 nies, regiments, etc.; and provide, as far as practicable, for the 
 cultivation of the plantations by the rest; that Butler should signify 
 to the slave-holders of Louisiana that they must recognize the free- 
 dom of their work-people by paying them wages; and that Hunter 
 should do the same thing in South Carolina. 
 
 "Mr. Seward expressed himself in favor of any measures likel}* to 
 accomplish the results I contemplated, which could be carried into 
 effect without proclamation : and the President said he was pretty 
 well cured of objection to any measure except want of adaptedness 
 to put down the rebellion, but did not seem satisfied that the time 
 had come for the adoption of such a plan as I proposed. 
 
 '• There was also a great deal of conversation concerning the 
 merits of generals. I objected pretty decidedly to the policy of 
 selecting nearly all the highest officers from among men hostile to 
 the administration, and continuing them in office after they had 
 proved themselves incompetent, or at least not specially competent, 
 and referred to the needless defeat of McClellan and the slowness of 
 Buell. Seward asked what I would do. I replied, -Remove the 
 men who failed to accomplish results, and put abler and more active 
 men in their places.' He wished to know whom I would prefer to 
 Buell. I answered that if I were President, or Secretary of War, 
 authorized to act by the President, I would confer with the General- 
 in-Chief; require him to name to me the best officers he knew of; 
 talk the matter over with him; get all the light I could, and then 
 designate my man. 
 
 ''As much as anything, the clearing of the Mississippi by the 
 capture of Vickshurg, was discussed. I reminded the President that 
 after the evacuation of Corinth, it would have been an easy matter 
 to send down a few thousand men and complete our possession of 
 the river; and of his own plan of putting General Mitchell at the 
 head of his own division and Curtis' army, and sending him to take 
 Vickshurg, almost adopted more than two weeks ago. Mr. Usher 
 suggested that, since General Halleck had decided against this plan, 
 on the ground that Mitchell's division could not be spared from
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 1 IT 
 
 Buell's command, and Curtis' army was needed to prevent a foray 
 
 from Arkansas into Missouri, it might be well to raise a special 
 force by volunteering for this one object, of taking Vicksburg, open- 
 ing the Mississippi, and keeping it open. I heartily seconded the 
 
 idea, and it was a good deal talked over. 
 
 "At length, the President determined to send for General Halleck, 
 and have the matter discussed with him. 
 
 "The General came, ami the matter was fully stated to him, both 
 b}* Governor Seward and myself. He did not absolutely reject the 
 idea, but thought the object could be better accomplished by hasten- 
 ing the new levies; putting the new troops in the positions now oc- 
 cupied by the old regiments, and setting these last to the work of 
 opening the Mississippi. He expressed the strongest convictions as 
 to the importance of the work, and his desire to see it accomplished 
 at the earliest possible period. At this moment, however, the neces- 
 sary troops could not be spared for the purpose. Taking into con- 
 sideration the delay incident to raising a special force, equal perhaps 
 to that demanded by General Halleck's plan, and the other disad- 
 vantages, it was thought best to drop the idea. 
 
 " In connection with this subject, General Halleck spoke of the 
 distribution of troops in the West. He said that Hardee had hroke 
 up his camp south of Corinth, and transferred his arm}- to Chatta- 
 nooga, where he now had probably 40,000 or 50,000 men ; that Price 
 had attempted to cross the river into Arkansas, but had as yet failed 
 to accomplish his purpose; that a considerable force was, however, 
 advancing northward into Missouri ; that he had sent a division and 
 brigade, say, 7,000 men, to Curtis, (making his whole force about 
 17.000), and instructed him to prevent the invasion of Missouri ; that 
 he had also detached from Grant about 15,000, say three divisions, 
 to take position at Decatur, to support Buell, if necessary; that 
 Grant had still under his command about 43,000, of whom 7,000, 
 
 under Jackson, had been ordered to the , to watch Price; 
 
 that Buell had 00,000. with which force he was approaching Chatta- 
 nooga. These numbers gave the whole force in the West, exclusive 
 of troops occupying St. Louis, and various posts and camps north 
 of the Ohio: Buell, 60,000 ; Grant, including detachments, excc])t 
 Curtis, 58,000; Curtis, 17,000; in all, 135,000 men—- excellent troops. 
 lie stated McClellan's army at present, and fit for duty, at 88,000; 
 absent on leave, 33,000; absent without leave, 3,000; present, bat 
 sick, 10,000; in all, say, 140,000. Another statement makes the 
 number fit for duty 91,000; and the total, 143,000." 
 
 This book promises to make a rather lively contribution to the 
 history of the great war against secession in the interest of slavery. 
 
 "The President," continues Mr. Chase, "read a communication 
 from General H., proposing that 200,000 militia should be drafted 
 for nine months, and that the 300,000 men to fill old and form new 
 regiments should be obtained without delay; and, to prevent the evil 
 of hasty and improper appointments and promotions, that a hoard 
 of officers should be organized, to which all proposed action of that
 
 448 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 sort should be referred. The General condemned, respectfully, but 
 as decidedly, the inconsideration which has hitherto marked the 
 action of the government in this respect, and stated one case where 
 a colonel had been tried and convicted of gross misconduct, and was 
 on the point of being dismissed, when he came on to "Washington and 
 returned with a brigadier's commission ! 
 
 "The General commanded m}" sincere respect by the great intelli- 
 gence and manliness he displayed, and excited great hopes by his 
 obvious purpose to allow no lagging, and by his evident mastery of 
 the business he has taken in hand. I can not agree with him as to the 
 expediency of retaining McClellan and Buell in their important com- 
 mands; and I was sorry to hear him say, in reply to a question by 
 the President, as to what use could be made of the black population 
 of the borders of the Mississippi, ' I confess I do not think much of 
 the negro.' " 
 
 The conclusion of the entry relating to August 3d is as follows : 
 
 " Neither Mr. Stanton nor Mr. Blair was present at the meeting 
 to-day. 
 
 " When the Cabinet council broke up, I proposed to Mr. Usher, who 
 made a most favorable impression on me, to ride home in my car- 
 riage ; but he was called back by the President, and I, finding my 
 carriage had not come, rode home with Mr. Bates." 
 
 At the Cabinet meeting of August 3, Mr. Usher, Assistant Sec- 
 retary of the Interior, "mentioned a report that the Louisville 
 Democrat had come out openly for disunion, saying that it "was 
 now manifest that the government was in the hands of the aboli- 
 tionists. The President said, this was equivalent to a declaration 
 of hostility by the entire Douglas party of Kentucky, and mani- 
 fested much uneasiness." 
 
 At the same Cabinet meeting the President spoke of the treaty 
 said to have been formed between the Cherokees and the Confeder- 
 ates, and suggested the expediency of organizing a force of whites 
 and blacks, in separate regiments, to invade and take possession of 
 their country. Statistics of the Indians were sent for, from which 
 it appeared that the whole fighting force of the Cherokees could 
 hardly exceed 2,500 men. Mr. Usher, Assistant Secretary of the 
 Interior, was not in favor of the expedition. He thought it better 
 to deal indulgently with deluded Indians, and make their deluders 
 feel the weight of the Federal authority. Most, on the whole, 
 seemed to concur with him." 
 
 The Secretary of the Treasury, on the sixth of August, 1862, 
 made a memorandum to this effect : 
 
 "Nothing much thought of to-day except the great war meeting —
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 449 
 
 which was immense. Nona of the Cabinet there except myself and 
 Mr. Bate* The President, after Mr. Chittenden had finished, said 
 
 to me (the people clamoring for him), 'Well! hadn't I better Bay a 
 few words and get rid of myself?' Hardly waiting for an answer, he 
 advanced at once to the stand. He was received with most uproar- 
 ious enthusiasm. His frank, genial, generous face, and direct sim- 
 plicity of bearing, took all hearts. His speech is in all the prints, 
 and evinces his usual originality and sagacity." 
 
 The entry dated August 6th also contains the words : 
 
 "Professor Bead and his son, Captain Read, and Assistant Secre- 
 tary Usher dined with me. Mr. Bates and Dr. Schmidt came from 
 meeting with me, and stopped at my house. After Mr. Bates went, 
 I played chess with the Doctor, who was far my overmatch — he heat- 
 ing me with ease two or three times, while I, only by accident, beat 
 him once." 
 
 Yet Chase was himself a veteran chess player. 
 August 7, Mr. Chase recorded as follows : 
 
 "Very little accomplished as j-et, though much, I hope, in the 
 train of accomplishment. Engaged nearly all day on selections for 
 recommendation of collectors and assessors. Prepared letter to 
 President, containing names, etc., of candidates, with my recommen- 
 dations, for Connecticut; made up, in very small part, on my own 
 personal knowledge, but mainly on the representations and advice — 
 sometimes agreeing and sometimes not — of the senators, representa- 
 tives. State officers, and Secretary Welles. 
 
 " In the evening, went to War Department, where I saw Curtis' 
 ih -patch from Helena, urging the clearing out of the Mississippi, 
 before attempting inland operations; and McClellan's, announcing 
 advance of the enemj- on Malvern Hill, and his purpose to order the 
 retirement of Hooker's division ; and those of various governors, 
 announcing progress of volunteering and preparations for drafting — 
 on the whole, very encouraging, and denoting the greatest possible 
 earnestness and determination among the people. 
 
 " Home, Taylor, Davis, and Hopper (all blacks) called. Wrote 
 my friend E. and sent some pencil scribblings. Mr. Gest called, but 
 not able to see him." 
 
 The next entry in the same book is under date of the next day. 
 It runs as follows : 
 
 " Sent letter and scrap to my friend E., and sundry other letters 
 to sundry people — particularly General Pope's recommendation of 
 young Perkins, with my heartiest indorsement, to Governor Tod. 
 Also sent General Pope, by Major Johnson, some photographs of 
 himself and Colonel Welch, taken by the Treasury artist before he 
 went to the field. 
 
 " Attended Cabinet meeting. Autograph letter from Queen Vic- 
 toria, announcing marriage of Princess Alice. Seward gave account
 
 450 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of order prepared by General Halleck, Secretary Stanton, and him- 
 self, forbidding changes of domieil and granting of passports until 
 after the draft. Nothing proposed and nothing done of any moment. 
 "Directed Connecticut abstract and my letter of recommendation 
 to be sent to President." 
 
 Is not this a good indication ? 
 
 " Washington, D. C, August 12, 1862. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Accept my thanks for the Advertise?' containing 
 your admirable address. Every word finds its echo in my deepest 
 convictions. 
 
 "Have you considered whether it will not soon be necessary to 
 terminate slavery, at least in South Carolina and the Gulf States, by 
 a military order proceeding from the President, or by like orders 
 from the commanding generals of the departments, acting under the 
 President's direction ? I resisted the conviction of this necessity a 
 long time, hoping the war might be successfully terminated and 
 slavery left to the disposition of the State authorities ; but events of 
 the last six months have expelled this hope, and that conviction is 
 now established firmly in my mind. 
 
 " With the greatest respect and esteem, 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " Hon. Edward Everett. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 451 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 CHASE AND M'DOWELL — THE WAR ON M'CLELLAN. 
 
 AUGUST 15th (Friday) is the next day distinguished by an 
 entry in the diary of Mr. Chase. At the beginning of the 
 entry are the characters, "p., and r. un pen de Marius." These 
 characters appear to be a mixing of three tongues at least ; but, like 
 " Bill Sykes, his mark," they may be simpler than they seem. About 
 the meaning of the characters in association with them there can be 
 no question. In plain, nervous English, we are told : 
 
 " Saw in Republican account of interview invited by President 
 with colored people, and his talk to them on colonization. How 
 much better would be a manly protest against prejudice against 
 color ! and a wise effort to give freemen homes in America ! A mili- 
 tary order, emancipating at least the slaves of South Carolina, 
 Georgia, and the Gulf States, would do more to terminate the war 
 and insure an earl} T restoration of solid peace and prosperity than 
 anything else that can be devised." 
 
 On the 15th of August Secretary Chase rode out with Mr. Par- 
 sons. At night, Judge Harris called while the Secretary and Mr. 
 Boutwell were engaged on tax appointments. He was invited to 
 breakfast the next morning. 
 
 The next day (Saturday) was written of as follows by our mar- 
 tial-minded, then most melancholy hero : 
 
 "Nothing in public affairs of special note to-day New regiments 
 begin to arrive ; but what reason to hope more from new levies than 
 old? None that I see, except General Hallcck ; if he fails, all fails. 
 Pope telegraphs that his whole force is as near the Rapidan as the 
 nature of the country will permit, and that he is pushing strong 
 reconnoissance beyond. Grant telegraphs that 15.000 men have 
 gone to Decatur, to replace 15,000 sent to reinforce Buell ; that he is 
 now weak, and may be attacked, though there is no indication yet of 
 more than feints toward Missouri. Nothing from Burnside or 
 McClellan." 
 
 The entry in Mr. Chase's diary of August 15th, already cited, 
 
 30
 
 452 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 contains also this language, following remarks on the subject of the 
 Connecticut tax appointments : 
 
 "No Cabinet to-day. Went to War Department. Stanton said 
 Halleck had sent Burnside to James River to act as second in 
 command, or as adviser of McClellan — in reality, to control him. 
 He thought the experiment would fail, and wished I would go and 
 see Halleck. Went. Asked about the mission of Burnside. Hal- 
 leck said he could not disclose it, as it was uncertain what it would 
 really turn out to be. Asked him what was the hostile force at 
 Richmond? He thought 75,000 to 80,000 men. Before Pope? 
 About 60,000. Whole army in Virginia? About 150,000. I 
 thought it not possible, unless western force was much reduced. 
 He thought a levy en masse had been made, and that it was possible 
 for the enemy to bring 000,000 to 700,000 into the field. I thought 
 the whole number could not, at this time, exceed 300,000 to 350,000; 
 of which at least 180,000 to 230,000 were in the West, South-west, 
 and South-east. I inquired about East Tennessee and the Mississippi 
 River, but got no satisfactory information on either point. He said, 
 however, that 15,000 men had been sent from Decatur to reinforce 
 Buell, and 15,000 from Grant to Decatur ; and that Curtis was needed 
 to prevent further inroads into Missouri. The whole interview was 
 very unsatisfactory, though the general was very civil. Left with 
 him memoranda in behalf of Colonel Carrington. 
 
 " The papers show that the rebels mean to execute their threat of 
 treating Pope's officers and soldiers as felons, and not as prisoners of 
 war. This can not be permitted without shameful disgrace. When 
 wiil the administration awake to its duty?" 
 
 The next letter, under date August 25th, introduces an unpleas- 
 ant subject in this fashion : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Your letter came too late. The President ap- 
 pointed Mr. Raymond, on my recommendation, which was founded 
 in part on my personal knowledge and in greater part on the opin- 
 ions of General Ashley and every other person, without an excep- 
 tion, I believe, to whom I spoke on the subject. 
 
 "Had any one intimated to me that Mr. Mott would accept the 
 office I should certainly have hesitated before offering it to any 
 other person. But he had declined a higher position, when I pro- 
 posed it to him, and I had no thought of his accepting this. 
 
 11 Only one thing would have caused me doubt as to my duty, and 
 that is the unfortunate difficulties which have arisen in the Toledo 
 district. General Ashley has been too faithful a representative in 
 Congress of the great cause to which I have devoted my life, and too 
 true a friend to myself, to allow me, without dishonor, to do anything 
 which could be interpreted into distrust or disregard of him. 
 
 " Of course, he, as every other man, must take such positions as 
 the people choose to give him ; or, if they choose to give him none, ac- 
 quiesce loyally in their decision. But, certainly no man in Congress 
 less than he merits any mark of disapproval from his constituents,
 
 OP SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 453 
 
 or more deserves to have a fair hearing and unprejudiced judgment 
 from them. Of course, there should be a hearty acquiescence of all 
 in the decision of the majority concerning him. 
 
 "I have had neither time nor opportunity to inform myself cor- 
 rectly in respect to the present complications in the district ; hut my 
 sympathies mast be (knowing, as I do, what important services he 
 has rendered our cause) with General Ashley. 
 
 "With sincere respect, I remain, very truly, your friend, 
 
 "C. Waggoner, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is another letter of interest in the same connection, under 
 date September 17th : 
 
 "My Dear Judge: I have seldom been so much surprised and 
 pained, as by your letter of the 10th inst., and the copies of General 
 Ashley's letters which came with it. I received also, by the same 
 mail to-day. copies of the same letters in print. 
 
 •• You know how warm a regard I have ever cherished for General 
 Ashley, as a true friend and faithful advocate of our cause, and how 
 glad i have always been to promote his advancement, believing that 
 I was thcrebj T promoting the great political principles which I em- 
 braced early and have defended perseveringly. 
 
 " I never dreamed until to-day that he was capable of seeking an 
 appointment for anybody, stranger, acquaintance, or friend, upon any 
 understanding, direct or indirect, that any share of its emoluments 
 or opportunities for emolument should belong to him. 
 
 " I can never approve or attempt to justify any such understand- 
 ings. He who enters into them must vindicate them if capable of 
 vindication. 
 
 "It may be properly observed, however, and it may somewhat 
 extenuate the culpability attaching to him, that very loose ideas on 
 these matters have been current in Washington ; the prevalence of 
 which may be attributed, in large part, to the system of parcelling 
 out executive patronage to members of Congress — a system against 
 which I have constantly and earnestly protested. 
 
 " His letters can not have appeared to General Ashley as they 
 appear to me, and I am confident that, once impressed with a sense 
 of their impropriety, he will never expose himself again to such a 
 censure. Indeed, an act of Congress, for which I believe he voted, 
 now expressly forbids such transactions. 
 
 "Under these circumstances. I think, if I were a voter in his dis- 
 trict. I should not withhold from him my support, to the detriment 
 of our cause. I think I should do by Ashley what Clay once asked 
 one of his constituents, whom he had displeased by voting for 
 the compensation bill, to do by him, 'Pick the flint and try t lie old 
 gun again.' 
 
 "You see I have answered your letter though 3-011 have asked for 
 no answer. And I must not close without a word or two on other 
 matters. 
 
 " We have fallen on very evil days. Under the influence of a short - 
 sighted notion, that the old Union can be reconstituted, after a year's
 
 454 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 civil war of free States and slave States, just as it was, the Presi- 
 dent has hitherto refused to sanction any adequate measure for tho 
 liberation of the loj'al population of the South from slavery to the 
 rebels. Hence we are fighting rebellion with one hand and with the 
 other supplying its vital elements of strength. Then we have placed 
 and continued in command generals who have never manifested the 
 slightest sympathy with our cause, as related to the controlling ques- 
 tion of slavery. These naturally have never been more than half in 
 earnest : and, instead of their being impelled to the most vigorous 
 action, their influence has been suffered to paralyze, in a great de- 
 gree, the activity of the administration. In addition to this there 
 has been enormous waste and profusion, growing out of high pay 
 and excessive indulgence. All these causes tend to demoralization, 
 and we are demoralized. I can not go into particulars, but tho 
 instances abound. 
 
 " It is some consolation to me that my voice and, so far as oppor- 
 tunity has allowed, my example has been steadily opposed to all 
 this. I have urged my ideas on the President and my associates, 
 till I begin to feel that they are irksome to the first, and to one or 
 two, at least, of the second. 
 
 " What to do I know not. I confess I should like to complete the 
 work of bringing in a sound system of national currenc}', and of 
 relieving the people of the evils of our existing bank-note circulation. 
 Besides this I see nothing for me to do here ; and whether I should 
 remain here for this is the question. What do you think of it? 
 
 "We have lost Harper's Ferry, but are hoping for good news from 
 McClellan's main army. Man}- think the surrender of Harper's 
 Ferry entirely unnecessary. It is a heavy blow, and may precede 
 imjjortant events. I will not, however, anticipate. 
 " As ever most cordially your friend, 
 
 "Hon. A. S. Latty. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I do not propose to comment on these letters. Certainly, never 
 having examined the evidence relating to the matters of fact, stated 
 or referred to in them, I do not present them as affording indica- 
 tion against any one named therein They serve to aid in charac- 
 terizing the public spirit of their writer, and they serve so well 
 that purpose that I do not feel at liberty to suppress them. On the 
 other hand, I do not feel at liberty to use them without reminding 
 readers of the presumption of innocence in every case, and warning 
 them not to receive the letters in question as even tending to prove 
 that any one was guilty of any wrong whatever. 
 
 On the whole, however, I can not set down to the credit of our 
 hero the two letters relating to the Ashley matter. They belong, it 
 seems to me, rather to the debit side of the account, all things con- 
 sidered. But of that each reader is to judge, with full ability to 
 form his judgment for himself.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 456 
 
 August 25, 1862, was marked by the writing of several pleasant 
 letters, of which the following, addressed to A. A. Gutherie, Esq., 
 is a fair sample : 
 
 ■ .My Dear Friend : Your letter was duly received, and I thank 
 you for it. 
 
 ■■ Now and then I have the pleasure of calling into public service, 
 without expectation or solicitation, a man of such integrity and 
 capacity that his appointment honors the office. 
 
 "Among these instances it gives me real pleasure to place j - our 
 appointment, which the President lias kindly made at my instance. 
 With best regards to all your family. Yours faithfully, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE.' 1 
 
 But here is one which many residents of Ohio will regard with 
 unutterably painful interest : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, August 25, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Stone : I have recommended, and the President has 
 appointed, you collector for the Seventh District, understanding that 
 O'Harra did not desire to be a candidate in opposition to you. 
 
 " Please see that O'Harra does not suffer because of what I do. 
 You know his merits, and will, I am sure, confer with him freely as 
 to appointments of deputies. Do not overlook among them Powers, 
 whose capacity and fidelity you know. Yours truly. 
 
 "Hon. A. P. Stone. S. P. CHASE.'' 
 
 Of the Columbus life of our hero quite imperfect notice has been 
 taken. One of the least creditable things therein was the hold that 
 such men as A. P. Stone, then, somehow, managed to get on him. 
 
 August 28 yields this letter : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, August 28, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Seward : Young Mr. Cameron, of Harrisburg, is here 
 at the request of his father, to urge that leave be granted the general 
 to come home on a furlough — say three or four months. 
 
 " 1 called on the President this morning about it. He seemed to 
 think that the request must ultimately be granted, but expressed no 
 opinion as to the expediency of granting it, saying that he desired 
 
 'Here is another: 
 
 "Washington, D. C, August 25, 1862. 
 "My Dear Friend: It is a real pleasure to me to offer to you some positive 
 evidence of my respect and friendship, in the form of an appointment as collector 
 for the Eleventh District. The President, at my instance, has signed your commis- 
 sion, which will be sent you forthwith by the commissioner. 
 " With best regards to your family, I remain as ever, 
 
 " Faithfully your friend, 
 "John Campbell, Esq. S. P. CHASE."
 
 45C THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to do nothing until after consulting you. He proposed to wait till 
 your return therefore. But as there has been a good deal of delay 
 already I suggested I would write you. To this he assented, say- 
 ing that I might say to you that he had no objection if you had 
 none. I said, ' may I say that you think it best to grant the leave? ' 
 He replied. ' no, I wish to leave it to him.' I then said, 'have you 
 any objection that I should say on my own account that 1 think it 
 right?' And he answered, ' not at all.' 
 
 "On the whole it does seem to me best, and I hope you will con- 
 cur with me, and if you do, grant the leave to go by next steamer. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " Hon. W. H. Seward. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 August 29th is thus recorded : 
 
 "The Secretary of War called on me in reference to General Mc- 
 Clellan. He has long believed, and so have I. that General McClellan 
 ought not to be trusted with the command of any army of the Union, and 
 the events of the last few days have greatly strengthened our judg- 
 ment. We called on Judge Bates, who was not at home; called on 
 General Halleck. and remonstrated against General McClellan com- 
 manding ; Secretary wrote and presented to General H. a call for a 
 report, touching McC.'s disobedience of orders and consequent delay 
 of support to Army of Virginia; General H. promised answer to- 
 morrow morning." 
 
 Saturday, August 30, affords the following : 
 
 u Judge Bates called, and we conversed in regard to General Mc- 
 Clellan, he concurring in our judgment. Afterwards I went to the War 
 Department, where Watson showed me a paper expressing it. I sug- 
 gested modifications. Afterward saw Stanton. He approved the 
 modifications, and we both signed the paper. I then took it to Sec- 
 retary Welles, who concurred in judgment, but thought the paper not ex- 
 actly right, and did not sign it. fleturned the paper to Stanton. 
 
 '• Promised report from General Halleck was not made.'' 
 
 That last sentence looks not insignificant. But let that pass. 
 
 " Much busied at department to-day, although it is Sunday/' 
 savs Mr. Chase, August 31, 1862, adding : " and spent much time 
 with the President, endeavoring to close appointments under tax 
 
 law." 
 
 The same day offers the record : 
 
 '•David Dudley Field called and said we had sustained a serious 
 defeat yesterday, and that the Secretary of War wished to see me. 
 Went to the Department and found that General Pope had. in fact. 
 been defeated partially, and had fallen back to Centreville. Fitz 
 John Porter was not in the battle, nor was Franklin or Sumner, with 
 whose corps the result would have probably been very different.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 1 : >7 
 
 Little fighting to-day. Clerks went out to battle-field as nurses, Mr. 
 Harrington with them." 
 
 On the same day, our hero wrote as follows to Hon. Thadeus 
 Stevens : 
 
 "I read your letter to the President, and he has concluded to 
 send Senator Pomeroy to Chiriqui to report before conclusively 
 doing anything. 
 
 "Colonization may do something in the way of creating an Amer- 
 ico-Afric state in Central America, hut it will not solve our home 
 problem, nor, in my judgment, does it suit our present exigencies. 
 
 "Pope, after a great success Friday, was compelled to tall back to 
 Centreville yesterday. Neither Franklin nor Sumner were sent 
 forward fast enough *by McClellan to reach him. But I think they 
 are with him to-day, and that he is stronger than the enemy. 
 
 "McClellan, at last, is reduced to the command of the residue of 
 the Arm}- of the Potomac not sent to Pope. This is late, but well, 
 though not well enough." 
 
 September 1st, we have these letters : 
 
 " My Dear Sir: I presume the article from the Bulletin from 
 'B. G.' is from your pen. 
 
 "Its temper is excellent, and its advice, upon the information 
 possessed, sound. 
 
 •No one gave to General McClellan more unreserved confidence 
 than I. It was withdrawn only when painfully convinced that it 
 was not wan-anted. Then, for a long time, I hoped it might be re- 
 stored, but failure succeeded failure and mistake — to use the mildest 
 word — mistake. 
 
 "lam now thoroughly satisfied that he ought no longer to be 
 intrusted with the command of any arm}- of the United States; and 
 I do not see how I can reconcile my duty to the country, with 
 sharing the responsibilities of the administration, if it continues to 
 allow- its military actions to be guided in any considerable degree 
 by his counsel or control. 
 
 "My heart acquits me of all personal hostility to him. My coun- 
 try requires me to look only to capacity and will to serve her. He 
 is my best friend who is her best friend. 
 
 " Your faithfully, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Gallagher : Your parcel of extracts from news- 
 papers came to-day. and alarmed me a good deal ; I supposed that 
 each -crip chronicled some defeat, and that the aggregate would 
 sum up in the loss of Missouri. 
 
 "But. unwilling to accept so unsatisfactory a conclusion without 
 more examination. I patiently went to work and analyzed the whole 
 mass, and was agreeably surprised to find that many papers related 
 to the same affair, and that the summing up was, that the rebels had 
 been routed every-where in Missouri, and driven out of the entire 
 State, except in the north-east, where they could not maintain them-
 
 458 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 solves against even a tolerably respectable force under any active 
 leader — brave as well. 
 
 "Of course tbere is an unsettled condition of society — many 
 robberies — not a few murders; but these things ought to be sup- 
 pressed without the excitement of any alarm. 
 
 " It would be very satisfactory to me, and might be very useful, 
 if I could have, from week to week, a chronologized account of 
 events and incidents, with references to the paper extracts accom- 
 panying and sustaining it; just such as I have extracted from the 
 extracts you have sent me — which I would send you as a specimen, 
 if my abbreviations were legible. Can't you give me this? 
 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 " W. D. Gallagher, Esq. S. P. CHASE, 
 
 "I see no danger here, but am not very well informed, and don't 
 care to speculate." 
 
 Under the same date was written : 
 
 " This has been an anxious day. An order appears declaring 
 command of his corps in Burnside ; of that portion of the Army of 
 the Potomac not sent forward to Pope, in McClellan ; of the Army 
 of Virginia and all forces temporarily attached, in Pope; of the 
 whole, in Halleck. Reports from Pope's army state that its losses 
 are heavy, but in good spirits — confirm that neither Franklin nor 
 Sumner arrived, and that McClellan failed to send forward ammuni- 
 tion. 
 
 "On suggestion of Judge Bates, the remonstrance against Mc- 
 Clellan, which had been previously signed by Smith, was modified; 
 and, having been further slightly altered on m} r suggestion, was 
 signed by Stanton, Bates, and 1113' self, and afterward by Smith. 
 Welles declined to sign it, on the ground that it might seem un- 
 friendly to the President — though this was the exact reverse of its 
 intent. He said he agreed in opinion, and was willing to express it, 
 personally. This determined us to await the Cabinet meeting to- 
 morrow. 
 
 "Meantime McClellan came up, on invitation of Halleck. and had 
 personal conference with him and the President. Soon after, a rumor 
 pervaded the town that McClellan was to resume his full command. 
 Colonel Key called at my house, and told me that he supposed such 
 was the fact." 
 
 Queer Colonel Key ! How often he did harm where he was even 
 over-earnestly endeavoring to do good ! Yet he did great things 
 and good things in his day. 
 
 September 2d furnishes this account: 
 
 " Cabinet met, but neither the President nor Secretary of War 
 were present. Mr. P. W. Seward (the Secretaiy of State being out of 
 town) said nothing. All others agreed that we needed a change in 
 commander of the army. Mr. Blair referred to the report [support]
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 459 
 
 he had constantly given to McClellan, but confessed that he now 
 thought he could not wisely be trusted with the chief command. 
 Mr. Bates was very derided against his competency, and Mr. Smith 
 equally so. Mr. Welles was of the same judgment, though less posi- 
 tive in expression." 
 
 How characteristic! Secretary Chase continues: 
 
 "After some time, while the talk was going on, the President came 
 in, saving that, not seeing much for a Cabinet meeting to-day. he had 
 been talking at the department and head-quarters about 'the war.' 
 The Secretary of War came in. In answer to some inquiry, the fact 
 was stated by the President or the Secretary, that McClellan had 
 been placed in command of the forces to defend the Capital — or. 
 rather, to use the President's own words, 'he had set him to putting 
 these troops into the fortifications about Washington,' believing that 
 he could do that thing better than any other man. I remarked, 
 that this could be done equall}- well by the engineer who constructed 
 the forts, and that putting General McClellan in command for this 
 purpose was equivalent to making him second in command of the 
 entire army. The Secretary of War said that no one was now 
 responsible for the defense of the Capital; that the order to Mc- 
 Clellan was given by the President direct to McClellan, and that 
 General Halleck considered himself relieved from responsibility, 
 although he acquiesced and approved the order; that McClellan 
 could now shield himself, should anything go wrong, under Halleck, 
 while Halleck could and would disclaim all responsibility for the 
 order given. The President thought General Halleck as much 
 responsible as before, and repeated that the whole scope of the order 
 was, simply, to direct McClellan to put the troops into the fortifica- 
 tions, and command them for the defense of Washington. I re- 
 marked that this seemed to me equivalent to making him comman- 
 der-in chief for the time being, and that I thought it would prove 
 very difficult to make any substitution hereafter, for active opera- 
 tions ; that, I had no feeling whatever against McClellan; that he 
 came to the command with my most cordial approbation and sup- 
 port; that until I became satisfied that his delays would greatly 
 injure our cause, he possessed my full confidence; that, after I had 
 felt myself compelled to withhold that confidence, I had (since the 
 President, notwithstanding my opinion that he should, refrained 
 from putting another in command), given him all possible support 
 in every way, raising means and urging reinforcements; that his 
 experience as a military commander had been little else than a series 
 of failures; and that his omission to urge troops forward to the 
 battles of Friday and Saturday evinced a spirit which rendered him 
 unworthy of trust, and that I could not but feel that giving com- 
 mand to him was equivalent to giving Washington to the rebels. 
 This, and more. I said. Other members of the Cabinet expressed a 
 general concurrence, but in no very energetic terms. [Mr. Blair 
 must.be excepted, but he did not dissent.] 
 
 "The President said it distressed him exceedingl}' to find himself 
 differing on such a point from the Secretary of War and the Secre-
 
 460 
 
 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tary of the Treasury; that he would gladly resign his place; but he 
 could not see who could do the work wanted as well as McClellan. 
 1 named Hooker, or Sumner, or Burnside, either of whom could do 
 the work better. 
 
 "At length the conversation ended, and the meeting broke up, 
 leaving the matter as we found it. 
 
 "A few tax appointments were lying on the table. I asked the 
 President to sign them, which he did. saying he would sign them 
 just as they were, and ask no questions. I told him that they had 
 all been prepared in accordance with his directions, and that it was 
 necessary to complete the appointments. 
 
 " They were signed, and I returned to the department." 
 
 Wednesday, September 3, the record muses and narrates as 
 follows : 
 
 "The getting the army into the works, and making general 
 arrangements, went on to-day. General McClellan assumed the com- 
 mand, and returned to his old head-quarters as if the disastrous ex- 
 pedition of near eight months had been only the absence of a few 
 days, unmarked by special incident; and, with the same old staff, 
 except the French princes, Mr. Astor, and Mr. Gantt, he went out, as 
 of old, to visit the fortifications and the troops. Pope came over and 
 talked 'with the President, who assured him of his entire satisfac- 
 tion with his conduct; assured him that McClellan's command was 
 only temporary; and gave him reason to expect that another army 
 of active operations would be organized at once, which he (Po])e) 
 would lead. 
 
 " In my department, nothing especial occured ; but the expenses 
 are becoming enormous." 
 
 Thursday, September 4, witnessed this memorandum : 
 
 "McDowell came over to-day, and gave me a circumstantial 
 account of the recent battles — attributing our ill-success to the con- 
 duct of McClellan in not urging forward reinforcements, and es- 
 pecially to the conduct of Porter, aud his division, on the day of 
 the last battle. He sta} - ed all night." 
 
 The same day, Secretary Chase wrote, I know not to whom, 
 this deeply interesting letter: 
 
 [Private.] 
 
 " Washington, September 4. 1862. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I see the World connects me with General 
 McDowell. Is it worth while to take an)- notice of it? 
 
 " I recommended General McDowell as I did General McClellan; 
 neither more warmly than the other, and am perfectly willing to 
 take my share, with others who recommended them just as I did, of 
 the responsibility of their appointments. 
 
 "My expectations of General McDowell have been better satisfied
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 4G1 
 
 than thoso I formed of General McClellan ; but the latter is supported 
 by all the enemies of the administration and by many of its friends, 
 and the President declaring himself unable to do better, and 
 acknowledging that he is not doing well, places McClellan in com- 
 mand of the troops and fortifications around Washington, so that, for 
 tho time being at all events, he is restored virtually to Imposition as 
 commander-in-chief. Of course it is a good time for secession, 
 semi-secession, anti-administration, and semi-administration papers 
 to unite in laudations of McClellan and denunciations of McDowell. 
 
 "For my part, I know a large part of the truth, and my opinions 
 are unchanged. 
 
 M McDowell has been unfortunate; but he is a loyal, brave, truth- 
 ful, capable officer. He is a disciplinarian. While he never hesi- 
 tated to appropriate private property of rebels to public use, he 
 repressed, as far as possible, private marauding as incompatible 
 with the laws of civilized war, and equally incompatible with the 
 discipline and efficiency of troops. He believes that the immense 
 trains with which our armies move are fatal to rapidity of move- 
 ments, and so dangerous to final success. He has sought, therefore, to 
 cut them down to the lowest point compatible with the effective con- 
 dition of the troops. From these two causes come a large share of the 
 complaints against him. Then he never drinks, or smokes, or chews, 
 or indulges in any kind of license. He is serious and earnest. He 
 resorts to no acts of popularity. He has no political aims, and per- 
 haps not an}- very pronounced political opinions, except the convic- 
 tion that this war sprung from the influences of slavery, and that, 
 whenever slavery stands in the way of successful prosecution, slavery 
 must get out of the way. He is too indifferent in manner. His offi- 
 cers are sometimes alleniated by it. He is too purely military in 
 his intercourse with his soldiers. There is an apparent hauteur, no, 
 that is not the word, rough indifference expresses better the idea, in 
 his way towards them, that makes it hard for them to feel any warm 
 personal sentiments towards him, unless they find, what they hith- 
 erto have not found, that he leads them successfully, and the honor 
 of serving under .him compensates for their griefs. 
 
 "A Colonel Tileston, who had the best opportunities of observa- 
 tion in the late battles, tells me that McDowell did his whole duty, 
 and more than his share of the work, and it does seem to me that 
 if Pope had been supported, as he should have been, by McClellan, 
 the first success would have been a complete victory, and the last 
 reverses would have been converted into successive triumphs. 
 
 " I meant to add something about the criticisms of my financial 
 policy. Will those who condemn indicate a better? I shall be glad 
 to learn. 
 
 '• Under difficult circumstances I have accomplished all I believe 
 that could be accomplished. It is pretty hard to endure censures so 
 completely undeserved, and I have often felt it would be well to 
 retire and leave the administration to other hands." 
 
 The next day is marked by the following account : 
 
 "The President, at Cabinet meeting, read Pope's report, which
 
 462 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 strongly inculpates MeClellan, Porter, Franklin, and Griffin ; and 
 asked opinion as to its publication. All against it, on the score of 
 policy under existing circumstances. President stated that Porter, 
 Franklin, and Griffin would be relieved from command and brought 
 before a Court of Inquiry; and also, I think, that the order had 
 been made. 
 
 " The President had previously, at the department, told me that 
 the clamor against McDowell was so great that he could not lead 
 his troops unless something was done to restore confidence; and pro- 
 posed to me to suggest to him the asking for a Court of Inquiry. I 
 told him I had already done so. and would do so again. So, avail- 
 ing myself of a messenger from General Pope, who came during the 
 meeting, I sent a note to McDowell, asking him to come over. He 
 accordingly came in the evening, and I suggested the matter to him. 
 He thought it hard to make the demand when there were no charges. 
 I told him I thought he could assume the charge made by the Michi- 
 gan officer, who, when dying, scrawled a letter, saying he died a 
 victim to Pope's imbecility and McDowell's treachery. He reflected, 
 and then said he would make the demand. He stayed again all 
 night." 
 
 The same day affords this letter : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Mr. Stanton has read me your telegram to him, 
 and his answer. 
 
 "Perhaps it is well enough for me to say, that his answer is the 
 only one which, in my judgment, he can give, without giving rise 
 to more evils than the measure proposed will cure. 
 
 "General Mitchel ought to have fifteen thousand men to go with 
 him to his department; but it seems impossible, just now, to get 
 them furnished by General Halleck. But he ought not to wait for 
 them. He ought to go immediatel} 7 to his department, and avail 
 himself of the authorities he has. 
 
 " The country ought to demand that he be fully sustained, and 
 enabled at once to commence most vigorous operations in that 
 quarter. 
 
 "There seems to be no immediate danger apprehended here. In- 
 deed, I am inclined to think, that if our generals could have only 
 acted in concert and harmony, the routed enemy would now be fly- 
 ing toward Richmond. But I know too little to have any confident 
 opinion about anj^ military matter. I do know, however, that if the 
 old McClellan policy is to be resumed here, and not counterpoised by 
 vigor elsewhere, the chance of ultimate success sinks near zero. 
 
 "Yours cordially, 
 
 "Hon. George Opdyke. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Is not that a remarkable conclusion ? Here is a man coolly con- 
 fessing that he knows too little to have any confident opinion about 
 any military matter whatever, yet proceeding, in the very next sen- 
 tence, to express an absolutely confident opinion about one of the 
 most important military matters ever studied by an educated 
 soldier.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 463 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 THE INTEREST DEEPENS — PURSE AND SWORD. 
 
 THE interest deepens as we go forward. Saturday, Septembei 
 6th, furnished the matter of this memorandum : 
 
 "General and Mrs. Worth ington breakfasted with me; also Gen- 
 eral McDowell and Mr. Haven. 
 
 "After breakfast, General McDowell read to me the di*aft of his 
 letter, which I thought excellent, but suggested one or two modifica- 
 tions which he adopted. I then went to the department. 
 
 "Soon after, the President came in, and asked what McDowell had 
 determined to do. I told him. 'Where is the letter?' He took it, 
 intending to have it copied, I suppose. ' Well, it ought to be done 
 immediately ; for the corps must march, and General Halleck 
 feels that he must be relieved, at all events, from command. Where 
 can he be found?' 'I can not tell. An orderly, no doubt, can find 
 him.' The President went away, and, later in the day, I heard that 
 General McDowell had been relieved at his own request. He came 
 in himself, afterward, stating the fact, and adding, ' I did not ask to 
 be relieved — I only asked for a court.' I explained as well as I 
 could, and he left me. 
 
 "Afterward, I started to War Department, but met Seward, who 
 said Stanton was not there. Went to President's, where Stanton 
 was. He spoke of McDowell's letter, and praised it in the strongest 
 terms." 
 
 The same entry states : 
 
 "In the evening, General Pope came in. He expressed strong in- 
 dignation against Fitz John Porter and McClellan, who had. as he 
 believed, prevented his success. He wanted his report published, as 
 an act of justice to himself and his army. I stated my objections to 
 present publication on the ground of injury to service at this critical 
 time ; but said that a general order, thanking his army for what they 
 had done, ought to be promulgated. He said this would be satisfac- 
 tory (partially so. at least), but that Halleck would not publish one. 
 I said I would see the President and urge it." 
 
 On the same day, in the morning, Mr. Barney came to see the 
 Secretary of the Treasury about the last contract in New York. 
 Concerning this, it seems, " quite a difference of opinion and inter- 
 est " existed, " one or two of our most influential journals being con
 
 464 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 cerned in its continuance. The question," according to the Secre- 
 tary's version, " was, whether the contract, by its own terms, was 
 not limited to three years, and whether an extension of it beyond 
 that time would be, in reality, a new contract. Doubting on the 
 point," Mr. Chase " referred it to the Attorney-General, who returned 
 an answer expressing a decided opinion that the contract was so 
 limited and could not be extended without a new contract. " Before 
 receiving this answer the Secretary had telegraphed to Mr. Field to 
 " come on, if he desired to say anything further." 
 
 The conclusion of this variously interesting entry is as follows : 
 
 "Mr. Barney and others also called, B. having declined invitation 
 to breakfast, but said he wonld come at 9, to meet Field, who tele- 
 graphed he would come and call at that hour. Major Andrews came 
 in and spoke so of Colonel Crook, that I agreed to ask that he be 
 made a brigadier-general. Major Andrews wrote a statement of 
 what Crook did in Western Virginia." 
 
 Sunday, September 7, 1862, the Secretary made this record : 
 
 "Mr. Field called after breakfast, and proposed to go to "War De- 
 partment, and we 'went together. Met Gurowski, who denounced 
 what he called military usurpation, saying that Franklin's corps, 
 marching out, cheered McClellan. Found Stanton, Pope, and Wads- 
 worth uneas} T on account of critical condition of affairs. Spoke to 
 Stanton about Crook, and he promised to give him a commission. 
 Saw Halleck, and he approved. 
 
 " Went to President's, and spoke of general order commending 
 Pope's arm}'. He thought it due, and said he would speak to Halleck. 
 
 "Coming home, met McDowell and T. C. H. Smith. Smith came 
 home with me and spoke of battles, eulogizing in strong terms both 
 Pope and McDowell." 
 
 In the same entry I find the memorandum : 
 
 "Received, to-day, telegram from Paymaster-General of Xew 
 York: 'Cannot forward troops for want of means to pay State 
 bounty. Will you exchange smaller United States notes for one 
 thousand's and five hundreds' dollars to enable State to do it? ' An- 
 swered, 'yes ! Be as prompt in sending your troops ; ' and sent neces- 
 sary directions to Mr. Cisco." 
 
 Then follow these two paragraphs : 
 
 "In the afternoon, McDowell called to say, 'Good-bye.' The 
 Court of Inquiry demanded by him had been postponed, and he had 
 fifteen days' leave of absence. He went away, feeling very sad, in- 
 deed. 
 
 "In the night, a large part of the army moved northward, follow- 
 ing the force already sent forward to meet the rebels invading Mary- 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 465 
 
 land. Generals Bnrnside, Hooker, Sumner, and Reno in command 
 (Burnside chief), as reported." 
 
 Under date September 7, we have also this account : 
 
 "Had long talk about labor contract, and dissatisfaction of our 
 friends with Mr. Barney. So far as I could see, the dissatisfaction 
 -was unreasonable. I said I could not hold the contract to be contin- 
 uing, unless the Attorney-General should reserve his opinion, of 
 which there was too little probability to warrant postponment of 
 action, and so virtual continuance, until his review of his decision. 
 Said I would gladly oblige party friends, but not at the expense of 
 any breach of public duty. Field and Barney left together, and soon 
 after Harrington." 
 
 Monday, September 8, 1862, the Secretary made his diary say: 
 
 " Clay came in, and Cooke left. Clay and I rode toward depart- 
 ment in wagon. Clay said he had made up his mind to take depart- 
 ment, and that the President and Stanton were willing he should 
 take-that beyond the Mississippi. ' Would I go with him to see Hal- 
 leck?' 'Certainly.' Halleck received us kindly, but was unwell. 
 Showed no favor to the new department project. 
 
 "Returned to department and attended to general business. Noth- 
 ing of special financial moment. Barney came in and said that 
 Stanton and Wadsicorth had advised him to leave for New York this 
 evening, as communication with Baltimore might be cut off before to-mor- 
 row. He would be governed by my advice. Told him I did not 
 think the event probable, but he had best govern himself by the ad- 
 vice received. 
 
 "After he had gone General Mansfield came in and talked very 
 earnestly about the necessity of ordering up, from Suftblk, First Del- 
 aware and Third and Fourth New York, trained and disciplined now 
 fourteen months, each 800 strong, say 2,400 men ; and from Norfolk 
 Nineteenth Wisconsin and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, say 1,600 
 men; leaving at Suffolk, Forey's brigade of four diminished reg- 
 iments, say 1,800 men in all, late of Shields' division; Eleventh 
 Pennsylvania cavalry (a full and good regiment), say 900 men ; 
 and Dodge's regiment of mounted rifles, except one company ; and 
 at Norfolk, Ninety-ninth New York, and one company of Dodge's, 
 sufficient for military police. He favored leaving Keys and Peck at 
 Yorktown. He said the defenses of the city were weak on the east- 
 ern side ; and that there ought to be at least 65,000 good men to hold 
 it if McClellan is defeated — to improve victory if he is successful 
 
 " He referred to old times. Was in Texas the winter before re- 
 bellion broke out. Saw Twiggs, who hated him because he was on 
 a court-martial. Was then told by officer in Council of War of K. 
 G. C., that Floyd and Cobb in Cabinet, and Jeff. Davis and Breckin- 
 ridge, were members. In this Council of War, orders were given to 
 seize navy-yards, forts, etc., while its members were yet Cabinet 
 officers and senators. The Order of the K. G. C. ramified through- 
 out the South. First offered services to Juarez, who refused them
 
 466 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 because too dangerous. They then plotted the invasion of Cuba, 
 which failed. Then declared themselves protectors of Southern 
 rights, and levied a contribution upon all planters and slave-holders, 
 some giving S5 and some 810. and some more or less. In this way 
 they got large sums and commenced operations. They designed to 
 seize Washington and inaugurate Breckinridge; and, with reference 
 to this, Mason wrote Faulkner, advising him not to resign — this let- 
 ter being now in Seward's possession. This plot only failed through 
 the bringing of troops to Washington and the unwillingness of lead- 
 ers to make a bloody issue so early. He spoke of General Scott. 
 Said he had not treated him well — had placed McDowell in com- 
 mand over the river, last year, superseding himself; and, when he 
 had asked for explanation he simply replied that his orders had been 
 given. He felt himself wronged ; but did his duty to the best of his 
 ability. He was afterward treated badly by General Wool, who did 
 not like him, though he treated him civilly. Had lately been in 
 command at Suffolk (an insignificant post) until summoned here 
 to Court of Inquiry. Wanted active employment, but was unable to 
 get any. Had sent for his horses, and proposed to visit all the for- 
 tifications around the city on his own account. 
 
 " I was," records Mr. Chase, " a good deal affected by the manifest 
 patriotism, and desii*e to do something for his country, manifested by 
 the old general, and could not help wishing that he was younger, 
 and thinking that, perhaps, after all, it would have been better to 
 trust him." 
 
 The entry concludes as follows: 
 
 "After the general left, went to War Department, where I found 
 the President, Stanton, and Wadsworth. The President said he had 
 felt badly all day. Wadsworth said there was no danger of an at- 
 tack on Washington, and that the man ought to be severely pun- 
 ished who intimated the possibility of its surrender. The President 
 spoke of the great number of stragglers he had seen coming into 
 town this morning, and of the immense losses by desertion. 
 
 " Returned home ; Major Andrews and others called." 
 
 In the entry of next day, we have : 
 
 "Major Andrews came to breakfast. Told him 1 had seen Sec- 
 retary of War, who had assured me that Colonel Crook's commis- 
 sion as brigadier had been sent him. 
 
 "Went to department. Directed commision for Tenth New York 
 district to be sent to Hyatt. Directed Mr. Rogers to proceed to 
 Xew York and expedite alterations in Exchange and Custom House, 
 and make proper contracts for the same. 
 
 "Went to President's to attend Cabinet meeting; but there was 
 only a talk. I proposed the creation of a department beyond the 
 Mississippi, and that Clay be placed in command, with whom Frank 
 P. Blair should be associated ; and that an expedition should be 
 organized to Petersburgh, and afterward to Charleston." 
 
 General Van Rensellaer called to ask the interest of Secretary
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 467 
 
 Chase for him as Paymaster-General j and Mr. Carroll to ask the 
 same for General Griffin. We have these memoranda, under the 
 same date : 
 
 "Went to War Department, where Watson told me that General 
 MeClellan had telegraphed, expressing doubt if there was any large 
 rebel force in Maryland, and apprehension that their movement 
 might be a feint. Watson dined with me. Read him Denison's let- 
 ter from New Orleans about evacuation of Baton Rouge, Butler's 
 black regiment, etc., etc. 
 
 ''Just after dinner. Captain came in with Mr. G., who had 
 
 been arrested near Soldiers' Home as a suspicious character; taken 
 before General Wadswortli, to whom he said he was known to me; 
 sent by General W. to me; identified and discharged. He is an 
 Englishman, of a Manchester house, who brought a letter from Mr. 
 Lagard to Acting-Minister Stewart, by whom he had been com- 
 mended to me. Riding around to gratify curiosity, he had fallen 
 into trouble.'' 
 
 Wednesday, September 10, has this most interesting statement: 
 
 " Mr. Skinner at breakfast. Soon after Mr. Hamilton (James A.) 
 came, and we conversed about the condition of things. He said the 
 committee from Xew York had arrived, representing the views of 
 the five Xew England governors who met lately ; and that they 
 would insist on the resignation of Messrs. S. and B. I told him I 
 thought the mission vain ; that it might be useful if all the heads of 
 departments were to resign, and that I was not only read}' but anx- 
 ious to do so, either with my associates or alone. He criticized 
 severely some passages in Mr. Seward's diplomatic correspondence; 
 especially those in the letter of April 10, to Mr. Adams, which con- 
 cede the proposition that the Federal government could not reduce 
 the seceding States to obedience by conquest, and affirm that ' only 
 an imperial or despotic government could subjugate thoroughly dis- 
 affected and insurrectionary members of the State.' He said in 
 them was the key to the whole temporizing policy, civil and military, 
 which had been pursued. I could make no reply to this, except to 
 say, that I had never known Mr. Seward to object to any action, how- 
 ever vigorous, of a military nature, though his influence had been 
 cast in favor of harmonizing the various elements of support to the 
 administration, by retaining General MeClellan in command, and by 
 avoiding action which would be likely to alienate the Border States. 
 I added that in his wishes of harmony I concurred ; and that I 
 credited him with good motives in the choice of means to ends, 
 though I could not always concur with him in judgment as to their 
 adaptation." 
 
 Is not that an indication of a good heart and a clear head ? 
 There was no cultivated jealousy, no self-conscious envy, no unehar- 
 itableness, in the man whose wonderful career we are retracing. 
 31
 
 468 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 After conversation with Mr. Hamilton about Seward, September 
 10, 1862, Mr. Chase went to the department and transacted the 
 routine business. He also examined the tax law for insurgent 
 States; sent for Commissioner Boutwell ; read and approved regu- 
 lations drafted by Judge Smith, and " determined to overcome the 
 difficulties in the way of putting the law into operation, arising 
 from the omission of any appropriation for the purpose by Congress, 
 by applying, so far as the district of South Carolina is concerned, 
 the necessary amount from a small fund legally at" his "disposal." 
 
 Then occur the words : 
 
 " Received letter from Birney, desiring that his brother should 
 command Kearney's corps, and sent it to War Department with 
 strong commendation. 
 
 " General Kane called to thank me for my support to his appoint- 
 ment as brigadier, to which I answered, most sincerel} T . that 'he 
 was indebted for the appointment, not to my support, but to his own 
 merits.' Indeed, while I will most gladly aid merit to place, and 
 seek it out in order to give it place, I am resolved never, from sym- 
 pathy or compliance, to help unfit persons to position. The condi- 
 tion of the country is too critical for it now, were it ever excusable." 
 
 Here is part of the very interesting entry, dated September 10 : 
 
 "At dinner, Mr. Hamilton told me of the interview between the 
 New York committee and the President. The committee urged a 
 change of policy. The President became vexed, and said, in sub- 
 stance, ' It is plain enough what you want — you want to get Seward 
 out of the Cabinet. There is not one of you who would not see the 
 country ruined if you could turn out Seward.' " 
 
 After dinner, the Secretary " rode to Mr. Cutts', proposing to in- 
 vite Mrs. D. to ride, and was very sorry to learn from her mother 
 that she was much indisposed." 
 
 Thereupon he went to the War Department. He records : 
 
 "No satisfactory information yet from army, and no satisfactory 
 account of numbers or position of the enemy. David Taylor called 
 with Mr. Northcott, of Champaign, who wants to be commissary. 
 Indorsed his paper, 'recommended.' 
 
 " Received telegram from McDowell, asking if it was right to pub- 
 lish his letter. Answered, ' Will see it done.' " 
 
 Next day, our warlike Secretary of the Treasury recorded as fol- 
 lows meditations of a gloomy mood : 
 
 " Two weeks since, Hooker drove Ewell at Bristow Station — and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 469 
 
 what weeks! Ten days of battle, and then such changes — changes 
 
 in which it is difficult to see the public good I How singularly all 
 
 our worst defeats have followed administrative cr ; no, blunders! 
 
 McDowell defeated at Bull Run, because the administration would 
 not supersede Patterson by a general of more capacity, vigor, and 
 devotion to the cause. McClellan defeated at Richmond, because the 
 administration recalled Shields and forced Fremont to retire from 
 the pursuit of Jackson, in order that McClellan's force might he 
 concentrated at Manassas to he sent to McClellan before Richmond. 
 Pope defeated at Bull Run, because the administration persisted in 
 keeping McClellan in command of the Armj 7 of the Potomac, after 
 full warning that, under his lead and influence, that army could not 
 cooperate effectively with Pope." 
 
 The entry of September 11 contains also this passage : 
 
 "After breakfast, this morning, Mr. Hamilton took leave of me, 
 and I prepared to go to Fairfax Seminary to visit Butterfield, who, 
 according to the papers, is sick there. Before starting, however, I 
 thought it best to send Bannister to the War Department to learn if 
 any thing of importance had occurred. He returned with a note to 
 the effect that nothing important had come from the army, but that 
 an important question was for consideration and decision, and if I 
 would come up he would send for General Hal leek and the President. 
 "Went up immediately. It rained. On arriving at the "War Depart- 
 ment, found General Wright, of Pennsylvania, there, with a request 
 from Governor Curtin to call into active service all the able-bodied 
 men of the State. The President, General Halleck, and Mr. Stanton 
 submitted the question, ' What answer shall be returned to Governor 
 Curtin?' General H. thought the important thing was to mass all 
 the force possible on this side the enemy, and defeat him ; and that 
 a general arming of Pennsylvania would not be sufficiently availa- 
 ble to warrant the vast expense sure to be incurred. Mr. Stanton ex- 
 pressed no opinion as to defeat of the enemy from this side, but 
 thought Governor Curtin's proposal too large to be entertained, 
 and stated that the arms for such a general arming could not be 
 furnished. 
 
 "I asked General H: 'What force, in your opinion, has the 
 enemy?' 'From the best evidence I have — not satisfactory, but the 
 best — I reckon the whole number in Maryland and the vicinity of 
 Washington at 150,000.' 'How many in Maryland?' ' Two-thirds, 
 probably, or 100,000.' ' What, in your judgment, as a soldier, are 
 the designs of the enemy?' 'Impossible to judge with certainty. 
 Suppose he will do what I would do, if in his place — rest, recruit, 
 get supplies, augment force, and obtain all possible information ; and 
 then strike the safest and most effectual blow he can — at Washing- 
 ton, Baltimore, or Philadelphia. If not Btrong enough to strike a 
 blow, he will, after getting till he can, attempt to recross into Vir- 
 ginia.' 'You think, then, there is no probability of an advance into 
 Pennsylvania at present ? ' ' None, unless a raid.' Upon these state- 
 ments, I expressed the opinion that, considering the situation of our 
 troops sent out to attack the rebel army, it was not impossible that
 
 470 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a raid at least would be attempted into Pennsylvania, and that Gov- 
 ernor Curtin was wise in making provision for it; that the proposi- 
 tion to arm the whole people was, however, too broad ; and that I 
 thought it would be well to authorize the governor to call out as 
 many troops as could be armed with the arms ho reported himself as 
 having — say 30,000. The President said ho was averse to giving the 
 order, on the score of expenses, but would think of it till to- 
 morrow. 
 
 " The President and Secretary Stanton having left the room, I 
 took occasion to ask General Halleck what, in his judgment, were 
 the causes of the demoralization of the troops. He replied, there 
 were several causes: first, the incapacity of officers, from inexperi- 
 ence, or want of ability, or character; second, the want of proper 
 discipline; third, a political cause — the action of the late Congress in 
 its abolition and confiscation measures, which were very distasteful 
 to the Army of the West, and, as he understood, also to the Army of 
 the Potomac. I expressed my conviction that the influence of the 
 last was exaggerated, and dropped the subject. 
 
 "I abandoned the idea of visiting Butterfield, and returned to the 
 department, where I transacted usual routine business. 
 
 "In the evening, called to inquire for Mrs. Douglas, taking 
 some " 
 
 Under date September 12 we have: 
 
 "Little of interest occurred at the department to-day. Expenses 
 are enormous, increasing instead of dinmiishing ; and the ill-successes in 
 the field have so affected government stocks that it is impossible to obtain 
 money except on temporary deposit, and these deposits very little 
 
 exceed . We are forced, therefore, to rely on the increased 
 
 issue of United States notes, which hurts almost as much as it helps; 
 for the omission of Congress to take my measures to restrict bank- 
 note circulation, make3 the issue of these notes a stimulant to its 
 increase, so that the augmentation of the currency proceeds by a 
 double action, and prices rise proportionably. It is a bad state of 
 things; but neither the President, his counselors, nor his commanding 
 general, seem to care. They rush on from expense to expense, and 
 from defeat to defeat, heedless of the abyss of bankruptcy and ruin 
 which yawns before us. May God open the eyes of those who con- 
 trol us, before it is too late ! 
 
 " Went over to the War Department about two. Found that no 
 important intelligence of rebel movements had been received. The 
 Secretary informed me that he had heard from General H. that the 
 President is going out to see General McClellan ; and commented 
 with some severity on his humiliating submissiveness to that officer. 
 It is indeed humiliating, but prompted, I believe, by a sincere 
 desire to serve the country, and a fear that, should he supersede 
 McClellan by any other commander, no advantage would be gained 
 in leadership, but much harm in the disaffection of officers and 
 troops. The truth is, I think, that the President, with the most 
 honest intentions in the world, and a naturally clear judgment, and 
 a true, unselfish patriotism, has yielded so much to Border State
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 171 
 
 and negrophobic counsels, that he now finds it difficult to arrest his 
 own descent toward the most fatal concessions. He has already 
 separated himself from the great body of the party which elected 
 him; distrusts most those who represent its spirit, and waits. For 
 what?" 
 
 Under the same date : 
 
 "Before I left the department, the Secretary kindly promised me 
 a paj'mastership for Wm, I). Bickham ; which will, when given, be 
 a great gratification to a very worthy friend. We talked also of Port 
 Royal and matters there. I advised the removal of Brannan, who 
 is hostile to the plans of the department and the measures of Sax- 
 ton. He said he would be ordered to the North ; but did not seem 
 inclined to talk much about it. 
 
 "Speaking of the number of rebels, he said he thought it could 
 not exceed 100,000 ; but that his judgment was founded upon prob- 
 abilities of supplies and transportation — not on reports." 
 
 The same entry contains this paragraph : 
 
 "Called on President, and spoke of leave of absence to Cameron. 
 He referred me to Seward, to whom I went, and was informed that 
 leave was sent by last steamer. We talked on many things — Bar- 
 ney's appointments, conduct of the war, etc., etc. Engaged to go to- 
 gether to-morrow, and urge expedition to C'n. He said someone had 
 proposed that the President should issue a proclamation, on the in- 
 vasion of Pennsylvania, freeing all the apprentices of that State, or 
 willi some similar object. I thought the jest ill-timed." 
 
 Judge Adams (Sixth Auditor), Mr. Burnam, of the Kentucky 
 legislature, but then a refugee from his home, and Mr. Case, then 
 of Portland, Maine, but formerly of Patriot, Indiana, dined with 
 Mr. Chase. " The Kentucky slave-holders were more against slavery 
 than the Northern conservative. Strange, yet not strange!" re- 
 marks our hero. 
 
 In the evening, Major D. Taylor, Mr. O'Harra, and Mr. Cooke 
 called ; later, Mr. Cummings. " General talk, and not very profit- 
 able." 
 
 Mr. Cooke and Mr. O'Harra wanted introduction to General 
 Mitchell for Pitt Cooke and Mr. O'Harra, who, relates the diary, 
 wanted " to buy cotton at Port Royal." It appears from the entry 
 of the next day that a letter of introduction to General Mitchell was 
 given, as requested, to Mr. Pitt Cooke and Mr. O'Harra. 
 
 ''Colonel Kane called, and left note about Mr. McDowell. Mr. 
 Cummings talked about ' Bulletin ;' about removal of one of the edi-
 
 472 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tors from custom house ; about support to himself for assembly ; 
 about distribution of stamps, etc.; I got tired." 
 
 No wonder! All the wonder is that our hero did not kill himself 
 by listening, or suffer death by being talked to, as the gentle reader 
 pleases. 
 
 The next morning, Mr. Chase breakfasted alone, a thing he did 
 too seldom. It would seem, however, that he had expected company. 
 " What has become of Mr. Skinner?" he inquires. 
 
 After breakfast, he went to the Treasury Department. Having 
 there attended to matters of routine, he went with Mr. Seward, by 
 appointment, to the Navy Department, about expedition to Charles- 
 ton. The visiting secretaries with Secretary "Welles and Assistant- 
 Secretary Fox, " examined chart." They learned that the " Iron- 
 sides '' and Passaic would be ready for sea by the first of October, 
 which was more than two weeks longer than, ten days before that 
 visit, Secretary Welles had given Mr. Chase to understand would be 
 required. 
 
 "We have this memorandum also: 
 
 " Fox thinks that James Island ought to have been held and that 
 Hunter was wrong in withdrawing our force from it ; but it is now 
 commanded by our gunboats, so that a landing upon it is easy, and a 
 force of 10,000 or 15,000 men would suffice for the reduction of 
 Charleston. A land force, however, would have to act mainly inde- 
 pendently of the naval ; and no naval force but iron-elads could 
 act with any efficiency, because the harbor being a cul de sac, wooden 
 vessels entering it to bombard the town would be exposed to fire 
 from all sides, and could not pass and repass the enemy's batteries as 
 at Port Royal, and by motion, make the enemy's fire comparatively 
 ineffectual. Iron-clads, however, such as the ' Passaic ' and the ' Iron- 
 sides,' could go right into the harbor, with little or no risk, and de- 
 stroy the forts, batteries, and the town itself, if not surrendered. 
 After all, it seemed to me that it would contribute greatly to the 
 certainty of the result it a land force should be organized, and I de- 
 termined to confer with the Secretary of War on the subject, as soon 
 as possible. No time should be lost in making every arrangement 
 for such overwhelming blows, just as soon as the iron-clads are ready, 
 as will effectually annihilate the possibility of rebel success." 
 
 And this is the man who so distrusts his judgment as to matters 
 appertaining to the art of war ! Assuredly, one can not sufficiently 
 wonder at so strange a spectacle of inconsistency in a man in genera] 
 sufficiently consistent, of presumption in a man generally far from 
 presumptuous. 
 
 The same entry, however, has this relieving passage:
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 473 
 
 " From the Navy Department, we went to head-quarters, where we 
 found General Cullom, who said : 
 
 "'We have got whipped again. We have just received a telegram 
 that the rebels" have defeated our people in Fayette county, Va., and 
 are driving them down the Kanawha. The trouble is that our men 
 won't fight.' 
 
 " The style of remark did not suit me ; but it is too common among 
 our generals. In my opinion, the soldiers are better than the officers." 
 
 God bless the sacred memory of the true-hearted pen for which 
 we are indebted to those words of simple justice, perfect truth ! 
 Chase goes on as follows : 
 
 " General Halleck came in, and we asked the situation. There 
 was nothing new, he said, except confirmation that Burnside drove 
 the rebels out of Frederick yesterday, and had renewed the fight to- 
 day. Heavy firing had been heard from the direction of Harper's 
 Ferry and the Frederick and Hagerstown road. We left head- 
 quarters, and I returned to the department." 
 
 On the 13th of September we have also these words : 
 
 "Visited Mr. Clark's sealing and trimming machines for the ones 
 and twos, and found them a perfect success; and the ones and twos 
 are sealed and trimmed by machinery, attended for the most part by 
 women, with such prodigious advantage to the government that it 
 seems difficult to imagine that coining, except in large masses, can 
 be of much utilitj* hereafter. 
 
 " Jay Cooke writes that he has visited New York and conversed 
 with bankers, and thinks that $10,000,000 in gold will be gladly de- 
 posited at four per cent. I think that in this way all the gold needed 
 can be obtained at very small cost, and without affecting the market 
 in any way. If it succeeds, it will form not the least remarkable 
 chapter in the history of the financial success which has attended 
 me thus far. 
 
 " Wrote to Katie and Nettie, andtollorton — to Katie, advising her 
 not to return immediately; to Horton about Pope. 
 
 " In the evening went to Willard's to call on General Schenck, but 
 did not see him. Met Weed, and went to his room and talked of 
 sundry matters. He says I have done as well in the New York ap- 
 pointments as was possible, and advises care as to securities taken ; 
 which advice I think very good. He thinks the time has come for 
 vigorous measures South ; and is for freeing the slaves, and arming 
 them, as far as useful, without noise or excitement. He saw Hunter 
 in New York, who says that if he had been sustained he would have 
 emasculated the rebellion in South Carolina before now — which he 
 (Weed) seemed to believe, and which I believe absolutely. 
 
 "Went to War Department. Telegraph men told me that tele- 
 graph was built to Point of Rocks, and several miles be}-ond the 
 Monocacy toward Frederick, and that heavy, continuous firing was 
 heard by the operator at the former place, from the direction of 
 Harper's Ferry, till between three and four this afternoon ; and that
 
 474 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 firing, though not so heavy, was also heard from the direction of 
 Middleton, between Frederick and Hagerstown. There was also a 
 rumor that we had captured a lai'ge wagon train, with a considerable 
 number of prisoners. The inference from the firing heard is, that an 
 attack has been made on Harper's Ferry by a large rebel force, and 
 a stout defense with an unknown result; and that a less important 
 conflict has taken place between the advance under Burnside and the 
 rebel rear falling back toward Hagerstown or Harper's Ferry (prob- 
 ably the former), and that the rebels have been worsted. 
 
 " Telegram from Governor Curtin yesterday states that a reliable 
 gentleman of Maryland, who had opportunities to converse freely 
 with officers of the rebel army, says that the rebel force in Maryland 
 is 190,000, and on the other side of the Potomac 250,000— in all, 
 440,000. This is a specimen of information collected and believed! 
 
 " Came home, and Cooke called with Mr. Davis, General Birney's 
 partner, who wants him made a major-general, with command of 
 Kearney's corps. I think this should be done. We must advance 
 all our ^Republican officers who have real merit, so as to counterpoise 
 the too great weight already given to Democratic officers without 
 much merit. They have been more pushed than the Eepublicans, 
 and we have been more than just — more than generous even — we 
 have been lavish toward them. It is time to change the policy." 
 
 On Sunday, September 14, 1862, the Secretary went to the 
 Methodist church, where, according to his diary, Mr. Brown 
 preached a good sermon. Afterward he called to inquire for Mrs. 
 Douglas, who, he found, had passed a bad night, but was better. 
 Then he went to the War Department, where he found that there 
 were despatches from McClellan to the President, and also to 
 General Halleck. Of these his diary gives the following account : 
 
 "First, complimentary — respects to Mrs. Lincoln ; ladies' enthusi- 
 astic welcome of McClellan and his army, 'us.' The second states 
 getting possession of Lee's order to Hill of 10th — troops from vari- 
 ous directions to attack Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry on the 
 12th, capture both, and then reunite at Hagerstown. White had 
 anticipated the enemy by joining Miles at Harper's Ferry, where 
 the enemy made vigorous attack yesterday ; courier from Miles says 
 he can hold out two days, but enemy is in possession of Maryland 
 Heights; McC. hopes before two days to relieve Miles — is already 
 in possession of Middleton and Jefferson; estimates rebel force in 
 Maryland at 125,000 ; thinks defeat of his army would be ruinous, 
 and therefore better to spare all troops from Washington than suffer 
 it; anticipates great battle to-morrow, Monday; enemy don't mean 
 to go back to Virginia, but thinks Lee has blundered, and hopes to 
 make him repent of it." 
 
 Next we have, in the same entry : 
 "Watson rode with me.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 475 
 
 ''Head several books, especially article in Revue des acux Mondes, 
 on the soul. In the evening, Mr. Case called and talked of politics 
 and spiritualism, especially th« last, in which he is a firm believer. 
 Says lie receives letters from the inhabitants of the sixth and other 
 spheres, among whom arc Calhoun, Brutus, and others; that there 
 is a council in the sixth, presided over by Washington, to which the 
 control of this war is committed ; that Richmond will be taken 
 about December 1st, and Charleston early in the spring." 
 
 The climatic notions of those upper spheres appear to have been 
 as much at fault as their vaticinations, Charleston should have 
 been required to fall in winter, Richmond in the spring. That 
 would have "convened" us better, n'est ce pas? But let us attend 
 again to matters of exclusively terrestrial purport. 
 
 On the 15th of September, Secretary Chase, soon after 9 o'clock, 
 A. M., went to the Treasury, stopping at Franklin's to buy glasses, 
 but not field glasses. 1 After attending to important letters 2 and 
 other matters, he discussed military things with Colonel Lloyd, of 
 
 Ohio cavalry, and Colonel Mason, of Ohio infantry, 
 
 and with two captains. Afterward he talked with Mr. Wetmore 
 about cotton and tobacco. After mentioning these talks, the diary 
 narrates as follows : 
 
 <: Weed called, and we had a long talk. He expressed again his 
 conviction that more decided measures are needed in an anti- 
 slavery direction ; and said there was much dissatisfaction with 
 Seward in New York, because he is supposed to be averse to such 
 measures. I told him I did not doubt Mr. Seward's fidelity to his 
 ideas of progress, amelioration, and freedom; but that I thought he 
 adhered too tenaciously to men who proved themselves unworthy 
 and dangerous, such as McClellan ; that he resisted too persistently 
 decided measures; that his influence encouraged the irresolution and 
 inaction of the President in respect to men and measures, although 
 personally he was as decided as anybody in favor of vigorous prose- 
 cution of the war, and as active as anybody in concerting plans of 
 action against the rebels. Mr. Weed admitted that there was much 
 justice in my views, and said he had expressed similar ideas to Mr. 
 Seward himself. He said he would see him again, and that Seward 
 and I must agree on a definite line, especially on the slavery ques- 
 tion, which we must recommend to the President. We talked a 
 good deal about other matters — about the absence of proper Cabinet 
 discussion of important subjects — about tax appointments in New 
 York, with which he is well satisfied, etc., etc. 
 
 x The minute adds: "Got a pair, not, I fear, exactly the best for me." Alas I 
 our glasses of all kinds deceive us often and most grievously. 
 2 One from Horace Greeley.
 
 476 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Went to War Department between 3 and 4, and saw telegrams 
 of McClellan. They state that the action of yesterday resulted in a 
 decided success — that the enemy, driven from Mountain Crest, did 
 not renew the action this morning, but retreated in disorder; that 
 Lee confessed himself ' shockingly whipped,' with loss of 15.000 
 killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners; that he has 700 prisoners 
 at Frederick, and that 1,000 have been taken by Hooker and hold; 
 that he proposed pursuit as rapidly as possible; that Franklin, on 
 the right, in advance, toward Harper's Ferry, had succeeded as well 
 as the troops on the right. News from the West also good. Noth- 
 ing from Miles at Harper's Ferry, but it is believed that he still 
 holds out."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 477 
 
 U 
 
 CHAPTER XXXY. 
 
 THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION — HOOKER AND M'CLELLAN. 
 
 NDER date, September 15, 1862, we have the memoranda 
 
 " Received letters from John Sherman, O. Follett, Horace Greeley, 
 and others. Greeley assured me that he had no interest in the Labor 
 Contract, which I was very glad to learn. Called on Attorney-Gen- 
 eral about citizenship of colored men. Found him adverse to ex- 
 pressing official opinion. Met Eliot, and Tabor, mayor of New Bed- 
 ford, and invited them to dine with me. Commenced letter to Gree- 
 ley ; when I was reminded of my promise to accompany Mr. Case to 
 the President's. AVent with him. Found Eliot and Tabor in ante- 
 chamber. Went in and found Blair with the President discussing 
 affairs. Told him of the gentlemen outside, and was permitted to 
 bring them in. Did so. Introduced Case, who shook hands, and we 
 came away. 
 
 '•Parted from Case at department. Finished letter to Greeley, 
 and wrote Judge Mason about Rodney, promising to do what I could 
 
 for trial. Several callers — among them Colonel Lloyd-; of Ohio 
 
 cavalry, and Colonel Mason, of Ohio infantry, with two captains. 
 
 Lloyd said that the cavalry was very badly used ; that forage was in- 
 sufficient and irregular, and needlessly wasted; thatsometimes a squad- 
 ron, compan}', or regiment was ordered out early in the morning and 
 left all day without any further orders. Pope, he said, had nomin- 
 ally about 2,000 cavalry when he went South, and when he returned 
 had not 500 fit for duty. Sometimes the cavalry was ordered to 
 march, when five or six horses in a company would die from sheer ex- 
 haustion. Artillery horses better cared for. Lloyd desired Mason 
 to be made brigadier-general. Promised to make inquiries, and, ii 
 found all right, promote object. 
 
 " Mr. Wetmore called about cotton and tobacco. Proposed that 
 
 government should take all cotton at 20 cents, and tobacco at 
 
 cents — pay the price, send it to New York, sell it for gold, keep ac- 
 count with each owner, and, at the end of the war, pay him the dif- 
 ference, if loyal. The idea struck me very favorably, and I prom- 
 ised to see him again to-morrow." 
 
 " Returned to the department ; " " wrote the Secretary in his memo- 
 randum for September 15," closed the business of the day, and went 
 home. Eliot, Taber, and Harrington dined with me. After dinner, 
 rode with Harrington. Stopped at Mr. Cutts' to inquire for Mrs. 
 Douglas; glad to hear she was better. Stopped also at War De-
 
 478 THE PRIVATE LIFE A3TD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 partment. No further news. Stanton thinks Halleck begins to real- 
 ize his mistake. Said he intended to make Birney major-general, 
 but Halleck (or rather MeClellan) had designated Stoneman. Told 
 him that Birney had sent his letter of resignation to me, but I had 
 declined to present it. Nothing new from the army, except report 
 from operator at Point of Bocks of firing, apparently between that 
 place and Harper's Ferry, which may indicate Franklin or Miles in 
 that position. Nothing from MeClellan since noon. 
 
 "Dropped Harrington at Ebbitt House, and called on General 
 Schenek. at Willard's. Helped dress his wound, which looked very 
 bad, but surgeons say he is improving rapidly, and will be able to 
 sit up in a few days. His daughter is with him, and most assidu- 
 ous and devoted. 
 
 "Home. Friends Butler and Benedict called, wishing to be intro- 
 duced to the President, in order to present petition for exemption of 
 society from draft. Promised to go with them, or write note to- 
 morrow morning. Governor Boutwell called, and we talked of tax 
 law. stamp distribution, etc." 
 
 The next morning, having had " Bannister at breakfast," the 
 Secretary, never idle, went to his department, and thence with the 
 deputation of Friends from Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and Wilmington, 
 Delaware, to the President. He introduced the delegation to Mr. 
 Lincoln, of whom he afterward asked " for Bishop Mcllvaine" 
 the appointment of Rev. Mr. Telford, as chaplain, at Camp Chase, 
 which was directed. 
 
 Then the Secretary of the Treasury visited Mr. "Welles and ad- 
 vised an expedition up the James River, and said, if General Wool 
 or other good general could be sent, he would go himself as volun- 
 teer aid. Mr. Welles seemed pleased with the idea, and said the 
 "Ironsides" and "Passaic" would be ready by the time troops 
 could be, and might take Richmond as preliminary to Charleston. 
 
 Mr. Chase "spoke to the Secretary of Commodore Barbhead's re- 
 mark to Harrington that the government ought to be superseded by 
 MeClellan." 
 
 Going to the War Department, the martial-minded Secretary of 
 the Treasury found confirmation of the news of the surrender of 
 Harper's Ferry. In his memorandum of the day he entered the 
 words: " McClellau's victory of Sunday was probably over the 
 rear of Longstreet's division, which made a stand." 
 
 The next paragraph reads thus : 
 
 " Weed called with Morgan, who wished to inquire about Texas 
 bonds issued under authority of the rebel government. Told him 
 they would not be recognized, and promised him copies of papers
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 479 
 
 relating to the subject from files and records of the department, 
 Told Weed that we must have decided action, and thai he could 
 insure it. Was going to meeting of heads of departments, not to 
 Cabinet. Went over to White House. Met Seward, who said the 
 President was busy with General Halleck and there would bo no 
 meeting." 
 
 Next we have the paragraphs : 
 
 "Keturned to department. Rode out to Siegel's camp, by way of 
 Chain bridge, with Harrington and Dr. Schmidt. Saw Siegel and 
 Schurz. They want to have corps organized for operations in the 
 field. Siege] said scouts returned from Drainesville report large 
 rebel force at Leesburgh. 
 
 "Home to late dinner. Harrington with me. Sent message to 
 War Department for news. Nothing of importance." 
 
 Under date of the next day I find that, after breakfast, at which 
 Major Bannister assisted, Secretary Chase finished, at the depart- 
 ment, a " proclamation declaring States in insurrection, without the 
 exception formerly made, with view to taking exclusive control of 
 all purchases of cotton, sugar, tobacco, and rice in insurgent States." 
 
 On the same day Mr. Chase went with Judge Hoadly, of Cin- 
 cinnati, to the War Department. It appears that the judge wanted 
 generals appointed, and had other wants and wishes of a public 
 nature. We are told that " Stanton promised the generals he wanted, 
 but could promise nothing else." 
 
 Then we have the entry : 
 
 "Went also to General Halleck's. Found the President and Kev- 
 erdy Johnson there, talking with a Union captain who was at Har- 
 per's Ferry at the time of its surrender. Says Maryland Heights 
 were surrendered to the surprise of everyone; that Miles was 
 struck by a shell after surrender of the post, just as he had put the 
 white flag in the hands of an orderly ; that there was no necessity 
 ■whatever for the surrender, and that the officers were very in- 
 dignant." 
 
 Under the same date, we have these paragraphs : 
 
 " Warrants to-day enormous, over $4,000,000, and unpaid requisi- 
 tions still accumulating — now over $40,000,000. Where will this end? 
 
 ''General Hunter came to dine with me. Expressed his decided 
 opinion that if his order had not been revoked he would now have 
 had the whole coast lined with disciplined, loyal Southern men — 
 black, to be sure, but good soldiers and true." 
 
 On the nineteenth of September, the Secretary noted the receipt 
 of a letter " eloquently urging general emancipation." It was
 
 480 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 penned by Robert Dale Owen. Mr. Chase handed it to the 
 President. 
 
 On the same day the Secretary of War showed the Secretary of 
 the Treasury a telegram from Halleck to McClellan, dated August 
 31. It was "substantially as follows: 'I do not know the terms 
 of order. I expected to leave you in full command, except of 
 troops temporarily detached to Pope. I beg you to come up and 
 give me the benefit of your talents, experience and judgment at this 
 critical moment. Am completely tired out.' 
 
 " This telegram," continues Chase, " announced the surrender of 
 Halleck to McClellan. It saddens me to think that a commander- 
 in-chief, whose opinion of his subordinate's military conduct is such 
 as I have heard Halleck express of McClellan's, should, in a mo- 
 ment of pressure, so yield to that very subordinate. Good may 
 come of it, but my fears are stronger than my hopes. How differ- 
 ently old General Scott would have acted! When up all night at 
 the critical period immediately following the first battle of Bull 
 Run, he was never heard to complain of being ' completely tired 
 out/ or known to try to shift any part of his responsibility upon 
 another." 
 
 Saturday, September 20th, having made the tender memorandum, 
 " Katie came home this morning, looking very well," the "enigma" 
 we are reading noted as follows : 
 
 " Nothing of spechil importance in any department. Mr. Garrett 
 called expressing great uneasiness about the B. & 0. R. R., and the 
 probable invasion of Western Virginia if the enemy is not followed 
 up. General Mason dined with me. He is extremely anxious to 
 have a trial in the case of Rodney Mason, who was lately dismissed 
 the service for the surrender of Clarksville. Received letter from 
 Mr. Hamilton. He will come on Monday to see the President about 
 proclamation. 
 
 "Received a letter from Miss Virginia Smith, asking my interest 
 for Colonel Bulow's appointment as brigadier; to which I replied 
 that I would say a good word for the colonel, and thought the pros- 
 pect not desperate, as no man is safe, now-a-days, from being 
 made a brigadier, not even a man of merit." 
 
 Sunday, September 21, Chase was at home under doctor's or- 
 ders. 1 Mr. Montgomery, of Philadelphia, dined with him. We 
 have the memorandum : 
 
 " Called on Harrington, to have Dr. F. go to sec General Hooker 
 »Dr. F.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 481 
 
 if possible. Harrington made arrangements. Towards sundown, 
 called at Mr. C's to inquire for Mrs. 1)., and was much gratified to 
 find her so far recovered as to be in the parlor. Mr. Montgomery 
 went to church with Katie. Bannister, Taylor, and others called. 
 
 "Dr. F. spoke of having been to the President's, who, being very 
 busy writing, could not see him. 
 
 "Thought to myself, 'Possibly engaged on proclamation.' " 
 
 September twenty-second, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty- 
 two of the Christian annals, is to be remembered, age after age, as 
 one of the supreme days of all time. 
 
 The hero of this work thus narrates the thing that made that day 
 so memorable : 
 
 "Monday, September 22, 1862. 
 
 "To department about 9. State Department messenger came with 
 notice to heads of departments to meet at 12. Received sundry 
 callers. Went to White House. All the members of the Cabinet 
 were in attendance. There was some general talk; and the Presi- 
 dent mentioned that Artemus "Ward had sent him his book. Pro- 
 posed to read a chapter which he thought very funny. Head it, and 
 seemed to enjoy it very much ; the heads also, (except Stanton) of 
 course. The chapter was ' High Handed Outrage at Utica.' 
 
 " The President then took a graver tone, and said : 
 
 " ' Gentlemen : I have, as you are aware, thought a great deal about 
 the relation of this war to slavery ; and you all remember that, sev- 
 eral weeks ago, 1 read to j'ou an order I had prepared on this sub- 
 ject, which, on account of objections made by some of you, was not 
 issued. Ever since then my mind hasbeen much occupied with this 
 subject, and I have thought, all along, that the time for acting on it 
 might probably come. I think the time has come now. I wish it 
 was a better time. I wish that we were in a better condition. The 
 action of the army against the rebels has not been quite what I 
 should have best liked. But they have been driven out of Maryland, 
 and Pennsylvania is no longer in danger of invasion. When the 
 rebel army was at Frederick I determined, as soon as it should be 
 driven out of Maryland, to issue a proclamation of emancipation, 
 such as I thought most likely to be useful. I said nothing to any 
 one; but I made the promise to myself and [hesitating a little] to 
 my Maker. The rebel army is now driven out, and I am going to 
 fulfill that promise. I have got you together to hear what I have 
 written down. I do not wish your advice about the main matter; 
 for that I have determined for myself. This I say without intend- 
 ing anything but respect for any one of you. But I already know 
 the views of each on this question. They have been heretofore ex- 
 
 fressed, and I have considered them as thoroughly and carefully as 
 can. What I have written is that which my reflections have de- 
 termined me to say. If there is anything in the expressions I use, 
 or in any minor matter, which any one of you thinks had best be 
 changed, I shall be glad to receive the suggestions. One other ob- 
 servation 1 will make. I know very well that many others might,
 
 482 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 in this matter as in others, do better than I can; and if I was satis- 
 fied that the public confidence was more fully possessed by any one of 
 them than by me, and knew of any constitutional way in which he 
 could be put in my place, be should have it. I would gladly yield 
 it to him. But, though I believe that I have not so much of 
 the confidence of the people as I had, some time since, I do not 
 know that, all things considered, any other person has more ; and, 
 however this may be, there is no way in which I can have any 
 other man put where I am. I am here. I must do the best I can, 
 and bear the responsibility of taking the course which I feel I ought 
 to take.' 
 
 "The President then proceeded to read his Emancipation Procla- 
 mation, making remarks on the several parts as he went on, and 
 showing that he had fullj T considered the whole subject, in all the 
 lights under which it had been presented to him. 
 
 "After he had closed, Governor Seward said: 'The general ques- 
 tion having been decided, nothing can be said farther about that. 
 Would it not, however, make the proclamation more clear and decided 
 to leave out all reference to the act being sustained during the incum- 
 bency of the present President; and not merely say that the gov- 
 ernment "recognizes," but that it will maintain, the freedom it pro- 
 claims?' 
 
 "I followed, saying: 'What you have said, Mr. President, fully 
 satisfies me that you have given to every proposition which has been 
 made, a kind and candid consideration. And 3-011 have now expressed 
 the conclusion to which you have arrived, clearly and distinctly. 
 This it was your right, and, under your oath of office, your duty, to 
 do. The Proclamation does not, indeed, mark out exactly the course 
 I would myself prefer. But I am ready to take it just as it is writ- 
 ten, and to stand by it with all my heart. I think, however, the sug- 
 gestions of Governor Seward very judicious, and shall be glad to 
 have them adopted.' 
 
 "The President then asked us severally our opinions as to the 
 modifications proposed, saying that he did not care much about the 
 phrases he had used. Every one favored the modification, and it 
 was adopted. Governor Seward then proposed that in the passage 
 relating to colonization, some language should be introduced to show 
 that the colonization proposed was to bo only with the consent of the 
 colonists, and the consent of the States in which colonies might be 
 attempted. This, too, was agreed to; and no other modification 
 was proposed. Mr. Blair then said that, the question having been 
 decided, he would make no objection to issuing the Proclamation; 
 but he would ask to have his paper, presented some days since, 
 against the policy, filed with the Proclamation. The President con- 
 sented to this readily. And then Mr. Blair went on to say that he 
 was afraid of the influence of the Proclamation on the Border States 
 and on the army, and stated, at some length, the grounds of his 
 apprehensions. He disclaimed most expressly, however, all objec- 
 tion to emancipation perse, saying he had always been personally in 
 favor of it — always ready for immediate emancipation in the midst 
 of Slave States, rather than submit to the perpetuation of the 
 system."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 483 
 
 I do not propose, at present, to advance the last word of this work 
 about the remarkable man by whom the Proclamation here in ques- 
 tion was produced, and remarked upon as we have just seen. But 
 I wish to offer, at once, a few words of remark on Chase's account 
 of the speech made by Abraham Lincoln to his Cabinet on that 
 memorable 22d of September, 1862. 
 
 Of course, the report was made from memory. Does it show us 
 Lincoln's oratory as it was? It seems to me it does. 
 
 Twice I beard Lincoln in public discourse, and once I had a few 
 words of private conversation with him. Chase's account of his 
 remarks, introductory to the reading of that famous Proclamation, 
 reproduces to me the very manner of the orator, as I remember it, 
 this moment, my remembrance being clear and vivid. 
 
 Lincoln seemed to me a born orator of the unfervid order. Clear- 
 ness, great simplicity, straightforwardness, originality, sagacity, and 
 quiet will, appeared to me his most marked psychical distinctions, as 
 indicated in his public speaking. After he had fairly entered on a 
 sentence of considerable length, one could foresee how it must go 
 forward, how it must come to its unaffected close. He was, I would 
 say, with the exception of lisping Caleb Smith, the most effective 
 public speaker present in the scene on which we have been looking. 
 
 In a letter dated August 20, 1863, and addressed by Secretary 
 Chase to Hon. Benjamin F. Flanders, appears this reference to a 
 letter from Lincoln to General Banks: 
 
 "The letter was worded with that caution and respect for the opin- 
 ions and wishes of others which is characteristic of the writer, and 
 did not express his preference as strongly as he felt it." 
 
 Here, again, I find indication that, defective as Chase's reading 
 of his fellow-men generally was, he could, in favorable circum- 
 stances, come to a very accurate conception of a character which he 
 had time and taken pains to study. Certainly, caution, respect for 
 the opinions and wishes of others, and a habit of expressing prefer- 
 ence less strongly than he felt it, were remarkably characteristic of 
 the man to whose distinctions we are here attending. 
 
 "After this matter was over.'' continues Chase, in the last quoted 
 entry. •• I stated to the Cabinet that it had been strongly recom- 
 mended that all cotton, sugar, tobacco, and rice should henceforward 
 be purchased only by government officers, paying to the owners, 
 loyal or disloyal, a certain proportion of the price in Xew York, 
 amounting to nearly, or quite the full price in the producing States : 
 32
 
 484 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and giving a certificate which would entitle the owner to the remain- 
 der of the proceeds, deducting taxes and charges, at the end of the 
 rebellion, if loyal. I said I would like to have the matter reflected 
 on, and that I should bring it up at our next meeting. 
 
 '• Before going to Cabinet, and on my walk to Mr. Seward's room, 
 I met Judge Pierpont, and invited him to dinner. Coming from 
 Cabinet, I found a letter from Barne}* about Wadsworth's nomina- 
 tion and "Weed's willingness to make it unanimous, if it is not to be 
 considered a triumph over him. and wrote a note to the general, ask- 
 ing him also to dine. Both he and the judge came, and we had a 
 pleasant time. Wadsworth had but one objection to saying he would 
 be governor, if at all, of the State, and not of a section of a party; 
 which was, that it might be considered as in some sort a pledge, 
 which he would not give to anybody. Told Wadsworth, in confi- 
 dence, that the Proclamation might be expected to-morrow morning 
 which surprised and gratified him equally. 
 
 "Mr. Smith, chief clerk of the Third Auditor's office, his brother, 
 associated with Fowler, and Dr. Smith called; also. Donn Piatt. A 
 good deal of speculation about Proclamation, of which some said 
 a rumor was current a day or two since. I said I thought we need 
 not despair of one yet. Chief clerk Smith said he had eagerly 
 looked at the newspapers, one morning lately, on the strength of 
 the rumor, for it, and was really disappointed. I told him to keep 
 looking. 
 
 "Donn Piatt wanted j'oung Este made clerk. I told him I would 
 be glad to do so, but could not promise. Mr. Piatt called to learn 
 about Colonel Hays, and Dr. Harkness about his son-in-law." 
 
 Let us now go back a little to review the situation in war mat- 
 ters, as discerned by Secretary Chase. Two days before hearing the 
 first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, he wrote to Senator 
 Sherman as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, September 20, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Thanks for your letter from Cincinnati. Let me 
 often be so indebted to you. 
 
 " The future does not look promising to me; but it may be brighter 
 than it seems likely to be. 
 
 " Since General Halleck has been here the conduct of the war has 
 been abandoned to him by the President almost absolutely. We — 
 who are called members of the Cabinet, but are in reality only sepa- 
 rate heads of departments, meeting now and then for talk on what- 
 ever happens to come uppermost, not for grave consultation on 
 matters concerning the salvation of the country — we have as 
 little to do with it as if we were heads of factories supplying shoes 
 or cloth. No regular and systematic reports of what is done are 
 made, I believe, even to the President : certainly not to the so-called 
 Cabinet. 
 
 " Of course we may hope for the best — that privilege remains. 
 As outsiders, too, I suppose we may criticise, but I prefer to forego 
 that privilege."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 485 
 
 Indeed ! A queer foregoing that ! But Chase goes on to say : 
 
 "It is painful, however, to hear complaints of remissness, delays, 
 discords, dangers, and to feel that there must be ground for such 
 complaints, and to know that one has no power to remedy the 
 evils and yet is thought to have. I saw the Neil House 1 on fire, and 
 felt sick at heart to think I could do nothing to avert the progress 
 of the conflagration. Comparing targe things to small, I experience 
 similar feelings now. The difference is that no one thought me 
 responsible in any degree for the administration of the fire depart- 
 ment of Columbus. 
 
 " Well, the rebel army is withdrawn from Maryland. That is 
 something, but far less than we anticipated. We hoped it would not 
 be permitted to withdraw, except in flight and utter demoralization. 
 It is in fact, however, to-day relatively stronger than our own. It 
 has lost less; it has taken more prisoners, more guns, more supplies 
 of every sort. Still we must. I hope Ave shall, reduce the disparity 
 from day to day, and soon shift the balance and complete the work. 
 Let us hope in Providence. 
 
 " The surrender of Munsfordsville is a sad blow to our cause in the 
 West, I fear. I look most anxiously for intelligence. 
 
 '• Speaking of the West, I am reminded that within the last few days 
 I heard an officer say that he heard your brother, the general, abuse 
 
 you roundly at Corinth, as one of the abolitionists who had 
 
 brought on this war, Baying that he ' was ashamed to own you for a 
 brother.' Is it possible that the pro-slavery views of West Point 
 can have affected him in this way? I hear from all sources that 
 nearly all the officers in Buell's army, and Buell himself, are pro- 
 slavery to the last degree. 
 
 " With the greatest regard, yours faithfully, 
 
 " Hon. John Sherman. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Xow I ask attention to this letter, written the day after the 
 Emancipation Proclamation was put forth : 
 
 " Washington, September 23, 1862. 
 " My Dear General : I am delighted by your great success at 
 New Orleans. You know, of course, that all I can do to promote it 
 will be most gladly done. Happily, you are less oppressive in your 
 demands on the treasury than any other of our generals in important 
 positions. I wish 3-ou could have men enough to move up the Mis- 
 sissippi and clear it out. What a crown to your achievements that 
 would be. When General Halleck came here the President requested 
 him to call on me about the financial measures necessary to the pros- 
 ecution of the war. I told him that the most important, in my 
 judgment, were: First, the substitution of an active, energetic. 
 fearless general, for McClellan, in command of the Army of the Poto- 
 mac, then stranded on James River ; and, second, the opening of the 
 Mississippi. Another, less vitally important financially, seemed to 
 
 J At Columbus, Ohio.
 
 486 THE TRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 me equally important politically and militarily, and that was the 
 prompt advance of Buell's army into East Tennessee. The first was 
 not done, the second was nut done, the third was not done; and 
 to-day the treasury is almost 836.000,000 behind, and almost without 
 resources, except treasury notes, of which the faculty to issue only 
 S56.000.000 remains, and customs supply about $200,000 per day. 
 The bonds, on which, necessarily, our chief reliance must be placed, 
 the 5-20 sixes, can not be negotiated. 
 
 •• But we have something else — defeat before "Washington, poorly 
 compensated by the expulsion of the rebels from Maryland ; Ohio and 
 Indiana menaced; military stagnation throughout the South, with 
 danger of expulsion from the points gained on the Atlantic coast ; 
 Tennessee nearly lost, and Kentucky nearly overrun. Was there 
 ever anything like it ?" 
 
 There was surely never anything like such writing, by such a man 
 as Salmon Portland Chase to such a man as Benjamin Franklin 
 Butler, about such men as Lincoln, Halleck, and McClellan — 
 worthies each, however either of them may have erred. 
 
 AVe must do justice to McClellan, Halleck, and Lincoln, as well 
 as to our hero. That this work discerns in Salmon Portland Chase 
 a man whose memory, preserved in praise, should be immortal, has 
 been clearly shown already. More decided indications of the same 
 matter are presented in the final chapter. But I can not take too 
 many opportunities of holding up to censure, rather than to praise, 
 the conduct of our hero toward martial men and martial measures. 
 Occupied as he was, he could not make the studies necessary to ex- 
 cuse writing, as we have just seen, to a man so hard, so shrewd, so 
 capable of unbecoming things, and apparently so incapable of truly 
 noble deeds and truly noble aims and aspirations, as the man to 
 whom the letter here in question was addressed. 
 
 Whatever cultivated shrewdness without real wisdom may accom- 
 plish, men like Butler may, in favorable circumstances, bring to 
 pass. But to no such man as he should Salmon Portland Chase 
 have so written about Lincoln, Halleck, and McClellan. Had cir- 
 cumstances enabled Chase to study Butler as he studied Lincoln, 
 never would such a letter to Butler have issued from the pen of 
 Chase. 
 
 The document in question, however, thus goes on : 
 
 '• Mr. Denison writes me in your praise. He says your adminis- 
 tration is eminently successful, and that you are getting on admira- 
 bly with your free-colored regiments ; enlisting without much inquiry 
 into the status prior to enlistment. This is well."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 487 
 
 Evil communications ever did corrupt good manners. Only 
 think of Chase's antecedents, and then think of his writing the 
 words just distinguished by italics. Does the end, then, justify the 
 means? But this curious letter thus proceeds: 
 
 "You must anticipate a little the operation of the Proclamation in 
 
 New Orleans and Louisiana. The law frees all slaves of rebels in 
 any city occupied by our troops and previously occupied b}" rebels. 
 This is the condition of New Orleans. Is it not clear, then, that the 
 presumption is in favor of every man, only to be set aside in case of 
 some by clear proof of continuous loyalty?" 
 
 This is too thin. It is a pitiful specimen of the thing which — 
 perhaps unjustly toward the Society of Jesus — a society which, no 
 doubt, has virtues as well as vices all its own — we call Political 
 Jesuitism. 
 
 The conclusion of this remarkable letter almost makes me sick at 
 heart. It runs : 
 
 "Yours faithfully, 
 " Major General B. F. Butler. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Now we come to another matter which, it seems to me, can not 
 be praised. The entry, dated September 23, contains the following 
 account of a visit to General Hooker : 
 
 " At breakfast this morning I proposed to Katie to ride over to the 
 Insane Asylum, and see General Hooker, to which she agreed ; and 
 she having provided a basket of grapes, peaches, etc., we went. We 
 were very kindly received by Mrs. Nichols, who ushered us into the 
 general's room. He was lying on a couch, but suffering no pain. 
 He talked very freel} T , as far as time would permit, of the recent 
 events. He said that at Richmond, when the order came to with- 
 draw the army, he advised McClellan to disobey, and proposed a 
 plan for an advance on Richmond. McClellan gave him the order to 
 advance; but, before the time for movement came, recalled it, and 
 gave orders for evacuation. When Hooker expected to march 
 to Richmond, therefore, he found himself, to his stirprise, com- 
 pelled to fall back to the Chickahominy on his wa}~ to Aquia. I said 
 to him, 'General, if my advice had been followed, you would have 
 commanded after the retreat to James River, if not before.' He re- 
 plied, 'If I had commanded, Richmond would have been ours.' He 
 then spoke of thebattle of Antietam, where he received his wound, 
 and expressed his deep sorrow that he could not remain on the field 
 three hours longer. 'If I could have done so,' he said, 'our victory 
 would have been complete; for I had already gained enough and 
 seen enough to make the rest of the enemy sure.' After he had been 
 carried off, he said, McClellan sent for him again to lead an advance. 
 The general impressed me favorably as a frank, manly, brave, and
 
 488 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 energetic soldier, of somewhat less breadth of intellect than I had 
 expected, however, though not of less quickness, clearness, and ac- 
 tivity. 
 
 " While we were conversing, Dr. Nichols came in, and I had some 
 talk with him in an adjoining room. He said the general's wound 
 was as little dangerous as a foot- wound could be, the ball hav- 
 ing passed through the fleshy part just above the sole and below the 
 instep, probably without touching a bone. I suggested the trial of 
 Dr. Forshe's balm. He made no special objection, but said the 
 wound was doing as well as possible, without inflammation and with 
 very little matter, and he thought it unnecessary to try any experi- 
 ments. I could not help concurring in this, and postponed Dr. F. 
 and his balm. The doctor said he first knew him when encamped be- 
 low him last year ; that he became deeply interested in him; that 
 when he heard he was wounded, he went up to Frederick, seeking 
 him; that he missed him; but that his message reached him, and he 
 came down to the asylum himself. I asked, ' What is your estimate 
 of him?' ' Brave, energetic, full of life, skillful on the field, not 
 comprehensive enough, perhaps, for plan and conduct of a great 
 campaign ; but at least equal in this respect, if not superior, to any 
 general in the service.' 
 
 "Mr. Rives (of the Globe), his daughter and son-in-law, came in, 
 and we took our leave ; Dr. Nichols having first strongly recom- 
 mended to me to secure the appointment of Colonel Dwight, of Mass., 
 as a brigadier-general." 
 
 On the 25th we have an entry that contains another account of 
 conversation with Hooker. That account is worded after this fashion : 
 
 " In the afternoon went with Garfield to see Hooker, who was very 
 free in his expressions about Mr. McClellan. He said it was not true 
 that either the army or the officers were specially attached to him; 
 that only two corps, whose commanders were special favorites and 
 whose troops had special indulgences, could be said to care anything 
 about him ; that other officers — he himself certainl} r — thought him 
 unfit to lead a great army ; that he is timid and hesitating when de- 
 cision is necessary ; that the battle of Antietam was very near being 
 lost by his way of fighting it, whereas, had the attack been simul- 
 taneous and vigorous on the enemy's right, center, and left, the rout 
 would have been complete ; that our force in the battle exceeded the 
 enemy's by 30,000 men ; and that the defeat of the enemy should 
 have been final. He said also that when Pope had drawn off" a large 
 part of the rebels from Richmond and orders came to McClellan to 
 withdraw, he urged him to give, on the contrary, orders for advance ; 
 that the orders were actually given and then revoked, much to his 
 chagrin. 
 
 a This recalled to mind a conversation with General Halleck at 
 that time. I said to him, that it seemed to me our.people could now 
 certain!}' take Richmond, by a vigorous push, as Pope had 60,000 of 
 the rebels before him and at least half of the remaining 60,000 were 
 south of the James, leaving only 30,000 with the fortifications on the 
 north side ; to which General Halleck replied, that it was too danger-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 489 
 
 ous an undertaking. I said, ' If this can not be done, why not re- 
 turn to Fredericksburg, leaving Richmond on the left?' 'This,' he 
 said, 'would be quite as dangerous — a flank movement, in which our 
 army would be exposed to being cut off and and totally lost.' 
 
 " General Hooker said that the movement I suggested could have 
 been executed with safety and success. He said, also, that he was 
 somewhat reconciled to leaving the Peninsula by being told that it 
 Mas a plan tor getting rid of McClellan, and the only one which it 
 was thought safe to adopt. This he thought so essential that any 
 thing necessary to it was to be accepted." 
 
 It is impossible to praise the conduct of our u Fighting Joe" 
 toward George Brinton McClellan. But what says the play about 
 purchasing the indulgence of one's friends by showing none to the 
 country's foes? I have no heart to write freely about the matter 
 here referred to. 
 
 Here, however, is a pleasant paragraph : 
 
 "Returning from General Hooker's, as well as going, General Gar- 
 field gave me some very interesting portions of his own experience. 
 This fine officer was a laborer on a canal in his younger days. In- 
 spired by a noble ambition, he had availed himself of all means to 
 acquire knowledge ; became a preacher of the Baptist Church ; was 
 made the president of a flourishing literary institution on the Re- 
 serve ; was elected to the Ohio Senate, and took a conspicuous part 
 as a Republican leader. On the breaking out of the war he became 
 a colonel ; led his regiment into Eastern Kentucky ; fought Hum- 
 phrey Marshall, near Prestonburg ; gained position rapidly ; was 
 made, at my instance, a brigadier; fought under Buell at Shiloh ; 
 and was now in Washington by direction of the Secretary of War, 
 who proposes to give him the Department of Florida. A large por- 
 tion of his regiment, he said, was composed of students from his 
 college." 
 
 That I call a pleasant paragraph, yet I would not be understood 
 to intimate preference of Garfield as between Garfield and Hooker. 
 It appears to me that our hero's intimacy with Garfield, as well as 
 his intimacy with our " Fighting Joe," caused far less good than 
 evil. Garfield is an orator, and he seems to have been also a good 
 soldier; but he never seemed to me a worthy of the finest type; and 
 this is the most favorable judgment I could possibly pronounce re- 
 specting him were I required to judge him on my present informa- 
 tion and belief. 
 
 Returning from the visit to General Hooker on the 23d of Sep- 
 tember, Mr. Chase went to the Treasury Department. There he 
 found General Robinson, of Pittsburg ; Mr. Piatt, and Dr. Hark- 
 ness. Mr. Harrington was sent with the two gentlemen last named
 
 490 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to the War Department. "Mr. Welles came in about appointment 
 of Pease, in Wisconsin ; and," says the man in the Treasury, " I asked 
 him to write a note about it." 
 The entry goes on as follows : 
 
 Attorney-General Bates called, with Mr. Gibson, of St. Louis, about 
 pecuniary aid to Mr. Gamble — both telling a very different story 
 from Farrar and Dick. Promised to look at papers and answer to- 
 morrow. Stanton came in about payment of paroled soldiers at 
 Camp Chase, which I promised to provide for. Said that he pro- 
 posed to make the Department of Florida, with Thayer as governor, 
 and Garfield as commanding-general, if I approved of Garfield. I 
 said I approved heartily. Said he had insisted on removal of Buell, 
 and leaving Thomas in command. I could not disapprove of this, 
 though I think less highly of him than he seems to think." 
 
 Such is the language. I suppose that Thomas is the him referred 
 to in the last sentence. 
 
 Mr. Stanton having gone, Mr. Barney came in. Mr. B. declined 
 invitation to dinner, but promised to call in the evening. The en- 
 try for the day concludes as follows : 
 
 " Mr. Hamilton, on invitation, came to our house to stay while in 
 town. 
 
 " In the evening, many callers. Miss Schenck, General and Mrs. 
 McDowell, General Garfield, and others. Young Mr. Walley came, 
 with letters from his father, and I brought him in and introduced 
 him to Katie and our guests." 
 
 The next day has the following account : 
 
 " The President called a special meeting of the Cabinet to-day, 
 and asked our judgment on two questions: 
 
 " First. As to the expediency of treaties with governments de- 
 siring the immigration for voluntary colonization of blacks. 
 
 " Second. As to the proper answer to be returned to the letter from 
 John Boss, excusing the treaty of the Cherokees with the rebels, 
 and asking the protection of the United States, and the fulfillment 
 of old treaties. 
 
 " On the first question there was the usual diversity of opinion. 
 I, not thinking colonization in itself desirable, except as a means of 
 getting a foothold in Central America, thought no treaties expe- 
 dient; but simple arrangements, under the legislation of Congress, 
 by which any persons who might choose to immigrate would be 
 secured in such advantages as might be offered them by other states 
 or governments. Seward rather favored treaties, but evidently did 
 not think much of the wisdom of any measures for sending out of 
 the country laborers needed here. The President asked us to think 
 of the subject, and bo ready to express our opinions when we 
 [should] next come together.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 491 
 
 "As to the Cherokee question, there seemed to he a general concur- 
 rence thai no new pledgee should he given them ; but that, at the 
 end of the war, their condition and relations to the United States 
 should have just consideration." 
 
 Under date September 24 we have, however, the following 
 memoranda : 
 
 "After Cabinet went with Stanton to War Department, and laid 
 before him son dry applications for positions, with such verbal sup- 
 port as T thought due to them. Returning to the department, I 
 found there young Mr. Walley, and gave him an earnest recom- 
 mendation to Stanton, and was surprised, an hour or so after, to 
 receive a note from him, thanking me for my kindness, but saying 
 that Mr. Stanton told him there was no likelihood of his receiving an 
 appointment ; and that be was going to enlist as a private. Wrote 
 note to Mr. Walley (his father) expressing my regret. 
 
 "Nothing at department but routine, except direction to Cisco to 
 receive deposits of gold, and a cull from Eli Thayer about his project 
 for colonizing East Florida, with which I sympathize 
 
 "Had proposed to General Garfield to take him over and call on 
 General Hooker; but it rained, and he did not come. After dinner, 
 however, the sky cleared somewhat, and Kate and I rode out and 
 called on him. He was still improving. 
 
 " An hour or two alter our return a band of music, which had 
 just serenaded the President by way of congratulation on the Proc- 
 lamation, came to my house and demanded a speech, with which 
 demand I complied briefly. General Clay, who was with me, re- 
 sponded more at length. After the crowd had passed on General 
 Clay, Mr. Clarke, of Mercer, Pennsylvania; General Robinson, of 
 Pittsburg; and Mr. Wm, D. Lewis, of Philadelphia, came in and 
 spent a little time with me." 
 
 On the same day, our hero wrote as follows to an eminently 
 worthy citizen — a man of culture and a man of large experience and 
 observation — once distinguished as a journalist: 
 
 "My Dear Sir : I have read with great interest your last letter, 
 and share the feelings you express. Some consolation in the review 
 of the disasters we have experienced may perhaps be found in the 
 supposition that they were necessary to convince the President and 
 the country that a decided measure in relation to slavery was abso- 
 lutely necessary. That measure has now been resolved upon and 
 proclaimed. 
 
 "It now remains that military action bo prompt, skillful, and 
 decided. Whether it will be so, I am not able to say. Though 
 charged with the responsibility of providing means for the vast 
 expenditures of the war, I have little more voice in its conduct than 
 a stranger to the Administration — perhaps not so considerable a 
 voice as some who are, in law at least, strangers to it. 1 should be 
 very well satisfied with this state of things, if I saw the war prose-
 
 492 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 cuted with vigor and success. I am only dissatisfied with it because 
 I can not help thinking that, if my judgment had more weight, it 
 would be so prosecuted. Months ago. for example. I insisted upon 
 the opening of the Mississippi. This might have been accomplished, 
 and was not. Months ago, also, I urged that an active and clear- 
 headed leader should conduct the march into East Tennessee, instead 
 of Buell, whom everybody knew to be slow. My counsel did not 
 prevail. Again, I urged that Sherman or Hooker should be placed 
 in command of the Army of the Potomac when it became apparent 
 that McClellan had suffered defeats where he ought to have won vic- 
 tories. Had the advice been taken, it is my clear conviction that the 
 enemy to-day would have been driven out of Virginia, and, driven 
 out of Virginia, they would have found no stopping place this side 
 of South Carolina and Mississippi. 
 
 "What can I do beyond what I have done, except resign, and come 
 home? Shall I do that? I am read}* and willing. 
 
 "Yours very truly, 
 
 "O. Follett, Esq. "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In a letter of the same date, to E. G. Arnold, Esq., our hero said : 
 
 "You have before this seen the Proclamation of the President. I 
 hope a new vigor and activity in military affairs may follow. I can 
 only hope, however; for I have no voice in the conduct of the war, 
 and am not responsible for it, except in the provision of the neces- 
 sary funds, in which I have succeeded thus far beyond all my hopes. 
 Future success must, necessarily, depend uj)on our armies, or, rather, 
 upon their leaders."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 493 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 THE GOVERNOR8 AT ALTOONA — DEATH OP NELSON — GARFIELD'S STORY. 
 
 OX the 25th of September, 1862, the Secretary of the Treasury 
 went to Seward's to dinner. There he met the Marquis of 
 Cavendish aud his brother, Colonel Leslie, of the British army, 
 Mr. Stuart aud Mr. Kennedy, of the British legation, General 
 Banks, and Mr. Everett. General Banks was earnest against more 
 separation of forces until the rebel army is crushed. 
 
 Going home, Mr. Chase found there General and Mrs. McDowell. 
 Soon after, Captain and Mrs. Loomis came in. Mr. Chase remarks 
 that he " could not help the captain, who wished to be quarter- 
 master of General Siegel's corps." 
 
 The memorandum closes with : " To bed, tired and unwell." 
 Friday, September 20, Secretary Chase received a note from 
 Secretary Seward asking him to name a consul to Rio. Mr. Chase 
 named James Monroe. Another note from Mr. Frederick Seward, 
 asked the Secretary of the Treasury to call at the State Depart- 
 ment before going to Cabinet. He called accordingly, but Gov- 
 ernor Seward had already gone. 
 
 At the Cabinet there was talk about colonization, in which the Sec- 
 retary of the Treasury took no part. . Mr. Stanton was not present. 
 All the others, except Mr. Welles, expressed themselves "in favor 
 of treaties." 
 
 Several of the loyal governors came that day 
 
 " In the evening," says Mr. Chase, "I called on them. Saw Yates 
 at the National, and left card for Berrj-, of Xew Hampshire. Saw 
 Kirkwood at Kirkwood House. Saw Salomon at Willard's, and left 
 cards for Andrew, Bradford, Sprague, Tod, Blair, and Pierepont. At 
 Governor Yates' room saw General MeCleruand, of Illinois, who 
 made a very favorable impression on me." 
 
 The next morning, relates the diary: 
 
 " Governor Andrew came to breakfast. Laughed (vexed too) at
 
 494 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 report in Herald of proceedings of governors at Altoona, which he 
 ascribed to the exclusion of reporters. While at breakfast Colonel 
 Andrews and Lieutenant Barber, both of Marietta, came in from 
 battle-ground. The colonel handed me Cox's report, and informed 
 me that Colonel Clark was killed, which left him lieutenant-colonel 
 in actual command. He gave a very interesting account of the con- 
 duct of Cox's (late Reno's) corps, both at South Mountain and Antie- 
 tam. The reports, however, were more full, and reflected the highest 
 credit on Cox and the officers and men of his troops. Andrews said 
 that McClellan and Burnside would recommend Cox for major- 
 general — an object which I assured Colonel A. I would most gladly 
 promote. 
 
 "Governor Andrew said he had called on General Hooker the 
 evening before, and met Stanton and Tod. Hooker was unequivocal 
 in condemnation of McClellan's inactivity. At department McCler- 
 nand called, and my favorable impression of last evening was 
 strengthened. Many things in a plan of campaign which he urged 
 seemed admirable, especially the eastern movement from the Missis- 
 sippi River. 
 
 '•Saw the President, and asked him his opinion of McClernand. 
 Said he thought him brave and capable, but too desirous to be inde- 
 pendent of everybody else." 
 
 I know the general. He is a good thinker and a good talker. 
 It appears to me that Lincoln's judgment of him hit the nail square 
 on the head and drove it home. 
 
 The same entry contains also this paragraph : 
 
 " Later in the day received telegram from Bliss, paj'mastei*- 
 general of New York, asking for $300,000 in small notes in exchange 
 for the same amount of large ones, to enable him to forward eight 
 regiments. It occurred to me that, by having these regiments sent 
 to Louisville, and Mitchell's and Garfield's brigades brought from 
 Louisville and sent to Port Royal, with one or two brigades in addi- 
 tion, a successful expedition against Charleston might be immedi- 
 ately organized; and I determined to speak to Stanton in relation to 
 it to-morrow. Garfield spent the evening with me, and accepted 
 invitation to make my house his home while in town." 
 
 Sunday, September 28, has this record : 
 
 "At Dr. Pyne's in morning — sermon excellent. Home in after- 
 noon. In the evening went to War Department about expedition 
 to Charleston; m} - idea being to have New York regiments sent to 
 Louisville, and Mitchell's and Garfield's brigades drawn thence and 
 sent to Port Royal with Garfield, when an immediate attack should 
 be made on Charleston, which would be sure to fall. Did not find 
 Stanton at Department. Went to Halleck's, and found him there. 
 Had some general talk. Was informed by Halleck that the enemy 
 was moving to Martinsburg. 'How many?' '150,000.' How many
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 495 
 
 has McClellan?' 'Abort 100,000.' 'Where Pennsylvania troops, 
 said to have joined him, though raised only for emergency?' 'All 
 gone back.' Had talk about draft. He showed me a letter to Gam- 
 ble, insisting that all officers of drafted militia above regimental 
 should be appointed by the Presidents T expressed the opinion that 
 the principle of drafting militia was erroneous — that the law should 
 have provided for drafting from the people an army of the United 
 States. Ho agreed. [ asked him his opinion of McClernand. He 
 said he is brave and able* but no disciplinarian; that his camp was 
 always full of disorder; that at Corinth he pitched his tents where 
 his men had been buried just below ground, and with dead horses 
 lying all around. The cause of the evil was that his officers and 
 men were his constituents. 
 
 " Leaving Halleck, Stanton and I rode together to Columbia Col- 
 lege, and back to his house. I stated my wish concerning the two 
 brigades and Charleston. He said nothing could be done. Tin- New 
 York regiments must go to McClellan, who absorbs and is likely to 
 absorb everything and do nothing. At Stanton's saw, for the first 
 time. General Harney, who mentioned several matters to show 
 Frank Blair's misconduct in Missouri matters. He said it was not 
 necessary to fire a gun to keep Missouri in the Union. I thought 
 him evidently mistaken." 
 
 On the 29th, the Secretary wrote as follows to a citizen of merit, 
 prominence, and influence: 
 
 '•My Dear Carson: Your letter gives me a very interesting inside 
 view of things. We must sacrifice everything to success, except 
 success itself. That is to say, we must give up personal preferences 
 and personal prejudices, and work like men who believe their cause 
 is worth more than any one of its supporters; and we must not take 
 men whose election will be defeat, because either of their real unfit- 
 ness, or of such indifference or substantial hostility to our leading 
 principles or their recognized representatives, that they can be 
 depended on for nothing except virtual opposition or lukewarm half- 
 support — about the same thing — after election. 
 
 '•I have confidence in Colonel Key, and suggested his name because 
 I thought it likely that more could be united on him than any one 
 else. If this is not so, I am sure he would not himself desire to be 
 nominated. 
 
 -Mr. Taft would be a good man — a very good man — and if, as you 
 Bay, he can unite most votes, he ought not to hesitate a moment in 
 giving his consent. I should indeed be very glad if 1 had BO able 
 and judicious a friend to consult with in reference to the public inter- 
 ests in my department. Of course, as he has long been a true friend 
 to me, and that on public grounds, I should almost feel his nomina- 
 tion and election as a compliment to me, and an indorsement of my 
 principles. 
 
 "With great regard, your friend, 
 
 "Enoch T. Carson, Esq. S. P. CHASE."
 
 496 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Tuesday, September 30, 1862, yields an entry of quite tragic in- 
 terest, as follows : 
 
 "The papers this morning confirm the news of Nelson's death. 
 He died as the fool dieth. How sad ! His early services to the 
 Union cause in Kentucky — his generous and manly nature, his fine 
 talents and great energy — compelled my admiration and esteem; 
 while his cruelty, and passion, and tyranny, especially when excited 
 by drink, often excited my indignation. Nothing from any quarter 
 of much importance in a military point of view." 
 
 It is not easy to comment on this extract. The great cause of 
 the Union was disfigured fearfully by the conduct of such men as 
 Nelson, by the conduct of such men as Davis. If, in ordinary 
 times, one could at least pardon Davis, his behavior in the circum- 
 stances was unpardonable. So was that of Nelson. 
 
 Often it appeared to me almost impossible to credit some of our 
 soldiers with the least appreciation of their cause — the noblest cause 
 that ever called to arms the patriotic volunteer. 
 
 The same entry contains also the following : 
 
 "General Garfield, at breakfast, related this: "When General 
 Buell's army was on the march to Nashville a regiment passed in front 
 of the house of General Pillow's brother, where was a spring of good 
 water and a little stream issuing from it. As the soldiers quenched 
 their thirst and filled their canteens and watered their horses 
 at the stream, Pillow came out and cursed the men, forbidding them 
 to take water, and saying that if he were younger he would fight 
 against the Yankees until the last man of them was killed or driven 
 home. A lieutenant, commanding the company then [watering?], 
 having expostulated with him without effect, and finding the army 
 likely to be delayed by his interference, directed him to be put un- 
 der arrest, and sent him to the colonel. It happened that this colonel 
 was an admirer of Miss Stevenson — a young lady of Nashville, a 
 niece of Pillow, and a violent secessionist — and had been in the habit 
 of sending the regimental band to serenade her with 'Dixie' and the 
 like, not playing any national airs. As soon as he understood who 
 Pillow was, therefore, he discharged him from arrest, and apologized 
 for it, and, at the same time, arrested the young lieutenant. Pillow 
 returned to his house, mounted his horse, and rode to General Buell's 
 head-quarters, and complained that a slave of his had escaped and 
 was somewhere in the army. Buell gave him leave to hunt for him, 
 and, with this warrant, he rode where he pleased. After fully satis- 
 fying himself, he went on to Corinth, and gave Beauregard a full 
 account of Buell's force and rate of advance. This information led 
 to the attack on Grant's division, which Beauregard hoped to destroy 
 before Buell should come — and he almost succeeded in doing it. 
 
 " At department; received a note from Seward, with memorandum 
 by Stuart, acting British Minister, of conversations with Seward
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 497 
 
 about cotton. From this memorandum it appears that Butler's order 
 of August, authorizing free purchases even from Slidell, and Grant's 
 order, annulling Sherman's prohibition of payments in gold, were, 
 
 if not motived by Seward, fully approved by him, and made the 
 basis of assurances that no hindrance to purchase and payment on 
 cotton from rebels would be interposed b}- this government. After- 
 ward, or about the time of these orders, Seward proposed the same 
 policy of substantially unrestricted purchase for money to me; and 
 I was, at first, in view of the importance of a supply of cotton, in- 
 clined to adopt it; but reflection, and information from special 
 agents in the Mississippi Valley, changed my views. The subject 
 was also brought up in Cabinet, and Seward proposed liberty to 
 purchase 500.000 bales. Stanton and I opposed this, and the Presi- 
 dent sided with us, and the subject was dropped. I then proposed 
 to frame regulations for trade to and from insurrectionary districts, 
 in which was included prohibition of payments in gold. 
 
 "To this prohibition Stuart now objects, as in contravention of 
 Seward's assurances connected with Butler's and Grant's orders. 
 
 "After considering the whole subject, I addressed a letter to Seward, 
 declining to change the existing regulation as to payments in gold. 
 
 " Received letter from himself, stating difficulty between himself 
 and agent Gallagher as to confiscation. Mellen thinking that ante- 
 cedents of cotton, as to liability to confiscation in prior hands, and 
 notice to present holders, should not be investigated ; Gallagher 
 contra. Wrote Mellen that his view is approved — thinking this may 
 relieve Seward." 
 
 The next entry, dated October 1, relates as follows : 
 
 "Seward came to department and we talked over foreign rela- 
 tions, particularly as connected with cotton. Showed him nry reply 
 to his note of yesterday. He thought it would not answer, as his 
 assurances, coupled with Butler's and Grant's orders, committed us 
 too far. I said I would modify it. After he left, altered my reply 
 and sent it. 
 
 "Examined regulations concerning trade with blockaded ports, 
 and war orders." 
 
 The next day it appears Secretary Seward came to the house of 
 our hero with a letter to Mr. Stuart, vindicating the course of the 
 Treasury Department concerning trade orders and regulations. " I 
 approved the whole," says Mr. Chase ; but suggested that, as the 
 regulations embraced the coal orders substantially, and as Great 
 Britain took exception to that as particularly intended for her, he 
 might say that, to prove the absence of such intention, and as a 
 proof of the entire absence of any wish to vex trade, the coal order 
 would be rescinded. 
 
 Cotton and coal seem innocent enough ; yet what a history of 
 them might be composed by a discerning, lively pen !
 
 498 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Cotton was, indeed, king for a long time. But coal, the type of 
 Northern industries, has proved too strong for cotton. 
 
 October 4, Saturday, Mr. Harrington left for New York, in- 
 structed to hasten the increase of the issue of postage currency to 
 $100,000 per day. " Expects to go to Boston in ' Miami,'" says the 
 diary. 
 
 Sunday, October 5, is marked by the record : 
 
 "At home to favor foot. Much better in the afternoon, and rode 
 over to Insane Asylum to see Hooker. Was glad to find him much 
 improved. He said we had plenty of good officers, and that all the 
 courage, ability, and genius we needed could be found among our 
 volunteer colonels. He then said that an aide of McClellan had 
 been down to see him with an inquiry as to how soon he would be 
 able to take the field, and expressing his confidence, with hints of 
 important command of army moving from Washington. He ex- 
 pressed the belief that no decisive victory would be achieved so lon«r 
 as McClellan had command." 
 
 A part of the entry relating to Sunday, October 5, shows that 
 before going out to visit General Hooker, Mr. Chase received a 
 visit. Mr. John A. Stevens, Jr., called, wishing the Secretary of 
 the Treasury to see Colonel Hamilton about Texas. Colonel Ham- 
 ilton was thereupon invited to dine, that day, with Mr. Chase. He 
 came, accompanied by Mr. Stevens. Having so stated, the record 
 goes on in this fashion : 
 
 " Secretary Stanton, also, by accident, and Mr. Montgomery, by 
 Katie's invitation. After dinner, Colonel Hamilton spoke fully of 
 Texas — described his escape and hiding in the woods — said that 
 many hundred lo3 7 al Texaus were now concealed in Texas, or refu- 
 gees — declared that the war was a war of the oligarchy upon the 
 people — that slavery was the, basis of the oligarchy, but that the 
 perpetuation of slavery was not more their object than the despotic 
 power of the class over the mass. I entered fully into his feelings ; 
 and promised to go with him to the President's to-morrow. 
 
 " After he went, Governor Morton came in and spoke very earn- 
 estly of the condition of matters in Indiana. Apprehends State de- 
 feat on the 14th, and loss of all the congressional districts, exec] >t 
 Julian's, Colfax's, and perhaps Shanks'. Wants Indiana regiments 
 in the State f'urloughed, so that they can vote. Thinks Buell utterly 
 unfit for command of the great army under him — is slow, opposed 
 to the Proclamation, and has bad influence every way. Wishes me 
 to go with him to President's about the regiments, which I promised 
 to do to-morrow." 
 
 Monday, October 6, Major Garrard called on Mr. Chase, "to 
 
 speak about North Carolina and General Foster." 
 
 " Foster," says our diary, " has now Third New York cavalry ; and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 499 
 
 of infantry; Seventeenth, Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-fifth B£assa< 
 chusetts; Ninth New Jersey; Second Maryland and Fifth Rhode 
 Island, supported by Albemarle and Pamlico fleet, say ten gun- 
 boats. Poster wants reinforcements — several regiments oi infan- 
 try and another regiment of cavalry. Major Garrard desires that, 
 if another regiment of cavalry is sent, Colonel Mix should be 
 made brigadier. 
 
 "General Keyes and Major Bannister, with General Garfield and 
 Major Garrard," proceeds Mr. Chase, "formed our breakfast party. 
 General Keyes spoke of the disposition in the army (McClellan's) to 
 disfavor Republican officers. General Garfield mentioned the ease of 
 a young Republican officer, ordered to Kansas in 185G, who was told 
 by his colonel that, he would not allow him to remain in the regiment 
 if he remained a Republican. General Keyes spoke of the chaplain 
 at West Point as the most perfect specimen of a Northern man with 
 Southern principles he ever knew : and said that when the new regi- 
 ments were organized under Jeff. Davis, as Secretary of War to 
 Pierce, eleven out of fifteen officers were appointed from the South, 
 and when he remarked upon it he was challenged to select eleven 
 better men." 
 
 Having breakfasted, as we have seen, with General Keyes and 
 others, Mr. Chase went to the Treasury Department. Thence he 
 went with Governor Morton to see the President about furlough, to 
 enable the Indiana soldiers in camp to vote. The furlough was 
 promised. 
 
 Mr. Chase saw Colonel Hamilton, and " arranged interview for 
 him. Met Wadsworth and Cochrane. Asked Cochrane to break- 
 fast." 
 
 General Cochrane came accordingly next morning to break his 
 fast with the warlike keeper of the public purse. After breakfast, 
 it appears, the general "conversed freely about McClellan." 
 
 Ah! how many did that, when McClellan knew not of it, 
 dreamed not of it! But this time the discourse was not unfriendly 
 to the fearfully disparaged " young Napoleon." 
 
 General Cochrane, we learn, "said McClellan would like to retire 
 from active command, if he could do so without disgrace — which 
 could be accomplished, and a more active general secured, by restor- 
 ing him to the chief command, where he would now act in unison 
 with" the Secretary of the Treasury. 1 Mr. Chase relates as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "I explained frankly my relations to McClellan — my original ad- 
 
 1 The words are : " Where he would now act in unison with myself." 
 
 33
 
 500 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 miration and confidence — my disappointment in his inactivity and 
 irresolution — 1113* loss of confidence and conviction that another gen- 
 eral should replace him — my constant endeavor to support him by 
 supplies and reinforcements, notwithstanding my distrust, when the 
 President determined to keep him in command — my present belief 
 that I had not judged incorrectl} T , but my entire willingness also to 
 receive any correction which facts w T ould warrant; and my absolute 
 freedom from personal ill-will, and mj" entire willingness to do any- 
 thing which would insure the earliest possible suppression of the 
 rebellion. He said Colonel Key often expressed his regret that 
 McClellan had not conferred with me and acted in concert with me. 
 I replied that I thought, if he had, that the rebellion would be ended 
 now; but that I feared concert between us impossible, our views, 
 dispositions, and principles harmonizing so little." 
 
 What is one to think of the words on which special stress has 
 just been laid? Was vanity expressed therein? Let us think of 
 that hereafter. Mr. Chase continues to relate as follows: 
 
 "He said he would talk with McClellan, and write me. I answered 
 that I should be glad to hear from him, and was quite willing he 
 should repeat to McClellan what I had said." 
 
 At Cabinet, October 7, " the President spoke of his visit to the 
 army at Sharpsburg, and the battle-fields at Antietam and South 
 Mountain. He said he was fully satisfied that we had not over 60,000 
 men engaged ; and he described the position of the enemy and our 
 own — the enemy's being much the best, his wings and center com- 
 municating easily by the Sharpsburg road, parallel with the stream. 
 He expressed no opinion as to generalship, nor of results," remarks 
 the diary. 
 
 " Seward," continues the same document, "asked what new of the 
 expedition to Charleston? Secretary Welles [said] the necessary 
 iron-clads could not be ready in less than a month. I was much dis- 
 appointed by this statement, remembering that ten days of a month 
 were up; and said at once that I hoped, then, we should not wait 
 for the navy, but at once organize a land force sufficient to take the 
 city from James Island. Mr. Stanton agreed in the importance of 
 this, and proposed to order Mitchell's and Garfield's brigades from the 
 West — send Garfield at once to South Carolina with these brigades, 
 and two more regiments, and let Mitchell go to work immediately. 
 He said, also, that he proposed at once to organize an expedition 
 to open the Mississippi, and give the command of it to McClernand. 
 The President seemed much pleased with both movements; but 
 Halleck remained to be consulted. Would he oppose the President 
 and Stanton ? 1 thought not. 
 
 " I left the Cabinet with more hope than I have felt for months."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. oOl 
 
 Under date October 7, we have also this paragraph : 
 
 " At the President's I met W. H. Aspinwall, and invited him to 
 dine with me, which he did. In conversation I inquired what he 
 thought of the idea of selling some 850,000,000 of five-twenties at 
 about the market rate? He thought it should bo done, but doubted 
 whether more than !>7i could be obtained. I said I hoped to get 99 
 or 99£. He then spoke of his visit to MeClellan, and seemed greatly 
 to desire my cooperation with him. He mentioned that Burnside 
 had heard that I blamed him for having Porter restored to com- 
 mand ; but thinks I would not if I understood all the circumstances." 
 
 The next document I think fit to offer is as follows: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, October 7, 1862. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I have read attentively Mr. Andre Cochut's 
 article upon American finances, in the Revue ties Deux Mondes, a copy 
 of which you kindly sent me. The Revue is taken in the depart- 
 ment, and I usually look through it; but I might not have read the 
 article of Mr. Cochut had not you directed my attention to it. I find 
 it clear, able, and comprehensive. There are, of course, some 
 errors of fact, and, consequent^', some of deduction ; but they are 
 so trivial as not to impair the general merit of the piece. 
 
 " I beg you to express to Mr. Cochut my thanks for the interest 
 he has manifested in our finances, and to ask his acceptance of the 
 pamphlets which I inclose, from which he can gather at least a gen- 
 eral notion of our financial movements since I have administered 
 the department. 
 
 "If my hopes are realized in the action of Congress, our present 
 financial state may be called a transition period. Our first period 
 was that of payments in coin. I succeeded in borrowing, at reason- 
 able rates for us, about 8175,000,000, in coin, in the course of my 
 first eight months. By this time the impossibility of continuing 
 payments in specie, and providing for the enormous expenses of the 
 war, was manifest. The banks and capitalists could not furnish the 
 required amount of coin, except at rates, for government bonds, 
 which would enable them to resell in Europe. In fact, their inability 
 to resell with profit the amount they actually did take, was the first 
 thing which led them to contemplate the suspension of specie 
 payments. 
 
 "The only possible mode of avoiding this was for me to sell the 
 government bonds at prices which would insure their resale in the 
 markets of Europe, or so tempt cupidity at home that investors in 
 other securities would sell them, in order to obtain means for the 
 purchase of the bonds of the United States. I saw clearly that if 1 
 attempted to go on by the sale of bonds they would rapidly depre- 
 ciate, and the public debt, m a few months, become so great as to 
 destroy all hope of obtaining the large amount of means necessary 
 to cany on the war. 
 
 "There was but one alternative — to allow the banks to suspend 
 and issue a national currency. This was borrowing to the extent of
 
 002 THE PRIVATE LIFE AXD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the emission without interest; an advantage which more than com- 
 pensated, perhaps, the rise in prices, inevitably following the increase 
 in the volume of circulation, caused by the national emission. The 
 result, however, has been far less unfavorable to the country than 
 would have been the forced sale of bonds; the credit of the national 
 securities has been maintained at a much higher rate, even compared 
 with gold, than could possibl} T have been attained had the policy of 
 forced sales been adopted; and the general business of the country 
 has been conducted with much more satisfaction and benefit. 
 
 • ; Still, it is plain enough that a paper-money system can not be 
 permanently relied on. To avoid the indefinite increase of a Fed- 
 eral circulation, Congress provided for the payment of interest in 
 specie, and for the conversion of the notes into bonds, payable in 
 twenty years, and redeemable after five. Conversions, however, did 
 not answer expectation ; and when I called on Congress for an in- 
 crease of the emission beyond that already authorized, I proposed 
 to substitute simple receivabilit}-, for all loans made by the govern- 
 ment, in lieu of a legal convertibility into a particular loan, leaving 
 to the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury the adjustment of 
 the currency to bonds, by loans at such periods, and rates, as would 
 insure the largest investment of the notes. 
 
 "Congress did not see fit to adopt my views; and the practical 
 result has been that conversions, up to this moment, have been very 
 slow and inconsiderable. I think the result would have been very 
 different had my suggestion been adopted. Congress, no doubt, an- 
 ticipated a much more vigorous and successful prosecution of the 
 war; and, had this anticipation been realized, the convertibility fea- 
 ture would have worked better, though, still, not so well as re- 
 ceivability. 
 
 "■I inclose a statement, from which you will see the exact condi- 
 tion of the national debt on last Cabinet day (Tuesday). 
 
 " Payments by the United States notes, and their consequent cir- 
 culation, may be called the second period of our finances. I have 
 already said that I regard it as a period of transition. ' Transition 
 to what?' you may ask. I will proceed to explain. 
 
 • The United States notes now issued amounted, on Tuesday, to 
 8199,436,000. Of these, say 825,000,000, being receivable for duties, 
 the same as gold, are held, of course, at a high premium, and are 
 out of circulation ; 822,080.370 more are in the Treasury proper, and 
 with the Treasurer and the several Assistant Treasurers and deposi- 
 tories, to the credit of disbursing officers, leaving $152,355,624 in 
 circulation ; i. e., in the vaults of banks and bankers and in the hands 
 of the people. This circulation has not displaced that of the banks 
 as yet; but, on the contrary, has actually caused its increase. It 
 has, however, weakened it with the people, who are anxious for a 
 national currency, uniform throughout the country, which no State 
 bank can furnish. 
 
 "Anticipating this result, I proposed to Congress, at the last ses- 
 sion, a general banking system for the United States, identical in its 
 main features with the system organized in Xew York and adopted 
 in Ohio. A bill, of which I send you a copy, was prepared with 
 great care, and reported from the Committee of Ways and Means.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 503 
 
 Its main features are the preparation and supply of a uniform cur- 
 rency by the United States; the issue of it by organizations, under 
 the law, throughout the country; and the security afforded to the 
 
 holders, by the deposit of United States bonds in the Treasury De- 
 partment. 
 
 '•This arrangement will bring to the support of the public credit 
 the whole banking interest of the country. It can be carried into 
 effect by the temporary use of United States notes, without any con- 
 siderable jar or disturbance; it will furnish a perfectly secure cur- 
 rency to the country, restricted in its amount by actual capital and 
 by the wants of business; it will open, with the gradual development 
 of the country, a gradually enlarged market for the securities of the 
 government, and thus sustain their credit at the highest point ; and 
 it will finally give to the government a present seignorage of about 
 two per cent, of the circulation, while it will allow liberal com- 
 pensation to the associations, who will distribute the circulation to 
 the people, and, primarily at least, protect it by redemption on 
 demand in coin. 
 
 "In my judgment, if the debt is kept within any reasonable limit, 
 by active prosecution of the war and tolerable economy in expendi- 
 ture, the adoption of this system will furnish all the money that is 
 needed, at reasonable rates, and insure an earl}* return to specie pay- 
 ments without any serious business convulsion. Even should the 
 war be unhappily protracted be3*ond the current financial year, the 
 adoption of this system, by uniting the capital of the country with 
 the credit of the government, will probably avert great disasters 
 otherwise to be apprehended. 
 
 •I do not know- that I make niyself quite intelligible to you; but 
 if I do, you will see that I hope, not without some reason, to be able 
 to convert our financial troubles into permanent benefits to the coun- 
 try; and that the succession of coin pa}'ments, of United States 
 notes payments, and of payments, at last, in a mixed currency of 
 coin and secured bank notes, are not only compatible with, but 
 required by, the best interests of the country, involved as it is in a 
 costly civil war. 
 
 "As to the war itself, its prosecution has neither equalled my expec- 
 tations nor my hopes. It is not without reason, perhaps, that many 
 think its delays and losses have been permitted by divine Provi- 
 dence, not merely as a punishment, for our complieit}* with slavery. 
 but as a stimulus to practical measures for the liberation of tin- 
 enslaved. War, under our constitution, is, as you know, the only 
 opportunity of freedom through national intervention. With the 
 opportunity comes the duty. The course of events is in the hands 
 of God; and it can not be questioned that they have been so shaped, 
 as to furnish the opportunity, and almost to coerce the performance 
 of the duty. It is remarked by many, that from the time of the rev- 
 ocation of General Hunter's order to the time of the Proclamation, 
 we had no substantial success; and, that since the Proclamation, we 
 have had, as yet, no substantial reverse; but, on the contrary, there 
 seems to be now- everywhere a more vigorous resolution to push tho 
 war, in every direction, to a successful issue, in the absolute suppres- 
 sion of the rebellion, than has been manifested for months past,
 
 504 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 '•I am not connected at all directly, and hardly at all indirectly, 
 with the management of military matters; hut what 1 see of deter- 
 mination and preparation greatly encourages me. Until recently, 
 during the past eight weeks, I have almost despaired of our finances. 
 I am now satisfied that if present appearances do not doceive me 
 the war will be closed, and no debt left which can not easily be man- 
 aged, and, in a few years, fully discharged. So mote it be. 
 "With great regard, very truly your friend, 
 
 "John BiGELOW^Esq., Paris. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Our next reading is from the diary under date Friday, October 
 10, as follows : 
 
 "Went to Cabinet, taking Mr. "Whittlesey to department. Found 
 the President reading telegrams from Kentucky. McCook's divis- 
 ion engaged with Bragg's army on the 8th, and hard pressed; but 
 was reinforced, and the enemy repulsed. All the corps up at night 
 and in position. Slight engagement with enemy's rear guard yes- 
 terday, but main body retreated to Harrodsburg. This from Buell, 
 at Perryville, } 7 esterday morning. Stager P. Cleveland telegraphs 
 another great battle yesterday, and no mistake about victory this 
 time. This came this morning at ten. So we hope the best. 
 
 "Nothing of much importance was discussed except Norfolk. I 
 favored opening the port. Nothing was decided. Asked Stanton 
 what he had done about McClernand's army for clearing the Missis- 
 sippi, and he replied, 'Nothing.' Seward said he thought some- 
 thing had been done, and the President that something had been 
 agreed on. It turned out that orders for the organization of the 
 expedition had been given, but that nothing of importance was yet 
 done." 
 
 What did that " nothing," then, denote ? Not exactly nothing. 
 It denoted, among other things, the gross unfitness of the " Carnot" 
 of this country for his place. 
 
 These paragraphs are copied from the entry under date October 10, 
 1862: 
 
 "Home. Signed official letters and warrants. Directed regula- 
 tions of trade with open ports to be sent to the Secretary of War. 
 
 " In the evening General Hunter, Major Halpin, Mr. Cowan, Major 
 D. Taylor, and others called. Before dinner, Bannister came about 
 Colonel A. J. Hamilton, of Texas, going to Ohio. Urged him to 
 have him go, if possible. 
 
 "Directed $10,000 postage currency sent to Cincinnati." 
 
 The next entry contains these words, under date October 11, 
 Saturday : 
 
 " Surprised to read this morning that Stuart's cavalry have taken 
 Chambersburg. Pennsylvania. What next?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 505 
 
 " "Received letter from John Cochrane, Baying that McClellan ap- 
 preciates my support while not approving his command, and could 
 gladly cooperate with me and see me; and that there is no substan- 
 tial difference between us on the slavery question." 
 
 Under date October 11, I find these notes: 
 
 "Also received letter from Aspinwall about five-twenty loan, which 
 he advises. lie thinks 98 ma}* be obtained — equivalent to say, 75 
 in gold. Also a letter from Cisco, sending a §10 United States note, 
 purloined from National Bank Note Company and falsely filled and 
 sealed. Wrote Cisco about detectivje ; and inclosed Aspinwall's note 
 and asked his opinion. Sundry other letters received and answered. 
 Needham (Kentucky) called. I accepted Williams' declination as 
 assessor, Louisville district, and agreed to appoint Needham in his 
 place, he to resign collectorship. 
 
 " General Hunter, Major Halpin, Mr. Jay, and General Garfield (still 
 our guest) at dinner. Major Halpin mentioned that McClellan had 
 telegraphed head -quarters that not one of the rebels who have in- 
 vaded Pennsylvania shall return to Virginia. Hope it may be so, 
 faintly. Too many bills of the same sort protested for the credit of 
 the drawer. 
 
 "After dinner talked a good deal with General Hunter, who is 
 very well read. Asked him his oj)inion of Halleck. He said, 'He 
 has ability and knowledge, but does not make an earnest study of 
 the war — does not labor to get clear ideas of positions, conditions, 
 and possibilities so as to seize and press advantages or remedy 
 evils?' I then asked what he thought of the President? ' A man 
 irresolute, but of honest intentions — born a poor white in a Slave 
 State, and, of course, among aristocrats — kind in spirit and not en- 
 vious, but anxious for approval, especially of those to whom he has 
 been accustomed to look up — hence solicitous of support of the 
 slave-holders in the Border States, and unwilling to offend them — 
 without the large mind necessary to grasp great questions — uncer- 
 tain of himself, and in many things ready to lean too much on 
 others.' 'What of Stanton?' 'Know little of him. Have seen him 
 but once, and was then so treated that I never desired to see him 
 again. Think, from facts that have come to my knowledge, that he 
 is not sincere. He wears two faces ; but has energy and ability, 
 though not steady power.' The conversation then turned on Doug- 
 las, whose ardent friend and constant supporter Hunter was — also 
 on other persons and things. I found him well read and extremely 
 intelligent. 
 
 "General Hunter tells me that lie desires to retire from the army, 
 and have some position in New York which will enable him to re- 
 sume his special vocation as a writer for the press. He says he has 
 written lately some leaders for the Republican and has aided the pro- 
 prietor of Wilkes' Spirit of the Times."
 
 506 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 DOWNFALL OF M'CLELLAN — WEST VIRGINIA — THE PROCLAMATION. 
 
 OCTOBER 12, 1862, affords a very brief memorandum. This 
 is all thereof : 
 
 " At home, all day, nursing inflamed foot — reading, and conversing 
 with Katie aud friends. 1 " 
 
 On the 5th of November, the downfall of McClellau, as a soldier 
 of the Union was complete. 
 
 Another chapter offers a few words relating to our hero's due 
 responsibility for that fall, as well as for the rise by which it was 
 preceded. 
 
 A note, written on a card, was addressed as follows to our hero 
 by the President : 
 
 x The next document to which attention is invited reads as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, October 29, 1862. 
 "My Dear Sir: It is stated to me that Mr. Conkling, the regular Republican 
 nominee, is in danger of defeat through the running of another Republican, sup- 
 ported by custom-house employes' influences. Mr. Conkling has not been as cordial 
 to me as I think he should have been, but one of the first duties of a member of an 
 organization, is to support its regular nominees unless morally unworthy; and Mr. 
 Conkling is not only not so, but is distinguished for integrity and ability. 
 
 "Yours truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Speak to anybody concerned with whom you have influence, and beg them not 
 to allow our candidate to be defeated by our friends. 
 "Hiram Barney, Esq." 
 
 Then we have this letter: 
 
 " Washington D. C, October 30, 1862. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Thanks for copy of proceedings of convention by which you were 
 deservedly renominated. 
 
 "On the same day I was informed that some employes of the custom house were 
 opposing you by supporting another Republican candidate not regularly nominated. 
 
 "I at once wrote Mr. Barney the letter of which I inclose a copy. 
 
 " Yours truly, 
 
 " Hon. F. A. Conkling. S. P. CHASE.' 
 
 a Post Chapter LVII.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. SCl 
 
 "If Secretary of Treasury has written his part of message, phase 
 sen- lover. A. LINCOLN. 
 
 '• November 24, 18G2. 1 " 
 
 J I suppose that "part" to be as follows: 
 
 " The condition of the finances will claim your most diligent consideration. 
 
 "The vast expenditures incident to the military and naval operations required 
 for the suppression of the rebellion, have hitherto been met with a promptitude and 
 certainty unusual in similar circumstances, and the public credit has been fully 
 maintained. 
 
 "The continuance of the war, however, and the increased disbursements made 
 necessary by the augmented forces now in the field, demand your best reflections 
 on the best modes of providing the necessary revenue without injury to business 
 and with the least possible burdens upon labor. 
 
 "The suspension of specie payments by the banks, soon after the commencement 
 of your last session, made large issues of United States notes unavoidable. In no 
 other way could the payment of the troops and the satisfaction of other just de- 
 mands be so economically or so well provided for. The judicious legislation of 
 Congress securing the receivability of these notes for loans and internal duties, and 
 making them a legal tender for other debts, has made them an universal currency ; 
 and has satisfied partially, at least, and for the time, the long-felt want of a uni- 
 form circulating medium, saving thereby to the people an immense sum in discounts, 
 and exchanges. 
 
 "A return to specie payment, however, at the earliest period compatible with due 
 regard to all interests concerned, should ever be kept in view. Fluctuations in the 
 value of currency are always injurious, and to reduce these fluctuations to the low- 
 est possible point, will always be a leading purpose in wise legislation. Converti- 
 bility — prompt and certain convertibility — into coin is generally acknowledged to 
 be the best and surest safeguard against them; and it is extremely doubtful whether 
 a circulation of United States notes payable in coin and sufficiently large for the 
 wants of the people can be permanently, usefully, and safely maintained. 
 
 " Is there, then, any other mode in which the necessary provision for the public 
 wants can be made and the great advantages of a safe and uniform currency se- 
 cured ? 
 
 " I know of none which promises so certain results, and is at the same time so un- 
 objectionable, as the organization of banking associations under a general act of 
 Congress well guarded in its provisions. To such associations the government 
 might furnish circulating notes on the security of United States bonds deposited in 
 the Treasury. These notes, prepared under the supervision of proper officers, being 
 uniform in appearance and security, and convertible always into coin, would at once 
 protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency and facilitate commerce by 
 cheap and safe exchanges. 
 
 " A moderate reservation from the interest on the bonds would compensate the 
 United Sates for the preparation and distribution of the notes, and a general super- 
 vision of the system, and would lighten the burden of that part of the public debt 
 employed as securities. The public credit, moreover, would be greatly improved 
 and the negotiation of new loans facilitated by the steady market demand for 
 government bonds which the adoption of the proposed system would create. 
 
 " It is an additional recommendation of the measure, of considerable weight in
 
 508 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 And now I offer a most interesting series of letters in this fash- 
 ion : 
 
 " Treasury Department, December 20, 1862. 
 
 "Sir: I resign the office of Secretary of the Treasury, which I 
 have hud the honor to hold under jour appointment. 
 
 " Whatever service my successor may desire of me in making him 
 acquainted with the condition and operations of the department will 
 be most cheerfully rendered. " Yours truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "Secretary of the Treasury, please do not go out of town. 
 "December 20, 1862. A. LINCOLN." 
 
 " Executive Mansion, "Washington, December 20, 1862. 
 " Hon. William H. Seward and Hon. Salmon P. Chase : 
 
 " Gentlemen : You have respectively tendered me your resigna- 
 tions as Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury of the 
 United States. I am apprised of the circumstances which may ren- 
 der this course personally desirable to each of you ; but. after most 
 anxious consideration, my deliberate judgment is, that the public 
 interest does not admit of it. I therefore have to request that you 
 will resume the duties of j-our departments respectively. 
 
 "Your obedient servant. A. LINCOLN." 
 
 my judgment, that it would reconcile, as far as possible, all existing interests by 
 the opportunities offered to existing institutions to reorganize under the act, substi- 
 tuting only the secured uniform national circulation for the local and various cir- 
 culation, secured and unsecured, now issued by them. 
 
 "The receipts into the Treasury from all sources, including loans and balance for 
 the preceding year, for the fiscal year ending on the 30th June. 1852, were $583,- 
 885,247.06, of which sum §49,056,397.62 were derived from customs; $1,795,331.73 
 from the direct tax; from public lands, $152,203.77; from miscellaneous sources, 
 $931,787.64; from loans in all forms, $529,692,460.50. The remainder, $2,257,065.- 
 80, was the balance from last year. The disbursements during the same period 
 were, for congressional, executive, and judicial purposes, $5,939,009.29; for foreign 
 intercourse. $1,339,700.35 ; for miscellaneous expenses, including the mints, 
 loans, Post-office deficiencies, collection of revenue, and other like charges, $14.- 
 129,771.50; for expenses under the Interior Department, $3,102,985.52 ; under the 
 War Department, $394,368,407.36; under the Navy Department, $42,674,569.69; 
 for interest on the public debt, $13,190,324.45; and for public debt, including re- 
 imbursement of temporary loan and redemptions, $96,096,922.09 ; making an aggre- 
 gate of $570,841,700.25, and leaving a balance in the Treasury, on the 1st day of 
 July, 1862, of $13,043,546. 81. 
 
 " It should be observed that the sum of $96,096,922.09, expended for reimburse- 
 ment of debt, being included also in the loans made, may properly be deducted both 
 from receipts and expenditures, leaving the receipts for the year $487,788,324 97, 
 and the expenditures $474,744,778.16. 
 
 " Other information on the subject of the finances will be found in the report of 
 the Secretary of the Treasury, to whose statements and views I invite your most 
 candid and considerate attention."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 509 
 
 "Department of State, Washington, December 21, 1862. 
 "My Dear Sir: 1 have, this morning, sent to the President a 
 note, of which the inclosed is a copy. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 " The Hon. S. P. Chase. WILLIAM II. SEWAKD." 
 
 "Department of State, Washington, December 21, 1862. 
 
 " Sunday morning. 
 " My Dear Sir : I have cheerfully resumed the functions of this 
 department, in obedience to your command. 
 
 "With the highest respect, your humble servant, 
 
 WILLIAM H. SEWAKD. 
 " The President of the United States." 
 
 " Corner E and Sixth Streets, December 21, 1862. 
 
 "My Dear Governor: I have received your note, and also a 
 call from Mr. Nicolay, to whom I have promised an answer to the 
 President to-morrow morning. 
 
 "My reflections strengthen my conviction that, being once honor- 
 ably out of the Cabinet, no important public interest now requires 
 mv return to it. If I yield this judgment, it will be in deference to 
 apprehensions which really seem to me unfounded. I will sleep on 
 it. " Very truly vours, 
 
 "Hon. Wm. H. Seward. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "Treasury Department, December 22, 1862. 
 
 "Sir: On Saturday afternoon I received your note addressed to 
 Mr. Seward and m}'self, desiring us to assume the charge of our 
 respective departments. 
 
 "I had just written you a letter expressing quite another judg- 
 ment; and that you may fully understand my sentiments I now 
 send it to you. 
 
 "Your note, of course, required me to reconsider my views ; and 
 the next da)- a further reason for reconsideration was furnished by 
 the receipt, from Mr. Seward, of a copy of his reply to a note from 
 you. identical with that sent to me, announcing his resumption of 
 the duties of the State Department. 
 
 "I can not say that reflection has much, if at all, changed my 
 original impression ; but it has led me to the conclusion that I ought 
 in this matter to conform my action to your judgment and wishes. 
 
 "I shall resume, therefore, my post as Secretary of the Treasury ; 
 ready, however, at any moment to resign it, if in your judgment, the 
 success of your administration may be in the slightest degree pro- 
 moted thereby. 
 
 ■• With the highest esteem and respect, yours truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 " Washington, December 20, 1862. 
 "My Dear Sir: I intend going to Philadelphia this afternoon ; 
 but shall, of course, observe your direction not to go out of town.
 
 510 TIIE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " "Will you allow me to say that something you said or looked, when 
 I handed you my resignation this morning, made on my mind the 
 impression that having received the resignations, both of Governor 
 Seward and myself, you felt that you could relieve yourself from 
 trouble by declining to accept either, and that this feeling was one 
 of gratification. 
 
 "Let me assure you that few things could give me so much satis- 
 faction as to promote, in any way, your comfort, especially if I might 
 promote, at the same time, the success of your administration, and 
 the good of the country which is so near your heart. 
 
 " But I am very far from desiring you to decline accepting my 
 resignation — very far from thinking, indeed, that its non-acceptance, 
 and my continuance in the Treasury Department, will be most for 
 your comfort, or for the benefit of the country. 
 
 " On the contrary, I could not, if I would, conceal from myself 
 that recent events have too rudely jostled the unity of your Cabinet, 
 and disclosed an opinion too deeply seated, and too generally re- 
 ceived in Congress and in the country, to be safely disregarded, that 
 the concord in judgment and action, essential to successful adminis- 
 tration, does not prevail among its members. 
 
 " By some, the embarrassment of administration is attributed to 
 me ; by others to Mr. Seward ; by others still to other heads of de- 
 partments. Now, neither Mr. Seward nor myself is essential to you 
 or to the countr}\ We both earnestly wish to be relieved from the 
 oppressive charge of our respective departments, and we have both 
 placed our resignations in your hands. 
 
 " A resignation is a grave act : never performed by a right-minded 
 man without forethought or with reserve. I tendered mine from a 
 sense of duty to the country, to you, and to myself; and I tendered 
 it to be accepted. So did, as you have been fully assured, Mr. 
 Seward tender his. 
 
 " I trust, therefore, that you will regard yourself as completely 
 relieved from all personal considerations. It is my honest convic- 
 tion that we can both better serve j'ou and the country at this time 
 as private citizens than in your Cabinet. 
 
 " Retiring from the post to which 3-ou called me, let me assure you 
 that I shall carry with me even a deeper respect and a warmer affec- 
 tion for you than I brought with me into it. 
 
 " With the truest respect and regard, yours sincerely, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 More and more a vitally important truth comes out. Whatever 
 the defects of Lincoln or of Chase (and both had great defects), 
 and whatever proved to be the incompatability between them, the 
 general tendeucy of all that took place between them made them 
 more and more respect each other. Now and then, indeed, they 
 may have fancied otherwise ; but I am sure that, at heart, they 
 learned more and more to esteem and trust each other. 
 
 Well they might. If ever two real worthies were closely related
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 5 1 1 
 
 to each other in administration, we see in the relation of Chase and 
 Lincoln a fine illustration of that truth. 
 
 I now invite attention to a very interesting document, which has 
 this tenor : 
 
 "Treasury Department, December 29, 1862. 
 
 "Sir: My thoughtful attention has been given to the questions 
 which you have proposed to nie. as the head of one of the depart- 
 ments, touching the act of Congress admitting the State of West 
 Virginia into the Union. 
 
 The questions proposed are two : 
 
 "1. Is the aet constitutional ? 
 
 "2. Is the act expedient? 
 
 " 1. In my judgment the act is constitutional. 
 
 " In the convention which framed the constitution the formation 
 of new States was much considered. Some of the ablest men in the 
 convention, including all. or nearly all, the delegates from Maryland, 
 Delaware, and New Jersey, insisted that Congress should have power 
 to form new States within the limits of existing States without the 
 consent of the latter. All agreed that Congress should have the 
 power with that consent. The result of deliberation was the grant to 
 Congress of a general power to admit new States, with a limit on 
 its exercise in respect to States formed within the jurisdiction of old 
 States, "l 1 by the junction of old States or parts of such, to cases of 
 consent by the legislatures of the States concerned. 
 
 "The power of Congress to admit the State of West Virginia, 
 formed within the existing State of Virginia, is clear, if the consent 
 of the legislature of the Slate of Virginia has been given. 
 
 " That this consent has been given can not be denied, unless the 
 whole action of the Executive and Legislative branches of the Fed- 
 eral Government, for the last eighteen months, has been mistaken, 
 and is now to be reversed. 
 
 "In April, 18G1, a convention of citizens of Virginia assumed to 
 pass an ordinance of secession ; called in rebel troops, and made 
 common cause with the insurrection which had broken out against 
 the government of the United States. Most of the persons exercis- 
 ing the functions of State government in Virginia joined the rebels, 
 and refused to perform their duties to the Union the}* had sworn to 
 support. They thus abdicated their power of government in respect 
 to the United States. But a large portion of the people, a number 
 of members of the legislature, and some judicial officers, did not 
 follow their treasonable example. Most of the members of the leg- 
 islature, who remained faithful to their oaths, met at Wheeling and 
 reconstituted the government of Virginia, and elected senators in 
 Congress, who now occupy their seats as such. Under this recon- 
 stituted government a governor has been elected, who now exercises 
 executive authority throughout the State, except so far as he is ex- 
 cluded by armed rebellion. By repealed and most significant acts 
 the government of the United States has recognized this government 
 of Virginia as the only legal and constitutional government of the 
 whole State.
 
 512 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " And. in my judgment, no other course than this was open to the 
 national government. In every case of insurrection involving the 
 persons exercising the powers of State government, when a large 
 bod}' of the people remain faithful, that body, so far as the Union is 
 concerned, must be taken to constitute the State. It would have 
 been as absurd as it would have been impolitic to deny to the large 
 loyal population of Virginia the powers of a State government, 
 because men, whom they had clothed with executive or legislative 
 or judicial powers, had betrayed their trusts and joined in rebell- 
 ion against their country. 
 
 "It does not admit of doubt, therefore, as it seems to me, that the 
 legislature which gave its consent to the formation and erection of 
 the State of West Virginia was the true and only lawful legislature 
 of the State of Virginia. The Madison papers clearly show that the 
 consent of the legislature of the original State was the only consent 
 required to the erection and formation of a new State within its ju- 
 risdiction. That consent having been given, the consent of the new 
 State, if required, is proved by her application for admission. 
 
 "Nothing required by the constitution to the formation and admis- 
 sion of West Virginia into the United States is, therefore, wanting; 
 and the act of admission must, necessarily, be constitutional. 
 
 "Nor is this conclusion technical, as some may think. The legis- 
 lature of Virginia, it may be admitted, did not contain many mem- 
 bers from the eastern counties. It contained, however, representa- 
 tives from all counties whose inhabitants were not either rebels them- 
 selves, or dominated by greater numbers of rebels. It was the only 
 legislature of the State known to the Union. If its consent was not 
 valid, no consent could be. If its consent was not valid, the consti- 
 tution, as to the people of West Virginia has been so suspended by 
 the rebellion that a most important right under it is utterly lost. 
 
 "It is safer, in my opinion, to follow plain principles to plain con- 
 clusions, than to turn aside from consequences, clearly logical, because 
 not exactly agreeable to our views of expediency. 
 
 "2. And this brings me to the second question: Is the act of 
 admission expedient? 
 
 "The act is almost universal^ regarded as of vital importance to 
 their welfare by the loyal people most immediately interested, and it 
 has received the sanction of large majorities in both houses of Con- 
 gress. These facts afford strong presumptions of expediency. 
 
 "It is, moreover, well known that, for many years, the people of 
 West Virginia have desired separation on good and substantial 
 grounds; nor do I perceive any good reason to believe that consent 
 to such separation would now be withheld by a legislature actually 
 elected from all the counties of the State, and untouched by rebel 
 sympathies. 
 
 " However this may be, much — very much — is due to the desires 
 and convictions of the loyal people of West Virginia. To them, 
 admission is an object of intense interest; and their conviction is 
 strongly expressed that the veto of the act and its consequent fail- 
 ure, would result in the profound discouragement of all loyal men 
 and the proportionate elation and joy of every sympathizer with 
 rebellion. Nor is it to be forgotten that such a veto will be regarded
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 513 
 
 by many as an abandonment of the views which have hitherto guided 
 the action of the government in relation to Virginia; will operate 
 as a sort of disavowal of the loyal government; and may be followed 
 by its disorganization. No act not imperatively demanded by con- 
 stitutional duty should be performed by the Executive if likely to 
 be attended by consequences like these. 
 
 "It may be said, indeed, that the admission of West Virginia will 
 draw after it the necessity of admitting other States under the con- 
 sent of extemporized legislatures, assuming to act for whole Slates, 
 though really representing no important part of their territory. I 
 think this necessity imaginary. There is no such legislature, nor is 
 there likely to be. No such legislature, if extemporized, is likely to 
 receive the recognition of Congress or the Executive. The case of 
 West Virginia will form no evil precedent. Far otherwise. It will 
 encourage the loyal by the assurance it will give of national recog- 
 nition and support; but it Avill inspire no hopes that the national 
 government will countenance needless and unreasonable attempts to 
 break up or impair the integrity of States. If a ease parallel to that 
 of West Virginia shall present itself, it will doubtless be entitled to 
 like consideration ; but the contingency of such a case is surely too 
 remote to countervail all the considerations of expediency which 
 sustain the act. 
 
 "My answer to both questions, therefore, is affirmative. 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury." 
 
 Next is the letter to the President : 
 
 "Treasury Department, December 31, 1862. 
 
 "Sir: In accordance with your verbal direction of yesterday, I 
 most respectfully submit the following observations in respect to the 
 draft of a Proclamation designating the States and parts of States 
 within which the Proclamation of the 22d September, 1862, is to take 
 effect according to the terms thereof. 
 
 " I. It seems to me wisest to make no exception of parts of States 
 from the operation of the Proclamation, save the forty-eight coun- 
 ties designated as West Virginia. My reasons are these: 
 
 "1. Such exceptions will impair, in public estimation, the moral 
 effect of the Proclamation, and invite censures which it would be 
 well, if possible, to avoid. 
 
 "2. Such exceptions must necessarily be confined to some few 
 parishes and counties in Louisiana and Virginia, and can have no 
 practically useful effect. Through the operation of various acts of 
 Congress, the slaves of disloyal masters in those parts are already 
 enfranchised, and the slaves of loyal masters are practically so. 
 Some of the latter have alread}' commenced paying wages to their 
 laborers, formerly slaves ; and it is to be feared that if, by the excep- 
 tions, Blavery is practically reestablished in favor of some masters, 
 while abolished by law and b}- the necessary effect of military occu- 
 pation as to others, very serious inconveniences may arise. 
 
 "3. No intimation of exceptions of this kind is given in the Sep- 
 tember Proclamation, nor does it appear that any intimations other- 
 wise given have been taken into account by tho.se who have partici-
 
 514 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 pated in recent elections, or that an}- exceptions of their particular 
 localities are desired by them. 
 
 "II. I think it would be expedient to omit from the proposed Proc- 
 lamation the declaration that the executive government of the United 
 States will do no act to repress the enfranchised in any efforts they 
 may make for their actual freedom. 
 
 " This clause in the September Proclamation has been widely 
 quoted as an incitement to servile insurrection. In lieu of it. and 
 for the purpose of shaming these misrepresentations, I think it 
 would be Avell to insert some such clause as this: ' Xot encouraging 
 or countenancing, however, any disorderly or licentious violence.'' If this 
 alteration be made, the appeal to the enslaved may, properly enough. 
 be omitted. It does not seem to be necessaiy, and ma}- furnish a 
 topic to the evil-disposed of criticism and ridicule. 
 
 ''III. I think it absolutely certain that the rebellion can in no 
 way be so certainly, speedily, and economically suppressed as by the 
 organized military force of the loyal population of the insurgent re- 
 gion, of whatever complexion. In no way can irregular violence 
 and servile insurrection be so surely prevented as by the regular 
 organization and regular military employment of those who might 
 otherwise probably resort to such courses. 
 
 "Such organization is now in successful progress; and the concur- 
 rent testimony of all connected with the colored regiments in 
 Louisiana and South Carolina is that they are brave, orderly, and 
 efficient. General Butler declares that without his colored regiments 
 he could not have attempted his recent important movements in the 
 La Fourche region, and General Saxton bears equally explicit testi- 
 mony to the good conduct and efficiency of the colored troops recently 
 sent on an expedition along the coast of Georgia. 
 
 " Considering these facts, it seems to me that it would be best to 
 omit from the Proclamation all reference to the military employment 
 of the enfranchised population, leaving it to the natural course of 
 things already well begun ; or to, state distinctly, that in order to 
 secure the suppression of rebellion without servile insurrection or 
 licentious marauding. Such numbers of the population declared free 
 as may be found convenient will be em})loyed in the military and 
 naval service of the United States. 
 
 "Finally, I respectfully suggest that on an occasion of such inter- 
 est there can be no just imputation of affectation against a solemn 
 recognition of responsibility before men and before God, and that 
 some such close as follows will be proper : 
 
 "'And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, 
 warranted by the constitution, and of duty, demanded by the cir- 
 cumstances of the country, I invoke the considerate judgment of 
 mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.' 
 
 " I have the honor to be most respectfully and truly yours, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is the draft prepared by Secretary Chase : 
 
 " Whereas, On the twenty-second day of September, in the year 
 of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a Proclama-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 515 
 
 tion was issued by the President of the United States, containing, 
 among other tilings, the following, to- wit : 
 
 '"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United 
 States, by virtue of the power in me vested us commander-in-chief of 
 
 the army and navy of the United States in time of actual armed 
 rebellion against the authority and government of the United Statrs, 
 and as a proper and necessary war measure for suppressing said 
 rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with 
 my intention so to do publicly proclaimed for one hundred days, as 
 aforesaid, order and designate as the States and parts of States in 
 which the people thereof are this day in rebellion against the United 
 States, the following, to-wit : 
 
 " ' Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, 
 Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, except the 
 forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia. 
 
 " • And. by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do 
 order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said desig- 
 nated States, and parts of States, are and henceforth forever shall be 
 free; and that the executive government of the United States, in- 
 cluding the military and naval authorities, will recognize and main- 
 tain the freedom of said persons — not, however, encouraging or in 
 any way sanctioning any disorderly conduct or licentious violence; 
 to prevent which, and secure the earliest possible termination of the 
 insurrection with the least possible injury to pei^sons and property, 
 such portions of the population hereby declared free as may be found 
 convenient and useful will be employed, under suitable organization, 
 in the military and naval service of the United States, as well as in 
 other avocations for which they may be adapted and required. 
 
 '•And upon this act, sincerely believed to bean act of justice, 
 warranted by the constitution, and an act of duty demanded by the 
 circumstances of the country, I invoke the considerate judgment of 
 mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God." 
 
 34
 
 )16 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 CONGRATULATION OF ROSECRANS — THE HURTT-COOKE SCANDAL. 
 
 IT is not till the 29th of August, 1863, that I can again quote a 
 register in the nature of a diary. The first document to which 
 this chapter asks attention reads as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 6, 1863. 
 
 " My Dear General : I congratulate you, from my inmost heart. 
 Your country owes you an immense debt. God grant that you may 
 quadruple the obligation. Yours most truly, 
 
 " Major General Eosecrans. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is another letter of like interest : 
 
 "Washington, D. C, January 6, 1863. 
 
 " My Dear Kalston : Your letter gave me a great deal of pleasure ; 
 and especially as it showed so much confidence in your generals. 
 How grandly it has been justified. When I read of the death of 
 poor Garesche, I trembled for you, but, as the telegraph does not re- 
 port wounded or missing, I suppose you are safe, and am thankful. 
 
 " The success of Roseerans has lifted a fearful weight from the 
 breast of the country, and it seems to me that the success was em- 
 phatically his ; to be sure, his brave officers and men were indispen- 
 sable but, as I read the accounts, his own genius and courage and 
 indefatigable persistence won the day. You can hardly imagine 
 what a personal gratification it is to me — but the personal gratifica- 
 tion is as nothing compared with that which the benefit to the country 
 inspires. 
 
 " Oh ! that he may only go on as he has begun, with vigor, judg- 
 ment, and skill combined ! Write as full}' as you can. 
 " In haste, affectionately yours, 
 
 « Kalston Skinner, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is a tribute to a very interesting, genial, highly-cultivated 
 man, Professor Monroe, now in Congress: 
 
 "Washington, D. C, January 9, 1863. 
 " My Dear General : My friend, Prof. Monroe, takes the place of 
 my friend, Colonel Parsons, as consul. Though a gentleman of some- 
 what different type, you will find him very intelligent, very genial,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 517 
 
 and very apright. You will like him, I am sure, and I am equally 
 sure he will like you. 
 
 " The correspondence between Mr. Whittlesey and yourself filled 
 me with regret, my esteem for hoth was so great. The last letter to 
 you, as well as the first, went without having been seen by me, and 
 neither would have gone unaltered, by my consent, if seen. Mr. 
 Whittlesey is now, I trust, in a better world. He died yesterday, 
 having touched the verge of fourscore. Your friend, 
 
 "General James Watson Webb. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 What a transition must be made from the thoughts and emo- 
 tions, nay the aspirations, which that letter so naturally suggests, to 
 the subject that must next, alas ! engage attention in this faithful 
 history. 
 
 Often, since this work was, as I supposed, finished and in order 
 for the printer, I have read or heard something of our hero that has 
 tempted me to think in my heart : "After all, this man, the hero 
 of this work, was not a real worthy. He was but a pious, patriotic 
 knave ! He had too much of the evil communications which corrupt 
 good manners ; and he came to be an unworthy Citizen and a false 
 Christian." 
 
 But let us bear in mind all the best that we have seen in him ; 
 and let me promise to show, that if there was a period when he was 
 not a real worthy, he became, toward the last, what was promised by 
 his youth and early manhood. 
 
 Since this volume was, as I supposed, entirely ready for the pub- 
 lisher, the eyes of its composer had to be wounded by reading these 
 words in the Washington correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette^ 
 the correspondent being General Boynton : 
 
 " Washington, March 3. 
 
 " An incident in the preliminary steps taken to secure an investi- 
 gation of the affairs of the District of Columbia first suggested an 
 examination of the startling history which follows. The records 
 which set it forth first became known to the present administration 
 the week preceding the inauguration of General Grant. Its minor 
 details were vaguely understood in a limited circle during the war. 
 and part of the facts were published at the West. Hut the whole 
 power of the War Department, and the influence of several of the 
 most prominent politicians, were actively exerted to suppress alJ 
 knowledge of the real facts brought to light. 
 
 "Much was said in Cincinnati of the dissolution of the first court, 
 and severe criticisms of the authorities indulged in. These finals- 
 caused a second court to be convened early in the following year, 
 and before this court, upon charges which left out all that would in- 
 volve any parties of position except the Cookes. Hurtt was eon-
 
 518 THE PKIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 victed and dismissed. Just before the proceedings in his ease were 
 ready to publish, the general distribution of courts-martial orders 
 was stopped by direction of the War Department, and little ever be- 
 came known of this disgraceful case. 
 
 • Many readers will ask why did a man of Mr. Stanton's iron 
 nerve hesitate to put all these offenders, high and low, on trial at 
 once? The reason given by one acquainted with all the facts as 
 they were known here, is signifieant : He was driven in the opposite 
 direction by military necessity. His first impulse was to try all con- 
 cerned, but men so high in the nation's counsels, and in the confi- 
 dence of the people, were compromised, that to uncover their iniquity, 
 perpetrated in the very darkest days of the war, would result, as he 
 feared, in destroying the confidence of the people. 
 
 "'Just in the darkest days of the whole war these men had been 
 pressing their diabolical schemes. The defeat at Chancellorsville 
 had enabled Lee to invade the North. Vallandigham was exciting 
 rebellion from the Canada border. There were peace flags flying in 
 the North ; there was resistance to the draft in Ohio and Indiana, and 
 in the latter State the Sons of Liberty were planning an outbreak. 
 There was great gloom everywhere, and it may shake the confidence 
 of loyal people beyond restoration, reasoned Mr. Stanton, if they 
 are allowed to know that the financial agents of the government 
 and some of its most prominent political supporters had been in such 
 a league for plunder during the darkest days of the war. And so he 
 strove to cover the most startling points from the public eye. And 
 so the court was dissolved, and the officer who knew all the facts, and 
 who had the full confidence of his commanding general, was obliged 
 to leave with his family, in the dead of winter, for the most distant 
 point on American soil, lest the facts in regard to a band of robbers, 
 holding high position, should by any possibility come to light. 
 
 "The documents given below were copied from the originals, now 
 in the files of the War Department. Even these are but the outline 
 history of the great outrage which men high in position and high in 
 the confidence of the loyal people conspired to perpetrate, and exe- 
 cuted in part. 
 
 " The papers given were connected with the trial of F. W. Hurtt, 
 a purchasing and disbursing quartermaster of volunteers, who was 
 stationed at Cincinnati, and whose trial, exciting great interest at 
 the time, was concluded at that place in March, 186-1. The most 
 strenuous exertions were made there then to obtain the reports and 
 evidence in the case; but the authorities and politicians succeeded in 
 concealing nearly everything. 
 
 " A preliminary review of the case will make the reading of the 
 official papers presented quite clear. 
 
 '• Hurtt was commissioned assistant-quartermaster of volunteers' 
 October 31, 1861. He had hardly reached his post before he began 
 to speculate in forage and supplies, in connection with persons asso- 
 ciated with him in the Ohio State Journal. This he continued with 
 the same parties in purchases for Camp Chase, and afterward at Cin- 
 cinnati. But all this was insignificant compared with the great vil- 
 lainy which began in the spring of 1863 at Cincinnati. 
 
 •' He then entered into correspondence with Henry D. Cooke,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 519 
 
 formerly of the Ohio State Journal, then the Washington representa- 
 tive of the great firm of Jay Cooke & Co., the confidential financial 
 agents of the government, and these two, with other members of thai 
 firm, and with sueh political influence as the}* could command, con- 
 spired to speculate in quartermasters' supplies, and to defraud the 
 government on a gigantic scale. 
 
 "After Cooke had sent a man to Cincinnati to represent the Wash- 
 ington interest, and immense transactions were in progress, they 
 became bolder and joined hands and the influences they could com- 
 mand to secure the removal of Captain John H. Dickerson, the senior 
 quartermaster at Cincinnati, both because his honesty endangered 
 present operations and limited their extent. They determined to 
 remove him, put Hurtt in his place, and associate with him Captain 
 C. W. Moulton, a quartermaster and brother-in-law of Senator Sher- 
 man, to the end, as expressed in one of the specifications upon which 
 Hurtt was convicted, that he (Hurtt) 'might be charged with the 
 heaviest possible disbursements of the government funds.' Nothing 
 was to stand in the way, and the Quartermaster-General himself was 
 to be removed, if necessary to accomplish their ends. 
 
 " This last movement was in progress, and their speculations and 
 swindlings going on upon a great scale, when General Burnside, who 
 had taken command of the Department of the Ohio, became con- 
 vinced that the government was being defrauded, and on the 28th of 
 July, 1863, ordered Major N. H. McLean, an assistant adjutant-gen- 
 eral of the regular army, to take possession of Hurtt's papers, and 
 investigate his transactions. Major McLean made his report, the 
 terrible nature of which will appear below, September 28, 1863, and 
 on November 23 a court was ordered to try Hurtt. All the influen- 
 tial parties in interest were instantly alarmed, and in seven days 
 after the court was ordered it was dissolved upon an order tele- 
 graphed from the War Department, and all the papers were sealed 
 and sent to Washington, as directed. Time .had scarcely elapsed for 
 an examination of the papers at the War Department, when Major 
 McLean was peremptorily ordered from his post at Cincinnati, and 
 directed to report for dut}" at Fort Vancouver, in Washington Terri- 
 tory. The extraordinary haste exercised in getting Major McLean 
 out of the country will appear in the orders copied below." 
 
 It was under the head-lines, " Startling Disclosures — Chapter of 
 Secret War History — The Great Hurtt Frauds Brought to Light," 
 that the Gazette gave this matter to its readers. But it was with 
 some of the subheadings, if I may so express myself, that I hit 
 most concerned. These ran, in part, as follows : 
 
 "A Conspiracy to Ruin Honest Men and Swindle the Govern- 
 ment. The Private Correspondence of Hurtt with his Backers. 
 Henry D. Cooke and Associates. The Strings that were Pulled. 
 Senator Sherman, Governor Dennison, Secretary Chase, and other 
 Prominent Men, use their Influence." 
 
 We have seen, thus far, nothing to charge the hero of this work
 
 520 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 with guilty knowledge. But here are two letters, taken from the 
 series given by General Boynton : 
 
 " Cincinnati, January 23, 1863. 
 
 "Dear Cooke: I wrote you some time ago, asking your ideas 
 about financial matters, etc., hoping to obtain some new data upon 
 which I could found an opinion as to the pecuniary policy of holding 
 on to the Journal. I have since decided to hold on to it for reasons 
 independent of financial matters, so far as they concern me person- 
 ally just now. I am doing all I can for Chase's financial scheme, 
 both in our paper and here in Cincinnati. You notice the Cincin- 
 nati Gazette came out in favor of it yesterday. We have been doing 
 all we can to be effectual. I am not versed in such matters very 
 much, but I pointed out the barriers in the way to Mr. Mellen, whom 
 I have seen several times lately, which have since appeared, and I 
 fear now they will prove more formidable than I have anticipated 
 up to this time. Chase's war has just begun. What a great mistake 
 it was not carried through last winter. Now reasons for not enter- 
 ing upon it with great zeal will arise, especially in the West, which 
 would then have made theauthor of them shudder. AVhat was treason 
 then is becoming now, in an undercurrent of feeling, unconscious, at 
 least unexpressed, conviction. The people dare not, as yet, acknowl- 
 edge to themselves the undercurrent of unbelief of the stability of 
 the government. What is there } 7 et in store for us? I am anxious 
 to know how you people near the throne feel. Is Governor Chase 
 hopeful now? Do you think he will get through safely? Some of 
 my friends are in my vouchers enough to ruin them. No money and 
 no certificates just now. They are suffering materially. If I had 
 $200,000 it would only save them, yet the government can't give us 
 any. Do you think Chase will give any more certificates of indebt- 
 edness? Do you think he can give our department any of the 
 $100,000,000 he is now issuing? A full answer will much oblige me, 
 and you ma}' give me valuable hints about what Chase desires, as 
 well as his hopes. My business is very slack just now, and I am 
 worked down. I have not been out of my room for three days. My 
 purchases are heavy enough, but they trouble but little, except in 
 the advance prices on account of the poor market for vouchers. 
 
 " (Kegards, etc.) Very truly }ours, 
 
 F. W. HURTT." 
 
 " Washington, D. C, March 14, 1863. 
 " My Dear Hurtt : I have but a few moments to drop you a hint 
 of what is going on. I did not let your matter drop, but went to 
 work at once. Governor Chase will say all you could ask him to say 
 to Stanton. He is warmly your friend. Sherman took hold of the 
 matter with zeal. He went to Edward Stanton the next day after 
 you left, dwelt upon your admirable business qualifications, integrity, 
 etc., and urged you upon Stanton for promotion and assignment to 
 duty at Cincinnati in place of Dickerson. Stanton got out the list 
 of quartermasters, and when he found your name remarked that you 
 were very far down on the list — your commission being No. one
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 521 
 
 hundred and something, so there are a large number ahead of you. 
 To this, Sherman urged that what the department wanted was a 
 good man for the position, and that this ohjeet ought not to be de- 
 feated by so trifling a consideration as a mere difference in the dates 
 of original appointments of different officers. To this Stanton 
 assented, and thereupon made a minute opposite your name on his 
 private list. 
 
 "Stanton told Sherman that he had ordered Moulton to Cincin- 
 nati with a view to his superseding Dickerson, and to this end be 
 had Moulton transferred to the regular army. But Sherman pro- 
 tested against Moulton being sent to Cincinnati, as it might em- 
 barrass him (Sherman), he being a brother-in-law of Moulton 's, and 
 accordingly Moulton is to be sent out West. Stanton did not promise 
 to give you Dickerson's place, but he did say that he was sorry he 
 had not seen Sherman before the vacancies in the regular army ap- 
 pointments had all been filled. 
 
 "Sherman is satisfied that your standing at the War Department 
 is now all right, and thinks your chance good of getting a fair show 
 in the purchasing department at Cincinnati. 
 
 "I have not seen your friend Wrightson since j T ou were here. I 
 think if he and Gurley had pushed the matter it might have been 
 clinched. In regard to brevet rank, the Senate passed over the en- 
 tire list of brevet promotions without confirmation. 
 
 11 Please remember me to Mrs. Hurt and the boy, and believe me, 
 as ever, Yours truly, H. D. COOKE." 
 
 "Governor Chase will say all you could ask him to say to Stan- 
 ton." What did those words mean to him to whom they were ad- 
 dressed ? It is in the light of the circumstances in which these 
 words were written and received that they are now to be con- 
 strued. 
 
 The context is, in part, to be resorted to for ascertaining some of 
 those interpretive circumstances ; and part of the context is the 
 sentence : 
 
 " He is warmly your friend." 
 
 But was that true? It was, no doubt, intended to be true; but it 
 involved not fact but judgment. Henry D. Cooke judged that 
 Salmon Portland Chase was warmly the friend of graceless Captain 
 Hurtt. 
 
 Perhaps, indeed, that judgment was correct. Had not our hero 
 been the friend of Stone? Did he not to the last continue to be the 
 partial friend of more than one unworthy character ? 
 
 How my heart sickens as I make up the long list of knaves or 
 fools in whom the hero of this work confided ! But I half recover 
 when I begin to make up the still longer list, the greatly longer list,
 
 522 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 of the good men who believed in him, and in whom he believed and 
 trusted ; and I go but a little way in making up that longer list 
 when I am wholly well again, and tempted to lift up a song of glad- 
 ness and of triumph. 
 
 I knew our hero well. He thought, himself, that I knew him 
 well ; and I believe that, in that behalf, he was well warranted in his 
 opinion. 
 
 Let us now go calmly back to that Hurtt-Cooke correspondence. 
 Let us narrowly examine its true indications. 
 
 Cooke does not even say to Hurtt : " Governor Chase tells me 
 that he is warmly your friend, and that he will say all you could 
 ask him to say to Stanton." Not at all. Even so, the evidence 
 against our hero would fall far short of proof. But this is not all. 
 Suppose that Chase had, with his own lips or with his own hand, 
 addressed Hurtt thus: "I am warmly your friend, and I will say 
 to Stanton all that you could ask me to say." What then ? Even 
 then there would only be another indication of misplaced friendship 
 and confidence on the part of a man so prone to such mistakes that 
 he was almost a laughing-stock to men of ordinary judgment on that 
 acccount. There would still be nothing even tending to show that 
 Chase had guilty knowledge of Hurtt's heartless, villainous design. 
 
 Chase loved and trusted Cooke. He so loved and trusted Cooke 
 that, long after the dates here in question, he made that wretched 
 weakling the executor of his last will and testament. 
 
 Cooke says to Hurtt, in another letter : 
 
 " I fear I am not in a position to do you much good by any per- 
 sonal effort I might make with Stanton. I am finally drifted out of 
 the political current, and Stanton knows my fealty to Governor C, 
 and that he could expect nothing from me where it would conflict 
 with the governor. You know I am always positive in my choice of 
 men, so there may be no doubt as to my position." 
 
 Were the theme less grave, what laughter might not be the proper 
 commentary on that sentence about positiveness! 
 
 I know too well the immeasurable weakness of the man who 
 wrote those words about himself. And it seems that others know 
 at least a little of his weakness. He is painted in this fashion by a 
 friendly hand : 
 
 "Henry D. Cooke is a short, thick-set man of about fifty. He has 
 one of the kindest faces ever put in front of any brain, and his 
 nature does not belie his appearance. His life has been one of great
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 523 
 
 purity, and his business career one of high-toned integrity. He is 
 the most thoughtful, and really, the ahlest, of the Cookes. in which 1 
 differ from the majority — Jay Cooke being regarded as the bead of 
 this remarkable family. The one great obstacle in the way of Henry 
 D. is his utter inability to nay 'no.' When that monosyllable 
 becomes necessary Henry D. retreats behind Jay or Huntington. He 
 shrinks from giving pain, and has hosts of warm personal friends. 
 His face is more attractive than striking, and on an introduction the 
 look at him is given after the name is heard. Through his kind dis- 
 position, or good nature, he is apt to be imposed upon ; but no one 
 knowing Governor Cooke ever dreams of charging him with an 
 intentional shortcoming." 
 
 Donn Piatt, in his Capitol, says that the letter from which I 
 take this extract "is evidently from the pen of some Bohemian, 
 who has his organ of reverence considerably knocked in." But 
 that portrait of Cooke seems to me, after all, a fearfully flattered 
 likeness ; and I have had reason, more than once, and long ago, to 
 study the original with care. 
 
 But is it not a little hard that this volume has to defend its hero's 
 memory against the man in whom he so confided that he made him 
 the executor of his last will and testament? 
 
 Yet it is not my purpose here to intimate that he has not some 
 amiable qualities. And I do not undertake to pronounce judgment, 
 as to the indications furnished by the just quoted letter, as to the 
 characteristics of its author's morals and his public spirit. I desire 
 only to guard readers against doing wrong to Chase's memory, on 
 account of the Cooke-Hurtt correspondence. 
 
 On the 5th of February Mr. Chase composed this note : 
 
 "Dear Sir: I am always happy to receive and give such consid- 
 eration as my pressing engagements permit, to intelligent sugges- 
 tions concerning public finances. Of course, I shall be glad to receive 
 yours. I desire all attainable light from whatever quarter. 
 
 "Yours truly S.P.CHASE. 
 
 " Jas. Monroe, Esq., box 5142, P. O. New York." 
 
 How free from arrogance the writer of that note ! 
 
 Here is a most creditable and decidedly characteristic letter : 
 
 " Treasury Department, February 27, 1863. 
 
 " Sir: I learned to-day at the Senate chamber that the nomination 
 of Mark Howard, as collector of internal revenue for the District of 
 Connecticut, was rejected by that body. 
 
 "It is due to Mr. Howard to say that no more faithful, capable, or 
 honest man has been appointed to any collectorship under the law;
 
 524 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and that he has performed the responsible duties of the office to the 
 entii'e satisfaction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and 
 myself. 
 
 " I am told by senators that Mr. Howard's nomination was rejected 
 at the instance of Senator Dixon, and merely in deference to his per- 
 sonal wishes, notwithstanding the unanimous report of the committee 
 on finance in favor of confirmation, and without the slightest impeach- 
 ment of the character or capacity of the nominee. 
 
 " Such, I have no doubt, is the fact; and I feel bound by my duty 
 to an honest man, to your administration, and to the public interests 
 placed under my charge in this department, to protest, most respect- 
 fully, against the appointment to the vacanc} T created by this rejec- 
 tion of any person recommended by the gentleman who procured it. 
 Such an appointment would, indeed, manifestly tend to the grossest 
 abuses; for if gentlemen hostile to a particular nominee, or eager 
 to secure his place for some favorite, can expect to control the 
 appointment, after rejection, it is manifest that confirmations will 
 depend less on merit than on animosity or favoritism. 
 
 "In my judgment Mr. Howard should be renominated in order 
 that the Senate may have an opportunit} 7 to reconsider its action, 
 «almly and dispassionately. His renomination, indeed, under the 
 circumstances, seems to me a simple act of justice to him, and a 
 proper assertion of your own right to have your nominations con- 
 sidered on their merits. 
 
 "I, therefore, send a renomination for your consideration, and your 
 signature, if approved. 
 
 "Should your judgment differ from mine on this point, I shall ask 
 permission to recommend some other person, selected on the same 
 considerations which governed my original recommendation of Mr. 
 Howard, namely : capacity, integrity, and fidelity to the country and 
 to your administration. With great respect, yours truly, 
 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Lincoln, however, answered : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, March 2, 1863. 
 "Hon. Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir: After much reflection, and with a good deal of 
 pain that it is adverse to }*our wish, I have concluded that it is not 
 best to renominate Mr. Howard, for collector of internal revenue, at 
 Hartford, Connecticut. Senator Dixon, residing at Hartford, and 
 Mr. Loomis, representative of the district, join in recommending 
 Edward Goodman for the place, and, so far, no one has presented a 
 difl'erent name. I will thank you, therefore, to send me a nomina- 
 tion, at once, for Mr. Goodman. 
 
 "Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 Next we have this document : 
 
 " Treasury Department, March 3, 1863. 
 "Sir: Finding myself unable to approve the manner in which
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 525 
 
 selections for appointment to important trusts in this department 
 have been recently made, and being unwilling to remain responsible 
 for its administration, tinder existing circumstances, I respectfully 
 
 resign the office of Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 " With great respect, yours, etc., 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 This paper was never actually sent to Mr. Lincoln. It is auto- 
 graph ieally indorsed : " S. P. Chase to President Lincoln, Wash- 
 ington, March 3, '63. Resignation — withheld." 
 
 Here is a letter that was actually sent to the President : 
 
 Washington, D. C, March 2, 1863. 
 
 '• My Dear Sir : It was on Friday, I think, that you directed 
 me to send you a letter embodying the views concerning the appoint- 
 ment of collectors (with especial reference to the vacancy created by 
 the rejection of your nomination for the Hartford district, in Con- 
 necticut), which I had expressed in conversation. 
 
 " The letter was prepared ; but before it could be sent, I received 
 a note from Senator Dixon, expressed in terms of great personal re- 
 spect and kindness, to which I replied in the same spirit. This cir- 
 cumstance induced me to withhold the letter I had written to j-ou, 
 under the expectation that matters would take a turn which would 
 relieve you from all embarrassment. 
 
 " This morning I received your note directing me to send the nom- 
 ination proposed by Mr. Dixon and Mr. Loomis, and was about to 
 reply to it when the senator [called] and Ave talked the matter over. 
 The result of our conversation was an agreement to call on you as soon 
 as practicable, and submit the matter to your further consideration. 
 I do not insist on the renomination of Mr. Howard ; and Mr. Dixon 
 and Mr. Loomis, as I understand, do not claim the nomination of his 
 successor. 
 
 " I shall be glad if this shall prove agreeable to you. My only ob- 
 ject — and I think }-ou so understand it — is to secure fit men for re- 
 sponsible places, without admitting the rights of senators or repre- 
 sentatives to conti-ol appointments, for which the President and the 
 Secretary, as his presumed adviser, must be responsible. Unless 
 this principle can be practically established, I feel that I can not be 
 useful to you or the country in my present position. 
 
 With the greatest respect and esteem, yours veiy truly, 
 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In Memories of Many Men and of Some Women, a book of which 
 more than passing notice has been already taken in the present 
 work, I find 1 these words ascribed to Mr. Lincoln, and said to 
 have been spoken in 1864: 
 
 "Some time after this there was a collector of customs on the 
 1 Page 302.
 
 526 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Pacific coast, one of Chase's men, who was represented to me to bo 
 a worthless vagabond, and even a defaulter. I spoke to Chase about 
 him; but he had entire confidence in him, and refused to listen to 
 anything to his disadvantage. While matters stood thus. Chase one 
 day told me that he felt overworked, and proposed taking a little 
 trip down the Potomac, but that he would not be gone longer than 
 two days. I said 'All right, Mr. Secretary,' and we shook hands and 
 parted. As luck would have it, I was waited upon the very next 
 day by a delegation of all the gentlemen from the Pacific coast, both 
 official and unofficial, who then happened to be in Washington. 
 They filed formal charges with me against the collector to whom I 
 have referred, and demanded his immediate removal. I told them 
 that the Secretary of the Treasuiy was out of town ; that it would 
 be discourteous to him if I acted upon the matter in his absence, but 
 that he would return in one or two days at the latest, and I invited 
 them to call upon me again, in about a week, when I promised, under 
 all the circumstances, a definite answer to their report. A week 
 passed. No Chase. The delegation returned, and as I was thor- 
 oughly convinced of not only the propriety of, but even the necessity 
 for, the act, I removed the collector, and appointed another in his 
 stead. The first notice that I received of Chase's return was about 
 three days afterward, when I found his resignation tying upon my 
 table. I waited until evening and then ordered my carriage and 
 drove to his house. I found him in the office to the left as you enter 
 the door. I went directly up to him, with the resignation in my 
 hand, and, putting ray arm around his neck, said to him, 'Chase, 
 here is a paper with which I wish to have nothing to do; take it 
 back, and be reasonable.' I then explained to him what had occurred 
 while he was away. I told him that the man whom I appointed 
 happened to have been dead several weeks; that I couldn't replace 
 the person whom I had removed — that was impossible — but that I 
 would appoint any one else whom he should select for the place. It 
 was difficult to bring him to terms; I had to plead with him a long 
 time, but I finally succeeded, and heard nothing more of that resig- 
 nation." 
 
 As already hinted, I consider that there is good reason to scrutinize 
 all the accounts given by that book of its author's talks with Lin- 
 coln ; but the foregoing statement ought to go for what it may be 
 worth. And it may be proper to subjoin, that it is preceded by 
 these words, the first sentence of which relates to our hero's final 
 resignation as Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 "But there is a history behind all this, which I don't mind telling 
 you. Are you aware that this was the fourth time that Chase had 
 tendered me his resignation? No? Well, it was." 1 
 
 Now, here is a matter of unquestionable authenticity. The Pres- 
 ident, on the 8th of May, 1863, wrote as follows : 
 
 !Page 302.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 527 
 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir: Please send me, at once, an appointment of 
 Henry Clay Wilson, of Washington Territory, to be collector of cus- 
 toms for the Puget Sound district, in place of Victor Smith. 
 
 ' Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 And on the same day, the President wrote tin's little letter : 
 
 " Son. S. P. Chase: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I address this to you personally, rather than 
 officially, because of the nature of the case. My mind is made up 
 to remove Victor Smith as collector of the customs at the Puget 
 Sound district. Yet, in doing this, I do not decide that the charges 
 against him are true. I only decide that the degree of dissatisfac- 
 tion with him there is too great for him to be retained. But I helieve 
 he is your personal acquaintance and friend; and, if you desire it, I 
 will try to find some other place for him. 
 
 " Yours as ever, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 Secretary Chase did not immediately answer. As we shall presently 
 see, all that fine story about his having been overworked, and his 
 going down the Potomac for a day or two, and staying aAvay for a 
 week and more, is a fiction of somebody's fancy ; but the fact was, 
 that the Secretary, having gone, on business, to some of the Eastern 
 cities, did not return to Washington till Friday night, May 8. Why 
 did he not answer on Saturday? That which is entirely certain is, 
 that he allowed Saturday and Sunday to pass without responding to 
 the President. Perhaps that fired the Presidential pride a little; who 
 knows? At least, it is quite certain that he next addressed our hero, 
 on Monday, May 11, in this fashion : 
 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury: 
 
 " My Dear Sir: I have just learned that Henry C. Wilson, whom 
 I had appointed as the successor of Victor Smith, at Puget Sound, is 
 dead. Please send me a commission for Frederick A. Wilson. 
 
 '•Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 That drew out this letter from the stiff-necked Secretary of the 
 Treasury : 
 
 "Treasury Department, May 11, 1863. 
 
 "Dear Sir: Some weeks ago you verbal I}* directed me to inves- 
 tigate the papers connected with the case of the collector of the 
 Puget Sound district, and to report the result to you. 
 
 "Almost immediately afterward, important business of my de- 
 partment called me to the Eastern cities. On leaving, I directed the 
 Assistant-Secretary to examine all the papers, arrange them in proper 
 order, and make a brief of the contents, so that, on my return, I 
 could at once make the investigation you inquired.
 
 528 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "I came back on Friday night (8th), and was informed by the 
 Assistant-Secretary that you had already directed him to make out 
 and send to you a commission for a new collector. 
 
 " This information surprised and greatly pained me ; for I had not 
 thought it possible that you would remove an officer of my depart- 
 ment without awaiting the result, although somewhat delayed, of an 
 investigation, directed bj T yourself, and appoint a successor, for whose 
 action I must be largely responsible, without even consulting me on 
 the subject. 
 
 " To-day, I have received your note, stating that the person for 
 whom, in my absence, a commission was prepared, is deceased; and 
 directing one to be made out for another person of whom I know 
 absolutely nothing. 
 
 "It has been and is my ardent desire to serve you, by faithful ser- 
 vice to the country, in the responsible post to which you have called 
 me ; but I can not hope to succeed in doing so if the selection of per- 
 sons to fill subordinate places in the department is to be made, not 
 only without my concurrence, but without my knowledge. 
 
 " I can ask, of course, nothing more than conference. The right 
 of appointment belongs to 3-011 ; and if, after fair consideration of my 
 views, in any case, your judgment in relation to a proper selection 
 differs from mine, it is my duty to acquiesce cheerfully in your de- 
 termination; unless, indeed, the case be one of such a character, as 
 to justify my withdrawal from my post. I have, however, a right to 
 be consulted. That right was virtually conceded to me when you 
 invited me to assume the charge of the department and make my- 
 self responsible for its administration. 
 
 "The blank commission which you direct me to send you is in- 
 closed; for to obey your directions, so long as I shall hold office un- 
 der you, is my duty. It is inclosed, however, with my most respect- 
 ful protest against the precedent, and with the assurance that if you 
 find anything in my views to which your own sense of duty will not 
 permit 3*011 to assent, I will unhesitatingly relieve you from all em- 
 barrassment, so far as I am concerned, by tendering you my resigna- 
 tion. With very great respect, yours truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next document I find relating to this matter has the tenor 
 following : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, May 13, 1863. 
 " Hon. Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I return the letters of General Garfield and Mr. 
 Flanders. I am sorry to know the general's pet expedition under 
 Colonel Straight, has already been captured. Whether it had paid 
 for itself, as he hoped, I do not know. If you think it proper to 
 fill the agency mentioned by Mr. Flanders, by all means let Mr. F. 
 be the man. 
 
 "Please send me over the commission for Lewis C. Ghinn, as you 
 recommend, for collector of customs at Puget Sound. 
 
 "Yours truly, A. LINCOLN."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 529 
 
 On the legal principle relating to the reconciliation of conflicting 
 statements, it is just to Mr. Field, the author of the quoted book, 
 entitled, Memories of Many Men and of Some Women, to note the 
 probability that there was, between the 11th and 13th of May, 1863, 
 an interview of some kind, somewhere, between the President and 
 Mr. Chase. And it is possible, if not probable, that, at that inter- 
 view, the President absolutely hugged our hero. But if Mr. Lin- 
 coln, in 1864, made the statement we have found Mr. Field ascrib- 
 ing to him, it is reasonably certain that, in that statement, Mr. 
 Lincoln did not tell the truth. Did he forget the facts? or did he 
 wilfully misstate them? I can not believe that he forgot the facts. 
 Still less can I believe that he willfully misstated them. It is much 
 easier to believe — much more rational to suppose — that Mr. Field's 
 account is, like so many other accounts of hearsay, given long after 
 the time when the alleged conversation happened. But, as already 
 intimated, I expect to show that there are yet other reasons for 
 carefully scrutinizing Mr. Maunsell B. Field's account of that 
 talk with Lincoln. 
 
 It is proper, I conceive, to anticipate somewhat by offering at 
 once this letter, showing how our hero "stuck" to Victor Smith : 
 
 "Washington, D. C, January 5. 1865. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I return your printed letter to Mr. Fessenden. 
 What I suggested was a brief, uucolored statement of facts — not an 
 impeachment of anybody — with reference to securing the aid of the 
 department in obtaining from Mr. Merryman the amount embezzled, 
 or lost, during his charge of the office at Port Townsend. I fear the 
 letter you have prepared, and especially the putting of it in print, 
 will not advance that object. I hope I may be mistaken. 
 
 " I believe I am 3 T our true friend ; but I can not look at everything 
 as you do; and perhaps can not feel exactly as you would wish, or 
 as 1 should were 3-our temperament mine. 
 
 " If any icord of mine would make you collector again you icould be 
 reappointed ; but I think you are mistaken as to the influence of my 
 words. Sincerely vour friend, 
 
 " Victor Smith, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The author of this work knew Victor Smith quite well. He 
 seemed to me as honest as the average of men ; but I considered 
 him a special moralist and a "weak brother." 
 
 Chase had wonderful idealizing faculty. He could idealize the 
 most prosaic character. He con Id neglect his truest friends to win 
 the doubtful friendship of weak men. Bad men as well as good
 
 530 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 men saw the weakness here alluded to. He was, indeed, sought less 
 by strong men and by good men than by weak men and by bad men. 
 But of that more must be said hereafter. Here is a thoroughly 
 characteristic note from the President to our hero : 
 
 "Executive Mansion, "Washington, June 25. 1863. 
 "Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Hon. William Kellogg will tell you plainly what 
 he wants; and I wish him obliged so far as you can consistently do 
 it. Please strain a point for him, if you do not have to strain it too 
 far. Yours truly, A. LIXCOLX." 
 
 Next, attention is invited to this document : 
 
 "June 28, 1863. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: There are two or three circumstances -vvhich 
 perhaps I should have mentioned, this morning, when the subject of 
 General Hooker's request to be relieved was talked about. I sug- 
 gested that the request was properly attributable to General 
 Hooker's persuasion that he could not rely on cordial cooperation 
 from General Halleck, and mentioned the receipt from the latter by 
 the former, when I happened to be with him, of a telegram author- 
 izing General Hooker to issue commands direct to troops in the de- 
 partment of General Heintzelman and General Schenck, from which 
 I drew an argument, which T urged on General Hooker, that General 
 Halleck, tar from being unwilling, was really anxious to support him. 
 
 '• I forgot to say what struck me at the time the telegram came — 
 that it was quite general in its terms, and did not except from the 
 authority given the troops essential for the immediate defense of 
 Washington and Baltimore so distinctly as would have been desir- 
 able. 
 
 " Might not this written telegram have conveyed to General 
 Hooker a larger notion of his authority than was intended? I 
 thought at the time that it would lead to difficulties through misap- 
 prehension. 
 
 '•After the receipt of it, I have learned at the War Department 
 that General Hooker issued an order to the general commanding at 
 Alexandria, which was disobeyed. General Hooker directed him to 
 be placed in arrest ; but it turned out that the offii-er was simply 
 obeying an order from General Heintzelman, at head-quarters of the 
 army, to disregard all orders not proceeding from one or the other of 
 these sources. You will readily understand what distrust this con- 
 flict of orders might give rise to. A day or longer afterward, Gen- 
 eral Hooker ordered the commanding officer at Poolesville to proceed 
 to Harper's Ferry. I believe the order was obeyed; but just such an 
 order as was addressed to the commanding officer at Alexandria, was 
 addressed to General Heintzelman at head-quarters, was addressed 
 to the commanding officer (Colonel Jewett, I believe) at Pooles- 
 ville; this act again was most unfortunately calculated to impair 
 confidence. 
 
 " Then, finally, came the order detaining a large force at Harper's
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 531 
 
 Ferry against General Hooker's urgent call for them in his advance. 
 I know nothing of the military reasons for it; hut can easily im- 
 agine that an arm}" occupying a position like that of the Maryland 
 Heights would boot little use, when the main army was in advance 
 of them and would fall back and reoccupy the position should it 
 become necessary. 
 
 " I mention these matters for your consideration, and in order that 
 no injustice may be done to anybody. Yours truly, 
 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next offering I make is a great temptation to my heart and 
 my pen. But the temptation is resisted. I will only say, by way 
 of farther introduction, that had I not written, though I have never 
 dared to publish, a little book which Chase decidedly encouraged 
 me to put before the public, it is to me, at least, most probable that 
 I would not have written the present work. The first form of that 
 little book was entitled Ernest and the Flag he Followed, in respect 
 to which Chase wrote to me as follows : 
 
 " August 15, 1863. 
 
 ' ; My Dear Judge : Your letter of the 14th is before me. I send 
 you a copy of Grant's official report in the ' War [Army] and 
 Navy Gazette,' though you have doubtless already seen it. I shall 
 be very glad to see your biography of Ernest. The obituary which 
 you sent failed to reach me. What sacrifices are made of our noblest 
 j-outh for the suppression of this accursed rebellion, and yet what 
 memories will be kept greener than theirs! God grant that the sup- 
 p>ression may be so effectual <tn<l thorough that such sacrifices need never 
 be repeated. Cordially, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Hon. E. B. Warden, Cincinnati, Ohio." 
 
 Here is another letter on the same sad subject : 
 
 " October 23, 18G3. 
 
 " My Dear Judge : Yours of the 20th is just received, and touches 
 me deeply. The loss of your noble son moves my profoundest sym- 
 pathies, and it is fit that just such a monument as j-our book will 
 make for him should be constructed by your hand. It is the will of 
 God that the precious blood, poured out in this terrible struggle, shall 
 nourish the vine which He planted in America to fresher, nobler growth f 
 I reverently hope so. The effects of the fiery trial to your mind and 
 many other spirits of like reach and culture confirm the hope. It is 
 a real gratification to be assured that any words of mine have con- 
 tributed to your present convictions. 
 
 " I was never an Abolitionist of that school which taught that there 
 could never be a human duty superior to that of the instant ami uncon- 
 ditional abolition of slavery. He who sees the tower in the 
 
 QUARRY AND THE OAK IN THE ACORN REQUIRES NO IMPOSSIBLE TASK 
 
 from his creatures. But, for more than half my life, I bave been 
 an abolitionist of that other school, which believed slavediolding 
 35
 
 532 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 wrong, and that all responsible for the wrong should do what was 
 possible for them, in their respective spheres, for its redress. I shall 
 be very glad to see your book. 
 
 " Sincerely, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Hon. E. B. Warden, Cincinnati, Ohio." 
 
 August 29 furnishes the following : 
 
 " Eeoeived from A. C. Wilson, President of the Continental Bank 
 Note Company, his charges against Mr. Clark, and referred them to 
 Mr. C. for explanation or answer. The charges seem to be inspired 
 by no public reason, but by hostility to Mr. Clark because of his sup- 
 posed animosity and injustice to the company. 
 
 " Conferred with Mr. McCulloch on the subject of deposits with the 
 national banks, and determined that the clerk having special charge 
 of this business and its correspondence, shall take a desk under Mr. 
 McC. and be attached to his bureau. 
 
 "Mr. Smith, chief clerk of the Third Auditor's Office, was con- 
 sulted on the subject of the selection of the chief clerk in his place, 
 in view of his probable appointment to some outside position." 
 
 In the afternoon the President came in, with letters from General 
 Grant and Banks in relation to the arming of negro troops, and read 
 them to Mr. Chase. General Banks stated that he had already about 
 12,000 in about twenty-five regiments of 500 each, which number he 
 regarded as most likely to secure good discipline and drill, and the 
 greatest efficiency of the regiments when filled to their maximums, 
 which he expected to accomplish by degrees. He thought he had 
 now organized about all the blacks who could be obtained till a larger 
 extent of country should be occupied. General Grant's was much to 
 the same effect, except that he did not contemplate any other orig- 
 inal organization as to numbers than that of the white regiments, 
 nor did he specify the numbers actually enlisted. Both generals ex- 
 press confidence in the efficiency of these troops and clear opinions in 
 favor of using them. These letters gave much satisfaction to the 
 President, and Mr. Chase suggested to him that not only was the 
 public sentiment of the loyal people of Louisiana in favor of negro 
 troops, but also in favor of the revocation of the exception in his 
 Proclamation of the two districts, including New Orleans, from its 
 operation, and told him that some weeks ago, after talking with 
 him on this subject, though more particularly in reference to the ex- 
 cepted Virginia districts, he (Mr. Chase) had prepared the draft of 
 a proclamation revoking the exceptions, which, with his permission, 
 he would hand to him. The President received it kindly, and said 
 he would consider it further.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. '>'■)■) 
 
 In the evening of the same day Mr. Mellen and Mr. Risley went 
 to Mr. Chase's house, and they with him read through the new reg- 
 ulations of trade and concerning abandoned property, and completed 
 their revision. Mr. Mellen was then to return to his agency, and 
 Mr. Risely to supervise the printing of the new regulations. 
 
 Next I ask attention to a matter which appears to me of more 
 than ordinary interest: 
 
 On Sunday, August 30, 1863, Mr. Covode called at Mr. Chase's 
 house after church, and desired to know Mr. C.'s opinion as to the 
 proper course to be taken in Pennsylvania. Mr. Chase replied 
 there seemed to him but one course to be taken, and that was to 
 give a hearty support to the reelection of Governor Curtin. Mr. 
 Covode thought Governor Curtin and his friends designed that he 
 should be brought forward as a candidate for the Presidency, and 
 that if elected Governor he would shape matters in Pennsylvania 
 so as to secure its delegates in the convention, while a majority of 
 the loyal men of Pennsylvania preferred Mr. Chase, and that the 
 vote of the State controlled by Curtin would not be given to Chase 
 unless under some arrangement which would pledge to Governor 
 Curtin and his friends the patronage in Pennsylvania. To this Mr. 
 Chase replied that no speculations as to Governor Curtin's future 
 course could excuse the loyal men from supporting him now; that 
 the future must take care of itself. That he, Mr. Chase, was not 
 anxious for the Presidency. That there was but one position in the 
 government which he really would like to have, if it were possible to 
 have it without any sacrifice of principle or public interest, and that 
 was the Chief Justiceship ; and that, should the wishes of these po- 
 litical friends incline to him as a nominee for the Presidency, these 
 wishes must certainly be of a public nature; for he certainly would 
 never consent, under any circumstances, to make pledges as to ap- 
 pointments to office, but would insist upon being left entirely free 
 to avail himself of the services of the best men in the country. Mr. 
 Covode approved of these sentiments, and said that he would con- 
 fer with a number of prominent citizens opposed to Mr. Curtin, 
 the next evening, at Philadelphia, and endeavor to secure united 
 action in his favor. 
 
 After Mr. Covode left Mr. Mellen called and dined with the Sec- 
 retary. Mr. Mellen's agency was, in part, the theme of conversa- 
 tion. Mr. Chase records that he considered his guest " active, in- 
 telligent, and faithful," and thought if any one could accomplish
 
 534 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the work of regulating trade without prejudice to military opera- 
 tions, and at the same time to the satisfaction of honest people en- 
 gaged in it, and for the benefit of the people of the rebel States 
 within our military lines, Mr. Mellen could do it. 
 
 Mr. Mellen is dead. Pie died since the death of Chase. 
 
 We find the following entry dated August 31, 1863: 
 
 "Business at the department for to-day was chiefly routine. 
 Wrote to Mr. Cisco, directing him to ascertain whether the banks 
 and bankers of New York would subscribe $35,000,000 for five per 
 cent, treasury notes, payable in a year, and made a legal tender for 
 their face. Addressed similar letters to the assistant treasurers at 
 Boston and Philadelphia, asking for a subscription of ten millions 
 at Boston and five millions at Philadelphia. I am not at all san- 
 guine in the expectation that success will attend these applications. 
 It is substantially a proposition to the capitalist to loan money to 
 the government for a year at about 5J per cent., with a privilege, 
 however, of being repaid at any time after 30 days when the treas- 
 ury notes can be delivered. 
 
 "A note from Senator Henderson apprised me that a delegation 
 from St. Louis desired to call upon me with reference to the regula- 
 tions of the river trade. I replied that I would see them to-morrow 
 at ten or two o'clock, as best suited them. I afterward received a 
 note from the senator, saying they would call at two to-morrow 
 afternoon." 
 
 In the afternoon of August 31st Mr. Chase called at the Presi- 
 dent's, and found him listening to representations of Senator Bowdoin 
 and Representatives Chandler and Segur, of Virginia, and Dr. 
 
 , of Northampton county, concerning the tax imposed by 
 
 order of the War Department on the people of that county to pay 
 for the rebuilding of a light-house lately destroyed by rebels. 
 The object of these gentlemen was to induce the President to revoke 
 that order, on the ground that the people of Northampton were 
 thoroughly loyal, and that the destruction of the light-house was 
 without the least privity of theirs, but by rebels who came from 
 that portion of Virginia still controlled by rebels. After these gen- 
 tlemen took their departure, the President said to Mr. Chase that 
 he felt inclined to revoke the order. Mr. C. suggested that per- 
 haps it would be well to suspend the exception of Northampton and 
 the other counties of Virginia from his Proclamation, and accompany 
 that revocation by the revocation of the order imposing the tax, in- 
 asmuch as the first revocation would insure the loyalty which the 
 people of the county professed. 
 
 Turning from this subject, Mr. Chase asked the President to ap-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 535 
 
 point Mr. Shellabarger Governor of Dacotah if he should determine 
 not to give that plaee to Judge Bliss, and if lie should, then to give 
 the Chief Justiceship to Mr. Shellabarger. He also asked the 
 President, in case Mr. Bingham should decline the judgeship at 
 Key West, to give it to Judge Lawrence, of Logan county, Ohio. 
 The President received these requests favorably, but promised 
 nothing. 
 
 Mr. Chase then called at the War Department and, not finding the 
 Secretary, left a request that he would call at the Treasury Depart- 
 ment. He then went to the Navy Department, to inquire if there 
 was any necessity for a judge at Key West. Secretary Welles was 
 absent at the North, but Assistant-Secretary Fox informed Mr. C. 
 that the want of a judge at Key West occasioned great inconvenience, 
 and risk of public and private injuries; but that he thought Judge 
 Marvin would hold the court, if requested, until his successor could 
 arrive in November. Mr. Fox informed Secretary Chase that there 
 were at that time between sixty and seventy naval vessels undergoing 
 repairs at New York, and the loss in consequence of the poor tim- 
 ber necessarily employed in their construction was enormous. Mr. 
 Chase inquired if any steps had been taken toward purchasing tar, 
 pitch, and turpentine, and ship timber, in North Carolina, the export 
 of which he (Mr. Chase) had prohibited, in order to give the Navy 
 Department an opportunity to buy at reasonable rates. Mr. Fox 
 replied that orders had been given to purchase, except as to ship 
 timber. Mr. Chase then inquired the cause of such frequent viola- 
 tions of the blockade at Wilmington, to which Mr. Fox answered 
 that the blockage there was now weak, in consequence of the with- 
 drawal of so many of the ships for Charleston, and for repairs; but 
 that in a few days it would be greatly strengthened. Mr. Chase then 
 returned to the department. Mr. Stanton soon called, and Mr. C. 
 suggested to him to propose to the President the revocation of the 
 Proclamation exceptions in Virginia in connection with the sus- 
 pension or revocation of the Northampton tax order. Mr. Stanton 
 seemed disinclined to connect the two, but was disposed to insist on 
 the tax. They discussed the question briefly and left it unsettled. 
 Mr. Chase represented to Secretary Stanton the great importance 
 of prompt and vigorous military action ; that the following day 
 the amount of suspended requisitions, including the pay of the 
 whole army for July and August, would approach $35,000,000, 
 of which Secretary Chase said he could not command, in or-
 
 536 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 dinary ways, over $5,000,000, and that unless the war could 
 be pushed more vigorously, and with greater certainty of early 
 and successful termination, there was cause for serious apprehen- 
 sion of financial embarrassment. Mr. Stanton replied that the 
 delay of General Rosecrans was the principal cause of difficulty ; 
 that he (General R.) commanded a full third of all the effective 
 force of the country, and did nothing, comparatively, with it. That 
 in a week's time he could, if he would, penetrate those portions 
 of Georgia and Alabama in which the negroes had been taken 
 by their masters, and where the gathering of large bodes of negro 
 troops would be easy. He said that he had represented these things 
 to the President, but so far without much effect. 
 
 "At the house, in the evening," continues the entry here drawn 
 from, "Major Ta3'lor, Dr. Schmidt, and Mr. Wright of California, 
 called. Dr. Schmidt warned me, in his way, against Mr. Clark and 
 Dr. Gwinn ; to which I answered that, if facts were presented to me 
 instead of vague generalities, they would be considered. Mr. Wright 
 said he should like some position at my hands some fourteen months 
 hence; to which I replied that, at that time, it was not likely I 
 should have any to give. He then went into a statement of his con- 
 nection with the Fremont campaign in 1856, and of the election of 
 Mr. Lincoln in '60, and expressed his conviction that I would be the 
 nominee in '64, and that it was his wish to promote that result. I 
 replied that nothing could be more uncertain than the currents of 
 popular sentiment; that I was by no means anxious that they should 
 turn toward me; and that, if they did, and the result should be such 
 as he predicted, it must be without any pledges from me in relation 
 to appointments ; for no man could honorably take charge of the 
 administration under any obligations than those of duty, and exer- 
 cise its power for the best good of the whole country, in conformity 
 Avith the principles upon which, and, in general, with the aid of the 
 best men by whom he had been elected."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 537 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 MARTIAL MEASURES AND FINANCIAL MATTERS — HABEAS CORPU8. 
 
 SEPTEMBER 1, 1863, a committee from St. Louis, of whom 
 Mr. Breckinridge appeared to be the chairman, handed Mr. 
 Chase a letter, and withdrew. 
 
 "On reading the letter," says our hero, " I found it an indictment 
 against the course of the government in respect to Western trade, 
 with a demand that the river be opened to the same freedom of 
 trade as in times of peace, except so far as restoration might be 
 necessaiy at points of distribution within the rebel States. I sent for 
 Mr. Barnitz, and consulted with him on this subject. He prepared 
 a draft of a replj' to the committee. 
 
 "I directed Mr. Plantz 1 to prepare an abstract of the papers re- 
 lating to the compensation of Jay Cooke as general subscription 
 agent for the sale of five-twenties." 2 
 
 Next, I call attention to the following statement under date Sep- 
 tember 2, 1863 : 
 
 "Nothing of note transpired during the day. 
 
 "In the evening General Schenck called, and conversed freely 
 about the court of inquiry called nominally to investigate the con- 
 duct of General Milroy, but which subjected to its investigations his 
 conduct, as well as all the circumstances connected with the evacua- 
 tion of Winchester. He was much dissatisfied with these proceed- 
 ings, which gave him no notice, and allowed him no opportunity for 
 proper defense. He said he should call upon the President, and have 
 the matter set right. I tendered him my services, so far as they 
 might be useful." 
 
 Under date September 3 the same record says : 
 
 " Mr. Risley came to breakfast, bringing with him the still unfin- 
 ished regulations. I could give but little attention to them, being 
 compelled to prepare an answer to the St. Louis committee, which I 
 wrote after breakfast and took to the department to be copied. 
 
 "Governor Pierpont called, and talked about Virginia affairs. He 
 
 1 Private secretary. 
 
 2 There is this: "Note — This draft was not used."
 
 538 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 thought a majority of the members of the legislature would be in 
 favor of calling a convention to amend the constitution so as to 
 make it a free labor State. He said he had not yet sent a written 
 request to the President for a revocation of the exception of the 
 south-eastern counties in his Proclamation ; and that though he had 
 originally asked for this exception, he became fully satisfied that it 
 was unwise, and had represented to the President his wish to have 
 it revoked, I told him that if he would put this wish in writing, 
 and place his wish on grounds of military necessity, the revocation 
 would probably be made; and I suggested to him some grounds of 
 military necessity which seemed to me important. He replied that, 
 if I would make a draft of a letter he would use it in framing a 
 request to the President for the revocation. I told him I would do 
 so within the next half hour. At the expiration of that time he 
 called, and I handed him the draft. 1 " 
 
 1 Indorsed, "Draft of letter, Governor Pierpont to the President, asking revo- 
 cation of exceptions to Emancipation Proclamation," is a paper, of which the con- 
 tents, in the handwriting of Mr. Chase, are transcribed as follows: 
 
 "Sir: The exception of the two eastern shore counties of Virginia, and four 
 other counties on the other shore, including the two cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth 
 from the operation of your Proclamation of the 1st of January, has not been attended 
 with the beneficial consequences you anticipated. Instead of inducing a return to 
 loyalty, it has, in my judgment, encouraged disloyalists; while the military neces- 
 sity which warranted the Proclamation was as urgent in the excepted counties as in 
 any other. 
 
 "That military necessity has now become even more obvious than it was then. 
 Within the last few weeks, the Cape Charles light-house has been destroyed by reb- 
 els or by traitors. No such outrage could be perpetrated if the exception were 
 revoked and the necessary military force for protection, by recruits from any class 
 disposed to enlist. Blacks enough to form a substantial defense and security for the 
 public property and the commerce protected by the light-house, could be easily 
 enlisted, if the exceptions were revoked. 
 
 "It is admitted, now, by nearly all, that the recruiting of black troops, sanctioned 
 by you, is a wise and necessary measure. In few places could more or better men, 
 in proportion to the whole population, of this description, be obtained than in Nor- 
 folk, Portsmouth, and the excepted counties, if the exception were revoked. As 
 long as it continues, it is a discouragement and embarrassment to such enlist- 
 ments. 
 
 "The fact of the existence of the exception has greatly emboldened opposition 
 to the government in its efforts to suppress the rebellion. Had there been no excep- 
 tion, it is hardly too much to say that the murder by Dr. Wright of an officer, for 
 the reason that he commanded colored troops, would not have occurred. Certain it 
 is that if it be revoked, military administration in Norfolk and its vicinity will be 
 much easier, and military operations in that region be much safer and much less 
 liable to be thwarted or defeated. 
 
 "I respectfully submit that these reasons fully justify, and, indeed, require the 
 revoking of the exceptions, on the ground of military necessity; and I will not now 
 advert to other reasons, which, not being precisely of a military nature, should 
 not influence your action, but which, nevertheless, are very strong with the loyal
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 539 
 
 The register goes on as follows: 
 
 "Judge Whittaker, of New Orleans, dined, and afterward look a 
 ride, with me. We conversed fully about the state of t hinga in Louisi- 
 ana, and be expressed himself as being sat islit'd thai slavery was 
 virtually abolished, and that the constitution of the State should lie 
 so formed as to prohibit it permanently. He was not, at first, as de- 
 cided in these sentiments as he became toward the end of our con- 
 versation. Indeed. I had expected to find him, from the representa- 
 tions of Mr. Dennison and Mr. Plumlev, much farther advanced than 
 1 did. 
 
 "In the evening, Messrs. Mc.Iilton. Meredith, Turner, and Snow- 
 den called, to converse about matters in Maryland. They stated that 
 Mr. Swann would probably be a candidate against Mr. ])avis on tho 
 part of the Conservative Union men; and that, on the other hand, the 
 Radicals would probably nominate candidates in the several districts 
 where the Conservatives had succeeded in carrying the conventions. 
 All these gentlemen seemed to belong to the Conservative side, but 
 were desirous that Mr. Swann should not be a candidate ; and, on the 
 other hand, that the candidates who had been nominated by the Con- 
 servatives should not be opposed. I expressed my great regret that 
 the division had occurred, but said that I felt it was founded in dif- 
 ferences too radical to be overcome. I could see no remedy, unless 
 both sides could agree to call a convention upon a platform satis- 
 factory to each, and support the candidates that were alread}- or 
 might be nominated, and accept it in good faith. Mr. McJilton 
 thought if some of the leaders would come together and talk mat- 
 ters over in a patriotic spirit of accommodation, that some good 
 might come of it, and some common ground be found. I begged him 
 to do what he could to accomplish this result, and especially to call, 
 with some others of Mr. Swann's friends, and represent to him the 
 impossibility of supporting him, if he should be a candidate, and 
 induce him, if possible, not to consent to such a use of his name. 
 He promised to do this, and the gentlemen left me. 
 
 "Mr. Taftand Mr. French, of Cincinnati, also called, to talk over 
 Ohio affairs and political matters generally. Mr. Parker, of St. Louis, 
 also called, about his express company, with a letter from Mr. Mc- 
 Kee. Sent w T ord to him to call at the department to-morrow." 
 
 Under date September 4 appears the entry : 
 
 " At the meeting of the Cabinet (so called), to-day, Mr. Bates stated 
 that the restrictions on trade created a great deal of inconvenience; 
 that he thought the river should now be free to trade as in times of 
 peace, except a«t points occupied by our troops, and that care should 
 be taken that supplies did not reach rebels, lie admitted that some 
 few thousands of dollars worth of goods would get to them under the 
 system he proposed, but he thought this evil would be trivial com- 
 pared with the evils of restriction. I stated briefly the law and tho 
 
 citizens of Virginia, for desiring that all parts of the State be placed precisely on 
 the same footing in respect to exemption from slavery."
 
 540 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 executive action on the subject, and that the change proposed by Mr. 
 Bates was disapproved by Generals Banks and Grant. I added that 
 I had been revising the regulations, and hoped soon to have them 
 complete; that they had been modified in favor of trade as far as the 
 improved condition of affairs would allow, but would not, I foared, 
 meet the sanction of the generals, whose views and wishes were en- 
 titled to the most consideration. Mr. Stanton stated that a letter had 
 been recently received from General Grant, in which he proposed to 
 prohibit all trade except in certain articles through post-sutlers; that 
 he did not agree with General Grant in this view, believing that sut- 
 lers should be confined to furnishing supplies to the army, and that 
 all trade with citizens should be under the regulations of the Treas- 
 ury Department. After some observations from the President and 
 others, the subject was dropped." 
 
 The President then called the attention of Mr. Stanton to the 
 order prohibiting the export of arms; and, after some conversation, 
 it was agreed that all arms imported into the country should be 
 allowed to be exported to the place from which they were shipped. 
 Mr. Chase then called Mr. Stanton's attention to the order prohib- 
 iting the exportation of live stock, and he consented that the order 
 should be modified so far as to allow exportation from ports on the 
 Pacific. On returning to the department, in order to avoid delay, 
 Mr. Chase drew up an executive order modifying the former order, 
 so as to allow exportation of imported arms to the place from which 
 they were originally shipped, and the exportation of live stock from 
 the ports of the Pacific, and sent them to Mr. Stanton for his ap- 
 proval, and then to the President for his signature; and he then 
 telegraphed the collector at San Francisco that the exportation of 
 live stock was permitted. 
 
 Mr. Scudder, of Memphis, called, to whom Mr. Chase read the 
 letter of the St. Louis committee and his reply. Mr. S. approved 
 the letter, and expressed the opinion that no greater liberty of trade 
 than Mr. Chase proposed could be allowed safely at present. 
 
 Then we have the statement : 
 
 " Mr. Tilton, of the New York^ Independent, came to dinner, and rode 
 with me afterward. I endeavored to impress upon his mind that 
 there were but two practical ways of reconstructing the proclamation 
 States so as to [protect] them against the reestablishment of slavery; 
 one b} T the organization of provisional governments ; the other by en- 
 couraging the loyal citizens to reestablish State governments under 
 constitutions prohibiting slavery. He inquired much concerning 
 men and things, and I endeavored to give him correct, information. 
 The Rev. Mr. Turner (colored) called for a letter to Mr. Stanton, 
 recommending him as chaplain, which I gave him. Professor Hed- 
 rick also called to talk about North Carolina matters."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, ". I 1 
 
 Under date, Saturday, September 5, we liave what follows: 
 
 "Telegraphed the collector at San Francisco, congratulating him 
 on the result of the California election. 
 
 '•Received a telegram from Judge Bond, desiring to have an inter- 
 view arranged with the President for Mr. Goldsborough, and other 
 Maryland gentlemen. Sent to the President a commission for Mr. 
 Stewart, in place of Mr. Ridgeley, who was removed because of his 
 hostility to the President's policy." 
 
 Sunday, September 6, Mr. Heaton took breakfast with Mr. Chase, 
 and gave him a full account of the progress of the emancipation 
 sentiment in North Carolina. He represented the hostility to the 
 Proclamation to be confined principally to the former slave-owners, 
 who wish to reenslave the emancipees, but the poorer classes, and 
 many of the middle class, desire freedom and with it education and 
 progress. On talking with men who came in to sell a barrel of 
 turpentine, sometimes bringing it in a boat for several miles, or to sell 
 watermelons from an old cart, he found them always quick to un- 
 derstand the cause of their troubles and their poverty, and anxious 
 for the removal of slavery, in order that their children might have 
 the advantages of education, which had been denied to them by the 
 aristocracy. 
 
 In the afternoon of the same day Mr. Stickney called. lie had 
 just arrived from Florida, and lastly from Morris Island. lie 
 said that it was easy at that time to take possession of Florida ; that 
 five thousand men could accomplish it. General Saxton desired the 
 command, and General Gilmore approved the expedition, and was 
 willing to spare one or two regiments to aid it. If the business 
 could be promptly taken hold of and pushed vigorously, Mr. Stick- 
 ney was confident that Florida could be restored as a free State by 
 the 1st of December. 
 
 Friday, September 11, Mr. Galloway breakfasted with Secretary 
 Chase. They talked of Ohio affairs. Mr. Galloway spoke encour- 
 agingly of the political prospects at home ; but what of that? What 
 did " Sam. Galloway" ever thoroughly learn about either polities or 
 politicians? If possible, he was even a worse politician than our 
 hero. 
 
 Mr. Chase called on the President immediately alter breakfast to 
 obtain his approval of the revised regulations of trade. The Presi- 
 dent referred him to the Secretary of War, wishing that the Secre- 
 tary's order to officers to observe the regulations should precede his
 
 542 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 approval. Going then to the "War Office, Mr. Chase obtained Mr 
 Stanton's order, and at the Navy Department obtained that of Secre- 
 tary Welles. Mr. C. then returned to the President's, where the 
 President read to him the rough draft of a letter to Andrew John- 
 son, of Tennessee, urging immediate measures to reconstitute that 
 State, and to so amend the constitution as to insure emancipation, 
 and promising him that the reconstituted State government, so 
 framed as to exclude the possibility of rebels regaining the ascend- 
 ancy, would be recognized and sustained by the national govern- 
 ment. Immediately after this, Secretaries Stanton and Fox and 
 General Halleck came in. Some conversation took place about the 
 farther steps for the reduction of Charleston. Fox expressed the 
 opinion that the harbor outside of Charleston had been closed by the 
 rebels so as to be inaccessible to our ships, except through a narrow 
 passage, in which they kept a ship ready to be sunk, so as to close 
 it completely. He said he thought that, if such proved to be the 
 fact, the only course would be to reduce the batteries on Sullivan's 
 Island, so as to command that portion of the inner harbor outside 
 of the obstructions. Gilmore had told him, he said, before going on 
 the expedition, that he could reduce Fort Moultrie from Cumming's 
 Point. Mr. Stanton doubted the existence of the obstructions, and 
 said that the admiral should try immediately what could be done. 
 After Fox left the President mentioned the resignation of General 
 Burnside, received the day before, lie said he was not willing to 
 accept it — at present, at any rate — as Burnside was then doing very 
 well, and was very loyal and true-hearted. He proposed to say to 
 him that he could not be spared just then; but that, after a while, 
 should success still attend us, and his private affairs should make his 
 retirement necessary, his resignation would be accepted. General 
 Ilalleck then spoke briefly of affairs in Tennessee. He thought 
 Rosecrans should advance, so as to hold the mountains between 
 him and Atlanta; but not attempt to advance on Atlanta until the 
 movements of the rebels were more fully developed; that Burnside 
 should also hold the country toward the eastern limits of Tennessee, 
 but not attempt a farther advance till more certain intelligence con- 
 cerning the enemy and their designs. 
 
 While Mr. Chase was at the "War Department, Mr. Stanton told 
 him he would endeavor the next day to prevail on the President to 
 revoke his exceptions in Virginia, and to adopt some settled prin- 
 ciples respecting the enlistment of negroes held as slaves, and that
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. .", |.) 
 
 he, Mr. Stanton, wanted Mr. Chase to be int. -cut. He wished him 
 also to see Seward and ask him to use his influence with the Presi- 
 dent to have Farrago* sent to Charleston. 
 
 After Stanton and Halleck had left, Mr. Chase explained briefly 
 the trade regulations to the President, who said, " Yon understand 
 these tilings — I do not," and signed the approval. 
 
 At the department little of interest occurred. General Blair 
 called, with Colonel Sanford, and Secretary C. promised to speak to 
 the Secretary of War in Sanford's behalf. General Cameron called 
 and told Mr. Chase he was about leaving town, and could not dine 
 with him. The Secretary gave him a designation for Mr. Minor. 
 Directed payment of the ten per cent, gold loan in full. Called on 
 Governor Seward and spoke to him about sending Farragut to 
 Charleston, and he promised to see the President on the subject. 
 
 In the evening Mr. Chase had several callers, as usual ; among 
 others Reese, who promised to bring Judge Edmonds, which Mr. C. 
 told him to do at any time ; and Brand, whom the Secretary prom- 
 ised to assist in obtaining promotion, if practicable; and Field, who 
 gave him an account of the bank discussion in the bank meeting 
 about the loan. 
 
 Monday, September 14, Governor Andrew breakfasted with Mr. 
 Chase. Afterward they went to the President's, where they found 
 Secretary Stanton, to whom Mr. Chase recommended " Scotty" for 
 a medal, as he had promised him. Stanton said he would order one 
 engraved as soon as Chase sent him the name and inscription. At 
 eleven a meeting of Heads was held. The President said that the 
 applications for discharges by drafted men and deserters were very 
 numerous, and were granted under circumstances which show that 
 the judges were disposed to defeat the objects of the law. He ex- 
 pressed the opinion that State courts had no authority to issue a 
 writ of habeas corpus for any person in the custody of United Stat< - 
 officers, claiming to act under the national law. He proposed, there- 
 fere, to direct officers holding persons in such custody to make a 
 return of the fact that they were so held, and to refuse to obey the 
 writ; and if force should be used to overcome it by force. Mr. 
 Seward favored this action, and there was no expression against it 
 until Mr. Chase remarked that he had always been accustomed to 
 regard the writ of habeas corpus as a most important safeguard of 
 personal liberty. " It has been generally conceded," he went on to 
 say, "or at least such has been the practice, that State courts may
 
 544 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 issue writs of habeas corpus for persons detained as enlisted soldiers, 
 and to discharge them. Several eases of this kind have occurred in 
 Ohio, and the proceeding of the State court was never questioned 
 to my knowledge. Of course, a proper exercise of the power does 
 not justify its improper exercise. If the writ is abused with a crimi- 
 nal purpose of breaking up the army, the persons who abuse it 
 should be punished as any other criminals are. But before taking 
 any action which seems to set aside the writ, a clear case should be 
 made, which will command the concurrence of the people and 
 their approval. I suggest, therefore, that the Secretary of 
 War should make a statement of the number of persons dis- 
 charged from military service under the writ, with such notes 
 of the circumstances as will show the abuse of it ; after 
 which such action can be taken as the case requires." Mr. 
 Blair and Mr. Usher coincided substantially with these views, 
 Mr. Blair remarking that he had often, when a judge in Missouri, 
 discharged soldiers on habeas corpus. The President thought there 
 was no doubt of the bad faith in which the writ was now being used. 
 Mr. Seward thought it indispensable to assert the authority of the 
 government at once ; and Mr. Bates expressed the opinion that the 
 President, as head of the army, could not be interfered with by any 
 civil authority whatever, but was, in his action as Commander-in- 
 Chief, superior to any process ; and this without any suspension of 
 the writ of habeas corpus, except as incidental to the exercise of his 
 legitimate authority. Mr. Stanton thought prompt action necessary. 
 The President ended the discussion by saying he would prepare such 
 an order as he thought best, and would see the gentlemen the next 
 day at half-past two. The conversation then turned upon writs of 
 habeas corpus issued from Federal courts, when it appeared that the 
 number of discharges made by two Federal judges in Pennsylvania — 
 Cadwalader, at Philadelphia, and McCandless, at Pittsburg — largely 
 exceeded the number discharged by all the State courts put together. 
 So it appeared that an order to reach the State courts only would be 
 inefficient. 
 
 After leaving the President, Mr. Chase returned to the depart- 
 ment, and attended to its ordinary duties; the principal that day 
 being that of drawing upon the banks for ten percent, of their sub- 
 scription for treasury notes, and the beginning of the distribution of 
 the revised regulations concerning trade. 
 
 On Tuesday, September 15, Mr. Chase went to the President's at
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CUASE. 545 
 
 half-past nine, and nut there young Mr. Stephen, nephew of the 
 English lawyer, and Mr. Gillespie, of Illinois. 
 
 Most all of the heads of departments having come in, the President 
 read his order. It was a direetion to the military officers holding 
 persons in eustody as soldiers, deserters, or drafted men, to make 
 return to the writ of habeas corpus, from any court, that the prin- 
 cipal in the writ was so held, and refuse obedience ; and that if force 
 should be used to compel obedience, to overcome it. After the order 
 was read, the Secretary of War made a statement showing the great 
 number of persons discharged by habeas corpus, principally by the 
 two Federal judges, Cadwalader and McCandless, and stated some 
 very gross proceedings under color of judicial authority, manifestly 
 intended to interfere with the recruiting and maintenance of the 
 army. The President remarked that the order he had read was the 
 same he had proposed the day before, only modified so as to apply to 
 Federal as well as to State courts. 
 
 Secretary Chase then remarked : " This is an important matter. 
 The statement made by the Secretary of War clearly shows a design 
 to defeat the measures which Congress and the Executive have 
 thought necessary to maintain the army. The only question, then, 
 is, in what mode should this attempt be met? You, Mr. President, 
 have believed that you have the power to suspend the writ of habeas 
 corpus without being authorized by Congress, and in some eases 
 have acted on this belief. After much consideration I have come to 
 the conclusion that your opinion and action are sanctioned by the 
 constitution. Whatever doubt there may have been as to your 
 power to suspend the writ, it has been removed by express legislation. 
 The act of 3d March last, approved by you, authorizes you to sus- 
 pend the writ in any case during the existing rebellion, when in 
 in your judgment the public safety may require it. The order you 
 have just read does not suspend the writ in terms, though it prob- 
 ably does in effect. It leaves the question of suspension open to 
 debate, and will lead to serious collisions probably, with the disad- 
 vantages on the side of the Federal authority. In my judgment 
 therefore, instead of this order there should be a proclamation dis- 
 tinctly suspending the writ of habeas corpus, so far as may be neces- 
 sary to prevent the great evil of virtually disbanding the army, and 
 when once issued any attempt to interfere with the organization 
 should be punished, under the act of Congress, promptly and deci- 
 sively, no matter who the offender may be, whether governor or
 
 546 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 judge, or any less conspicuous personage. By this bold and direct 
 action I think you will command the confidence of the public, avoid 
 collisions upon uncertain grounds, and secure most completely the 
 great objects you have in view." This Mr. Chase said in substance. 
 The President seemed to be struck with the force of it ; took the 
 law to which Mr. Chase had referred, and came to the conclusion 
 that the best mode was to issue a proclamation under it suspending 
 the writ. Some conversation then took place as to the proper return 
 to be made by the officer to whom the writ was addressed. As this 
 matter, however, seemed to be sufficiently provided for by the law, the 
 subject was not pursued. Mr. Chase was surprised to find that, in a 
 matter of this importance, no one but himself seemed to have read 
 the act of March 3d, with reference to the subject under discussion, 
 and that its provisions were unfamiliar to all. 
 
 Again I find myself induced to drop a line into Mr. Field's Mem- 
 ories of Many Men and of Some Women. And the fish I catch is 
 this : 
 
 "In the summer of the year 1863, the Hon. George Harrington, 
 the Assistant-Secretary of the Treasmy, broke down completely 
 in health, and by the advice of his physicians determined to seek 
 repose and relaxation by withdrawing for a time from public affairs 
 and visiting Europe. In this emergency, Secretary Chase invited 
 me to Washington." 1 
 
 Again I drop my line into the same water, and again I am 
 rewarded by a little more than a nibble. I draw up this fine piscine 
 specimen : 
 
 "I entered upon my new duties as Assistant-Secretaiy of the Treas- 
 ury upon the first day of October, 1863, and continued in the discharge 
 of them, under Secretaries Chase, Pessenden, and McCulloch, until 
 the first of July, 1865, when, with impaired strength and energy, I 
 was transferred by President Johnson, at my own request, to a Fed- 
 eral office in the city of New York." 
 
 •How impairing to the strength and energy of a fine nature such 
 an office as Assistant-Secretary of the Treasury must be, to be sure! 
 But let me not be tempted to digress. Here is an extract from our 
 hero's record, under date September 16: 
 
 " Mr. Field left for New York to-day. I offered to make him chief 
 clerk, with $3,000 a year, and to make him second assistant secretary 
 in ciisc Congress would give me such an officer. He will consider it 
 and reply." 
 
 i Page 261.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND (HASH. .~, 17 
 
 A splendid memory has Mr. Field : that grows more and more 
 apparent. Then, his love of accuracy seems to amount to a very 
 passion. 
 
 The Secretary recorded that he was much gratified to find, by 
 reports of the proper officers, that the averages in the issue of 5-20 
 bonds was nearly made up, and that there was reason t<> expect that 
 in the course of that month they would be prepared l<> issue frac- 
 tional currency and treasury notes in sufficient quantities for the 
 public demand. 
 
 How Secretary Chase at this time regarded Senator Sumner is 
 not ill indicated by this little note: 
 
 "Washington, September 16, 1863. 
 " My Dear Sumner : In spite of the finest print, almost illegible, 
 I have read your great speech from beginning to end. It is a noble 
 
 effort, quite worthy of you. It exhausts the subject, leaving nothing 
 even for a gleaner. I shall await with curiosity, not unmixed with 
 anxiety, the response from Europe. 
 
 "Things here are looking better and better, though some anxiety, 
 I hear, is felt in military quarters. Oh ! for a great general, honest 
 and faithful, and inspired by our cause, at the head of the war. 
 
 "Faithfully your friend, 
 
 " Hon. Charles Sumner. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Wednesday, September 16, 1863, was made this record: 
 
 "Nearly my whole time was consumed by callers. Endeavored to 
 examine the papers in relation to Jay Cooke's agency, but made small 
 progress. Some claims for cotton surrendered to Yeatman, the agent, 
 the largest of which was represented by Colonel Letherman, came 
 in. Mr. Moore, from Washington Territory, called. He is a candi- 
 date for the collectors!! ip vacated by Major Goldsborough. He 
 explained the transaction relating to the Herald of Progress and l>r. 
 Allyn. showing that Victor Smith had no connection with Dr. Allyn's 
 contribution to the Herald. His explanation was entirely satisfac- 
 tory on this point. He also denied positively, on behalf of Mr. Smith, 
 the statement of Henry and others, that Smith asserted that I was 
 indebted to him. In the evening, Mr. Pierce and Mr. McKint called ; 
 also, Major Smith and Mr. Green, the latter of whom said that la- 
 was requested by Judge Balcom, of the Court of Appeals of New 
 York, to tender his respects to me and Bay that the court bad 
 agreed upon a decision in the legal tender cases before them, affirm- 
 ing the constitutionality of the law. Major Giddings and Captain 
 Hgis also called, who in the course of conversation made these 
 remarkable statements about the condition of the regular regiments. 
 They said that the Twelfth, now in New York, had 600 men and 
 about twenty-seven officers, the full complement These two regi- 
 ments are of the new organisation, 2400 men each ; that the Third 
 had 180 men and eight officers; the Fourth twenty-two men and 
 36
 
 548 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 nineteen officers; the Sixteenth 130 to 140 men and fifteen officers; 
 the Tenth thirty-one men and nearly a full complement of twenty- 
 seven officers. The Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Tenth are old regi- 
 ments." 
 
 "We have, under date of Thursday, September 17, 1863 : 
 
 "Went to the President's immediately after breakfast. Found 
 Governor Newall and other New Jersey gentlemen interceding with 
 the President for the pardon of a deserter. Said to the President 
 that I feared some injustice had been done in removing Mr. Kidgeley, 
 who had in conversation with me the day before expressed the most 
 decided support of the administration, saying that the ground of 
 complaint against him was that he had supported Mr. Webster for 
 nomination to Congress, and that Mr. Webster was as decided a friend 
 to the administration as himself. Mr. Kidgeley had asked me for a 
 pass to go to the army to see Colonel Webster, and I suggested to the 
 President the propriety of allowing him to go. The President said 
 he could go after a few days, but that just now the army might be 
 moving. I mentioned to the President the message of Judge Bal- 
 com. and he said that Judge Davies had given him similar informa- 
 tion. I again referred to the case of General Hamilton, and he told 
 me that General Hamilton had been sent for, and would probably 
 return to Texas as brigadier-general and military governor. Re- 
 ferred again to the subject of revoking the exceptions of the south- 
 eastern counties of Virginia from his Proclamation, and he read to 
 me the draft of an unfinished letter he had begun to me on that sub- 
 ject, the argument of which was very strongly put, but based entirely 
 upon the idea that the military necessity which justified the Procla- 
 mation did not now exist in regard to these counties. I questioned 
 the correctness of this view and referred to the letter of Governor 
 Pierpont, urging the revocation upon the distinct grounds of mili- 
 tary necessity. He then remarked that the revocation, at all events, 
 was not expedient at present, and should be deferred until after the 
 fall elections. We then talked on the suspension of the habeas corpus. 
 He said that I was quite right in recommending it, rather than the 
 order which had been prepared, and that he had been convinced of 
 it as soon as he heard my statement of the law. I also spoke to him 
 about the promotion of Colonel Davies, saying that I thought he 
 deserved it by his gallantry and ability, and that I should be partic- 
 ularly glad to have it done because of the judge's steady support of 
 the government. He intimated that it had been already decided 
 upon, which I was glad to hear. 
 
 '•I then went to the War Department. Mr. Stanton stated a curi- 
 ous circumstance. Yesterday, he said, a shot or shell from the navy 
 yard fell into a cavalry camp on the Maryland side of the Potomac, 
 killing one man and doing considerable injury to the camp. He 
 directed a report of the facts to be made to Secretary Welles, with a re- 
 quest to change the direction of the guns ; to which the Secretary re- 
 plied that he paid $200 a year for the privilege of firing on that piece 
 of ground ! Mr. Stanton said that he was going to offer him $600 a 
 year to make such a change as would save his camp.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 648 
 
 "After returning to the department. Mr. I'lumley called to talk 
 about matters in Louisiana, and I invited him to hrcakl'ast to-morrow 
 morning." 
 
 The 18th of September yields as follows: 
 
 '•.Mr. L. E. Straughn, of the Cambridge (Maryland) Tntelligencer } 
 
 called. He had been recommended for assessor in place of Russell, 
 and naturally thought the change a desirable one. He impressed mo 
 veiy favorably, indeed ; I had already been satisfied l>y his paper of 
 
 his activity and patriotism, and should be very glad to show my 
 6ense of it, but am not prepared to make the desired removal. 
 
 "Plumley breakfasted with me, and gave quite a clear inside view 
 of military and civil affairs at New Orleans. He represents General 
 Banks as very friendly to me. 
 
 "General Hamilton called and bid me 'good-bye,' being about to 
 leave for his new position in Texas. Schurz also called." 
 
 Having been impressed, by somewhat careful study, with appre- 
 hensions for the condition of Rosecrans' army, Secretary Chase was 
 a good deal alarmed by the telegrams in the morning papers of the 
 20th of September, and went immediately to the AVar Department 
 after breakfast, where he found two telegrams, one from Kosecrans 
 himself, and one from Dana, both dated at Chattanooga, and both 
 reporting serious disaster. Later in the day another telegram came 
 from Dana, saying that Thomas had successfully resisted the enemy's 
 advance, but left room for serious forebodings. 
 
 On the following day he wrote as follows : 
 
 " Washington, September 21, 1863. 
 
 Mv Dear Sir ■ I am not responsible for the management of the 
 war. and have no voice in it, except that I am not forbidden to make 
 suggestions; and do so. now and then, when I can't help it. 
 
 " You are wrong in blaming Stanton as you do. You ought to 
 allow for the great difficulties of his position, and remember that it 
 [is] much easier to criticise than to act so as to avoid even jusl criti- 
 cism. Nor should you forget that a war managed by a President, a 
 Commanding General, and a Secretary, can not. especially when the 
 great differences of temperament, wishes, and intellectual character' 
 istics of these three are taken into the account, reasonably be ex- 
 pected to be conducted in the best possible manner. This condition 
 can only he remedied by the President, and. a- y.-t, lie tears the 
 remedv most. Dont be so impatient. Your friend. 
 
 "M. Halstead, Esq. S, P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 22d of September, of the same year, at the meeting of the 
 Heads of Departments, the President gave an account of the battle 
 of Sunday. Results were less unfavorable than was feared, although 
 the losses were great in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and seme
 
 550 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fifty guns captured by the enemy on the center and right. On the 
 left, Thomas, and Granger and Garfield, who had joined Thomas at 
 great personal risk, had distinguished themselves greatly. 
 
 On the same day, 22d, Mr. Chase received a letter from Sehurz, 
 inclosing a printed scheme for a testimonial to McClellan, which 
 Was being circulated in the army for subscriptions, with the sanc- 
 tion of the commanding general and his staff. Called Stanton's 
 attention to it, who agreed with Mr. C. in thinking it an insult to 
 the President. Mr. Chase also showed the letter and the paper to 
 the President, who took the paper and promised to see Stanton about 
 it. Harrington left on this day for Europe, hoping to recover his 
 health, impaired by over-exertion. Mr. Chase received a telegram 
 from Mrs. Charles Jones that her brother and Mr. Chase's brother- 
 in-law, Lieutenant Ludlow, was wounded and a prisoner at Chicka- 
 mauga. Mr. Chase telegraphed Garfield, at Chattanooga, and re- 
 ceived a reply confirming the report, and urging prompt reinforce- 
 ments. 
 
 On the 23d of this month, September, Secretary Chase spoke to 
 Stanton about promoting Charles A. Cooledge, who enlisted as a 
 private, and had been promoted lance sergeant in the Sixteenth 
 Regulars. 
 
 Under date September 24, appears this statement : 
 
 " Having gone home last evening very weary, was called up from 
 my bed about midnight by a messenger from the War Department, 
 who said I was wanted there immediately. The summons real]} 7 
 alarmed me. I felt sure that disaster had befallen us; that the 
 army of Roseerans had been attacked before his defenses were com- 
 pleted, and had been compelled to surrender, or had been defeated 
 with great loss in another bloody battle, and its remains driven 
 across the Tennessee. Great was my relief when reaching the War 
 Department, and asking, ' More bad news? ' Stanton replied, 'No ; 
 what there is favorable.' He then handed me a telegram from Gar- 
 field to myself which stated that Roseerans could hold out ten days 
 where he was, but earnestly urged reinforcements. Other telegrams 
 from Roseerans and Dana gave encouraging expectations that he 
 could hold out still longer time. Both also urged reinforcements. 
 Alter a little while the President and Mr. Seward also came in. 
 General Hal leek was already there. Mr. Stanton then opened the 
 conference by inquiring of General Halleck what reinforcements 
 Burnside could add to Roseerans, and in what time. Halleck replied, 
 twenty thousand men in ten days, if uninterrupted. The President 
 then said, ' Before ten days Burnside will put in enough to hold the 
 place, (Chattanooga). 
 
 "Stanton to Halleck— How many in eis;ht davs? 
 
 "Halleck— 12,000. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 551 
 
 " Tho President — After Burnside begins to arrive the pinch will 
 be over. 
 
 •■ Stanton — Unless the enemy, anticipating reinforcements, attacks 
 promptly. (To Halleck) — When will Sherman's reach Rosecrans? 
 
 "Halleck — In about ten days, if already moved from Vicksburg. 
 His route will be to Memphis, thence to Corinth and Decatur, ami a 
 march of a hundred or a hundred and fifty miles on the north side 
 of the Tennessee river. Boats have already gone down from Cairo, 
 and every available man ordered forward, say from twenty to twenty- 
 five thousand. 
 
 " Stanton — Are any more available elsewhere? 
 
 " Halleck — A few in Kentucky ; I don't know how many ; all were 
 ordered to Burnside. 
 
 " Stanton — I propose to send 30,000 from the Army of the Potomac. 
 There is no reason to expect that General Meade will attack Lee, 
 although greatly superior in force; and his great numbers, where 
 they are. are useless. In five days 30.000 could be put with Rosecrans. 
 
 " The President — I will bet that if the order is given to-night the 
 troops could not be got to "Washington in five days. 
 
 ■Stanton — On such a subject I don't feel inclined to bet; but the 
 matter has been carefully investigated, and it is certain that 30,000 
 bales of cotton could be sent in that time, by taking possession of 
 the railroads and excluding all other business, and I do not see why 
 30,000 men can not be sent as well. But if 30,000 can't be sent, let 
 20,000 go. 
 
 " Much conversation followed, the President and Halleck evidently 
 disinclined to weaken Meade's force, whilst Seward and myself were 
 decided in recommending the reinforcement of Rosecrans. It was at 
 length agreed that Halleck should telegraph to Meade in the morn- 
 ing, and if an immediate advance was not certain, the Eleventh and 
 Twelfth Corps, supposed to make about 13.000 men, should be sent 
 westward at once, under Hooker, with Butterfield as his ehief-of-staff." 
 
 The next day affords what follows: 
 
 "By telegram, after we separated last night, the .Secretary of "War 
 called the officers of the Baltimore and Ohio, the Philadelphia and 
 Baltimore, and the Pennsylvania Central Railroads, to Washington. 
 They were in conference with him the greater part of the da}'. The 
 inovement of the troops was arranged. It was found that the num- 
 ber would exceed 15,000 ; but no doubt was expressed that the move- 
 ment would [and] could be accomplished promptly, though not 
 quite so soon as Stanton had anticipated. In the evening 1 found 
 myself quite unwell." 
 
 On September 26, having been kept awake most of the previous 
 night with severe pains, Mr. Chase telegraphed Garrett and Smith 
 that he could not go to Baltimore and visit Mr. Hopkins, as he had 
 proposed. A little before 11 o'clock the Secretary received a reply 
 from Mr. Smith, to the effect that Mr. Hopkins had notified some 
 twelve or fifteen of the leading financial men to meet him at dinner,
 
 552 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 and that the disappointment would be great if he did not come. 
 Mr. Chase concluded, therefore, to risk the journey, and answered 
 that he would come on the 11:15 train. He arrived in Baltimore; 
 met Mr. Garrett and Mr. Smith, who insisted that he should take a 
 ride with them through Federal Hill and Fort McHenry before 
 o-oing to Mr. Hopkins', to which he consented. They reached Mr. 
 Hopkins' about five o'clock. Only two or three of the guests had 
 arrived, and Mr. Hopkins proposed to show them his place. They, 
 therefore, accompanied him on a walk around the grounds, which 
 were very spacious and beautiful. Extensive graperies, with every 
 variety of grapes in rich clusters ; a pleasant fruit orchard, the trees 
 of which were loaded with fruit ; a vegetable garden, conveniently 
 situated, with commodious and handsome farm buildings near, to- 
 gether with a lake, so artistically contrived with islands, trees, and ■ 
 shores, as to give it the appearance of great extent, formed the prin- 
 cipal features of this beautiful place. The whole extent of the 
 grounds was about four hundred acres, of which perhaps sixty w r ere 
 used for the purpose just mentioned, while the rest were devoted 
 to farm cultivation. Mr. Hopkins insisted that, though a gentleman 
 farmer, he continued to make both ends meet at the close of each 
 year. His dinner was simple, but excellently prepared, and in the 
 best taste. His dessert of grapes exceeded in beauty and variety 
 and flavor anything Mr. Chase had ever seen. Mr. C.'s indisposition 
 condemned him to almost total abstinence, much to his regret. 
 The guests were intelligent and substantial men, constituting, as Mr. 
 Hopkins said, the best part of the Baltimore merchants and capi- 
 talists. And all of them earnest Union men ; and nearly all, if 
 not all, decided Emancipationists. It was about nine o'clock when 
 they left Mr. Hopkins' hospitable mansion and returned to the city, 
 where Mr. Chase soon found himself established in comfortable quar- 
 ters at Mr. Garrett's. 
 
 Next we have the following: 
 
 "September 27, 1863. 
 
 u I slept better last night than the night before, though far from 
 well. A slight fever made me fancy myself beset with matters of 
 public concern, when I Avas sure I was not so engaged ; and would 
 try to dispel the illusion, and sometimes succeeded for a moment, 
 only to find it coming back the next. This was unpleasant enough, 
 and I was glad when the morning came to my relief. After break- 
 fast, of which I partook very slightly, I found myself sufficiently 
 well to accompany the family to church, where I heard an excellent 
 sermon and spent two pleasant hours. On coming out, Judge Bond
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 553 
 
 asked us to go with him to see a dress parade of a colored regiment, 
 at Camp Barney. They asked Mr. Garrett if he would go, and he 
 assented. A little after five o'clock we rode to the camp. The regi 
 ment was already in line, nine hundred strong, besides the guards 
 on duty. Behind it was another line — three or four hundred new 
 recruits. These were rough and ragged in their negro clothes, fresh 
 from the plantations. I directed .Mr. Garrett's attention to tho 
 spectacle, saying that the front line in uniform, and the rear line in 
 negro clothes, soon to come forward also into the front rank, in 
 uniform, was very suggestive. Mr. Garrett looked and said nothing. 
 The sight could hardly be palatable to one so recently, if not still, 
 thoroughly pro-slavery in his sentiments. 
 
 "After some conversation with Colonel Barney, in charge of the 
 recruiting service, and Colonel Duncan (whose graduation I wit- 
 nessed some years ago at Dartmouth College), commanding the uni- 
 formed, we returned to the city." 
 
 Dated September 28 is an entry of this tenor: 
 
 "I slept pretty well last night, under the hospitable roof of Mr. 
 Garrett. 1 After breakfast, he and Mr. Smith accompanied me to Mr. 
 Swann's, with whom I exchanged kind greetings; thence to the hat- 
 store of Mr. Smith's father-in-law, Mr. Yan Zandt, where I supplied 
 myself with something more suitable to the season than my 'straw;' 
 thence to the Custom House, where I exchanged salutations with the 
 officers and clerks; and thence to the cars, where I found Judge 
 Jewett, with whom I proceeded to Washington, and resumed my 
 duties at the department. 
 
 "Mr. Garrett informed me that the movement of the troops was 
 going on successfully, which was confirmed by Mr. Stanton, who is 
 greatl} 7 delighted by its success. He told me that the number to be 
 moved had heen found to reach 20,000, and yet the whole had been 
 put in motion without disturbance and in perfect order. The last 
 were expected to reach Washington to-day, and would be immedi- 
 ately sent forward. Thus, in five days, the men who, as the Presi- 
 dent was ready to bet, could not be got to Washington, would be 
 already past that point, on their way to Rosecrans, while their 
 advance had reached the Ohio River. If this whole movement is 
 carried through to the end as well as it has been thus far, it will be 
 an achievement in the transportation of troops unprecedented, I 
 think, in history." 
 
 The next day is thus recorded : 
 
 "Nothing of much interest to-day. At the President's, neither 
 Mr. Seward nor Mr. Stanton were present. They Seemed, reason- 
 ably enough, to have given up attendance on these meetings of the 
 Heads of Departments as useless ; and, for aught I see. I may as 
 well follow their example. Received a note from Miss Walker, ask- 
 ing the promotion of Bryant Walker to be an assistant adjutant- 
 
 *At Baltimore.
 
 554 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 general, with the rank of captain; and sent a note to Mr. Stanton, 
 bogging that the favor might be done, which was promptly and 
 kindly done." 
 
 The last day of the month affords these paragraphs: 
 
 "Received a note from Mr. Stanton, notifying me that young 
 Walker's commission would be sent to him as soon as possible. I 
 inclosed the note to Miss Walker, New York. There was the usual 
 number of callers and the usual variety of talk and business, but 
 nothing of special importance. 
 
 " In the evening I entertained, at my house, a delegation of 'Rad- 
 icals ' from Kansas and Missouri, with Mr. Charles D. Drake as their 
 chairman, come hither to ask of the President such a change in the 
 conduct of military affairs in that department as shall better secure 
 the loyal men in their rights and homes." 
 
 A paper, indorsed, " Partial draft of letter on suspension of habeas 
 corpus by President, September, 1863," is written, in penciling, as 
 follows : 
 
 " It has been often held by the courts that they have jurisdiction 
 to issue writs of habeas corpus for persons restrained of liberty under 
 claim of enlistment in the national army. 
 
 " It is needless now to consider whether this holding is sound ; it 
 is certain that the claimed jurisdiction will not be yielded without a 
 struggle. 
 
 "The constitution forbids the suspension of the writ of habeas cor- 
 pus, except in times, except when in cases 1 of rebellion or invasion, 
 the public safety may require it. 
 
 "Congress, by act of 3 March, 1863, authorizes the President, 
 whenever, in his judgment, the public safety may require it to sus- 
 pend the priv. of h. c, in any case, throughout the U. S., or any part 
 thereof. And whenever and wherever the said priv. shall be sus- 
 pended, no military or other officer shall be compelled to answer to 
 any writ of habeas corpus to return the body of any person or per- 
 sons detained by him by authority of the President; but, upon the 
 certificate, under oath, of the officer having charge of any one so de- 
 tained, that such person is so detained by him as a prisoner, under 
 authority of the President, further proceedings under the writ of 
 habeas corpus shall be suspended by the judge or court having issued 
 the said writ so long as said suspension by the President shall remain 
 in force and said rebellion continue." 
 
 Next, I am enabled to offer another letter, markedly characteristic 
 of Abraham Lincoln. It reads as follows : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, October 26, 1863. 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : The writer of the accompanying letter is one of 
 
 'So in the original.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 555 
 
 Mrs. L's numerous cousins. He is a grandson of ' Millikin'a Bend,' 
 near Vieksburg — that is, a grandson of the man who gave name to 
 Millikin'a Bond. His father was a brother to Mrs. L's mother. I 
 know not a thing about his Loyalty beyond what he Bays. Suppos- 
 ing he is loyal, can any of his requests be gi'anted ? and, if any, 
 which of them ? Yours truly, 
 
 "A.LINCOLN." 
 
 I have not been able to find the answer, if there was one, to this 
 letter. 
 
 Here is another letter from the President to Secretary Chase : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, "Washington, November 17, 18G3. 
 " Hon Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I expected to see you here at Cabinet meeting, 
 and to say something about going to Gettysburg. There will be a 
 train to take and return us. The time for starting is not yet fixed ; 
 but, when it shall be, I will notify you. 
 
 " Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 An already cited letter to General Hooker, dated December 21, 
 contains also this language : 
 
 " My Dear General : I have been quite unwell of late, and my 
 correspondence is a good deal in arrears. I must take time to dictate 
 a few lines to you. I can not tell you how much I have been gratified 
 by your brilliant achievement in Tennessee and Georgia. How 
 providential it was that you were sent West at the head of the 
 Eleventh and Twelfth Corps! It seems clear now, that, but for Mr. 
 Stanton's determination in insisting upon these reinforcements going 
 promptly and going under you, Rosecrans' army would have experi- 
 enced the gravest disasters. And then it seems equally providential 
 that the assault on Lookout Mountain had to be made under your 
 direction. The only thing I do not clearly see the value of is your 
 magnificent achievement at Ringgold. It was a splendid battle 
 splendidly won. But what is the use of sacrificing so much to take 
 a town, if, after all, the town is to be abandoned and the army is 
 to fall back? Whether it was necessary to fall back or not I find 
 myself unable to form any judgment. General Grant ought to know 
 best. I most sincerely hope that he was governed only by the best 
 and most patriotic motives. Grant's whole career has excited my admi- 
 ration and commanded my respect, and there certainly ought to be no j< al- 
 ousies between two such officers as you and he. Each should rejoice in 
 what adds to the honor of the other.'" 
 
 Surely, the indications of this letter, as to the spirit'w which Chase 
 regarded martial men and martial measures, are most creditable to 
 its writer.
 
 556 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 CHASE AND BARNEY — TROUBLE BETWEEN CHASE AND LINCOLN. 
 
 THE task of this work becomes more and more difficult and 
 delicate. It now comes to the year 1864. 
 January 11th, of that year, was marked by the writing of this 
 letter: 
 
 "Executive Mansion, January 11, 1864. 
 '•'•Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I am receiving letters and dispatches indicating 
 an expectation that Mr. Barney is to leave the Custom House, at 
 New York. Have you anything on the subject? 
 
 " Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 What the Secretary answered is recited in his letter of January 
 22d, to Mr. Bailey. 1 But I find in Mr. Maunsell B. Fields' Me- 
 moirs of Many Men and of Some Women 2 what purports to be a 
 copy of a letter, dated January 13, 1864, from Secretaiy Chase to 
 the President, as follows : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I am to-day fifty-six years old. I have never 
 consciously and deliberately injured a fellow man. It is too late for 
 me to begin by sacrificing to clamor the reputation of a man whom 
 I have known for more than twenty years, and whose repute for 
 honesty has been all that time unsullied. 
 
 "I shall not recommend the removal of Mr. Barney, except upon 
 such show of his misconduct or incapacity as makes it my duty 
 to do so. 
 
 " In such a case I shall not shrink from my duty. I pretend no 
 indifference to the consequences personal to myself, which you refer 
 to as likely to follow this avowal on my part; but the approval of 
 my own conscience is dearer to me than political position, and I 
 shall cheerfully sacrifice the latter to preserve the former. 
 
 " I received some days ago your note in relation to a biographic 
 sketch to be printed in a Philadelphia periodical. It was a matter 
 in which I had no concern. If anybody wants my autograph, and I 
 have time, I give it ; if anybody wants to take my daguerreotype or 
 photograph, and I have time, I sit for it; if anybody wants to take 
 
 Jfost. 
 
 2 Page 305.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 557 
 
 my life, in the way of a biographical sketch, T hi him take if ; and, if 
 I have time, give such information as is wanted that ho may take it 
 more easily. Some friends wanted such a sketch prepared, and en- 
 gaged a gentleman to prepare it. The pnblieher of the American 
 
 Exchange and Review, a respectable periodical by the way, I am told, 
 was about to print a series of such sketches, and proposed to begin 
 with that of me. How could Iobioct? He asked for subscriptions and 
 
 obtained them. How could I control or supervise that? 1 was \<iv 
 busy with the affairs of my department, and had no time to look 
 after such matters, even had I been aware of what was being done. 
 If I had been consulted, I should certainly have objected to any sub- 
 scription by Mr. Jay Cooke or his brother, except such a moderate 
 one as any friend might have made. Not that any wrong was in- 
 tended to he done, but because the act was subject to misconstruction, 
 and there are so many to misconstrue. Mr. Jay Cooke is a friend, 
 and though he did not subscribe, he doubtless sanctioned the sub- 
 scription of his brother Henry, who is also a friend, (and the son of 
 a friend), whose friendship was formed when I was powerless to be- 
 stow favors. Neither of the brothers, nor the father have ever re- 
 ceived, at my hands, since I have had some power, any favor which 
 they have not earned by strenuous and untiring labors for the public 
 interest; nor any which my worst enemy would not have received 
 as freely had he rendered the same services. What Mr. H. D. Cooke 
 did about the unfortunate biograplry was done of his own accord, 
 without prompting from me, and his brother's aj)proval was given in 
 the same way. 
 
 " You will pardon me if I write as one somewhat moved. It makes 
 me hate public life when I realize how powerless are the most faith- 
 ful labors and the most upright conduct to protect any man from 
 carping envy, or malignant denunciations, and how little he can 
 expect, even from the best and most intelligent men, when such 
 noises prevail. It is almost equally painful to think how little friends 
 are disposed to bear with the mistakes and inadvertencies of other 
 friends, and how ready to make me responsible for them as well as 
 my own. Very sincerely yours, 
 
 "To the President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 How happens it that I am indebted to the work of Mr. Field for 
 a copy of that lettei — I who was, at the time of the death of Chief 
 Justice Chase, the only person in existence who was in possession of 
 the means of writing a complete biography of that man so often 
 named in this volume — I, in whose hands were, at the time, all the 
 letter-books and diaries he had furnished to me, as stated in the in- 
 troduction ? I have already hinted, but I shall hereafter state more 
 fully. 
 
 It is almost with a sense of shame that I now present this copy of 
 a letter to Mr. Barney from our hero: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, April 25, 18G4. 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Barney: A recent sale of some Cincinnati prop-
 
 558 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 erty enables me to send you the inclosed check for 82,675; §175 to 
 pay semi-annaul interest due 1st January last and 82.500 to be cred- 
 ited on the note due July 1. I hope to be able to anticipate the 
 payment of the residue. Please acknowledge receipt of inclosed. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 " H. Barney, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Extraordinary pains have been taken to discredit the present work 
 by the statement that Mr Hiram Barney is preparing for the press 
 a life of Salmon Portland Chase, and that the daughters of our hero 
 specially sanction that work. When I first heard the name of Mr. 
 Barnev in connection with the opposition to the present work, he 
 was named to me as the legal adviser of that opposition, and alleged 
 to have expressed the opinion that my right to the exclusive use of 
 the biographic matter furnished me, as elsewhere stated, could not 
 be maintained against the will of the executor. No matter now, as 
 to that. I promise, Deo volente, to read very carefully, and even 
 prayerfully, any life of Salmon Portland Chase by Hiram Barney. 
 I shall be particularly anxious to examine his account of the indebt- 
 edness referred to in the just cited letter. 
 
 I do not repent me that I undertook this work. I still believe 
 in the ultimate worthiness, the general rectitude of Salmon Portland 
 Chase, in spite of that at least unfortunate indebtedness to the col- 
 lector of customs at New York. For I remember and respect the 
 rule of judgment which the introduction to these chapters, quoting 
 Chase's own words, gives in this fashion : 
 
 " It seems to me better and wiser to judge particular acts by the 
 general tenor of life, than the general tenor of life by particular 
 acts." 
 
 But that golden rule of judgment was not laid down by Chase 
 till after he had erred, as indicated in that Barney letter. Erred? 
 Nay, sinned. In that respect he evidently sinned against the public 
 service and against himself. 
 
 We must remember that that indebtedness evidently existed on 
 and before the first of January, 1864. When it arose I have not 
 been able to ascertain. But, alas ! it must have been in the mind — 
 aye ! in the heart — of our wretched hero, when, on his six-and-fiftieth 
 birthday, he addressed the President as we have seen. 
 
 I have already rather clearly indicated my distrust of the design 
 with which Mr. Maunsell B. Field, in his 3femories of Many Men 
 and of Some Women, has attempted to anticipate some revelations
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHA8E. 559 
 
 of the present work affecting him and others. Let me DOW add 
 that the same work 1 makes Mr. Lincoln say in 18<! I : 
 
 "You remember that when Hiram Barney was appointed, at the 
 beginning of the administration, collector of the porl of New STork, 
 everybody Bupposed that ho was Chase's selection, and nobody else's. 
 
 Now, Barney was as much my choice as he was Chase's." 
 
 Is not here clear evidence of sinister design? It is conceded, by 
 this eminently questionable statement, that everybody supposed that 
 Barney was Chase's selection. All we have to the contrary, up to 
 this hour, is Mr. Maunsell B. Field's report, in 1873, of a talk with 
 Lincoln in 1864. The historian and the biographer must throw 
 aside all statements of that character. I do so boldly and decidedly, 
 although I overrule my wishes in so judging. 
 
 Next I call attention to this letter: 
 
 "Washington, D. C, January 22, 1864. 
 
 "Dear Sir: Your two letters of the 17th were 'duly received, as 
 also one of the lGth. I have had no conversation with the President 
 about Mr. Barney. He addressed me a very brief note the other 
 day, asking what the meaning was of letters and telegrams he 
 received, and if I knew of anything affecting Mr. Barney. I replied 
 that I knew of nothing which should shake confidence in him, or some- 
 thing to this effect, I do not remember precisely what. I will try and 
 see the President, though my time is very much occupied ; and 1 have 
 thought that, unless called upon by him, 1 ought not to take any 
 steps. I do not believe it has assumed any such importance with 
 him as one in New York might imagine. The President, I know, 
 believes in Mr. Barne3 T 's integrity, and his sense of justice is such 
 that he can not be prevailed upon to remove an honest man to gratify 
 politicians of any stripe. 
 
 "I am preparing a reply to the resolution of Congress about Jay 
 Cooke's connection with the department. It will state the facts 
 plainly and truly. I will send you a copy, and such statements of a 
 historical character as will enable yow to compare what has been 
 accomplished through him and his sub-agents, in points of economy 
 and efficiency, with what was ever accomplished hy any other 
 agency in the world. 
 
 "I have not had time to prepare any full statement of the Mar- 
 garet Garner case, but inclose with this a copy of two letters, one to 
 Mr. Pierce and one to Judge Corwin, of Ohio. If you think it im- 
 portant to come to Washington, come, without waiting for a formal 
 direction. I do not advise the volunteering of any communication 
 to the President at present. 
 
 "You are right about not connecting any committee of merchants 
 with the investigation of Custom-llouse matters. I will, however, 
 
 1 Page 304.
 
 560 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 address a letter to the President of the Chamber of Commerce, invito 
 ing them to appoint a committee to confer with those charged with 
 the preparation of the new Code. 
 
 "I am much gratified by the prudence and efficiency with which 
 you act, and I am always glad to receive any suggestion from you. 
 
 t; Very truly j'ours, 
 
 " I. T. Bailey, Esq., New York. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 18th of January Secretary Chase wrote as follows to Hon. 
 James C. Hall, of Toledo, Ohio : 
 
 "Mr Dear Sir: Your kind note is just received. As it has been 
 so long on the way I have telegraphed you that I will reply by mail. 
 
 "At the instance of man}' who think that the public interests would 
 be promoted by my election to the Chief Magistracy, a committee, 
 composed of prominent senators and representatives and citizens, 
 has been organized hei-e for taking measures to promote that object. 
 
 "This committee, though a sub-committee, has conferred with me, 
 and I have explained to them the objections which seem to me to 
 exist against any use of my name in that connection. They have 
 taken these objections into consideration, and assure me that they 
 think I ought not to refuse its use ; and I have consented to their 
 wishes, assuring them, however, that whenever any consideration, 
 by them, or by the friends of the cause, thought entitled to weight, 
 should indicate the expediency of any other course, no consideration 
 of personal delicacy should be allowed to prevent its being taken. 
 
 "If I know my own heart, I desire nothing so much as the sup- 
 pression of this rebellion and the establishment of Union, Order, and 
 Prosperity, on sure and safe foundations; and I should despise my- 
 self if I felt capable of allowing any personal objects to influence 
 me to any action which would affect, by one jot or title, injuriously, 
 the accomplishment of those objects. And it is a source of real grati- 
 fication to believe that those who desire my nomination, desire it on 
 public grounds alone, and will not hesitate, in any matter which may 
 concern me, upon such grounds and such grounds only. 
 
 "Of course, under these circumstances, I desire the support of 
 Ohio. If, however, it shall be the pleasure of a majority of our 
 friends in Ohio to indicate a preference for another, I shall accept 
 their action with that cheerful acquiescence which is due from me to 
 friends who have trusted and honored me beyond an} T claim or merit 
 of mine. Very truly your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 A letter to Mrs. Helen M. Walbridge, dated January 2, contains 
 the following pleasant sentences : 
 
 " We are all pretty well Kate seems very happy. She and her 
 husband seem to love each other dearly. He is a noble fellow, and I 
 love him almost as much as she does. Eliza Whipple is with us, and 
 seems to enjoy herself very much. She is an excellent woman, and 
 somebody has missed having one of the best wives in the world. 
 Nettie is still at Mrs. McCaulley's, in New York. We should be de- 
 lighted to have you with us again. Can't you come?
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. OlJl 
 
 "Give my best love to brother Henry and the children, and, if you 
 
 can, write and tell me till about them. 
 
 "By the way, there is a gentleman in Boston engaged in writing 
 
 a sort of biography of me for the use of boys and girls, and wants 
 facts. I have tried to furnish him some; but I never though! much 
 of passing events, except to do the work I had to do. and nay memory 
 is sadly at fault. Can you remember anything about inc. - ' [f you 
 can. and will write, or have somebody else write what you remember, 
 giving dates as well as you can, it will doubtless be of great service — 
 the sooner the better. Your affectionate brother, 
 
 " Mrs. Helen M. Walbridqe, Toledo, O. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is another piece of pleasant reading matter: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 23, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Friend : I am very sorry that I am obliged to answer 
 all your questions with ' I don't know.' 
 
 "Should any act for the payment of French spoliations become a 
 statute — that is, pass Congress and receive the sanction of the Presi- 
 dent — it will be in my power to tell what cases fall within it. and 
 ■whether that of the Fair American is one of them; and will gladly 
 be of any use possible to you. But you must wait till there is a law 
 before disturbing yourself about the matter. 
 
 " Do you know that Eliza Whipple is making us a visit? She and 
 Kate were talking .of you the other evening, and expressing their 
 wish to see you. I wish you could come to Washington ; though I 
 could probably see so little of you that it would be difficult to toll 
 which would be greater, the pleasure of seeing 3-ou or the sensation 
 of not seeing you enough. Sincerely your friend, 
 
 " Miss Susan Walker. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same day, the Secretary wrote as follows to Geo. Wilkes, Esq.: 
 
 " Dear Sir : I inclose General Hooker's letter, or rather two of 
 his letters. Please return them when read. Theorders to which he 
 refers are not important to a clear understanding of his views in 
 respect to the matter mentioned in your note; and as he expresses a 
 doubt whether in strict propriety he ought to have sent them even to 
 me, though the head of a department, I refrain from sending them 
 to you, though I should like to do so. 
 
 " Mr. Hutchins, who will soon go to New Orleans, will take with 
 him the commission of Mr. Plumley. Almost all whose opinions are 
 of value, and who have any interest in the subject, unite in advising 
 his appointment. Very truly yours, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is an explanatory letter of decided interest — with an account 
 of Lincoln that seems hardly just: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 24, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Friend: Some time ago I received a letter from yon 
 about the publication of your article on the Monroe Doctrine in pam- 
 phlet. My impression is that I did not reply— my intent ions t,, do so 
 being frustrated by demands on my time and attention, which pushed
 
 562 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 it out of ray thoughts for the time. Recently my thoughts were 
 recalled to the subject by receiving a copy of the pamphlet ; and I 
 now wish to say that if, in consequence of my remissness, you have 
 been put personally to anj T expense, I want the privilege of reim- 
 bursing it to you. I am not a rich man, and I am glad to be able 
 to Bay that I have become poorer instead of richer from public 
 employments; but still, I can better afford, I fancy, to pa}' such a 
 contribution to a public object than most editors of religious news- 
 papers. 
 
 " In the main, I concur in your views — wholly, in their principle 
 and spirit. I believe that the statesmen whose views were repre- 
 sented by Mr. Monroe's Message — including Mr. Monroe himself — 
 intended to be understood in the plain sense of the language 
 employed — meant that any attempt to force the European system on 
 America would be dangerous to our safety, and that any interference 
 with any American government by European powers for the purpose 
 of oppressing it, or possibly controlling its destiny, would be regarded 
 as an unfriendly manifestation. In this sense the declaration was 
 understood and accepted by the American people, and became a car- 
 dinal principle of American policy. After all, however, it is not so 
 important to inquire into the history as into the soundness of the 
 principle and the propriety of insisting on its application to recent 
 events in San Domingo and Mexico. 
 
 "It certainly would have suited my temper and taste much better 
 to do so, and yet I can not blame Mr. Seward for not having done so. 
 He never renounced it: he only forebore to insist on it: when insist- 
 ing would probably have been counted as a menace, and would have 
 precipitated recognition of the rebel Confederacy, and that recogni- 
 tion would have been followed by war. 
 
 "Had there been here an administration in the true sense of the 
 word — a President conferring with his Cabinet and taking their 
 united judgments, and with their aid enforcing activity, economy, 
 and energy, in all departments of public service — we could have 
 spoken boldly and defied the world. But our condition here has 
 always been very different. I preside over the funnel; everybody 
 else, and especially the Secretaries of War and the Navy, over the 
 spigots — and keep them well open, too. Mr. Seward conducts the 
 foreign relations with very little let or help from anybod}'. There 
 is no unity and no system, except so far as it is departmental. There 
 is progress, but it is slow and unvoluntary — just what is coerced by 
 the irresistible pressure of the vast force of the people. How 
 under such circumstances can anybody announce a policy which can 
 only be made respectable by union, wisdom, and courage? 
 
 '■But I have written more than I intended. Have you seen 
 Baptist Norl'e book on our American Rebellion? He was sadly 
 mistaken in his account of parties as connected with slavery. 
 Can't you Avrite an article like that on the Monroe Doctrine, giving 
 the true view of political action as influenced successively by the 
 Liberty Party and the Independent Democracy, or, as our Whigish 
 friends preferred to call it, the Free Soil Party? 
 
 "Who could do that as well as you? Your friend, 
 
 " Rev. J. Leavitt, D. D. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 568 
 
 On the 26th the Secretary wrote as follows to James B. Bingham, 
 Esq., of Memphis : 
 
 "Dear Sir: I have noticed with great pleasure your determina- 
 tion to commit yourself to the policy of emancipation in Tennessee, 
 as a certain and Bpeedy means of its restoration to the Union. Early 
 in our great struggle my reflections resulted in the conviction that 
 slavery must perish through the war which slavery had begun. 'Flic 
 events of every month strengthen this conviction, and I was glad to 
 see, from time to time, that it was beginning to he shared hy the 
 most intelligent Union men in the Slave States. 
 
 " I rejoice now that you place your influential journal on that side. 
 I am sure you will never regret doing so. To have led in this work 
 in Tennessee will be an honor which you will hereafter regard 
 as among the most precious of your possessions. 
 
 " Yours very trulj^ 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 This letter to Judge Key will repay perusal, especially in itsallu- 
 sion to McClellan : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 26, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Judge : Mr. Goodrich sent me your kind note, and it 
 was a real delight to me to see your handwriting once more. God 
 grant that it may foretoken your complete restoration to health. 
 
 "Among the gratifications which have more than compensated the 
 vexation and chagrin I have had to endure here, I prized few more 
 highly than that which your appreciation of my work and your 
 prompt award to me of your esteem and friendship gave me. Would 
 that j'our chief had had the wisdom to see and the courage to act as 
 you would have had him ! How much might have been spared to 
 our country ! 
 
 "What I did to aid you when } t ou first came from Ohio, I should 
 have done for any one charged with the same mission. I simply did 
 my duty. How generously you overpaid me by your confidence and 
 good-will will pass from memory only when memory retains no 
 traces. 
 
 " If it is too much trouble for you to write yourself, will you oblige 
 me by having some friend write me how j'ou are? You remember 
 that I proposed to you when in New York to take a Southern voyage 
 on one of the revenue cutters. If your health will now permit yon 
 to go round to Fernandina, I shall be very glad to have you avail 
 yourself of her accommodations, which are really good, while she 
 cruises for the coming two or three months on the Florida and South 
 Carolina coasts. Can't you do so? 
 
 " I am terribly worked and had no time to talk with Mr. Goodrich 
 about his plan, but referred him to a friend in the Senate. As to 
 political affairs and prospects, it is absolutely impossible for me to 
 keep myself posted. Some friends are sanguine that my name will 
 receive favorable consideration from the people in connection with 
 the Presidency. I tell them that I can take no part in anything they 
 37
 
 504 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 may propose to do, except by trying to merit confidence where 
 I am Faithfully j*our friend, 
 
 " Hon. Thomas M. Key, Cincinnati, Ohio. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is conclusive evidence that our hero was not a Portuguese 
 scholar : 
 
 '• Washington, D. C, January 26, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Granert : Accept my thanks for your brothers 
 Portuguese grammar. I wish I understood the language that I might 
 form a proper estimate of its value. Yours truly, 
 
 " Prof. Granert. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In a letter addressed, next day, to Wayne McVeigh, Esq., are the 
 words : 
 
 "Oh, for a vigorous, earnest, thorough, prosecution of this war! 
 for a speedy and complete suppression of this rebellion ! How often 
 does the question come to me with terrific force! How much longer 
 can the strain, which delay and extravagance make, be endured be- 
 fore the links of credit snap?" 
 
 Next, attention is invited to this letter : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 27, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Judge : I thank you for your frank and friendly let- 
 ter. Your appreciation of the situation is doubtless correct. The 
 situation itself could be changed, perhaps will be changed. I am 
 content whether or no. 
 
 "Most sincerely do I grieve with you in your bereavement. I 
 have experienced the pangs of one almost exactly similar. May God 
 comfort j'ou. 
 
 " One opinion to which you refer as prevalent is certainly erroneous. 
 The administration can not be continued as it is. There is in fact no 
 administration, properly speaking. There are departments and there 
 is a President. The latter leaves administration substantially to the 
 Heads of the former, deciding himself comparitively few questions 
 These Heads act with almost absolute independence of each other. 
 The determination of the people to suppress the rebellion has thus 
 far give a measure of success to this departmental action. When 
 peace shall come, or, sooner, if it be long in coming, that coincidence 
 of aim, which is mistaken for unity of action, will be at an end. 
 
 " I have not the slightest idea that under any circumstance I can 
 remain or can be persuaded to remain in my present position another 
 year. Your friend, 
 
 " Hon. Wm. M. Dickson. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same day, Wm. H. Kincaid, Esq., of Pittsburg, was ad- 
 dressed in a letter containing the words : 
 
 " The commendation and support of the good are especially valu- 
 able at a time when so many are recklessly endeavoring to destroy 
 confidence in the financial administration of the country. Few things 

 
 OF SALMON FORTLAND OHASF.. 566 
 
 could lie more evil than the success of these efforts. It would arrest 
 the progress of our armies and bring distress to countless fireside 
 
 To Hon. E. D. Mansfield was written, on the 28th, a letter 
 
 saying : 
 
 "I have no doubt of the value of the suggestions you inclose 
 Nothing except the waste of life is more painful in this war than 
 the absolutely reckless waste of means. Avery large pari of the 
 frauds which disgrace us may be traced to the want of systematic 
 supervision ; and yet what encouragement is there to endeavors 
 toward economy ? Such endeavors league against him who makes 
 them all the venality and corruption which is interested in ex- 
 travagance. Most, if not all, the bitter attacks made upon me 
 have originated in the spite of the people whose interests Mere 
 thought to be affected by mj* efforts to keep things in the right 
 direction and under economical mangement." 
 
 Here is a letter written with some heat — a good letter, notwith- 
 standing : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 28, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Sir: I return Mr. Batchelor's letter. I should de- 
 spise myself if I felt capable of appointing or removing a man for the 
 sake of the Presidency. Captain Grace has been retained because I 
 have been assured by many reliable political friends that he dis- 
 charged his duties faithfully and well, and because there was no 
 proof that he was hostile to the government. I was at one time 
 strongly inclined to remove him because of allegations that he es- 
 pecially consorted and sympathized with the men who obstruct, to 
 the best of their ability, the prosecution of the war. and I have not. 
 yet absolutely determined what shall be done. When I act I shall 
 act upon public considerations, not personal. 
 
 "I have never sought to manage newspapers. If the}- have sup- 
 ported me I have been glad of it, and grateful. If they have op- 
 posed, it has been their own matter, and I have let them take their 
 course. I have never undertaken, and never shall undertake to 
 manipulate the press. 
 
 "So far as the Presidency is concerned, I must leave that wholly 
 to the people. Those of them who think that the public good will 
 be promoted by adherence to the one term principle, and by the use 
 of my name, are fully competent, and far more competent than I am. 
 to bring the matter before the public generally; and the people will 
 dispose of the case according to their own judgment. Whatever 
 disposition they make of it, I shall be content. My time is wholly 
 absorbed by my public duties ; and I can best serve the public, and 
 my friends too, by the faithful discharge of them. 
 
 "I inclose the check for §33 78. I do not know that I have bo 
 much money on deposit. If not, let Masters pay the amount, and 
 let your receipt stand as one of his vouchers, and return me the 
 check. 
 
 " I can have nothing to do with any such project as buying out the
 
 566 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Times. Even if I were disposed to have I could not, for I have no 
 money; and a little reflection will convince 3-011 that I ought not to 
 be consulted in reference to any such matter, so long as m3 r name is 
 at all considered in connection with the next Presidential canvass. 
 
 "Just let me hint to 3*011 before closing that when writing to me 
 the business of your agency, 3-011 should address me in the manner 
 usual in official communications, in the beginning and ending. When 
 3-ou write upon other topics, address me as what I am, and expect 
 to remain, Your friend, 
 
 « Thos. Heaton, Esq., Cincinnati, O. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 But here is a thorough 1) T agreeable epistle: 
 
 " Washington, January 29, 1864. 
 
 "My Darling Nettie: I have been quite unfatherly in neglect- 
 ing to write 3*011 so long. I will try to do better. 
 
 "Inclosed with this is a check for ninety dollars, your quarterly 
 allowance for the winter. 
 
 "You will remember that 3*011 are to have that sum every spring, 
 summer, fall, and winter, and make it pay all 3*0111* expenses, except 
 Mrs. Macaulay's bills, which are to include nothing but board, tui- 
 tion, and books. 
 
 " I hope 3*011 will make it go as far as possible, and save a good 
 deal for the poor. Your affectionate father, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "As to skates, and skating, Mrs. Macaulay knows best. You can 
 do whatever she approves." 
 
 The next clay the Secretary wrote as follows : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Pierce : I suppose that 3*ou have before this re- 
 ceived Mrs. Sprague's letter, saying that she will be gratified to have 
 Mrs. Howe repeat her parlor lectures in Washington. I never had 
 the pleasure of meeting that accomplished lady but once, when I 
 called upon her in company with our friend Sumner. I can hardly 
 tell whether her personal graces and conversation or her poetiy have 
 impressed me most. 
 
 " It is not probable that an3 T vacancy in the office of General Ap- 
 praiser, at Boston, will occur ; so that I shall not have the trouble of 
 deciding the question of preference. 
 
 " Would it not be well to find an occasion for the use of the Mar- 
 garet Garner papers without waiting for a repetition of Phillips' 
 invective? He will not be likely, I think, to repeat it. The poisoned 
 shaft has entered the public mind, and is doing the work he designed. 
 Perhaps, also, it is doing a precisely opposite work, b3* reaction, in 
 quarters where the injustice and malevolence of the attack excite 
 disgust. Yours truty, 
 
 " Edw. L. Pierce, Esq., Boston, Mass. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same day he wrote as follows to Edward Gilbert, Esq., of N. Y.: 
 
 " The only and the best service I can render, by those who desire 
 to use my name in the approaching canvass, is to devote m3*self ex-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 5G7 
 
 clusivcly to the proper duties of my department so long as T remain 
 at its head. I thank you for your sympathy. I can not say that I 
 relish the attacks made; but it is natural that they should he made 
 It is impossible to reform and investigate without Btirring up slan- 
 derers and revilers, both among those whose wrong-doings are 
 exposed and unrighteous profits taken away, and among those, too, 
 who think they see a good chance to take advantage of clamor to the 
 the injury of a public man who, they fear. stands too well with people." 
 
 February 1 is the date of this charming letter: 
 
 "My very Dear Friend : Your letter came Saturday night. It 
 is my habit (a bad one) to read after retiring ; so I took your letter 
 with me to inspire my dreams ; and really I had a very curious 
 one. I dreamed that there was to be a marriage, and that Katie and 
 I were invited to witness it. We went to the church, expecting to 
 find a great crowd. To our surprise, there were few present. These 
 were in the front pews, and mostly on the off one coming in. We 
 walked up the grand aisle — up, and up — and it seemed very long — 
 till at last we entered a pew on the right side. of it. Then came the 
 ceremony — or rather what seemed the beginning of it — for it was 
 not finished. It was like nothing anybody ever heard of in a bridal 
 ceremony ; and was so strange and so surprising that I suffered — I 
 awoke from the effects of its strangeness. At any rate. I awoke. I 
 recognized neither of the parties. They were as strange as the cere- 
 mony ; but they were young and handsome. Some day, when we 
 meet, I Avill tell you more about it. 
 
 •' When we meet! When will that be ? You are the most uncon- 
 nectable lady I know — partout et nulle part. You remind me of the 
 address of on friend to another, who was, like yourself, in the habit 
 of going everywhere and staying nowhere. They met on the high- 
 way. The former said to the latter: ' Comme je suis heuretix, mon 
 cher ami, de vous voir chez vousV 
 
 "Mrs. Lindsley asked me, the other evening, 'Where is Mrs. East- 
 man? My house is evacuated by most of those who have been with 
 me, and I want her to make me a visit.' I replied, innocently, 'At 
 Kenosha,' And now your letter comes, and I find that I was mis- 
 leading the good lady. But I suppose her letter will follow you to 
 Milwaukee; and I really hope you will accept her invitation. Many 
 
 friends — and I most — will welcome your coming, though. . 
 
 always I am so tied, hand and foot, by official duties that I get very, 
 very little time for society. 
 
 "'By the way, our friend, Mr. Ducker, was here the other day. 
 He came in, and we had a few moments' very pleasant chat. Then 
 somebody came in on business, and he went out. I expected him 
 back, but he did not come. His visit, with his talk of you and his 
 wife and his pleasant place, was all very delightful; but the contrast 
 of my confinement and work is — well, no matter. We must do our 
 work. 
 
 "I received no letter, I think, from you from Cassville; but I prize 
 your letters too much to notice the dates, and it is possihle that 
 it did come : and, in obedience to your injunctions — which please
 
 a 
 
 THE PJttlVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 revoke — was destroyed; I had been looking for a letter from you 
 for a long time before your last came But as I have almost always 
 answered your letters immediately after receiving them, while you 
 have put long intervals between receipt and reply, I thought it best 
 to wait this time till you should write. So I waited — but I did not 
 forget. 
 
 "No, indeed, I do not forget you; nor am I likely to forget. I 
 think of you constantly; and, if any feeling is left in me, with the 
 sincerest affection. We have been friends a long time, and I hope 
 shall be better friends, instead of worse. Howl wish you were here 
 in our house — in this little library room — and that we could talk, in- 
 stead of this writing by myself, while you are — where? 
 
 " Governor Sprague and Katie went to Providence Thursday night. 
 We expect them to-morrow. Write soon, and as affectionately as 
 conscience will permit. Your friend, 
 
 pei 
 Mrs. C. S. Eastman, Milwaukee. 
 
 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same day, Hon. W. D. Lindsay was addressed in a letter con- 
 taining these words, with others : 
 
 " I have never urged any personal claims of my own on the friends 
 of our common cause ; and it is through no procurement or agency of 
 mine that ray name has been connected with the Presidency. Such 
 action as you say is contemplated in Ohio will be received by me with 
 perfect respect and acquiescence, as a declaration that the legis 
 lative representatives of our cause prefer another to myself. 
 
 " Please assure General Delano that no one appreciates his abilities 
 or his services to the State more highly than I do. I thought at one 
 time that he acted an unkindly part toward me; but it was under 
 circumstances when men are apt to misjudge each other. If I have 
 ever an opportunity to serve him, I will prove to him that any little 
 feeling I may have had is wiped out, replaced by the sincerest respect 
 and esteem." 
 
 Another letter of the same date has this curious tenor : 
 
 <: Washington, February 1, 186-4. 
 
 '• Most Eeverend and very Dear Sir: I do not know but I have 
 been stepping beyond my line; if so, and you blame me, let my true 
 regard for yourself and the confidence with which you have honored 
 me be my apology. 
 
 • Deeply impressed with the importance of having a successor to 
 Archbishop Hughes, of clear intellect and earnest sympathy with 
 the poor, the oppressed, and enslaved, I ventured, without consult- 
 ing you, to ask Governor Dennison, when here some time ago, to 
 name the subject to the President. He did so, as he informed me at 
 the time. Subsequently, I spoke to the President myself. He men- 
 tioned that Governor Dennison had spoken to him — seemed pleased 
 with the suggestion — and referred me to Mr. Seward. To-day I have 
 had a conversation with Mr. Seward, who expresses himself, in rela- 
 tion to the subject, as I would wish. 
 
 "Now, please let me know if I have erred. If not, and there is 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 569 
 
 any purpose to be done that I can do, please inform me frankly what 
 
 it is, if you see tit to do. 
 
 "In any event, your confidence will be sacred with me. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 "Most Rev. Archwshop Purcell. S. IV CHASE." 
 
 Still another letter of the same date contains these paragraphs : 
 
 "Everything is looking very well here, except that our military 
 movements are by no means so energetic as they should be. We can 
 not afford the prolongation of the rebellion. 
 
 "I received a letter from General Gilmore to-day, in which he 
 expresses the intention to clear out Florida forthwith, so that your 
 path to the reconstruction of a Free State, under a Free Constitution, 
 will be plain. 1 wish you to write to me a little oftener. I wish to 
 be kept full} - posted by you. 
 
 " Very truly your friend, 
 
 "Hon. L. D. Stickney, Fernandina. Fla. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 That was with our hero a good day for letters ! I do not give all, 
 but here is another that must not be omitted: 
 
 "Washington, D. C, February 1, 1SG4. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I have received 3 r our letter, and thank you for 
 it. It is worthy of your high character for intelligence and rec- 
 titude. 
 
 I wish Mr. Barney was perfect. I should like to be perfect myself. 
 and have everybody else perfect; but in the present state of our race 
 I see no instances of perfection. And certainly I shall not be in 
 haste to condemn him I know to be honest, or to recommend the 
 appointment of a successor, unless I am sure that a real improve- 
 ment can be etfected ; in which case I do not doubt Mr. Barney will 
 resign his office, if he can do it honorably. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 "Hon. E. Campbell, Bath, N. Y. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next day our letter-writing hero thus addressed his old friend 
 and partner, Hon. Flamen Ball : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Ball: Yours of the 25th is just received. 
 
 "I hope you will find somebody to make search for the copies 
 soon. Your suggestion that the search should he extended into the 
 files of the Philanthropist is excellent. You have so much to do 
 that I am afraid Trowbridge will get through with his biography 
 before he will hear from you. 
 
 "You ask for the signs of the times. At present, they seem to 
 indicate the renomination of Mr. Lincoln. His personal popularity 
 is great and deserved. If to his kindliness of spirit and good sense 
 he joined strong will and energetic action, there would he little left 
 to wish tor in him. As it is, I think that he will be likely to close 
 his first term with more honor than he will the second, should he be 
 reelected.
 
 570 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "I can not help being gratified by the preference expressed for me 
 in some quarters; for those who express it are generally men of great 
 weight, and high character, and independent judgment. I have 
 some reason to think, too, that it is felt to a considerable extent by 
 the masses of the people. Sometime since, a number of senators, 
 representatives, and citizens, organized a committee here with the 
 purpose of bringing forward my name. They think there will be a 
 change in the current, which, so far as it is not spontaneous, is chiefly 
 managed by the Blairs. 
 
 " Whether the}' are right in this judgment or not, time will show. 
 Of course, if my name is to be brought forward at all, I shall be glad 
 to have Ohio decidedly on my side. Indeed, if Ohio should express 
 a preference for any other person I would not allow my name to be 
 used. 
 
 "I shall be entirely content to retire, as soon as the condition of 
 the finances will permit, to a private station, and hope their condition 
 will permit it before the lapse of many months. 
 
 "I do not know what prompts the articles in the Gazette. As soon 
 as I saw the first one, I directed an examination to be made into the 
 law, and found that it sanctioned the court's allowances to Mr. Car- 
 son. I think the law, however, is wrong, and shall endeavor to get 
 it amended as soon as pi'acticable. 
 
 "Mr. and Mrs. Sprague are in Providence, and Miss Whipple will 
 leave us this week. 
 
 " Give my very best regards to Mrs. Ball and the young ladies, and 
 believe me, very cordially yours, S. P. CHASE." 1 
 
 In a letter of the same date, to J. W. Hartwell, Esq., of Cincin- 
 nati, was said : 
 
 "I thank you for j^our congratulations. You are entirely right as 
 to the necessity of a great increase of revenue. We must pay more 
 as we go, if we desire to prevent our debt from reaching unmanage- 
 able proportions. 
 
 "So far, I think, I have made few mistakes. Indeed, on looking 
 back over the whole ground, with an earnest desire to detect error 
 and correct it, I am not able to see where, if I had to do my work 
 all over again, I could in any matter do materially otherwise than 
 
 Til'"' J J 
 
 1 have. 
 
 1 To George S. Hale, Esq., Mr. Chase wrote, the same day, as follows : 
 "Mr Dear Sir: I thank you for your kind note and am sorry you did not 
 know Mr. Trowbridge. He has, it is true, designs on my life; but they are not 
 felonious. 
 
 "It grieves me to hear of the ill health of your honored mother; and am exceed- 
 ingly obliged to her for her kindness in proposing to comply with my request as 
 far as she can, notwithstanding. If she is well enough to allow Mr. Trowbridge 
 who lives in Somerville, an interview, it may be rather a pleasure to her to talk of 
 the past days with him. He is a very pleasant gentleman, and really a gentleman. 
 " Yours very truly, S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 571 
 
 To Pliny Freeman, Esq., of New York, on the fourth of Feb- 
 ruary, 1864, Mr. Chase addressed a note, in which was said : 
 
 "Much of what you say lias already been considered. No one 
 understands better than yourself how impossible it is to realize all 
 we think good in theory. Opinion in and out of Congress must 
 necessarily be consulted in practical measures. 
 
 "If I can succeed in giving a permanent, uniform currency to the 
 country, and cany the nation financially through the war without 
 failure, I shall be satisfied, even although obliged to forego much 
 that I think desirable to the solidity and perfection of the financial 
 system." 
 
 Of the same date is the following, being the body of a letter to 
 Dr. Fuller, of Baltimore : 
 
 " I have received your letter and read it attentively. The atrocious 
 rebellion against the National Government has brought great calami- 
 ties upon the country, and those to which you refer are a part of 
 them. It is the part of Christians and patriots to alleviate them as 
 far as practicable. But what can human power do when earthquakes 
 shake the world ?" 
 
 On the 6th, the Secretary wrote to Mr. J. F. Bailey, of New 
 York, a letter saying : 
 
 '• I shall be very glad to give Colonel Porter an appointment, both 
 because of his merits and because of the interest Mr. Godwin feels 
 in him, but I am making no new appointments of assistant agents, 
 except in a few instances where they are called for by the supervis- 
 ing special agents. I shall, however, remember the application of 
 Colonel Porter, and, if practicable, find some place for him. 
 
 "I shall do this, though I confess I have been a good deal hurt by 
 the course of the Evening Post under Mr. Godwin's direction. I am 
 not aware that it has uttered a kind word in reference to me, or given 
 a particle of support to my endeavors to secure the means for carry- 
 ing on the war, for some months past. My report was not even 
 noticed in its columns, while articles accusing the officers of the de- 
 partment of misconduct have been reproduced with editorial sanc- 
 tion, when a little inquiry would have shown how groundless were 
 the complaints. All this is so different from the approval with which 
 Mr. Bryant formerly honored me, and which was more precious to 
 me than any official position, that I can not help being sensible of 
 the change." 
 
 Mr. Thomas Heaton, Esq., of Cincinnati, was, on the 8th of 
 February, thus addressed by letter : 
 
 " All that I meant to say concerning the Times was, that 1 can not 
 possibly have anything to do with purchase or control of newspapers. 
 
 It is not for me to say what others should do. No ' absolution ' is 
 necessary where no crime has been committed. If I were Pope, you
 
 572 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 should have all the ' indulgence ' for the future you could desire. 
 The Louisville convention will not take any unwise action ; but, on 
 the contrary, will give powerful aid, I think, to the unconditional 
 Union men. 
 
 " You must not speak so irreverently of dynasties. Say what 
 you please kindly of your friends, but keep a bridle on the lips when 
 you talk of those you do not like so well." 
 
 Here is a most important letter from the President : 
 
 "Executive Mansion, Washington, February 12, 1864. 
 " Hon. Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I have felt considerable anxiety concerning the 
 Custom House at New York. Mr. Barney has suffered no abatement 
 of my confidence in his honor and integrity ; and yet I am con- 
 vinced that he has ceased to be master of his position. A man by 
 the name of Baily, whom I am unconscious of ever having seen, or, 
 even, having heard of, except in this connection, expects to be, and 
 even now assumes to be, collector de facto, while Mr. Barney remains 
 nominall} r so. This Mr. Baily, as I understand, having been sum- 
 moned as a witness to testify before a committee of the House of 
 Representatives, which purposed investigating the New York Cus- 
 tom House, took occasion to call on the chairman in advance, and to 
 endeavor to smother the investigation, saying, among other things, 
 that, whatever might be developed, the President would take no 
 action, and the committee would thereby be placed unpleasantly. 
 The public interest can not fail to suffer in the hands of this irre- 
 sponsible and unscrupulous man. 1 propose sending Mr. Barney 
 Minister to Portugal, as evidenee of my continued confidence in him; 
 
 and I further propose appointing collector of the customs at 
 
 New York. I wrote the draft of this letter two weeks ago, but delayed 
 sending it for a reason which I will state when I see you. 
 
 "Yours truly, A.LINCOLN." 
 
 If I ever saw a copy of the answer to this letter (supposing it 
 to have been answered in writing), I do not remember the fact. 
 At present, I can not refer to the letter-book of that date. 
 
 "Executive Mansion, Washington, February 13, 1864. 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury: 
 
 " My Dear Sir : On coming up from the reception, I found your 
 note of to-day. I am unwell, even now, and shall be worse this 
 afternoon. If you please, we will have an interview Monday. 
 
 "Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 No copy of the note in question is in my possession. I do not 
 remember that I ever saw any paper purporting to give a copy of 
 that note.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 573 
 
 The next document referred to reads as follows : 
 
 "February 15, 1864 
 "Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I have just called to sec you on the matter 
 mentioned Saturday, and am pained to learn you are suffering 
 too much to be out. I hope you will soon be relieved; meanwhile, 
 have no uneasiness as to the thing to which I am alluding, as I shall 
 do nothing in it until I shall [have] fully conferred with you. 
 
 "Tours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 What was that thing? Was it not the Barney matter? Prob- 
 ably it was. 
 
 The next matter offered reads as follows : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, February 20, 1864. 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Herewith I return the affidavit you handed me. 
 In glancing it over I do not perceive anything necessarily incon- 
 sistent with the practice of detectives, and others, engaged in the 
 business of ' rascal-catching ; ' but a closer consideration might show 
 it. It seems to me that August, the month within which the affiant 
 fixes his first interview with Hanscomb, was really before Hanscomb 
 left Boston and came to New York. 
 
 "Yours truly, A.LINCOLN." 
 
 I can not explain this letter fully. Therefore I shall leave it 
 without any attempt at explanation. 
 
 Next, attention is invited to an extremely interesting and im- 
 portant document. February 22, our hero, sick at heart, no doubt, 
 wrote thus to the President : 
 
 " Washington, February 22, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: It is probable that you have already seen a 
 letter printed in the Constitutional Union, Saturday afternoon, and 
 reprinted in the Intelligencer this morning, written by Senator Ponie- 
 roy, as chairman of a committee of my political friends. 
 
 " I had no knowledge of the existence of this letter before I saw 
 it in the Union. 
 
 "A few weeks ago several gentlemen called on me and expressed 
 their desire, which, they said, was shared by many earnest friends 
 of our common cause, that I would allow my name to be submitted 
 to the consideration of the people in connection with the approach- 
 ing election of Chief Magistrate. I replied that I feared that any 
 such use of my name might impair my usefulness as Head of the 
 Treasury Department, and that I much preferred to continue my 
 labors where 1 am, and free from disturbing influences, until I could 
 honorably retire from them. We had several interviews. After con- 
 sultation and conference with others, they expressed their united 
 judgment that the use of my Dame as proposed would not affect my 
 usefulness in my present position ; and that I ought to consent to it
 
 574 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I accepted their judgment as decisive ; but at the same timo told 
 them, distinctly, that I could render them no help, except what might 
 come incidentally from the faithful discharge of public duties: for 
 these must have my whole time. I said also that I desired them to 
 regard themselves as not only entirely at liberty, but as requested, 
 to withdraw m}- name from consideration, whenever in their judg- 
 ment the public interest would be promoted by so doing. 
 
 " The organization of the committee, I presume, followed these 
 conversations ; but I was not consulted about it, nor have I been 
 consulted as to its action ; nor do I even know who compose it. I 
 have never wished that my name should have a moment's thought in 
 comparison with the common cause of enfranchisement and restora- 
 tion, or be continued before the public a moment after the indication 
 of a preference, by the friends of that cause, for another. 
 
 " I have thought this explanation due to you as well as to myself. 
 If there is anything in my action or position which, in your judg- 
 ment, will prejudice the public interest under my charge, I beg you 
 to say so. I do not wish to administer the Treasury Department one 
 day without your entire confidence. For yourself I cherish sincere 
 respect and esteem; and, permit me to add, affection. Differences 
 of opinion as to administrative action have not changed these senti- 
 ments ; nor have they been changed by assaults upon me by persons 
 who profess themselves the special representatives of your views and 
 policy. You are not responsible for acts not your own ; nor will you 
 hold me responsible except for what I do or say myself. 
 
 "Great numbers now desire your reelection. Should their wishes 
 be fulfilled by the suffrages of the people, I hope to cany with me 
 into private life the sentiments I now cherish, whole and unimpaired. 
 "With great respect, yours truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Lincoln responded : 
 
 "Executive Mansion, Washington, February 23, 1864. 
 "Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Yours of yesterday in relation to the paper 
 issued by Senator Pomero}- was duly received; and I write this note 
 merely to say I will answer a little more fully when I can find time 
 to do so. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 That fuller, eminently creditable, and extremely characteristic 
 answer ran as follows : 
 
 "Executive Mansion, Washington, February 29, 1864. 
 "Hon. Secretary of the Treasury : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I would have taken time to answer yours of the 
 22d sooner, only that I did not suppose anjr evil could result from 
 the delay, especial^ as, by a note, I promptly acknowledged the 
 receipt of yours, and promised a fuller answer. Now, on considera- 
 tion, I find there is really very little to say. . My knowledge of Mr. 
 Pomeroy's letter having been made public came to me only the day 
 you wrote; but I had, in spite of myself, known of its existence sev-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 575 
 
 eral days before. I have not yet read it. and I think I shall not. 
 I was not shocked or surprised by the appearance of the letter, lie- 
 cause I had had knowledge of Mr. Pomeroy's committee, and of 
 secret issues which, I supposed, came from it ; and of secret agents 
 who, I supposed, were sent out hy it, for several weeks. I have known 
 just as little of these things as my friends have allowed me to know. 
 They bring the documents to me, hut I do not read them ; they tell 
 me what they think tit to tell me, but I do not inquire \\>v more. 
 
 "I fully concur with you that neither of us can he justly held 
 responsible for what our respective friends may do without our insti- 
 gation or, countenance ; and I assure you, us you have assured me, 
 that no assault has been made upon you by my instigation, or with 
 my countenance. 
 
 "Whether you shall remain at the head of the Treasury Depart- 
 ment is a question which I will not allow myself to consider from 
 any stand-point other than my judgment of the public service ; and, 
 in that view, I do not perceive occasion for a change. 
 
 "Yours truly, A.LINCOLN." 
 
 I own I feel heart-sick in reviewing this correspondence. If I 
 had not studied so carefully the early life, the growth, the forming 
 character, the characteristic conduct of our hero — in a word, the 
 tenor of his life, 1 and the general expression of his character, if I 
 may so express myself — I would be tempted now to say: "This 
 man is not the man I fancied; he is not the worthy I supposed. 
 Corwin and Johnston were not so far out when they told Lincoln that 
 Chase was embodied perfidy." 
 
 But let us not lose our heads. Let us remember the whole tenor 
 of the life we study. Let us judge particular acts by the whole 
 tenor of that life and not the whole tenor of the life by particular 
 acts. 2 
 
 Would this man have so trusted me, after receiving my birthday 
 letter, a and thus learning in what spirit I intended to compose this 
 work — would he have put into my trust, as we see that he did, the 
 inmost secrets of his life — had he not felt conscious of an ultimate 
 title to self-respect and to the respect of the whole world '.' 
 
 Chase's conduct toward Lincoln was not right. Yet Chase was 
 a true worthy, as was Lincoln also. 
 
 March 4, the President said to Mr. Chase, in writing: 
 
 "In consequence of a call Mr. Villard makes on me, having a QOte 
 from you to him, I am induced to say I have no wish for the publica- 
 tion of tho correspondence between yourself and me in relation to 
 
 introduction. 2 Jbid. 
 
 3 Anto Chapter I., and Post Chapter LI.
 
 576 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the Pomeroy circular — in fact, rather prefer to avoid an unnecessary 
 exhibition ; yet you are at liberty, without in the least offending me, 
 to allow the publication if you choose. 
 
 " Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 To J. M. Ganson, March 7, the Secretary wrote a letter contain- 
 ing the sentences : 
 
 " I think there is now too much paper money. The local banks 
 ought to retire circulation, and take their places in a national system. 
 It would then be easy, with a proper system of taxation, and due 
 economy in expenditure, to resume specie payments within much 
 less time than is now commonly supposed. In my judgment, specie 
 payments could be resumed with ease within six months, and even 
 in less time." 
 
 Here is another talk about the Presidency, in a letter to Hon. A. 
 G. Riddle, then consul at Matanzas : 
 
 "I am trying to keep all Presidential aspirations out of my head. 
 I fancy that as President I could take care of the Treasury better 
 with the help of a Secretary than I can as Secretary without the 
 help of a President. But our Ohio folks don't want me enough, if 
 they want me at all, to make it proper for me to allow my name to 
 be used. 
 
 " I hope the time is not distant when I can honorably separate 
 myself from political affairs altogether, leaving the new era to the 
 new men whom God may raise up for it." 
 
 April 10 is the date of the following : 
 
 "My Dear Mrs. Magruder : I owe you a thousand apologies for 
 not sooner attending to your request about the pictures ; the omis- 
 sion is really inexcusable, but I shall trust your goodness to pardon 
 it, especially in consideration of prompt attention to the request re- 
 newed in your letter by Mr. Malet. You shall have your pictures at 
 the earliest possible moment if I can procure their release; and at 
 any rate, you shall be very early informed whether I succeed or no. 
 
 "We were much gratified by your kindness in sending the photo- 
 graphs of yourself, the captain, and the young ladies. I hope you re- 
 ceived those of my folks sent you in return. 
 
 "It is late, but let me trust, not too late to congratulate you and 
 
 Lady Abinger, and especially Lord A , on the recent acquisition 
 
 made to every one by the marriage which, in taking and giving, will, 
 I trust, prove a benediction. 
 
 " Tell the captain that I think a great deal of him, and never miss 
 an opportunity of vindicating him when assailed, which indeed, is 
 seldomer than he seems to think. By those, for whose opinion he 
 would care most, his motives and character are understood and appre- 
 ciated as he would have them. How deeply I regret that anything 
 should separate him from a service in which he won so much honor, 
 I need not say. 
 
 "How all things have chauged since we first met, and how rapidly
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASK. 577 
 
 all things are changing still! But my faith in God's design! for our 
 country forbids me to doubt that out of all the ilia of the preeenl a 
 peaceful and happy and glorious futuro is to emerge. May He grant it ! 
 
 "lean not Bee what possible obstacle there can be to your visiting 
 Washington, but I will inquire to-morrow, when I see Mr, Stanton, 
 about the pictures. To-day is Sunday. 
 
 "With host regards to Captain Magruder and the ladies, in which 
 
 may I beg Lord A to take a part. Believe me. 
 
 " Sincerely your friend, 
 
 " Mrs. M. M. Magruder. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 April 11, the same pen addressed to Dr. Nathan B. Chase, sur- 
 geon United States Volunteers, at Bowling Green, Kentucky, the 
 following words of consolation : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Your letter conveying the intelligence of the 
 death of your sister, my dear cousin Mrs. Leonard, has just reached 
 me. In her case to die was gain in the highest sense, and while her 
 friends lose her, she gains new friends and in a dearer companionship. 
 
 " I inclose a letter to Mr. Mellen. I w 7 rite no more in any case and 
 in few so much. Your cousin and friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 April 13, General Banks was thus addressed by letter : 
 
 " Dear General : This letter will reach you, I hope, in the midst 
 of decisive successes. The rebellion must be crushed this summer, or 
 we shall be plunged into the greatest financial difficulties. The im- 
 mense disbursements, incident to the preparations for the campaign 
 just begun, are well nigh overwhelming in their demands. 
 
 " Our immediate anxieties are absorbed by this great necessity ; 
 but there are other matters almost as urgent. It is my firm belief 
 that this war has grown out of national injustice in slavery. It must 
 be prolonged, as it has been, bj' the continuance of this injustice. 
 You havebeen the honored instrument of making Louisiana a free 
 State. While I regret some of the incidents in the accomplishment 
 of this work, I rejoice in the work itself. It is good and great; but 
 to make it fruitful as it should be, more is needed. Your are a Mas- 
 sachusetts man, and in Massachusetts all men are equal before the 
 law. Your actions must be tried by Massachusetts standards. It 
 pained me greatly that men, supposed to represent your ideas and 
 supporting your proposed candidate for governor, thought fit to 
 stigmatize the free State men, who did not see questions of expedi- 
 ency and principle with their lights, as negro equality men. Depend 
 upon it, dear general, no permanent honor is to come to anybody 
 from such a spirit. There is a grand opportunity in Louisiana t<> 
 establish institutions on the solid hasis of justice and wisdom, bet 
 all who arc alike qualified have political rights alike. Let the right 
 to vote be determined not by nativity or complexion, hut by intelli- 
 gence, character, and patriotism. Let all vote who have proved their 
 devotion to their country by service in the field, and all who, being 
 unconvicted of crime or misdemeanor, can read and write, ami, alter 
 the first election, are found to possess a complete knowledge of the
 
 578 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 constitutions of the State and the United States. It is not difficult to 
 regulate suffrage on this basis. Let the Constitutional Convention 
 authorize an enrollment of the voters who possess those qualifica- 
 tions, by providing commissioners in each parish to examine those 
 who desire to exercise the elective franchise and for giving to all 
 found qualified certificates of qualification as electors. After the first 
 General Assembly shall be elected, the legislature can be authorized 
 to provide for the necessary examinations. These are only hints of 
 modes in which practical details can be arranged. Better will 
 doubtless suggest themselves. The important point is to have suf- 
 frage extended equally to all equally qualified. 
 
 "If this can be accomplished in Louisiana, the example will be 
 followed in all the Gulf States; and probably in all the States now 
 in rebellion. And what an honor to lead in such a work which, more 
 than anything that I can think of, will consolidate Union and insure 
 against future disturbances. 
 
 " May this honor be yours ! It will be if you will. 
 
 "Your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 This interesting document bears date April 14 : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I send you a copy of my letter to the Committee 
 on Finance, to which I referred yesterday, and add another to the 
 same committee, which was sent 3-esterday. 
 
 " The first urges the exclusion from circulation of all credit cur- 
 rency not sanctioned by Congress. 
 
 " The second urges the repression of gold speculation. 
 
 " Both measures are of great importance, the first of the greatest. 
 
 "If Congress will make these measures laws, and add a national 
 banking act which will make the national banking system safe, and 
 at the same time acceptable, and a tax law which will yield, with 
 duties on imports, four hundred millions of revenue, or half, at least, 
 of the expenditure, there will be no need to fear financial disasters, 
 unless we shall have \uiexpected military disasters. 
 
 "I have taken the liberty heretofore, and perhaps too pertina- 
 ciously, to urge all possible economy compatible with efficiency; but 
 I hope that the importance of it will be thought a sufficient justifi- 
 cation. 
 
 " I am glad to understand that the military work of suppressing 
 the rebellion is now to be prosecuted with system, and the utmost 
 vigor. With system and vigor and economy in the conduct of the 
 war, and with the financial measures I have indicated, we ma}- ex- 
 pect, through Divine favor, an early and successful termination of 
 the struggle, and the restoration of peace with an unbroken Union 
 of Free States. Yours very truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 At New York, on the 15th, the President was thus again ad- 
 dressed by letter: 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Two topics seem to occupy exclusively the atten- 
 tion of New York — speculation and the Metropolitan Fair. To-day 
 the tidings from Paducah create a momentary diversion, something
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAXD CHASE. 579 
 
 in this way: 'A horrible affair that at Paducah 1' 'Yes; really, 
 'twas terrible.' Then a pause. Then : ' How s gold to-day ?' 
 
 "The sales which have been made here yesterday and to-day seem 
 to have reduced the price; but the redaction is only temporary, un- 
 less most decisive measures for reducing the amount of circulation 
 and arresting the rapid increase of debt he adopted. These meas- 
 ures can only he put in operation by Congress, ami Congress will he 
 slow to act with the promptitude absolutely indispensable, unless you 
 manifest a deep sense of their importance, and make members feel 
 that you regard their adoption as essential to the success of your 
 administration. 
 
 '•Thus tar every financial measure has been crowned with success; 
 but I have always warned gentlemen in Congress and in the admin- 
 istration that debt could not be increased indefinitely by selling 
 bonds and issuing notes; and the time has come when taxation and 
 retrenchment must play their parts. They ought to have been called 
 into activity a year ago; but it is not yet too late. Without them it 
 is my duty to say, emphatically, there is no hope of continued finan- 
 cial success. 
 
 "Next to taxation and retrenchment, a uniform national currency 
 is most important. This can be accomplished only through the 
 passage of theXational Banking Law now before Congress ; or by some 
 bill embracing its leading amendments of the act of last year. In 
 my judgment, the banks organized under this law should pay their 
 full share of taxation ; but they should he taxed under national and 
 not under State laws. The National Government will have to pay 
 interest on debt, current expenses, and, so long as the war lasts, its 
 extraordinary expenses (vast sums) from taxes. Duties from imports 
 are the only exclusive resource of the nation, as distinguished from 
 the States. Why should not the national banks and their property 
 ami franchises be added? I see no good reason; while uniform tax- 
 ation by Congress would put all the banks throughout the country 
 upon an equal footing, and secure the unity and completeness of the 
 system. Some of the New York members have urged Bubjection to 
 State taxes, and some concessions, I think unwisely, have been made 
 to their wishes. It would be much better could they be prevailed on 
 to yield their wishes to the public good. 
 
 '• The National Banking Bill should be followed by the bill to tax 
 local bank circulation, and prohibit, after some fixed period, its fur- 
 ther issue. 
 
 "These two bills will give us what we must have, if success is 
 wanted — a national currency. 
 
 •' If you concur with me in these judgments, may I not hope that 
 you will send for such members as are disposed, from any cause, to 
 be lukewarm or opposed, and urge them to give their needful support 
 to the bill. Mr. Hooper, in the House, and Mr. Sherman, in the Sen- 
 ate, will gladly furnish you ali the necessary information as to the 
 views of senators and representatives. 
 
 'Since I have been writing a gentleman has come in who tells me 
 that gold, after declining to 170 and 171, was carried up again on the 
 news of the disaster at Paducah, exaggerated as much as possible by 
 interested and unfriendly parties, to 174. 
 38
 
 580 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "I hope to be able to go to Philadelphia to-morrow, and to return 
 to Washington Monday evening or Tuesday morning. 
 
 •' With the greatest respect and regard, yours truly, 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Of quite different tenor is the next offering. April 19, Mr. 
 Chase, at "Washington, wrote as follows: 
 
 ' : My Dear Friend : It is true that we do what we most need 
 or desire to do with the time we can command, but not true that we 
 can command time for all we greatly desire to do. Certain it is that 
 I greatly desire to minister to your happiness, and as you assure me 
 that my writing does contribute to it, I give to you more time than 
 anj* other friend I have in this way. Still it is little compared with 
 my wish to give you pleasure. 
 
 " I wish you found more comfort in Nashville. I am sure you 
 must find a blessed satisfaction in ministering to the wants of the 
 needy, and the sick, and the wounded. May God breathe into your 
 own heart the comfort }*ou bring to others. 
 
 '•Inclosed with this I send a letter to Governor Johnson. You 
 will. I fear, find little gratification from his society; but there may 
 be ladies of his family whom you Avill like. I suppose the governor, 
 like eveiybody else in these busy days, is overwhelmed with cares, 
 and has little time for social enjoyments. 
 
 "Mrs. Douglas is, indeed, a charming woman ; but has no posi- 
 tion in the Treasury Department, nor in any other, so fir as I know. 
 She once, long ago, I believe, did some copying; the story that she 
 has a clerkship probably grew out of thi?. I have not seen her for 
 more than a year ; and there is not one employed in the department 
 who to other claims does not join that of real pecuniary need — need 
 sometimes most distressing. 
 
 " I inclose a letter to Governor Johnson which may possibly be of 
 use — there, you may judge that I am hurried by this repetition. And 
 now, leaving much undone that ought to be done, I must hurry up to 
 the Capitol to attend to some work there. So, may heaven bless and 
 keep you. Your friend, 
 
 - Miss Susan Walker, Nashville, Term. 1 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The following is dated April 19 : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Greeley: Your letter was put into my hands 
 
 'Here is the inclosure referred to in the foregoing: 
 
 "Washington, April 19, 1864. 
 
 " Dear Governor : Allow me to introduce to you Miss Susan Walker, my 
 friend, and the sister of my friend the late Judge Walker, of Cincinnati, and Sears 
 C. Walker, distinguished for his attainments in science. 
 
 " Impelled by a desire to relieve the suffering in our hospitals, this most estimable 
 lady has gone to Nashville and undertaken the office of a nurse. Let me beg you 
 to render her any service, and extend to her any courtesy in your power. 
 
 " Your friend, 
 '•Hon. Andrew Johnson. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. .">H1 
 
 in Philadelphia, yesterday morning. I will try to prepare an ap- 
 peal unless too much badgered. It is hardly worth while, however, 
 
 for I can not do the work hall' so well as you have already done it in 
 the Tribune. Still I will try my hand. 
 
 ''The speculators got a very had black eye last week; but will 
 rally, of course. The scare did Congress good, though many mem- 
 
 bers persist in saddling the national banks with State taxat ion. This, 
 if persisted in, is going to he very mischievous. It will make parties 
 everywhere' about much or little taxation, and hurt our side. Let 
 these banks, and the capital iu them, be reserved as exclusive sub 
 jects of national taxation, and let them be taxed by an uniform rule 
 all over the country, as much as they can bear. In this May we get 
 a fruitful source of revenue, and shall soon be able to let off many 
 vexatious small taxes. Besides national banks should, in principle, 
 be subject only to national taxation just as foreign commerce is. Let 
 the States have the real estate exclusively, and concurrently private 
 personal propert}- and transactions. Let the aSTation have exclusively 
 foreign commerce and national banks, ami concurrently private per- 
 sonal property and transactions. Such a division will work well. 
 
 "Yours cordially, 
 "Hon. H. Greeley. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 April 21 is the date of the following acknowledgment : 
 
 " My Dear Sir: I am glad to learn that you propose to publish 
 your notes of the proceedings of the Peace Conference of 1861. I 
 well remember j'our assiduity in taking those notes, and have no 
 doubt that their publication will form an important contribution to 
 history. The fidelitj' with which you reproduced, a few months since, 
 the only speech of any length made by me in that body, surprised 
 me. If your whole report proves equally correct, it will be as ac- 
 curate as it will be interesting and important. 
 
 <• Yours very truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Hon. L. E. Chittenden, Register of Treasury. Washington, D. C." 
 
 April 26 was marked by the writing of this letter, with many 
 
 others : 
 
 "My Dear Mrs. Bailey: I am sure Katie would not be pleased 
 if made aware what use has been made of her name, so tar as that 
 use has any political import. Her own good sense teaches her, ami 
 it is my earnest wish, that she should keep entirely aloof from every- 
 thing connected with politics. Doubtless, however, she would listen 
 with interest to any proposition promising advantage to you. 
 
 ■ A.8 to the X<ir Era, I know nothing except what you know, nor 
 so much if you that it supports any Presidential candidate. T see 
 no reason for not st'l I i'tilc your list to any publisher wishing to buy 
 it, and willing to supply arrears to subscribers if the paper be hon- 
 estly and earnestly anti-slavery ; nor do I see any reason tor de- 
 clining to address a circular to the subscribers stating what the ar- 
 rangement is. You need not express any preference for anybody or 
 opposition to anj-body, or even commit yourself to any recommenda- 
 tion of the paper to be applied beyond simple advice to read, and if
 
 582 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 they approve the paper to renew their subscription at the expiration 
 of their current year. 
 
 "But of all this you can judge as well as I. My own situation 
 here is far from agreeable, and perhaps I am not exactly in the 
 best mood to give good advice. 
 
 "Katie has been quite ill, and is still far from well. The rest of 
 us are in good health. Love to the dear girls, and believe me, 
 " Most sincerely your friend, 
 
 "Mrs. M. L. Bailey. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 And this also is an issue of April 26 : 
 
 "Dear Sir : I shall direct Mr. Cisco to send his advertisements 
 to the Railroad Journal, and shall transmit the same direction to 
 other agents of the department. I appreciate the ability and spirit 
 with which it has supported the financial measures of the govern- 
 ment, and take pleasure in availing myself of this opportunity of 
 thanking you personally for that support. 
 
 "I do not know what the phrase, 'Mr. Chase is near-sighted and 
 does not see men,' signifies. If it means that I see principles rather 
 than men, it is true; but if it means that I do not appreciate faithful 
 services rendered to the cause and to the country, it is not true. I 
 can not gratify every person who claims recognition, and least of all 
 those who claim recognition of services personal to myself, for I 
 want no services to myself, except so far as, for the time being, I 
 represent ideas or measures. 
 
 "I see that gold is again going up. This is not unexpected. Mili- 
 tary success is indispensable to its permanent decline, or, in the 
 absence of military success, taxation sufficient upon State bank issues 
 and State bank credits to secure as an exclusive national currency; 
 and sufficient, also, to defray so large a proportion of current expend- 
 itures as to reduce the necessity for borrowing to the minimum. 
 
 " Very truly yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "S. DeWitt Bloodgood, Esq., New York City." 
 
 May 2 is the date of this touching letter to Hon. Flamen Ball: 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Ball : I have this moment received a note from 
 Webster Elmes, written when I was in Philadelphia, announcing the 
 death of your dear wife. The intelligence was a great and sad sur- 
 prise to me ; and I can well conceive the desolation and anguish 
 which the terrible calamity brings into your home. May the Father 
 of mercies sustain you in this fearful bereavement. M}* heart's ten- 
 derest and most affectionate sympathies are with you and your dear 
 children. Your sincere friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 May 4, Mr. Chase, in a letter to General Blunt, said : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, May 4, 1864. 
 " It is impossible for me to look after all the acts of all the agents of 
 the department; but whenever informed of any delinquency, I insti- 
 tute proper investigation, and, if the delinquency is found actually 
 to exist, take proper measures with the delinquent. I try, also,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 583 
 
 through traveling agents, to keep informed. Of course nothing 
 
 more than approximation to what I desire is possible, lir. Mellen 
 is instructed to inquire about Stockton. 
 
 "I was surprised and sorry t<> Irani that you were not to command 
 tho advance on Shreveport; but were relieved from the command of 
 the frontier. I only learned it from the public prints; for the 
 administration of each department is almost as disconnected with 
 that of the others as tin; government of Ohio from that of Kansas, 
 What you had achieved led me to expect that you would be required 
 to achieve much more. 
 
 "As to Mr. Gantt I hope you will find yourself mistaken. 80 far 
 as it is possible to judge from conversation, he is thoroughly loyal 
 and thoroughly convinced that reconstruction can only take place on 
 the basis of universal freedom. I fear that we must be content to 
 be deceived sometimes. It seems impossible to guard absolutely 
 against it. 
 
 "Your views of policy coincide with my own. and had it seemed 
 to be tho will of the people that I should take the responsibilities of 
 government I should not have refused, though I could not seek such 
 a place. But, through the natural partialities of the people for the 
 President, and the systematic operation of the Postmaster-General, 
 and those holding office under him, a preference for the reelection of 
 Mr. Lincoln was created, to which I thought it my duty to bow cheer- 
 fully and unhesitatingly. It did not cost me a regret to do so. That, 
 since then, I have been so maliciously pursued by the Blair family, is 
 what was wholly unexpected. That their slanders have the apparent, 
 though I am sure not the real, indorsement of the President, is a 
 new source of pain to me. No good can, I think, come of the prob- 
 able identification of the next administration with the family. The 
 political future, in consequence of it, has already become clouded 
 and doubtful. 
 
 " We are looking now with the greatest solicitude to the operations 
 of Grant, and the co-working forces under him; and with hardly 
 less to the operations on the Red River. The defeat of Banks is an 
 unexpected disaster; but will, we all hope, be soon retrieved." 
 
 The copy of this letter does not show to whom the original was 
 addressed : 
 
 ''Washington, D. C, May 4. 1864. 
 '• My Dear Belle: The subscription for the 5-20's is all filled up, 
 and your only chance to get United States bonds is to subscribe for 
 the 10-40*8 at five per cent, or buy other bonds at premium. If you 
 choose to send me your S2,000 I will do what seems most for your 
 interest. As government interest is paid in gold, the rate, as long as 
 gold keeps at present rates, on the 10-40 s is equal to eight and three- 
 fourths; but if Congress gives me the measures I want, and Uncle 
 Abe will stop spending so fast, 1 mean to bring gold and paper on 
 a level by resumption of specie payments within a year, then live 
 per cent, will be five per cent, and no more, but everything will be 
 cheaper. It is a shame that our expenditures are so enormous.
 
 584 
 
 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 That is more in our way than anything else; and I can not tell 
 what the upshot will be. 
 
 " Mv hopes, under God, are almost wholly in Grant and his soldiers. 
 May our Heavenly Father give them success and bring peace! My 
 heart sinks when I think of the waste of life and treasure, and the 
 prospect of greater waste. 
 
 " Katie is quite well again. Nettie is happy in New York. Please 
 tell me more about your own dear self and 3 r our dear children, and 
 all about your gettings on. 
 
 " You are right. I do love you, dearty, dear Belle. 
 
 "Your affectionate uncle, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Do you know that when Alice was here at Kate's wedding she 
 took the palm of admiration from everybody. She is as sweet as 
 she can be." 
 
 To Mr. Jay Cooke, the same pen, under date May 5, wrote as 
 follows : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Cooke : I hope my wrathiness was not excessive. 
 Indeed, it was vexation in thinking that all my labors to serve our 
 country had found recompense, so far as Mr. Lincoln's special friends 
 were concerned, and with his apparent (but, as I hope and believe, 
 merely apparent) indorsement, only in outrageous calumny. I sel- 
 dom consult personal considerations in my public conduct, and so 
 suppressed my inclination to resign my office and denounce the con- 
 spiracy, of which the Blairs are the most visible embodiments. After 
 returning from Baltimore I conferred with Governor Brough and 
 other friends, who were in earnest in advising against resignation; 
 and I yielded to their judgment, which, indeed, coincided with my 
 own, though exceedingly conjtrary to my impulses. Immediately 
 afterward I was obliged to visit Philadelphia and was absent from 
 Wednesday morning until Saturday night. On Monday I learned 
 that the Ohio delegation had taken the matter up, and that one of 
 them had called on the President, who disavowed in the most explicit 
 terms all connection with, or responsibility for, Blair's assault, and 
 expressed his decided disapproval of it. As this was merel} 7 verbal, 
 however, the delegation determined to call on the President in a 
 body, and make and obtain a distinct statement in writing — on their 
 part, of their advice, my action, and their convictions as what was 
 due from the President to me, to Ohio, and to the country — and on 
 his part, such reply as he should see fit to give. 
 
 Thus the matter now stands. It seems now only simple justice to 
 me, that every friend who believes I have done my dut} 7 , should, by 
 voice, pen, and press, utter the sentiments which this outrageous 
 attack must kindle in honest minds of indignation against the un- 
 worthy men who have set on foot and propagated these vile calum- 
 nies." 
 
 This is one of the most precious letters of the month : 
 
 " Washington, D. O, May 5, 1864. 
 " My Darling Nettie: It is a shame that I should be so poor cor
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 585 
 
 respondent; but then remember how many more words I pal on a 
 paper than you do, and how little time I have for anything but bard 
 office work. 
 
 "All ynw letters give greal pleasure. Yon are certainly the genius 
 of the family for this sort of composition. Every one of your letters 
 is quoted and commended in a way that must not excite your vanity. 
 But, really, it is quite delightful to read your free and easy talk — 
 just what letters should contain to be interesting. 
 
 ''Katie is almost herself again after her illness, which frightened 
 me not a little. Her husband was all devotion, and to be so petted 
 it was almost worth while to be sick. We have just been riding out 
 under the hills which skirt the city on the north, across Rock Creek 
 into Georgetown, and hack through that old town. 
 
 "When I had written thus far, the gentlemen I was waiting for, at 
 my room in the department, came in, and I went to work with them, 
 and have had two hours or so of pretty busy writing and reading. 
 It is now ten o'clock and I am pretty tired. So I shall not write 
 much more to-night. 
 
 "I wish I were out of official harness. It certainly grows more 
 irksome. I have toiled hard and patiently, and it is painful to find 
 my labors made the occasion of calumny and reviling. I am thank- 
 ful, however, that no calumny or reviling can destroy any good I 
 have accomplished. So, dear child, do good for the sake of doing it, 
 not for reward or applause. Your heavenly Father will see and 
 bless you. 
 
 "Your affectionate father, 
 
 " Miss Nettie Chase. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 At last, the true philosophy respecting failure and success begins 
 to make itself comprehended by our hero, long in error on that 
 subject, and perhaps never quite convinced of the whole truth re- 
 ferred to. 
 
 In a letter of the same date to Hon. Ed. Haight, our disap- 
 pointed financier and presidential aspirant said : 
 
 "I presume some of the newspapers arc just now specially busy 
 with my name and fame. I have very little time to read ; but am 
 not in the least concerned about misrepresentations, and have passed 
 through more than one storm of calumny, doing my duty, and, God 
 helping, can pass through this." 
 
 How our Minister of Finance could, in the midst of great con- 
 cern about great things, attend to little matters, may seem fairly 
 indicated by this extract from a letter, dated May 6, and addressed 
 — I must disclose it — to a lady : 
 
 "I have the least possible time for correspondence, and you must 
 not attribute my silence to want of interest in you. I feel all you 
 can reasonably ask, though I can not show it by much writing.
 
 586 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " Please do not set me down as it fault-finder, if I say I wish you 
 would pay more attention to your composition and spelling. One 
 so intelligent as you are ought to take all possible pains to be cor- 
 rect. Just to show you what I mean, I do by you what I sometimes 
 do by Nettie, mark all the places where there are mistakes in gram- 
 mar or spelling and send your letter back to you. Take a diction- 
 ary, a grammar, and some book on English composition, and deter- 
 mine that you will correct the mistakes, and make no more in future 
 letters." 1 
 
 The same day was written this letter to Colonel R. C. Parsons : 
 
 " My Dear Parsons : I have seldom felt greater pleasure than on 
 receiving this morning your note of the 4th. That you are in a fair 
 way of recovery is an exceeding delight, and that you realize to 
 whom you are indebted for your restoration and your obligations to 
 Him for His goodness is, also, a satisfaction I can hardly express. 
 The older I grow the more I feel how trivial are all things compared 
 with God's favor, oftenest shown by severest trials. 
 
 " You must now be especially careful of your health, and do what- 
 ever is needful to perfect recovery. 
 
 " I do not know that I can do anj^thing towards insuring you an 
 opportunity to visit Europe without expense to you ; but I will try 
 what can be done. Whatever I can properly do myself in the way 
 of leave of absence, will be done of course. 
 
 " It has occurred to me that you would find the climate of Cali- 
 fornia beneficial to you, and I have thought of recalling Brown and 
 making him collector and sending you as special agent in his place. 
 The compensation would be nine dollars a day and ten cents a mile 
 travel. What would you think of this ? The present collector is a 
 most efficient officer and would, until your health is fully equal to 
 them, relieve you of your. heaviest duties. 
 
 " Should you dislike this arrangement, how would it suit to take a 
 voyage to California, either by the Isthmus or the Cape, and return? 
 This could be easily arranged either by sending you in charge of the 
 
 iHere is a letter of like indication, dated May 7, and addressed to Major Dwight 
 Bannister: 
 
 " My Dear Major: The most important thing first, Schuckers and I both ap- 
 prove of your intended marriage. Give my warmest regards to the bride, and tell 
 her that if she makes you as good a wife as you will be to her a good husband, I 
 am sure the moon will shine on no happier pair. 
 
 " I trust the warehouse business altogether to you, and shall be satisfied with 
 whatever you do. I prefer a sale even at $8,000, or a permanent lease at not less 
 than $700. Either will suit ; and if anything better can be done, so much the better. 
 
 " I shall continue trying to provide for the enormous disbursements for a time . 
 how long I can not say. It seems as if there were no limit to expense. Contrary 
 to all rules, the spigot in Uncle Abe's barrel is made twice as big as the bung- 
 hole. He may have been a good flat-boatman and rail-splitter, but he certainly 
 never learned the true science of coopering. 
 
 " Very truly yours, S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 587 
 
 next remittance by Panama, or on board a new revenue steamer 
 which I am about to send round Cape Horn. 
 
 " I talk to you as if I was certain of remaining where I am for 
 months to come; but this depends. My first impulse on hearing of 
 Blair's outrageous speech and its apparent — though I am sun- not in- 
 tended — indorsement by Mr. Lincoln, was to resign at once and re- 
 turn to Ohio, and appeal to the people who have always sustained 
 me. But several of our delegation, and especially Governor Brongh, 
 dissuaded me, and I surrendered impulse to what they thought, and 
 probably correctly, to be duty. But the indorsement must be disa- 
 vowed by an act as public as that which made it apparently such. 
 The delegation will ask this as due to the State, and I presume it 
 will be cheerfully conceded by Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 "This done, I shall have no personal ground of complaint ; though 
 nothing can change the character of the Blair-Lincoln transaction so 
 far as the public is concerned. Yours faithfully, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 To Hon. Delano T. Smith, May 9, the Secretary said in a letter: 
 
 " I trust that the slaughter at Fort Pillow will not be permitted to 
 go unpunished. In my judgment, the highest officers in the rebel 
 service, now prisoners in our hands, should be made to pay the pen- 
 alty for this outrage. 
 
 " It would do something toward the prevention of them if the 
 President would revoke his Amnesty Proclamation, and insist upon 
 putting colored soldiers upon the same footing with all the rest." 
 
 Here is a letter which may be sharply criticised : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, May 9, 1864. 
 
 " Dear Governor : Accept my warmest gratitude for your letter. 
 My chief concern in the attacks made on me springs from the convic- 
 tion that the influence of the men who make them must necessarily 
 divide the friends of the Union and Freedom, unless the President 
 shall cast it off, of which I have little hope. I am willing to be my- 
 self its victim ; but grieve to think our countiy may be also. 
 
 " Most sincerely, your friend, 
 
 " His Excellency W. A. Buckingham. S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "P. S. How strikingly the economy and prudence shown b}- the 
 narration of your excellent message contrasts with the extravagance 
 and recklessness which mark the disbursement of national treasure.'' 
 
 To Mr. John J. Cisco, in a letter dated the same day, Mr. Chase 
 said, among other things : 
 
 " The news from the Mississippi and Eed River is deplorable; but 
 I hope that the worst has already happened, and that no further dis- 
 aster need be looked for in that quarter. 
 
 "So far as they have been heard from, the movements on this side 
 of the Mississippi, especially those under the direction of Grant, of 
 Mead's and Burnside's armies, and under the direction of Butler
 
 588 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 south of the James River, and under the direction of Sherman from 
 Chattanooga, have been successful ; and we are looking for the best 
 results. Of course there may be reverses in some quarters; but the 
 general success seems to be reasonably sure." 
 
 To his clear friend, Miss Susan Walker, Mr. Chase, on the 10th, 
 wrote as follows : 
 
 " My Dear Friend : Your kind note from Nashville must be an- 
 swered, if only by a word. 
 
 " Why did you not tell me that you were going there with Dr. and 
 Mrs. Bartholow? I do not know that if you had it would have made 
 any difference ; but it would at any rate have done no harm to inform 
 me, and possibly some word from me to the Secretary of War might 
 have been useful to the doctor. I say possibly, for there seems so 
 much that is merely impulsive in the action of the War Department 
 that nothing can be anticipated with certainty concerning it. 
 
 "Please write me when you are coming to Washington. I wish to 
 be here when you come, and I have been meditating an absence for 
 a few days. 
 
 " I use as much philosophy as I can in relation to the Blairs; and 
 really want to act in relation to them upon Christian principles. 
 But I can not well command my equanimity when I reflect upon the 
 unprovoked character of their assaults; the damage I see being done 
 to our cause and country ; and the apparent indifference to it all of 
 Mr. Lincoln, who, though he disclaims all sympathy with them in 
 their speech and action, does nothing to arrest either. 
 
 " But I must not dwell on this, especially at this moment, when the 
 news from the field encourages us to hope for so much. God grant 
 the hope may be realized. 
 
 " Sincerely your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 To Mr. William Warder, of Springfield, Ohio, Mr. Chase said, 
 in a letter dated May 12 : 
 
 " I can not agree with you that the country would suffer greatly, if 
 at all, from my leaving the Cabinet. Inasmuch, however, as those 
 whose opinions I am bound to respect agree in requiring me to 
 remain at my post, I shall do so, for the present, at least. My future 
 will be governed by circumstances; but will, I trust, never be such as 
 to cost me the esteem of my friends."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND chase. 589 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 THE "FERRY BOY AND THE FINANCIER" — TOWARD THE RESIGNATION. 
 
 AY 12, Mr. Trowbridge was addressed as follows: 
 
 M 
 
 •• My Dear Mr. Trowbridge : I have read The Ferry Boy. You 
 have certainly thrown a great deal of attraction about what I re- 
 member as very dry facts. Indeed, from information or fancy, you 
 have collected some facts which are quite out of my recollection. 
 One of these is the account of an adventure on the river when I lost 
 my way in the woods going from Cleveland to Worthington. 
 
 •■ I hope for the sake of the publishers that the book will meet 
 with a great sale, and I wish I knew how to help them; but I have 
 no faculty in circulating anything about myself, unless it be 'Green- 
 backs.' Should the book reach a second edition. I think you can 
 make essential improvements in it. Meanwhile, I shall be well con- 
 tent if the people give me credit for being half what I am represented 
 to be. 
 
 '• Of late, indeed, it seems as if I was in danger of losing my char- 
 acter as well as my labor, while doing my best to serve the country. 
 Be it so ; I can stand it if the country can. 
 
 " Very truly 3-ours, 
 
 "J. F. Trowbridge, Esq., Somerville, Mass. * S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Why, that is well ! That is the right tone, in sooth ! 
 And, writing the same day, to Mr. A. J. Flonunerfelt, of Phila- 
 delphia, the same pen well said : 
 
 "Accept my thanks for the very kind sentiments you express 
 toward me. My only ambition is to be of service to the country, 
 leaving the contest ior the highest place to which you refer, to those 
 who care more about it." 
 
 Did our hero care as much as he should have done about the fine 
 arts? I think not. But here is a letter of good indication, as far 
 as it goes : 
 
 "Washington, D. C. May 12, 1SG4. 
 
 "Sir: I inclose a letter from Sidney Brooks. Ksq., of Newport, 
 B. I., in which he informs me of the arrival at New fork of Powers' 
 statue of 'America,' and expressing a wish that the Government
 
 590 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 may purchase it. The purchase of this statue was strongly recom- 
 mended to Congress some years ago by Mr. Everett, and other gen- 
 tlemen who had seen it, and were competent to judge of its merits. 
 I formed at that time the opinion that it should become the property 
 of the Government, and now respectfully recommend the subject to 
 your consideration. Very truly yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Hon. Jno. H. Rice, Chairman Committee on Public Buildings, Mouse 
 of Representatives^ 
 
 The next piece of evidence I offer reads as follows : 
 
 "Washington, D. C, May 13, 1864. 
 
 "Dear Sir: I have received your letter of the 9th instant, and 
 thank you for it. Friendly suggestion or criticism is never unwel- 
 come to me. 
 
 "I think I see the financial condition very clearly, and there are 
 few things to which my attention is called by friends or opponents, 
 which have not alread}- been subjects of anxious reflection. I 
 think there is no real difficulty in carrying our finances safely and 
 triumphantly through this war, except that which has embarrassed 
 and retarded the war itself. Congress is unwilling to take the deci- 
 sive steps which are indispensable to the highest degree of public 
 credit; and the Executive does not, I fear, sufficiently realize the 
 importance of an energetic and comprehensive policy in all depart- 
 ments of administration. It is the part of Congress, by adequate 
 taxation, to provide for so large a portion of current expenditure as 
 to reduce the amounts to be borrowed within limits which leave no 
 doubt as to the ability of the country to provide both for principal 
 and interest. It is its duty also to set apart such funds for the pay- 
 ment of interest and for the reduction of principal, as will be seen 
 and confessed b}' all impartial minds to be sufficient for the object; 
 and it is its further duty to limit expenditures to objects of the most 
 urgent importance, and restrict them by the most rigid economy 
 compatible with efficiency. 
 
 " Congress shrinks from adequate taxation; it shrinks from the 
 necessary appropriation of specie funds; it takes but little oversight 
 either of the character or of the amount of expenditure. Here are 
 our greatest difficulties. They may prove insuperable. We can not 
 borrow at moderate rates of interest under legislation which does 
 not inspire confidence, and we can not borrow at extravagant rates 
 without incurring annual charges beyond the possibility of payment. 
 
 "Let Congress give me the measure I require, and let the President 
 give me the support of economical and efficient administration, civil 
 and military, and I will undertake to resume specie payments at a 
 Aveek's notice, and to maintain them, and yet borrow at five per 
 cent, all the money which will be required to carry on the war for 
 two years longer. 
 
 " What I can do under other circumstances, is not so clear. I can 
 only, so long as I remain at the head of the Treasury Department, 
 do all in my power. Yours very truly and respectfully, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Jno. C. Hamilton, Esq , No. 17 W. 20th St., N. Y."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 501 
 
 The same day the same pen worked off this letter: 
 
 "My Dear Friend: I was greatly gratified by your letter, just 
 
 received ; not by the preference expressed for me for the Presidency, 
 fori am pretty well cured of whatever aspirations t *< > i • that office I 
 have been tempted, by the mention made of my name in connection 
 with it, to indulge, but by the fact that I am remembered with so 
 much interest by my old class-mate and friend. 
 
 ''Have you seen the hook which L, r ives a juvenile biography of me 
 under the name of the Ferry Boy and Financier, lately published by 
 Walker, Wise & Co., of Boston? The facts are mostly true, but the 
 writer has indulged his fancy in dressing them up. 
 
 "My friend, Mr. Schuckers, has undertaken to gather materials for 
 a fuller and more thorough biography, and I have advised him to 
 write to you for reminiscences. I hope you will give him all you can. 
 
 "I shall be glad to have you write me whenever you can. Please 
 tell me in your next all you know about our class-mates. Can't we 
 have a meeting at Hanover this year? Your friend, 
 
 " Eev. James W. Ward. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In a letter to Hon. Benj. F. Flanders, May 1G, Mr. Chase said, 
 among other things: 
 
 " If I say nothing about political matters it is not because I do not 
 feel a profound interest [in] them. The situation seems to me criti- 
 cal, but I do not know that it will do any to speculate. 
 
 '•The military aspect, except on the Bed Biver, is excellent. We 
 hope for the best results within a few days. It is a mistake if any 
 one thinks the enemy has been routed, or thrown into disorder. He 
 has been terribly handled, but his actual loss does not exceed our 
 own. He has been forced back for some miles, and now makes a 
 stand with as much determination as at first. Some think that only 
 a rear-guard makes the stand to cover the retreat of the main force, 
 or its transfer to another theater of operations. A little time will 
 show what the facts are." 
 
 To Captain Jacob Heaton, the same clay, our hero wrote : 
 
 " My Dear Friend : I inclose the leave of absence you desire. 
 Don't trouble yourself about the Blairs. Dogs will hark at the 
 moon, but I have never heard that the moon stopped on that account. 
 " Very truly yours, S. P. CHASM. ' 
 
 Many other letters were worked off the same day, among them 
 this : 
 
 '• My Dear Major: I have presented your matter to the Set ire- 
 tary, and shall be disappointed if you are not made at least brigadier 
 by brevet, that you may lead the colored cavalry. 
 
 • Your friend, 
 
 41 Major Ben. C. Ludlow, Fortress Monroe. 1 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 'This also is a letter of the date May 16: 
 
 "Dear Sir: I have just read that sentence in youT reply to Mr. Hooper in
 
 592 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The next day one was addressed, as follows, to Messrs. F. "W. 
 Smith and T. S. Pycott, of Boston : 
 
 " Gentlemen : It is hardly possible for me to avail myself of your 
 invitation to attend the Convention of the Young Men's Christian 
 Association at Boston, during the first week in June. I should be 
 very glad to do so. The objects of the Association are of the utmost 
 
 which you refer to what you call the failure of the Secretary of the Treasury to 
 acknowledge, in his Report of 1861, the services rendered by the banks of New York, 
 Boston, and Philadelphia, in that dark hour of our country's history. 
 
 " I have examined that Report and find in it a full and particular statement of all 
 that was done by the banks at that time. That statement seemed to me the best 
 acknowledgment I could make. 
 
 '•Having found this statement in the Report of 1861 it occurred to me that there 
 might be something in the Report of 1862 which had given unintentional offence. I 
 turned, therefore, to that Report, and found no general statement of services, indeed, 
 but what, in that Report, seemed more proper : a brief but earnest and grateful acknow- 
 ledgment of their services. 'The promptitude and zeal with which many of the exist- 
 ing institutions came to the financial support of the government in the dark days which 
 followed the outbreak of the [rebellion] is not forgotten. They ventured largely and 
 boldly and patriotically on the side of the Union, and the Constitutional Supremacy of 
 the Nation over States and citizens. It does not at all detract from the merit of the act 
 that the losses which they feared, but unhesitatingly risked, were transmuted into 
 unexpected gains. It is a solid recommendation of the suggested (the national 
 banking system) that it offered the opportunity to them, and kindest invitations to 
 reorganize, continue their business under the proposed act, with little loss and much 
 advantage, participate in maintaining the new and uniform national currency.' 
 
 "You will see, I think, that in both Reports I did not fail to do full justice to the 
 action of the banks. I felt profoundly the necessity of a national currency, issued 
 upon uniform security, and by institutions organized under national law; and I 
 was bound by this judgment to maintain the national banking system, and claim 
 the currency of the country, so far as not composed of United States notes, for these 
 institutions. But I felt no sentiment of hostility toward the State institutions or 
 for their officers. On the contrary, I could hardly make you understand, if I should 
 try, the depth of my regret that you and others, to whom I looked for help and 
 counsel, arrayed yourselves in opposition to my views. It did seem to me that 
 another ami better path, more useful to the banks, was open, following which their 
 officers would have won deserved honors. 
 
 " But I do not complain that they choose another road ; nor am I conscious of hav- 
 ing even uttered unkind words of them because they chose it. I felt sure at the 
 beginning that there must be a national currency; and that to secure it there must 
 be a national banking system. I feel sure of it. now. So believing, I am willing 
 to trust the invincible logic of events. 
 
 "I stopped at your sixth page and wrote this. I shall read the rest, and expect 
 to find much that I think just and sound, with somewhat to which I can not yield 
 my assent. I hope to find nothing which will impair the sentiments of sincere 
 respect and esteem with which I am Yours truly, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I know not to whom the foregoing letter was addressed.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 593 
 
 importance, ami their work, especially that wrought through tho 
 Christian Commission, can not fail to excite the warmest sympathies 
 
 of all patriotic and Christian men. God greatly blesses it, and the 
 
 benediction of tens of thousands of the defenders of the country 
 follow it. Yours very truly, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 To Captain L. L. Weld, May 18, our hero said, by letter: 
 
 '•I am glad to read your letter and its commendation of General 
 Birney. I have sent it to Secretary Stanton, with a note expressing 
 my hope that General Birney may command in Florida, unless some 
 sufficient military reason prevents. I have no doubt that the Secre- 
 tary will consider the matter justly and kindly; but it is a mistake 
 to attribute to me any influence with him, or anybody else connected 
 with the conduct Of the war." 
 
 This letter will repay perusal : 
 
 "Washington, May 19, 1864. 
 
 '• My Dear Governor : Few things in my public experience have 
 given me so much satisfaction as your manifestations of sympathy 
 and friendship, when I conferred with }-ou as to the course I ought to 
 take on the occasion of Blair's malignant assault, apparently indorsed 
 by the President. I have followed your counsel then given, though 
 at a great cost of personal feeling, because I was sure it was the 
 counsel of a patriot and a friend. I shall never forget your expres- 
 sions of personal interest, so manifestly prompted by the heart. I 
 felt them through and through. If I ever have an opportunity to 
 show the gratitude I feel, you shall see how real it is. 
 
 "The terrible rains have arrested the progress of Grant, and have 
 given the rebels an opportunity to mass a large force against Butler, 
 and force him back to his intrenchments. In one point of view this 
 seems well enough ; for the more Butler has against him the fewer 
 there will be to dispute the advance of Grant. To-day the skies look 
 as if we should have some days of clear weather. My anxiety is very 
 great ; but departmental administration allows me no voice in 
 military matters — not even in those which most nearly concern the 
 Treasury — and I can therefoi*e onl} r wait and pray and hope. 
 
 "It has become quite apparent now that the importunity of Mr. 
 Lincoln's special friends for an early convention, in order to make 
 his nomination sure, was a mistake both for him and for the country. 
 The Convention will not be regarded as an Union Convention, but 
 simply as a Blair-Lincoln Convention, by a great body of citizens 
 whose support is essential to success. Few except those already 
 committed to Mr. Lincoln will consider themselves bound by a pre- 
 determined nomination. Very man}', who may ultimately vote for 
 Mr. Lincoln, will wait the course of events, hoping that some popu- 
 lar movement for Grant, or some other successful general, will offer 
 a better hope of saving the country. Others, and the number seems 
 to be increasing, will not support his nomination in any event ; 
 believing that our ill-success, thus far, in the suppression of tho 
 rebellion is due mainly to his course of action and inaction ; and 
 that no change can be for the worse.
 
 594 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "But these are speculations merely from my stand-point. You 
 see the field more clearly, because through less mist, and can cast 
 the horoscope better than I. May God direct all aright. ' My 
 hearts desire and prayer to Him for (America) is that (she) may be 
 saved.' 
 
 " I went out yesterday to see our troops — the hundred-days men ; 
 but, not having taken sufficient care to inform mj-self of localities, 
 failed to find any of them. I shall go again to-morrow. 
 
 •• The Treasury investigation will, I think, show that the depart- 
 ment has kept up with the demands of the times, and fully vindicate 
 my plan of executing a large part of the work of preparing bonds 
 and notes in the Treasury building. The improvements (machinery) 
 made by the much abused Mr. Clark have alone made the mechanical 
 execution of the immense work possible. Faithfully yours, 
 
 " His Excellency John Brough, etc. 1 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 May 23 the Secretary wrote as follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, May 23, 1864. 
 "My Dear Colonel: All right as to the note. The people are 
 crazy, or I am. I don't see the recent military successes. Most 
 earnestly do I pray that we may see thetn hereafter. All, under God, 
 depends on Grind. So far he has achieved very little, and that little 
 has cost beyond computation. Still, my hope is in hi?n. He seems the 
 ablest and most persistent man tee have. Sherman has done well, and 
 apparently more than Grant. I think he has good opportunities, if 
 Mr. Lincoln will only let the black loyalists have a fair chance — that 
 is, let them come into the army on a perfectly equal footing as to 
 pay, chances of promotion, and right to vote on the soil which they 
 help recover from rebellion, with white loyalists. Such a policy, 
 honestly adopted, and manfully carried out, will save us. Nothing 
 short of it. in my opinion, will. Without such a policy Sherman 
 must grow weaker and weaker as he advances; and Savannah, if he 
 ever reaches it, may be his Moscow." 
 
 Who was the " dear colonel " to whom that was written ? It 
 was, alas! none other than "Colonel" Alfred P. Stone, of Ohio! 
 And the letter thus went on : 
 
 " I have not written a word to Ohio, I believe, on the villauous, 
 malignant, and lying assault of the Blairs — for the Congressional 
 
 1 May 21. Mr. Chase wrote as follows: 
 
 "Sir : Son are right in thinking I take a profound interest in the success of 
 your project for uniting Europe and America by an overland telegraphic commu- 
 nication, and I would willingly subscribe twenty-five or thirty thousand to the 
 stock, if I had that amount of money at my command. I could appropriate $5,000 
 to such a subscription, and will willingly do so. Please let me know in what in- 
 stallments subscriptions are to be paid. 
 
 " Yerv trulv yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "0. H. Palmer, Esq.. W. A. Telegraph Office, Rochester, X. Y."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 595 
 
 general was only the mouthpiece of the trio — and its apparent in- 
 dorsement by Mr. Lincoln. I did not want to say anything by way 
 of appeal, in my personal behalf, against an indorsement of Mr. 
 Lincoln, while the great outrage, not on me only, but on the con- 
 stitution, implied in sending back Blair to the army in the way. and 
 under the circumstances, he was sent back, remains on the record un- 
 redressed. I would not write this were it possible for the letter to 
 reach you in time to affect the action of the convention. If the facts 
 don't speak to the people, I have no desire to speak to them at 
 present.'' 
 
 Under date, May 25, we have this letter : 
 
 My Dear Sir : I have read Dr. Ayres' letter with surprise and 
 regret. I do not know to whom he alludes as a man likely to be 
 chosen delegate to the Baltimore Convention being my own selection. 
 Since my letter to Senator Hall, or rather through him to my friends 
 in Ohio, and elsewhere, was written, I have neither asked, nor 
 sought nor expected to be nominated for President. I would not 
 take the nomination of the Baltimore Convention if it were tendered 
 to me. The delegates have been almost all elected under pledges, 
 express, or implied, that they will vote for the renomination of Mr. 
 Lincoln. The nomination of any other man would be justly re- 
 garded as a fraud upon the people ; and I value conscious integrity 
 of purpose far more than office, even the highest. I have had noth- 
 ing to do with the selection of delegates to Baltimore — not one is a 
 selection of mine in any sense; but if there were such a man I 
 should say to him, 'Represent honestly the wishes of the people 
 who sent .you; avoid especially the very appearance of manage- 
 ment to substitute any man for the man whom they prefer.' 
 
 "If the Baltimore Convention is itself a mistake the error can not 
 be rectified by any attempt to thwart, through its members, the ex- 
 pectations of their constituents. Yours very truly, 
 
 "Hon. L. D. Stickney. S. P. CHASE.'' 
 
 Of the same date is the following : 
 
 " My Darling Nettie . Your description of your night's alarm 
 is capital, and gives me a good laugh in the midst of my perplexi- 
 ties and troubles. But I must tell 30U that you are allowing your 
 handwriting to degenerate, and that you are too careless about your 
 ' my'self" and 'howevers,' putting them in, as it were to fill up; and 
 that, though paper is dear, 1 prefer on the whole to have you write on 
 untorn sheets. 
 
 " Sister received some days ago your pictorial, poetical success, 
 which ought to have been entitled 'The Neglected Young Lady. 
 It was very funny. 
 
 '•And now what else shall I tell? In the first place we are all 
 pretty well — very well for us. In the next place we take our meals 
 — but nonsense. 
 
 "Dear Bishop Mcllvaine has been with us and at the army. He 
 gives most interesting accounts of the wonderful work the Christian 
 Commission is doing. There was never anything like the self-denial, 
 39
 
 59G THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the activity, the usefulness of these men. They seem to have the 
 very spirit of Christ — a sort of divinity in manhood. He left us 
 day before yesterday, and thinks of going to Europe in July. Sister 
 would like to go too, if the governor would or I could go. 
 
 " Have you seen the 'Ferry Boy' yet? There is a good deal of 
 truth in it, but some embellishments. 
 
 " And here I must stop, for I have ever so much work to do be- 
 fore I can go home to dine. 
 
 "Your affectionate father. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "I inclose a picture. I don't know whether you had one of 
 these." 
 
 May 27 furnishes this letter : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : A letter has been shown me in which you are 
 reported as blaming me for sending General Garfield secretly to Mr. 
 Stanton to ask him to use his official patronage to promote my nom- 
 ination for the Presidency. It is also stated that a report that I did 
 send the general to the Secretary for that purpose is quite current in 
 Cincinnati. 
 
 "It humbles me to see l such a report ; but if it can obtain cre- 
 dence with such gentlemen as yourself may it not be a dut} 7 to do so. 
 
 " There is not a word of truth in it. Neither secretly nor openly ; 
 neither through General Garfield or any other person ; neither 
 directly nor indirectly, did I ever suggest to Mr. Stanton or any 
 Head of Department, or to any other officer of the Government a 
 wish for the use of official patronage in my behalf. 
 
 " Why I should be thus incessantly pursued with calumny I do not 
 understand. lam in nobody's way, unless, perhaps, in the way of 
 some who would like to make money out of the distresses of the 
 country. There were some citizens who wished that I might be 
 President, and they were men of whose preference any man might 
 be proud ; but when I saw that use of my name was likely to create 
 strife and divisions injurious to our common cause, and that some 
 even in high places were willing that the finances of the country, on 
 which everything depends, should be embarrassed and damaged, if 
 by that means I might be damaged, I gladly availed myself of the 
 action of the Union members of the Ohio Legislature to ask that my 
 name no longer be considered in connection with the nomination. I 
 thought I was acting an honest and patriotic part. Since writing the 
 letter taking m}* name out of the list of candidates for the nomina- 
 tion. I have neither sought, nor asked, nor expected it. I have been 
 working hard to raise the means to pay and clothe and feed the 
 soldiers and sailors of the army and navy, and to defray the costs of 
 their great movements. My only ambition has been to contribute 
 what I could in my place to the safety of the Eepublic and to pro- 
 mote tin' interests of the whole people, and especially of the labor- 
 ing masses, by the permanent establishment of a sound and uni- 
 form national currency. 
 
 1 So in my copy. Probably, the word was notice. '
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND < RASE. 597 
 
 '•I have not after all escaped obloquy; but T can bear it so long as 
 my conscience testifies that I have done nothing to deserve it. 
 " Yours very trulv, 
 " Hon. Aaron F. Perry, Cincinnati, Ohio. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 May 30 yields the following letter : 
 
 " Dear Sir: I have read the letter of Lord Lyons which you I'd 
 with me. It is extremely difficult to find the just mean between 
 too much restriction ami none at all. It is impossible to satisfy either 
 those who would stop all commerce lest rebels may be supplied, or 
 those who would abolish all restrictions whether rebels be supplied 
 or not. Mr. Barney is required to refuse clearances whenever he has 
 Satisfactory reasons to believe that goods, destined cither for a foreign 
 or domestic port, or intended for places under the control of the in- 
 surgents: and he is required, whenever he believes it necessary, to re- 
 quire a bond upon each clearance in a penalty equal to the value of the 
 cargo, with sureties to his satisfaction, that the cargo shall be de- 
 livered at the clearance destination, and that no part shall be used 
 for aid or comfort to insurgents. 
 
 "You know how much complaint has been made against him for 
 alleged taking of insufficient bonds on shipments to Nassau; and I 
 may add that he has been vehemently censured by officials in high 
 position for not requiring, in all cases, bonds with real estate security. 
 I am informed, indeed, that his alleged remissness has been made the 
 subject of investigation by a military commission organized in New 
 York. 
 
 "Now, on the other hand, come the representations of LordL3'on,i 
 against the stringency and necessary severity of his action. I will, 
 if you think it best, send him the paragraphs of Lord Lyons' letter, 
 relating to the security required ; or if you will send me full copies 
 of his dispatches. I will send them to Mr. Barney with instructions 
 to report further upon the general subject. You need no assurance 
 that no exaction whatever is made from foreign merchants trading 
 to British ports which is not made from American citizens trading to 
 any port foreign or domestic from which supplies can be sent to 
 rebels. Very truly yours, 
 
 " Hon. Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of the State. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 This letter is also dated May 30: 
 
 ■• My Dear Sir : What }*ou said about the Albany Evening Journal 
 the other day induces me to send you its most prominent article of 
 May 24, which has been inclosed to me. 
 
 "So far as its allegations concern me personalty they are utterly 
 without warrant. In the sense intended by the words. I have never 
 been a Presidential aspirant. Since my letter to Senator Hall, or, 
 rather, through him to my friends in Ohio, 1 have avoided all thought 
 and talk about 'the Presidential nomination, and have certainly 
 neither asked nor sought nor expected it myself. 
 
 " The patronage of this department is not and never has been used 
 with reference to that nomination. All I ask for in any officer is 
 capacity, fidelity to trust, and devotion to Union and Liberty. It
 
 598 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 there are sinecure officers in the New York Custom House, secretly 
 at work to prevent the fair expression of the manifest preference 
 of the Union men of the country, 1 do not know it. Every man has 
 a righl to he in a minority if he chooses, and often must be, or sac- 
 rifice his honest convictions ; but no man lias a right to be a sinecure 
 office-holder or to engage in secret work to thwart the will of a 
 majority of the political organization to which he belongs; and no 
 such man will hold office in this department, or under it, with my 
 consent. 
 
 "Mr. Surveyor Andrews, as you are aware, is not [an] appointee 
 of the Secretary of the Treasury. I know nothing of his political 
 action at Syracuse or elsewhere, except from the public prints. 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 "Hon. Wm. H. Seward. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same clay yields the following: 
 
 "My Dear Sir : I was surprised to see in the Evening Post a 
 statement calculated to create the impression that the Secretary of 
 the Treasury is still issuing legal tender notes. The truth is that 
 during this month the legal tender issues have been reduced nearly 
 half a million of dollars, and the five per cent, treasury notes nearly 
 fourteen millions. I have been doing my utmost to prevent inflation. 
 The banks, without any plea of necessit}', are increasing their issues, 
 to the infinite danger of the country. The Secretary of the Treasury 
 does not increase the circulation issues of the Government by a single 
 dollar, except under the pressure of the most imperious necessity. 
 The banks of the city of New York, by certified checks, turn their 
 accumulated deposits into currency, and thus give a greater impulse 
 to inflation than any single cause. Why not look at the matter just 
 as it is, and claim for the countiy the exclusive use of the circula- 
 tion, and urge that the banks be compelled to withdraw their circu- 
 lation, the pressure of which is now so mischievous. 
 " Very truly your friend, 
 
 " W. C. Bryant, Esq., New York. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Of the same date is the letter furnishing the rule of judgment 
 given in the Introduction. It reads at length as follows: 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Mr. Pierce has been kind enough to send me an 
 article written by him, and published in the Anti-Slavery Standard, 
 concerning my action in the Garner case. 
 
 "I am apt to neglect the work of self-vindication. It seems, in 
 general, best to work and let the works speak for the worker. It is 
 a gratifying consciousness that I have never omitted known duties 
 toward the enslaved and the oppressed ; and that I have ever pre- 
 tei red generous appreciation of the labors of others in the cause 
 of Human Enfranchisement to unjust, or even unnecessary, criticisms. 
 It seems to me better and wiser to judge particular acts by the gen- 
 eral tenor of life, than the general tenor of life by particular acts. 
 When anything is imputed" to me, therefore, inconsistent with my 
 uniform course, I have thought it best to let the imputation pass 
 unnoticed.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 590 
 
 "Since the ease of the Garners has been brought before the public 
 by Mr. Phillips, I have had many applications for the fact-: and 
 thought it best to depart from my general rule, quite a> much for 
 tho sake of the cause, always hurt in my judgment by unjust asper- 
 sions upon its supporters, as for my own. I, therefore, furnished to 
 Mr. Pierce the statements and documents from which he lias drawn 
 a large part of his article; and he has had, I understand, the benefit of 
 letters from some of the counsel who appeared for fugitives before the 
 different courts. It is. I think, as nearly accurate as such papers can be. 
 
 "I inclose ten dollars; please send me receipt for subscription to 
 the Standard as long as the money will pay for. God grant that 
 long before the subscription runs out every vestige of slavery may 
 have disappeared from North America ; even that last trace of it, 
 injustice to man because he is black. Yours truly, 
 
 " Oliver Johnson, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 May 30 also yields this little letter : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Mr. Walker's letter has affected me profoundly. 
 What a noble and patriotic spirit breathes through every line ! The 
 approbation of such a man, how it outweighs the censure of thou- 
 sands of narrower views and lower sentiments. God grant that he 
 may return in renovated health, and long be spared to serve the 
 country he is now laboring to save. Most sincerely yours, 
 
 "Hon. F. P. Stanton. " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next day, the same active pen said, in a little note to Mr. 
 
 Wm. H. Aspinwall : 
 
 " If Congress would only give me the measures I need, the finances 
 could be put on the soundest footing in six weeks. Small politics 
 are in the way. 
 
 The eventful month of June must now receive attention. On the 
 second day of it, the Secretary wrote as follows: 
 
 "Mr Dear Madam: I have two letters from your honored and 
 lamented husband, which I greatly prize as autographic mementoes 
 of one whom the heavens have gained too soon. 
 
 " Of the first, I send you a copy. The other relates to matters 
 which involve some unpleasant personal controversy, which, it seems 
 to me, it would be well not to revive. The great esteem in which I 
 hold the parties, makes me unwilling even to seem to be an agent in 
 reviving it, by directing a copy of the letter to be made. 
 
 "With the greatest respect and esteem, Yours truly, 
 
 " Mrs. Julia M. Kino. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Of the same date is a little note to Hon. S. Hooper, saying: 
 
 "I inclose a telegram from Mr. Cisco, who is very anxious to have 
 the Gold Bill pass immediately. 
 
 "Its passage will probably check the advance and give a little 
 time for further measures.
 
 000 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "If you can put a sufficient tax on State Bank issues, to arrest 
 their increase and insure their gradual reduction, the way to safety 
 will be open." 
 
 To Bishop Mcllvaine, the next day, was written : 
 
 "My Dear Bishop: Your note is just received. I am glad every- 
 thing is arranged to your satisfaction concerning your visit to 
 Europe. May God make it very useful. My daughter has aban- 
 doned the idea of going unless her husband or I can go with her. 
 
 " I allow myself no thought concerning the Presidency ; and have 
 put the subject out of my mind ever since I wrote the letter to Sen- 
 ator Hall, as far as possible. It would alarm more than gratify me 
 if I thought there was any prospect of such eventualities as Mr. 
 
 A and your brother suggest. If I can only succeed in saving 
 
 the finances I shall be happy and most thankful. 
 
 "It is a great comfort to see } r our address copied so widely, and so 
 general a concurrence in its views. If the President would only 
 throw the full weight of his influence into the scale of justice to the 
 blacks, and especially the black loyalists of the South, I can not but 
 think that God's blessing would follow. 
 
 " Your friend most truly, 1 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Next we have: 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 6, 1864. 
 
 " Mr Dear Sir : A letter from the chairman of the Loan Com- 
 mittee* of the Associated Banks makes it important for me to go to 
 New York to-day, at 7:30 p. M. 
 
 "Before going I shall be glad to have a short conversation with 
 you about business before Congress. Will you have time for it, and 
 will it be most convenient for you at your office or here? 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " The President S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The President answered in penciling, indorsed on the original of 
 the foregoing : 
 
 " I will try to call at vour office at 3 p. M., to day, June 6, 1864. 
 "Hon. Sec. op Treasury. A. LINCOLN." 
 
 1 Of the same date is the following: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: You will find inclosed with this note my reply to your invita- 
 tion to the mass meeting to-morrow. 
 
 ''Allow me to avail myself of this occasion for expressing to you my warmest 
 thanks for your generous defense of my action in relation to the Fifty Per Cent. 
 Increase Act, when lately assailed in the Chamber of Commerce. It recalled most 
 agreeable memories of former days. 
 
 '• I hope you will not think the closing sentence of my reply ill-timed or too 
 radical. The danger of injustice, as well as its wickedness, weighs heavily on my 
 heart ; and I see no excuse for not giving utterance to something of what I feel. 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 "Hon. F. A. Conkling. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. G01 
 
 Of the interview thus proposed, we have the following account : 
 
 "The President called about 3 o'clock, and introduced the subject 
 
 of the New York Custom House by saying substantially what fol- 
 lows : 
 
 " 'You no doubt have supposed that Mr. Dennison has talked to me 
 
 about the Xew York Custom House. I know no reason to doubl what 
 he said, except that I have always thought that he was rat her inclined 
 to set himself up as a great rascal catcher. But still I should not have 
 thought so much of what he said but for the statement made to 
 me by Mr. Hulburd, for whom I sent, after hearing the statement of 
 Mr. Dennison. Mr. Hulburd said that Mr. Bailey called on him, and 
 represented that I did not desire that any investigation should be 
 made in the Custom House matters in New York, and also stated, as 
 a reason why no such investigation should be made, that I would not 
 act, whatever the committee might discover. This statement, and 
 that of Mr. Dennison, made me believe that Mr. Bailey was exercis- 
 ing pretty much the whole control over Custom House matters ; and 
 what confirmed me in this impression was the fact that Mr. Barney, 
 when here some time ago, said nothing about Mr, Bailey, although 
 he spoke quite fully of all his Custom House troubles. He said: 
 "About two weeks before my letter to you I had made up my mind 
 to write what I did, and concluded to send it after what Mr. Hulburd 
 said." 
 
 " ' I left the question of Mr. Barney's successor open, because I had 
 received letters and other communications from pretty much all the 
 Union men in the Xew York Legislature, and in the various commit- 
 tees, recommending the appointment of Mr. Wakeman, and was not 
 certain that it was best to appoint him. I thought of another person, 
 and not that T had any objection to Mr. Wakeman, but that it might 
 not be pleasant to }*ou to have him appointed, because of the old 
 controversy about him when he was named for surveyor. A good 
 deal more was said, and what was actually said was in different 
 language from what has just been used; but the substance is pre- 
 served. 
 
 "I answered substantially as follows: 'Since Mr. Barney was 
 appointed collector, I have sometimes doubted his efficiency as an 
 officer, but I have talked with him on the management of the Custom 
 House. I have found him intelligent and thoroughly earnest in his 
 wishes to administer it correctly. Some of those, at whose instance 
 he was originally appointed — Mr. Opdyke, for example, and Mr. 
 Orton — -were dissatisfied with Mr. Barmy while Mr. Palmer was his 
 confidential clerk, and frequently urged me to recommend his 
 removal to you. I never felt myself warranted in doing so, for I 
 was satisfied as to his honesty and general capacity, and did not 
 think a change would be likely to be an improvement. To show 
 you how I felt in regard to the matter, I will read you what I wrote 
 to Mr. Orton some short time since — about the time when Palmer's 
 complicity w T ish the Nassau frauds was discovered — in answer to a 
 letter full of strong feeling against Mr. Barney, and of a desire for 
 his removal.' I then read the extracts of the letter which follows: 
 ( ) I then went on to say, since Mr. Palmer's
 
 G02 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 removal there has been a great deal of clamor, but it has not shaken 
 my confidence in Mr. Barney, and I still believe that nothing would 
 be gained by a change. So much for Mr. Barney. 
 
 '■Mr. Bailey was a clerk in the office, appointed soon after I came 
 into the department, and employed under the solicitor. He showed 
 himself to be a man of talent, and acquired the entire confidence of 
 the solicitor and my own. Under the act of Congress passed about 
 a year ago, three agents were appointed, one, Mr. Bailey, to resido 
 in New York, and another, Mr. Gibbs. to go to Europe, and third, 
 Mr. Briggs, for whom you wished to have me provide a place. Mr. 
 Bailey was to watch over the interests of the department in New 
 York connected with the revenue; Mr. Gibbs over the same interests 
 in Europe, while Mr. Briggs was employed in the Internal Revenue 
 Bureau, under the direction of Commissioner Lewis. Mr. Bailey 
 performed very acceptably, and when the solicitor went to that city 
 to investigate alleged frauds upon revenue, Mr. Bailey assisted him. 
 These investigations have been going on for a long time, principally 
 under the direction of the solicitor, who spent much time in New 
 York, indeed, more than I thought the interests of the department 
 could well permit. Within the last few months, the solicitor's duties 
 requiring his presence here, Mr. Bailey has conducted the investiga- 
 tions in New York, and his action has received the approval of both 
 myself and the solicitor. Up to the time of Palmer's arrest, Mr. 
 Barney had but comparatively little to do with Mr. Bailey, but after 
 that time, relied upon him very much for advice and support; and 
 perhaps some occasion has been given for the idea that he exercises 
 an undue control over the management of the Custom House, by his 
 occupation of the room reserved for the President or Secretary when 
 they visit New York, and for the reception of committees of mer- 
 chants and others by the collector. 
 
 -'This room was occupied by the solicitor when conducting his 
 investigations, and Mr. Bailey took it when similarly employed. I 
 have directed a change to be made in this respect, and I have con- 
 versed, too, with Mr. Barney in relation to Mr. Bailey, and find that, 
 while he has much confidence in him, he does not, in the administration 
 of the Custom House, guide himself by his judgment, or any other 
 judgment, indeed, than his own. I think that Mr. Bailey can not 
 have used the expression attributed to him. Indeed, Mr. Hooper 
 assures me that Mr. Hubburd informed him that Mr. Bailey conveyed 
 no such idea to his mind, as, that you desire that the investigations 
 should not proceed. I think Mr. Bailey is not the fool to have made 
 such a siii^-esiion. As to the other expression ascribed to him, that 
 you would not act, whatever the report of the Committee, might be, I 
 can say nothing, except that it does not seem to me likely that he 
 used it. 
 
 "You remember that I was averse to the original appointment of 
 Mr. Dennison. After a time, however, I changed my opinion about 
 him. He seemed to he very active and energetic in the performance 
 of his duties, and if I sometimes thought him too eager I regarded 
 it as a good fault, for I had no objections to his being something of 
 a Rascal-Catcher in the position he filled In fact, thecontingent re- 
 wards given by law to revenue officers are given in order to induce 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 603 
 
 them to bo vigilant in rascal-catching. Of late, however, I have 
 seen some reason to change my judgment. Within the last two or 
 three da}-s an affidavit has been taken in New York, and has been 
 sent here, the statements of which impeach him very seriously. It 
 was sent by Major Halpine, formerly of General Halleck's, then ol 
 General Hunter's, and now of General Dix's staff, and was taken as 
 part of an investigation proceeding under the direction of General 
 Dix. I then handed the affidavit to the President. I then went on 
 to say, in my judgment the public interests do not require any 
 change in the Collectorship of New York. If there should be a 
 change, however, I think Mr. Barney's successor should be a man 
 who will command the general confidence of the business com- 
 munity and of the public ; a man whose position and character are 
 so high that there could be no question as to the motives of his selec- 
 tion. Such a man, I think, is Mr. Aspinwall, Mr. Curtis Noyes, or 
 Governor Dickinson. The President said, Mr. Noyes is a very able 
 gentleman; and, as I have said, I am not anxious to appoint Mr. 
 Wakeman. "What would you think of Preston King? To this I re- 
 plied, I should not think at all well of his appointment. He is doubt- 
 less a man of integrity, but entirely unfamiliar with the duties of 
 the post, and would not, I think, be regarded qualified in any respect 
 except integrity by the New York mercantile community. Here the 
 conversation dropped ; the President, as he left the room, said, I will 
 think further of the matter, and do nothing until I have talked fully 
 about it. I said, I think you had better see Mr. Bailey, and you can 
 then judge better of whether he is likely to have said what is as- 
 cribed to him. He said, ' Very well, I will see him.' I said, he will 
 be here in a day or two, and I will send him to you." 
 
 To Horace Greeley, on the 16th, Mr. Chase wrote 
 
 '•My Dear Sir: Thanks for hooks — ditto for promise as to 
 notice of R. J. W. Mean to find time to read former. 
 
 ''Was in New York during most of the daylight of Tuesday, 
 Wednesday, and Thursday; but so absolutely the prey of the money 
 folk, that t had only time for one glance at my daughter. So did 
 not see you; though I wanted to, badly. 
 
 "I mean to go in for a foreign loan now, though it galls me. If 
 Congress would have given a good tax law, last December, and we 
 could have managed to get along without the great bounties, it would 
 not have been necessary. But the price of gold must and shall 
 come down, or I'll quit and let somebody else try. Oh ! if Congress 
 would only see and act! 
 
 " Your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The loth furnishes this suggestive little note: 
 
 " Dear Hale : I can give the lady you recommend a place if she 
 is a really good accountant and writer. 
 
 " There are places for two such, and at present no places for any 
 others I am sorry to say. Your friend, 
 
 " Hon. John P. Hale. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Conversing with Chief Justice Chase, on the subject of the rela-
 
 604 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tion he, as Secretary of the Treasury, had borne to the introduction 
 of woman's work into the Treasury Department, I heard from him 
 the modest statement, that he could not possibly see how that matter 
 was of any special credit to him. 
 
 On the same day, the President wrote to Mr. Chase as follows : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: The Governor of Iowa and some of the M. C's 
 have [given me] a little embarrassment about the removal of a Mr. 
 Atkinson, in your department, and the appointment to the place of a 
 Mr. Sill, I think. They claim a promise, which I know I never 
 made, except upon the condition that you desired the removal of 
 Atkinson. Please help me a little. If you will write me a note that 
 you do not wish Atkinson removed, that will end the matter. On 
 the contrary, if you do wish him removed, or even are indifferent 
 about it, say so to me, accompanying your note with a nomination 
 for Sill. Yours truly, 
 
 "A. LINCOLN." 
 
 Under date June 28, a register contains this entry: 
 
 " The auditor, Mr. Atkinson, resigned to-day.. Mr. Sill, of Iowa, 
 is to take his place. Mr. Atkinson has been an excellent officer, but 
 has been much distrusted by our friends on account of his politics. 
 I advised him to resign, therefore, proposing to use his services in 
 another place where the same hostility is not manifest. His health, 
 too, requires a change. Hence his resignation." 
 
 June 16, Mr. Chase wrote as follows to Mrs. C. L. Jones : 
 
 '• My Dear Charlotte : You don't know how impossible it is for 
 me to keep the track of our dear brothers Ben and Israel. They are 
 soldiers, and must take their share of trials and dangers bravely, and 
 we must hope the best while praying for them and our country. 
 
 li I want Nettie to go West and see you all, but some how the time 
 never comes. Let us hope it may. 
 
 " Love to your dear ones. Yours affectionately, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the same day, in a letter to Mr. Thomas Heaton, of Cincin- 
 nati, said our hero : 
 
 " I have your letter making some financial suggestions. I wish 
 you were Secretary of the Treasury. Perhaps you would find that 
 some tilings which look very feasible and very expedient in Cincin- 
 nati are wholly impracticable in Washington, and that — but I have 
 not time for such things." 
 
 The same day we have a letter to Colonel Bannister, saying: 
 
 "Whatever people may think, it is a real relief to me to be free from the 
 annoyance of a canvass, with a personal interest in the result. 
 
 " Yesterday I went to Fort Pichardson, over the Long Bridge, to
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. G05 
 
 see our noble boys in Blake's regiment. It did me good to be with 
 them, and yet my heart ached to think what it cost the country to 
 send such young men to war — even the outside of war. They Beemed 
 very glad to sec me. Wo are all looking for news from Grant. May 
 God give him victory." ' 
 
 Next day yields this note : 
 
 " Dear Sir: Yours of the 12th is just received. I wish Congress 
 had the courage to adopt your patriotic suggestion ; and will refer 
 your letter to the Chairman of the Committee of Military Affairs. 
 
 "Yours very truly, 
 
 " Dr. J. H. Pulte,2 Cincinnati, Ohio. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 And now we begin to see the clear beginning of the end of our 
 hero's life as financier. This note is dated June 20 : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Will you accept the office of Assistant Treasurer? 
 There it is — right out. 
 
 "Governor Morgan and I have talked this matter over, and have 
 concluded that the appointment is one fit to be made; and will both 
 be gratified if }*ou think it is one fit to accept. 
 
 " Your friend 
 
 " Denning Duer, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Here is another letter to the President : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 20, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I inclose a letter sent to Mr. Fessenden to-day. 
 You will appreciate the importance of the statements it makes. I 
 do not know that you can do anything to induce the Committee to 
 report adequate taxes ; but am sure you will if you can. Mr. Fess- 
 enden and Mr. Howe are the Union members of the Conference Com- 
 mittee on the part of the Senate, and Mr. Hooper and Mr. Morrill on 
 the part of the House. The whisky tax should be at least two dol- 
 lars per gallon, and go into effect at once. Yours truly, 
 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 x Of the same date is the following : 
 
 "My Dear Judge: I shall willingly receive any suggestions from you. Your 
 steady support of the principles I have ever advocated, and support of me in my 
 maintenance of them, entitles you to my best wishes, and, were I in your district, 
 as a private citizen, you would have my support for nomination, without, however, 
 any question of the merits of your competitors. In my position here, however, I can 
 not take part in political contests in Ohio among the friends of our common cause; 
 nor can any officer of this department properly do so otherwise than as individual 
 citizens. The President would never sanction any use of patronage to defeat one 
 friend of the cause in a fair contest with another. Truly yours, 
 
 "Hon. Wm. Lawrence. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "Your letter for Crooke is just received. I believe I received his application as 
 brigadier, and shall cheerfully do the little I can to have him appointed major-gen- 
 eral. He deserves it." 
 
 2 Dr. Pulte is the homeopathic doctor mentioned in another chapter, post.
 
 GOG THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 To F. Kuhne, Esq., of New York, June 21, the Secretary wrote 
 as follows: 
 
 " Dear Sir : On receiving your telegram I felt much disposed to 
 go to New York to-night; but the great importance of the matters 
 pending in Congress, and the absolute necessity of giving them per- 
 sonal attention, makes it impossible for me to do so without more 
 loss than gain. 
 
 " There is not the slightest reason for any rise in the price of gold, 
 cither in the financial or military situation. The currency is much 
 less than it has been at any time for three months, and Grant is, I 
 think, surely moving toward the final defeat of the rebellion concen- 
 trated at Richmond. It is a great work ; but it is in the hands of an 
 able leader and brave troops, and, with God's blessing, will be accom- 
 plished. There is every reason for hope and none for despair. 
 
 "I have written to Mr. Cisco, and also to Mr. Cooke, of Philadel- 
 phia, and have authorized them to take whatever measures in their 
 judgment are best calculated for the public interest. I shall be pre- 
 pared to enter actively upon the subject of a foreign loan as soon as 
 the bill shall have passed." 
 
 Of the same date is the following letter to Jay Cooke, Esq.: 
 
 " The Treasurer and Assistant-Treasurer are authorized to receive 
 subscriptions for 1881 bonds at six per cent, premium. They can 
 supply purchasers for resale at J-. 
 
 "Your suggestion, through Mr. Moorhead, to offer the untaken 
 balance of loan, say $35,000,000, to competition, not admitting any 
 offer of less than 5-^ premium, and giving preference to successful 
 subscribers to old loan, is a good one in itself; but it is difficult to 
 see how it can be practically and acceptably carried out. I would 
 offer the balance in some such way, were I sure of takers before- 
 hand ; but it would hurt all to offer and fail. 
 
 "The rise in gold is alarming. There is nothing in the financial 
 or military condition to warrant it. As you go to New York to- 
 morrow, you may consider yourself authorized to take such measure, 
 in concert with Mr. Cisco, as will arrest it. If a foreign loan can be 
 negotiated through the agency of Messrs. Kuhne and Marx, you 
 may arrange all the preliminary details, to be submitted to me. I 
 will do anything that is just and right to supply all the foreign 
 exchange needed. 
 
 " I can not well leave "Washington till the Loan Bill shall have 
 passed. This maybe to-morrow. After its passage, I shall not lose 
 a moment. Meantime let us hope for good tidings from Eichmond. 
 
 " I am sure that all is going on well at Richmond, though time is 
 needed. Grant, God willing, will win." 1 
 
 1 In a letter of the 22d, to Mr. Thomas Heatom, is the paragraph: 
 "Reports reach me that our young friend, Mullett, has been indulging in pretty 
 free political talk. If you know this to be so you may tell him / have heard it, and 
 that you think he should resign. There is difficulty between him and Mr. Rogers 
 and I don't want to have any question between them added to my cares."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. GOT 
 
 J 
 
 CHAPTER XLII. 
 
 THE SECRETARY'S RESIGNATION — CHASE AND LINCOLN. 
 
 UNE 2-i affords this record of most anxious thought: 
 
 " Another anxious day. What will be the result of the summer 
 campaign? Can we keep Grant and Sherman so furnished with men 
 and means that they can inflict decisive blows on the rebellion? 
 
 "My part is to supply, if possible, the means; and where am I to 
 find them? The currency is depreciated less — though much — by 
 surcharge than b}' the distrust which seems to be gradually pervad- 
 ing the public mind, especially the mind of that class whose conclu- 
 sions — half instinctive, half reasoned — determine the degree of con- 
 fidence in governments and institutions. 
 
 " Under these circumstances, to increase the circulation will merely 
 aggravate our greatest financial evil — that of disordered commerce 
 and prices unnaturally high It should be diminished rather than 
 increased. Can this be done? Not without large taxes or large loans. 
 
 "A committee from New York, introduced by Senator Morgan, 
 called this morning to urge modification or repeal of the Gold Act. 
 Their arguments should, I said, be addressed to Congress rather than 
 to me; but I was glad to hear their views. Some, especially Mr. 
 James Brown, of Brown Brothers & Co., Mr. Hoffman, of Co legate & 
 Hoffman. Mr. Ward, of Ward, Campbell & Co., argued for repeal ; if 
 repeal impossible, for modification. Their arguments were substan- 
 tially these : (1.) Absolute freedom of trade secures lowest prices. 
 True, in certain conditions of market, individuals or combinations 
 may monopolize whole supply and exact their own prices from those 
 who must have the article monopolized, as gold, for example, but 
 this evil less than restrictive regulation. (2.) Convenience to mer- 
 chants of public sales over those of gold-gambling rooms as giving a 
 standard of price. The complaints of practical inconvenience were 
 principally of the supposed necessity- to pay notes in hand for gold 
 bought, when check would be much more convenient; and of the 
 supposed prohibition against buying exchange for gold. I could not 
 see that license to gambling was essential to freedom of trade; and 
 said that under the act, as 1 understood it, there could be no objec- 
 tion to public sales; or to the use of checks on actual deposits, and 
 paid during the day, to direct purchasers of exchange for gold. One 
 gentleman suggested that Congress should expressly authorize loans 
 of gold to be repaid in gold; and sales, not of exchange only, but 
 of all merchandize, for gold. 1 saw no objections to loans of 
 gold for gold ; but sales such as proposed would repeal the legal
 
 G08 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tender law. The conversation was good-tempered on both sides, and 
 to me instructive. 
 
 ft The Internal Revenue Bill remains with the Committee of Confer- 
 ence, but it is expected that they will report to-morrow. It is appre- 
 hended that the bill will not impose taxes enough to bring the resi- 
 due of expenses within the reach of loans. Mr. Orton came to-night 
 from New York at my request; and will devote himself to careful 
 examination of the bill and amendments, and estimate the probable 
 revenue as nearly as possible. 
 
 " Spent some time with Mr. Taylor, who, by my direction, has 
 been engaged in preparing a bill, or measure, to authorize the sale 
 of gold and silver lands. I can not but think that fee simple titles 
 in mines will tend powerfully to their most productive working. 
 He has conferred with Senator Conness, Commissioner Edwards, and 
 others, and has finally prepared a bill, which seems to me adequate. 
 I directed him to put it into the form of a section to be added, by 
 way of amendment, to a bill authorizing the sales of lands embracing 
 coal mines, which has passed the Senate and is in the House. 
 This was done, and I prepared letters to Mr. Julian, Chairman of 
 the Public Lands Committee, and Senator Conness; and instructed 
 Mr. Taylor to confer with Senator C and the California delega- 
 tion, and, if they approved the amendment, to Mr. Julian, and try to 
 have the bill adopted. If the measure succeeds it will work quite a 
 revolution. 1 
 
 June 25, 1864, Secretary Cnase wrote as follows : 
 
 Dear Sir: Since receiving your letter of the 10th of June, I 
 have been endeavoring to find some successor of Mr. Cisco, equal to 
 the place, and possessed of the entire confidence of the public. As 
 yet I have been unsuccessful, and, in conversation with Senator 
 Morgan on the subject, he agreed to write you, urging your recon- 
 sideration of your declension. I have also written to Mr. Cisco ex- 
 pressing my sentiments. Let me urge you to reconsider your con- 
 clusion, and let your country, in this exigency, have the benefit of 
 your services. Very truly yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " John A. Stewart, Esq., U. S. Trust Co., 48 Wall St., N. Y." 2 
 
 la Note" (by Mr. Chase). — "The amendment was approved and came very near 
 success. It is possible, had not the necessity of my resignation arisen, I might 
 have carried it through. It will probably engage the attention of Congress at the 
 next session, and become a law.' 
 
 2 0f the same date is the following : 
 
 '• My Dear Sir: I have inclosed to Mr. Stevens, as Chairman of the Committee 
 of Ways and Means, the bill of which I spoke to you last evening. Under it, if 
 passed, an effectual check can be put upon fraudulent speculation ; the care of 
 abandoned plantations, and of the freedmen, can be well provided for, and large 
 amounts of money can be secured to the Government without any charge whatever 
 to the Treasury. 
 
 "In the present condition of our finances, such a bill becomes more than ever 
 important. If it had been in force during the past year, a hundred millions of 
 dollars could have been saved to the Treasury ; at least fifty millions of exchange
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. GOO 
 
 Sunday, June 26, the diary of Secretary Chase received this ad- 
 dition : 
 
 "This day was given to what seemed necessary labor. It was ex- 
 tremely important to know whether a gentleman, invited to accept 
 the Assistant- Treaeurship, at New York, would consent to do so, and 
 to set in motion the advertising for the new loan, and to prepare for 
 an appeal to Congress to make up the deficiencies in taxes. The day 
 was therefore mainly devoted to these objects. Dr. Elder came in 
 and dined with me; no one at home besides myself. 
 
 Dr. Elder, the biographer of Dr. Kane, was a great favorite 
 with Mr. Chase. 
 
 The next day Mr. Chase called on Senator Morgan to consult 
 about Assistant-Treasurer at New York, and told him that he had 
 concluded to recommend Mr. Field. The Senator thought the 
 Secretary had better name Mr. Gregory or Mr. Blatchford. Mr. 
 Chase replied that either gentleman would be entirely acceptable to 
 him personally, but he thought the public interests would, on the 
 whole, be best consulted by the appointment of Mr. Field. Mr. 
 Morgan said that Mr. Jones, of Brooklyn, Chairman of the Union 
 Committee, had brought a list of clerks and officers under Mr. Cisco, 
 and that there was but some half dozen Union men among them, 
 all the rest being Democrats. 
 
 Having so stated, the diary proceeds as follows : 
 
 " I replied that I thought the statement erroneous, and that on 
 fair inquiry, it would be found that of the persons called Democrats 
 the largest proportion are of the same class with Andrew Johnson." 
 
 How queerly that reads now, after all that has since happened, 
 including, prominently, the impeachment of that same Andrew 
 Johnson in a court in which Chase presided! 
 
 But the diary proceeds to say : 
 
 "At the department; Mr. Freeman Clarke called, and I talked the 
 matter over with him. He seemed to prefer Mr. Field. I told him 
 if he would take it. I would send his name to the President at once. 
 He said his health would not allow him to do so, and if it would he 
 could not do so on other grounds. I asked him to confer with the 
 Senators and report, telling him I must decide to-day. Having 
 waited to hear from him till about four, and having meantime con- 
 ferred fully with Mr. Field, whom I found even a more decided sup- 
 
 in Europe could have been provided, and severe military disasters would have been 
 averted. "Yours truly, 
 
 "Ho.v. R. E. Fenton, H. R. S. P. CHASE."
 
 610 THE PRIVATE LIFE and public services 
 
 porter of the administration than Johnson was at the time of his 
 nomination, I went to the Capitol to see him. He was neither in 
 the Eouse oor Senate, and I then sent to the department, thinking 
 that, in the meantime, he might have gone thither. The messenger 
 returned, reporting that he had not been there, and I at once sent Mr. 
 Field's name to the President, about half past four. 
 
 "In the course of the morning, Mr. Orton, whom I had summoned 
 from New York to examine the Internal Revenue Bill, and ascertain 
 what revenue might be expected, and to give me also his judgment 
 as to the sources "from which the deficiency, if any, might be caused, 
 made his report. He estimated the net product at 2 7-10 mills for 
 the next fiscal year, and submitted a paper, showing how the de- 
 ficiency of eighty millions could be made up. I directed him to 
 have a hill prepared for the taxes suggested by him. I have repeat- 
 edly argued to Committee and the President that we can not well 
 sustain the existing somewhat reduced rate of expenditure without a 
 revenue from taxes and duties of 8400.000,000. In a recent letter upon 
 the assumption, admitted to be improbable, that expenditures might 
 be reduced to 8750,000,000, I forced the amount with which we might 
 get along, at one-half or 8375,000,000. I mean to send the bill for 
 the additional taxes to Congress and the President, and insist on it. 
 
 "These are the most important matters of the day. Talk about 
 trade regulations, various applications for permits and positions, 
 revision of Sprague's proposed remarks about Blair's charge against 
 him of cotton speculations, correspondence and conversation about 
 Gold Bill, occupied most of the day. 
 
 "One thing merits record. Having received a telegram from Mr. 
 Barney about 6 p. M., inquiring when the operation of the joint i*eso- 
 lution, increasing duties for sixty days would cease, and having sat- 
 isfied myself that, on the construction already given, that it took 
 effect on the day of its approval, it would cease to-da} T at midnight, 
 I conferred with Mr. Hooper, who happened to be with me, and 
 having ascertained that Congress had taken no step to extend its 
 operation, except to put such a provision in the tariff bill, not }*et 
 passed, requested him to introduce a joint resolution to extend the 
 time till the first of July. He drew one immediately, and promised. 
 The result was the introduction of this joint resolution — its passage 
 through the House and Senate — its approval by the Senate, 1 and its 
 communication by telegraph to all the collectors before midnight." 2 
 
 2 The following letters are of interest in this connection : 
 
 "Washington, D. C, June 26, 1864. 
 
 "My Dbab Sir: Senator Morgan promised me yesterday or the day before, that 
 he would write to Mr. Stewart, urging him to accept the post as Assistant-Treasurer 
 so soon to he vacated by you. I have no doubt that he has done so. Please see him 
 immediately, and second Senator Morgan's endeavor. I should feel safe with him, 
 and know not with whom else I should feel safe, or at least so safe. Let me know 
 the result by telegraph to-morrow, that 1 may be able to act definitely on Monday. 
 
 "I see the Evening Post admits articles of the worst sort against my acts. It may 
 be wise and right to do so, but I can not see it. Much of the representation is
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND I BASE. till 
 
 Next, this letter from the President demands attention : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, Washington, June 28, 1864. 
 u E6n Secretary of the Treasury: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Yours, inclosing a blank nomination for Maun - 
 sell B. Field, to be A-Ssistant-Treasnrer at New York, waa received 
 yesterday. I ran not, without much embarrassment, make this ap- 
 pointment, principally because of Senator Morgan's very firm oppo- 
 sition to it. Senator Harris has not yet spoken to me on the subject, 
 though I understand he is not averse to the appointment of Mr. 
 Field ; nor yet to any one of the three named by Senator Morgan, 
 rather preferring of them, however. Mr. Hillhouse. Governor Mor- 
 gan tells me he has mentioned the three names to you, to-wit : E. 
 M. Blatchford, Dudley S. Gregory, and Thomas Hi 11 house. It will 
 really oblige me if* you -will make choice among those three, or any 
 other man that Senators Morgan and Harris will be satisfied with, 
 and send me a nomination for him. 
 
 " Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 Here is a telegram of special interest to us at present: 
 
 "Washington, D. C, June 28, 1864. 
 
 "Let me urge you, respectfully but earnestly, to withdraw your 
 resignation, and give the country the benefit of your Bervices at least 
 one quarter longer. Let nothing except the absolute requirements 
 of your health prevent your consent. S. P. CHASE. 
 
 -■John J. Cisco, Esq., Assistant-Treasurer, New York. 
 
 •• To be delivered at office or residence immediately. - ' 
 
 hearsay and false, and the inferences are no better than the premises. But it is 
 vain to expect justice. Yours truly, 
 
 "John J. Cisco Esq. S. P. CHASE. - ' 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 26, 1864. 
 
 " Mi Dear Sir : I inclose a couple of slips, one from an editorial of the Evening 
 Post, and the other from an article admitted into its columns, with some notes on 
 the last. 
 
 "For good-tempered, practical criticism I am always grateful, and even from ill- 
 tempered I try to draw lessons. Such articles as that of the "Loyal Private Banker'' 
 belong to neither class. Made up of false and distorted statements of facts, and 
 gross imputations of dishonest and dishonorable motives, they derive their only 
 claim to consideration from admission into such papers as the Evening Poet. 
 
 "I think that under the circumstances I ought to know the name of the writer- 
 I especially desire it, that I may not impute his calumnies, even in thought to the 
 wrong person. If you do not dissent from this view, will you give it to me? 
 
 "There is One who knows with what fidelity I have endeavored to serve this 
 country ; with what anxiety to know and to do what is best for the people, and with 
 what absolute disregard of personal and private considerations. With Him I dare 
 trust my cause. Yours very truly, 
 
 '• Wm. C. Bryant, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 40
 
 612 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The same clay, the diary reports as follows : 
 
 "How beautiful and excellent is the order and progress which St: 
 Paul enjoins and illustrates in his letter to the Ephesians! Oh! if 
 the world could but learn that lesson, how anxieties and perplexities 
 would lighten and pass away with the clashes and jars and wars 
 which bring them. May God, in His infinite mercy, send us peace, 
 with Union and freedom. 
 
 " This morning I read part of Paul to the Ephesians, and, as usual, 
 endeavored to seek God in prayer. Oh, for more faith and clearer 
 Bight ! How stable is the City of God! How disordered is the City 
 of .Man ! 
 
 "At the department received a note from the President, saying 
 that Senator Morgan strongly opposed the nomination of Mr. Field 
 in place of Mr. Cisco. Replied, asking an interview, but received no 
 answer. He may not wish one ; or, what is more probable, allows 
 himself to forget the request. He asks the nomination of R. S. 
 Blatchford or Dudley S. Gregory, neither of whom, I fear, is the 
 proper man to take charge of the office at this critical juncture, 
 though either would be entirely acceptable to me personally. I fear 
 Senator Morgan desires to make a political engine of the office, and 
 loses sight, in this desire, of the necessities of the service. 
 
 "Received a note from Senator Morrill, informing me that the 
 Trade Bill has passed the Senate, and from Mr. Hooper that the 
 Loan Bill passed the House by concurrence in all the Senate amend- 
 ments. He had vainly endeavored to procure a modification of one, 
 so as to let the Government pay for stock used in engraving its notes, 
 instead of allowing the same stock to be used in preparation of other 
 circulation, and exclude the use of green pigment from all notes and 
 bonds, letting Government remunerate any patentee. Congress pre- 
 ferred to risk the evils to the national note circulation. 
 
 "Went to House, and talked with Mr. Hooper and Mr. Washburne 
 about Trade Bill, and urged importance of it. I do this reluctantly, 
 because of the labor it will impose on me, and because of the odium 
 which its interference with private speculations and naval enterprise 
 will be sure to excite against me. I wish we could have good com- 
 missioners to manage, these things, and also loans. But the Presi- 
 dent would almost certainly put in men from political considerations, 
 and, after all, the responsibility would still be on me. 
 
 " Returning to department, conferred with Mr. Orton and Acting- 
 Commissioner Rollins (Int. Rev.) about Supplementary Tax Bill. 
 Both agreed that the revenue for fiscal year, commencing next Friday, 
 would not exceed two hundred and twenty or two hundred and 
 twenty-five millions; whereas three hundred millions at least is 
 necessary. In accordance with my instructions they had prepared a 
 new hill, which, with their statements and a letter of my own, I pro- 
 pose to send to Congress to-morrow — another great and painful 
 responsibility! 
 
 "Telegraphed Mr. Cisco, urging him to withdraw resignation, and 
 serve at least another quarter, and wrote to President what I had 
 done, and why I could not honestly, in duty to him or to the country, 
 recommend at this time either of the names he had suggested. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 613 
 
 "In the evening went up to the Capitol. The Senate was holding 
 an evening session, and Garrett Davis was making a rambling, vio- 
 lent speech for slavery, abusing the President, against the Freed- 
 men's Bureau Bill, then under consideration. Talked to some of the 
 Senators; found that the House was not in session, and so came 
 home." 
 
 Here are two documents of cognate interest : 
 
 [Private.] 
 
 "Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C, June 28, 1864. 
 " Hon. Secretary of Treasury : 
 
 •My I>earSir: When I received your note this forenoon, sug- 
 gesting a conversation — a verbal conversation — in relation to the 
 appointment of a successor to Mr. Cisco, I hesitated, because the dif- 
 ficulty does not, in the main part, lie within the range of a conversa- 
 tion between you and me. As the proverb goes, no man knows so 
 well where the shoe pinches as he who wears it. I do not think Mr. 
 Field a very proper man for the place ; but I would trust your judg- 
 ment, and forego this, were the greater difficulty out of the way. 
 Much as I personally like Mr. Barney, it has been a great burden to 
 me to retain him in his place, when nearly all our friends in New- 
 York were, directly or indirectly, urging his removal. Then the ap- 
 pointment of Hogeboom to be General Appraiser, brought me to, 
 and has ever since kept me, at, the verge of open revolt. Now, 
 the appointment of Mr. Field would precipitate in it, unless Senator 
 Morgan, and those feeling as he does, could be brought to concur in 
 it. Strained as I already am at this point, I do not think I can make 
 this appointment in the direction of still greater strain. 
 
 " The testimonials of Mr. Field, with your accompanjdng notes, 
 were duly received, and I am now waiting to see your answer from 
 Mr. Cisco. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 29, 1864. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : I have received }'our note and have read it with 
 great attention. I was not aware of the extent of the embarrasment 
 to which 3"ou refer. In recommendations for office I have sincerely 
 sought to get the best men for the places to be filled without refer- 
 ence to any other classification than supporters and opponents of 
 your administration. Of the latter I have recommended none ; 
 among the former I have desired to know no distinction except 
 degrees of fitness. 
 
 " The withdrawal of Mr. Cisco's resignation, which I inclose, relieves 
 the present difficulty ; but I can not help feeling that my position 
 here is not altogether agreeable to you ; and it is certainly too full of 
 embarrassment and difficulty and painful responsibility, to allow in 
 me the least desire to retain it. 
 
 " I think it my duty, therefore, to inclose to you my resignation. 
 I shall regard it as a real relief if you think proper to accept it, and 
 will most cheerfully render to my successor any aid he may find use- 
 ful in entering upon his duties. 
 
 "With the greatest respect, yours truly, 
 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE."
 
 614 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I next invite attention to a capitally interesting document: 
 
 "Washington, D. O, June 29, 1864. 
 " Sir : I respectfully resign the office of Secretary of the Treasury, 
 -which I have the honor to hold under your appointment. 
 " With greatest respect, 
 " The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The letter of the President, accepting the resignation of Mr. Chase, 
 is dated June 30, and it reads as follows : 
 
 " Hon. Salmon P. Chase: 
 
 li My Dear Sir: Your resignation of the office of Secretary of 
 the Treasury, sent me yesterday, is accepted. Of all I have said 
 in commendation of your ability and fidelity I have nothing to 
 unsay; and yet you and I have reached a point of mutual embarrass- 
 ment in our official relations which it seems can not be overcome or 
 longer sustained consistently with the public service. 
 "Your obedient servant, 
 
 "A. LINCOLN." 1 
 
 'Now, I must again invite attention to that book of Mr. Field, entitled Memories 
 of Many Men and of Some Women. It begins, page 296, a chapter in this fashion : 
 
 " A correct version of the circumstances which induced and accompanied Mr. 
 Chase's withdrawal from Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet has never, to my knowledge, been 
 given to the public. About the first of June, 1864, Mr. Cisco tendered to the Presi- 
 dent, through the Secretary of the Treasury, his peremptory resignation of the office 
 of Assistant Treasurer of the United States at New York, to take effect immediately 
 after the close of the fiscal year, viz., on the 1st of July. Efforts were unsuccess- 
 fully made to induce him to withdraw it, and it then became necessary to find 
 somebody to take his place. A furious competition for the office immediately sprang 
 up. Mr. Chase, after a few days, went to New York, where he remained sometime. 
 He offered the position to three leading bankers, but they declined it. He then re- 
 turned to Washington, and remained inactive upon the subject until very late in the 
 mouth. One morning he sent for me, and told me that he had some time before 
 decided to nominate me to the President; but that, equally to his surprise and regret, 
 a gentleman of high position and great influence had called upon him and objected 
 to the nomination.. However, he had ordered his carriage and intended to go 
 directly lo the Senate, and canvass that body on the subject; and, if he found that 
 I would be confirmed, he would send my name to the President that very afternoon. 
 In conclusion he desired me to call at his house." Page 296. 
 
 The narrative of Mr. Field ambles forward in this fashion : 
 
 "Accordingly, at the appointed time, I went there. Mr. Chase told me that he 
 had spent two hours upon the floor of the Senate, and that he thought I would be 
 unanimously confirmed; that even the gentleman who opposed me would not, he 
 believed, carry his opposition so far as to vote against my confirmation. I thus 
 knew that the gentleman to whom he had referred in the morning was a senator, 
 and I fancied that he must be a senator from New York. As I was acquainted with
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. Olo 
 
 According to Mr. Maunsell B. Field himself, Mr. Lincoln, in a 
 conversation with him in 1864, gave a very characteristic account of 
 his reasons for not making Mr. Field the Right Arm of our hero. 
 I confess, I turned with something quite like eagerness to the pages 
 in Memories of Many Men and of Some Women in which that con- 
 versation is reported by our "Cabinet Smasher." 1 
 
 Mr. Field's account of what Lincoln said to him about thai mat- 
 ter is, in the first place, mere hearsay. J low all hearsay is to be 
 regarded who has yet to learn? Moreover, we have already sen 
 that Mr. Field is evidently not a person fondly in love with accu- 
 racy. Xextly, Mr. Field is clearly interested in the statement here 
 in question. 
 
 the favorable disposition of one of them toward me, I had no difficult}' in conclud- 
 ing in my own mind who it was that was hostile to my nomination. Mr. Chase had 
 already sent my name to the President, and he desired me to leave for New York 
 that very evening, so as to arrange for my official bonds, and be prepared to assume 
 the duties of the office on the 1st of July. I objected to this under the circum. 
 stances ; but I promised the Secretary that I would take my departure immediately 
 after Mr. Lincoln should nominate me to the Senate." 
 
 Then we have a statement as to the recommendation of our author, signed by 
 every Union member of the Lower House from the State of New York, and indorsed 
 by the friendly senator. 
 
 Mr. Field, however, was not nominated to the Senate on that day ! The next day, 
 he says, Mr. Chase again sent for him, and told him about a letter from Mr. Lincoln, 
 expressing the latter's disinclination to nominate Mr. Field on account of the oppo- 
 sition of one of the New York senators, and inviting Mr. Chase to a conference 
 upon the subject. 
 
 "Mr. Chase, instead of calling," continues Mr. Field, "replied by letter. For 
 several days communications were passing between him and the President. This 
 correspondence, however, I have never seen. Finally, one day, as I was discharg- 
 ing my official duties as usual, with the room full of people, Mr. Schuckers rushed 
 in, and whispered in my ear, 'We have no longer a Secretary ; Mr. Chase has re- 
 signed, and the President has accepted his resignation!' Thereupon, I went 
 directly to Mr. Chase, and asked him if the news which I had just heard was true. 
 He answered in the affirmative. I then requested his permission to tender my own 
 resignation to the President." 
 
 How delicate, how sweet, how eminently proper, that request of Mr. Field to he 
 permitted to tender his own resignation to the President ! Put fate was not in favor 
 of that tender tendering of a resignation. Mr. Field subjoins: 
 
 "He told me that such action would look factious and must not be thought of." 
 
 .\miable and submissive Mr. Field did not insist on laying down his office. He 
 consented, no doubt sighingly, to remain in place. 
 
 111 The afternoon of the day of the acceptance of Mr. Chase's resignation I was 
 upon the floor of the House of Representatives; members flocked around me, eager 
 for information, and I was addressed by the facetious title of 'Cabinet Smasher.'" 
 Tage 298.
 
 616 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 After all, however, I quite willingly give him the benefit of this 
 statement, made by him in the work of which we have already 
 more than once admired the taking title : 
 
 • Mr. Chase had been out of the department nearly two months, 
 when I happened to be spending an evening with Mr. Seward. In 
 the course of the conversation, t referred to the transaction which 
 had resulted in an exchange of the Treasury portfolio, and explained 
 the reasons which had induced Mr. Lincoln to decline nominating 
 me as Assistant-Treasurer at New York, as I then understood them, 
 viz.: that he was unwilling to appoint to so important an office one 
 of Democratic antecedents ; that he had recognized the propriety of 
 retaining Mr. Cisco, notwithstanding his politics, on account of his 
 eminent services before and since the war; but that he thought that, 
 if a change was to be made, the office should be treated as strictly 
 partv property. Mr. Seward assured me that I took an entirely 
 erroneous view of the matter, and advised me to seek a personal 
 explanation from the President. I asked Mr. Seward to have a pre- 
 liminary talk with Lincoln upon the subject, which he kindly prom- 
 ised to do. I may here observe that Mr. Chase's feeling had been 
 that the Assistant-Treasurer at New York being his right arm, 1 he 
 ought not to be interfered with in making such a selection. 
 
 " A few days later I walked over to the Executive Mansion at 
 about two o'clock in the afternoon. The President's ante-chamber 
 was crowded with people awaiting an audience, but " 
 
 That little word, but, is often full of prophecy. It is so now. 
 The modest narrative of Mr. Field goes on as follows : 
 
 "But as soon as Mr. Lincoln received my card he gave orders to 
 admit me. I expected to be with him ten minutes, at the utmost, 
 
 hut" 
 
 But again ! A still liner but, at that ; for Mr. Field has forced 
 himself to narrate farther in this fashion : 
 " But he detained me nearly two hours." 
 
 Detain is a good word. Detain me is a good phrase. The narra- 
 tive proceeds as follows 
 
 "The interview was, altogether, one of the most interesting and 
 amusing I ever had in my life." 
 
 Yet Lincoln had no French ! 2 He had no French, and yet he was 
 amusing to our traveled author ! Mr. Field proceeds: 
 
 " The President received me with great eordialit}^, and I began to 
 repeat to him substantially what I had said to Mr. Seward. He lis- 
 
 »0 modest Maiuisell! How it must have pained thy pen to write those words! 
 2 Ante, page 405. 

 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. (517 
 
 tened to me laughingly, but impatiently, shaking his head all the 
 time. When I got through, ho said: 'You are altogether on the 
 wrong track. Why, didn't I nominate, as Chase's successor, Dave 
 Tod, who has been all his life a Democrat, and who worked and 
 voted for Douglas and against me? No, sir; I will tell you all about 
 it. The Republican party in your State is divided into two factions, 
 and I can't afford to quarrel with either of them. By accident, 
 rather than by any design of mine, the Radicals have got possession 
 of the most important Federal offices in New York. I care nothing 
 whatever about 3-our personal politics. You were pressed by Mr. 
 Chase and opposed by Senator . Had I, under these circum- 
 stances, consented to } T our appointment, it would have been another 
 Radical triumph, and I couldn't afford one. That is all there is 
 about it, so far as you are concerned.'" 
 
 It occurs to me that Mr. Maunsell B. Field could hardly have 
 seemed to Abraham Lincoln dexterous enough to be the Right Arm 
 of our hero as a financier. 
 
 But now let us ascend to loftier contemplations. Under date, 
 June 30, a diary of Secretary Chase contains this language : 
 
 "So my official life closes. I have laid broad foundations. Noth- 
 ing but wise legislation, and especially bold, yet judicious, provision 
 of taxes, with fair economy in administration, and energetic, yet 
 prudent, military action (the last of which seems to be evidenced 
 by the position of Grant at the head of our armies — oh ! may he 
 have troops and supplies enough !) seems necessary to insure com- 
 plete success. The Insurrectionai-y District Trade Bill will give the 
 departments the power to regulate trade more efficiently than here- 
 tofore, and to take to the use of the Government the profits of pur- 
 chase and sale of the staples of the rebel States. Not only can many 
 abuses be now corrected, but a pecuniary benefit can be derived to 
 the Government of not less, I think, than $25, 000,000. The Tax 
 Bill, it is true, is inadequate, but Congress may give to my successor, 
 under the alarm created hy the change, what would not be yielded 
 to me; and, even if taxes can not be increased, a tolerable showing 
 can be made. The provisions I have secured with so much difficulty 
 in the Tax Bill, requiring monthly returns of banks and monthly 
 collection of taxes, and high taxes on excess beyond existing circula- 
 tion, or any circulation beyond ninety per cent, of capital, will, I 
 think, certainly prevent an increase of bank-note circulation, and 
 secure some slight reduction. This, to be sure, leaves almost the 
 whole burden of reduction upon loans ; but something, at least, can 
 be done in this way, also, for the next six months, when Congress will 
 have been again in session a month, and will have had an oppor- 
 tunity to supply what is now lacking. With these advantages, and 
 with all the great work of administration already inaugurated 
 and blocked out, and, especially, with the still greater advan- 
 tage of not having the inside and outside hostility to encoun- 
 ter, which I have been obliged to meet, my successor, I think, can 
 get on pretty well. If he tails anywhere, without his own fault, it
 
 618 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 will be on the side of loans, or under the pressure of military disas- 
 ter What I can do to help him I will, for the country's sake, most 
 gladly." 
 
 Here is the language of an interesting letter on the same subject : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, June 30, 1864. 
 
 ■ My Dear Sir : I felt myself bound yesterday to send my resig- 
 nation to the President. It would have been grateful to me to be 
 able to consult you ; but I feared you might be prompted by your 
 generous sentiments to take some step injurious to the country. To- 
 day my resignation has been accepted; and, if you have not been in- 
 formed of it, it is due to you that I should give 3011 the information 
 as soon as received by myself. Yours faithfully, 
 
 •Hon. E. M. Stanton. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Under date June 30, Mr. Chase made this entry in his diary : 
 
 'Among those who called during the day was Mr. Hooper, who 
 related a conversation with the President some days ago, in which 
 the President expressed regret that our relations were not more free 
 from embarrassment, saying that when I came to see him he felt 
 awkward, and that I seemed constrained. At the same time he 
 expressed his esteem for me, and said that he had intended, in case 
 of vacancy in the Chief Justiceship, to tender it to me, and would 
 now. did a vacancy exist. This, he said, he remarked to show his 
 real sentiments toward me; for he remembered that not long after 
 we took charge of the Administration, I had remarked one day that 
 I preferred judicial to administrative office, and would rather, if I 
 could, be Chief Justice of the United States than hold any other 
 position that could be given me. Mr. Hooper said that he thought 
 this was saiil to him in order to be repeated to me, and that he had 
 sought an opportunity of doing so. but had not found one. I said 
 that it was quite possible, had any such expressions of good will 
 reached me, I might, before the present difficulty arose, have gone 
 to him and had a fresh understanding, which would have prevented 
 it; but I did not now see how I could change my position. 
 
 ''Indeed, if such were the real feelings of Mr. Lincoln, he would 
 hardly have refused a personal interview when I asked it, or re- 
 quired nic to consult local politicians in the choice of an officer whose 
 character and qualifications were so vitally important to the depart- 
 ment. Besides, I did not see how I could carry on the department 
 without more means than Congress was likely to supply, and amid 
 the embarrassments created by factious hostility within, and both 
 factious and party hostility without the department." 
 
 On going to the department, June 30, Mr. Chase found that 
 Mr. Fessenden had been there, and left word that he desired to 
 meet the former at the Capitol. So, Mr. Chase, after signing a 
 letter to the President, commending to his attention the Secre- 
 tary's letter to the Committee of Ways and Means, and the state-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 619 
 
 ments and estimates of Mr. Orton, went to the Capitol. Mr. Fes- 
 senden had not yet returned ; but, on the way, Mr. Chase had 
 read a letter from a Mr. Dole, urging the repeal of the Gold Bill. 
 This letter had been left by Mr. Fessenden for perusal by Mr. 
 Chase. When the former came in, he and the Secretary talked 
 the subject over, and Mr. Fessenden desired the views of Mr. 
 Chase. 
 
 " I told him." says the latter in his diary, " that I never expected 
 great benefits from such Legislation; but that I thought it hardly 
 wise to yield to the clamor of the opponents of this particular act; 
 that the rise of gold did not. in my judgment, come from this law as 
 a permanent cause, though doubtless its tendency, in the particular 
 condition of the market, was to cause a rise ; and that, as there were 
 no probabilities of sales in it, nothing but simple restrictions upon 
 gambling, and restraint of operations to legitimate channels, I 
 thought it best to let it alone at this session ; but should be entirely 
 Satisfied whatever the Committee and Congress might do. 
 
 "Mr. Morrill, of Vermont," continues Mr. Chase, "came in during 
 our conversation, and spoke of the proposition I had made to in- 
 crease taxes. He was adverse to it. In his opinion, the bill already 
 passed would yield some thirty-one millions more than Orton's esti- 
 mate. I replied, that, admitting there might be such improvement 
 or increase, still the revenue would fall far short of half the expendi- 
 ture, and it would be impossible to borrow the remainder on fair 
 terms. On conversation with Mr. Orton, afterward, I found that Mr. 
 Morrill had omitted to take into the account the important circum- 
 stance that the increase he expects will not. even if realized, go into 
 the next fiscal year, but into the year following. 
 
 " While we were talking, a messenger came in to summon Mr. Fes- 
 senden to the Senate. The messenger said something privately, and 
 he [Mr. Fessenden] came back to me, saying, 'Have you resigned? 
 I am called to the Senate, and told that the President has sent in the 
 nomination of your successor.' I told him I had tendered my resig- 
 nation, but had not been informed till now of its acceptance. He 
 expressed his surprise and disappointment, and we parted, lie to the 
 Senate and I to the department. There I found a letter from the 
 President, accepting my resignation, and putting the acceptance on 
 the ground of the difference between us, indicating a degree of em- 
 barrassment in our official relations which could not be continued or 
 sustained consistently with the public service. I had found a good 
 deal of embarrassment from him; but what he had found from me I 
 could not imagine, unless it has been caused by my unwillingness to 
 have offices distributed as spoils or benefits, with more regard to the 
 claims of divisions, factions, cliques, and individuals, than to fitness 
 of selection. He had never given me the active and earnest supj)ort I 
 was entitUd to ; and even now Congress was about to adjourn without 
 passing sufficient tax bills, though making appropriations with lav- 
 ish profusion, and he was, notwithstanding my appeals, taking no pains 
 to insure a different result."
 
 620 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 The first day of July, 1864, was marked, as to Salmon Portland 
 Chase, by the writing of this not deeply studied letter: 
 
 " Dear Sir : Your note came after I had tendered my resigna- 
 tion to the President ; and I have not had the pleasure of seeing 
 your article. 
 
 "It was my practice, while charged with the conduct of the Treas- 
 ury Department, to read all that my time allowed, which came to 
 me in the way of information or counsel. Both were often contra- 
 dictory, hut often useful suggestions were found. After all, however, 
 it was my duty to form my own plans and adhere to my own con- 
 clusions, formed, as all plans and conclusions must be, with reference 
 to the actual condition of things. 
 
 "If working men can not contribute suggestions meriting careful 
 consideration, I do not know who can. 
 
 » Yours very truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " I. Y. Fincher, Esq., Office Finchefs Trades Revieic, Phila., Pa." 
 
 Here is a letter to a workman of a higher order : 
 
 "Washington, D. C., July 1, 1864. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Congress will adjourn so soon, and the members 
 will all be so busy, that I can not advise you to bring your picture to 
 Washington now. I congratulate you on its completion, and shall 
 be glad to take another admiring look at it when I come to New 
 York, if by any means I can find the time. 
 
 "Mrs. Sprague is in Ehode Island, and my other daughter is with 
 her. Yours very truly, 
 
 " Wm. H. Powell, Esq. *S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The same day affords this entry : 
 
 "This morning the papers contained telegrams, announcing that 
 Governor Tod declines to take the Treasury Department. On receiving 
 this information, the President sent to the Senate the name of Mr. Fes- 
 senden — a wise selection. He has the confidence of the country, 
 and many who have become inimical to me will give their confidence 
 to him and their support. Perhaps they will do more than they 
 otherwise would to sustain him, in order to show how much better a 
 Secretary he is than I was. If so, the country will gain even by hos- 
 tility to me, transmuted into friendship for him." 
 
 What a strange selection was that of David Tod to succeed 
 Chase ! The sagacity of Lincoln was a queer sagacity, after all. 
 July 1 yields also the following statement and commentary : 
 
 " Governor Moorhead called and related briefly an interview be- 
 tween himself and Mr. Williams and the President. They had 
 attempted to induce him to send for me with a view to my return to 
 the department; but he would not consent to this. He thought we 
 could not agree, and it was without use ; and in this he was, I think, 
 right. I can not sympathize with his notion, more than once ex-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 621 
 
 pressed to me and others, that the best policy is to have no policy, 
 and he can not sympathize with my desires for positive and ener- 
 getic action. It is best that he try somebody else. They had then 
 mentioned to him Mr. Howe, of Fittsburg, as a proper person for Sec- 
 retary ; but found him not inclined to this. The conversation pre- 
 ceded Tod's declination, and had reference to the probability that 
 the Senate might not confirm the nomination." 
 
 Under date July 1, appears also the following set of sentences: 
 
 "The day was given to writing letters and to conversation with 
 others who called. In the evening Fessenden came in, immediately 
 after dinner, or rather just before finishing dinner. Nobody but 
 Senator Sprague and myself were at the table, and he introduced the 
 subject of his nomination. He expressed an extreme aversion to 
 acceptance — fears of inability to cany on the department, and 
 especially a strong apprehension that his health would give way. He 
 had, he said, begun to [write] a note declining, but had been pre- 
 vented from finishing it by constant interruptions and had received 
 so many and such urgent appeals to accept, that he was greatly em- 
 barrassed, and wanted my advice. I told [him] I thought he ought 
 to accept — that all the great work of the department was now fairly 
 blocked out and in progress — that the organization was planned and 
 in many parts complete, and in all in a state which admitted com- 
 pletion — that is, so far as completeness could be said of anything 
 needing constant supervision, and allowing constant development 
 and improvement. His most difficult task would be to provide 
 money. He would now see, I thought, how important sufficient 
 taxation was, and that the department ought to have been helped 
 by some legislation ; asked, but denied. But he would have 
 advantages which I had not. I had been obliged to inaugurate the 
 national hanking system, and to claim the circulation for the whole 
 
 country through their , and had necessarily encountered the 
 
 ill-will of those whose prejudices or interests bound them to the sup- 
 port of the old system ; and I had necessarily also given offense to 
 many whose counsels I had not been able to follow, or whose wishes 
 I had not been able to gratify. Those persons would have no cause 
 of ill-will against him, and would very probably come to his support 
 with zeal increased by their ill-will to me. So my damage would be 
 his advantage, especially with a certain class of capitalists and bank- 
 ers; and I thought nothing more probable than that he would be able 
 to obtain loans easier than I could. At any rate, this would be his 
 chief, and, so far as I could see, the only real difficulty in his admin- 
 istration. He expressed his great apprehension lest his health might 
 give way, and said that if he took the place, to which he was much 
 urged in Congress, and by callers and telegrams from various parts 
 of the country, he should look to me for counsel and all the help I 
 could give. I told him that I thought he would want very little of 
 either; but that all I could give was at his service. He referred to 
 the long-standing relations of confidence and friendship between us, 
 and said he felt he had a right to depend on me; and I told him that 
 I would stand by him and with him, and, whether he needed me or
 
 622 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 not, that my friendship and affection would continue the same as 
 ever. Judge Spaulding came in, and we all then rode to the Capitol 
 together. Fessender. stopped at the Senate wing, but Spaulding and 
 I rode a few minutes longer together, talking of the resignation, of 
 Tod's appointment and declension, etc., when I left him also at the 
 Capitol, and returned home." 
 
 Saturday, July 2, our ex-Secretary of the Treasury recorded in 
 his diary this paragraph: 
 
 " The bill giving the Secretary of the Treasury effective control 
 over trade in the rebel States, and power to purchase their products 
 for resale for the benefit of the Government, and authority to lease 
 abandoned property and care for the Freedmen, passed the House to- 
 day, having previously passed the Senate. How much good I 
 expected to accomplish under this bill ! Will my successor do this 
 work ? I fear not. He had not the same heart for this measure that 
 I had." 
 
 Another paragraph, under date July 2, is worded thus : 
 
 "I spent the day in writing letters and receiving calls, not going 
 out at all. My letter to the Committee of Ways and Means ap- 
 peared in the Intelligencer and Chronicle. I am glad of it. It will 
 prove, at least, that I desired no inflation." 
 
 Sunday, July 3, affords this entry : 
 
 "Attended church at Wesley Chapel, where I heard an excellent 
 sermon on orphanage, suggested by the death of a }*oung girl, mem- 
 ber of the church, killed lately, with twenty others, by an explosion 
 of powder at the arsenal." 
 
 Under date July 4, our hero wrote as follows in his diary : 
 
 " Cries of all kinds, except cries of pain, filled the air this morn- 
 ing, with explosions of cannon, ringing of bells, and whiz-whiz, snap- 
 snap of crackers, and awoke me. It is the anniversaiy of the 
 Independence of the United States ! How little most of those who 
 celebrate it are thinking of the difference between the United States 
 which declared it and the United States which celebrate it. Then, 
 thirteen United States, just resolved no longer to be colonies, and 
 battling for independence and Union ; now, twenty-three of the 
 United States struggling, with divided counsels, to compel to obedi- 
 ence to the national constitution and laws eleven others, in which, 
 counting all classes and colors, there is a majority of loyalists, but a 
 majority controlled by the master class, and, so far as the colored por- 
 tion of it is concerned, treated by the Government of the Union as 
 inferiors and aliens rather than as equals in natural rights and as 
 citizens. What will be the end? It is hidden from me. The 
 twenty-three are vastly stronger than the eleven, and must prevail 
 if they persevere, unless divine Providence takes sides against them 
 Surely, if the Government had been willing to do justice, and had
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 623 
 
 used its vast powers with equal energy and wisdom, the struggle 
 might have been happily terminated long ago." 
 
 This notion of the ways of God with man may be well war- 
 ranted ; but, for reasons elsewhere submitted to the fair consideration 
 of my gentle reader, I can not consider that the justice of a cause 
 compels a miracle in its behalf, or that justice, wisdom., and energy 
 can alcne insure success. 
 
 The entry just quoted goes on in this manner : 
 
 "Congress adjourned to-day without having passed an additional 
 tax bill, except five per cent, on incomes, which may produce 
 twenty-two millions. There must be great reduction of expenditure 
 or better success in borrowing than I anticipate, or inflation must 
 continue. The President pocketed the great bill, providing for the 
 reorganization of the rebel States as loyal States. He did not ven- 
 ture to veto, and so put it in his pocket. It was a condemnation of 
 his Amnesty Proclamation and of his general policy of reconstruc- 
 tion, rejecting the idea of possible reconstruction with slavery ; which 
 neither the President nor his chief advisers have, in my opinion, 
 abandoned. 
 
 "Called at Mr. Hooper's and found nobody in ; but left a note, in- 
 viting Governor Andrew and himself to come down and dine with 
 me. Mr. Sumner called and remained to dinner, with Mr. Hooper 
 and Governor A. He said Governor Sprague had made a statement 
 of great force and power in relation to the Blair charges, which was 
 listened to with breathless attention. He said also that there was 
 intense indignation against the President on account of his pocket- 
 ing the Winter Davis or Keconstruction Bill. Governor Andrew 
 hopes to have the controversy about pay of negro troops enlisted by 
 Massachusetts settled on just principles. This justice has been too 
 long and too cruelly withheld. 
 
 "After dinner, many others called. Mr. Fessenden came in about 
 nine. He had already been with me in the morning, and had told 
 me that he had received a letter from a certain individual (the same 
 who proclaimed the most indecent joy on my leaving the Cabinet), 
 recommending Governor Morgan's special choice for the successor of 
 Mr. Cisco. He expressed his intention not to have either of them ; 
 for when it was sought to make me choose appointments he had told 
 me that he should call on the President, and before acceptance have 
 it distinctly understood that the appointment of subordinates in 
 his office, for whom he was to be responsible, must be made with 
 his full consent and approval, if not made directly on his own nomi- 
 nations. He now came in to say that the President had at once 
 acceded to this, only requiring that, should he himself desire any 
 particular appointment made, his wishes in that regard should be 
 fully considered. He said, too, that he hoped Mr. Fessenden would 
 not, without a real necessity, remove any friends of Governor Chase. 
 Had the President, in reply to my note tendering his [my] resignation, 
 expressed himself as he did now to Mr. F n, I should have cheer- 
 fully withdrawn it. Why did he not? lean see but one reason —
 
 624 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 that I am too earnest, too anti-slavery, and, say, too radical, to make 
 him willing to have me connected with the Administration ; just as 
 my opinion that he is not earnest enough, not anti-slavery enough, 
 not radical enough, but goes naturally with those hostile to me, 
 rather than with me, makes me willing and glad to be disconnected 
 from it. 
 
 " We parted, I promising to meet him at the department in the 
 morning and introduce him to his 1 and chief officei's." 
 
 To point out the importance of the statement made by Mr. Lin- 
 coln to Mr. Hooper can not be necessary. I shall speak of it here- 
 after more at large. 
 
 Tuesday, July 5, was for ex-Secretary Chase a day of much mem- 
 orableness. From the record in his diary, relating to its history, I 
 take this extract : 
 
 "Called on Fessenden and took him to the department, and spent 
 some time in explaining the state of the finances and the general 
 outlines of business. About half-past ten Judge Wayne came in and 
 administered the oath of office. Fessenden read it from the printed 
 form from the State Department, very distinctly, and pronounced the 
 adjunction, 'So help me God !' with great earnestness. The conclu- 
 sion of the oath struck me. 'I will faithfully perform the duties of 
 the office on which I am about to enter.' There was no such clause 
 as is commonly added, ' to the best of my ability.' " 
 
 Under the same date we have, also : 
 
 "Several other gentlemen called about loans, with Fessenden. The 
 problem to provide means without farther inflation and with gradual 
 reduction. Condition, immediate demands in requisition, $94, 000, 000. 
 Means, (1.) proceeds of late loan received, 5 per cent, transfer legal 
 tender; (2.) receipts from temporary loans; also, most in some legal 
 tender; (3.) receipts from internal revenue; (4.) miscellaneous re- 
 ceipts, sales of exchange, etc. 
 
 " The condition is by no means so difficult, or rather by no means 
 so apparently difficult, as at the close of the session of Congress. 
 Then the unpaid requisitions amounted to $72, 171, 189.41 ; and the 
 
 funds on hand were . At the close of the recent session, the 
 
 requisitions amounted to . Then Congress had passed the Na- 
 tional Banking Act, and had repealed the conversion clauses of the 
 Loan Act; but had provided no essential increase of revenue. But 
 with these aids, notwithstanding a very unpromising military condi- 
 tion, I succeeded in disposing so rapidly of public securities, that 
 within four months the whole amount of unpaid requisitions had 
 been discharged, and all demands were promptly met. The same 
 can be done now, but Mr Fessenden will be obliged to paj^ higher 
 interest from less value. The tax legislation is better than then, far 
 better, though not what it should be. The power of the depart- 
 
 1 Here is a word I can not make out.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 625 
 
 ment over the trade in insurrectionary districts is more complete, 
 and may be made very productive. The military situation is tin- 
 better. All things conspire to make financial success comparatively 
 easy." 
 
 At eleven, or a little after, July 5, the Heads of the Bureau in 
 the Treasury Department came in, and the ex-Secretary intro- 
 duced them to the new Secretary. Most of them were, indeed, 
 already known to him, and the meeting on both sides was most 
 cordial. After this was over, Mr. Chase left his successor, prom- 
 ising to call again the next morning, and confer about the prac- 
 tical business of borrowing money. 
 
 From the department Mr. Chase returned home, and used (he 
 remainder of the day chiefly in writing letters, and receiving visit- 
 ors. Mr. Dtirant called and talked over Louisiana matters. Gar- 
 field, Schenck, and Wetmore rode with Mr. Chase. " AH," he 
 says, " were bitter against the timid and almost pro-slavery course 
 of the President. Strange story by Garfield about Colonel Jaques." 
 
 We have yet this other contribution from the diary under date 
 July 5: 
 
 " Left Treasury Department and went to see Secretary of War. 
 Found him concerned about raid to Marti nsburg and Harper's Ferry ; 
 thinks Sigel inefficient, and that Hunter went too far off. Hunter, 
 however, yesterday, at Parkersburg, and will probabl}- to-day reach 
 the vicinity of the rebels. I can not see from the statements made 
 why they may not be cut off and signally defeated or captured. Told 
 Stanton that everything looked favorable to me, onl}* I wished Grant 
 could have more men. Sherman at Marietta, and rebels forced back 
 on the Chattahooche ; Danville Railroad broken up, and Grant hold- 
 ing fast, and on the whole, gaining. Hunter soon to drive the rebels 
 again from Shenandoah Valley, and the glorious victory of the Kear- 
 sarge in the combat with the Alabama, which came out to fight 
 and went to the bottom — all looked well. The last event, particu- 
 larly, worth millions in the improvement of our prestige and credit 
 in Europe. 
 
 ""Walked home under an intensely hot sun. Soon after, Mr. Wet- 
 more came in, and we went to Freedmen's Village. What a strik- 
 ing result of the war, and illustration as well as result, it is! There 
 it stands; a semi-circular village, extending round a sort of ravine; 
 wooden houses; about 1,800 people, mostly old and infirm, or women 
 and children, with schools, a church, good order — though much sick- 
 ness and poverty — all refugees from slavery, and not one wishing to 
 return unless free after the war. 
 
 " Ashley, Hosmer, and Taylor called. H. is going as chief 
 
 justice to Montana. Taylor, just from north-west Ohio, says opin- 
 ions there much divided about my resignation, and some in- 
 clined to blame me.
 
 626 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 "Eeid came in with letters from Greeley, who wishes me to suc- 
 ceed Pendleton. Told him I thought nothing gained unless we could 
 have radical change of men and policy. He goes to New York soon. 
 People of course, think little of anything in comparison with the 
 
 war." 
 
 That notion of having Chase try to succeed Pendleton was very 
 foolish, and its consequences were most painful, not to say humili- 
 ating. Xo absurder notion ever emanated even from the Tribune 
 office. In the state of the public mind toward Chase at the time 
 when that mad project was by Horace Greeley, through Whitelaw 
 Reid, presented to Salmon Portland Chase, the reasonable certainty 
 was that success was absolutely impossible. From the present con- 
 duct of the Tribune, one would say that that journal more than 
 holds its own in reckless folly. 
 
 But we must come back, hereafter, to the subject of that blun- 
 der almost amounting to a crime. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 627 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 CHASE NOT NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS — APPOINTED CHIEF JUSTICE. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, July 6, 1864, the late Secretary made this 
 record : 
 
 "Senator Pomeroy came to breakfast; he says there is great dis- 
 satisfaction with Mr. Lincoln, which has been much exasperated by 
 the pocketing of the reorganization bill. Garfield said yesterday 
 that when the rumor of the intention of the President to pocket the 
 bill came to the House on Monday, Norton, of Illinois, the special 
 friend of the President, said it was impossible and would be fatal. 
 
 G told him if he desired to prevent it, he should go to him at 
 
 his room at the Capitol at once, and remonstrate. Norton started, 
 almost running, but returned after a little. 'Did you see him?' 
 'Yes.' ' Will he sign? ' 'No — great mistake, but no use trying to 
 prevent it.' Pomeroy says he means to go on a buffalo hunt and then 
 to Europe. He can not support Lincoln, but won't desert his prin- 
 ciples. I'm much of the same sentiments, though not willing now to 
 decide what duty may demand next fall. Pomeroy remarked that, 
 on the news of my resignation reaching the Senate, several of the 
 Democratic senators came to him and said, 'We'll go with you now 
 for Chase.' This meant nothing but a vehement desire to overthrow 
 the existing Administration, but might mean much if the Demo- 
 crats would only cut loose from slavery and go for freedom and the 
 protection of labor by a national currency. If they would do that, I 
 would cheerfully go for any ma?i they might nominate. 
 
 How 
 
 " Coming events cast there shadows before," 
 
 as we read those words ! In 1864 we see 1868. 
 
 July 11, Mr. Chase wrote as follows to an old friend: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: We have not written each other frequently of 
 late, but my regard for you has by no means diminished. 
 
 " Hard at work, I have not had time for correspondence; but my 
 heart holds still to my old friends. 
 
 " I trust there is no ground for the fear that the country is again 
 to be cursed with the miscellaneous currency of local corporations ; 
 but it is impossible to foresee what is to come. It was one of my 
 greatest desires to give the people a uniform currency, made, in tlu 
 end, the equivalent to gold every where. My efforts were stoutly re- 
 sisted outside, and had not earnest sympathy inside of the Adminis- 
 41
 
 628 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 tration. They were steadily prevailing, however, when a sense of 
 duty to myself and the country also compelled me to resign. I hope 
 they will not be abandoned. Your friend, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 There was this postscript : 
 
 " I inclose cancelled your note for $272.50, dated June 16, 1860. I 
 am sure you would have paid it long ago if you could ; and, though 
 I am not now so well off as I thought myself then, I do not wish to 
 inconvenience an old friend by holding it unpaid. Besides I have 
 fewer claims on my care and support than I had then." 
 
 Here is another letter which I think must prove interesting : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, July 11. 1864. 
 
 " My Dear General : Accept my thanks for your very kind note. 
 I wish I could avail myself of your invitation to pass a few days 
 under your hospitable roof; but can not promise myself that pleasure 
 at present. 
 
 " My feelings upon going out of office are of a mixed sort — regret 
 that 1 leave great works half done — satisfaction in relief from cares 
 and manifold annoyances. Sometimes one of these feelings predom- 
 inates — sometimes the other. 
 
 " I should like very much to see you and have a little talk ; but 
 unless ) t ou happen to be in New York about the end of the week, do 
 not see how I can be gratified. It is my expectation to be there, at 
 the St. Nicholas, if the rebels let us out. 
 
 " Communications, except by river, are pretty much broken off 
 just now ; but I think they will soon be open again. There has been 
 some skirmishing and some casualties on the north side of the city; 
 an assault was expected this morning. I do not hear that it has 
 taken place, and imagine that the rebels will hardly try it. They 
 ought never get back to Richmond. 
 
 " Please give my best regards to Mrs. Cameron and the young 
 ladies, and believe me Yours sincerely, 
 
 " General S. Cameron. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Hon. Charles S. May was the (Republican) Lieutenant-Governor 
 of Michigan when he wrote to ex-Secretary Chase a letter in refer- 
 ence to a movement in behalf of Mr. Chase for the Presidency. 
 
 " It was," writes Mr. May to me, 1 " a time of great discourage- 
 ment and dissatisfaction with Mr. Lincoln's administration. The 
 almost treasonable attitude of the Democratic National Conven- 
 tion at Chicago soon after changed the whole current of feeling." 
 
 Mr. Chase answered Mr. May as follows : 
 
 " Crawford, White Mountains, August 31, 1864. 
 " Dear Sir : Your letter of the 9th did not reach me until a day 
 
 iLetter dated September 16, 1873.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 629 
 
 or two since. I thank you heartily for your expressions of confi- 
 dence and esteem. 
 
 "My friends in Cincinnati should not have presented my name in 
 competition with any other. They knew well that I did not desire a 
 nomination to Congress, and should not feel bound to accept any ol her 
 than one spontaneously and unanimously tendered. I regret their 
 action; for it has subjected me to some unneccessary misapprehension. 
 
 " It was not without some reluctance that I resigned my position 
 as head of the Treasury Department; but I could not, consistently 
 with my sense of duty to the country, or with what I thought a 
 proper self-respect, acquiesce in Mr. Lincoln's determination to make 
 the appointment of the Assistant Treasurer of New York, the officer 
 more intimately connected with the finances of the Government than 
 any other except myself, and most important to my successful admin- 
 istration of them, dependent on the will of a particular man and his 
 political associates. I felt sure that if I should acquiesce I should 
 not only be unfaithful to my trust, but I should establish a precedent 
 which would be followed so frequently and so constantly that the 
 successful administration of the department would be impossible. I 
 felt sure that the President would not make this issue with me if he 
 really desired me to remain in the department ; and I, therefore, sent 
 him my resignation. By accepting it he showed that I was not 
 mistaken. 
 
 " My conscience tells me that, under exceedingl}* difficult circum- 
 stances, I served my country with all the ability and courage God 
 gave me, and with an e}*e single to the public good. This conscious- 
 ness is my sufficient reward. 
 
 "I am now a private citizen and expect to remain such. Since my 
 retirement from the department, I have had no connection with polit- 
 ical affairs. No one has been authorized to use my name in any 
 political connection, except that I said I should not feel at liberty to 
 refuse my services to the citizens of my Congressional district, if 
 spontaneously and unanimously demanded. I think now that I erred 
 in saying this ; but it seemed right at the time. No such movement 
 as the one you suggest seems to me expedient so far as I am con- 
 cerned. Whether it would be expedient or patriotic in reference to 
 some other name, I am notable to judge. I see only, as all see, that 
 there is a deplorable lack of harmony, caused chiefl}*, in my judg- 
 ment, by the injudicious course of some of Mr. Lincoln's chief ad- 
 visers, and his own action on their advice ; ami I most earnestly wish 
 that harmony might be restored, and the success of our cause, now 
 in serious jeopardy, assured. Yours very truly, 
 
 "Hon. Chas S.May. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Mr. Chase wrote mildly when he said that that movement, de- 
 signed to make him the congressional successor of Mr. Pendleton, 
 subjected him to some unnecessary misapprehension. It did more 
 than that. It damaged him forever as a Presidential candidate. 
 After that he had no Presidential possibilities whatever. 
 
 Next to the nomination of Horace Greeley for the Presidency, it
 
 630 the trivate life and public services 
 
 was the most foolish thing ever attempted by politicians in the Cin- 
 cinnati valley. It was perfectly characteristic of the Tribune office — 
 the most curious combination of absurdity and recklessness the 
 country has yet seen. 
 
 But so strong was Mr. Chase, in spite of that performance at his 
 expense by Greeley, Reid & Co., that Mr. Lincoln, when the death 
 of Chief Justice Taney made a place for Salmon Portland Chase, 
 made Chase Chief Justice. 
 
 Mr. Sumner had urged that appointment. Mr. Lincoln had 
 promised Mr. Sumner that it should be made. The great difficulty 
 in the way, as discerned by Mr. Lincoln, appeared to be that Mr. 
 Chase had the Presidency on the brain. Mr. Sumner related to 
 me that Mr. Lincoln once proposed to send for Mr. Chase and 
 frankly tell him that in his (Lincoln's) judgment he (Mr. Chase) 
 would make the best Chief Justice we ever had, if he could only get 
 rid of his Presidential ambition. Mr. Sumner pointed out how 
 objectionable would be such a course; that it would expose the 
 President to imputation as to his motives, and would be offensive 
 to Mr. Chase, as requiring, in effect, a pledge from the latter not to 
 be, thereafter, a Presidential candidate. Mr. Lincoln at once saw 
 that what he had so well intended to do, in that behalf, would not be 
 proper. He determined, therefore, to take all risks, and appoint Chase 
 without any suggestion as to the possibility of Presidential candidature. 
 
 This is not the only information for which this volume is indebted 
 to the talks its author had with Mr. Sumner. 
 
 Shortly after Chase's death, I called on Mr. Sumner, as he had 
 invited me to do, in order that he might impart to me, not only 
 matter of fact, but matter of mere judgment. It was evidently 
 hard for the great man from Massachusetts to say much of 
 Chase. For five words about our hero, he gave me twenty- 
 five about himself. But, after all, I learned some new things 
 about Chase, and among them an anecdote, which, I have learned, 
 Mr. Sumner related to at least one person other than myself. 
 
 Mr. Sumner was the first to tell Mr. Chase of his confirmation 
 as Chief Justice. As he came out of the room in which that infor- 
 mation had been imparted, he met Mrs. Sprague, who, shaking her 
 right fore-finger at him, said : 
 
 And you, too, Mr. Sumner? You, too, in this business of shelv- 
 ing papa? But never mind ! I will defeat you all ! " 
 
 The life of our hero's eldest daughter has become, in some degree,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. G31 
 
 historical. It had become historical, indeed, at the time when, ac- 
 cording to Mr. Sumner, the fair fore-finger of a beautiful, accom- 
 plished woman aided her lips to give impressiveness to the words 
 just quoted. I have not felt free to withhold the anecdote here 
 offered. 
 
 Was Mr. Sumner right in telling it to me and to at least one other 
 person ? l He is dead ; but he did not appear to me a gentleman of the 
 finest type. He seemed to me not single-hearted and not single-faced. 
 I had four or five conversations with him, three of which I must re- 
 member while I live. They did not tend to make me like him, and 
 they rather lowered than exalted my appreciation of his taste, his 
 learning, and his talents. Yet, I have no reason in the world to 
 doubt the truth of the anecdote referred to ; and it seems to me not 
 unimportant. 
 
 So strangely has the heroine of it been somehow led to bear her- 
 self toward the composition of this work, and so desperate has shown 
 itself the disposition of her minions to prevent, if possible, even the 
 publication of these pages, that I can not comment on that anecdote 
 as, but for the facts just referred to, might seem proper; but, I tins:, 
 I know how to make all due allowances for filial fondness, combined 
 with other feelings, on the part of Mrs. Sprague, in 1864. 
 
 It was on the 13th of December, 1864, that Salmon Portland 
 Chase, " having previously, on the same day, taken the oath of 
 allegiance in the room of the judges, and the oath of office in open 
 court, at his place upon the bench," first took his seat as Chief 
 Justice of the United States. 2 This interesting ceremony took place 
 " in presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen." 
 
 It is not the purpose of this work to set forth his opinions as a 
 Judge. Of some of those opinions, indeed, some notice must be 
 taken in these pages ; but to the average reader a full account 
 of them would be very far from inviting. In another chapter I 
 have given my opinion of him as a legist, and set forth my judg- 
 ment of his actions as a Judge. 3 At present, I go forward with 
 
 *Mr. Justice Swayne, of the Supreme Court, not knowing that that anecdote had 
 been related to me by Mr. Sumner himself, communicated it to me as he had heard 
 it from the senator. 
 
 2 So he designated his official character in a letter written under his dictation, and 
 by him signed, not long before his death. That letter was addressed to Benjamin 
 Vaughan Abbott, Esq. 
 
 s Post, Chapter LIII.
 
 G32 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a narrative which I desire to interrupt as little as possible by dis- 
 quisition. 
 January 2, 1865, the President thus wrote to the Chief Justice : 
 
 "Chief Justice Chase: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Without your note of to-day I should have felt 
 assured that some sufficient reason had detained you. 
 
 "Allow me to condole with you on the sad bereavement you men- 
 tion. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN." 
 
 The note so answered is not in my possession. The bereavement 
 mentioned by the President was the loss of a sister. A letter to Mr. 
 Jay Cooke will be found referring to it: 
 
 January 12, the Chief Justice wrote to Mr. Jay Cooke : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Cooke : Accept my thanks for your kind sympa- 
 thy in the sorrow which the loss of my dear sister has given me, and 
 receive mine in your own for the loss of your excellent father. When 
 such persons die, what consolation to those who must follow later, 
 that those who have gone before have gone to Heaven. 
 
 " I rejoice to read the call you sent me, and to see the grand name 
 of Horace Binney at its head, followed by that of his son. It is a 
 great step in the right direction. If we wish God's blessing, we 
 must not oppress His poor. 
 
 " In a day or two I will write you on other matters; but may we 
 not hope for the pleasure of seeing you here?" 
 
 x On the 5th of the same month the Chief Justice wrote as follows to General B 
 C. Ludlow : 
 
 " I wish there was no brevet to diminish my pleasure in thus addressing you, but 
 I hope the full promotion will come in due time. 
 
 " Charlotte sends me your very interesting letter giving an account of your 
 
 Christmas dinner, and I was delighted to read it. What a letter that was 
 
 of — [Here are omissions in my copy on account of illegibility, I suppose.] 
 
 " As soon as I came I saw the Secretary about Israel. He seemed disposed to do 
 all he could, but has since told me that Israel could not be transferred consistently 
 with regulations. I wish Israel would write me, and tell me exactly his present 
 stating his rank in his own regiment and company, and everything which I ought 
 to know to be of service to him. I can't do much, but what I can do will do gladly. 
 
 "Can I be of any service to you? Give my regards to General Barney and Mar- 
 cellas. I am trying to do something for him — Marcel." 
 
 On the 10th the Chief Justice wrote as follows: 
 
 '•My Dear Sir: The 'General Theological and Religious Association,' of Cin- 
 cinnati, are extremely desirous to procure a copy of the Codex Sinaiticus, a few copies 
 of which were printed at the expense of the Emperor of Russia for distribution to 
 universities and public libraries, and I shall be very glad if you can aid them in 
 the attainment of their wish. Yours, very truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " The Rt. Hon. Mr. de Stoeckl, etc., etc., etc."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 633 
 
 To Judge Kelly, January 22, he wrote : 
 
 "Dear Judge : I have not yet seen your speech. Please send me 
 a copy, and a hundred more for friends in Ohio. 
 
 " The assault of Fields is the hest commentary that could be made 
 on your position. It was prompted by the very spirit which, if the 
 blacks are not secured in the right of suffrage, will prompt the most 
 cruel legislation against them, and probabl}' produce a renewal of 
 bloody civil strife. 
 
 " In a letter received to-night, from a Southerner at New Orleans — 
 not of the Democratic side either — are these significant words : 
 'Only some strong political necessity will induce the legislature to 
 extend the right of suffrage. If such extension was made, on 
 condition of the recognition of the State, it would probably be 
 granted.' 
 
 "Recognition without such condition would be, in my judgment, 
 equally wrong and impolitic." 
 
 In a letter addressed, the same day, to Mr. George L. Denison, 
 are the words : 
 
 " I trust, and there is some reason to believe, not without good 
 grounds, that Congress will not recognize Louisiana unless the right 
 of suffrage is extended to the colored people. Recognition without 
 this extension would be, in my judgment and in that of our wisest 
 and most influential men, equally wrong and impolitic. 
 
 " It was a mistake in the friends of General Banks and Governor 
 Hahn, that they did not have this right granted in the Constitution. 
 It would have removed every obstacle to recognition. 
 
 " The attack of Fields on Judge Kelly has damaged the cause of the 
 Louisiana senators and representatives a good deal. 
 
 " We are all well and rejoicing over the fall of Fort Fisher and the 
 waning fortunes of rebellion." 1 
 
 ir To Jones, the sculptor, on the 23d, he wrote : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Jones: Sometime ago, I promised to give the Otterbein Uni- 
 versity a copy of your draped bust of me, but forgot the name of the gentleman to 
 whom it was to be sent. I have just received a letter from him, reminding me of 
 the promise, and I beg you to have one carefully boxed and sent to Rev. H. A. 
 Thompson, Professor, etc., in Otterbein University, at Westerville, Ohio — Wester- 
 ville is twelve miles north of Columbus. Please see that such directions are given 
 the express company as will make sure of its reaching its destination. 
 
 "Are you now selling copies of this bust? Occasionally, inquiries are made of 
 me where one can be procured. If you are selling any, pleas* let me know the 
 price. Let me know, also, the cost of the one, including packing, sent to Westerville 
 and I will at once remit it. 
 
 " I was very sorry, indeed, not to see more of you in Cincinnati. I wish I could 
 afford to have your bust put in marble. I think it, next to Mr. E wing's, your greatest 
 work. 
 
 " T. D. Jones, Esq., Cincinnati, Ohio. S. P. CHASE."
 
 634 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SEEVICES 
 
 On the 23d, a letter to Hon. B. F. Flanders said, with other 
 things : 
 
 " I doubt whether recent developments, will not constrain Congress 
 to refuse recognition to any State which has been in rebellion, unless 
 reconstituted upon the basis of equal rights for all men, and equal 
 participation in suffrage, as the only reliable safeguard to these 
 rights. 
 
 " If Louisiana wishes her present representatives admitted, the leg- 
 islature will probably find it necessaiy to exercise the power conferred 
 by the Constitution, of extending the right of suffrage to the loyal 
 colored citizens of the State." 
 
 Here is surely a remarkable letter : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, January 23, 1865. 
 
 " Dear Count : I did not reply to your note at the right time, but 
 I hope you will excuse the omission in consideration of the pressure 
 of my new duties. 
 
 " It gratified me, because it came from one whom I have long hon- 
 ored as an implacable hater of wrong, as a faithful friend of man. 
 The very intensity of your devotion to justice, has, I fear, sometimes 
 made you unjust ; but, no matter ; the zeal for the truth and the right 
 remain. I have been, I think, a patient worker for the same ends. 
 Certainly I have aimed to be ; thinking, however, I could do most 
 good without assailing men who may change from worse to better, 
 while bad principles never amend. Yours truly, 
 
 " Count Gurowski, etc., etc., etc. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Just think of such a letter to such a man from such a man ! 
 January 30 we have this letter: 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Barney : T was very glad to learn from your 
 letter that gentlemen, of undoubted responsibility and personal 
 worth, are about to organize a savings bank with special reference to 
 the freed men, and, I hope, the soldiers. I have not a doubt that such 
 an institution could work immense good. Hundreds of thousands, if 
 not millions, of dollars, now wasted through fraud or misfortune of 
 depositories, could be saved for the comfort and improvement of 
 families and homes. I see no reason why a national bank for freed- 
 mens' savings can not be organized, and answer every purpose with- 
 out further legislation by Congress. And through agencies already 
 established, especially those of the Christian Commission, the work- 
 ings and benefits of it could be made widely known, in a very short 
 time, to the parties interested. I am sure the President would feel 
 much interested in it, and that the War Department, under its able 
 and clear-sighted head, would cheerfully cooperate." 
 
 In a letter, dated February 23, the Chief Justice said to Mr. 
 James R. Gil more, of Boston : 
 
 " I rejoice that you had an opportunity of speaking to the Balti- 
 more people ; they are nearer right than many farther north.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 635 
 
 " I fear our good President is so anxious for the restoration of the 
 Union, that he will not care sufficiently about the basis of represen- 
 tation. In my judgment, there is none sound except absolute justice 
 for all, and ample security for justice in law and suffrage." 
 
 On the 3d of March, the Chief Justice wrote this letter : 
 
 " Dear Riddle : Thanks for your note informing me of the de- 
 posit in First NationalBank by Mr. Ball's direction, of §513.93, being 
 amount advanced by me for him to Mr. Wilson. It is welcome, be- 
 cause it is wanted. 
 
 "Some seem to think that a man who has handled millions must be 
 rich ; and so I should be, if I could have retained for m}-self even one 
 per cent, of what I saved to the people. But I would not exchange 
 the consciousness of having kept my hands free from the touch of 
 one cent of public treasure for all the riches in the world. 
 
 "My wants are very moderate — and the chief use I have for in- 
 come is to provide for the wants of others. Demands of this naturo 
 are urgent enough to keep me generally tight. 
 
 "I see I have used an equivocal word, but I won't scratch it out. 
 You will not put an intemperate construction upon it. 
 
 "Your old brother colleague and sincere friend, 
 
 "Hon. A.N. Riddle. S. P. CHASE."
 
 636 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN — JOHNSON'S INAUGURATION. 
 
 N the day of Lincoln's second inauguration as Chief Magis- 
 trate, the Chief Justice wrote as follows to Mrs. Lincoln : 
 
 "Dear Madam: Will you oblige me by accepting the Bible 
 kissed by your husband, on taking to-day, for the second time, the 
 oath of office a9 President of the United States? 
 
 " The page touched by his lips is marked. 
 
 "I hope the sacred Book will be to j t ou an acceptable souvenir of 
 a memorable day, and I most sincerely pray Him, by whose inspira- 
 tion it was given, that the beautiful sunshine, which, just at the time 
 the oath was taken, dispersed the clouds that had previously dark- 
 ened the sky, may prove an auspicious omen of the dispersion of the 
 clouds of war, bj' the clear sunshine of prosperous peace, under the 
 wise and just administration of him who took it. 
 
 " With great respect, yours truly, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 That beautiful sunshine, that dispersing of the clouds, was after 
 all, perhaps, not quite a delusive omen. But, as to Lincoln, it at 
 least did not portend long life. 
 
 To the President, March 6, our hero wrote as follows : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I inclose the Circassion decision. An order or 
 proclamation closing or restricting the ports will, when military oc- 
 cupation is permanent, answer most of the purposes of blockade, and 
 be subject to no objection. In the case of the Venice, which I men- 
 tioned to you, the court held that the occupation of New Orleans 
 must be considered as permanent from the 6th of May, on which day 
 General Butler's proclamation was printed in the papers. 
 
 "As to Virginia, I take the liberty of suggesting that it may be 
 well that any proclamation declaring the State no longer in insur- 
 rection should recite the fact of a continuous loyal State government, 
 and confine the effect of the proclamation to the counties acknowl- 
 edging that government, and regularly represented in the loyal leg- 
 islature, or hereafter acknowledging it and being so represented. 
 
 "Except one from West Virginia, no cases have been heard on 
 appeal from the courts of either district of Virginia since the re- 
 bellion. Yours most truly, 
 
 "The President. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 In a letter to Mr. J. Schuckers, dated April 4, we have the words : 
 
 "All tongues are busy and all hearts filled with the glorious news 
 of Richmond and hopes of peace."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 637 
 
 April 9, the Chief Justice wrote to Hon. R. S. Field : 
 
 "Dear Judge: You have much obliged me by sending 3-our ex- 
 cellent discourse on the lute Chief Justice Hornblower. 
 
 " When a very young member of the bar, I was called upon to 
 plead the cause of an alleged fugitive from slavery, upon habeas 
 corpus, before our Common Pleas Court in Cincinnati. My examina- 
 tion of the Constitution and the Ordinance of '87 and the Articles 
 of Confederation led me to the same conclusion with the Chief Jus- 
 tice ; and I remember that I was greatly strengthened in it by a par- 
 agraph in a newspaper, which gave a very brief statement of his 
 decision in the ease to which you refer, made about a year before 
 my argument. I was much gratified on the publication of his pam- 
 phlet report, many years after, to find that our paths to one common 
 conclusion were nearly identical. 
 
 " In I860 I was called to Newark to address the people in favor of 
 Lincoln and Hamlin, and was his guest. My experience confirms 
 all 3'ou say of his hospitality ; and my observation, all you say of his 
 benignity of manners, his cheerful spirits, his fervor in religion, and 
 his patriotic devotion to his country. 
 
 "I am glad to have my impressions, to which I then gave some 
 inadequate expression in my address, revived by your discourse. 
 " With great respect, and very truly yours." S. P. CHASE." 
 
 April 14, we have these letters: 
 
 " My Dear Bishop : I send you some seeds under Senator Sum- 
 ner's frank. They will, at worst, and probably at best, prove my 
 remembrance, and serve as a token of my respect and esteem. 
 
 " Your letter about an amendment to the Constitution came just 
 before Congress adjourned. There was no possibility of securing 
 favorable action. Most think the recognition already sufficient. 
 When in the Treasury Department I directed devices and mottoes to 
 be put on the coinage — the two-cent pieces — and on our notes and 
 bonds, expressive of our dependence on God, and our recognition of 
 the supreme authority of the Bible. One, on the coins, was, 'In 
 God we trust; ' you have possibly seen it. Another, on notes and 
 bonds, was the Bible, with the Constitution under it. There were 
 others, I think, but these alone are distinct in my recollection. 
 " Faithfully your friend, 
 
 " Rx. Rev. C. P. McIlvaine. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 '• I am anxious about reconstruction, and clear that there should bo 
 no recognition of any State as restored to full relations without 
 recognition on its part of colored loyal men as citizens entitled to 
 vote." 
 
 "My Dear Mrs. Trimble: The Commissioner of Agriculture 
 sent me some seeds the other day. I send a few to you, more as a 
 token of remembrance and sincere friendship than with any hope 
 that thej' will be of any use to you. Will you so receive them? 
 
 " I was very sorry that my new duties allowed me to see so little of 
 you when here last winter. My time was never so wholly absorbed; 
 and yet it seemed to me as if I was doing nothing. This was the
 
 i;:W THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 hardest part of my condition. Work from morning to midnight, and 
 no result, except that John Smith owned this parcel of land or other 
 property, instead of Jacob Eobinson ; I caring nothing and nobody 
 caring much more about the matter. Ah! but the great principles 
 settled, and the honorable post ! Let me console myself. 
 
 " Please assure the doctor of my warmest regards. Somehow or 
 other I feel drawn toward him with more than a common affection. 
 '• Most truly your friend, 
 
 " Mrs. Dr. Trimble. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Buchanan : To send seeds to you is like sending 
 coals to Newcastle, gold to California, or water to Lake Erie ; but 
 what seems so superfluous will, I hope, be received as a slight mark 
 of remembrance and desire to be remembered. I send them by this 
 day's mail, under my friend Sumner's frank. 
 
 ""We are all jubilant here; but some of the thoughtful ones are 
 much alarmed about the likelihood of reconstruction without ade- 
 quate guarantees against future evils. 
 
 " I send you, under Governor Sprague's frank, Senator Collamer'a 
 speech, showing the duty of the Government to secure the future. 
 
 " Your friend, 
 
 " E. Buchanan, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 " My Dear Archbishop : I send you a few seeds under my friend 
 Sumner's frank — more because I want to remind you of myself, and 
 of my esteem and respect for }-ou, than because I suppose you can 
 have any use for them. But you may know some good people to 
 whom they will be acceptable. 
 
 " With best regards to the Rev. Mr. Purcell and to Father Collins, 
 believe me, Sincerely and faithfully yours, 
 
 " Most Eev. Archbishop Purcell. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Not seldom, in the theater, the orchestra performs a lively pre- 
 lude to a fearful tragedy. 
 
 How strange the relation of the prelude to the play! Yet who- 
 ever has deeply studied the philosophy of Shakspeare's tragedies, 
 especially as that philosophy is interpreted by William Schlegel, may 
 have some comprehension of the manner in which sport and earnest 
 are related, not only in those tragedies but on the stage of real life. 
 
 A diary or register of Chief Justice Chase contains this unaf- 
 fected, fearfully affecting narrative : 
 
 "April 14, Friday — At home morning; afternoon, rode out with 
 Nettie, intending to have 1113'self left at President's, and talk with 
 him about universal suffrage in reorganization; felt reluctant to call 
 lest m}' talk might annoy him, and do harm rather than good ; home 
 a little after dark, having postponed my intended call; retired to bed 
 about ten. Some time after, a servant came up and said a gentle- 
 man, who said the President had been shot, wished to see me. I 
 directed that he should be shown into my room. He came in (an 
 employe in the Treasury Department), and said he had just come
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 639 
 
 from the theater; the President had hecn shot in his hox by a man 
 who leaped from the box upon the stage, and escaped by the rear. 
 He could give no particulars, and I hoped he might be mistaken; 
 but soon after Mr. Mellen, Mr. Walker, the Fifth Auditor, and Mr. 
 Plantz came in and confirmed what I had been told, and added that 
 Secretary Seward had also been assassinated, and that guards were 
 being placed around the houses of all the prominent officials, under 
 the apprehension that the plot had a wide range. 
 
 " My first impulse was to rise immediately and go to the President, 
 whom I could not yet believe to have been fatally wounded ; but, 
 reflecting that I could not possibly be of any service, and should 
 probably be in the way of them who could, I resolved to wait for 
 morning and further intelligence. In a little while the guard came — 
 for it was supposed that I was one of the destined victims — and their 
 heavy tramp, tramp was heard under my window all night. Mr. 
 Mellen slept in the house. It was a night of horror. 
 
 "April 15. Up with the light; a heavy rain was falling, and the 
 sky was black. Walked up with Mr. Mellen to Mr. Seward's, cross- 
 ing the street (Ninth I believe 1 ) on which is Ford's theater, and 
 opposite the house to which the President had been conveyed; was 
 informed at that point that the President was already dead." 
 
 The death of Lincoln was so sudden, and the manner of it was so 
 tragic, that to this hour the memory of the " night of horror," char- 
 acterized as we have seen by the pen of Chase, interferes with every 
 attempt to do simple justice to the relations of the late Chief Jus- 
 tice with the man who so quietly passed him in the race for the 
 Presidential nomination, fourteen years ago. 
 
 The rule, de mortuis nil nisi bonum, is older than the saying put 
 by Shakspeare on the lips of the shrewd orator that comes 
 
 " To bury Caesar, not to to praise him ; " 
 
 the saying, namely, that 
 
 "The evil that men do lives after them — 
 The good is oft interred with their bones." 
 
 If there was aught deserving to be called evil in the amiable life 
 of Abraham Lincoln, it was buried with his bones. The people 
 would not suffer it to outlive him. Even to this hour, allow 7 me to 
 repeat, it is a daring thing to make a fair endeavor to do simple 
 justice to the sad, glad, merry, melancholy man, whom the mad 
 guilt, the guilty madness, of John Wilkes Booth put to death in a 
 play-house. 
 
 Among the papers furnished by Chief Justice Chase for my bio- 
 graphic use, I found one in his own handwriting as follows: 
 
 'It is really Tenth.
 
 640 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " April 15, 1865. 
 
 "The administration of the oath. 
 
 " Early yesterday morning the Heads of Departments met and cer- 
 tified to" the Vice-President the death of the President, in the form 
 used on the decease of President Harrison and President Taylor; 
 and fixed on ten o'clock as the hour for meeting him at his lodgings 
 and for the administration of the oath of office, which the Chief Jus- 
 tice was requested to administer. Accordingly, several members of 
 the Cabinet, with a number of other gentlemen, met the Vice-Presi- 
 dent and the Chief Justice about the hour appointed. Among those 
 present were Secretary McCulloch and Attorney-General Speed, Sen- 
 ators Foote and Eamsey, ex-Senator Hale, F. P. Blair, Senior, 
 and Judge Montgomery Blair. All were manifestly deeply im- 
 pressed by the great National bereavement. Every countenance Avas 
 sad. The Chief Justice administered the oath by repeating it word 
 byword, and the Vice-President repeating it after him, very distinctly 
 and impressively. At its close the Vice-President kissed the Bible. 
 The passage which his lips pressed happened to be the 21st verse of 
 the 11th chapter of Ezekiel : ' But as for them whose heart walketh 
 after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I 
 will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God.' 
 
 " When the Chief Justice received the Bible again from the Pres- 
 ident, he said to him, very earnestly : 'You are President. May 
 God Support, guide, and bless you, in your arduous duties! ' 
 
 " The other gentlemen congratulated Mr. Johnson ; but seemed to 
 find the usual phrases cold and unsuited to the occasion. They 
 found others, however, more cordial and less formal, to which Mr. 
 Johnson responded substantially as follows : 
 
 " ' Gentlemen : I must be permitted to say that I have been almost 
 overwhelmed by the announcement of the sad event which has so 
 recently occurred ; I feel incompetent to perform duties so important 
 and responsible as those which have -so unexpectedly been thrown 
 upon me. As to an indication of any policy which may be pursued 
 by me in the administration of the Government, I have to say that 
 that must be left for development, as the administration progresses. 
 The message or declaration must be made by the acts as they tran- 
 spire. The only assurance that I can now give of the future is refer- 
 ence to the past. The course which I have taken in connection with 
 this rebellion must be regarded as a guarantee for the future. My 
 past public life, which has been long and laborious, has been founded, 
 as I, in good conscience, believe, upon a great principle of right, 
 which lies at the basis of all things. 
 
 '"The best energies of my life have been spent in endeavoring to 
 establish and perpetuate the principles of free government; and I 
 believe that the Government, in passing through its present perils, 
 will settle down upon principles consonant with popular rights, more 
 permanent and enduring than heretofore. I must be permitted to 
 say, if I understand the feelings of my own heart, I have long 
 labored to ameliorate and elevate the condition of the great mass of 
 the American people. Toil and an honest advocacy of the great 
 principles of free government have been my lot. The duties have
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 641 
 
 been mine — the consequence God's. This has been the foundation 
 of my political creed. I feel that in the end the Government "will 
 triumph, and that these great principles will be permanently estab- 
 lished. 
 
 '"In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say that I want your encourage- 
 ment and countenance. I shall ask and rely upon you and others in 
 carrying the Government through its present perils. 
 
 "' I feel, in making this request, that it will be heartily responded to 
 by you and all other patriots and lovers of the rights and interests 
 of a free people.' " 
 
 Another paper so furnished for my biographic use was either the 
 original or a duplicate, in his own hand, of the certificate given 
 by him of the oath he administered, on the 15th day of April, 1865, 
 to Andrew Johnson. On another paper, in the same hand, is this 
 indorsement : 
 
 " Cop3' of an address to the people, written at the request of Pres- 
 ident Johnson for his use, April 15, 1865, but not used. 
 
 "The Chief Justice left the room when the oath was administered 
 and went to his house to write the within address. When he 
 returned, he learned that Mr. Johnson had made some remarks to 
 those present, contraiy to his purpose as expressed to the Chief Jus- 
 tice, who inferred, though he delivered the address to the President, 
 that no use would be made of what he had prepared. The remarks 
 made by President Johnson may be found in the Am. Ann. Cyclop. 
 1865, p. 800." 
 
 The address prepared by the Chief Justice reads as follows : 
 
 "Fellow citizens of the United States : 
 
 "The ways of God are inscrutable. 
 
 "In the midst of National rejoicings, because of the brightened 
 prospects of restored, benign, and permanent peace, Abraham Lin- 
 coln, the revered and beloved President of the United States, has 
 fallen by the hand of an assassin. 
 
 "The blow was stricken yesterday evening about half-past ten; 
 and he died this morning at twenty-two minutes past seven. Tho 
 agonizing grief which seizes 1 all hearts fills my own. 
 
 "Oppressed by this sorrow, and profoundly conscious how much I 
 shall need the support and favor of my countiymen, I have taken 
 the oath prescribed by the Constitution, and have entered upon the 
 duties of the great office so suddenly and so sadly made vacant. It 
 will be my sincere endeavor to perform them faithfull}* and to jus- 
 tify the trust which has been reposed in me by the American people. 
 In this endeavor I earnestly ask the cooperation of all patriots and 
 the prayers of all Christians ; and reverently invoke the gracious 
 favor of Almighty God." 
 
 'This word was substituted for wrings.
 
 642 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 How out of character that would have been for the man who fol- 
 lowed Lincoln in the Presidency ! 
 
 Again, we see how Chase idealized the men whom he had reason 
 to desire to love or to esteem. 
 
 Who does not remember what a day was that which dawned on 
 Lincoln's dying moments? I was then at Springfield, in Ohio. 
 There the frozen tears of Nature seemed to mourn the Nation's loss, 
 and every chill breeze appeared to be devoted to the same sad 
 function. 
 
 Here is a document that might seem to open up a very interest- 
 ing line of progress for this work : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, "Washington, April 29. 1865. 
 "All officers in the military, naval, and civil service are instructed 
 to afford to Chief Justice Chase, in his journey by sea to New Or- 
 leans, and thence by sea or inland to Washington, and in visiting 
 any place under National military control, all such facilities as their 
 respective duties may allow. 
 
 'ANDREW JOHNSON, 
 
 "President of the United States." 
 
 On the same day a paper, signed by Edwin M. Stanton, and ad- 
 dressed to the departmental commanders and all commanders of mil- 
 itary divisions, armies, posts and detachments in the United States 
 military service, made the following statement, request, and order: 
 
 "The Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
 of the United States, proposes to make a trip to the South. If he 
 should visit your command, it is the desire of this department that 
 you afford him every facility in your power to observe and become 
 acquainted with the condition of the society and people, and the 
 state of public affairs, within your respective commands, and that 
 you extend to him and his companions courtesy, assistance, and pro- 
 tection. You will give him such transportation as he may require." 
 
 The letters written to the President, in the course of this tour, 
 I have not space to present in the present work. 1 Here I ask atten- 
 tion only to some notice of a speech he made at Charleston, South 
 Carolina, to an audience chiefly composed of colored men and women. 
 
 Of that audience, he says himself that it seemed quite as intelli- 
 gent as a similar gathering at the North ; the colored citizens of 
 Charleston being more intelligent than elsewhere, because schools 
 for free blacks have never been there prohibited. 
 
 J I intend to give them in the work mentioned in Chapter III.
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 643 
 
 At Covington, Kentucky, I addressed, more than once, in 1872, 
 colored fellow citizens. I found them far more interesting to a 
 speaker, dealing fairly with them, than I had anticipated. But I 
 own, in reading the report of the speech made by Chief Justice 
 Chase to that colored audience at Charleston, I could not acquit the 
 speaker of some self-conscious acting, in the sense of playing a part — 
 the part of a man with Presidency on the brain. 
 
 Our hero said, on that occasion : l 
 
 "Mr Friends : In compliance with the request of General Sax- 
 ton, your friend and mine, I will say a few words. 
 
 " He has kindly introduced me as a friend of freedom; and such, 
 since I have taken a man's part in life, I have always been. It has 
 ever been my earnest desire to see every man, of every race and 
 every color, fully secured in the enjoyment of all natural rights, 
 and provided with every legitimate means for the defense and main, 
 tenance of those rights." 
 
 How strictly true that is has been insufficiently known. But we 
 have seen that this same speaker, at the age of three-and-twenty 
 years, delivered, at Cincinnati, a lyceuni lecture, not to colored 
 freedmen and freedwomen, but to hearers of his own complexion 
 and condition, in which he foreshadowed his whole subsequent agita- 
 tion against slavery. 2 
 
 To those colored men and -women, in that church at Charleston, 
 the Chief Justice of the Union also said : 
 
 "No man, perhaps, has more deplored the war, from which the 
 country is now emerging than myself. No one would have made 
 greater sacrifices to avert it. Earnestly desirous, as I always was, 
 of the enfranchisement of every slave in the land, I never dreamed 
 of seeking enfranchisement through war. I expected it through* 
 peaceful measures. Never doubting that it would come sometime; 
 fully believing that by a wise and just administration of the National 
 Government, friendly to freedom, but in strict conformity with the 
 National Constitution, the time of its coming might be hastened, I 
 yet would gladly have put aside, if I could, the cup of evil, of which 
 our Nation has drunk so deeply. Not through those seas of blood 
 and those vast gulfs of cost, would I have willingly sought even the 
 great good of universal emancipation. 
 
 "But God, in His providence, permitted the madness of slavery- 
 extension and slavery-domination to attempt the dismemberment of 
 the Union by war. And when war came, there came also the idea, 
 gradually growing into settled conviction in the hearts of the people, 
 
 1 I quote from the Appendix to Mr. Whitelaw Ried's After The W( 
 *Ante, Chapter XL. 
 
 42
 
 044 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 that slavery, having taken the sword, must perish by the sword. It 
 was quite natural, perhaps, that I, having thought much on the re- 
 lations of the enslaved masses to the Republic, should be among the 
 first to recognize the fact that the colored people of the South, whether 
 bond or free, were the natural allies of the Nation [prolonged 
 cheers] in its struggle with rebellion, and the duty of the National 
 Government to assert their rights and welcome their aid. A very 
 few months of experience and observation satisfied me that if we 
 would succeed in the struggle, we must, as a first and most necessary 
 measure, strike the fetters from the bondsmen. [Cheers.] 
 
 "Such was my counsel in the Cabinet; and when our honored 
 President, whose martyrdom this nation now mourns, in common 
 with all lovers of freedom throughout the world, made up his mind 
 to declare all men in our land free, no one was more ready with his 
 sanction or more hearty in his approval than myself." [Cheers.] 
 
 The Chief Justice also said : 
 
 "So, too, when necessarily that other question arose : ' Shall we 
 give arms to the black men?' I could not doubt or hesitate. The 
 argument was plain and irresistible. If we make them freemen, and 
 their defense is the defense of the Nation, whose right and duty is it 
 to bear arms, if not theirs? In this great struggle, now for univer- 
 sal freedom not less than for perpetual Union, who ought to take 
 part if not they? And how can we expect to succeed, if we fail to 
 avail ourselves of the natural helps created for us by the very con- 
 ditions of the war? When, therefore, the President, after much con- 
 sideration, resolved to summon black soldiers to battle for the flag, I 
 felt that it was a wise act, only too long delayed." [Cheers.] 
 
 But even this was not all that the Chief Justice ventured to re- 
 late and to explain to his tutored and untutored hearers. He thus 
 advanced on the great highway of political considerations opened 
 by this ever memorable speech : 
 
 "And now, who can say that the colored man has not done his 
 full part in the struggle? Who has made sacrifices which he has not 
 made? Who has endured hardships which he has not endured? 
 What ills have any suffered which he has not suffered? 
 
 "If, then, he has contributed in just measure to the victory, shall 
 he not partake of its fruits? If Union and Freedom have been 
 secured through courage and fortitude and zeal, displayed by black 
 as well as white soldiers, shall not the former be benefited in due 
 measure as well as white soldiers; shall not the former be benefited 
 in clue measure as well as the latter? And, since we all know that 
 natural rights can not be made secure except through political 
 rights, shall not the ballot — the freeman's weapon in peace — replace 
 the bayonet — the freeman's weapon in war?"
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 04; 
 
 CHAPTER XLV . 
 
 CHASE, JOHNSON, DAVIS — GOV. BROUGH — VIEWS OF RECONSTRUCTION. 
 
 AUGUST 11, 1865, President Johnson telegraphed as follows to 
 the Chief Justice, who was then at Kingston : 
 
 " I would be pleased to have a conference with you in reference to 
 the time, place, and manner of trial of Jefferson Davis, at your earli- 
 est convenience." 
 
 Among the matter prepared for this work was a pretty full account 
 of our hero's expressions on the subject of the trial of Mr. Davis. 
 Accidentally, that account has been mislaid; and this volume has to 
 go to press without it. But in another place will be found other 
 matter, especially an address to the bar, at Raleigh, and a letter to 
 General Schofield, which may sufficiently indicate Chase's views in the 
 particular referred to. 
 
 Next, attention is invited to this letter: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: It has been made my duty to transmit to you 
 a copy of the proceedings of a recent meeting of citizens of Ohio, 
 convened in this city, to express the mingled sentiments of grief 
 and gratitude with which the intelligence of the death of our late 
 Governor filled their hearts; grief, because of the great loss and 
 sore bereavement; gratitude, that he was spared until he had 
 seen the auspicious issue of his labors, watch ings, and anxieties in 
 the assured salvation of the land he loved from the rebellion he 
 abhorred. 
 
 "It is a sad duty which I perform. We have lost in John 
 Brough a useful citizen, a sincere patriot, a faithful friend, a great 
 statesman, our honored and beloved Chief Magistrate. Our only 
 consolation, little felt in the first moment's anguish, but sure to 
 come, though slow, is in the memory of his honorable work, in 
 the observation of its beneficent results and influences, and in the 
 hopes of the hereafter. 
 
 '• I have the honor to be, sir, with very great respect and esteem, 
 "Yours most truly, ' S.P.CHASE. 
 
 "His Excellency, Charles Anderson, Governor of Ohio." 1 
 
 x The next day the Chief Justice wrote as follows : 
 
 "Dear Madam: I perform a sad duty by transmitting to you a copy of the 
 recent meeting of citizens of Ohio, assembled in this city, to pay the homage ot
 
 646 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 October 20 yields this note to Mr. Sumner : 
 
 " My Dear Sumner : Your convention speech was welcome in 
 pamphlet; but I had read it in the Advertiser. It is noble and 
 worthy of you. 
 
 " The statement that the President is unfriendly to the Freedmen's 
 Bureau is untrue. He is much embarrassed by clamor from all 
 sides; and, as I think, has not done right in refusing suffrage to the 
 colored citizens in reorganization ; but I have good hopes that all 
 will come out well, if Congress stands firm, and we also, while earn- 
 est, are conciliatory. 
 
 " Ever yours, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Is not here a precious letter ? 
 
 " My Dear Kate : Don't address me as dear Judge. I hate that 
 title as much as I do Salmon. Say, my dear brother; or, if you want 
 to be stately, my dear Mr. Chase ; but, ' dear Judge ! ' no, no. 
 
 "You see, I am giving you a 'a reply direct this time.' 
 
 " So far as I am concerned, you may have the lot for the price you 
 name, and on the terms you name ; and I have no doubt that Nettie 
 will agree so far as she is concerned. So you may have the deed 
 made out for execution by both of us — Salmon P. Chase and Janet 
 R. Chase — and all mortgages' and notes made to her alone. You may 
 furnish the stamps, or I will, just as you please. 
 
 "If the man who wishes to buy the lot on the avenue will have 
 a deed made in like manner, I will execute it, and I have no doubt 
 Nettie will. He must furnish the stamps and pay cash. I mean to in- 
 vest what I get for Nettie in 7-30's. 
 
 " Mr. Hunt and Annie were here a day or two ago. They are now 
 gone to New York. The President tells me he was most favorably 
 impressed by Mr. Hunt ; and well he may have been. 
 
 " I am exceedingly grieved by what you write of dear Josie. I 
 hope that her faith in Christ, her Savior, is clear; and that a perfect 
 trust in God, our Father, may sustain and comfort her. 
 
 " Give my love to her and Charlotte and Josie Jones, and Israel 
 and Lud, and to Dunlop, when you write him. 
 
 "Affectionately your brother, 
 
 " Mrs. C. L. Whiteman. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 their affectionate respect to the memory of the late honored Chief Magistrate of 
 our State, your lamented husband. 
 
 " The country, the State, his friends (among whom I feel it an honor to be 
 counted), his family, and above all yourself, dear madam, have sustained a great 
 bereavement. 
 
 " That He who in His inscrutable wisdom and certain, though hidden, goodness, 
 has brought this great sorrow upon you, may support and console you under it 
 is the earnest prayer of Your sincere friend, 
 
 "Mrs. John Brougii. S. P. CHASE."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 647 
 
 In a letter to Mr. J. D. Ludlow, under date November 20, appears 
 the paragraph : 
 
 "We are all well, including the baby, Master Wm. Sprague, Jr., 
 and would all be delighted to see you and yours. Won't you be 
 coming to Washington? If not, next summer we may see you on 
 the prairies. Love from all of us to all of you." 
 
 December 4 is the date of the following : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Smith: In September I received a charming let- 
 ter from you, which, I am ashamed to confess, yet remains unan- 
 swered, except by verbal acknowledgment. One reason, and I think 
 a pretty good one, is that I can't hope to give as good as I get. In- 
 deed, the sense of my inability to write anything worth your read- 
 ing has been one of the chief causes of my delay. 
 
 "But as I don't want that my letter should find you among the 
 Cheyennes, Ojibbways, so I must send a line or two now. 
 
 "Your extract from Mr. Balch's letter was very gratifying. I shall 
 look for Mr. Chevalier's book with great interest. If I could not 
 find the appreciation and support I (shall I say it?) felt I deserved at 
 home, it will be some compensation to have the approval of such a 
 thinker and writer as Mr. Chevalier. When you write Mr. Balch 
 make my best regards acceptable to him. 
 
 " Cordially your friend, 
 
 S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "P. S. When you come back an Indian, don't fail to show yourself 
 first to your friends here." 
 
 The next letter to which I desire to call attention reads as 
 follows : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, April 30, 18G6. 
 
 " My Dear Judge : It grieved me much to hear from your 
 brother, Mr. Cyrus W. Field, that you have been quite ill. I sup- 
 posed that 3 r ou were now in, or very near, California. You must 
 take the best care of yourself, not only for the sake of your family, 
 but of your country, which now needs true patriotism as well as legal 
 learning upon the bench. I feel all the interest of warm personal 
 friendship in your welfare. It is not in my nature to forget friends, 
 even where serious differences of judgment and political affinities 
 come in to make separation ; and no such differences come between 
 us. Do you remember when, just before the end of the term, in the 
 spring of 1864, you met me on the avenue, and expressed your warm 
 wish that I might fill the place I now occupy? If you have forgot- 
 ten it, I have not, nor shall I ever forget it. It took me by surprise, 
 but was very grateful to my feelings. 
 
 " What do you think of the plan of reconstruction, or, rather, of 
 completing reconstruction, presented by the Committee of Fifteen? 
 To me it seems all very well, provided it can be carried out ; but I
 
 l')4* THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 am afraid that it is, as people say, rather too big a contract. So far 
 as I have had opportunity of conversing with senators and rep- 
 resentatives, I have recommended to confine constitutional amend- 
 ments to two points : (1.) No payment of rebel debt, and no payment 
 for slaves; and, (2.) no representation beyond the constituent basis. 
 And, as so many were trying their hands at form, I drew up these 
 two amendments according to my ideas, as follows : 
 
 •'Article 14, Section 1. Representatives shall be apportioned among 
 the several States, according to their respective numbers; but when- 
 ever in any State the elective franchise shall be denied to any of its 
 inhabitants, being male citizens of the United States above the age 
 of twentj'-one years, for any cause except insurrection or rebellion 
 against the United States, the basis of representation in such State 
 shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of male citizens 
 so excluded shall bear to the whole number of male citizens over 
 twenty-one years of age. 
 
 " Sec. 2. No payment shall ever be made by the United States for, 
 or on account of, any debt contracted or incurred in aid of insurrec- 
 tion or rebellion against the United States; or for or on account of 
 the emancipation of slaves. 
 
 "And I proposed, further, that the submission of this article to the 
 States should be accompanied by a concurrent resolution to this 
 effect: "That whenever any of the States, which were declared to be 
 in insurrection and rebellion by the proclamation of the President of 
 the United States, dated July 1, 1862, shall have ratified the forego- 
 ing article, senators and representatives from such ratifying States 
 ought to be admitted to seats in the Senate and House of Representa- 
 tives respectively, in the like manner as from States never declared 
 to be in insurrection and rebellion ; and that whenever the said arti- 
 cle shall have been ratified by three-fourths of the several States, 
 senators and representatives ought in like manner to be admitted 
 from all the States. 
 
 "It has really seemed to me that on this basis the completion of 
 reorganization by the admission of members in both Houses of Con- 
 gress would be safe; and I have greatly doubted the expediency of 
 going beyond this. In two or three important respects the report of 
 the committee does go beyond this: (1.) Prohibiting the States from 
 interfering with the rights of citizens; (2.) disfranchising all persons 
 voluntarily engaged in rebellion till 1870; and, (3.) in granting ex- 
 press legislative power to Congress to enforce all the new constitu- 
 tional provisions. Will not these propositions be received with some 
 alarm by those who, though opponents of secession or nullification, 
 yet regard the real rights ot the States as essential to the proper 
 working of our complex system? I do not myself think that any 
 of the proposed amendments will be likely to have injurious effects 
 unless it be the sweep of the disfranchisement; but, I repeat that I 
 fear the undertaking of too much; and I add that it seems to me 
 that nothing is gained sufficiently important, and unattainable by 
 legislation, to warrant our friends in overloading the ship with 
 amendment freight.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 649 
 
 '"But this letter is too long. Pardon and answer. Have you read 
 the opinion and the dissent in the Bank Tax cases together? 
 
 "Yours cordially, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The next document I offer is this letter : 
 
 " Washington, May 1, 1866. 
 
 "Dear Sir: I can not attend the annual meeting of the Amer- 
 ican Anti-slavery Society, on the 8th, except by sincere wishes 
 for the complete accomplishment of its purpose to achieve the 
 deliverance of our country from the spirit, as well as the fact, of 
 slavery. 
 
 "Among the most urgent duties of the hour, I count that of press- 
 ing upon the intelligence and conscience of our countrymen the 
 duty and expediency of unqualified recognition of the manhood 
 of man. 
 
 " The nation has libex-ated four millions of the people from slavery, 
 and has made them citizens of the Republic. 
 
 " That all freemen are entitled to suffrage upon equal terms is an 
 axiom of free government. Neither color nor race can hfe allowed, 
 as grounds of exception, without injustice and damage. 
 
 •• If, in the first movement toward national reconstruction, this 
 truth had been distinctly recognized by an invitation to the whole 
 loyal people, of ever} 7 State in rebellion, to take part in the work of 
 State reorganization, can it now be doubted that the practical rela- 
 tions of every State in the Union would have been already reestab- 
 lished, and with the happiest consequences? 
 
 "Nothing is more profitable than justice. Does not suffrage pro- 
 mote security, content, self-respect, betterment of condition ? With 
 suffrage will there not be more and more productive labor than with- 
 out? Will not suffrage insure order, education, respect for law, 
 activity in business, and substantial progress? 
 
 "I have heard the difference between the production of the lately 
 insurgent States with universal suffrage, and the production of 
 the same States without it, estimated at one hundred millions of 
 dollars a year. At this rate, the injustice of the denial of suffrage 
 will cost those States — will cost the nation — five hundred millions 
 of dollars in five years — enough to pay nearly a fifth of the national 
 debt. 
 
 •* Is it too much to expect that sensible and patriotic men in those 
 States will, before long, see their true interest in their plain duty, 
 and join hands with those who seek, not their injury nor their 
 humiliation, but their welfare and their honor, in equal rights 
 for all? 
 
 '•However these things may be, this, at least, seems clear : the men 
 who so long contended for justice to the enslaved, and now contend 
 for justice to the emancipated, will not, can not, must not cease their 
 efforts till justice prevails. 
 
 "Yours truly, 
 
 "Wendell Phillips, Esq. S. P. CHASE."
 
 650 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 AVriting to Mr. A. Mot, February 17, 1867, the Chief Justice 
 said : 
 
 " I have no ambition to resemble Louis XVIII, and yet I acknowl- 
 edge that punctuality is a virtue in all men. 
 
 "But, really j I have not known what to do concerning your enter- 
 prise. I am not of the fortunate, or unfortunate, class called capi- 
 talists, and have no control over the movements of men ; and what 
 vou seemed to want was men and money. 
 
 " I spoke to General Howard about your scheme, and it seemed to 
 impress him favorably; but he has no funds at his command except 
 to aid in the erection of school-houses, as I understand; and there is 
 nothing definite in your letter on which to base action. 
 
 "Perhaps the best plan will be to write to him, and also to J. M. 
 McKim, Corresponding Secretary Freedmen's Union Commission, 
 in Xew York, and explain to each your views, and in what prac- 
 tical way aid can be afforded. You may refer to me as your 
 friend. Sincerely yours, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 18th of February, in the course of a letter to Hon. J. A. 
 Arnold, he said : 
 
 "Ihonor you for your zealous and faithful friendship to the Martyr 
 President; and I was the more grieved that you should attribute to 
 me an abuse of my position against which my whole soul would pro- 
 test. The truth is, that the bringing forward of my name for the 
 Presidency was not sought by me ; and when it was brought forward, 
 and I felt the embarrassment created by it for me, in my service as 
 head of the Treasury, I availed myself of the very first honorable 
 opportunity to ask that no further consideration might be given to 
 my name; and, though much urged afterward to allow it to be 
 used, steadfastly refused. It was months after this, and under 
 very peculiar circumstances, that I felt myself compelled to ten- 
 der my resignation. But enough of this ; we may talk it over, 
 sometime." 
 
 In a letter, dated March 1, 1867, the Chief Justice stated to a 
 Cincinnatian, an old acquaintance, Mr. Hinkle : 
 
 " My private income is very little more than it was twelve years 
 ago. before I was elected governor ; and I have always been obliged 
 to add to it my salary to meet the demands which always follow 
 official position ; so that, so far as worldly goods go, I should have, 
 no doubt, been better off had I kept at work in mj T profession. 
 
 '• I make this explanation because I don't want }*ou to think that 
 anything else than total inability, at present, prevents me from con- 
 tributing to your noble undertaking." 
 
 In a letter to his " dear Bannister " — of whom he seems to have 
 been singularly fond — the Chief Justice said, March 1, 1867 : 
 
 " 1 have done to-day what I did not believe I would do for
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 65] 
 
 anybody — certainly, what I would not do for mj'self. At Tay 
 lor's instance, having learned that your name and his were not 
 in the list sent to the Senate, I have called on the Secretary of 
 "War and on the President to ask that appointments may be given 
 you both." 
 
 Another paragraph of the same letter reads : 
 
 " From Stanton I went to the President, who received me, as he 
 does everybody, I believe, with courtesy — took your names and my 
 wishes for you, and said that he would do what he could. How 
 much this means, I can't say." 
 
 It was not so that our hero always treated applications. Much 
 depended on his mood ; and he was very moody. He made many 
 foes and chilled the hearts of many friends by his behavior, from 
 time to time. 
 
 March 2, 1867, in the course of a letter to Judge Robert A. Hill 
 District Judge of the United States, at Jacinto, Mississippi, the 
 Chief Justice said : 
 
 "Your charge to the grand jury was exactly what it should have 
 been. The Civil Rights Bill is as important to the prosperit}' of the 
 whites as it is to the security of the blacks." 
 
 Again : 
 
 " It is deeply to be lamented that the legislatures of the several 
 Southern States did not ratify the constitutional amendments. 
 Prompt ratification would have assured complete restoration, in 
 my judgment. The refusal to ratify has resulted, as I expected, in a 
 more stringent measure. I am glad to see that Governor Brown, of 
 Georgia, recommends to the people the acceptance of the new bill, 
 and organization under it by universal suffrage. Southern men, I 
 [think], should follow this lead. Universal suffrage is sure to come, 
 and the sooner it is conceded the sooner will all political questions 
 be settled." 
 
 And again : 
 
 " For one, I am exceedingly anxious for the complete recovery of 
 the Southern States from the evils of the war. They are a most im- 
 portant part of the country. Their prosperity is the prosperity of 
 the whole. I know that the path of restoration is a hard one ; but 
 with wise men difficulty and even harshness is better than permanent 
 or long-continued distraction." 
 
 On the same day he commenced, as follows, a letter to John M. 
 Langston, Esq., now Professor : 
 
 " Dear Mr. Langston : Yours of the 26th came yesterday. I am 

 
 652 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 very sorry I did not see you in Washington. It seems to me that 
 now is the time for great benefits to both races from your labors in 
 the Southern States. There are indications that the Southern people 
 may conform their action to the recent legislation of Congress. If 
 so, you will be everywhere well received. Governor Brown's letter 
 is manly and strong, and its counsels may be heeded. I hope they 
 may be." 
 
 Then we have the words : 
 
 "My position and duties allow me little part in the present 
 work of restoration and elevation. But I was glad that Governor 
 
 S / who was the first to organize a colored regiment, was ready 
 
 to aid the .plan of the League in restoring the late rebel States. ■ I 
 know very little about it, except that you were naturally thought of 
 as one who could render great service; and so wrote you. It is a 
 pity you can't come at once; but I hope you may not delay beyond 
 the thirty (?) days." 
 
 Marked evidence of a good, kind heart, in spite of moodiness, 
 appears in a letter, dated on the same second of March, and ad- 
 dressed to Mrs. Mary Eliza Chase, widow of the writer's brother, 
 Edward. But it seeems improper to transcribe the letter, much of 
 which relates to the condition of an afflicted relative. But I feel 
 free to copy the sentences : 
 
 "I am willing to pay the expense. I remember her when I was 
 very young as a kind aunt, and I wish to do all I can to smooth the 
 remnant of her days." 
 
 The letter concludes with the words : 
 
 " We are all well. Nettie is, you know, in Germany. She writes 
 cheerfully and seems to be improving every way." 
 
 In a letter of the same date, to Mr. Arnold, are the words 
 
 •' I have nothing of Mr. Lincoln's which seems proper for publica- 
 tion, at this time, unless it be what he said to the Cabinet at the first 
 reading of the Proclamation of Emancipation. I hardly know 
 whether this should be published ; but if, on reflection, it may be, it 
 was promised to Mr. Owen, for his book, before I knew of your 
 intended publication. 
 
 "The draft of a proclamation, to which you refer, as submitted to 
 the President by me was very brief, and not at all a 'grand paper.' 
 It is remarkable for nothing except for the concluding paragraph, 
 which, with some modification, Mr. Lincoln adopted as his conclud- 
 ing paragraph. 
 
 'Sprague.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 653 
 
 "The paragraph, as I wrote, was as follows : 'And upon this act, 
 sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitu- 
 tion [and an act demanded by the circumstances of the country], I 
 invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor 
 of Almighty God.' 
 
 "Mr. Lincoln struck out the words in brackets, and inserted, 
 instead, 'upon military necessity." 1 
 
 In a letter to Mr. Ball, dated March 11, are the words: 
 
 "I have inclosed a check for $50 to Oma Smith (colored), a former 
 servant of Mr. Wirt, at the request of his daughter, Mrs. Golds- 
 borough Perhaps you may remember Oma, as he drove 
 
 my carriage about twenty years ago." 
 
 On the same day, Oma himself was thus addressed by the same pen : 
 
 " Friend Oma : At Mrs. Goldborough's request, I inclose a check 
 on First National Bank of Cincinnati for $50, payable to yourself or 
 order. Please call with it yourself at the bank and get the money. 
 Mrs. Goldsborough showed me her letter to you; 'tis very kind, and 
 I hope you will accept her oifer. Your sincere friend, 
 
 "Mr. Oma Smith, colored. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 It is pleasant thus to find ourselves again reminded of the Wirts; 
 and I am rather proud of that little note to " friend Oma." 
 
 On the same day, the Chief Justice wrote, as follows, to Judge 
 Miller : 
 
 " My Dear Judge : I want you to give me the benefit of your 
 best judgment on the question, Can Congress Constitutionally author- 
 ize the nomination of Registers in Bankruptcy to the District Court 
 by the Chief Justice or any Associate Justice of the Supreme Court? 
 I have asked Swayne for his advice, and, as yet, no one else beside 
 yourself. I shall not, probably, act in any case before April, but 
 shall be glad of your views as soon as you can consider the matter. 
 
 "I wish most heartily that Congress had put the duty T of nomina- 
 tion on some one else ; but am inclined to perform it, if the putting 
 of it on me is not unconstitutional." 
 
 Did the Chief Justice " fool himself" about that wish? Was he 
 not rather fond of patronage? Was he not at heart rather glad of 
 the opportunity, afforded by the change in question, to make faster 
 friends and to disarm opponents? It appears to me that he did not 
 deceive himself in that respect. I think he had more than begun to 
 find out his Achilles heel. 
 
 The same letter to Judge Miller says : 
 
 "You and Mrs. Miller have reached home in safety and health, 1
 
 654 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 hope. The dreadful cold under which I was suffering, when you 
 left, grew much worse and alarmed me a good deal. I hope I am 
 rid of it now. But my new duties have pressed me so much that I 
 have had no time for study. I tried to get to the Capitol to-day, 
 and shut myself up ; but could not make my escape till four this 
 afternoon. I am writing in the Conference Eoom. 
 "Yours most cordially, 
 '■ Hon. Samuel F. Miller. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 14th, writing to Governor Fenton, the Chief Justice said : 
 
 " Our political sky seems to be clearing. It seems probable that 
 under the Military Act and the Supplemental and Eestoration Bill, all 
 the Southern States will be back, with full representation, in a year. 
 I do not think this will hurt, but rather help us." 
 
 I next find the copy of an undated letter to Horace Greeley, as 
 follows : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Greeley : Eeid showed me a letter from you the 
 other day, and, I presume, has seen you ere this, and assured you of 
 my wish to do all I can to benefit a paper which has rendered such 
 invaluable service to the cause of freedom and right. 
 
 "I was glad to see your articles on resumption. If I had time I 
 would look up the facts of the last six years and, lay them in order 
 before you. I was often accused of expansion, and I never went be- 
 yond the original limit of $450,000,000, nor beyond 1 mill., except in 
 an emergency. The expansion, by adding the national currency to 
 the greenback currency, instead of substituting the former for the 
 latter, took place after I left the department. 
 
 " Would you like to see the list of persons recommended for reg- 
 ister in New York? The number is large and increasing. I wish 
 you would advise Congress to repeal the clause putting the nomina- 
 tion on me. 
 
 "Your friend sincerely, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 A letter to Colonel R. C. Parsons, dated March 16, concludes as 
 follows : 
 
 " Smith — Comly's father-in-law — told me that you are too ardent, 
 and manage too much. I mention this that you may be careful : 
 but told him that friends who wait for something to turn up are not 
 the most valuable. He says Comly is friendly. 
 
 " Yours always, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the same day we have this letter : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Austin : Your note, announcing the death of Mr. 
 Garniss, 2 filled me with sadness. All gone ! Father, mother, their 
 
 1 A word is here illegible. 
 2 Ante, page.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 655 
 
 daughter, my clear wife ; their grandchild, my precious little one; 
 their adopted daughter, the beloved partner of your bosom; all! 
 How this earth slides from under our feet! It is a comfort to be as- 
 sured that Mr. Garniss, so full of years, was ready to depart. It is a 
 comfort, too, to hear that your boys are doing well. I shall always, 
 while I live, take a warm interest in them. 
 
 "With sympathizing regards to Mr. and Mrs. Ferric, believe me, 
 " Most sincerely your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " David Austin, Esq. 
 
 "Did Mr. Garniss leave a will? I should like to have the pictures 
 of myself and of Kate, and our child." 
 
 Have I exaggerated in describing the supreme affliction of our 
 hero's private life? But more of this w r e shall see hereafter.
 
 656 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 CHASE AND JOHNSON — CHASE AS A UNIONIST — PRESIDENTIAL FEVER — 
 CHASE AND THE COOKES. 
 
 
 
 X the 21st of March, the Chief Justice said to his "dear Par- 
 sons/' by letter : 
 
 " Your note, or rather letter, of yesterday, is just received. I am 
 
 very, very sorry that Mrs. P and Julia are ill. I would rather 
 
 have my'friends well and happy than be President by a good deal. 
 Most earnestly do I hope that they are already much better, and 
 will soon be well. 
 
 " The letter from Smith was to the effect that it was understood, 
 at Cols., that you and some others of my friends were seeking 
 strength for me by alliance with the Conservatives, and that there 
 was no use in such alliance; that the radicals would unite on Cor- 
 win, and that my prospects would be injured by apparent opposition 
 to him. I told [here follow illegible words] the substance. That's 
 all. By your man, I mean Mr. D., not Gov. D. He is very able, 
 and has shown, of late, in all things, a very good record; and what 
 I meant to say was that, if he can not have the office you spoke 
 of, his talents and character should be called into service in some 
 other honorable position. 
 
 " I agree with you about work. No cause can prosper without it. 
 Though there be men who sometimes seem to have honors thrust 
 upon them. 
 
 " The court will meet on the 1st of April, and will at once appoint 
 a Marshal. I mentioned your name to Field to-day, and he was, or 
 seemed, much gratified. Nobody will object. All, I think, will x 
 with satisfaction — real satisfaction. Will you accept? Of course 
 you will; for you have promised; and, unless you see something 
 disagreeable in the duties, or likely to injure your future prospects, 
 I shall insist on your promise. But do not accept at any sacrifice 
 of inclination or prospects. I know another man who will do, 
 though no one who will do as well or be half so acceptable to me." 
 
 That curious letter goes on as follows : 
 
 " I am very sorry to give you so much trouble about the iron stock. 2 
 
 1 Here is again an illegible word. 
 
 2 In an earlier letter, dated March 16th, are the words: "Dear Parsons: I have 
 no memorandum or memory of the iron stock. All I know is, that I bought of you, 
 and had a certificate for the number of shares, which §5500 paid for, and that 1 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 657 
 
 It is very strange what became of the note case which contained it, 
 and some other certificates and notes. There was nothing that 
 could be used by a thief, except two notes which were indorsed. 
 One of them has since become due and has been paid as a lost note 
 by the maker. The original has not been presented. This makes 
 me think it possible that the case and contents may yet come to 
 light. 
 
 " With affectionate remembrances to Mrs. P. and my dear little 
 friend, Julia, and the youthful Richard, believe me 
 
 "Cordially yours, 
 
 "Col. R. C. Parsons. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 " P. S. Dr. Smith is a true friend, if not a very active one. T 
 think C will not differ materially from him." 
 
 On the 22d we have the following : 
 
 " Dear Mr. Schuckers : I inclose the acceptance. If your ex- 
 pectations are realized, you may consider it as payment for stock. 
 If not, and you can not conveniently pay, I will set down to the 
 debit of ' experiment ' and ' good will.' 
 
 " It is my trust, however, that you will come out successful. 
 
 " Faithfully your friend, 
 
 "J. "W. Schuckers, Esq. g # p. CHASE." 
 
 In another handwriting, below, we have : 
 
 " Note for $500 accepted, payable to Mr. J. W. Schuckers, four 
 months after date, March 21st, 1867." 
 
 Concluding a letter to Hon. Horace Maynard, on the 25th of 
 March, the Chief Justice said : 
 
 " You had ' not place any more dependence than your experience 
 shows you ought to, on rumors of my intentions, which find their 
 way into the papers." 
 
 On the same day he wrote to the celebrated " Parson Brownlow," 
 a letter, beginning as follows: 
 
 " My Dear Governor : I am a little late in congratulating you 
 on the late proof of confidence which the loyal men of Tennessee 
 have given you. It was nobly deserved, and must have been as 
 gratifying to you as it was to your friends every-where. 
 
 " Your recent proclamation has just appeared in our papers here. 
 God grant that it may have the effect of repressing the violence of 
 
 soon after received a dividend at New York of $500. There must be entries on the 
 books of the company that show the issue of the certificate to me; or the books 
 must be very loosely kept." 
 1 So in original.
 
 658 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the bad and encouraging the efforts of the good, so that peace and 
 prosperity of your great State may soon be fully restored." ' 
 
 On the 27th we have the note : 
 
 " Dear Mr. Greeley : I was much disappointed in not seeing 
 you when you were in Washington. 
 
 " It seems that Congress is determined to make me nominate the 
 registers. If adjournment takes place without relieving me, I shall 
 do the best I can. 
 
 " I may make slow work, for I must attend to my judicial duties. 
 
 " When do you come here again ? 
 
 " Yours always, 
 
 " Hon. H. Greeley. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 April 26th the Chief Justice wrote to Mr. J. W. Schuckers : 
 
 " My Dear Schuckers : I am much to blame for neglecting your 
 letter, but I am pressed out of measure. 
 
 " As to the stock, I should prefer to let it remain as it is, if after 
 
 seeing Mr. Miller, I think it best. My relations to Mr. M are 
 
 much the same as mine to you, and I should be perfectly willing 
 to communicate freely with him. 
 
 " If this is not agreeable to you, however, do as you please, and 
 I shall be content. Only don't burden yourself on my account. 
 Take care of yourself and you will please me. 
 
 "Your friend, 
 
 "J. W. Schuckers, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the same day General Schofield was thus addressed by letter : 
 
 " Dear General : I received, some days ago, a kind note from 
 you, inviting me, in case I should come to Richmond to hold the 
 Circuit Court, to share your quarters. 
 
 " As my duties were certain to detain me here till late in May, I 
 allowed the pressure of other engagements to delay my reply, and 
 the expression of my thanks for your kindness. 
 
 " To-day I have received (I suppose from Judge Underwood) your 
 letter to him of the 30th of March. 
 
 " The judge must have misapprehended me, since he evidently 
 thought that I required some assurance of welcome and protection 
 
 1 On the 27th he wrote to John C. Tucker, Esq., assistant assessor United States 
 internal revenue, Marksville, Avoyell's Parish, Louisiana: 
 
 " I remember very well the occasion to which you refer in your letter of the 18th. 
 I trust the time is now nigh at hand when frank recognition of the rights of all by 
 all will secure to every child in the country the benefits of education. 
 
 " 1 regret that it is not in my power to procure for you an appointment under 
 government in Louisiana; I am not, however, at present, in a position which en- 
 ables me to influence appointments in any of the departments." 
 
 How different from that letter to " dear Bannister " about the call on Secretary 
 Stanton and President Johnson !
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. G59 
 
 from your headquarters for the Circuit Court, to remove my doubts 
 as to the propriety of my attending the May term. 
 
 "I certainly never expressed a wish for any such assurance, 
 though I greatly value assurances of good-will from you. 
 
 "I have not entertained any doubts as to the safety of the Circuit 
 [Court] in Richmond; and, whether welcome or not, personally, to 
 the people there, I never had any apprehension that I should not 
 be received, as Chief Justice, with proper respect. 
 
 "My unwillingness even to seem to feel such apprehension will 
 compel me, in case I come to Richmond, to decline your offered hos- 
 pitality. I must find my quarters at the hotel and take my chance 
 with other visitors of the place, whether on business or for pleasure. 
 
 " With great regard and esteem, yours truly, 
 
 "Maj.-Gen. Schofield. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 And to Judge Underwood, on the same day, was written : 
 
 " My Dear Judge : I have received, to-day, Gen. Schofield's letter 
 to you cf the 30th of March, which, I suppose, was inclosed to me 
 by you. 
 
 " You must have misconceived me. I wanted no assurance of 
 welcome and protection for the Circuit Court from headquarters. 
 
 " If I go to Richmond at all, I intend to have no relations with 
 the military, except those which spring from the good-will which 
 subsists between myself and some of the officers. 
 
 " But I can not goat all till after the 30th of May, by which time 
 the Circuit Court will, I suppose, have adjourned." 
 
 And now comes a letter evidently addressed to Col. Donn Piatt, 
 now of the Washington Capital, though no name is attached to my 
 copy. Col. Piatt was then, more suo, gently agitating men and 
 measures in the Macacheek Press. The letter reads as follows : 
 
 " My Dear Colonel : Your letter gratified me so much that I 
 must reply instanter, though in so much haste that I can't be cer- 
 tain that you will be able to make out my crow-tracks. 
 
 " I never tire of assurances of friendship from friends, and no man, 
 I believe, is more sincerely attached to his friends, or feels estrange- 
 ment more painfully than I. And yet I have not unfrequently ex- 
 perienced estrangement when I was unconscious of having done 
 any thing to cause it. And I did not know but such might have 
 been the case with you. 
 
 " The article in the Macacheek was, if I remember rightly, a let- 
 ter from Washington, for nothing in which was the paper responsi- 
 ble except the publication. I can not now remember what it was 
 in it that struck me as unjust, but its publication did excite the 
 apprehension I expressed in my letter to the general ; and it pained 
 me, for I felt that I had not been wanting in proofs of friendship 
 for you. 
 
 " If the Macacheek was returned by the postmaster here, it was 
 my fault; for I directed no papers to be sent me unless prepaid. 
 43
 
 600 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 They had become rather numerous. But the order was a foolish 
 one. like some other general orders I have read of, and was soon 
 rescinded, and now Macacheek will be welcome. 
 
 •• You are right in not holding me responsible for my friends, but 
 wrong in holding me responsible, in any bad sense, for my enemies. 
 I am sure, I do not ' create ' them, by wrong doing. Some of them 
 make themselves such by mistakes and misconception — some are 
 enemies because they hate what I think best — and some from envy 
 and spite. How am I responsible for these? 
 
 "The prospects in the country are excellent except the financial, 
 and I don 't work on these. The reconstruction measures are doing 
 their work. The best men in the South are making up their minds 
 to welcome the new order. A gentleman, prominent Democrat, and 
 who has held high positions — just returned — tells me that many 
 leading gentlemen, whom he met in the South, are going to take 
 hold of universal suffrage as a principle for the whole country, and 
 make it the basis of future action. 
 
 " It will be a glorious resurrection when the South prospers by 
 justice. Faithfullv your friend, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." » 
 
 To Judge Underwood, May 13th, the Chief Justice wrote a letter 
 saying : 
 
 " Thanks for your note and thanks for Mr. Millward's offer of ac- 
 commodations. I do not know that I should care to be in the same 
 house with Mr. Davis, while he and I occupy our present relative 
 positions. 
 
 " It is certain that I shall be detained here all this week and 
 next. After that, if the Circuit Court business requires my presence, 
 I shall try to join you. 
 
 '• In that case, I will thank [you] to request Mr. Chandler to pro- 
 cure suitable quarters for me. I shall want a parlor and a bed-room, 
 adjoining, and a sleeping-room for my messenger, who is colored." 
 
 1 To Gov. Dennison, on the 5th of May, the Chief Justice wrote a letter, contain- 
 ing this language : 
 
 " I had a letter from you some days since which I meant to make an occasion 
 for writing you my thanks for what has been reported to me as having been said 
 by you of me. I value greatly your friendship and good opinion. It was my habit 
 to rely much on you when I was governor of Ohio. When I was secretary, a tem- 
 porary difference in financial views deprived me of much of the benefit I hoped 
 from your counsels. But I can never forget the magnanimity and generous terms 
 in which you declared yourself convinced of the wisdom of my course. I have re- 
 joiced in all the honors you have received ; and while I regretted that you felt your- 
 self constrained to retire from the post you filled so ably, I most cordially approved 
 the course you felt required of you by duty. 
 
 " I do not know that I shall ever again be in a position in which I shall require 
 any other counsel than that of counsellors at law ; but if that should happen, I shall 
 rely on yours."
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 66] 
 
 On the 21st, a letter to Hon. Flam en Ball began as follows r 
 
 "My Dear Old Friend : My nomination of you for Register will 
 go to Judge Leavitt by next mail." 
 
 June 3d, in a letter to Mr. Geo. O'Harra, of Columbus, Ohio, the 
 Chief Justice said, with evidently unaffected feeling : 
 
 " I deeply regret your embarrassment through Mr. Stone. Hardly 
 any thing ever gave me so much pain as his misconduct." 1 
 
 What a history those few words will open up for many residents 
 of Columbus! Mr. Stone, the reader will remember, was the man 
 appointed by Gov. Chase State Treasurer, on the resignation of Gen. 
 Gibson. 
 
 At Raleigh, on the 6th of June, 1867, in the State Senate Cham- 
 ber, was opened the United States Circuit Court, Chief Justice Chase 
 presiding. A large number of distinguished members of the bar 
 listened to the following address of the Chief Justice, pronounced 
 before proceeding to business : 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Bar : Before proceeding to the regular busi- 
 ness, I think it proper to address a few observations to you. For 
 more than four 3-ears the courts of the Union were excluded from 
 North Carolina by the rebellion. When active hostilities closed in 
 1865, national military authority took the place of all ordinary civil 
 jurisdiction, or controlled its exercise. All courts, whether State or 
 National, were subordinated to military supremacy, and acted, when 
 they acted at all, under such limitations and in such cases as the 
 commanding general, under the direction of the President, thought 
 fit to prescribe. Their process might be disregarded, and their 
 judgments and decrees set aside by military orders. Under these 
 circumstances, the justices of the Supreme Court, allotted to the 
 circuits which include the insurgent States, abstained from joining 
 the district judges in holding the Circuit Courts. Their attendance 
 was unnecessary; for the district judges were fully authorized by 
 law to hold the Circuit Courts without the justice of the Supreme 
 Court, and to exercise complete jurisdiction in the trial of all crimi- 
 nal and almost all civil cases. And their attendance was unnecessary 
 for another reason : the military tribunals, at that time, and under 
 the existing circumstances, were competent to the exercise of all 
 jurisdiction, criminal and civil, which belongs, under ordinary cir- 
 cumstances, to civil courts. Being unnecessary, the justices thought 
 that their attendance would be improper and unbecoming; they 
 regarded it as unfit in itself and injurious in many ways to the 
 public interests, that the highest public officers of the judicial de- 
 partment of the government should exercise their functions under 
 
 1 Ante, p.
 
 662 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the supervision and control of the executive department. At length, 
 however, the military control over the civil tribunals was withdrawn 
 by the President. The writ of habeas corpus, which had been sus- 
 pended, was restored, and military authority in civil matters was 
 abrogated. This was effected particularly by the proclamation of 
 A | 'HI 2d, and partly by the proclamation of August 20, 1866. These 
 proclamations reinstated the full authority of the national courts 
 in all matters within their jurisdiction, and the justices of the Su- 
 preme Court expected to join the district judges in holding the 
 Circuit Courts during the interval between the terms at Washing 
 ton. 
 
 " On the 23d of July, 1866, however, an act of Congress reduced 
 the number of the circuits and changed materially the districts of 
 which the Southern circuits were composed, without making or 
 providing for an allotment of the members of the Supreme Court to 
 the new circuits; and, without such allotment, the justices of that 
 court have no circuit jurisdiction. The effect of the act, therefore, 
 was to suspend the authority of the justices to hold the Circuit 
 Courts in the altered circuits. This suspension Avas removed by the 
 act of March 2, 1867, by which a new allotment was authorized. 
 Under this act the justices of the Supreme Court have been again 
 assigned to circuit districts, and the Chief Justice has been allotted 
 to hold, with the district judges, the national courts for this dis- 
 trict. 
 
 " I am here to join my brother, the district judge, in holding the 
 Circuit Court for this district. It is the first Circuit Court held in 
 any district within the insurgent States, at which a justice of the 
 Supreme Court could be present without disregard of superior duties 
 at the seat of government or usurpation of jurisdiction. The asso- 
 ciate justices allotted to the other southern circuits will join in 
 holding the courts at the regular terms prescribed by law; and thus 
 the national civil jurisdiction will be fully restored throughout the 
 Union. 
 
 "It is true that military authority is still exercised within these 
 southern circuits, but not now as formerly, in consequence of the 
 disappearance of local authority and in suspension or control of 
 all tribunals, whether State or national. It is now used under 
 acts of Congress, and only to prevent illegal violence to persons 
 and property, and to facilitate the restoration of every State to 
 equal rights and benefits in the Union. This military authority 
 does QOt extend in any respect to the courts of the United States. 
 Let us hope that neither rebellion nor any other occasion for the 
 assertion of any military authority over courts and justices -will 
 hereafter suspend the due course of judicial administration by the 
 national tribunals in any part of the republic." 
 
 On the 25th of June, the Chief Justice, writing to Horace Gree- 
 ley, started off as follows : 
 
 "Dear Mr. Greeley : How could you ! Do n't the Constitution 
 Bay what shall constitute treason? Is n't it ' levying war ? ' Did 
 not the rebels 'levy war ? ' Did n't they, then, ' commit treason ? '
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 603 
 
 "Read that part of Webster's speech in reply to Hayne, in which 
 he describes the consequences of nullification. You will find no 
 hint that nullifiers, pursuing their nullification to civil war. cei 
 to be traitors on becoming engaged in such a war. 
 
 " But no matter what he Baid. There is the Constitution, and it is 
 so plain that it can't be made plainer. 
 
 "Now what is the business of a court? To fritter away plain 
 words by arbitrary interpretation? or, to declare their obvious 
 meaning and leave to the political departments." 
 
 Here my copy, in the letter-book, becomes totally illegible. 
 There are, indeed, subsequent passages which can be made out ; but 
 I shall quote farther only the conclusion of the letter and its post- 
 script. In these we have the sentences : 
 
 " I would not be surprised if, when the States have thus returned 
 to their duties, Congress should adopt your doctrine of universal 
 amnesty. Meantime do n't let us by construction cut out the law; 
 but take it as it is, and conform it, at last, to the highest of all 
 laws, whose voice is the harmony of the world.' 
 
 •• Yours cordially. 
 
 • ; Hon. H. Greeley. S.P.CHASE/' 
 
 " P. S. Since writing this letter 1 have seen a head-note in the 
 Commercial, in which some part of my opinion is referred to as 
 'an adroit thrust at Greeley.' You know better. You know — 
 at least I hope you know — how earnest and sincere is my at- 
 tachment to you. In political matters I generally accept your 
 views : but in questions of law I am and must be a mere judge; or 
 be dishone-t." 
 
 It is here that I propose to anticipate, so far as to present some 
 extracts from the opinion of Chief Justice Chase, in Texas vb. White. 1 
 
 In that too little studied case our hero said : 
 
 " It is needless to discuss at length the question whether the right 
 of a State to withdraw from the Union for any cause, regarded by 
 herself as sufficient, is consistent with the Constitution of the United 
 States. 
 
 '•The union of the States never was a purely artificial and arbi- 
 trary relation. It began among tin- Colonies, and grewoul of com- 
 mon origin, mutual sympathies, kindred principles, similar interests, 
 and geographical relations. It was confirmed ami strengthened by 
 the neex-ssities of war. and received definite form, and character, and 
 sanction from the Articles of Confederation. By these the union was 
 solemnly declared to ' be perpetual." Ami when these articles were 
 found to be inadequate to the exigencies of the country, the Consti- 
 tution was ordained to form a more perfect union.' It is difficult 
 
 1 7 Wallace, 700.
 
 664 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to convey the idea of indissoluble unit}* more clearly than by these 
 words: What can be indissoluble, if a perpetual union, made more 
 perfect, is not ? 
 
 "But the perpetuity and indissolubility of the union b}* no means 
 implies the loss of distinct and individual existence, or of the right 
 of self-government by the States. Under the Articles of Confeder- 
 ation "each State retained its sovereignty, freedom, and inde- 
 pendence, and eveiy power, jurisdiction, and right, not expressly 
 delegated to the United States. Under the Constitution, though the 
 powers of the States were much restricted, still all powers not dele- 
 gated to the United States, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved 
 to the States respectively or to the people. And we have already 
 had occasion to remark, at this term, that 'the people of each State 
 compose a State, having its own government, and endowed with all 
 the functions essential to separate and independent existence,' 
 and that, ' without the States in union, there could be no such 
 political body as the United States." 1 
 
 '• Not only, therefore, can there be no loss of separate and inde- 
 pendent autonomy to the States through their union under the 
 Constitution, but it may be not unreasonably said that the preserva- 
 tion of the States, and the maintenance of their governments, are as 
 much within the design and care of the Constitution as the preserva- 
 tion of the Union and the maintenance of the National Government. 
 The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible 
 union, composed of indestructible States." 
 
 It seems to me, the Union is composed of private as well as pub- 
 lic persons — of individuals as well as communities, — of natural as 
 well as artificial persons — if, indeed, it can be said to be composed 
 at all of persons. But of that I wish to say no more at present. 
 We are interested to discern not my conception of the Union, but 
 the views of the man whose life we study. 
 
 Having explained that if the State of Texas was not, at the time 
 of filing the bill before the court, one of the United States, the bill 
 must be dismissed for want of jurisdiction, the Chief Justice says, in 
 that interesting case: 
 
 "We are very sensible of the magnitude and importance of this 
 question, of the interest it excites, and of the difficult}*, not to say 
 impossibility, of so disposing of it as to satisfy the conflicting judg- 
 ments of men equally enlightened, equally upright, and equally 
 patriotic. But we meet it in the case, and we must determine it in 
 the exercise of our best judgment, under the guidance of the Consti- 
 tution alone. 
 
 "Some not unimportant aid, however, in ascertaining the true 
 sense of the Constitution, may be derived from considering what is 
 the correct idea of a State, apart from any union or confederation 
 
 1 County of Lane vs. State of Oregon, 7 Wallace, 76.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 665 
 
 with other States. The poverty of language often compels the em- 
 ployment of terms in quite different signification!* j and of this 
 
 hardly any example more signal is to be found than in the use of 
 the word Ave are now considering. It would serve no useful purpose 
 to attempt an enumeration of all the various senses in which it is 
 used. A few only need be noticed. 
 
 " It describes sometimes a people or community of individuals 
 united more or less closely in political relations, inhabiting tem- 
 porarily or permanently the same country; often it denotes only 
 the country or territorial region inhabited by such a community; 
 not unfrequently it is applied to the government under which the 
 people live: at other times it represents the combined idea of peo- 
 ple, territory, and government. 
 
 "It is not difficult to see that, in all these senses the primary 
 conception is that of a people or community. The people, in what- 
 ever territory dwelling, either temporarily or permanently, and 
 whether organized under a regular government, or united by 
 looser and less definite relations, constitute the State. 
 
 " This is undoubtedly the fundamental idea upon which there- 
 publican institutions of our own country are established. It was 
 stated very clearly by an eminent judge, 1 in one of the earliest 
 cases adjudicated by this court, and we are not aware of any thing, 
 in any subsequent decision, of a different tenor. 
 
 "In the Constitution, the term State most frequently expresses 
 the combined idea just noticed, of people, territory, and govern- 
 ment. A State, in the ordinary sense of the Constitution, is a polit- 
 cal community of free citizens, occupying a territory of defined 
 boundaries, and organized under a government sanctioned and lim- 
 ited by a written constitution, and established by the consent of the 
 governed. It is the Union of such States, under a common consti- 
 tution, which forms the distinct and greater political unit, which 
 that constitution designates as the United States, and makes of the 
 people and States which compose it one people and one country. 
 
 " The use of the word in this sense hardly requires further remark. 
 In the clauses which impose prohibitions upon the States in re- 
 spect to the making of treaties, emitting of bills of credit, and lav- 
 ing duties of tonnage, and which guarantee to the States represen- 
 tation in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, are found 
 some instances of this use in the Constitution. Others will occur 
 to every mind. 
 
 "But it is also used in its geographical sense, as in the clauses 
 which require that a representative in Congress shall be an inhab- 
 itant of the State in which he shall be chosen, and that the trial of 
 crimes shall he held within the State where committed. 
 
 "And there are instances in which the principal sense of the 
 word seems to be that primary one to which we have adverted, of a 
 people or political community, as distinguished from a government. 
 
 "In this latter sense the word seems to be used in the clause 
 which provides that the United States shall guarantee to every State 
 
 1 Mr. Justice Patterson, in Penhallow vs. Doane's Adm., 3 Dallas, 93.
 
 QQQ THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 in the Union a republican form of government, and shall protect 
 each of them against invasion. 
 
 " In this clause a plain distinction is made between a State and 
 the government of a State. 
 
 " Having thus ascertained the senses in which the word State is 
 employed in the Constitution, we will proceed to consider the proper 
 application of what has been said. 
 
 " The Republic of Texas was admitted into the Union, as a State, 
 on the 27th of December, 1845. By this act the new State, and the 
 people of the new State, were invested with all the rights and be- 
 came subject to all the responsibilities and duties of the original 
 States, under the Constitution. 
 
 " From the date of admission until 1861, the State was represented 
 in the Congress of the United States by her senators and represen- 
 tatives, and her relations as a member of the Union remained unim- 
 paired. In that year, acting upon the theory that the rights of a 
 State under the Constitution might be renounced, and her obliga- 
 tions thrown off at pleasure, Texas undertook to sever the bond thus 
 formed." 
 
 Then follows a rehearsal of facts which it is unnecessary here to set 
 forth. 
 
 The Chief Justice said, in the same opinion : 
 
 "When, therefore, Texas became one of the United States, she 
 entered into an indissoluble relation. All the obligations of per- 
 petual union, and all the guaranties of republican government in 
 the union, attached at once to the State. The act which consummated 
 her admission into the Union was something more than a compact; 
 it was the incorporation of a new member into the political body. 
 And it was final. The union between Texas and the other States 
 was as complete, as perpetual, and as indissoluble as the union be- 
 tween the original States. There was no place for reconsideration, 
 except through revolution, or through consent of the States." 
 
 It is impossible to reconcile this opinion with the views of the 
 citizens who believe in the doctrine of secession. But here is a pas- 
 sage, part of which can not be reconciled with the views of certain 
 citizens who heartily reject that doctrine : 
 
 "Considered, therefore, as transactions under the Constitution, 
 the ordinance of secession, adopted by the convention and ratified 
 by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and all the acts of her legis- 
 lature intended to give effect to that ordinance, were absolutely 
 null. They were utterly without operation in law. The obliga- 
 tions of the State, as a member of the Union, and of every citizen 
 of the United States, remained perfect and unimpaired. It certain- 
 ly follows that the State did not cease to be a State, nor her citizens 
 to be citizens of the Union. If this were otherwise, the State must 
 have become foreign, and her citizens foreigners. The war must
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 667 
 
 have ceased to be a war for the suppression of rebellion and become 
 a war for conquest and subjugation." 
 
 It appears to me that that opinion was correct; but it is proper to 
 inform the reader, that of the judges w r ho dissented, two, at least, 
 Mr. Justice Swayne and Mr. Justice Miller, were most learned, able 
 lawyers. They concurred with Mr. Justice Grier, who delivered a 
 dissenting opinion, holding that, in her then condition, Texas had no 
 capacity to maintain an action in that court. Mr. Justice Swayne, 
 with whom Mr. Justice Miller concurred, said: "The question, in 
 my judgment, is one iu relation to which this court is bound by the 
 action of the legislative department of the Government." 
 
 On the 29th of June, 1867, the Chief Justice wrote to Mr. John 
 Russell Young, Esq., a long letter, which commences in these terms : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Young : Your kind note is just received. 
 
 " Your reference to the absence of Mr. Greeley leads me to suppose 
 that you are probably the author of the article, criticizing my recent 
 opinion in Georgia. It was too kind in its tone to make me feel very 
 bad ; but I am so sure that its logic is wrong and that the conclu- 
 sion of the opinion, in which the Tribune concurs, can not be de- 
 fended except upon the premises which it does not admit, that I 
 could not help writing a few lines to Mr. Greeley, which please take 
 as addressed to yourself. Of course, I want nothing of this by-talk 
 in the paper." 
 
 Then we have the words : 
 
 " I seldom read the Herald. I should, if I were in a position which 
 required me to acquaint myself with all that could be said against 
 as well as for my public action. But I am in no such position ; and 
 its causeless and persistent personal hostility is better unread than 
 read. I know that it can do me no real harm. 
 
 "One of its chief correspondents, when I was secretary, menaced 
 me with its displeasure if I did not give him some special advan- 
 tages in respect to departmental intelligence. My only reply was : 
 'The Herald did not make me, and I do not believe that it can un- 
 make me.' " 
 
 In another paragraph appear the sentences : 
 
 " I must say frankly that I see no ground for thinking that the 
 President has not intended to carry out the Reconstruction Acts in 
 good faith, or that the attorney-general has not honestly sought to as- 
 certain and state their true meaning. I do not concur in the attorney 
 general's opinions in some of their most important particulars, be- 
 cause 1 start with the premises, that Congress has full power to govern 
 the rebel States until they accept terms of restoration which will in- 
 sure future loyalty, the fulfillment of national obligations, the repu- 
 diation of all rebellion and the obligations of rebellion; and the se-
 
 668 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 curitv i it* all rights for all men ; and that the acts of Congress must be 
 construed with reference to these ends, liberally; whereas the attor- 
 ney-general starts with the premises that the acts are punitive and 
 mus be construed strictly. But I have known him long; am sure of 
 his great legal abilities, and equally sure that he is an upright and 
 loyal man. 
 
 '•• 1 do n't want to see Congress set aside the provisional State 
 governments. It would be a very mischievous measure in its effects 
 on private rights, and lead to much litigation, and very seriously 
 retard, 1 tear, the restoration of order and prosperity to the South. 
 
 "Congress may very well provide that the military commander 
 may remove State officials who put themselves in the way of recon- 
 struction ; and that their successors be elected by universal suffrage ; 
 but I would not have military commanders authorized to appoint 
 their successors, unless temporarily; nor would I have them diverted 
 from their proper work under the acts to the work of legislation in 
 matters of property and business. 
 
 •• My observations in North Carolina fully satisfied me that Con- 
 gress acted wisely in recognizing the existing governments as pro- 
 visional governments, and that all will go well if it adheres to the 
 general policy of the acts. 
 
 " 1 have written too much — for I have been obliged to write hastily. 
 My old motto was, 'Freedom and Union without Compromise.' It 
 is so still. 
 
 "By the way, I must mention that one of the best Republicans I 
 met in N. C. — an active and influential member of the State commit- 
 tee — was a member of Stonewall Jackson's staff, and is disfranchised." 
 
 In the course of a letter, under date July 3d, the Chief Justice 
 wrote to A. M. Clapp, Esq. : 
 
 " I most gratefully acknowledge the constant devotion of the Ex- 
 press to the great cause of freedom and union, for which I care a 
 great deal more than for an}' personal advancement; and my esteem 
 for its editor is cordial and sincere. If I could serve either the 
 journal or yourself, I should be glad to do so. But it is too obvious 
 that 1 can not control the action of any of the district judges. 
 Congress alone is competent to do this." 
 
 In a letter to Theodore Tiltou, dated July 9th, was said : 
 
 " I see no objection to your using the letters which Mr. Bailey put 
 into your hands, as you say, ' in parts and discreetly.' 
 
 ••it any names are used, the}- should, of course, not appear in 
 print. 
 
 "I hope you will say nothing, in connection with them, unkind 
 of President Johnson. The letters were written with anxious de- 
 sin s that lie might take a line of action which would make him the 
 great leader of freedom and progress. I greatly regret that he did 
 not take it, for his own sake and the country's ; but he did not. 
 His error was its own punishment. I make no reproaches, and
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. GG9 
 
 wish none made in connection with any correspondence of mine 
 with him at a time when I thought we were nearly agreed. 
 
 ••He assures me. now, that he is in favor of universal suffrage; 
 and, / think, regrets the past. He has. so far as ] can see, executed 
 in good faith the reconstruction acts ever since the veto, lie cer- 
 tainly was not to blame tor calling lor the opinion of the attorney- 
 general on points as to which the generals were in donht and asked 
 for instructions, nor can he he blamed for agreeing with the attorney- 
 general on points of construction. I am glad that Congress has 
 Come together and will make plain what was. in the judgment of 
 able and good men. obscure. I shall be sorry if they attempt [to] 
 supersede the President in the command of the army, or to make 
 the district generals superior to all civil authority as well as all 
 military. For I do not think this necessary to the great ends for 
 which the couutry longs — restoration on the basis of justice and equal 
 rights firmly secured by constitutions ami laws. 
 
 - i far. Congress has acted with great wisdom. If it acts with 
 less wisdom, or, what 1 think, unwisdom, now, I shall console myself 
 by the reflection that its ends are just and noble, and that, in a few 
 months, with wisdom and prudence, and firmness in action, we shall 
 have doubled the cape and entered the Pacific Sea. - ' 1 
 
 Writing to Horace Greeley, on the 5th of August, the Chief 
 Justice said : 
 
 " I do not know that you are not much better informed as to pub- 
 lic matters here than I am; but it is well enough that, in your posi- 
 tion, you should know what I am about to tell you. 
 
 '■ The President sent for me last Friday morning, and I went to 
 the White House between nine and ten. He received me kindly, as 
 he always does, and soon went, as his way is, directly to the matter 
 upon his mind. 
 
 " He declared, most expressly, that he had executed, and meant 
 to cany out, the reconstruction acts in perfect good faith; but was 
 much dissatisfied with General Sheridan's action. He censured, 
 especially, the letter of General S. to General Grant, in which he 
 spoke of the President as hostile to the legislation of Congress, and 
 of the attorney-general's construction of it as forming a highway for 
 perjury. He thought it insubordination, and inexcusable that such 
 
 1 While there is fine writing, and hard sense, and amiable spirit, in that letter, 
 that rhetorical flourish, ending in the Pacific Sea, is almost laughable as an example 
 of the folly into which a man may be seduced by too great love for the effects of 
 rhetoric. If congressional wisdom, prudence, and firmness were necessary to effect 
 the doubling of the cape and the passage into the Pacific Sea of government, what 
 storms might not unwisdom on the part of Congress raise? 
 
 Our hero was decidedly too fond of rhetoric, during periods of his life, if not dur- 
 ing most of his days, after he began to use the pen. And he wrote too much, and 
 not always to the right persons. 
 
 Tilton, for example, was no fit oorrespondent for such a man as Chase.
 
 (370 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 a letter should be sent to the commanding general, and published at 
 New Orleans and New York, about high matters, and never com- 
 municated to him officially even to this day. He censured Sheridan, 
 also, for his course in other respects." 
 
 Then follow several clauses of the sentence which I can not make 
 out, followed by the w T ords : 
 
 " And he intimated very plainly his intention to remove him and 
 put Hancock in his place. 
 
 "After hearing what he had to say, I asked him if he wanted my 
 views, and he said that was what he wanted to see [me] for. And then 
 I told him what I thought, very plainly, very much as follows : 
 The people had set their hearts ou the restoration of the rebel States 
 with full guaranties for future peace, order, and security, especially 
 by universal suffrage ; his vetoes had created a general impression, 
 north and south, that he was hostile to this purpose; that this im- 
 pression had been partially removed by his action in carrying the 
 laws into execution ; but the reference of the applications of the 
 district generals for instructions to the attorney -general, and his 
 opinions, had revived and intensified this impression, encouraging 
 the enemies of reconstruction, discouraging its friends in the unre- 
 stored States, and inflaming the people in the other States. This 
 had made the meeting of Congress a necessity, and the new law and 
 the new acts had caused him to be looked on, more and more, as 
 opposed, not to the policy only, but to the objects, which the people 
 favored. Under these circumstances, it was, I thought, exceedingly 
 unadvisable to make a new issue by displacing General Sheridan. I 
 did not argue with him the fitness of General Sheridan's acts, farther 
 than to express my decided opinion that Thomas, Hinton, and Abell 
 ought to have been put on trial for their part in the massacre — but 
 I urged that any interference with General S. would and could 
 work only evil. 
 
 " Of course, I give only a frank (?) sketch of what was said on 
 both sides, merely summing up the substance, instead of trying to 
 repeat words or preserving an}' thing of the circumstantial charac- 
 ter of the discussion. 
 
 " He had expressed no decided determination when I left him ; 
 but, as three days have now elapsed and nothing has been done, I 
 hope the idea has been abandoned. Every member of his Cabinet, 
 I was told (not by him, however), is against interference; and I 
 earnestly hope that there will be none. The country wants all its 
 energies, now, for the dii*ect work of restoration, without the distrac- 
 tion of another hot conflict with the President. 
 
 " In the course of our talk, he said that he thought of putting 
 General Grant temporarily at the head of the War Department, to 
 which, of course, nobody would object, except that it would imply 
 the displacement or resignation of Mr. Stanton. I took the liberty 
 of expressing a quite decided opinion that no change would benefit 
 the country or ought to be made. 
 
 " Of course, I do not wish any thing of what I have written should
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 671 
 
 be made public; but while you will not refer to any thing said in 
 this letter, it may be, you will write somewhat differently with this 
 knowledge than without it. Sincerely yours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Was it well so to confide in Horace Greeley, one of the most reck- 
 less journalists that ever libelled or lauded public men or public 
 measures ? I think not. 
 
 In a letter to A. N. Cone, Esq., the Chief Justice, on the 6th of 
 August, said : 
 
 " In respect to the matter you write about, it is my wish not to 
 be consulted at all. Information will always be acceptable ; but 
 consultation should be with those like-minded with yourself, in your 
 own city and State — especially in your own city. I can not take 
 any active part in what so nearly concerns myself." 
 
 Our sick man begins to recover. He has been disordered fearfully 
 with the brain-fever and heart-sickness of presidential candidature. 
 Now, he begins to be convalescent. 
 
 He subjoins : 
 
 "I do not know that I understand what assurances you give to 
 the friends to whom you write ; but have too much confidence in 
 your friendship to suppose that you would wish me to take an}' 
 place, or seek any support, upon any other assurances than those 
 of general fidelity to our cause, our principles, and our organization." 
 
 Here is a matter of most painfully suggestive purport, indicating 
 quite too clearly, that in some respects, Chief Justice Chase was 
 " powerfully weak." 
 
 " Washington, August 10, 1867. 
 
 " My Dear Cooke : Inclosed is a check which will pay the bal- 
 ance to my debit on your books, as per statement just received, 
 $2448. 
 
 " I am glad to receive any kindness from you not of a pecuniary 
 nature. Your hospitality I am always glad to share, and your friend- 
 ship I greatly value ; but I do n't want to have any hotel bills of 
 mine assumed by you, because I happen to have just before been 
 your guest. Hence my objection to your paying my bill at the 
 Continental ; it was carrying your hospitality just a little too far." 
 
 One would say so ! But why did not our hero spurn from him 
 the man capable of such pretended hospitality and real management? 
 Our patient hero closed that letter with these words : 
 
 "A good name and the consciousness of having done faithful and
 
 672 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 useful service to my country was all that I expected or desired from 
 my public labors. * The latter can't be taken from me; I will not 
 believe that enemies will be allowed to deprive me of the other. 
 
 '• But 1 can not help feeling keenly such attacks as those you 
 speak of, knowing that good men must be deceived by them. 
 " Faithfully your friend, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I must once more anticipate a little. On the 17th of November, 
 1868, the same infatuated pen addressed to Mr. Jay Cooke the fol- 
 lowing letter : 
 
 "My Dear Cooke : Have you ever sent me the certificates of 
 Franklin and Warren stock ? If you have, I have mislaid them. 
 If not, please send them; four of 8500 each, and one 8250. which I 
 believe is the balance since consolidation. You wrote me there 
 would be a dividend last month — I hope it did not fail. 
 
 " I inclose the certificates of Sterling stock. I have never felt 
 exactly satisfied about that matter. To be sure, the transaction 
 took place after I left the Department, and did not come within the 
 rule against purchases for resale, and it would all have been well 
 enough if you had made me take and pay for the bonds, as well as 
 the stock, as you did more lately in the F. and W. subscription. As 
 it was, I know nothing blameable in it. Still as you did in fact 
 sell the bonds and with the proceeds paid for bonds and stock, and 
 so let me have the stock without cost, the matter wears too much 
 of the appearance of a present from yourself and Mr. M. for my taste, 
 and I prefer not to have it transferred to me. Please, therefore, 
 take the certificates back, and do n't think me overscrupulous. If 
 you do, I know you will excuse me for wishing to err on that side, 
 if at all. 
 
 ' ; I appreciate fully your friendly intention in the matter, and 
 that of Mr. M.,and I acknowledge with pleasure your friendly serv- 
 ices in investing my small means, aided sometimes, temporarily, 
 by you very much to my benefit, and particularly for allowing me 
 an interest in the Franklin and Warren investment, which now 
 promises to turn out so well. That, I think, is the best investment 
 I ever made, and I should like to make enough more of the same 
 sort to enable me to pay for a good house here in Washington. 
 You may help me in this way by counsel and service as much as 
 you please. 
 
 " I shall never cease to be glad and grateful that I laid down for 
 myself the rule, after Congress gave me such great powers, enabling 
 me to raise and depress values very largely at my discretion, that 
 I would have nothing to do, directly or indirectly, with speculations 
 or transactions, in gold or securities of any sort, for my own or any 
 body's private benefit. You were well paid for your services as 
 government agent for loans, but it was by well-earned commissions 
 and not by any advantages which all might not equally have. If 
 I was poorly paid as Secretary, by a salary insufficient to meet the 
 expenses of housekeeping, which in my position could not be credit-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 673 
 
 ably avoided, I was nevertheless abundantly paid in the conscious- 
 ness of good service, honestly and faithfully performed, not without 
 benefits, both immediate and permanent, to my country and all my 
 countrymeni 
 
 -My separation from politics and parties Beems now complete; 
 but I earnestly hope that you, who will now have great influence, 
 and be greatly responsible for it. will set your tace Like a Hint 
 against any modification of the funding system I which 1 established, 
 and which I honestly think can not be materially improved), im- 
 pairing at all tin 1 great principle of controllability. Etedeemability 
 after live years for six per cent-. ; after ten for live per cent-. ; and 
 after not more than fifteen for four per cents., is indispensable. I 
 would undertake now to fund the whole of the 5-20 sixes into Id- 10 
 lives of even date with those now outstanding, so as to be controll- 
 able after seven or eight years. If any thing will reconcile the 
 American people to repudiation, direct or indirect, it will be per- 
 petuity, or apparent perpetuity, of debt. Be sure of that. 
 "Faithfully your friend, 
 
 "Jay Cooke, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I give the whole of this letter, in order that there may be no 
 question as to context. Mr. Cooke I have treated with a consideration 
 which lie has clearly shown himself incapable of courteously and prop- 
 erly regarding. I have given him every opportunity of justifying, if 
 he could justify, the course of presses which, belauding him, disparaged 
 the financial life of Salmon Portland Chase. Immediately on the 
 appearance of one of the articles referred to, I addressed to Mr. 
 Cooke a courteous letter, calling his attention to the matter, and ex- 
 pressing my unfeigned desire to give due credit to Cooke as well as 
 to Chase. 
 
 As was, perhaps, to be expected, Mr. Jay Cooke treated with 
 contempt my wish to make this work as faithful to the truth as to 
 the ordinary courtesies and kindnesses of civilized society. He an- 
 swered not at all; and now the country — the whole country — knows 
 how to estimate the laudation and disparagement just mentioned. 
 
 Much I have read, much heard, about the great indebtedness of 
 Secretary Chase to the financial genius of Mr. Jay Cooke. I have 
 faithfully endeavored to inform myself on the subject. Even after 
 the failure of Jay Cooke & Co., I felt particularly anxious to show, 
 practicallv, that the fallen fortunes of that house had not in the 
 least disposed me to deny to any member of it any credit properly 
 ascribable to him. Sometimes, I had heard or read that it was not 
 to the financial genius of Mr. Jay Cooke, but to the really greater 
 financial genius of his brother, ex-Governor Henry D. Cooke, that 
 Secretary Chase owed such heavy obligations. Circumstances as to
 
 674 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 which I have already made some intimation, deepened my desire tc 
 deny neither to Mr. Jay Cooke nor to ex-Governor Cooke any trib- 
 ute, which a faithful biography of Salmon Portland Chase might 
 fairly be expected to pay. I do not, however, find myself acquainted 
 with any facts whatever, even tending to show the supposed obliga- 
 tions. 
 
 That, in any case, I should not have been disposed to exaggerate 
 any such obligations, has, perhaps, appeared in some of the 
 foregoing chapters. Intimation has been made already, that, for 
 one, the author of this work can not discern in the financial career 
 of Salmon Portland Chase the real glory of his life. 
 
 It is to me, indeed, the darkest part of his whole public life. The 
 truth is, he was totally unfit for any save judicial office. Never 
 was a man less fit to judge of men with whom it was necessary to 
 deal in a public office. Be that as it may, however, had Salmon 
 Portland Chase never seen a Cooke, it had been well for him and for 
 his country. That is now too evident to be disputed or denied.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 675 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT — CHASE AND GRANT. 
 
 N the 19th of September, 1867, the Chief Justice wrote as 
 follows : 
 
 " I am just about starting for Ohio, and wish you were going with 
 me. 
 
 '■If you will come and act as secretary for me, I shall be glad to 
 have you do so in October. I will guarantee you $1500 per annum, 
 and hope Congress will allow me a secretary with the same salary 
 as the secretary of the Vice-President, in which case that will be 
 your salary. Perhaps, Congress will enable me to pay you at that 
 rate from the date you commence work. Write to me at Cincinnati. 
 
 " Sincei'ely your friend, 
 "J. W. Schuckers, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Thus prepared, I offer next this document, about the authenticity 
 of which there is no question : 
 
 " Washington, November 25th, 18(i7. 
 
 "Dear Sir: Chief Justice Chase directs me to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your letter and paper for the press. He is grateful for the 
 confidence and favor with which a portion of his countrymen seem 
 to regard him ; but under the rules he has prescrihed to himself, can 
 not request of any journal the insertion of }~our communication. 
 He desires me to say, moreover, that he desires no commendation 
 through comparisons with statesmen or soldiers whom the people 
 honor. Under no circumstances could he sanction any disparage- 
 ment of Gen. Grant or any of the brave men who shared in Labors 
 and achievements by which, so far as military service was concerned, 
 the integrity of the Republic was vindicated and saved. Their honor 
 and renown are public treasures, which he would gladly augment 
 but by no means diminish. 
 
 ■• 1 am very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 "John S. Corbin, Esq., Selma, Alabama. J. W. SCnUCKERS." 
 
 " P. S. Your paper will be returned if you desire it." 
 
 In the course of a letter to Dr. John Paul, then of Ottawa, 111., 
 the Chief Justice, on the 20th of December, 1867, said : 
 44
 
 676 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " As to the next Presidency, I am content to let matters take their 
 course. It is a great gratification that so many of the hest and most 
 earnest men of the country honor me by their preference; and I am 
 
 {larticularly gratified by the confidence and attachment manifested 
 >y the new citizens, whose rights to freedom and equality I have so 
 long maintained. Gratitude is not extinct among them at least; nor 
 can they be said to be deficient in sagacity who prefer tried friends." 
 
 What language for the pen that syllabled that sentence! That 
 sagacity, at least, our hero never showed. The greatest error of his 
 life, perhaps, was that he so often showed himself insensible to the 
 wisdom in the Polonian precept: 
 
 " Do not dull thy palm with entertainment 
 Of each new-hatched, unfledged comrade." 
 
 But that letter to an old friend goes on as follows : 
 
 " What the issue will be can not be foreseen. Many of my friends 
 are sanguine. Some feel that the political currents are now run- 
 ning in military channels, and apprehend that they will continue 
 so to run. I am not sanguine, and never was, in regard to my per- 
 sonal prospects. Indeed, I have never been taken up on personal 
 considerations, but simply because enough men thought my services 
 needed, to carry my nomination and election." 
 
 It might have been quite otherwise had this man been duly friendly 
 to his friends and not so friendly to his foes. But he proceeds : 
 
 " If there are enough such men, now, I shall be nominated, and if 
 not, not. I mean to be quite contented either way. If not now 
 nominated, my name will never again be mentioned in connection 
 with any political office, with my consent. Especially shall I eschew 
 all connection of it with the Presidency. 
 
 " How glad I should be to see you ! 
 
 " Sincerely and faithfully your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 And so this volume for the present, bids farewell to the year 1867. 
 On the second day of January, 1868, some one — I know not who — 
 was thus addressed by letter: 
 
 " Hear Sir : For your kind note of the 31st ult. please accept my 
 thanks. 
 
 "Professions are of no value, especially when made under circum- 
 stances which indicate, however fallaciously, that they were made 
 with expectations of personal advantage. 
 
 " You will excuse me, therefore, if I say nothing, at this time, of 
 the particular question in which you naturally feel so much interest. 
 
 " I send you, however, a couple of pamphlets, which will show what 
 my sentiments were in 1843 and 1863; and you know I am not a 
 man much given to change."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 677 
 
 Good heaven ! what a self-judgment! Not a man much given to 
 change, indeed! 
 
 To the changes we have witnessed I suggest no exception. I believe 
 that they were all supposed to be required or suffered by a due regard 
 to conscience and a due devotion to the common weal ; but it is very, 
 very strange, to find our hero writing — evidently in good faith, too — 
 in 1868: 
 
 " You know I am not a man much given to change." 
 
 On the 14th of January, a letter from our hero to J. W. Hoi den, 
 Esq., said : 
 
 "I am greatly obliged to you for sending me the proceedings of 
 the Raleigh meeting and Iry the part 3 T ou took in it. 
 
 '•The approval of the loyal men of the Southern States is especi- 
 ally gratifying to me. I have long felt that to no equal number of 
 patriotic Americans docs the country owe more, or may reasonably 
 expect more." 
 
 Another part of the same letter says : 
 
 " I do not know that the declaration of your Raleigh meeting will 
 find echoes enough to make it a national expression. Its sentiments 
 are shared. I am assured, by some of the truest and best republicans 
 in all parts of the land. I shall be content, in any event, by what- 
 ever will best advance the cause of equal rights secured by equal 
 laws, enacted through universal suffrage." 
 
 On the 19th of February, writing to Judge Underwood, our 
 presidential convalescent — who was, however to have two relapses — 
 said : 
 
 "In political matters, the prospect now is that if General Grant 
 does not decline, he will be the nominee of the Chicago Convention, 
 /shall not fret about it; but think that the earnest republicans will 
 have most power and effect most if they — that is, in the restored 
 States — abide by their first choice." 
 
 In a letter to Hon. W. S. Hatch, of Ohio, the Chief Justice, on 
 the 2d of March, said : 
 
 "Receive my sincere thanks for your welcome letter of the 25th. 
 It proves that you still cherish the old time friendship, as T also do. 
 Our political differences have never wrought personal estrangement, 
 and now they can not. 
 
 "I rather think you give me credit for more political ambition 
 than I have. My consciousness does not accuse me of any which I 
 could not subordinate cheerfully to the claims of duty. It boars me
 
 G78 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 witness that I have ever regarded offices as opportunities of useful- 
 ness, rather than as a distinction or means of aggrandizement." 
 
 These words appear to me precisely true. This man, as we have 
 clearly seen, was far from faultless, far from untouched by foibles; 
 but he never had the low ambition of the place-man. His ambition 
 as to office ever was an aspiration after usefulness and the true glory, 
 shining out of splendid duties splendidly performed. 
 
 The same letter contains the words : 
 
 " I have never had any sanguine expectation that the people would 
 call me to' the Presidency. There have been, now and then, some 
 indications of that sort ; but none so marked as to raise in me any 
 very troublesome thoughts. 
 
 "At the present time I have no wish, whatever, to have my name 
 connected with that office. In my judicial action I can not regard 
 party policy, and can not hope to please any party. And no man 
 who is not a party man, or a party necessity, can expect party favor. 
 So 1 dismiss any thought except that of doing the duty which lies 
 directly before me, whatever that may be, and leave all the future to 
 Him who disposes of all things. 
 
 "I never expected great success in any position I have occupied. 
 My surprise at the degree of it that I have achieved has been greater, 
 perhaps, than any other man's. And now I can still less hope for 
 much success as a judge. I came to the bench too late and from too 
 active pursuits to think of emulating any of my great predecessors. 
 It will suffice if the duties of my position are performed according to 
 the measure of my ability and circumstances." 
 
 This is a sad, a very sad confession. Had our hero but appreci- 
 ated his great opportunity, as a successor of John Marshall, he could 
 have at least equalled that great judge, in most respects, and more 
 than equalled him in some. Chase did not go to the bench too late 
 and from too active pursuits. All the pursuits of his life had admir- 
 ably tended to prepare him for his grand position as Chief Justice. 
 
 Let us fairly take into consideration the state of things when that 
 letter was written. 
 
 It was on the 24th of the preceding month that the resolution to 
 impeach the President passed the House of Representatives. The 
 letter just quoted was written on the day before the articles of im- 
 peachment were agreed to. Very sad, no doubt, were the thoughts 
 of the Chief Justice, in anticipation of that fearful mockery. 
 
 But he disparaged all his previous legal life when he so wrote to 
 Mr. Hatch, his old neighbor, on the 2d of March, 1868. And here, 
 as well as in another place, I might say a few words more about his 
 learning and his powers as a legist; but I have decided to reserve
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 679 
 
 that subject for a future chapter. 1 Now, let us return to that sad 
 letter to Hon. W. S. Hatch. It contained also these words : 
 
 "I see you date your letter from your river home; and trust that 
 all things around you contribute to jour comfort and happiness. It 
 would be very agreeable to me to drop in upon you this blustering 
 night, instead of studying law arguments and reading up about im- 
 peachment. 
 
 "The times are as blustering as the weather. May our merciful 
 God bring our beloved land through the storm safely and gloriously." 
 
 Passing notice has been already taken of the fact that the resolu- 
 tion to impeach the President passed the House of Representatives 
 February 24, 1868. The conclusion of the trial resulting from the 
 actual impeachment was on the 26th of the following May. During 
 this period, the spectacle so often witnessed in this country, the spec- 
 tacle, I mean, of prejudgment by the press, did not fail to sadden the 
 hearts of the unprejudiced and the unbiased. 
 
 Articles of impeachment were, we have already seen, agreed to on 
 the 3d of March. The next day, Chief Justice Chase addressed to 
 the Senate a letter, in which he submitted observations on the subject 
 of the proper mode of proceeding in the contemplated impeachment 
 trial. He suggested that " the organization of the Senate, as a court 
 of impeaehment under the Constitution, should precede the actual 
 announcement of the impeachment on the part of the House," the 
 House first giving notice to the Senate of intention to impeach. He 
 thought it " a still less unwarrantable opinion that articles of im- 
 peachment should only be presented to a court of impeachment ; that 
 no summons or other process should issue except from the organ- 
 ized court, and that the rules for the government of the proceedings 
 of such a court should be framed only by the court itself." But, 
 the Senate having taken a different view of propriety in procedure, 
 it was not the purpose of the Chief Justice to contest the matter. 
 He desired only to dissent; and it seems to me he erred in that dis- 
 sent. 
 
 But let that pass. I need hardly say that this whole matter is 
 of history far more than of biography. But there are things about 
 it which this volume must not fail to state. 
 
 Among the papers furnished for my biographic use was a large 
 bundle relating to the trial of the President. There was, among 
 other papers in that bundle, a printed one, discussing the question 
 
 ^ost, Chapter.
 
 080 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 whether the Chief Justice, in such trials, in case of a balanced ver- 
 dict, if I may so express myself, has the casting vote. Then there 
 were papers setting forth the course of procedure in other cases. In 
 a word, the indications were that the Chief Justice had deeply 
 studied the whole matter. 
 
 But to set forth, in this book, a full account of the impeachment 
 here in question, would be quite impossible; and without setting 
 forth a full account, I could not do justice either to my readers, to 
 my hero, or to the compiler of these pages. I confine myself, there- 
 fore, to some indications of our hero's correspondence. 
 
 On the 10th of March, the Chief Justice, heavy-hearted, wrote as 
 follows, to Col. Wm. B. Thomas: 
 
 "My Dear Colonel: I am much obliged to you for your letter 
 and for your views of the situation, and the more so because it 
 makes no reference whatever to the impeachment. To be sure, I ex- 
 pected no such reference in a letter from you; but there are so many, 
 and persons of sense, too, who think it necessary and proper to ad- 
 vise me on that subject, that I could not help noticing the absence 
 of it in your letter. If the correspondents who favor me with such 
 letters could only be made aware that the}' are never read, but con- 
 signed to the waste-basket as soon as their subject is ascertained, 
 they would, doubtless, save themselves some labor. 
 
 "As to political matters, I take only the interest of a citizen who 
 loves his country and desires earnestly the speediest possible resto- 
 ration to all the benefits of union the ex-rebel States on the basis of 
 equal rights secured by equal suffrage. Whatever I may have form- 
 erly thought, or even desired, in connection with the Presidency, ] 
 wish now to have my name completely disconnected from it. I am 
 satisfied that I am not a suitable candidate for either party. My 
 opinions on the leading questions of the day are well known, or may 
 be inferred, without difficulty, from my public acts. On some ques- 
 tions, intimately connected with those leading questions, I shall, 
 probably, be obliged to pass judicially. And I can not be a party 
 judge. I must express my honest opinions of the Constitution and 
 the law. I must do my duty without fear and without favor. Thus 
 acting, it is not likely that my judgments will gratify the wishes of 
 party on either hand. 
 
 " Hence, I prefer to keep clear of all personal interest in political 
 contests. 
 
 " A year ago — even six months ago — I did not anticipate the 
 present condition of affairs. But impeachment has come; the con- 
 stitutionality of trials of civilians, in the late rebel States, by mili- 
 tary commissions is before the court; new doctrines are promul- 
 gated by Republican as well as Democratic conventions, of disregard 
 i" public faith, and in respect to these, the question of the consti- 
 tutionality of the legal tender law assumes new importance. And 
 in regard to all these matters I have a not unimportant voice. 1 
 prefer, in this state of things, to dismiss every thought which 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 681 
 
 might incline the scale of judgment either way. Do what I may, 
 I can not hope to escape imputations. I hope only to avoid giving 
 any just occasion for them. The rest I leave cheerfully to Him 
 [who] alone judgeth righteously. 
 
 " For all your friendship accept my grateful thanks. Such friend- 
 ship of men like yourself is my best reward for my endeavors to 
 serve our country ; for it is disinterested. Believe me that I 
 reciprocate fully all your good-will, and remain, 
 " Sincerely and faithfully yours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 16th of March,, in the course of a letter to Dr. J. E. Snod- 
 grass, the Chief Justice said : 
 
 " Those who opposed slavery and the domination of the slave 
 power when it cost something to do so, can afford the censures of 
 new zeal which risks nothing and may gain much." 
 
 And the same letter said : 
 
 "As to the Chief Justice being the ally of Mr. Johnson, it is a flat 
 absurdity. Since his proclamation of a provisional government for 
 North Carolina, in order to reconstruction on the White basis, I 
 have been opposed to his plans. And I have been just as steady a 
 friend to the congressional policy of reconstruction, so far as it con- 
 templated equal rights for all, secured by equal constitutions and 
 laws. But I do not believe in military domination any more than 
 I do in slaveholding oligarchy; nor do I believe that any thing has 
 been accomplished by military supremacy in the rebel States that 
 could not have been as well, if not better, accomrjlished by civil 
 supremacy, authorized and regulated by Congress, with military 
 subordination. But I prefer even military domination for a time, 
 itself controlled and directed by Congress, with an honest reference 
 to restoration of the States to full participation in the government, 
 with suffrage secured to all who will not seek to withhold it from 
 others, to any such plan as that proposed by the President. 
 
 "While I have condemned the President's attempt to impose on 
 the colored population of the South, the rule of the ex-rebel popula- 
 tion, and his hostility to congressional reconstruction, I have not 
 thought it necessary to revile him. I do not quarrel with people 
 about matters in which I differ from them. I like manly and frank 
 dealing even between extremest political opponents. I have, 
 therefore, called on the President when official propriety has re- 
 quired, and three or four of these occasions have been at his 
 request ; others have been on public occasions. Once, and once 
 only, have I called to serve, if I could, old friends who had done 
 faithful service in the war. On several occasions when I have met 
 the President, public matters have been the theme of conversation; 
 and I believe I never failed in what I thought my duty on such 
 occasions. I urged him by every argument that I could think of to 
 abandon his opposition to congressional reconstruction, and to uni- 
 versal suffrage. At the last of these interviews, now months ago,
 
 682 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 he complained of Sheridan and Stanton, and intimated his purpose 
 to remove them. I told him plainly what I thought of it and what 
 the people would think of it, and warned him of the danger of the 
 avalanche. 
 
 " I do not den}' that sympathy with him had something to do 
 with lay action. * I remembered his loyalty at the outset of the war 
 and his* patriotism all through the war, and I urged him to retrace 
 his steps. But I could do nothing. I believe, however, that he 
 saw that my purpose was an honest purpose and not actuated by 
 personal hostility, and therefore felt a certain degree of respect and 
 perhaps regard for me. It was not enough to induce him to spare 
 my friends from removal, but it led him, doubtless, to pay me the 
 compliment of attending that reception of mine to which the cor- 
 respondent refers. 
 
 " Now, that is all of my intercourse with the President. I tell 
 you for your own satisfaction and information. Let it go no farther. 
 I will not defend myself against calumny except by my acts. 
 
 " And in the present heated temper of the public mind I can not 
 hope to escape a great deal of honest censure. My duties are judi- 
 cial. "What I honestly believe the Constitution and laws to sanction 
 or condemn, that I must, fearless, sanction or condemn. I am of no 
 party on the bench. If I believe an act, or part of an act, of a 
 Republican Congress to be unconstitutional, 1 must say so. If a 
 man whom Republicans would gladly see condemned, has rights, 
 and I must judge, the rights shall be respected. And so of the 
 Democrats. I expect to please neither at all times. But, God help- 
 ing me, I will do my duty, sorry only that limited powers do nut 
 allow me to do it better. 
 
 " Good-bye. Sincerelv your friend, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 20th of the same memorable month of March, the Chief 
 Justice wrote to Francis J. Tucker, Esq., as follows : 
 
 " Dear Sir : Please accept my thanks for your kind note. 
 
 " I am not, however, an aspirant for any political position, and 
 do not desire to have my name connected with the presidential 
 nomination in any way. 
 
 " To discharge honestly and faithfully the duties of the difficult 
 position in which I am called to act, is all I can hope to accomplish, 
 and more, I fear, than I am likely to accomplish to the satisfaction 
 of the majority of any party. I shall be satisfied if I get the ap- 
 proval of my own conscience. 
 
 " Very respectfully yours, 
 
 « S. P. CHASE." 
 
 To Jacob Heaton, Esq., March 23d, he said : 
 
 " You need not fear for me. Good men have misunderstood and 
 bad men have misrepresented me before now. 
 
 "As a judge, whether presiding with large powers in a Circuit 
 Court, or presiding with very limited powers in the Supreme Court,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 683 
 
 or in the Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, I mean to do 
 impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws made in 
 pursuance thereof; and, God being my helper, neither clamor nor 
 imputation shall move me from the doing of it. 
 
 "I adhere to the old creed of universal freedom and equal rights; 
 but no one knows better than you that, as a citizen, I have never 
 been the bondsman of party. As a judge, I can recognize no party 
 obligation whatever. 
 
 " 1 seek no political office. I am neither candidate nor aspirant. 
 All I want is strength, wisdom, and courage for whatever duty 
 reason and conscience show to me." 
 
 Writing to Hon. Gerritt Smith, on the 2d of April, he said : 
 
 "The subject of the Presidency has become distasteful to me. 
 Some will say, 'sour grapes;' and there may be some ground for 
 the application of the proverb. But I really think that I am not 
 half so ambitious of place as I am represented to be. Certainly, I 
 never used any of the ordinary means to get place. I worked for 
 ideas and principles and measures embodying them, and with all 
 citizens of like faith and aims; and was always quite willing to 
 take place, or be left out of place, as the cause, in the judgment of its 
 friends, required. And I am certainly entirely content, now, to be 
 left out of consideration in connection with the Presidency. 
 
 " My desire, at present, is [to] perform the duties of President of 
 the Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, faithfully and im- 
 partially. My constant prayer is for guidance and strength, for 
 wisdom and courage; and I trust I shall be kept from making any 
 serious mistake. 
 
 " My position is peculiarly difficult. As the Chief Justice, my 
 whole duties, except in the single case of impeachment, connect me 
 with another bod}'. Coming into the Senate to preside, I feel and 
 am felt as a sort of foreign element. The Senate, like all other 
 bodies, has a good deal of esprit du corps. I, as Chief Justice, look for 
 my powers and duties in the Constitution, and very naturally disa- 
 greeing as to their nature and extent from many Senators. So far, 
 these differences have been attended by no disagreeable result. The 
 majority has substantially sustained my views, and I have tried to 
 avoid every claim which could be, as I thought, called in question. 
 
 " Mr. Sumner's motion, yesterday, alarmed me. The question, 
 however, forced itself upon me: 'What will be my duty in case 
 the Senate, by denying to me the casting vote which belongs to 
 the President of the Senate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, 
 and so refusing, in effect, to recognize my right to preside ? ' Hap- 
 pily, 1 was not compelled to decide this question. 
 
 "I hope that your health is good, and that you are enjoying your 
 delightful home. How I should like to drop in upon you." 
 
 April 6th, the Chief Justice wrote to Col. John D. Van Buren : 
 
 "I see nothing in the article you sent me to object to ; lint am 
 much obliged both to Mr. Marble and yourself for it. It will do
 
 684 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 much to disabuse the public. Here my position is well understood , 
 and no one, on either side, except, perhaps, a few over-jealous par- 
 tisans, desires or expects any thing of me except the honest and 
 impartial discharge of my duties as presiding officer. In this ex- 
 pectation I trust no one will be disappointed." 
 
 April 8th, the Chief Justice wrote to Hon. Alexander Long a 
 letter which contained these words : 
 
 " Your letter, marked ' strictly confidential,' has been received. 
 You hardly need any assurance that the injunction will be scrupu- 
 lously observed. 
 
 "It would please me to know the author of the article you in- 
 closed ; and it does please me to be assured that you have no regret 
 for the part you took in my election to the Senate in 1849. If you 
 will turn to the Congressional Globe Debates in the Senate, of April 
 9, 1853, you will find the view I take of that election and its results, 
 which will, I think, interest you now. It may interest you, also, to 
 read again, if you have ever read it all, my letter to Mr. Breslin on 
 the subject of the union between the Old Line and the Independent 
 Deinocrac}", written during the summer after that election. You 
 will find it in the Congressional Globe, 1849-50, Part I., p. 135. 
 You will see, if you read Mr. Butler's speech, especially its second 
 paragraph, and what immediately follows the latter, that he favored 
 that union. It is my belief, to-day, that if that union had taken 
 place, all our calamities would have been avoided ; or, if that be too 
 strong, that civil war and national debt would at least have been 
 escaped ; and yet that universal freedom would have been assured, 
 if not as soon, yet without any great delay, and with the concur- 
 rence of the States most interested. 
 
 "Nothing would now gratify me more than to see the Democracy 
 turn away from past issues, and take for its mottoes : Suffrage for 
 all ; amnesty for all ; good money for all ; security for all citizens, 
 at home against military despotism, and abroad against govern- 
 mental invasion. 
 
 "But I am neither aspirant nor candidate myself. I want no 
 more political distinction or position. All I desire is courage and 
 wisdom to do my immediate duty, now and in the future." 
 
 In a letter to Hon. Gerritt Smith, dated April 19th, the Chief 
 Justice said : 
 
 "The trial of the President draws toward its end. The evidence 
 will, doubtless, be closed to-morrow ; and it is not improbable that the 
 first speech on the part of the managers will be made. If the Sen- 
 ate adheres to its resolution to allow only two arguments on each 
 side, I do not see how the discussion can be protracted be} T ond the 
 week, unless the Senate retire for consultation among themselves. 
 
 " To me the whole business seems wrong, and if I had any opin- 
 ion, under the Constitution, I would not take part in it. But the 
 President is on trial, and the Constitution is express that 'when the 
 President is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.'
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 685 
 
 "Nothing is clearer to my mind than that acts of Congress, not 
 warranted by the Constitution, are not laws. In case a law, believed 
 by the President to be unwarranted by the Constitution, is passed, 
 notwithstanding his veto, it seems to me that it is his duty to ex- 
 ecute it precisely as if he held it to be constitutional, except in the 
 case where it directly attacks and impairs the executive power con- 
 fided to him by that instrument. In that case it appears to me to 
 be the clear duty of the President to disregard the law, so tar at 
 least as it may bo necessary to bring the question of its constitu- 
 tionality before the judicial tribunals. 
 
 " Until the late rebellion a broad distinction has always been 
 taken between the oath of office required of the President and the 
 oath required of other officers. That of the President is prescribed 
 by the Constitution itself: 'I do solemnly SAvear that I will faithfully 
 execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the 
 best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of 
 the United States.' That of other officers was prescribed by law — 
 the first ever enacted under the Constitution — and follows almost 
 literally its direction : ' I do solemnly swear that I will support the 
 Constitution of the United States.' 
 
 "The test oath act of 1862, introduced for the first time into the 
 oath to be administered to other officers than the President the word 
 'defend' in addition to the word 'support.' 
 
 "How can the President fulfill his oath to preserve, protect, and 
 defend the Constitution, if he has no right to defend it against an 
 act of Congress, sincerely believed by him to have been passed in 
 violation of it? 
 
 "To rne, therefore, it seems perfectly clear that the President had 
 a perfect right, and, indeed, was under the highest obligation, to 
 remove Mr. Stanton, if he made the removal, not in wanton disre- 
 gard of a constitutional law, but with a sincere belief that the tenure- 
 of-office act was unconstitutional, and for the purpose of bringing 
 the question before the Supreme Court. Plainly it was the proper 
 and peaceful, if not the only proper and peaceful, mode of protect- 
 ing and defending the Constitution. 
 
 "I was greatly disappointed and pained, therefore, when the Sen- 
 ate, yesterday, excluded the evidence of members of the Cabinet as 
 to their consultations and decisions (in one of which Mr. Stanton 
 took a concurring part), and the advice given to the President in 
 pursuance thereof. I could conceive of no evidence more proper to 
 be received, or more appropriate to enlighten a court as to the in- 
 tent with which the act was done; and accordingly ruled that it 
 was admissible. 
 
 "The vote, I fear, indicated a purpose which, if carried into 
 effect, will not satisfy the American people, unless they arc prepared 
 to admit that Congress is above the Constitution. 
 
 "Have you looked at the questions, whether, in the event of con- 
 viction, the President pro tempore of the Senate is an 'officer.' who, 
 under the Constitution, can ' act as President?' and 'whether, if 
 such an officer, he must remain such while acting as President?' 
 My own mind answers the last question in the affirmative, and in- 
 clines to the negative on the first.
 
 686 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " It seems to me that you ought to give the public the American 
 view of these questions, if you can find time to consider them." 
 
 There is a postscript as follows : 
 
 " I suppose you have seen Mr. Tilton's 'folded banner.' He 
 came to Washington, some ten days or two weeks ago, and sought 
 a conversation with me, and I talked pretty freely with him. I 
 dare say he thought what I said warranted the opinion he ex- 
 pressed. I do not; but if he did, it was certainly an abuse of hos- 
 pitality to build and publish such conclusions on the basis of a 
 private conversation." 
 
 Had our hero then forgotten what use he had made of private 
 conversations? But of that more must be said hereafter. It is an 
 unpleasant theme; but one that can not be avoided. 
 
 Far from pleasant also is the subject to which, not for the first 
 time, attention must be drawn by stating that on the same day 
 when the foregoing letter was dictated by our hero to his private 
 secretary, he wrote an autographic letter to Alexander Long. 
 
 It was remarkably imprudent to address to Alexander Long 
 that letter of the 8th of April, 1868. It was yet more imprudent 
 to write to him the letter now about to be presented. 
 
 On the 19th day of April, then, this letter was addressed by 
 Salmon Portland Chase to Alexander Long: 
 
 " My Dear Sir : My reply to your last note has been somewhat 
 delayed. My time, as you may readily imagine, is much occupied. 
 
 "It appears to me quite unlikely that such a union as is essential 
 to success can be brought about among those who agree in opposition 
 to military commissions and military ascendancy in the government. 
 
 " The Democratic party, no doubt, could insure such a union by 
 proclaiming anew its old creed of equal and exact justice for all 
 men, and declaring itself for the full restoration of the States, now 
 unrepresented, on the basis of universal suffrage and universal 
 amnesty, but against military government, and military commis- 
 sions, and the whole train of related doctrines, such as State suicide, 
 State subjugation, confiscation, and the like. Of such a union, if 
 brought about, I should certainly desire the success. I should wish 
 as earnestly now as I did in 1849 for the success of the Democracy, 
 united on such a basis. I could not wish otherwise, and be faithful 
 to my antecedents. 
 
 "With these sentiments I should not be at libertj- to refuse the 
 use of my name in the contingency you refer to. I see, however, 
 very slight indications that such a contingency will occur; and I 
 have, certainly, no desire for a nomination. I greatly prefer to re- 
 main disconnected from all political responsibilities, save that of 
 casting my vote. 
 
 " I have no doubt, however, that such a union as you desire would
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. G87 
 
 be attended with complete success. Nor is there any reason stronger 
 than prejudice why it should not take place. The restoration of the 
 Southern States, on the basis of universal suffrage, is now certain. 
 Every one of them will have adopted constitutions, recognizing the 
 right of every citizen, not disfranchised, to vote, before the present 
 Congress ends — most of them certainly, and all of them probably, 
 before the presidential election. The united democracy, frankly 
 conceding- the permanence of these constitutions and the rights of 
 suffrage secured by them, and appealing to the sentiments of justice 
 and generosity and enlightened interest for universal amnesty and 
 the removal of all political disfranchisements, could carry two-thirds, 
 if not more, of those States; whereas, without the union suggested, 
 and upon the antiquated issues, the Democratic party can hardly 
 hope to carry one of them ; and its success seems impossible. 
 
 "But enough of this. The impeachment draws to an end. The 
 arguments will probably be concluded this week. Whether the 
 Senate will proceed at once to vote, or take time for conference and 
 deliberation, no one can say. The coui'se thus far pursued would 
 indicate an immediate vote. I hazard no conjecture as to the result ; 
 but I think it safe to say that if the vote were deferred for six weeks, 
 until after the Chicago nomination, conviction would be impossible. 
 
 " The Senate, in m} r opinion, made its greatest and most injurious 
 mistake yesterday, when it refused to receive the testimony of the 
 heads of the departments." 
 
 Then follows an argument similar to that contained in the letter 
 to Hon. Gerritt Smith. The letter closes in these terms: 
 
 "I am glad to know who wrote the article you inclosed to me. I 
 greatly honor Mr. Reed's abilities and his independence of thought, 
 and wish I could give him better evidence of it than these words. 
 
 " But I must close this already too long letter. 
 
 " Very truly yours, 
 
 " Hon. Alexander Long. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The role performed by Mr. Long in Congress is of history. I 
 did not purpose to disparage him at all, when I said that it was 
 imprudent on the part of the Chief Justice to address to him such 
 letters. It was worse than idle for a man with a record such as 
 that of Mr. Long, to open up with Salmon Portland Chase a corre- 
 spondence such as we have seen; and it was worse than idle for 
 Chief Justice Chase to correspond with Mr. Long on such a subject. 
 
 On the same day a letter, hardly less imprudent, was addressed 
 to Mr. Tilton by our hero. It contains these words : 
 
 "Your article, under the caption, 'A Folded Banner,' was very 
 different from any thing which your conversation with me fore- 
 shadowed. 
 
 "You visited me at my house and invited a conversation. I was
 
 688 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 glad to see you, as I alwayB have been ; and my esteem for you and 
 trust in you were such that I talked with you very freely. I lit- 
 tle thought that I was on trial before an editor, and that he was 
 about to" pronounce a sentence upon me, ex cathedra, according to 
 the supposed result of his investigations. Had I been aware of that 
 I should probably have followed a great military example, and 
 observed a prudent silence. 
 
 " I had seen, with perfect content, so far as I was concerned, the 
 Eepublican preference concentrating upon General Grant. I had 
 observed, also, new shibboleths of Eepublican faith, invented and 
 demanded, in the hot contentions of the time, which I could not 
 frame my lips to pronounce. I felt, therefore, that whatever might be 
 my obligation to support Eepublican candidates, because of my agree- 
 ment with the majority of the party on the great point of equal 
 rights protected by equal suffrage, I could not myself properly rep- 
 resent it as its candidate. And I said to you that I could not take 
 the Eepublican nomination if I could have it. 1 knew I could not 
 have it, even were General Grant out of the way, if I proclaimed 
 my opinions on impeachment, military commissions, military govern- 
 ment, and the like ; and I wanted no nomination with concealed or 
 un avowed opinions; and, indeed, wanted no nomination at all. For 
 this reason, I said I would not take the Eepublican nomination if I 
 could have it. I had said it to nobody else. I said it to you because 
 I felt like saying it, and thought you knew me well enough to believe 
 me. I certainty never dreamed of a proclamation by you in The 
 Independent, based upon it. I knew very well that every body who 
 should think I had made such a declaration to you, and did not know 
 me intimately, would characterize it, coming as it must have come 
 from one who knew he had not the least chance of receiving the 
 nomination, in very uncomplimentary terms. 
 
 "I was still more surprised by your confident expression that I 
 would accept the Democratic nomination. I refused to say to you 
 that I would not accept it. But I did not say that I would ; nor did 
 I say any thing to that effect. I have never sought or expected it. 
 I have never thought it in the least degree likely that it would be 
 offered to me. It would have been ridiculous in me to say that I 
 would not accept what had not been offered, and was not likely to 
 be. It would have savored strongly of a vanity and presumption 
 justly offensive, and from which, at least, I hope I am free. What 
 you said led me to suppose that you agreed with me in opinion that 
 the Chief Justice, presiding in the Senate, has the same right as the 
 Vice-President when presiding in that body, and I expressed a wish 
 that you would express that opinion in The Independent. You said 
 you would, and your article does contain a sentence to that effect. 
 
 "For this and for your declaration that I am not likely to aban- 
 don any of the ideas and principles on which, I suppose, your former 
 preference was based, I beg you to accept my thanks. I regret that 
 you saw fit to withdraw that preference with such a flourish of 
 trumpets. You might have said, with truth, that I was neither 
 candidate nor aspirant for any nomination; and that The Independent 
 did not think it useful to urge any farther consideration of my name. 
 I do not think you had any right to make any other inference from
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 689 
 
 my conversation with yo u ; and if the conversation did warrant any 
 other inference by you, I do not think you had a right to use a 
 private conversation for the purpose of making it. 
 
 '•I write frankly, just as I spoke frankly. 1 do not he'ieve that 
 you will hereafter reflect with complacency upon your article. But 
 I do not desire to have another written, based on this note, which is 
 exclusively for your personal information, anil not for thai of the readers 
 of The Independent. I am content to be read out of the Republican 
 party. 1 can afford to be, so long as I retain my old principled and 
 my old fidelity to the cause of the oppressed and the needy. I regret 
 only that Theodore Tilton took upon himself the office of reader, and 
 that he read the sentence in a way which, taken in connection with 
 the leaded and leading article of some weeks ago, and his remarks 
 to me concerning it, strikes me as peculiarly ungracious and un- 
 warranted. And so I remain, regretfully, yours, 
 
 " Theodore Tilton, Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I have shown, by quoting and commenting on a thought of Mr, 
 Tilton, 1 that I do not look upon him as without ability. But I 
 think he never was a safe correspondent for our hero, or, indeed, for 
 any other man. The tone of Mr. Tilton is not high. He is a canter, 
 half-religious, half-political. 
 
 But though the letters here in question were not prudent, they are 
 deeply interesting documents for us, who now study Chase's course 
 and character. 
 
 To Dr. A. L. Child, of Glendale, Nebraska, on the 24th of April, 
 the Chief Justice wrote : 
 
 "Dear Sir: Yours of the 12th is received. The account given 
 of the Chase family by Senator Dudley Chase is, I believe, correct. 
 I am the son of Itbamar, and you, being the grandson of Mercy, are 
 my second cousin. 
 
 " I am sorry to learn from your account that the old bishop had 
 so bad an opinion of me. I hope he has thought better of the mat- 
 ter since, for he was a good man, and is, I believe, in heaven. He 
 made some inquiry into the connection of our family with that of 
 Judge Chase, who was impeached and acquitted; though, upon one 
 of the articles, there was a majority (though not two-third- \. The 
 bishop found, 1 believe, some relationship between the families. 
 What it was I don't know. 
 
 " With hearty good wishes for your welfare, and thanks for your 
 letter, I remain, Yours very truly, 
 
 ."8. P.CHASE." 
 
 An animated account of Judge Samuel Chase (with the spelling 
 Chace) may be read in the admirable autobiographic book of Judge 
 
 1 Ante, p. 21.
 
 GOO THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Bracken ridge, once of Baltimore, but first and last of Pennsylvania. 
 I have not the book at hand, and I am not sure about the title, but 
 I think it is Recollections of Life in the West. 
 
 The impeached Judge Chase had many traits of resemblance to 
 the unimpeached Judge Chase. 
 
 Col. William Brown, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, not long after 
 the death of the Chief Justice, sent to the Cincinnati Commercial a 
 letter received by him from our hero, under the date April 29, 1868. 
 It contains, according to the Commercial, these words: 
 
 " I have erased, as I told you, to have any aspirations connected 
 with the Presidency. It once seemed to me a position highly desir- 
 able for the opportunities of usefulness it afforded; nor was I indif- 
 ferent to its distinctions. But I am almost surprised to find how 
 contentedly I have seen the preference of the Republicans fall upon 
 General Grant, and how little I am troubled by any lingering desire 
 for the place. You doubtless notice the talk there is about uniting 
 all the opponents of military ascendancy and military commissions 
 on one candidate, and making me that candidate. But I have no 
 idea, with my known principles and convictions in respect to res- 
 toration on the basis of universal suffrage as well as universal am- 
 nesty, that there will any such unite upon me ; and I am very sure 
 that' I shall not seek any nomination from any party. I do n't want 
 any office enough for that; and, indeed, if I could now do so, with 
 propriety, would prefer to resign the post 1 hold to being a seeker 
 for any other. 
 
 " I am none the less grateful to you for your strong friendship. 
 Should what some paper calls ' the miracle ' of the suggested nom- 
 ination take place under circumstances which would make it my 
 duty to accept it, and should success attend it— what a succession 
 of unhatched chickens! — it may be in my power to prove better 
 than I can otherwise how I value it. Whether or no, it will always 
 be pleasant to me to show my sense of it in any fitting way." 
 
 On the 5th of May, the Chief Justice wrote to Richard Gaines, 
 
 Esq., a letter saying, in the last sentence but one: "This, my old 
 
 friend, is entirely for your own satisfaction, and not for any printer." 
 
 In the first paragraph of that letter are the words ; 
 
 " Your kind note reached me a day or two since. It was very 
 pleasant to hear from you ; for the days when a few of us were 
 united in a seemingly insignificant minority, by a common devo- 
 tion to what we sincerely believed to be a good and noble cause, are 
 very fresh in my remembrance. I have made no friends since for 
 whom I cherish a warmer attachment than for those of that time." 
 
 Plow natural that language ! It appears to me sincere. But then 
 follows a paragraph in which I think I see some self-delusion. It 
 runs thus :
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 691 
 
 " I was a Democrat, then, too Democratic for the Democratic 
 party of those days ; for I admitted no exception on account of race 
 or color or condition, to the impartial application of Democratic 
 principles to all measures and to all men. Such a Democrat I am 
 to-day."' 
 
 The birthday letter, most of which will be found in Chapter LII 
 of this volume, contemplated a method different from that which, 
 some time after the death of our hero, seemed to me advisable. Had 
 I observed that originally contemplated method, I would have pre- 
 sented a pretty full account of parties which I have quite carefully 
 made up. I have not space for that account in any portion of the pres- 
 ent work. But I may say that I always thought that Chase had never 
 olear conceptions of the measure in which he could be regarded as, in 
 any sense, " too Democratic for the Democratic party." He was never 
 of that party, heart and brain, if I was not, at all times, much in 
 error as to him as well as in regard to the party known as Demo- 
 cratic. But of this more must be said hereafter. In that letter of 
 May 5th to Mr. Gaines, our hero also said : 
 
 " But I am not a candidate nor an aspirant for any political office, 
 nor do I see any reason for thinking that the people will ever again 
 require my services in any political capacity. 
 
 " As a citizen, however, I shall always be ready to aid, so for as 
 1 properly may, ' with malice toward none, and charity toward all,' 
 in the complete restoration of the States lately in rebellion, to full 
 participation in all the benefits of the Union on the basis of equal 
 rights secured by equal suffrage. I fervently desire the renewed 
 prosperity of those States and of all their citizens. Restoration on 
 this basis is just now the most important object of political efforts; 
 but there are others which seem to me hardly less important. I 
 refer particularly to making the currency good enough to pay all 
 debts whether to bondholders or to working-men, and to resistance 
 to the attempts which have lately became so alarming; to subju- 
 gate the executive and judicial departments of the government to 
 the unlimited control of the legislative, and to subvert the regular 
 order of the administration of criminal justice, by .substituting, at 
 the discretion of Congress, military commissions for trial by jury in 
 time of peace. 
 
 " With these views, you will readily imagine that I am quite 
 content to be regarded as an outsider by both the great political 
 parties which now divide the country, and to preserve my indepen- 
 dence in a non-political station." 
 
 On the next day, the Chief Justice wrote to Col. John D. Van 
 Buren : 
 
 " You are at liberty to say to the governor what I said to you. 
 " There seems to be a persistent effort to create the erroneous im- 
 pression which I hoped was effectually suppressed by your article. 
 45
 
 692 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " The more I reflect on the subject, the more decided is my convic- 
 tion that the Chief Justice, presiding in the trial of the President, 
 has no other or different powers or responsibilities than the Vice- 
 President would have, presiding in a trial of the Chief Justice. 
 There is nothing in the Constitution which, in my judgment, war- 
 rants a different conclusion ; and I would no more assume an uncon- 
 stitutional function. 
 
 " Even if the Chief Justice were, strictly speaking, a member of 
 the court, he would have no right to charge the other members of 
 the court; he could only express his opinion in common with them." 
 
 Is that so certain ? I find reason to doubt whether the Chief Jus- 
 tice whose opinion we are ascertaining, ever read Forsyth's History 
 of Trial by Jury. In that work he could have found, what other 
 works also show, respecting the process of mere usurpation through 
 which gradually the foremost of the sworn — the presiding trier — 
 came to be a charging Judge ; and how long it was before the now 
 settled doctrine, touching the duty of the jurors to receive and to re- 
 gard instructions given by the Judge, became completely settled. 
 But the Chief Justice thus goes forward in that letter of May 6th: 
 
 "But he is not, in any strict sense, a member. He is presiding 
 officer ; being Chief Justice, it is proper that he should rule, prelim- 
 inarily, questions of evidence, and if called upon, express his opinion 
 on tiny other questions, in analogy to the practice in England when 
 the Judges attend the House of Lords on trials of impeachment, and 
 answer such questions as the House of Lords sees fit to put. But I 
 see in the Constitution no authority beyond this. 
 
 " I have endeavored, looking only to the Constitution and the law, 
 to do exactly right, thus far, seeking nothing — disregarding every 
 thing — except the satisfaction of my own conscientious judgment. 
 So, God helping me, I shall continue to the end." ! 
 
 On the 12th, he wrote to his old friend and former partner, Mr. 
 Ball : 
 
 1 On the same day, he wrote to Hon. Emory Washburn : 
 
 " My Dear Sir : If I have been somewhat remiss in thanking you for your kind 
 note of the '27th of April, it is not because I do not gratefully appreciate it. It. is, 
 indeed, a great satisfaction to have your assurance that my course, as presiding 
 officer of the Senate during the trial of the President, has met the approval of those 
 whose judgment may be taken as representing the candid judgment of the country. 
 
 " My own conscience testifies to me that. I have desired nothing except to be right, 
 and to have the Senate right on the important, questions which necessarily arose in 
 the organization and proceedings of that body as a Court of Impeachment. To have 
 this testimony reinforced by the approbation of gentlemen whose judicial experi- 
 ence and professional ability give the greatest weight to their opinions, is a real 
 support and consolation, amid censures, most of which, I am sure, spring from party 
 heat or unreflecting bias."
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 693 
 
 "The vote on impeachment is ordered for to-day, but it is quite 
 probable it will not be taken, as Senator Howard is said to be quite 
 ill. But you will know before you receive this. I am entirely 
 uncertain as to the result; and, indeed, do not wish to be bettor 
 informed in advance of the actual vote. I have tried faithfully to do 
 my whole duty, with absolute impartiality, and my conscience does 
 not reproach me." 
 
 In the course of a letter of May 13th, to Col. J. R. G. Pitkin, 
 of New Orleans, the Chief Justice said : 
 
 " It was not my purpose, in any thing I said, to express any pre- 
 ference between Messrs. Taliaferro and War mouth. When I was 
 engaged in political contests, my rule was to accept the nomination 
 of my party, and I made no exceptions unless on what seemed to me 
 clearly obligatoiy reason. I have not undertaken to decide whether 
 any such obligator}' reason existed in Louisiana for the refusal of 
 yourself and your friends to support Judge Warmouth ; but I am sure 
 you must have thought so, or you would [not] have supported even 
 so good a man as Mr. Taliaferro in opposition. 
 
 " I feel honored b} T the esteem and confidence expressed in me by 
 yourself and many other honored citizens of Louisiana. But it was 
 without regret that I observed the preference of the Republican party 
 gradually concentrating upon Gen. Grant; and new issues, new 
 measures, and new leadership have made it unfit that I, who cared 
 most of all for the restoration of the Southern States on the basis of 
 equal rights secured for all by universal suffrage and universal am- 
 nesty, should be, even if I would be, selected as its representative 
 in a political canvass. I, therefore, very willingly dismissed, long 
 since, the subject of the Presidency from my thoughts; and am now, 
 more than ever, satisfied with the dismissal." 
 
 Is not that a singular expression ? Never was a heart more self- 
 deceived than was the heart of our hero when he wrote that letter 
 and some others of like import. He continued : 
 
 " You will, of course, infer, that, while much obliged by your kind 
 reference to future possibilities, I am wholly indisposed to the con- 
 sideration of them. I neither expect nor wish for any contingency 
 in which my name will be again connected with political contests, 
 or in which I should be called upon to take any other part than that 
 of a voter." 
 
 In a letter to Hiram Barney, Esq., dated May 13th, the Chief 
 Justice said : 
 
 "Thanks for your promised kindness. I hope that the bust will 
 come safely; if not, Nettie will be grievously disappointed. 
 
 "We have surely fallen upon evil times. Think of legislatures, 
 political conventions, even religious bodies, undertaking to instruct 
 Senators how to vote, guilty or not guilty ! What would be thought
 
 G94 THE TKIVATE LIFE and public services 
 
 of such attempts to drive the decisions of any other courts? All the 
 appliances to force a measure through Congress are in use here to 
 force a conviction through the Court of Impeachment. 
 
 "To me personally the result is not a matter of the smallest con- 
 sequence ; but to every lover of the country and of the Constitution, 
 it is of the utmost consequence that the Senate should be left free to 
 decide according to the oath each member has taken 'to do impar- 
 tial justice according to the Constitution and the laws.' " 
 
 On the 16th he wrote to G. W. Jonson, Esq. : 
 
 " Dear Sir : I return your letter as requested, but have taken no 
 copy. 
 
 "It gives me much pain that one of those old anti-slavery men 
 with whom I labored in the early daj's of the great movement for 
 freedom and justice, and for whom I cherish and shall ever cherish a 
 warm and sincere affection, so totally misconceives and misrepre- 
 sents me. I do not care to defend myself. My conscience does not 
 reproach me with any lack of fidelity in my service to our cause and 
 our country. With this I must be content, and leave events to the 
 Great Disposer." 
 
 On the same clay, he wrote to Mr. Clark Williams, of Cincinnati : 
 
 "My Dear Sir : I was glad to see your hand-writing once more. 
 I do not quite agree with you. To me the most important thing 
 seems to me ' not that Mr. Johnson should be acquitted or con- 
 victed, but that his judges, the Senators of the United States, should 
 render an honest and impartial judgment, according to [the] Consti- 
 tution and the laws, upon the facts proved before them. In what I 
 have done as presiding officer. I have endeavored to be, and I believe 
 I have been, perfectly unbiased. 
 
 "I had written thus far when the time came for me to go to the 
 Capitol, wdience I have just returned. You have already learned the 
 result of the vote on the 10th Article, on which the Senate required 
 the question to be put fii'st ; thirty-five declaring the President guilty 
 and nineteen declaring him not guilty; so that there not being two- 
 thirds voting guilty, he was declared acquitted. I was under the 
 impression that the result would be the other way, until the vote had 
 been taken. With one exception, I had never heard any Senator 
 who had not pronounced his opinion in committee, even intimate 
 what his vote would be on this article; and yet if you were to 
 believe what is published in the papers you would imagine that I 
 had contrived the whole thing. 
 
 "The truth is, that conviction, which should be a judicial, has 
 assumed very much the character of a party question ; and here, in 
 my judgment, is the chief danger to our country. 
 
 " What possible harm can result to the country from the continu- 
 ance of Andrew Johnson months longer in the presidential 
 
 chair, compared with that which must arise if impeachment becomes 
 
 1 So in the original.
 
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 695 
 
 a mere mode of getting rid of an obnoxious President? Whal would 
 be thought of a jury or a court which would convict or sentence a 
 man to the penitentiary because of 'general cassedness,' to use the 
 current phrase, without sufficient proof of specific charges of offei 
 or crimes? Suppose the proof sufficient, but the facts alleged nol to 
 constitute the crime charged, what court could Bentence? If any 
 body brought suit against you, would you be satisfied with the courl 
 or with the jury which should find and adjudge against you without 
 good warrant in law and in fact? 
 
 '•But I have written more than I intended. All I meant to saw 
 when I began, was. that I fear 3-0 u do not allow sufficientl}- for honest 
 differences of judgment; and that your old friend is still just what 
 you always took him to be, and that nobod}* shall fail of having a 
 fair and impartial trial in any tribunal where he presides, if your 
 friend has the power of securing it to him." 
 
 In a letter to Hon. John H. Gilmer, May 17th, he said: 
 
 "If I know my own heart, I desire much more to merit than to 
 receive the approval of my fellow-citizens. All indeed, that is possi- 
 ble for man is, to act steadily in that manner which he honestly 
 believes ought to have that approval ; for all experience teaches that 
 no one can so act as to secure it from all. Xo man can do more than 
 satisfy his own convictions of right and duty; and my conscience 
 testifies to my earnest endeavors, in all my public life, to do this. I 
 make no boast of an iron will; but trust that I have ' firmness to do 
 the right as God gives me to see the right,' ' with malice toward none, 
 but with good-will toward all.' " 
 
 Again our hero's meditations called up Lincoln. 
 
 More and more, the true philosophy of life begins to be acknowl- 
 edged by the life we study. It is yet to be subjected to temptation, 
 that so often tempted life, and it is yet to exhibit weakness in the 
 presence of temptation ; but, from this time on, it will be found 
 from time to time ascending, still ascending, high above the plane 
 where low ambition finds Its most aspiring level.
 
 696 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII. 
 
 ABOUT IMPEACHMENT AND ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY. 
 
 TO Horace Greeley the Chief Justice wrote as follows, on the 
 19th day of May, 1868 : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I am very sorry to see, in The Tribune of yes- 
 terday, a statement that 'he (the Chief Justice) decided the vote of 
 Mr. Van Winkle. He did his utmost, happily in vain, to carry off 
 Messrs. Anthony and Sprague. "We douht that Mr. Henderson would 
 have voted as he did but for the Chief Justice's exertions.' 
 
 "I appeal from Horace Greeley thus informed to Horace Greeley 
 better informed. More lies seem to be afloat about me than I thought 
 invention capable of. 1 have not interchanged a word with Mr. 
 Van Winkle, on the subject of impeachment, that I remember, and 
 my acquaintance with him is very slight. I have not exerted myself 
 to influence anybody, one way or the other. Until yesterday, when 
 I happened to fall in with him on the street, all my conversation 
 with Anthony would not occupy ten minutes. Sprague was not in- 
 fluenced by me, nor did I seek to influence him. Henderson took 
 his dinner — he is a near neighbor — twice with Sprague and myself, 
 during the trial; hut I am sure that I gave him no advice, nor 
 sought, in any way, to control him, and could not, if 1 had. The 
 stories about dinner are mere bosh, and so are the stories about 
 rides, except that there is a grain of fact sunk in gallons of false- 
 hood. On particular points, in occasional talks with senators, I have 
 expressed my opinion, just as I should in talk with you; but, cer- 
 tain ly, have not sought to make converts to my views, and, just as 
 certainly, I had no idea, when I put the question on the Xlth Article, 
 what the result would be. 1 thought it doubtful, and very doubtful, 
 with the probability in favor of conviction. I had no information 
 whatever how any senator would vote; I mean of those who had 
 not read opinions, or declared them, in the Senate; except, of course, 
 that I did not doubt how Sumner, Drake, and those of that sort, 
 would vote. 
 
 " 1 care very little for clamor. But I have felt greatly enriched 
 by your friendship and good opinion, and know 1 have done nothing 
 which should entail the loss of either. I have kept my oath on the 
 trial, and have done nothing from partiality or hostility. 
 
 "Your article of May 9, 'Counsel in Extremity,' was just and kind, 
 only overrating me. 1 have not made a step from my platform and 
 your platform of universal suffrage and universal amnesty. I am 
 looking for nothing in the political way. I believe myself to be, as
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 697 
 
 you say, 'a thorough democrat, according to the true definition of 
 that much-abused term;' and nothing would more rejoice my heart 
 than to see the Democratic party conforming its policy to demo- 
 cratic ideas and principles. I do not expect it to do bo this year; 
 but it may. for this is a day of revolution. Whether it does or not, 
 I ask nothing from it or any other party. 
 
 ••Perhaps there is little use in writing this note. In the tempos! 
 there is little chance of hearing. And when this note reaches you, 
 the shouts from Chicago will be filling your ears. 
 
 '•So let me end by assuring you that J am in no whit changed in 
 my devotion to the ideas and principles which you have approved, 
 and that I can never change in my gratitude for your friendship — 
 not past, I hope — and for the support with which you have aided 
 me in my endeavors to serve the country. 
 "Most truly, yours." 
 
 To Hon. H. S. Bundy the Chief Justice, on the 21st of May, 
 somehow obtained his own consent to write as follows: 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I inclose a couple of paragraphs, copied from 
 the "Washington Chronicle, which will surprise you, I think." 
 
 That was a doubtful proposition. Bundy politicians are not easily 
 surprised. But the Chief Justice went on as follows: 
 
 "That so gross a fabrication should get into print can only be ac- 
 counted for by the strange excitement which seems to possess men's 
 minds. 
 
 "Did I invite you to call on me? If I met you anywhere previ- 
 ously, I doubtless did; but 1 don't recollect it. I certainly never 
 said that I had 'important matters to talk about.' 
 
 "In the rest of the article, there is nothing but falsehood; except 
 that I may have predicted the downfall of radicalism as represented 
 by the advocates of impeachment. If I did, I must have predicted 
 it. not as a consequence of impeachment itself — though \ was al- 
 ways opposed to it as a political measure — but as a consequence of 
 the denunciatory and proscriptive course pursued toward the sena- 
 tors who had declared for acquittal. I still think that if that course 
 does not defeat the Republican part}-, it will be because of the devo- 
 tion of many who feel greatly aggrieved and wronged by it. to the 
 principle of restoration on the basis of equal rights, and the rejection 
 of that principle by the opponents of that party. 
 
 '•The conversation between us must have taken place on Wednes- 
 day or Thursday evening, May 13th or 1 -1th. It was telegraphed to 
 the Chicago Republican on Friday, and published in that paper on 
 Saturday morning, on the da}' when the Senate voted. I really 
 remember nothing of the conversation; except that we talked some 
 about impeachment, but more, I believe, about your iron business 
 and family affairs. I only know the falsity of the statement because 
 I know that the intentions and ideas ascribed to me never entered 
 into my mind. It is simply impossible that I should have predicted 
 the failure of the impeachment, for I did not know whether it would
 
 608 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fail or not. I knew absolutely nothing of the votes of any senators 
 claimed to be in favor of acquittal, except what Senators Trumbull, 
 l\ ssenden, Grimes, and Henderson had publicly declared. If pos- 
 sible, it is even more impossible that I could have said what I am 
 reported as having said about candidacy, success, the pledges of 
 Fessenden and others, and all that. This is not counterfeiting; for 
 there never was tiny original to be counterfeited. It is mere false 
 (•(linage. And I think you owe it to j'our own honor, and to me, 
 10 stamp the whole invention with the infamy it deserves. 
 
 "It can not hurt me except by robbing me of the txood opinion of 
 some good men; for I am not a contriver of new political organiza- 
 tions, nor am I an aspirant or expectant of any political office or 
 position. If new political organizations arise, they will grow — they 
 won't be manufactured — they will grow out of the real or imagined 
 exigencies of the times. What may be, in m} T judgement, my duty 
 as a citizen in respect to political parties hereafter. I do not know. 
 It will be determined, as heretofore, by the principles they represent 
 and the measures they pi"opose. Of one thing, however, you ma}* 
 rest assured, that among men faithful to the ideas of impartial justice 
 and equal rights which ought to constitute the basis of political or- 
 ganization, no one will be more faithful than 
 
 " Your friend, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 I have not space, and it is unnecessary, to set fortli other letters 
 addressed to Mr. Bundy by the Chief Justice. Mr. Bundy may 
 have erred in understanding. Error of that kind, I think, was far 
 from difficult to him; and I trust it was easier than intentional mis- 
 representation. But hallucinations and illusions of the auditory 
 organs very often happen to such partisans as Mr. Bandy of the 
 •• iron business." 1 
 
 On the 22d of May, the Chief Justice wrote to Mr. Murat 
 Halstead : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Halstead: Your note is just received. I have 
 no concern with third parties, or with first or second parties. To 
 make and unmake parties is the work of the people. Politicians 
 can't do it, and their attempts to do it are always failures. 
 
 "The Bund)- story is pure invention, except that I dare say I rmay 
 
 have said that proscription of Eepublican senators would be 'likely' 
 
 or 'sure' to result in the organization of a new party. If I said 
 
 sure' I was too fast. If I said 'likely,' I only stated what then 
 
 seemed highly probable. I did not refer to a third party, however, 
 
 1 To Mr. Van Winkle, on the same day of May, our hero wrote as follows: 
 "My Dear Sir: If I ever exchanged a word with you on the subject of the 
 impeachment, I do not remember it. Certainly, my respect for you, to say nothing 
 of proper respect for myself, is too great to allow any attempt on my part to in- 
 fluence your vote. It is impossible, therefore, that you could have made any such 
 statement to Mr. Willey as is asserted in the slip which I inclose."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND < BASS. 690 
 
 but to a coming together, upon the common ground of opposition to 
 the tyranny of the dominant majority in the Some of Representa- 
 tives, of all not interested in its Bupport. All thai I am reported to 
 have said about myself and the Democratic party is mere bosh. I 
 do wish that the Democratic party would consent to be democratic; 
 but I neither seek nor want any nomination. I have neither the 
 ambition nor the vanity which some unambitious and very modest 
 gentlemen are pleased continually to ascribe to me. It amazes un- 
 to see how a simple endeavor to be absolutely impartial in con- 
 ducting a great trial is magnified into Lofty virtue on one side, and 
 stigmatized as political recreancy on the other. 1 suppose there is 
 no man in the country who had less personal interest in the result 
 than myself. And my interest as a citizen was balanced between 
 hopes of good in the event of conviction, through the assure. I buo 
 of reconstruction on the basis of equal rights for all, and the fear of 
 evil, present and to come, from the strain to which, in the Same event, 
 all our institutions would be Bubjected in consequence of the transfer, 
 under the dictation of the House of Representatives, of the execu- 
 tive power from the President elected by the people to the President 
 pro tempore of the Senate. 
 
 "You have seen Henderson's testimony about the dinner to which 
 such consequence was given by reliable correspondents. Nobody at 
 dinner but himself and that accidental! — no talk of a third party, 
 and no attempt, direct or indirect, to bring any influence to bear on 
 the votes of senators! This is a fair specimen. 
 "Faithfully, yours." 1 
 
 May 22, the Chief Justice wrote to James Gordon Bennett, Esq., 
 a long letter, containing these paragraphs : 
 
 c; My Dear Sir : I can not any longer forbear saying to you how 
 much I feel myself indebted for the kind things which the Herald 
 has lately said of me. 
 
 "It is a particular gratification, since this gives me an opportunity 
 of saying to you, directly, how much I valued your son's patriotic 
 services and the generous tender of his yacht to the Treasury De- 
 partment at the beginning of the war. I wanted to do this when 
 he retired from the service; but, about that time, something. 1 know 
 
 'On the 25th of May, the Chief Justice wrote to Senator Anthony: 
 
 " Dear Mr. Senator : Mr. Greeley writes me as follows: ' Hon. Thomas A. Jenckes 
 is my authority for the statement that you tried hard to set Mr. Anthony against 
 impeachment. Mr. J. personally controverted arguments which Mr. Anthony 6aid 
 he had heard you advance.' 
 
 "If I tried hard to set you against impeachment, I don't know it; and if you 
 heard me -advance' any 'arguments' against it, or say any thing about impeach- 
 ment beyond simply expressing the opinion that the first, second and third articles 
 must, go together, and were too weak to warrant a verdict of guilty, I don't know it. 
 
 "But I see no reason why I might not have argued the case with you, being ('hief 
 Justice and presiding in the Courl of Impeachment, with much more propriety than 
 a gentleman who is one of the accusers and committed in advance to conviction."
 
 700 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 not what, drew down upon me the wrath of the Herald, and I did 
 not wish to do or say any thing which might be construed into an 
 effort to stay or mitigate its censures. My Scotch blood rebels against 
 asking or seeming to ask quarter. 
 
 "Before that time, the Herald had given me important support in 
 my efforts to get money for the war, and I had more than once 
 sought an opportunity of expressing m} r appreciation of it, but never 
 found you in your rooms when I called for that purpose. 
 
 " Let this suffice for the past. I only want it understood. And 
 now, after thanks for present kind words, let me say that a remark 
 in your columns, a few days ago, to the effect that I have undertaken 
 to engineer the movement for my nomination to the Presidency, 
 does me injustice. I have done no such thing, and shall do no such 
 thing. 
 
 "What was said in the Herald, some time before, that I had ceased 
 to be a candidate, was the exact truth. There was a time when I 
 thought I might be nominated, and I don't deny that a nomination 
 would have gratified me ; but, I assure }*ou, I never desired it so 
 much as to make me at all discontented when the probability of it 
 disappeared." 
 
 After several sentences of the succeeding paragraph, came the 
 words : 
 
 " So I have preferred to be entirely quiescent in respect to the 
 recent discussions in which my name has been brought forward. If 
 they result in anything more than mere discussion, it will be be} T ond 
 my expectations and without any procurement of mine. But I am 
 none the less grateful for every generous word you have uttered, 
 and I trust you will never have occasion to regret it." 
 
 June 1, the same entirely too prolific pen produced a letter to 
 Mr. Murat Halstead, beginning in this fashion : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Halstead : I am glad you did not print my note 
 to you. It would certainly have been taken as conclusive proof of 
 this conspiracy between us. 
 
 "The apparent strength and extent of the movement for my 
 nomination at Xew York surprises me. You would be surprised, 
 too, if I could tell you what letters I receive, and from whom and from 
 what distant parte of the country. I do not know that any thing 
 will come of it. I think that it is pretty well understood now, that 
 I want no nomination ; and that while I should not feel at liberty 
 to decline one which really represented the wishes of the masses, 
 whether Republican, Conservative, or Democratic, opposed to the 
 present leadership and new measures and tests of the dominant 
 party, I can not, under any contingency, abandon the principles of 
 equal rights and exact justice for all, which I have hereto foi*e main- 
 tained. This being understood, I am content to let the movement 
 take its course, and shall be satisfied whatever the issue. 
 
 "A singular error crept into the Commercial, a few days ago. Mr. 
 Fessenden had remarked, in the Senate, that he had been in favor of
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 701 
 
 the nomination of General Grant ; and this remark got transformed, 
 in the Commercial, into a statement by Mr. Fessenden thai the Okie) 
 
 Justice had declared his intention to vote for General Grant. M r. I 
 senden did not make that statement; and I certainly did nol make 
 
 that declaration. As Mr, Webster Once said, 1 will think of that; 
 yes, sir, I will think of that.' 
 
 "I had the pleasure of administering the iron-clad oath, this 
 morning to General Schotield, as Secretary of War." 
 
 On the 19th of June, the Chief Justice wrote as follows, to 
 William Cullen Bryant : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: It was at Richmond, where I Avas holding the 
 Circuit Court, that your kind letter of the 13th reached me. It gave 
 me great satisfaction in one respect; for it proved that recent events 
 have not impaired the esteem with which you have long honored 
 me, and which I have ever felt to be a true and great honor. To 
 have lost that would, indeed, have been a great calamity. 
 
 " The movement for my nomination has taken me entirely by 
 surprise, and I can not, even now, persuade myself of the reality 
 of it; or, rather, I can not imagine that it will develop into such 
 strength as will produce any important result in the action of the 
 Convention of the 4th. It is pretty obvious that a large number of 
 the Northern Democrats are wearied of the formulas under which, for 
 the last ten years, they have been led to defeat; and that very 
 many of the Southern men long for peace and restoration on almost 
 any terms which will insure to them amnesty and complete re- 
 moval of disabilities, and which are not in themselves dishonorable. 
 All these would gladly accept me as a candidate, believing that, 
 through the election of a citizen holding my ideas of restoration, on 
 the basis of universal suffrage and universal amnesty, peace and 
 prosper^ would be most certainly restored to the country, and the 
 party so established upon true Democratic principles, as to afford 
 just hope of a continued ascendency, unless forfeited by corruption 
 and maladministration hereafter. 
 
 "But to these progressives in the Democratic party a large body 
 of the Democrats are very hostile; and these anti-progressives will, 
 most probably, control the Convention ; and another period of four 
 years' minority will probably be necessary to bring the progressives 
 into the ascendency. 
 
 "So you perceive that it is not likely to be at all in my power 
 to exercise any material influence upon the platform to be adopted 
 next month. *!Nobody now, I am glad to find, expects me to desert 
 the original application of democratic ideas which 1 have ever la- 
 bored to make real in the Government. This application might be 
 sufficiently assured by the incorporation into the platform of one of 
 two forms of expression. — either restoration on the basis of universal 
 suffrage and universal amnesty, without any declaration, one way or 
 the other, about suffrage in tin" States; or, recognition of the fact that 
 universal suffrage is a democratic principle, the application of which 
 is to be left in the States, under the Constitution, to the State- them- 
 selves, without saying any thing more about restoration, except
 
 702 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to declare in favor of general amnesty and the removal of all dis- 
 abilities on account of insurrection. Upon a platform in either of 
 these forms of expression, I might, I suppose, honorably accept a nom- 
 ination; and I have no doubt that this practical settlement of the 
 question would be hailed with great satisfaction as the harbinger of 
 restored union, and peace, and prosperity. It is hardly extravagant 
 to say that such action as this would be speedily followed by a large 
 advance in the value of property throughout the South. On all 
 other questions there is no substantial difference between me and 
 other Democrats who do not propose repudiation. 
 
 "I do not expect any result personal to myself from the action of 
 the Fourth of July Convention. If any comes, it will surprise me 
 not less than the movement which has already taken place. The 
 movement itself, however, will not be without result. It has shown 
 a liberalit} r and progressiveness of sentiment among Democrats 
 which can not fail to have an auspicious influence upon the future; 
 and it has given to the country a better knowledge than it has hith- 
 erto had of my true character and sentiment, and will enable [me] 
 hereafter to speak to the Southern educated classes on the great 
 questions which especially concern their status with freedom, and 
 with a respectful and, very often, a kindly hearing. It may enable 
 [me] in this way to do as much real good as I could do in a higher 
 position. With this I ought to be, and I shall be, content. 
 
 " It would be interesting to you, I think, if I would relate to you 
 the conversations I had in Richmond. They indicated a great ad- 
 vance in the right direction, and gave me great hopes of the future. 
 "Yery faithfully, your^friend, S.P.CHASE." 
 
 This is, if I do not greatly err in judgment, one of the most 
 indicative documents presented in these pages. Yet, on the whole, 
 it is hardly equal to the much shorter letter written to the author 
 of this work by the hero of it, on the 3d of November following, as 
 we shall see hereafter. 
 
 And now I must reluctantly ask leave to go back a little, in 
 order to refer to a letter carefully preserved by Chief Justice Chase, 
 and, some months after its reception, most characteristically an- 
 swered by him, as we shall see, but for some time apparently 
 considered as not worthy of an answer. 
 
 Before the 1st of May, 1868, I had had many conversations in 
 Ohio, but especially at Cincinnati, tending to convince me that 
 many voters of Ohio, and especially some German-Americans, de- 
 sired to take measures to contribute toward making the Chief Jus- 
 tice a people's candidate for the Presidency. On that day I wrote 
 a letter to him on that subject. In that letter I used this language: 
 
 " The time (I think) has come when, without indelicacy, one who 
 loves his country, and would prove his love by honorable service, may 
 address you on the subject of the Presidency. ... 1 implore
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 you to do all you honorably may to place your name before the p 
 pleas a candidate for the highest office in the land. False modesty 
 
 would be a crime at such a moment. . . . North and South 
 alike have reason to demand that sin-h as you devote themselves to 
 the country. South, as well as North, would hail the prospect of your 
 election. You can be elected. What, we need is a popular m< ce- 
 ment, to the end of bringing you before the people as a 'people's 
 candidate.' I believe the Democrats would be driven to Bupport 
 you, if you were before the people in that manner. 1 believe thai 
 the great body of the voters, North and South, would hail your 
 nomination." 
 
 Here, of course, was nothing even looking toward nomination 
 by the Democratic party. Such a nomination always would have 
 seemed to me miraculous. There never was a time when I antici- 
 pated witnessing a wonder so complete. Yet perhaps it may sefim 
 that a popular movement such as that I looked upon as possible 
 would have been hardly less miraculous than the nomination by the 
 Democratic party of Chief Justice Chase in 1868. Who knows 
 what might have been done in the direction indicated by my letter '.' 
 Chase, however, answered not. Perhaps he thought the letter not 
 entitled to an answer; possibly it puzzled him. Apparently he 
 misconstrued it. That, as we shall see, is indicated by his answer, 
 which apparently assumes that I had expected him to be made the 
 Presidential candidate of the Democratic party. But, however that 
 may be, some time after the 26th day of June, 1868, I received, 
 quite unexpectedly, the following circular : 
 
 "Philadelphia, June 26, 1868. 
 "Dear Sir: You were appointed by the Chairman of the meet- 
 ing of the friends of Chief Justice Chase, held at the Continental 
 Hotel in this cit}~, on the 10th inst., one of a Committee of one 
 hundred to visit New York and present the name of the Hon. 
 Salmon P. Chase to the National Democratic Convention, as a 
 suitable person to be nominated by that body, as their candidate 
 for President of the United States. 
 
 "The Committee will assemble, on the 3d day of July. 1868, at 
 parlor No. 129, Metropolitan Hotel, in the city of New York, at 
 five o'clock P. M. Please be present. 
 
 " Very respectfully, yours, 
 " JOHN WELSn, WM. F. JOHNSON, 
 
 «WM. S. PRICE, THEO. H. MoFADDEN, 
 
 " JOHN W. STOKES, CHAS. D. FREK.M A N . 
 
 "DAVID W. SELLERS, Executive Committee:' 
 
 I need not insist that nothing in my letter to Chief Justice Chase 
 warranted any one in supposing that I was in favor of the move- 
 ment proposed by the document just set forth. That document was
 
 704 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 not, I believe, sent to me by the Chief Justice. For I found 
 among his papers, furnished for my biographic use, a copy of it, 
 marked in his handwriting: "Knew nothing of this before re- 
 ceiving it by mail." But the same copy has this addition in a 
 handwriting entirely strange to me : 
 
 " I inclose for your information the form of notice. We have as- 
 surances of a full attendance. 
 
 "Yours, truly, J. W. STOKES." 
 
 Was not that a foolish movement ? It appeared to me a foolish 
 movement then ; it seems to me now just as it appeared to me at 
 the time. 
 
 There never was an instant in 1868 when the Democratic party 
 could have been expected to accept Salmon Portland Chase as its 
 Presidential candidate. A madder movement never was inaugu- 
 rated than the movement indicated by the document just offered. 
 
 July 1, however, Chase thus wrote to Alexander Long : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: You were quite correct in saying that I am de- 
 cidedly of the opinion, that the military force should be with- 
 drawn from the Southern States without delay. It is best for the 
 whole country that those States, as well as all others, should gov- 
 ern themselves, without interference by the National Government; 
 and I have no fears of the result; only let disfranchisement cease, 
 and all disabilities be removed. 
 
 " I am greatly obliged to you for the various proofs of esteem 
 and friendship you have given me, and have no apprehension that 
 you will make any representation which I can not sustain. 
 
 '•Yours, truly, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Next, attention is invited to this letter: 
 
 "Washington, July 4, 1868. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I inclose a letter which may be addressed to 
 yourself or Colonel Van Buren, or any other gentleman 3-ou may 
 think best. I have also allowed Colonel MeElhenny to take some 
 notes of conversation with me, which may answer every purpose 
 without using the letter. He will hand both to you in strict confi- 
 dence. It is my special request that no use be made of either, un- 
 less some real exigency shall require it, and that none at all be 
 made of it in any event, without full consultation with Colonel Van 
 Buren, or without his advice and consent. 
 
 "You will see that I have not been able to comply precisely 
 with your suggestions; but I have felt bound by my obligations to 
 your friendship to come as near to doing so as I could. 
 
 •'But my self-respect is worth more to me than fifty Presidencies. 
 Without the nomination I shall sleep more soundly than with it. 
 To surrender my consciousness of doing right by binding myself,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 705 
 
 in advance, to, I know not what, is simply impossible for me. If 
 it were possible, it would prove mo unworthy of the trusl and 
 confidence of my countrymen. 
 
 "Doivt fail to cull on Colonel Van Buren immediately. He is 
 wise, and may be implicitly depended upon. His residence, 1 
 presume, you know, No. 11 West Ninth Street. 
 
 "Faithfully, yours, S. P. CHASE." 
 
 "Hon. Alex. Long. 
 
 What happened in Convention is of history. Moreover, I could 
 not set it forth without making intimations which, in the first 
 place, seem to me unnecessary, and which, in the second place, 
 might seem to make this book an instrument of party politics. 
 
 But I do not feel free to pass on without presenting a matter of 
 great delicacy — one of the most delicate matters which these pages 
 have to touch. 
 
 It was in the National Republican, of Washington City, that 
 I first encountered this extract from the correspondence of the 
 Courier-Journal, of Louisville: 
 
 " I saw yesterday a correspondent's description of Mrs. Kate Chase 
 Sprague's bouse at Narragansett, the fashionable sea-side resort in 
 Rhode Island. It contains eighty rooms, and is magnificently fur- 
 nished, and is, of course, filled with choice works of art. Mrs. Sprague 
 has all which ought to make life desirable — wealth, beauty, grace, 
 and accomplishments; yet I doubt not the Ma}' morning on which 
 her father was found unconscious in his room, with no hope of his 
 reeoveiy possible, has darkened her life forever, and though time may 
 alleviate her grief at the loss of the father of whom she was so proud, 
 and to whom she was so devoted, yet nothing can ever cure the pain 
 from the mortal wound her ambition has received. Mrs. Sprague is 
 thoroughly ambitious. It has not been because of mere personal 
 vanity that she has perfected herself as a woman of the world and a 
 queen of society. It was not the desire to fascinate and delight, 
 merely for the sake of the homage it brought her, that induced her 
 to study every graceful pose, and school herself in courtly language 
 and brilliant repartee. She for years prepared herself, using all the 
 advantages wealth gave her to cultivate her really remarkable talents, 
 for a social ruler, in the fond expectation of being one day the presiding 
 lady at the White House. Mr. Chase was credited with an over- 
 weening desire to be the Chief Magistrate; yet I believe thai this was 
 less due to his own ambition than to his elder daughter's. A gentle- 
 man who acted as one of Mr. Chase's chief agents during the campaign, 
 prior to the nomination of Seymour, in 1868, has told me how, 
 throughout, Mrs. Sprague was taken into consultation, how high were 
 her hopes, and how constantly her father spoke of her in connection 
 with his success or failure. When he thought success certain, as he 
 did until the very da}' Seymour received the nomination, lie rejoiced 
 most of all for the joy it would give Mrs. Sprague: and when the
 
 706 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 certainty of failure was made known to him, his first words were, 
 'Dots Mrs. Sprague know?' When told she did, 'And how does she 
 bear it? 1 he inquired. He seemed more relieved to find that the bad 
 news did not overwhelm her. When Mrs. Sprague was told, she 
 manifested wonderful self-control, but evidently the blow was severe. 
 She said little, but that little, albeit it was calmly spoken, showed 
 the violence of the shock she had received." 
 
 Affected not a little, I believe, by a conspiracy, of which, up to 
 this time, I know not all that I could wish to know, but of which 
 I have reason to expect to learn much more — a conspiracy to pre- 
 vent the full and free performance of the trust involved in my 
 reception of the biographic matter furnished for the use of this 
 work — the distinguished lady more than mentioned in that extract 
 lias borne herself toward that trust, toward this work, and toward 
 its author in a very hostile fashion. Yet there never was an instant 
 when I wished to use this work in an unfriendly fashion toward 
 her or hers. 
 
 On the other hand, how could we here avoid examination of such 
 statements as those contained in that extract from the correspondence 
 of the Courier- Journal? 
 
 I have heard quite curious accounts of Mrs. Sprague's relation to 
 her father's Presidential candidature in 1868. My information on 
 that subject is by no means meagre. Yet I do not feel required to 
 offer a minute account of what, it is related, our hero's eldest 
 daughter did and said, in order, as she thought, to forward his 
 Presidential prospects. 
 
 I felt bound to give that anecdote, related by Mr. Sumner, to 
 which attention has been drawn in Chapter XLIIL And I feel 
 bound to say that the information I have had about her seems to tend 
 to show quite clearly that she was, indeed, in 1868, " thoroughly 
 ambitious," and that she very powerfully influenced her father's 
 Presidential views and aspirations. But I do not censure her on 
 that account. I leave the subject, not reluctantly, but gladly. It is 
 not to me a pleasant theme ; but this is chiefly on account of the 
 opposition made by Mrs. Sprague to this endeavor to do justice to 
 the memory of her famous father. 
 
 This telegram next asks attention : 
 
 " Washington, July 7, P. M. 
 
 ' To J. P. Ttjcker,v94 Fifth Avenue, Xew York : 
 
 "Am not prepared to say till I have seen^ the whole. Shall be 
 gratified personally if friends will agree not to have my name pre- 
 sented to the Convention. S. P. C."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 707 
 
 Below is the memorandum : 
 
 " [The foregoing telegram was in answer to one from .!. P. T. giving 
 a portion of the financial plank in the Democratic platform, and 
 asking if it was acceptable.] " 
 
 And here is an important letter: 
 
 "Washington, July 8, 18G8. 
 "My Dear Sir: Have seen only the telegraphic abstract of the 
 platform. It is, in the main, very good. 1 take it for granted, how- 
 ever, that it contemplates no action by the General Government for 
 the overthrow of governments in any States from which senators and 
 representatives are admitted to scats in Congress, and i must not be 
 understood as expressing an}- opinion on questions of Constitutional 
 law, which ma}- come before the courts. I must add that I shall be 
 more gratified if the choice of the Convention falls upon either of the 
 distinguished names before it, than if it falls upon my own. 
 
 "Yours, very truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Col. Jno. D. Van Buren, 
 
 "No. 11 West 9th Street." 
 
 After much reflection, I have felt obliged to use this memo- 
 randum, furnished me by the Chief Justice: 
 
 "Mr. Vallandigham called to-day (July 14, 1868), and conversed 
 with great frankness. He said that he had determined to give Mr. 
 Chase his support, in case a favorable opportunity should offer, in 
 the New York Convention. He and other members of the Ohio 
 delegation were fixed in their purpose that Mr. Hendricks should 
 not be nominated. When it appeared that the vote of Hendricks 
 had reached almost a majority, he went to see Mr. Tilden, Chairman 
 of the New York delegation, and assured him, as he had previously 
 done just before the vote was taken, that if the vote of the New 
 York delegation was changed to Mr. Chase, the Ohio delegation 
 would make no difficulty. He had no doubt himself that a consid- 
 erable number of the delegates from Ohio were ready to vote for 
 Mr. Chase, and that the whole vote would have been given rather 
 than see Hendricks nominated. Mr. Tilden replied that they could 
 not do otherwise than vote for Mr. Hendricks, so long as there was 
 no falling off from him. Mr. Vallandigham then determined that the 
 vote of Ohio must be cast for Seymour in order to prevent the nom- 
 ination of Hendricks. He asked .John A. Green, a New York dele- 
 gate, to get Mr. Seymour out of the Convention. But Mr. Green was 
 not willing to undertake it. Mr. Vallandigham himself went to Sey- 
 mour, and asked him to go out of the Convention with him. Mr. 
 Seymour then relinquished the chair to General Price, and went into 
 one of the rooms of the building, and endeavored to get Mr. Seymour 
 to withdraw from the Convention ; but Mr. Seymour declined, saying 
 it was a critical time, and that he could not go away. He then told 
 Mr. Seymour frankly what he desired; that the Ohio delegation had 
 determined he must accept the nomination. Mr. Seymour positively 
 46
 
 708 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 refused; whereupon Mr. Vallandighan said he must be nominated 
 despite his refusal, that he would make a speech calling upon the 
 Convention to do so. Mr. Seymour said, 'You certainly will not do 
 that; for I can not consent to it.' Mr. Vallandigham replied, 'I cer- 
 tainly shall;' and Governor Seymour said, 'I shall refuse in the Con- 
 vention ;' and thereupon the}' parted. Mr. Vallandigham then went 
 again to Mr. Tilden, and urged him to nominate Mr. Chase, or at 
 any rate hold off from voting for Mr. Hendricks. The appeal had 
 no effect. He then returned to the delegation, and Colonel McCook 
 made the nomination, and the result followed as detailed in the 
 proceedings. 
 
 " Mr. Vallandigham said he had taken his place in the Ohio dele- 
 gation as a friend of Mr. Pendleton, and had adhered to him in good 
 faith ; but had constantly stated, when asked, that Mr. Chase would 
 carry Ohio, if nominated, whatever other members of the Ohio dele- 
 gation might say to the contrary. He mentioned particularly his 
 statement, to this effect, to the North Carolina delegation. This was, 
 however, perhaps, after the nomination of Mr. Pendleton became 
 hopeless. Mr. Vallandigham said he had not the least doubt 
 that, if the New York delegation had refrained from voting for Mr. 
 Hendricks, Mr. Chase would have been nominated. He believed the 
 Convention was fully prepared for that result. 
 
 "After this relation, Mr. Vallandigham expressed a strong wish 
 that Mr. Chase would in some way, and with such protest against 
 particulars of the platform as he should feel bound to make, express 
 a general preference for the Democratic party and the election of 
 the Democratic nominees. Mr. Chase replied that there were por- 
 tions of the platform to which he could no more assent, without self- 
 contradiction, than Mr. Vallandigham could assent to a platform 
 expressly repudiating the doctrine of State rights. The most im- 
 portant declaration from which he dissented was, that the recon- 
 struction acts were utterly null and void, especially as interpreted by 
 the nomination of General Blair, and his letter declaring that all the 
 governments created under them must be null. Mr. Chase added, 
 that, under the circumstances, it was impossible for him to say any 
 thing in favor of either platform or candidates; and that it was his 
 intention to take no further part in politics, but to confine himself 
 absolutely and entirely to his judicial duties. He said he was a 
 democrat in principle, and expected to remain such, but must act 
 independently, as he has always done. He desired onl} T to be un- 
 derstood as having given no pledge, either to the platform as made 
 or the candidates as nominated. 
 
 " This is a brief abstract of a somewhat protracted conversation ; 
 but the substance of it is fairly stated." 
 
 Here is another report of interesting conversation: 
 
 " Dr. Pierce, a gentleman from Indiana (a brother-in-law of Senator 
 Hendricks), called upon Mr. Chase, in the last days of May, with a 
 note of introduction. After some conversation of an indifferent char- 
 acter, he mentioned that there was a very cordial feeling among the 
 Democrats of Indiana for Mr. Chase, and referred particularly to a
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 709 
 
 Democratic meeting, where, his name being mentioned, it was very 
 warmly applauded. There was, he said, a strong preference felt in 
 Indiana for Mr. Hendricks, though, by adroit management, the friends 
 
 of Mr. Pendleton had succeeded m getting instructions from the State 
 Convention in his favor. He observed that he was going on to N«\v 
 York, and would ascertain the state of feeling and opinion there, and 
 would let Mr. Chase know the result. 
 
 "Dr. Pierce to-day (July 14) called again, not having communi- 
 cated with Mr. Chase since the former conversation. He Bflid that he 
 went to New York, as he originally proposed, and saw Colonel Payne 
 and Mr. Tilden, with the last of whom he had some business of a 
 private character. Mr. Tilden said to him that the Democrats of New 
 York were ready to support Mr. Hendricks, and he had similar assur- 
 ances from other quarters. He then went to Utica, to sec Governor 
 Se}'iuour, and had a conversation with him at his own house. This 
 was earl}* in June. Governor Seymour seemed anxious to satisfy him 
 that he was misunderstood in the West, on financial questions, and 
 inquired of Dr. Pierce in relation to some prominent individuals. Dr. 
 Pierce explained to Governor Seymour the management by which the 
 friends of Mr. Pendleton had secured the vote of the Indiana delega- 
 tion, of which Mr. Sc3 - mour expressed strong disapproval. Dr. Pierce 
 was about coming away, intending to leave Utica by the train that 
 night. Governor Seymour urged him to stay in town, and said that if 
 he would, he would come in himself in the evening, and see him at the 
 hotel. Dr. Pierce assented, and Governor Seymour came into town ac- 
 cordinglj* from his house in the country, where the first conversation 
 had taken place. The conversation was renewed at the hotel. Gov- 
 ernor Seymour again said a good deal upon financial topics, and 
 assured Dr. Pierce that the New York delegation would willingly sup- 
 port Mr. Hendricks, and asked him particularly about Mr. Wash- 
 ington McLean, who had visited him a short time previously. Dr. 
 Pierce gave his opinion of that gentleman: an 'active, energetic, 
 able, and not very scrupulous politician ; devoted to Mr. Pendleton, 
 and faithful to his interests.' 1 Seymour remarked, ' I suppose Mr. 
 McLean can be depended upon for an}- statement or representa- 
 tion he makes.' To which Dr. Pierce replied that he had no doubt 
 of it. Governor Seymour seemed to be solicitous on this point. 
 
 '•Shortly afterward, Governor Seymour took his leave, and on 
 the next morning Dr. Pierce left Utica. 
 
 "He then visited Governor Church at his residence, and was as- 
 sured by him that the New York delegation would cheerfully sup- 
 port Mr. Hendricks. Dr. P. then went home to Indiana, calling 
 upon several gentlemen in Ohio on his way, all of whom he found 
 favorable to Mr. Hendricks. He remained at home until near the 
 time of the Convention, when he proceeded to New York. There' 
 he still understood from Mr. Church, Mr. Tilden, and Governor 
 Seymour, that the New York delegation were favorable to Mr. Hen- 
 dricks, and was surprised to learn of their resolution to vote for Mr. 
 
 1 Of course, this language is not chargeable to the composer of this work. 
 Comparing Mr. Washington McLean with politicians generally, I do not find myself 
 disposed to " call him out of his name."
 
 710 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Church. He thought little of it, however, inasmuch as after tho 
 first ballots the delegation voted for Mr. Hendricks. Just before 
 the twenty-first or twenty-second ballot, he went to Mr. Seymour 
 and told him that the Pennsylvania delegation would vote fur Mr. 
 Hendricks, upon which Governor Seymour told him that he must 
 see them at once and get them to act quickly. He called upon the 
 chairman and other members of the Pennsylvania delegation ac- 
 cordingly; but their action was delayed for some reason, and shortly 
 afterward, the movement in the Ohio delegation was made for the 
 nomination of Mr. Seymour, and was successful. Dr. Pierce ex- 
 pressed much dissatisfaction at the course of the New York delega- 
 tion, and said that it seemed very probable that McLean had an un- 
 derstanding with Seymour at the time he visited him in the latter 
 part of May or first of June. Dr. Pierce said that he had heard, on 
 the morning of Thursday, of the resolution of the New York dele- 
 gation to cast its vote for Mr. Chase, and was very much surprised 
 by it. He was assured by Mr. Tilden, Mr. Church, and perhaps one 
 or two others, that the delegation did not intend to vote for any 
 other than Mr. Hendricks, so long as there was a probability of his 
 nomination. Dr. Pierce was very confident that Mr. Hendricks 
 would have been nominated on the last ballot had not the Ohio 
 movement prevented it. Dr. Pierce concluded by saying that Mr. 
 Hendricks had always declined to come into the field in the char- 
 acter of a candidate, though not unwilling to accept the nomination 
 should circumstances favor it." 
 
 On the same clay, July 14, the Chief Justice wrote a letter to 
 Mr. Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, in the course 
 of which he said: 
 
 "There is just as much truth in many of the stories set afloat 
 about me in connection with the New York Convention, as in those 
 connected with the impeachment trial." 
 
 The next paragraph contains the words: 
 
 "My name was brought forward spontaneously, and, so far as I 
 know, unexpectedly, in various sections of the country, some two 
 months ago, as that of a Democrat in principle, not in mere party 
 connection, acceptable to great numbers outside of the Democratic 
 party, and likely, therefore, if proposed by the Democratic Conven- 
 tion, to unite nearly, if not absolutely, all who, for various rea- 
 sons, are opposed to, or dissatisfied with, the nomination made at 
 Chicago." 
 
 On the same day, also, he wrote as follows to Miss Susan 
 B. Anthony : 
 
 "Dear Miss Anthony: Your opinion of the people's readiness 
 for any political movement whatever, outside of the two great par- 
 ties now arrayed against each other, does not correspond with mine. 
 I think there is no such readiness. And I fear you and I would not
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 711 
 
 be nearly as well agreed on financial questions as we arc on the 
 question of universal suffrage. 
 
 "At all events, I have voted myself an exempt from future polit- 
 ical contentions. I mean to limit myself to the duties of a quietei 
 sphere of usefulness." 
 
 Here is another memorandum furnished me by the Chief Justice: 
 
 " October 12, 1868. 
 
 "This morning General Rosecrans called on me with Major \V T. 
 Southerlin, of Danville, Virginia. Major Southerlin was a dovoti d 
 adherent of the .Rebellion and of Jeff. Davis, during the civil war. 
 He is now a supporter of Seymour and Blair. 
 
 " The conversation began by an invitation from Major Southerlin 
 to attend the Agricultural Fair for Virginia and North Carolina, to 
 be held at Danville this week. It then turned on political subjects. 
 A great deal was said by each of the three, but I note only the suh- 
 stance of what was said by Major Southerlin. He expressed his 
 strong desire to know what would be the policy of General Grant in 
 relation to universal amnesty and removal of disabilities, in the 
 event of his election. He said that he himself, and many others who 
 thought as he did, were disposed to accept universal suffrage, and to 
 give to General Grant's administration a fair and honest support if 
 they could be assured of the full enfranchisement of themselves by 
 the removal of the disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amend- 
 ment. I observed that I could only state my conclusions, founded, 
 upon a general knowledge of General Grant's character. 1 had no 
 doubt that he would feel himself bound, and would in good faith 
 give full effect to the Republican ideas on the subject of universal 
 suffrage; but I did not believe he was animated by any vindic- 
 tive, or even unkind, sentiments toward those who had been engaged 
 in the Rebellion, and I had no doubt, therefore, that his influ- 
 ence in the event contemplated by Major Southerlin would be 
 wholly in favor of the removal of disabilities, and that his views 
 in this respect would be adopted by Congress. I then asked Major 
 Southerlin why he and others could not, in the event of the election 
 of Seymour, take ground in favor of universal suffrage, as the best 
 means of securing contented and effective labor, and of the restora- 
 tion, to lead in the affairs of the Southern States, of their educated 
 and most capable citizens. He answered that the election of Gen- 
 eral Grant would be taken as a sign that the reconstruction policy 
 of Congress was to be maintained in respect to suffrage, and thai 
 acquiescence of himself and others would be comparatively easy ; 
 whereas the election of Governor Seymour would be taken as proof 
 that the majority of the Northern people were opposed to negro 
 suffrage in the South, and that it would he impossible to prevent a 
 general effort to overthrow the whole Congressional reconstruction 
 policy. He said that he was himself opposed to negro suffrage, and 
 was only willing to acquiesce in it because, in case of General 
 Grant's election, it would be impossible to prevent it, and he was 
 disposed to make the best of circumstances instead of persisting in 
 a fruitless opposition. He said that the Democrats of the North
 
 712 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 had been constantly urging Southern men to reject every proposi- 
 tion for settlement, and had held out to them the hope that they 
 would certainly be relieved from radical oppression by Democratic 
 ascendency. He said : ' They tell us now that if they do n't suc- 
 ceed this year, to hold out till 1872, when they will certainly do so; 
 but,' he added, 'we are tired of waiting for unfulfilled promises.' 
 I observed, ' Why, then, were you desirous of my nomination at 
 New York; since I have myself been, as you know, decidedly in 
 favor of universal suffrage ?' He replied: ' We were willing to take 
 you, and give up our opposition to negro suffrage, because we were 
 certain that we should find in you a friend in all other respects, 
 and believed that your nomination and election would do a great 
 deal for the restoration of peace and prosperity to the Southern 
 States. Besides, while I am opposed to negro suffrage, I believe 
 that we could get along well enough with it if we had an adminis- 
 tration of the General Government animated by real good-will 
 toward us, and sincerely desirous to promote our welfare.' 
 "General Kosecrans seemed to agree with me in general." 
 
 The next documents to which I ask attention are three letters 
 to Colonel William Brown, which I take from the Cincinnati Com- 
 mercial. They read as follows : 
 
 " Narragansett, September 2, 1868. 
 
 " My Dear Colonel : Your welcome letter reached me here. I thank 
 you most heartily for your noble and generous defense of my motives 
 and actions. The friendship and confidence of true and brave men 
 like yourself is worth more to me than any political honors. 
 
 " I am sorry I do not see the path of political duty for myself quite 
 as clearly as you have seen your own ; and 1 can not help regretting 
 your quotation of what you understood me to say of the duty of 
 patriots in the event of reactionary ascendency in New York. 
 
 "I have no recollection of the language used by me in our various 
 conversations; but I dare say that 1 expressed the opinion that 
 nearly all the Eepublicans, and many of the Conservatives who de- 
 sired my nomination, would vote for General Grant, if the New York 
 Convention should adopt a platform and make nominations indicating 
 a purpose to overthrow, by national action, the governments and con- 
 stitutions established in the South under the reconstruction acts. In 
 this event, I believe that this great body of citizens would vote for 
 General Grant on his own platform, 'Let us have peace,' trusting 
 and believing in him. rather than in the party which nominated him. 
 
 "If I said any thing stronger than this, it was more than I should 
 have said, and more than I was in the habit of saying. And if I ex- 
 pressed any personal feeling of my own, it must have been that, in 
 the event referred to, I should feel myself pretty effectually separated 
 from both political parties, and left free of mere party obligations. 
 
 "I believe and feel now as I believed and felt then. I am neither 
 disappointed by the course you have determined on ibr yourself, nor 
 dissatisfied with it. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, 
 who sympathized with you in the early days of July, act with you 
 now. It is the natural and necessary result of the action at New
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 71 3 
 
 York. But, on the other band, I am vny sure that tens of thousands 
 of Democrats, who sympathized with you then, and not a Few Repub- 
 licans, alarmed by the tendencies of their early, and desiring a 
 change, would give their voles for Democratic electors, in the lull 
 confidence that if Governor Seymour is elected, he will give QO 
 countenance to reactionary violence, or to the subversion of the 
 Southern governments. 
 
 "Under these circumstances, I see at present no right or aseful 
 course for me except that of abstaining wholly from political con 
 flicts; of performing faithfully the duties of my position ; of adhering 
 steadily to my constantly avowed principles, and of doing whatever 
 I properly can in my proper sphere to recommend them to general 
 acceptance and practical application. 
 
 "I am sure that your speech was intended to be entirely fair 
 toward Governor Seymour; but is it not somewhat too depreciatory 
 in tone? I do not doubt that he was a sincere friend to the liberal 
 side, and if he yielded to the clamor of the reactionists and others 
 for his own nomination, let us remember how few are the men who 
 would have declined it under the circumstances. Justice to him is 
 a duty from us. 
 
 "One word more that may look like criticism. I regret that you 
 printed the extract from my letter. Not that I regret the printing 
 per se — I am not at all sorry for that. But it is a good rule that no 
 private letter or extract from one should be published without the 
 express consent of writer and receiver. I put this in only as a 
 caution from an old man to a young man. 
 
 "The fullest copy of your speech I have seen was in the Cincinnati 
 Commercial, and even that does not contain what you said of the Vice- 
 Presidential nomination. I should like to have a complete copy. 
 The Evening Post (New York) reprinted nearly the whole of the 
 Commercials report. Extracts, more or less full, have been in very 
 many other papers. It has attracted very great attention, and has 
 given much satisfaction, so far as I hear, to our friends, whether now 
 supporting Grant or Seymour. 
 
 " Faithfully, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Col. William Brown, 
 
 "Nicholasville, Ky." 
 
 " Washington, September 29, 1868. 
 "My Dear Colonel: On my return, last night, I found your two 
 letters of the 11th and 14th, with the Letters and Blips from newspa- 
 pers inclosed with them, and am much obliged to yon for all. But 
 I must assure you that I needed no explanation of your motives 
 for making the Frankfort speech. I felt that it was impossible for 
 you to actexcept from motives honorable to yourself and most kind 
 to me, and every word I write expressing thanks and gratitude lor 
 your vindication of me against Republican misrepresentation and 
 misunderstanding comes from my heart. 1 regretted nothing in 
 your speech except its tone and tenor concerning Governor Seymour. 
 I was sure when the platform was adopted ami interpreted on the 
 vital question of the stability or forcible subversion of the accom- 
 plished work of reconstruction hy the letter and nomination of
 
 714 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 General Blair, that nearly all the Republicans and very many of 
 the Conservatives, who are anxious to unite with the Democrats in 
 opposition to the extreme measures of the Republican leaders, would 
 be constrained to the support of General Grant. But it was not, and 
 is not, my belief that Governor Seymour desired to have this issue 
 made, or that he wished the nomination for himself. I have seen 
 nothing in his action which makes me question the sincerity of his 
 declared wishes for a different issue, and for another candidate. 
 Hardly any man would have resisted the approaches made to him by 
 a Convention which seemed to be, and perhaps was, unanimous, or 
 nearly so, in demanding his consent to his own nomination. That 
 he did not resist may be deplored on public grounds ; but my friends 
 should not complain. I had no claim on a Democratic Convention, 
 representing what may be called the Old line Democracy. The nom- 
 ination was proposed only as a means of uniting in support of the 
 ticket those in general sympathy with that Democracy on other is- 
 sues that have arisen since the war, but who were as much as ever in 
 favor of securing to the enfranchised people all the rights of men and 
 citizens, as the best, if not the only means of restoring order and 
 prosperity to the South. By their action, and by the Blair portion 
 of the platform especially, the Convention refused that union. This 
 refusal may be regretted, but it is not matter of complaint. Gov- 
 ernor Seymour, I am confident, desired it. I blame nobody — no 
 Democrat who thinks other issues paramount in importance to that 
 of peace and the universal suffrage, for supporting Governor Sey- 
 mour ; and no Republican or Conservative, who thinks peace and 
 reorganization on the basis of justice for all, and suffrage to secure 
 justice, paramount to all other issues, for supporting General Grant. 
 These last can vindicate their position, and at the same time do full 
 justice to the abilities, statesmanship, patriotism, and pure private 
 character of Governor Seymour. The former can maintain theirs 
 without aspersion upon General Grant, and with full acknowledg- 
 ment of the services he has rendered in his military capacity. 
 
 " Please take this as a slight expression of what I said in my 
 former letter, and as explaining why I can not consent to have the 
 extract from that letter which you quote published. I know that 
 Governor Seymour and his friends, who were also my friends, feel 
 much hurt by what you said of him, and what others of my friends 
 have said, and are inclined to regard me as in some sort responsible 
 for those sayings; and the publication of that extract, disconnected 
 from what I wrote of him, would confirm that impression. So I pre- 
 fer to have nothing published; and you will, therefore, treat what I 
 have heretofore written and what I now write as strictly private. 
 
 " I hope that your expectations of good results to the people of the 
 late Slave States, whether white or black, from the election of Gen- 
 eral Grant, will be realized. I think they will be, at least in part. 
 Reconstruction, in the features which I approve, as well as in those 
 which I disapprove, will probably become fixed and permanent facts 
 under his administration. I incline to think, also, that he will favor 
 the removal of all disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amend- 
 ment. In other respects, my fears of the results of his election are 
 stronger than my hopes. But it will be a great thing to have uni-
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, 71" 
 
 versal Buffrage under ilic new Constitution assured, and all disabilities 
 
 removed. In this way only, and in candid acceptance of tins way, 
 can the Southern States, in my judgment, look for sure prosperity. 
 
 ••The results in Vermont and .Maine indicate reaction from the' de- 
 pression to which ill-advised measures had sunk Republican pros- 
 pects. I perceive no sufficient ground for thinking that this reaction 
 is local. If not, the result is sure. General Grant will be President. 
 Two weeks from to-day will tell the story. If the reaction brings 
 Republican successes in Pennsylvania and Ohio, the election in 
 November will be hardly any thing more than a form. 
 
 " I had some hope of finding you here upon my return ; but I see 
 that you will be on the stump in Kentucky until the 3d of October ; 
 then I suppose you will come East. I expect to remain here now, 
 hard at work on law eases, until November, and shall be very glad to 
 see you. Meantime believe me, as ever, 
 
 " Faithfully, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Col. Wm. Brown/' 
 
 " Washington, October 28, 18G8. 
 
 "My Dear Colonel : You may bave thought me negligent in not 
 answering your last kind letter from New York. But what could I 
 add to what 1 had said? I know you honest, brave, resolute, and 
 that, unless convinced of error, you will speak just according to your 
 declared convictions. I am grateful, for I feel honored by your 
 friendship and support. It is my undoubting belief that assaults on 
 Governor Seymour do no good to any body, but are both unwise and 
 unjust. I have never doubted that he erred in consenting to lie nomi- 
 nated upon the platform of the New York Convention, without 
 expressing any dissent from the dogmas on reconstruction which it 
 put forth, and still more in accepting that nomination without any 
 such dissent, after the revolutionary construction given to it by the 
 nomination of Blair, fresh from the publication of his Brodhead letter. 
 But the error was one which might easily be committed by one in 
 Governor Seymour's position, and I do not think that it warrants 
 the reproaches which have been directed against him. 
 
 "Judge Pierrepont has made the true issue between Seymour and 
 Blair and Grant and Colfax. He analyzes it well when he says that 
 it is an issue between Blair and Revolution, and Grant and Peace, 
 leaving Seymour and Colfax almost wholly out of sight. I inclose 
 to you with this, a copy of Judge Pierrepont's speech. You will 
 doubtless be struck, as I was, with the account of the conversation 
 between him and Grant, and the declaration of Grant that 'his 
 feelings and sentiments are entirely opposed to negro suffrage.' I hope 
 that, having made enough progress during the war to become 'glad 
 of negro enlistment' (which i certainly could never say), he has 
 made progress enough sinee, and will make enough hereafter, to see 
 in 'the South' the whole people of the South ; in -good citizens,' all 
 good citizens, of whatever complexion or nativity; and in securing 
 the rights of all, by the suffrage of all, something else than giving 
 them (t. e., the white people of the South) negro suffrage. 
 
 "Sincerely, yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Col. Wm. Brown."
 
 716 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 And now I ask attention to the following remarkably characteristic 
 
 letter : 
 
 " Washington, November 3, 1868. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: Some months have passed since I received your 
 letter of May last. Man}* events have taken place since, and the 
 greatest, in which the rest culminate, is taking place to-day. 
 
 ••It is not my purpose to comment on them, but simply to thank 
 you for tlie kind words of your letter. Your anticipations have not been 
 realized ; and my faith in the Good Providence which has thus far 
 presided so graciously over our country's destiny is such, that I can 
 not doubt that it is best that they have not been. 
 
 " At the close of to-day's voting, I do not doubt that General Grant 
 will be President elect. It is ray earnest prayer and confident expec- 
 tation that the country will find peace in the reconciliation of races 
 and in the recognition and protection of the equal rights of all men. 
 
 " I find my consolation, under the annoyances to which the late use 
 of m}' name has subjected me, in the thought that it represented the 
 strong desire of many Democrats and Republicans to unite on higher 
 and better ideas than those which, for years past and this year, have 
 formed the staple of Democratic platforms, and has contributed 
 something, probably, to the realization of that desire in the future. 
 
 "It will give me great pleasure to hear from you again, and mean- 
 time I remain, very sincerely, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 '•Hon. E. B. Warden.'' 
 
 I have shown already that the words, " your anticipations have not 
 been realized," indicate a misconstruction of my letter of May 5th. 
 Here is a pleasant letter to conclude this chapter: 
 
 "Washington, November 17, 1868. 
 
 "Dear Colonel : Your note is received, and I thank you. Poor 
 judges can not vie with rich Clevelamlers in horse-buying. 
 
 " Mr. Evarts bought a span in Xew York — good horses, for §1,000 — 
 which confirms your view. Can t you take New York in your way 
 here, and see what can be done there as to a single horse or pair, and 
 a coupe or other carriage. I don 't want to go over §2,000 for horses 
 and carriage. 
 
 "Short wrote me a while ago, asking my reasons for disapproving 
 his reappointment as crier, and stating he was informed it was 
 because of his preference for Grant. Of course I did not answ r er. 
 It is true that I did not like the officious part he took in working 
 machinery for the General's nomination ; but I blame no man for 
 preferences or for proper corresponding action. 
 
 "No appointment lasts beyond the term, except of men continued 
 through vacation. All I ask of you, in making up your list of assist- 
 ants, is lo select obliging, attentive, gentlemanly, and capable persons. 
 I see no reason for appointing a crier at all. Why can not Eeardon 
 or Archie Lewis act? 
 
 "1 suppose Julia is half German by this time. Give my love to 
 her when you write, and to Mrs. Parsons and Richard, Jr.. by 
 word of month. Sincerely, yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Col. E. C. Parsons."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 717 
 
 A 
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 A GREAT AFFLICTION — THE BEGINNING OF THE END. 
 
 MOXG the papers furnished for my biographic use by Chief 
 Justice Chase, is one which reads as follows: 
 
 "Supreme Court of the United States, 
 
 •• Washington, March 4, 1869. 
 
 " Memorandum for the Judges for Inauguration. 
 
 " The judges to have six tickets of admission to the Capitol. No 
 judge will require a ticket for his own admission. 
 
 'The Court will control absolutely its own apartments. Also, 
 
 the west door of the Capitol, on the new Senate Terrace'. The 
 judges and their friends will enter at this door. 
 
 "No pei-son Avill be allowed to enter the Capitol without a ticket 
 from the seargent-at arms of the Senate. 
 
 "The judges will furnish each person (number limited to six) 
 whom they desire to allow in the Supreme Court room, a card re- 
 questing their admittance to the court-room. 
 
 "When the President-elect and the Chief Justice, with the Court, 
 reach the platform, all the ladies in the Supreme Court room will 
 be permitted to pass through the marshal's office to witness the 
 inauguration. 
 
 "Ladies desirous of witnessing the proceedings in the Senate 
 Chamber, can not, after the close of those proceedings, be admitted 
 to the court-room. .MARSHAL." 
 
 Happy marshal ! And how was it with our hero ? He, too, 
 after his own fashion, was rather fond of pomp and pride and 
 circumstance, in public life. That was, indeed, one of his weak- 
 nesses, if I did not misjudge him greatly. 
 
 Among the same papers is one giving the form of the oath ad- 
 ministered to President Grant. Though done with a large pen, the 
 characters are italic, and are marked off as follows : 
 
 "I do solemnly swear | that I will faithfully execute \ the office of Pres- 
 ident of the United States, | and will, to the best of my ability, \ preserve 
 
 protect, a/ul defend \ the Constitution of the United States. \ So h<lj> 
 me God!"
 
 718 THE PRIVATE LIFE A>~D PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Under that form are the words, in the handwriting of the Chief 
 
 Justice himself: 
 
 "This oath, from this paper, was administered to General Grant, 
 on the 4th of March, 18G9. S. P. C." 
 
 The next day he wrote to Mrs. Grant as follows : 
 
 "Dear Madam: My friend, Colonel Parsons, the Marshal of the 
 Supreme Court, will place in your hands the Bible on which your 
 honored husband took the oath of office yesterday. His lips 
 pressed the 121st Psalm. 
 
 "The Book will, I am sure, be to you a precious memorial of an 
 auspicious day; destined, I trust, to be ever associated in American 
 remembrance with the perfected restoration of peace, and with the 
 renewal and increase of prosperity throughout our land. 
 
 " With earnest desires that the aspirations of the Psalmist may 
 be fulfilled to you, to him, and to our whole people, I remain 
 
 " Most respectfully, yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Mrs. U. S. Grant." 
 
 Below are the words : 
 
 "Copy of letter sent to Mrs. Grant on the morning of the 6th 
 March, 1869 — intended to be sent with the Bible on the 5th, but 
 not sent by reason of messenger being out of the way.'' 
 
 May 2, 1869, the Chief Justice, in a letter to Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Smith Miller, said : 
 
 "My old affection for your honored father, and sincere respect 
 for yourself, requires me to reply to your note, though my time is 
 so entirely occupied by my special duties that I can not write any 
 thing which I should be willing to have read in public. Besides, 
 I have an extreme repugnance to even seeming to have any further 
 connection with political movements. I have done my share of 
 work of that sort, and prefer to leave future events to younger 
 folk. But you will not be mistaken if }-ou believe me heartily de- 
 sirous of all things which will really improve the condition of 
 woman. Among such things I count the increase of facilities for 
 moral and intellectual culture ; ampler recognition and full protec- 
 tion to rights of property; and access to, and peaceful security in, 
 all employments for which she is qualified by strength, capacity, 
 and integrity. I am also so far in favor of suffrage for women 
 that I should like to see the experiment tried in one or more of the 
 States, and, if found to work well, extended to all. I am sufficiently 
 confident of good results, to be willing to vote for it in the State 
 where I reside." 
 
 Many letters written in 1869 must be reserved for use in my 
 Edition of the Speeches and Writings of our hero. I must now 
 go forward rapidly toward the end of the present work.
 
 OF SALMON POIiTLAM. 0HA8E. 719 
 
 At Washington, May 24. 1870, Chief Justice Chase wrote as 
 follows to President Grant: 
 
 "Deab Sir: You are doubtless aware that the bouse formerly 
 occupied by Jefferson Davis, at Richmond, has boen occupied, since 
 the overthrow of the robe] government, as head-quarters by the 
 general commanding in that district. 1 understand that the prop- 
 erty belongs to the city of Richmond ; an intention to give it to Mr. 
 Davis, or in some way appropriate it as an executive residence for 
 the President ot the Confederate States, having never been carried 
 into effect. The property has never been confiscated, and the title, 
 therefore, remains, as i Buppose, unaffected by the Rebellion. 
 
 '• The great calamity which has recently fallen upon Richmond, 
 makes it necessary to provide a place for the sittings of the Court 
 of Appeals and Chancery Courts, formerly held in the Capitol; 
 and this house offers the best location. Nothing, I suppose, is neces- 
 sary in order to it> restoration to the city, except a simple military 
 order; but of this the War Department is doubtless besi informed. 
 
 '•I have heen requested to ask your favorable consideration of this 
 matter; and as Virginia is within my judicial circuit, and as n very 
 recent visit to Richmond, immediately after the recent terrible disas- 
 ter, has given me a very vivid sense of the necessity in which the 
 wish for the restoration of the property originates, 1 do so without 
 delay. 
 
 "Your own feelings, I am sure, would prompt you, if it were 
 possible, to anticipate the wishes of the citizens. 
 
 •• With profound inspect and true regard, 1 remain, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " The President." 
 
 The next matter by which attention is invited is of deeply pain- 
 ful character. I offer here the copy of a letter, written through an 
 amanuensis, to Hon. Richard C. Parsons, on the 26th of Septem- 
 ber, 1870. Certainly among the things which must be carefully 
 explained in every biography of Salmon Portland Chase are the 
 facts to which that letter draws attention. 
 
 These are the terms in which the letter dictated at that time 
 referred to a great affliction : 
 
 "You will see, by the date of this, that I am at Mrs. Sprague's. 
 I have been here a month with Nettie. We went, as we designed, 
 to St. Paul ami Minneapolis, and returned by the way of Niagara 
 Falls. On the journey from the Falls to New York, which we un- 
 dertook to accomplish between 2 P. M. on the 16th and 8 A.. M on 
 the 17th of August, I was attacked, without warning, aboul 9 
 o'clock, by paralysis, until, when J readied New York, 1 my right 
 side, from the toe to the scalp, was sensibly affected, so that 1 could 
 scarcely speak intelligibly. I could, however, get upstairs at the. 
 
 x The word "until" is in the copy I have. I have not seen the original.
 
 720 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Hoffman House without very great difficulty. Dr. Clark was imme- 
 diately called in, and also Dr. Hammond. Dr. Clark was my regu- 
 lar physician, and, of course, Dr. Hammond was merely advised 
 with as consulting. They both agreed as to the nature of the at- 
 tack — that it was paralysis of the right side, but unusually moderate. 
 
 " I remained at the Hoffman House a week, arriving there Wednes- 
 day morning, and leaving Wednesday noon. Nettie was with 
 me, and Mrs. Sprague and the Governor joined me there AVednesday 
 evening. I could write this letter myself, but it would be a great 
 labor, and the writing, though plainer than common, would be a 
 great deal stiffer. How soon I shall get well, I can not say. At 
 present, 1 do not expect to be able to take my place in court at the 
 adjourned term ; and I doubt very much whether I shall be ahle to 
 take it at the regular term, though it is quite possible that I may. 
 Of course, under existing circumstances, I shall want you to be here 
 as early as possible, and am glad to know that your return is not to 
 be postponed beyond the middle of November. 
 
 "I have not been alloAved to write or dictate until within a day 
 or two. Mr. Didier has been with me for that time. But I have 
 been allowed, and, indeed, required, to take what exercise I could. 
 I have walked more and more every da} r , until, at last, I walked 
 about a mile without resting. I can ride, without difficulty, eight 
 or ten miles. 1 So, too, in respect to writing; at first, I could not 
 use my right-hand at all. I have recovered so that I write a little 
 every day. 
 
 " I have been thus particular because you are at a distance, and 
 may have heard incorrect accounts ; besides, it is desirable that 
 you should know the truth. I do not take the trouble to be as par- 
 ticular with any body else upon this side, and perhaps it will be 
 well enough to keep what I write to yourself." 
 
 Paralysis is now attracting much attention, here and in other 
 countries. Every body has a theory about paralysis, and some in- 
 dividuals have many theories about paralysis. It is paralysis here 
 and paralysis there ; yet, after all, how little do we know about the 
 thing so named ! 
 
 A few things may, however, be set down about such palsy as ap- 
 peared in Salmon Portland Chase. Like every other laming 2 of 
 the physical part of our humanity, the thing which we were once 
 content to talk about under the designation palsy, more or less 
 lames the mind. The body and the mind of the late Chief Justice 
 were forever lamed, when, on the 7th day of August, 1870, he was 
 first palsied ; or, as we have recently accustomed ourselves to say, 
 paralyzed. But lameness is not death. A lame walker walks, for 
 all his halting. 
 
 ' So in copy. 
 
 •The German name for paralysis is Lachmung.
 
 OF SALMON POUT I. A M> CHASE. Tl'l 
 
 But of that more must be .said hereafter. Here I Bay bat a few 
 words about the sorrow that undoubtedly came to the heart of 
 this man of two-and-sixty years when be could no longer Bee 
 
 his own old face reflected in his looking-glass, and when he saw 
 how others were affected by the change in his person, port, and 
 presence. 
 
 Mr. Lloyd, who was for some time his private secretary, relates 
 that it was with no bitterness, but with a shrewd and kindly smile, 
 that he sometimes said, when his health was inquired about: "I'm 
 not very well ; but I 'm a great deal better than some people wish 
 I was." 
 
 I must go farther when I come to relate some of my own obser- 
 vations when, as is to be set forth, I was, in the interest of this 
 work, induced to act, for a limited time, as Mr. Lloyd's successor. 
 Often I was unutterably shocked by questions, and still more by 
 looks of questioning significance, relating to health, addressed to 
 " my Chief," as he rather liked to have me call him. 
 
 Had our hero studied hygiene and medicine — for I distinguish 
 them — as every enlightened man and woman ought to study them, 
 he might have been in tolerable health, this day. He literally put 
 himself to death. That is the simple truth. He suffered death at 
 his own hands ; not as a suicide, but as a man whom no warning, 
 no persuasion, nothing could induce to let nature heal him. 
 
 On the loth of October, 1870, he dictated a letter to Miss Nettie 
 Chase, his "darling Nettie," in which he said: 
 
 "Last night I suffered a good deal with pains in my chest, but 
 slept, on the whole, pretty well, and am this morning much better. 
 I have walked already in the house about twenty minutes, and 
 breakfasted, and am going out to take a walk with William as soon 
 as I finish this letter. It is now twenty minutes past ten. 
 
 "The children are well, and so is Katie. The baby grows in grace 
 and beanty day by day, and 1 look soon to sec her walking and 
 talking. Willie improves continually. 
 
 "The Governor, as long as Katie was absent, was very constanl in 
 his attendance, coming down every night. Since he went up on 
 "Wednesday morning, he has not returned, hut we expect him to-night 
 as usual. His place is well supplied by Katie. 
 
 "I am still kept on my short diet ; hut I suppose it is besl for me. 
 Please bring me a bottle of cologne and a good modern arithmetic." 
 
 On the 19th he dictated a remarkable letter to Mr. Hall, concern- 
 ing his anxiety to clear away even the smallest things in his affairs 
 which could be a cause of self-reproach. And on the 22d he caused
 
 722 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 to be written to Mr. Henry D. Cooke, under his dictation, a letter 
 beginning as follows: 
 
 My Dear Mr. Cooke : My health is quite precarious, and I feel that 
 I ought to make some permanent disposition of my property, and I 
 know of no one through whom I can make it so satisfactorily as 
 through yourself. I have, therefore, taken the great liberty of using 
 your name in a paper which I have drawn up as my last will. 1 
 hope you will not refuse your consent." 
 
 Here, surely, is an indication to which Mr. Cooke may well point 
 with pride. It proves that, on the 22d of October, 1870, Chief 
 Justice Chase considered him entitled to respect and confidence 
 in a high degree. And I desire that the living interests of Mr. 
 Cooke, as well as the memory of our hero, may be credited with 
 this indication. It is not my wish to do injustice in this work to 
 any man. 
 
 On the 24th, in a dictated letter to Mr. Schuckers, the Chief 
 
 Justice said : 
 
 "It is a long time since I received your letter, but really I have 
 been in no condition to rej^ly. I am now regaining my strength 
 slowly, having lost a good share of what 1 had previously gained, by 
 imprudence." 
 
 The elsewhere mentioned implication of an article in the New 
 York Herald, that I claimed, at some time, that I was, for a con- 
 siderable time, our hero's private secretary, is as false as the same 
 article's pretended criticism of my style and diction ; x but, on the 
 other hand, how evident it has already become, that it is very vilely 
 false to pretend, that Mr. Schuckers was ever continuously, for any 
 considerable time, near the person of Secretary Chase or Chief 
 Justice Chase! The same letter, however, goes on as follows: 
 
 "I am glad to hear that your prospects of the mowing-machine 
 are so good; and I wish it were in my power to give you the situ- 
 ation at Washington which you desire. But I shall certainly not 
 be there during the adjourned term, nor will Parsons before the 
 middle of it. 1 will write to him as soon as possible; but I know of 
 no position which will be vacant, even then, unless a vacancy is 
 made for the purpose of accommodating you. 
 
 " If my own health were good, so that we could attend to the work, 
 I should be strongly inclined to join you in preparing the book; but 
 I see no prospect of it." 
 
 The book in question was, no doubt, an attempt to set forth the 
 life of our hero while Secretary of the Treasury. On such a life I 
 
 1 Post, chapter.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 728 
 
 have reason to believe Mr. Schuekcrs had made a little progress, 
 when he laid it aside, and commenced a history of paper money 
 in this country. Having met him, having read a certain letter of 
 
 his, and having heard much of him, I could not allow myself to 
 entertain a thought of him as competent to write a life of Salmon 
 Portland Chase with any aid whatever. But, on the 2d of Novem- 
 ber, 1870, at Xarragansett, his handwriting reappears in the books 
 of the Chief Justice in the first draught of a letter to Colonel 
 Dwight Bannister. 
 
 On the 26th of the preceding month, the Chief Justice wrote as 
 follows: 
 
 "My Dear Sciiuckers : Mr. Didier has resigned, to take effect on 
 the 31st of October. Mrs. Sprague wrote you to know whether yon 
 would take the vacant place. I shall be glad to have you answer at 
 once, and to have you. it' you conclude to take it, to come at once. 
 
 •You will no doubt think this a sudden change from my letter of 
 the 24th inst. ; but Didier is responsible.'' 
 
 Methinks we now begin to see what notions of biographv were 
 entertained by Mrs. Sprague, whose implacable hostility to the 
 present work and to its author, has become a fact of common noto- 
 riety. Of that, however, I must speak hereafter. 
 
 On the 24th of October, 1870, Chief Justice Chase, at Narra- 
 gansett, dictated a letter which contains these words : 
 
 "Thank you for your sympath}-, my old friend. I am far from 
 thinking that when men occupying particular positions in the public 
 mind are taken away, the world sutlers any great loss. I am per- 
 suaded that they have done their work, and that other men are better 
 fitted for the new circumstances of the world than they were. . . 
 
 " For myself, I look upon the work which I had to do as nearly done. 
 It would have been a gratification to me to have finished the cur- 
 rency according to my own ideas; but very likely the ideas of others 
 are better. I refer particularly to the restoration of specie payments, 
 and to the declaration, as Constitutional law. that Congress lias no 
 power to make any thing else than gold and silver a legal tender in 
 payment of debts. Whether 1 shall live to see this or the reverse. 
 is for the Divine wisdom to determine. I shall not be at Washington 
 during the adjourned term, and perhaps not during the regular term 
 which follows, though I am slowly regaining my strength, so far a^ 
 I can see. I desire to com in it the future, in this respect, as in all 
 others, to Him who has graciously cared for me. 
 
 "Yours, very truly, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Hon. N. Sargent, 
 
 ''Washington, D. C." 
 47
 
 724 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Marked "The Democratic Movement" is a little paper book, 
 which was among the papers furnished for my biographic use by 
 the man I have to name so often. The first article that it contains 
 is taken from the Commoner of May 20, 1871, and it bears the title, 
 " The False Departure." The next is from the Cincinnati Com- 
 mercial of May 19, 1871, and has the head-lines: "Another New 
 Departure. Vallandigham Takes the Responsibility. The Consti- 
 tution as it is. All Amendments acquiesced in. Strict Construction 
 called for. An Important Movement." There are other articles ; 
 but I mention, in addition to those already mentioned, only one. 
 That one is from the (Washington) Daily Patriot, May 22, 1871, 
 and has the head-lines: "True Course of the Democracy in the 
 Present Crisis of the Country. The Constitution as it is. A Letter 
 from John Quincy Adams." 
 
 August 4, 1871, the Chief Justice wrote to Mr. Alexander Mitchell, 
 President Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, as follows : 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I thank you very sincerely for your intended 
 courtesy, and for the pass and kind offer which accompanies it. I do 
 not know that I shall [go] any farther than this place, where I am 
 glad to say my health seems to be steadily improving, and, if I can 
 rely upon the assurances of my friend Colonel Dunbar, will be speedily 
 restored. Should business call you to Waukesha, while I am here, I 
 shall be very glad to see you. 
 
 " Yours, very sincerely." 
 
 On the same day, the Chief Justice wrote to Judge Dickson, then 
 at Oakland, Maryland : 
 
 "My Dear Judge: I received your letter forwarded to me from 
 St. Louis, on Saturday, and answer it on Monday, no mail going out 
 on Sunday. I wish I could give you more definite information in 
 regard to the springs at St. Louis. They are esteemed the best in 
 the State, though probably the waters at Eaton Rapids and at Lansing, 
 both of which are more accessible, are nearly, it not quite as effect- 
 ive. As far as I could observe, the waters at St. Louis have more 
 control over paralytic and rheumatic affections than any other. 
 During July and August, and probably the greater part of September, 
 the climate is malarious, and the people are liable to attacks of fever 
 and ague. A slight touch of that disorder induced me to leave when 
 1 did. I came here, where the climate is much better, and the waters, 
 so far as troubles of the kidneys and liver are concerned, are more 
 effective. I do not regret that 1 came, and hope for the best results. 
 
 "I most sincerely sympathize with you in your troubles. I am 
 afraid you work too hard and pay too little attention to your stomach. 
 This, as I have learned, can not be done with impunity. My impres- 
 sion is, that you would derive more benefit from a visit to this place,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 725 
 
 than from any of the Michigan springs, foil might, if so inclined, 
 however, visit Lansing or Baton Rapids, and if imi satisfied with 
 them, come here. You will be almosl in the direcl Line by railroad 
 to Grand Haven, and by boal from thence to Milwaukee, from which 
 this place is distant by railroad aboul twenty-three miles. You will 
 find the boat from Grand Haven to Milwaukee very pleasant, and you 
 can take the ears from Milwaukee here at 7.15 or LO A. M. 
 
 " Very sincerely, your friend, S. P. CHASE.' 
 
 Five days afterwards, he wrote to Colonel Parsons: 
 
 " My Dear Colonel : Your letter from London was duly received, 
 though it had to be forwarded from Washington to St. Louis in 
 
 Michigan, where I then was. at the Magnetic Springs. I was glad to 
 learn that your wife and children were in good health. It would give 
 me much pleasure to see them all again, and I suppose that you will 
 beat home with them some time next month. 
 
 '•I spent several weeks at St. Louis, and enjoyed the baths there 
 very much. The waters equal those of the most celebrated springs 
 in Europe, but the climate is not good in the months of July, August, 
 and perhaps September. I had a touch of fever and ague, which 
 induced me to depart rather sooner than I intended at first. I am 
 thankful that it was only a touch. I had but two serious chills, with 
 fever following, and since have had none. With these exceptions 
 my improvement has been steady, though not rapid since January. 
 Every body says, and I agree, that I have not been so nearly well as I 
 am now, since I was taken sick. I begin to gain in flesh somewhat, 
 having run down to 145. Just before leaving St. Louis, I weighed 
 146; here, eight days later, 1 weighed 153. and hope that I shall 
 continue to gain; so that, by the time you return, I may make quite 
 a respectable appearance. 
 
 "I am delightfully situated here at Waukesha. The waters work 
 wonders in cases of prostration from disorders from the liver and 
 kidneys, and bid fair to become quite celebrated. Such men as Dr. 
 Willard Parker, of New York, Dr. Smith, of Columbus, and Dr. 
 Wolcott, of Milwaukee — all of whom I suppose you know — give the 
 springs, in these respects, their unqualified indorsement. My own 
 troubles, as you are aware, proceed, in great part, from disorders of 
 these organs. But I must not run on about myself in this way. 
 
 "Mrs. Sprague is at Narragansctt, with a house full of company. 
 Mrs. Hoyt, at the date of her Last letter, was in Munich. This was 
 about a month ago. Where she is now, 1 do not know ; but she will 
 probably return with her husband in October. 
 
 "Give my love to Mrs. Parsons, and to .Julia and Richie. I sup- 
 pose Julia is a young lady, and Richie a young gentleman, by this 
 time. Yours, faithfully, S. P. CHASB." 
 
 The next day, the Chief Justice wrote as follows: 
 
 "It Dear Doctor: I am steadily improving in health. Some- 
 times, indeed, I feel quite well, until i undertake to walk, or otherwise 
 exercise. Then I find myself weak. I walk, however, without any
 
 726 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 great effort, about two miles. Probably, I sball take my seat in 
 October, at the adjourned session, though I may not before the reg- 
 ular session, in December. I am very regular in my meals; break- 
 fasting at half-past seven, dining at one, and taking my tea at half- 
 past six. 1 observe that 3-011 advise the last meal at an hour not 
 later than five o'clock. Would not this leave too little time between 
 the dinner and tea?" 
 
 One of the worst things about our hero's relation to medicine was, 
 his old way of taking advice, and then going his own way. But 
 medicine and medical treatment, after some fashion, he would have, 
 it seems. Indeed, every bod) r seemed disposed to suggest some new 
 remedy, some new experiment in treatment. He received numerous 
 letters, even from mere strangers, on this subject, and he was dis- 
 posed to pay a necessarily confused attention to all that was said to 
 him, orally or in writing, touching hygiene and medicine. 
 
 He had not read, and I tried in vain to have him take time to 
 read, before it should be too late, the admirably scientific little book 
 by Sir John Forbes, Of Nature and Art in the Cure of Disease. 
 The reading of that single work, with due attention to its warn- 
 ings, might have saved his life till now. 
 
 He went on as follows, in the last cited letter: 
 
 "My digestion has been pretty good. No daj- has passed, except 
 perhaps one, without an evacuation. The cold weather affected me 
 injuriously at St. Louis, in consequence of my imprudence in wearing 
 too thin clothes. I had a touch of chills and fever there, and left, in 
 consequence, for this place. The waters here have a great and in- 
 creasing reputation in disorders of the liver, and. I think, have been 
 useful to me. 
 
 "As we are onl3' five hours from Chicago, and about twelve from 
 Detroit, may I not hope to see you when 3 T ou come West? 
 
 '• Truly, vour friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Dr. D. W. Bliss, Washington." 
 
 August 19, he wrote to his old friend, Mr. Plumley: 
 
 "My Dear Friend: I was glad to get 3'our letter, and to learn 
 that 3 T ou were in good health. It would give me a great deal of 
 pleasure to visit you at 3 T our son's; but I fear it will not be in my 
 power. I will take 3-our advice as to taking care of nyself, and in 
 avoiding the ' teasing of politicians.' For my improved health, some 
 credit is doubtless due to the waters I have visited, both at St. Louis 
 and at this place, but more, perhaps, to fresh air, simple diet, and 
 exercise. With God's blessing, I think I may hope for as perfect 
 restoration as is compatible with 1113- years."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 7J7 
 
 To General Ashley, also at Waukesha, on the 5th of September, 
 
 he wrote: 
 
 "Dear General: Thanks for your kind note. 1 pay no atten- 
 tion to polities, except to form ray own opinions and give my own 
 votes. I am a democratic Democrat, as yon know, and have nevor 
 asked of the Democratic party any thing except fidelity to demo- 
 cratic principles. 
 
 •My health is much improved; hotter, indeed, than for a year 
 prior to my attack, a year ago. But 1 think the correspondent you 
 refer to saw my case too much in rose-color." 
 
 On the 23d of October, 1871, a gentleman I shall not name, wrote 
 a long letter to Chief Justice Chase. At one time I felt that the 
 performance of my biographic duty could not be complete without 
 the presentation of that letter, and of others, emanating from the 
 same pen. But, on applying to the writer of those letters for the 
 purpose of ascertaining how he would regard their publication, I 
 received from him a most earnest protest against their use herein. 
 On reflection, my decision was, that it was not essential to present 
 them fully to the readers of this volume. But I must refer to some 
 of their contents. 
 
 For example, one of those letters (that of October 23) says that 
 Mr. Groesbeck, unlike Mr. Pendleton, is an honest, confiding, open- 
 hearted, outspoken man, who conceals nothing from his friends, but 
 speaks frankly his convictions on all subjects, not even excepting 
 the Presidency. In the same letter the Chief Justice is informed 
 that Mr. Groesbeck's conviction is, that neither himself, nor any one 
 else fully identified with the Democratic party, can succeed as 
 against Grant, and that the Chief Justice is the only man who can 
 defeat Grant's re-election, provided the Chief Justice's health and 
 physical constitution will admit of his being a candidate. 
 
 But the same letter has another intimation, which must not be 
 overlooked. It is expressed as follows: 
 
 "Should you succeed, that which Mr. Groesbeck would desire, un- 
 der your administration, would be to go abroad, remain out of the 
 country for a time, and return home to take his chances in L876." 
 
 Et tu, Groesbeck ! Then we have the words ■ 
 
 " The result of the recent elections in this State and Pennsylvania 
 
 has added greath* to your prospects tor the nomination, and the del- 
 egation from tins State to the next National Convention — unlike that 
 of 1868, pledged in advance, and prejudiced against you — will, unless 
 I greatly mistake the signs of the times, be in your favor."
 
 728 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Was that letter answered ? I have reason to believe it was, bnt I find 
 no copy of an answer to it ; nor have I found answers to the oth- 
 ers written by the same pen in relation to the same absurd design. 
 
 Mere justice to the memory of Salmon Portland Chase, how- 
 ever, with a due regard to public interests of great concern to 
 the whole people, ordered me, I judged, to offer the foregoing ex- 
 tracts to the readers of this work. That judgment may have been 
 erroneous, as many others of my judgments in the course of the 
 present work may have been ; but the only fear that I have had, 
 the only fear I can have, is the fear of failing to perform the fear- 
 fully difficult and indescribably delicate trust, accepted when I un- 
 dertook to make proper use of the biographic matter furuished by 
 the hero of these pages. That, indeed, has been a great fear from 
 the first ; and it must try my heart even to the end. God knows 
 how deeply I have felt it as this work has progressed. 
 
 March 26, 1872, Chief Justice Chase wrote as follows to Judge 
 M. C. C. Church, about a paper prepared by the latter : 
 
 " Its first sentence seems to place me in the position of a man de- 
 siring a nomination for the Presidency. I do not desire it. There 
 has been a time when I did. I say this frankly, and say just as 
 frankly that I have no such desire. If those who agree with me in 
 principle think that my nomination will promote the interests of the 
 country, I shall not refuse the use of my name. But I shall not seek 
 a nomination, nor am I willing to seem to seek it. I said this to you 
 when you did me the honor to call upon me. 
 
 " I doubt the expediency of the remark in regard to the tendency 
 of the Liberal Republican movement. Nothing that I have seen 
 seems to warrant a doubt of the patriotism of its promoters. 
 
 c ' Nor am I willing to be put in the attitude of rivaling Judge 
 Davis. He is my friend, and I hold him in the highest esteem as a 
 man of honor and ability. I differ from him on some important 
 points of principle, but do not question the integrity of his convic- 
 tions ; nor, I think, does he question mine. 
 
 "And, finally, I doubt the expediency of suggesting any name for 
 the second office. Let this be left to the Convention. Many will 
 agree with j-ou as to your first choice who will not agree with you as 
 to your second. 
 
 "I inclose a draft, which will show more clearly my views. 
 
 " I have just been to New York ; or, rather, to my daughter's, in 
 Astoria. My visit was entirely to her, but three gentlemen found their 
 way out to see me. Two of these were Republicans, and one was a 
 Democrat. The Republicans were very much of your mind, and 
 seemed sanguine that l heir convictions were general. I learned from 
 one of them that a call recommending attendance at the Cincinnati 
 Convention was in preparation, and already signed by some of the 
 Republican electors at the last Presidential election."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 729 
 
 On the 8th of April, he wrote thus to Mr. Ball : 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Ball : I was delighted to receive your Letter, and 
 to have your assurance lhal yoy are well again. My convictions are 
 the same as yours, that sickness, rightly improved, is among the 
 greatest blessings onr Heavenly Father vouchsafes to us. It reclaims 
 
 US from sin, and stimulates to duty. 1 gratefully thank God for 
 sickness. . . . 
 
 •• My views as to the proposed Cincinnati Convent ion. which VOtl 
 ask for, are not very clear. My impression is, that they ought to in- 
 dicate their preferences, at least — perhaps to nominate. They Bhould 
 act so as to insure Democratic co-operation. 
 
 "You ask whether, under any circumstances, I would accept a 
 nomination. 1 answer that I should not decline, but I do not seek 
 it. If the nomination is thought, by those entitled to judge, the host 
 means of uniting the friends of reform and amnesty, whether Repub- 
 licans or Democrats, I shall have no right to decline it. If not, I do 
 not want it. 
 
 " Faithfully, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Flamen Ball, Esq." 
 
 I watched that Convention very closely. I plead guilty to having 
 worked somewhat in favor of the cause I once expected it to repre- 
 sent. But it is with heart-sickness that I remember the effect of 
 the inner knowledge that I gained of the movement, which finally 
 assembled the members of that "Liberal Republican Convention." 
 
 I have mentioned, passingly, the speech I felt obliged to make at 
 Covington, on finding, most unexpectedly, that quite singularly, as 
 it seemed to me, my name had been placed on the list of delegates 
 to the Louisville Convention, itself destined to nominate delegates 
 to the National Convention of the so-called "Regular Republicans." 
 I am not vain enough to wish to set forth here the body of that per- 
 fectly extemporaneous and undeniably most imperfect speech. But 
 it is proper, I conceive, to draw, as follows, a few extracts from a 
 report given in the Cincinnati Commercial. Here is one of the 
 extracts it seems proper to present to readers of these pages : 
 
 "Now you have done me the honor, totally unexpected, of placing 
 my name upon the list of your delegates : whether I should act 
 upon it or not, is another question." 
 
 Then I proceeded to respond to a very fulsome eulogy of the 
 President, which had just been pronounced by Hon. John F. Fisk. 
 In the course of my remarks, which — being, as already intimated, 
 wholly off-hand — were quite too numerous, I said : 
 
 "Fellow-citizens, let us remember that we are citizens and feltow- 
 citizens, and that we owe it to each other to speak plainly about this 
 matter, and all matters of its class."
 
 780 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I also felt constrained to say, with special reference to the assaults 
 that had been made on Hon. Stanley Matthews, Hon. Jacob Dol- 
 son Cox, Hon. George Hoadly, Hon. John B. Stallo, and others by 
 "Little Mack," of the St. Louis Democrat: 
 
 "All the power of the press ma}- be used in favor of that way of 
 characterizing opposition to the continuance in power of the present 
 Administration; and if any man knows what the power of the press 
 is. I believe I have learned the lesson. But I have this to say, that, 
 until the last spark of self-respect expires in the bosom of any true 
 man, he will not be intimidated by the example of libels, such as this 
 to which I have referred, when the question is whether or not he 
 shall vote for continuing in power one whose title for continuance is 
 even doubtful in his regard." 
 
 Now, let us go to the Convention, soon after held at Louisville. 
 I forget the exact date, but I am not likely soon to forget the fact. 
 
 In that mob-like, at least eminently unstatesmanlike, Convention, 
 Hon. W. C. Goodloe, of Fayette, offered the following resolution : 
 
 " Whereas, this Convention was called for the purpose of nominat- 
 ing delegates to the National Kepublican Convention, to be held in 
 Philadelphia, to present candidates for President and Vice-President 
 of the United States; therefore, be it 
 
 "Resolved, That all delegates taking part in the deliberations of this 
 Convention will give a full and zealous support to the nominees of 
 said Philadelphia Convention, and none others are entitled to have a 
 seat or voice on this floor." 
 
 The telegraphic report of the Cincinnati Commercial, having shown 
 this resolution, states as follows : 
 
 "E. B. Warden, of Kenton, claimed that it was not competent for 
 this Convention to thus disqualify any member. He claimed that it 
 was out of order." 
 
 From further report, it appears that 
 
 "Mr. Warden denied the right of any party to whip him into a 
 slavish devotion. He had resolved before God that he would pledge 
 himself to no such slavery, and he had so declared himself to his 
 constituents, and they had overwhelmingly ratified that declaration. 
 He would not betray the trust that had placed him on that floor. He 
 was not present to discuss the merits of General Grant. The Phila- 
 delphia Convention was the place for that." 
 
 The point of order being overruled, 
 
 "Mr. Warden spoke again, warning the majority to judge not lest 
 they should be judged. "He challenged comparison of service to the 
 party. The question now was whether the pernicious rule which
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 731 
 
 was (lie bane of the Democratic party, and rained it. should now 
 prevail in the Republican party, to its ruin also, ll>' hoped the 
 Philadelphia ('(invention would make a platform lhat he could 
 approve and vote for. There was but one Church that claimed Infal- 
 libility, and here was a party claiming this attribute. 
 
 •■ Voice. Will you voir for Grant if he is nominated. 
 
 "Warden (with a slap of his hands). I will not ! 
 
 " Great uproar." l 
 
 The Goodloe resolution was adopted, and the Kenton delegation 
 left the Convention, in good order. 
 
 Next I have to call attention to the so-called "Liberal Move- 
 ment." For a while that movement seemed to me of patriotic 
 inspiration and of patriotic promise. It was I who wrote the two 
 circulars representing that phenomenon in Kentucky, lint I found 
 out that I was quite mistaken, as the time for the meeting of the 
 Convention at Cincinnati approached, and the stuff of which that 
 body was to be composed became foreshadowed. I retired from 
 the movement altogether, and took part in the " lleform and 
 Reunion" organization. 
 
 Let me now invite attention to the address of Hon. Stanley 
 Matthews in the May Convention : 
 
 "He said : It is no affectation on my part when I say to you that 
 it is impossible to express the deep sensibility with which I have" 
 received this unexpected and most distinguished mark of your con- 
 sideration. The honor of temporarily discharging the duties of the 
 Chair in the preliminary organization of a body which. I believe 
 and trust, is to be memorable in the history of party and politics in 
 this country, is altogether undeserved, and I am altogether unpre- 
 pared, by the suddenness of the invitation, to assume those duties 
 properly, or to preface them with remarks which, under other cir- 
 cumstances, might be considered in proper conformity to the usual 
 custom; nevertheless the occasion, the circumstances, this admirable 
 and wonderful presence, inspire a thought or two which perhaps I will 
 not be trespassing too much upon your attention and your time, if I 
 venture to suggest." [Applause.] 
 
 Among the thoughts so " inspired," and thereupon " suggested," 
 one found this expression, which I heard and took to heart, in spite 
 of a distrust of the distinguished speaker which had come to be 
 habitual: 
 
 "And now, gentlemen, one of the deep and earnest convictions 
 which has spread universally almost through the hearts of the 
 American people, and out of which this movement originates, is 
 
 1 Commercial, Thursday, March 14, 1872.
 
 732 
 
 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 this, that the War of the Rebellion is ended, and that peace has come 
 [applause], and that, as the war has ended, so ought military rule 
 and military principles. [Cries of Good, Good, and loud cheers.]" 
 
 Another thought, or another part of the same thought, was 
 expressed as follows : 
 
 "We have the example of so-called civil governments bank- 
 rupting the communities they affect to represent — power usurped by 
 strangers, and not conferred by the voice of the people; and not for 
 the purpose of restoring the prosperity of those battle-grazed fields, 
 but for corruptly enriching the men who think that power and office 
 belong to them as properly, and not as a trust; and so, gentlemen, 
 in every department of the Government, the slow poison of corruption, 
 only not sufficiently slow, seems to have pervaded the whole civil and 
 political administration of the country, from the head to the foot. 
 [Applause.]" 
 
 But soon I read, in the same journal, these remarkably suggestive 
 paragraphs : 
 
 "The following private letter from Judge Matthews to a friend in 
 Washington, appears in the newspapers: 
 
 "Cincinnati, May 6, 1872. 
 
 " My Dear Sir : Nothing connected with the recent disgraced and 
 disgraceful Convention at this place has given me so much pain as 
 j-our note, calling my attention to a statement, taken from a speech 
 of mine, pointed with the interpretation you evidently put upon it. 
 Allow me, in the first place, to say that I was put forward as tempo- 
 rary chairman of that Convention without an hour's notice, and that, 
 consequently, what I said was totally unpremeditated ; and, in the 
 next place, that the extract you make, and which, if I had intended 
 to be taken in its literal sense, would be justly a matter of regret 
 that it had been uttei-ed, does not represent the truth of my senti- 
 ments. On the contrary, I have no reason to believe, and never have 
 believed, that, personally, the present Administration were guilty of 
 corrupt conduct or motives; and I ought to have expressed mj-self so 
 as to have avoided an}' such charge. What I was striving to s:^ had 
 reference to the general corruption of our political life, pervading 
 every department, whereby personal and party ends seemed to be 
 substituted for public good, and the latest and best illustration of 
 which, I am free to say, is now to be found in the action of the very 
 Convention, in the presence of which this declaration was made. I am 
 greatly chagrined at the whole matter, my own participation in it 
 included ; and have concluded, perhaps not sufficiently soon, that, as 
 a politician and a President-maker, I am not a success. I greatly 
 regret that I have given offense to you. and to many other personal 
 friends, whose integrity I may have seemed to have questioned, but 
 which, I can assure you, was farthest from my thought. I hope you 
 will be able to regard it as though it had never been said. 
 " Very respectfully, your friend, 
 
 "STANLEY MATTHEWS."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 733 
 
 Much might have boon relevantly Baid, in this work, of thai "dis- 
 graced and disgraceful ,J May Convention, and of the public course 
 and character of its temporary chairman, who was <>ihv a trusted 
 friend of Salmon Portland Chase. But I have thought proper to 
 say little of Judge Matthews, and almost as little of the body, 
 which, in spite of his remarkable admiration of it on one day, and 
 his equally remarkable denunciation of it on another day, quickly 
 following on the heels of the first, appears to me to have been quite 
 as worthy of respect and confidence as the man who, having made 
 that speech, could write that letter. 
 
 Nor have I a word to say in admiration or in praise of the 
 Grantites whose Convention nominated Grant. It seems to me that 
 the only Convention hold that year which deserves to be remembered 
 with respect, was the Cincinnati Convention, representing the too 
 early fated Reform and Reunion movement. 
 
 It is possible that the ill-regulated mind of Horace Greeley had 
 begun to feel the touch of madness before a foolish body nominated 
 him as a candidate for the Chief Magistracy. I would speak as 
 mildly as I may of that strange nominee; but of the nomination I 
 must ever speak without respect. 
 
 The evil done by Horace Greeley, by example, to the journalism 
 of this country, is incalculable. It is at least entirely certain that 
 he was an eminently reckless journalist ; and an eminently reckless 
 journalist could not have been well trusted with the Presidency of 
 the United States. 
 
 On the 10th of May, 1872, our hero wrote as follows: 
 
 "My Dear Judge: It would be unpardonable if I should neg- 
 lect to thank you for the interest you manifested in my behalf. 
 on a recent occasion. It does not diminish at all 1113- sense of ob- 
 ligation that 1 know you were influenced in your action more b}' 
 public than by private considerations. Confidence in my personal 
 character, and appreciation of my public services, formed the basis 
 of your belief that the greatest number of Liberal Republicans and 
 earnest Democrats would unite in my support : and for this con- 
 fidence and this appreciation I can never be sufficiently grateful. 
 
 ••It does not at all surprise me that a majority of the Conven- 
 tion did not agree with you. 1 shall be glad it the necessary union 
 can be secured by the nominations actually made. I am, as you 
 are aware, a Democrat, separated in nothing from the Democrats of 
 the Jackson and Benton school, except by my convictions on the slavery 
 question, in times past ; and note, by nothing. 1 But. especially since wo 
 
 1 The emphasis is put on the words by the author.
 
 734 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 came together in support of Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Greeley has given 
 me a strong and generous support. He advocated my nomination 
 as Secretary of the Treasury, and sustained my financial measures. 
 After I retired from the Cabinet, be urged my appointment as Chief 
 Justice. He agrees with me now on the questions of finance and 
 amnesty — more important, as I verily believe, than any now before 
 the country. Why should I not. then, though a Democrat, and cer- 
 tainly not much of a Protectionist, give him the support which I 
 believe he would have given me, had I received the nomination? 
 
 u And why should you not support him? Why should not all 
 Democrats support him? The}* will be sure of agreement upon the 
 great questions of amnesty and currency, and may rely with con- 
 fidence, from just consideration, upon the impulses of gratitude, for 
 generous support given to an old antagonist. Division is defeat. 
 
 "Are you coming to Washington? I need not say how much 
 pleasure it will give me to receive you at Edgewood. 
 
 " I am in veiy good condition now, and, as I hope, constantly 
 improving. 
 
 " Remember me very kindly to Judge Jackson and Mrs. Jackson, 
 and believe me cordially, yours, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Hon. M. E. Church." 
 
 I must not fail to add, that in a letter to Murat Halstead, Esq., 
 of the Cincinnati Commercial, the Chief Justice, on the 20th of 
 May, expressed himself as follows : 
 
 "I wish the Democrats could be persuaded to elect Greeley. 
 Doubtless, your ticket of Adams and Trumbull would have been 
 best for the country, but it would have been less popular than 
 Greeley and Brown; and the Democrats don't seem likely to accept 
 that with unanimity sufficient to induce the Convention to nominate 
 it, or to, recommend its support."
 
 OF SALMnN PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 PROPHETIC JOURNALISM — CHASE AND HALSTEAD — TABLE-TALK WITH 
 THE CHIEF JUSTICE. 
 
 
 
 X the 30th of May, the Chief Justice felt induced bo write as 
 follows : 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Halstead : Your telegrapic correspondent is ' at it 
 again' in the Commercial of the 18th inst., and. I bog you to insert 
 the inclosed, or its equivalent." 
 
 The inclosed reads as follows : 
 
 " We are authorized to say, in reference to so much of our special 
 Washington telegram of the 17th instant as relates to Chief Justice 
 Chase, that he has no recollection of an}- conversation with any sen- 
 ator or representative about the bill authorizing the President to 
 accept the resignations of United States Judges, by reason of disabil- 
 ity. He certainly has expressed no intention of resigning on the 
 passage of such bill. 
 
 "It is true that, nearly two years ago, when suffering from severe 
 and protracted illness, he desired the pas-age of a bill <>f thai char- 
 acter, concerning the Judges of the Supreme Court; but. having so 
 far regained his health as to resume his seat upon the bench last Octo- 
 ber, and attend daily, during laborious and protracted terms, per- 
 forming a reasonable share of judicial duty, not only without loss, 
 but with steady improvement of his health, he has ceased to take any 
 personal interest in such legislation." 
 
 On the 7th of November, 1872, the Chief Justice, at Washington., 
 dictated and signed this touching letter : 
 
 "Dear Mr. Hat.stead : The Commercial has the repute of gener- 
 ally supplying its readers with the earliest news. It> Washington 
 
 COrreS] dent, Mr. Bamsdell, however, seems to have the gin of 
 
 prophecy, as well as a genius lor manufacturing intelligence out of 
 his own fancies; how inspired or motived, 1 can not say. 1 inclose a 
 specimen clipped from tin- issue of the 5th, ami also a paragraph from 
 your editorial columns, which 1 fancy would nol have been written 
 had you not been misled by a letter from the same person, which was 
 printed a tew days ago. 
 
 " Last spring the same writer, as J suppose, made the Commercial 
 the vehicle of the same >ort of news concerning me, only he was kind 
 enough then to omit his prediction of my approaching death. I
 
 736 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 wrote you on the subject at that time ; and I have noticed nothing on 
 the subject of my illness since, till recently. You will not blame 
 me, I hope, if I express some surprise that }"ou have not more 
 guarded the Commercial against the introduction of such paragraphs. 
 No other paper has had the news — at least, I have noticed it in no 
 other. I am sure it must have been printed in yours through inad- 
 vertence. I have ever felt grateful for your friendship, and never 
 doubted its reality. I am sure that mine for you has been real and 
 steadfast. 
 
 '•As to my work in court last winter and spring, the 13th volume 
 of Wallace's Eeports speaks for itself. At this adjourned term I 
 have been absent but one day, attending then the wedding of a 
 friend's son, in Baltimore. My health is, indeed, not fully re- 
 stored — perhaps will never be; but I am thankful that I can say 
 that it is better than it was last winter, and my friends and brother 
 judges congratulate me on my improvement. Certainly, I had no 
 intention of taking a trip to California nor to any other coast, Nor 
 do 1 believe that my ' nearest associates ' have made any such repre- 
 sentations as are ascribed to them. 
 
 " Seriously, is it not a shame that I should be pursued with such 
 statements? I hope I am not immodest; but I think that I have 
 rendered some service to my country, and that it ought to protect 
 me from them. 
 
 " Sincerely, your friend, S. P. CHASE. 
 
 " Murat Halsiead, Esq." 
 
 Mr. Halstead's answer to the last quoted letter is as follows: 
 
 " Dear Judge : I am pained to know that 3-011 have cause to feel 
 that the Commercial has heen the medium for conveying to the 
 country representations that are without warrant. And I am glad 
 to know that you are improved ; for I had been myself deceived, 
 owing to reports that were spread abroad while you were at Nar- 
 ragansett. I do have the highest estimation of your public service, 
 and the keenest appreciation of your friendly regard, and of the fact 
 that you are entitled to the best consideration at the hands of your 
 countrymen. I am sure that you will not be again annoyed in the 
 matter of the publication of unfounded reports in this quarter ; and 
 I hope to record manv years vet of your strength and usefulness. 
 " Yery respectfully, ^ M. HALSTEAD." 
 
 Generally speaking, I have not felt free to use the letters written 
 to the hero of this work. In mere adherence to that general rule, 
 I might have failed to give that note from Mr. Halstead. But the 
 very fact that it tends somewhat to mitigate the sentence he can 
 not escape, induces me, in spite of his vile behavior toward the 
 composer of this work, and, above all, toward the work itself, to 
 lay before the readers of these pages the response in question. 
 
 I shall not compromise my self-respect, I shall not fail to do 
 justice even to the meanest of the enemies that I have made by my
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 7:17 
 
 endeavors to perform what has appeared to be my proper part in 
 public service. But it is of decided interest to US to kimw what 
 was the real state of the Chief Justice when he wrote thai touching 
 letter to a ruthless man. I must anticipate a Little at this point. 
 
 It is from the Washington correspondence of the New Fork 
 Herald that I clip this paragraph : 
 
 " Washington, May 7, 1873. 
 
 '•Mr. Justice Field, who is still in the city, was deeply moved by 
 the tidings, being wholly unprepared for such news. II,' states thai 
 at the last conference of the Court, the faculties of the Chief Justice 
 were as clear and unimpaired as ever, and that he parted with him 
 in the enjoyment of his usual health since the first attack, and with 
 promise of continued improvement. He had, however, retained his 
 cheerful disposition, and in his family and official relations there 
 was no change. There were no traces of that disappointed ambi- 
 tion which many have assigned as the cause of his decay. On 
 the contrary, he has pursued the even tenor of his way, with all the 
 application and labor which could be expected of one in broken 
 health, and has seemed just as much interested in the ultimate set- 
 tlement of the vexed questions of government which have arisen in 
 consequence of the war, by the adjudications of the Court, as when 
 in the vigor of life." 
 
 And the same journalist reports Mr. Gushing thus : 
 
 " Washington, May 7, 1873. 
 
 "Mr. dishing, whose long knowledge of Mr. Chase in public life 
 gives weight to his opinion in this respect, said to your correspond- 
 ent, in announcing to him the news of Mr. Chase's death, that he 
 deeply and sincerely regretted the death of the Chief Justice. Al- 
 though it was an event that might have been expected at any time, 
 it came now as a painful surprise. In losing him. we lose one of 
 the most eminent men of our country. His high rank as a lawyer, 
 his legislative experience in the Senate of the United States. Iiis 
 administrative experience as Governor of Ohio and Secretary of the 
 Treasury of the United States, his high intellectual qualities and 
 accomplished education, rendered him particularly fit, for the office 
 of Chief Justice, which he filled with great dignity, and had the 
 respect and confidence of the bar. Although his failing health had 
 been apparent in his wasted frame, and especially in the enfeeble- 
 in ent of bis voice, there has been no trace of infirmity in his judi- 
 cial opinions, which have been conceived and written with superior 
 merited vigor and elegance of language, and have Wren, in all re- 
 spects, worthy of his elevated position as head of the Supreme 
 Court of the United States." 
 
 From the Washington correspondence of the New York World 
 
 I cut the following : 
 
 "Judge Chase's last interview with any leading statesman in 
 Washington was with Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts. Mr.
 
 738 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Sumner is himself an invalid, and unable to make calls ; but, learning 
 that the Chief Justice was about to leave the city, he made an extra 
 effort, and called upon him Friday afternoon. The interview was 
 brief continuing for about half an hour. Mr. Sumner says it was 
 exceedingly pleasant, and the Chief Justice discussed public affairs 
 witli his accustomed clearness and ability. There was nothing to 
 indicate any impaired condition of the mental faculties. 'You 
 know,' said Mr. Sumner to day, in relating the circumstances of 
 the interview, 'Judge Chase and I were always warm friends; I 
 had a great respect for him, not more on account of his abilities as 
 a statesman than because of his patriotism. We sat together in 
 the Senate in the days when the principles of the Republican party 
 were not as popular as they are now, and I always found him faith- 
 ful.' Mr. Sumner says they talked over the old times, and then 
 reverted lo current topics, among others the condition of affairs in 
 Louisiana. The Chief Justice was of opinion that Congress com- 
 mitted a great blunder in failing to act upon that question when it 
 was presented lo them. Such scenes as are being enacted in Louis- 
 iana were calculated, he thought, to destroy the faith of the people 
 in a republican form of government. His criticisms of public men 
 were free and candid ; but, of course, these were not intended for 
 the public. When he heard of the death of the Chief Justice to- 
 day, Mr. Sumner was much affected. He expressed great gratifica- 
 tion that he had the pleasure of meeting him so recently." 
 
 The 7th of December, 1872, is for me an ever-memorable day. 
 
 It was a day to be remembered, even if it had not been marked 
 by a casual meeting with Chief Justice Chase, with whom I had not 
 talked for several years. Too warm for winter and too cold for 
 summer, it was yet neither like a spring day, nor just like a day of 
 autumn. It was not a day of Indian summer. In a word, it was 
 itself alone. 
 
 It was beyond description lustrous. The observations of a walk, 
 extending from the residence of Colonel Donn Piatt, at the corner 
 of F and Eighteenth Streets, to the Capitol, via Pennsylvania 
 Avenue, constantly reminded me of Lyell's comparison of the at- 
 mosphere at New York with the atmosphere at Naples, in point 
 of luminous clearness. Every object that could ever wear a noble 
 aspect seemed as if transfigured in that morning sunshine. All the 
 shapes and hues of landscape, all the forms and colors of the mov- 
 ing objects then and there revealed to observation, seemed invested 
 with new invitations to the sense of vision. 
 
 Not an object, fixed or moving, from the statues to the living 
 human shapes encountered in that walk, seemed finer than had been 
 the presence of Chief Justice Chase. 
 
 It abundantly appears, indeed, that there "was a time when the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 739 
 
 exterior of our hero was not prepossessing. 1 Then, it seems, he had 
 the person, port, and presence of ungainliness and awkwardness. 
 
 Mr. Trowbridge, following an autobiographic letter addressed to 
 him by Secretary Chase, relates that the latter for some time 
 walked with " ungainly stoop, his hat carelessly slouched, his neck 
 stretched forward, and his eyes on the ground." But the same 
 writer, informed in the same manner, also relates that his hero 
 " had grown up a tall, lean, consumptive-looking young man, 
 when, as he was, one morning, going through with an exercise de- 
 signed to bring his shoulders in and his chest out, he suddenly felt 
 something give way in his side. A faintness came over him, and he 
 became alarmed ; but from that day he began to grow erect and 
 strong." Mr. Trowbridge adds: "Those who knew him in later 
 years, when he was more than six feet tall, and large in pro- 
 portion, straight as a pillar — one of the noblest figures, in short, 
 that ever stood in the halls of our National Congress — could not 
 easily believe that this magnificent man was ever a bent, consump- 
 tive boy." 
 
 Nothing could be truer. My own remembrance as to Mr. Chase's 
 personal appearance goes back more than five-and-thirty years ; and 
 I remember well how he reminded me, when I first saw his tall, 
 shapely figure, and his proud erectness, of the man whom I had 
 been led by conversation, reading, and reflection to consider as the 
 type of physical and psychical perfection in America; of course I can 
 mean none other than George Washington. 
 
 In the days of our hero's highest health, every body spoke of his 
 tall, stately form, his noble face and head, his imposing presence. It 
 w r as only such observers as the growling Gurowski who could speak 
 of him as the " pompous and passive Chase." Why did Ave say so 
 much, thinking even more than we said, about the fine jrfiysique of 
 the man whose name occurs so often in this work? 
 
 Not every great man is great corporeally as well as incorporeal! v. 
 But when we see a man whose inward greatness has an outward ex- 
 pression, such as the physique of Chase presented to admiration, he 
 who does not wonder, and almost worship, in the presence of that 
 harmony of faculty and function, is in a bad mood, or of abnormal 
 constitution. Yet who can inform us just how much we ought to 
 think of physical perfection? 
 
 lAnte, Chapter XV 
 48
 
 740 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Port and person seem to constitute what we call presence. Neither 
 port, nor air, nor demeanor, seems to me an equivalent expression. 
 
 Port is bearing, carriage, mien. Perhaps it is the thing intended 
 by the word station, in these words of Shakespeare : 
 
 "See. what a grace was seated on this brow ! 
 Hyperion's curls; the front of Jove himself; 
 An eye like Mars, to threaten and commaud; 
 A station like the herald Mercury. 
 New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill!"' 
 
 The power of mere presence has not yet been accurately measured. 
 It is like hope, if, indeed, it is well said of hope, that 
 
 "Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings." 
 
 "What was the color of our hero's eyes? About the color of men's 
 eves their nearest friends are often not agreed. I have interrogated 
 several acquaintances of Mr. Chase about the color of his eyes. 
 Some had forgotten, some had never noticed. Others told me, with- 
 out hesitation, that his eyes were blue; and so, as I remember now, 
 they were. 
 
 At Cincinnati, at Columbus, and at Washington, I often had, and 
 used, fine opportunities cf eyeing him " right in the eyes." On one 
 occasion he addressed me for at least three hours, sans intermission. 
 Many were the other opportunities I had of noticing the color of 
 his eyes. That they were not dark, is very certain ; and I find that 
 I most frequently remember them as of a steel-blue color; but my 
 memory is often puzzled in endeavoring to fix their color- I could 
 read their language; but I can not be quite certain, even now, about 
 their color. 
 
 "As are the lips, so is the character," according to Lavater. And 
 we learn from the same teacher that "a lipless mouth, resembling a 
 single line, denotes coldness, industry, a lover of order, precision, 
 housewifery ; and if it be drawn upward at the two ends, affectation, 
 pretension, vanity ; and which may even be the production of cool 
 vanity, malice." 
 
 Is the reader lauo-hiiio-? Mark : it is Lavater, not the author of 
 this volume, who is giving this instruction. 
 
 Nearly every body, however, seems disposed to say with that great 
 luminary of the science he calls Physiognomony : "Firm lips, firm 
 character ; weak lips, . . . weak and wavering character." 
 
 The lips of Mr. Chase, in his best days, were far from weak.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. ~ [} 
 
 I know not what the physiognomists would have said, or what 
 the craniologists, about his tendency to be religious. What I know 
 is, that he was remarkably religious. 
 
 His clear gaze but seldom spoke of humor. Yet he laughed, from 
 time to time, and he loved the laughter of his friends when it had 
 taste and sense and delicacy in its cachinations. Mr. Lloyd ' appears 
 to me mistaken in supposing that "humor was a little developed 
 characteristic with him." He who could so sorrow could not be 
 remarkably insensible to the comic, in the scenery and characters 
 of the life in which his observation and experience were so various. 
 Mr. Lloyd is also quite in error when he says that " it was never 
 an easy matter to make him laugh ;" but he is right in saying that, 
 "at the same time, his enjoyment of broad humor was often hearty 
 and genuine." 
 
 Was not "Joe Geiger," of Ohio, one of his most intimate acquaint- 
 ances? Who could be intimate with Joe without loving laughter? 
 
 Mr. Lloyd still farther errs, I think, in saying that Mr. Chase 
 " seldom told a story without spoiling it." He seldom told a story 
 without making those who listened wonder that he did not oftener 
 indulge in Mr. Lincoln's favorite diversion. 
 
 Yet the truth remains that tragedy was apt to interest him more 
 than comedy. And, between the comic and the tragic, he preferred 
 the grave to the gay, the sublime to the lively, the demure to its 
 opposite. 
 
 I have been writing of him as he was before that visitation of 
 paralysis. How was it with him after that? After that, he was a 
 venerable ruin in the body; but, as we have seen, his intellectual 
 condition furnished a new illustration of the vitally important truth, 
 that mind is mightier than matter. 
 
 Yet I fairly shuddered the first time I saw him, after he had been 
 so ruined in the body. That was when, for the first time, I saw 
 him take his place in court. 
 
 I did not even wish to meet him privately. I had been urged, 
 indeed, to write his history, with much of which I had had intimate 
 acquaintance; and I thought of doing as advised in that behalf; but 
 I fairly dreaded talking with him and comparing his present state 
 with my remembrance of his state in other years. 
 
 On that to me forever-memorable seventh of December, the Chief 
 
 Home Life of Salmon Portland Chase, in Atlantic Monthly.
 
 
 742 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Justice, ascending Capitol Hill, on his way to the Saturday confer- 
 ence of the Supreme Court, or rather of its judges, paused with a 
 companion — not to rest, but to point out some features of the view 
 which could be enjoyed at that halting-place. He was accompanied 
 by Mr. Parish, of Ohio, one of his old friends and clients. As he 
 resumed his upward way, I had almost overtaken him. As he 
 began to move, I reached him, and, of course, accosted him with 
 salutation. 
 
 It appeared to me at first that he did not remember me. But he 
 did, it seems. He knew my voice, he said, at once, though at first 
 he did not recognize my face, which, he said, was more bearded than 
 it was when he last met me. That was true ; and I breathed more 
 freely when I heard him say so, since it tended to prove that his 
 memory had not been much affected, if at all. 
 
 I had been reading about him, in the library of Colonel Piatt. I 
 had read, in Men of the Time, A Dictionary of Eminent Living Char- 
 acters, edited and given to the world at London, this account : 
 
 " Chase, Samuel P., an American statesman, was born in the year 
 1808, at Washington, in Ohio. He received his early education at 
 Cincinnati College, of which his uncle, Bishop Chase, was president. 
 Chase left that institution to proceed to New Hampshire, where his 
 mother's family was settled, and he finished his studies at Dartmouth 
 College. Having passed his examination in 1821, he removed to 
 Washington, where he studied the laAv under the auspices of William 
 Wirt, then Attorney-General of the United States. He practiced at 
 the bar in Cincinnati, and afterward became a senator of the United 
 States. He twice had the honor of being elected Governor of Ohio. 
 In 1861, he was nominated Finance Minister (Secretary of the Treas- 
 ury), in the Cabinet of President Lincoln." 
 
 I had also just read, in the same library, the brief biography of 
 Salmon Portland Chase in Vapereau's Dictionnaire Universel des 
 Contemporains. Of these biographic sketches I spoke to the Chief 
 Justice. He laughed lightly, and seemed not a whit annoyed, 
 remarking that the sketches were, no doubt, about as accurate as 
 our American accounts of public characters were apt to be. I did 
 not quite agree with him. It occurred to me that we Americans 
 take more pains to inform ourselves about European men and measures 
 than Europeans take to make themselves acquainted with the men and 
 measures of this country. And I could, and in other circumstances, 
 no doubt, would, have assigned other reasons for my judgment in 
 that respect. Europe and Europeans are revealed to us better than
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 743 
 
 we reveal ourselves to Europe and the Europeans. But there wan 
 no time for discussion. He was on his way to the customary Satur- 
 day morning conference of the judges, and I had professional engage- 
 ments to fulfill. But he said to me, in his old manner: 
 
 "Judge, can't you dine with me this afternoon? I would very 
 much like to have you do so, so that we may have a talk about "Id 
 times in Ohio." 
 
 There were difficulties in the way of accepting that most cordial 
 invitation. We had dined together more than once, but never at 
 his table or at my own board. He had never crossed my threshold ; 
 I had been with him but once at his hearth-stone. In a word, 
 his way of life had been most different from mine. " Society," which he 
 had somehow come to love, had long appeared to me no better than 
 a cultivated savagism. But, on that 7th of December, it occurred 
 to me that if I dined with him I might do him real service. I 
 had known him intimately, and in circumstances very favorable to 
 a correct conception of his intellectual and moral traits and tend- 
 encies. I could compare him with himself. If he appeared to me 
 as broken as he had been represented, I could manage somehow to 
 make him read or listen to the counsel to lay down his office. This 
 I thought, with confidence. I knew that he had allowed me to say 
 much to him that he would not allow many other persons even to 
 suggest. In short, in spite of my defects and imperfections, he had 
 shown a very great regard for me and for my straightforward wav 
 of saying, on occasion, things that it is hard to utter. On the 
 other hand, able as I was to compare him with himself, if I found 
 that he had been misrepresented; if he seemed to me as much him- 
 self as I could wish to find him, my relation to the Washington cor- 
 respondents of a widely circulated journal of high character 1 might 
 enable me to get before the public a true account of his physical 
 and psychical condition. 
 
 Therefore I accepted that invitation of the Chief Justice to dine 
 with him, although I saw that my momentary hesitation had not 
 been unmarked by him. 
 
 I need not say that the engagement so formed was punctu- 
 ally kept, At 601 E Street, Washington City, at 5 o'clock 
 P. M., I was received by the Chief Justice in the house of his 
 
 J I refer to my nephew, Mr. Clifford Warden, of the Boston Post, and to my brother, 
 Mr. Wallace Warden.
 
 744 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 (laughter, Mrs. Sprague, and there dined with him, according to his 
 invitation. 
 
 It is, I trust, with real delicacy that I add the explanation that 
 there were two ladies present — both relatives of the Chief Justice. 
 One of them was Mrs. Carrie Chase Moulton, and the other Miss 
 Amy Auld. Mrs. Sprague was not then in Washington. 
 
 It is not my purpose to make full report, in any place; of all 
 that the Chief Justice said to me before dinner, or in table-talk, or 
 after dinner, on that to me forever-memorable evening. Part of 
 the time, on that occasion, my illustrious host appeared to talk sim- 
 ply as a bird sings ; though not so freely, I need hardly say. He 
 never was a fluent talker. He could never chat as can some men 
 and women of fine intellectual endowments and fine culture. What 
 the French call causerie was quite impossible to him. At least, the 
 thing called badinage not often marked his conversation. 
 
 There was a considerable wait before dinner, and, therefore, there 
 was considerable preprandial talk. I managed to direct this talk so 
 as to draw out my distinguished entertainer on test topics, and I 
 was pleased beyond expression to find him so clear, so strong, so 
 like his own old self. 
 
 In the course of the conversation, I referred to certain things in 
 the action of the Cincinnatians, whom I supposed to be his political 
 friends ; especially to some things I had observed in the action 
 of Messrs. Halstead, of the Commercial, and Hassaurek, of the 
 Volksblatt. 
 
 Both these journalists had seemed to me to take pains to prevent 
 the happening of any thing that might tend to bring him before the 
 public as a Presidential candidate, in 1872. One thing I spoke of 
 was the suppression of a passage of my Covington speech, men- 
 tioned in a foregoing chapter. In that speech, I had paid what the 
 Commercial called (if I remember rightly) a glowing tribute to 
 Chief Justice Chase. In point of fact, that " glowing tribute" was 
 a simple statement of certain facts, which have elsewhere been pre- 
 sented to the readers of this work. 1 But I had said to the colored 
 portion of my hearers — and they had applauded me quite loudly for 
 saying — that when they forgot their special obligations to Chief 
 Justice Chase, if, indeed, they knew them, I would tell them that 
 their hearts were blacker than their faces. 
 
 1 I refer to conversations in 1857, 1858, 1859.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 74.3 
 
 The Commercial was too delicate, perhaps, to jMiblish this. How- 
 ever, the Chief Justice spoke most kindly — as, indeed, he continued 
 while he lived to speak — of Mr. Halstead. He said nothing of 
 Mr. Hassaurek, except in saying very calmly, and in an eminently 
 patient tone, that the things that I had mentioned touchiug those 
 two journalists, were, no doubt, to be ascribed to the judgment they 
 had formed as to his health of body and of mind. 
 
 And then he sweetly, patiently, and philosophically talked about 
 his physical condition. He explained that he did not know what 
 was the matter with him, but that to himself he seemed Less broken 
 than, apparently, he seemed to others. But he said those who 
 thought that he was in May, 1872, too much out of health to be a 
 Presidential candidate, had been, perhaps, right in so considering. 
 There was, he explained, no doubt in his own mind that he could 
 no longer labor so continuously as he could before the attack of 
 paralysis in 1870. 
 
 Nothing could have been calmer, milder, or more patient than 
 the tone in which he spoke about that political matter and about his 
 health. I felt unutterably touched by the manner in which he 
 spoke of a theme so trying. 
 
 The talk at table also took a hygienic turn. In other words, it 
 took such a turn, that hygiene and medicine became subjects not 
 exactly of discussion, but of conversation. 
 
 Many years before, I had closely attended to a trial in which 
 medical experts were examined as to the differences between home- 
 opathy and the school of medicine that, perhaps justly, claims to have, 
 if I may so express myself, a kind of apostolical succession. I was 
 not of counsel in the case ; but I took great interest in it. It was be- 
 tween Stephen Woodruff and Dr. Joseph H. Pulte, and was tried at 
 Cincinnati, many years ago. Woodruff was a master-builder, and 
 had built for Pulte a row of houses, while Pulte "doctored" Wood- 
 ruff's family. They " fell out," and Pulte complained of Woodruff's 
 building, Woodruff of Pulte's doctoring. A jury had to be called 
 to settle the controversy between them. Before this jury, Wood- 
 ruff's counsel set up that homeopathy was a deceit, which Pulte 
 must have known to be a false pretense; for Pulte was a regularly 
 educated " old-school doctor " when he was converted to the school, 
 and became a follower, of Hahnemann. The medical experts already 
 mentioned were called in to deliver lectures, under oath, for or 
 against that theory of Woodruff's counsel, who was a type of man
 
 746 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fast disappearing from the country. He was what is called a self- 
 made man, and self-made men were not then deemed so ill-made as 
 it is at present the fashion to consider them. Then it was at least 
 the Western fashion to attribute to a self-made character a practical- 
 ness, a solidity, a shrewdness, greater than " collegians" were 
 thought apt to bring to the professions. Certainly, the lawyer 
 Woodruff chose had been remarkably successful. His docket was 
 a massive thing. He had been a tailor, then a student of medicine, 
 teaching school while preparing himself to be a "doctor;" then he 
 went back to the bench on which he had before attended to suits; 
 but, after all, he turned to the law with characteristic energy. 
 Among his peculiarities was the pronunciation of the word prodig- 
 ious, as though spelled prodidious ; with reference to which, a medical 
 wag of the neighborhood from which he went to the reading of 
 Blackstone, rhymed as follows : 
 
 " You 've heard of late of Dr. Strait, 
 Who's growing quite fastidious; 
 From gallipot to tailor-shop 
 He made a hop prodidious." 
 
 At the bar, as already intimated, he was quite successful ; and per- 
 haps there were few men more formidable than he was in his best 
 days. I think he became quite a reader, and he always was a 
 shrewd, energetic, thoughtful man. His prejudices, however, 
 remained strong, and his client, Woodruff, had the benefit of those 
 prejudices in the contest with Dr. Pulte. On the other hand, the 
 lawyer chosen to defend homeopathy and Dr. Pulte was a very 
 different type. His name was Daniel Van Matre. He, too, had 
 been successful in his way ; and it was said that, in a slander case, 
 his very aspect made him irresistible. But his legal studies had 
 been narrow, and he knew next to nothing of medicine. I need not 
 say that, of the parties, Pulte only could be supposed to know the 
 difference between the theory of homeopathy and that of allopathy. 
 But witnesses were to be called, on the one hand, to show that 
 homeopathy was not legitimate; on the other hand, to prove that 
 it was a great betterment of the healing art. I heard those wit- 
 nesses testify. For Woodruff, some of the most eminent physicians 
 of the place appeared as witnesses, and, under oath, told the jury — 
 also under oath — that homeopathy was wholly fallacious, and that 
 the true school of medicine, the only one deserving public confidence,
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 747 
 
 was that which Hahnemann had vainly attempted to overthrow. 
 Some of the witnesses produced by Woodruff went much farther. 
 One of them, Dr. J. P. Harrison, ridiculed the homeopathic theory 
 beyond measure. Any one who heard and saw him while he BO 
 put in his testimony in the form of an ornamented and remarkably 
 effective lecture, must have understood him to deny the possibility 
 that any sana mens in oorpore sa>io could be found accepting home- 
 opathy, after competent examination of its tenets and its tendencies. 
 Indeed, the tone of all the witnesses on that side was ;it least :i^ 
 contemptuous toward homeopathy as is the following language of a 
 medical writer : 
 
 "Homeopathy, Homaiopathia. Ars Homceopathica, Homeopathy — 
 from 6/iotoq 'like,' and -aftoq, 'affection.' A fanciful doctrine, which 
 maintains that disordered actions in the human body are I" be cured 
 by inducing other disordered actions of the same kind, and this to 
 be accomplished by infinitesimally small doses, often of apparently 
 inert agents. The decillionth part of a grain of charcoal, tor example, 
 is an authorized dose." 1 
 
 The Chief Justice listened with interest to my account of that 
 trial ; the result of which was insignificant, indeed, for reasons I need 
 not explain; but the course of which I had remembered, on account 
 of the views advanced by some of the expert witnesses. He put 
 some questions which led to my referring to the already mentioned 
 admirable little book, entitled, "Of Nature and Art in the Oure 
 of Disease, by Sir John Forbes, M. D., D. C. L., (Oxon,) F. R. 
 S., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Physician to the 
 Queen's Household," etc.; for I feared that he was having rather 
 too much cure from art — more medicine than medicinal benefit; 
 and having, as already intimated, studied hygiene and medicine, 
 not as a mere dilettante, but with method, perseverance, and deter- 
 mination to arrive, if possible, at certainty respecting the divisions 
 of the schools of medicine, I had found in the little book just named 
 what seemed to me rich treasure. 
 
 Then the conversation turned on fruit. That led to some account 
 of a trip to the wine islands of Lake Erie, in 18G6, and of the 
 acquaintance I there formed with one of the wine-growers, who was 
 also a surveyor — Captain John Brown, Jr., son of him whose name 
 will always be connected with the name of Harper's Ferry. I 
 
 Dunglison, Med. Die, art. " Homeopathy.
 
 748 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 described four pictures which were shown to rue id the house of Mr. 
 Jay Cooke, at Gibraltar, by Captain Brown, the new acquaintance 
 just referred to — one of the pictures being that of John Brown, Sr., 
 and another that of the Chief Justice himself. This brought out ray 
 host as I desired. His talk about "old times in Ohio" showed 
 me clearly that his will, his memory, his understanding, had not 
 suffered, as I had heard; that they were merely altered, not impaired. 
 
 After dinner, while taking tea in the parlor, my illustrious enter- 
 tainer and myself compared opinions touching principles and par- 
 ties. I disclosed the fact that I had not voted at all at the late 
 election. He explained his preference for Greeley ; for whom, had I 
 voted at all, my ballot, I avow, would have been cast, most doubt- 
 fully. Then he said, in substance : 
 
 " I am like you in still adhering to the Jeffersonian Democracy, 
 in principle; but I confess that I don't know just where to find 
 the Democrats who are such in principle. I think they are divided 
 between the Democratic party and the Republican party, and I 
 hardly know in which party to look for the greatest number of 
 them." 
 
 I own this seemed to me a vitally important explanation. Not 
 till I had heard it, did I distinctly form the purpose to make 
 known to the Chief Justice my conditional willingness to under- 
 take a work devoted to his life and times. 
 
 What did he then know of me? I have reason to believe that 
 he had knowledge of me when, in boyhood, I edited, as well as 
 printed, at Cincinnati, a boy's paper. That was in 1839. Of the 
 paper edited by Donn Piatt and published by me, in 1840, in Logan 
 County, Ohio, he may have known little ; but he must have known, 
 at least, a little of that paper, otherwise than through the rather 
 fanciful accounts of it long afterward given by Colonel Piatt, first 
 in the Mac-a-cheek Press, and then in the Washington Capital But 
 from the time that I began to study law, in 1840, at Cincinnati, 
 down to the very last day of his life, he had more or less intercourse 
 with me. Perhaps he knew as much as any person other than my- 
 self has ever been allowed to know of my avowed and unavowed 
 contributions to the public press. A book of mine drew us together 
 far more closely than we had ever been drawn before. That book 
 was, in one sense, a failure. It was most imperfectly presented to 
 the public ; though it was, as to printing and binding, unexception- 
 able. It was, however, very highly praised in very many truly
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 749 
 
 critical reviews of its contents, East as well as \\'e-t ; and it had, 
 perhaps, no more interested or appreciative nadir than it found in 
 Salmon Portland Chase. A like statement as to his interest in my 
 brief biography of Stephen Arnold Douglas might be justified. In 
 1863, he read passages of a work of mine, entitled Ernest and the 
 Flag he Followed. 1 "We have seen how he characterized an article 
 of mine in 1861. 2 In other places, indications have appeared of 
 occasions that he had to make himself acquainted with my character 
 and my abilities, if I had any. 
 
 In pretended criticism of pretended advance pages of this work, 
 a writer — or, perhaps, a pair of writers — in the New York Herald 
 of March 16, 1874, elegantly said : 
 
 " Even before Mr. Chase's death, it was a question who should 
 become his biographer. Immediately upon the death of the Chief 
 Justice, it became a very grave question ; for it was then discovered 
 that Mr. Chase's diaries were in the possession of one R. B. Warden, 
 a man who practised the profession of the law in many Ohio towns, 
 and, while still very young, had sat upon the Supreme Bench of 
 the State." 
 
 Now, of the whole public life of this "one R. B. Warden" 
 Salmon Portland Chase had perfect knowledge. If it was a crime 
 to commission a man so young as a judge — perhaps it was a folly — 
 Salmon Portland Chase never seemed to discern that folly or that 
 crime. 
 
 But that pretended criticism thus continues : 
 
 "Judge Warden had never given evidence of great literary talent, 
 or comprehensive statesmanship, and it Avas a surprise when it was 
 announced that he was Chase's chosen biographer. Still Judge 
 Warden apparently had qualifications for the task which could not 
 be easily gainsaid ; at least, in advance of the publication of his 
 book. He put himself forward as private secretary to the Chief 
 Justice, as well as Mr. Chase's old-time personal friend, and thus 
 seemed, in some important respects, the very person tor the under- 
 taking." 
 
 I refer to this tissue of absurdity and falsehood, solely as assist- 
 ing me to make what seems to me a necessary explanation. I do 
 not deny that "Judge Warden had never given evidence of great 
 literary talent." I do not deny that Judge Warden had never 
 given evidence of " comprehensive statesmanship." I do deny that 
 
 lAnte, p. 531. 2 Ante, p. 389.
 
 750 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " it was a surprise when it was announced that he was Chase's 
 chosen biographer.'' I do deny that it was after the death of our 
 hero that it was "discovered that Mr. Chase's diaries were in the 
 possession of one R. B. Warden." What the truth was as to the 
 matters touching which I make denials, as just indicated, shall be 
 shown as we go forward. But I wish to say at once that it was 
 never my opinion — that it is not now my judgment — that having 
 been private secretary to the Chief Justice fitted me, or could have 
 fitted any other man, to write his life. 
 
 The same absurd, but wicked, false pretense of criticism states, 
 I know not on what information or suggestion : 
 
 "Mr. Chase's more intimate friends knew, however, that during 
 the most important epoch of his life — while he was Secretary of the 
 Treasury under Mr. Lincoln — that another person had officiated in 
 the double capacity ' which Judge Warden claimed ; and that the 
 personal relations between the Chief Justice and his former private 
 secretary were not broken off till Mr. Chase's death." 
 
 Now, let it be distinctly understood that I do not claim that I 
 ever "officiated" as the old-time friend of Salmon Portland Chase; 
 and that though I did, for a short time, reluctantly " officiate" as 
 his private secretary, that officiation was occasioned by my having 
 become his biographer. How that happened is elsewhere sufficiently 
 set forth. 2 I deeply regret that it ever happened at all. And now 
 let me say a word about my old-time friendship for our hero. 
 
 In a letter to Mrs. Sprague, dated March 28th, I told that lady — 
 eldest daughter to our hero — how it happened that I was advised 
 to write at least a biographic sketch of her illustrious father. I did 
 not pretend that he and I had ever been close friends. I never 
 have pretended that our friendship was at any time like that of 
 Damon and Pythias. I explained that alternate conflict and 
 
 1 Will it. be believed that the writer of this wretched stuff has had the cheek to 
 criticise my style and diction ? Of my style he, she, or they, declare that it is 
 " gawky and obscure ;" and that " the imagery is abundant, but it has the same 
 relation to literary art that the Cardiff Giant bears to Phidian sculpture." Then 
 we are told that "Judge Warden mistakes a liberal use of the dictionary for the 
 splendors of diction, and he prefers the sunflowers to the flowers of rhetoric. He 
 can neither paint a portrait with distinctness of outline, nor state a fact with clear- 
 ness of expression." I am more than willing to allow the readers of this work 
 to have that false pretense of criticism to assist fair judgment of my style and 
 diction. 
 
 » Chapter LI.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 
 
 7.1 
 
 co-operation with her father had made me acquainted with bis lift 
 and character. 
 
 My judgment is, that neither a familiar friend nor a relative ia to 
 be expected to produce a faithful and impartial life of the man who 
 
 is the object of that near and dear regard. 
 
 As for Mr. Sehuckers, notwithstanding his too great weakness for 
 that trunk of mine, 1 I can almost find it in my heart to pity him. 
 We have seen that it was as long ago as 186-4 that he somehow 
 " felt to" fancy that he could compose a life of Secretary ( lhase, or 
 some part of a life of that distinguished financier. 2 I will in it here 
 set forth the funny stories I have heard about the final failure of 
 that biographic enterprise of the aspiring Sehuckers — Phoebus! what 
 a name for a biographer! It is enough to state that the Chief 
 Justice asked me to assist Mr. Sehuckers in collecting matter for a 
 work about the issues of paper money in the early days of the Re- 
 public ; and that I not only engaged to do so, but performed my 
 promise. Neither Mr. Sehuckers himself, nor Mrs. Sprague, nor the 
 Chief Justice, nor any other person, hinted to me that Mr. Sehuck- 
 ers was going on with his biography. Had any such hint been 
 given to me on the 7th of December by Chief Justice Chase, I 
 would have said at once, " I shall not interfere with Mr. Sehuckers." 
 Not to say a word about Mr. Sehuckers at that time, had the fact 
 been as now pretended, would have been, on the part of the Chief 
 Justice, a mean fraud on Mr. Sehuckers as well as on the author 
 of this work. Yet that wretched, false pretense of criticism thus 
 proceeds : 
 
 "It was known, besides, that Judge Warden had not lived in 
 Washington more than six months previous to that event. It \\ as 
 no wonder, then, that some surprise should be expressed that War- 
 den was Chase's chosen biographer; but it was to be hoped that the 
 Chief Justice's choice was a good one, though it was known lie had 
 different views until within a tew weeks of his demise." 
 
 How false that is, must be shown as we go forward, lint we 
 have this farther statement in the same pretended criticism : 
 
 "It must be remembered in this connection that, during his life- 
 time, Mr. Chase spoke freely on the subject of his future biographer, 
 
 and it is said that, a year or two previous to his decease, he deelared 
 to his family that, while he did not know what Mr. Schuckers's 
 
 i Ante. 
 
 2 Ante, p. 722.
 
 752 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 literary qualifications -would be, Mr. Sehuekers was, of all men, best 
 fitted for the task." 
 
 If the Chief Justice said that, he was an ass. But he was not an 
 ass: ergo, he never could have said a thing so asinine. The notion 
 that he had not opportunity to learn Mr. Schuckers's fitness or 
 unfitness, in point of literary skill, is as absurd as the statement I 
 am now about to offer is untrue. 
 
 "Mr. Sehuekers is the man who occupied the relations toward Mr. 
 Chase which Judge Warden claimed." 
 
 I never claimed any such position as that hinted in that wretched 
 violation of the truth. I would have preferred any form of toil 
 whatever to such a " position." But the truth is, Mr. Chase had 
 many private secretaries. Mr. Plantz made the entries in the 
 " locked diary." Mr. Didier was private secretary for some time. 
 So was Mr. Lloyd. 
 
 But enough of this. Let me now declare that, on the 7th of 
 December, 1872, I had little reason to expect the writing of a work 
 devoted to the life and times of Salmon Portland Chase to prove a 
 profitable use of time, in a pecuniary sense. 
 
 The public, at that time, regarded the Chief Justice far from 
 favorably. I was moved to undertake this work as much by sym- 
 pathy as by admiration. And I felt indignant in remembering how 
 he had been treated, even in such papers as the Commercial. l 
 
 I desired to do him justice. I desired to do justice to some of his 
 contemporaries. I did not desire to glorify myself, or otherwise 
 to make the contemplated work subservient to selfish objects. 
 
 Then I had no notion of the wealth of matter that was soon to 
 be placed at my command. 
 
 But the meanest thing in that pretended criticism of this work 
 appears in the following sentence : 
 
 "As a matter of course, the scope of the purposed work would have 
 to be as artfully presented as the other encroachments upon the 
 enfeebled intellect of this enfeebled giant." 
 
 There it is, at last! A ghoul would seem a very angel of light in 
 comparison with the writer or with the inspirer of that hideously 
 false suggestion. 
 
 1 Ante, p. 735. 

 
 OF SALMON POUT LAND CHASE. 758 
 
 AVill the reader jilea.se turn back t<> the evidence I have pre- 
 sented touching the condition of our hero's intellect during the last 
 months of his life? ' But I must quit a subject bo repugnant. 
 
 Let me say, then, simply, that if, on the 7th of December, 1872, 
 I understood at all, and if I now remember, in (he least, the 
 nature of the willingness I then felt to undertake a work of this 
 description, there was little egotism, little selfishness <>f any kind, in 
 that feeling. There was nothing eager, nothing anxious in that 
 willingness, if I did not deceive myself more grossly than 1 ever 
 had, up to that time, been self-deceived. 
 
 There was, then, no reason to expect what it is now, perhaps, but 
 reasonable to anticipate about the public interest in a work devoted 
 to the life and times of the Chief Justice. And it is but right to 
 repeat that I had a most imperfect notion of the riches in the way 
 of material that were in store for these pages. 
 
 On the other hand, there was no excitement on the part of the 
 Chief Justice when he learned that I had been advised to write his 
 life. He appeared, indeed, not in the least surprised that I was 
 conditionally willing to undertake the work that had been suggested 
 to me; and, though he was evidently pleased that I had thought of 
 such an undertaking, it was very calmly, though quite promptly, 
 that he promised to assist that undertaking as much as his official 
 occupations and his health should permit. 
 
 On that evening he was to hear Professor Tyndall, at Lincoln 
 Hall. He asked me to go with him. I could not, then, have 
 listened to the finest lectin er that ever faced an audience. I de- 
 clined the invitation, but walked with him on the way to the place 
 where the lecture was to be delivered. Ere we left the house, I 
 had begun to sound him on the subject of my undertaking such a 
 work as the present. 
 
 I began by asking him whether he remembered what it was that 
 Lord Brougham was reported to have said on learning that his life 
 was to be added to Lord Campbell's Lives of the Lord Chancellors .' 
 He said he did not. I had to acknowledge that I did not, dis- 
 tinctly; that I did not remember whether Brougham was reported 
 to have said, "If he writes my life, I'll take his," or whether the 
 reported utterance of his, on that occasion, sounded, " If he write* 
 my life, he'll take it." Then I went on to make known that, though 
 
 1 Ante, p. 736.
 
 754 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I had no designs against the life of the Chief Justice, I had been 
 induced to think that it might be well for rue to write his life, if he 
 would only aid me to his utmost in the matter. 
 
 He had not the slightest hesitation in engaging to assist me as 
 desired, if I thought fit to undertake a work which, he thought 
 might prove to be so thankless. He began to make this known to 
 me by saying, as I now remember, in words quoted in the Intro- 
 duction : 
 
 " I can only say to you what was said to me by Mr. Wirt on a 
 similar occasion, 'If it is to be done at all, I should prefer to have 
 it done by such a friend as you. ' " 
 
 Before we parted — he to go to Lincoln Hall, where Professor 
 Tyndall was to lecture, I to keep an engagement elsewhere — I 
 explained to him that the book referred to in two of his letters 
 to me had finally appeared to me too full of a feeling which the 
 public could not be expected to participate, to warrant me in pub- 
 lishing its contents. But I said that I " was not ashamed of that 
 feeling." 
 
 " You ought not to feel ashamed of it," said the Chief Justice. 
 " On the contrary, you ought rather to be proud of it ; though I 
 confess there was a time when I feared that it might destroy your 
 usefulness." 
 
 He added a few words which I must not repeat. I had not heard 
 such words from him before. While I remember them, I must 
 dispose myself to judge him favorably, even in the presence of most 
 formidable difficulties, raised by facts apparently tending to make 
 out a case against his memory. 
 
 I have been greatly tried by difficulties of that nature, even since 
 I wrote the Introduction and the earlier chapters of this work. But 
 my remembrance of the 7th of December, 1872, still bids me pre- 
 sume in favor of our hero's rectitude of purpose. 
 
 Certain other explanations were made before we reached the 
 point where we must separate. They were received with sympathetic 
 interest, and the Chief Justice even tenderly commented on them, in 
 a few fit words, in his best manner. 
 
 So we parted, for the time ; and very soon I left Washington, 
 not to return for about a month. But the work I had engaged to 
 write began at once to seek its method and to gather its material. 
 No time was to be lost; and none was wasted. Such a work de- 
 manded all that any man not more gifted than myself was able to
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 7,". 
 
 devote to it, in time, in labor, or in skill. Mv ohief regret was, 
 that my pen was not more capable of its gnat enterprise ; for I Felt 
 very certain that I would not fail to give to it the necessary time 
 and toil. 
 
 It was, I think, about the 10th of January, 1873, that I next 
 saw Chief Justice Chase, at Washington. My brother Wallace 
 and I called on him that evening, and had a very pleasant inter- 
 view, the conversation being chiefly between him and my brother, 
 and on topics more interesting to them than to me. 
 
 Again I paid close attention to the mental state of the Chief 
 Justice. He was in good spirits, and he conversed with freedom 
 and with force. I remember particularly the clearness and strength 
 with which he explained to my brother certain facts connected with 
 the Louisiana imbroglio, as it then was, or seemed to him to be. 
 
 No communication of any kind had taken place between the 
 Chief Justice and myself since the 7th of the preceding December ; 
 but before we parted I reported progress in the composition of this 
 work, and said, in substance : 
 
 " So you see that I must now hold you to your promise to assist 
 me all you can in gathering material." 
 
 To which he answered, as I now remember, in substance : 
 
 " You know I always keep my promises. But you must bear in 
 mind that the Court is still in session. I don't know that I can 
 do much for you until the Court shall have finally adjourned." 
 
 49
 
 "56 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER LI. 
 
 A BIRTHDAY OFFERING THE ANSWER. 
 
 A CONSIDERABLE part of an intended introduction to this 
 work was thrown into epistolary form on the 12th day of 
 January, 1873, the package that contained the necessarily long let- 
 ter being marked : " To be opened January 13, 1873, in memory of 
 January 13, 1808." In the actual Introduction ' to the present work 
 is given an extract from that birthday offering. Here I offer the 
 remainder, first remarking, however, that the method indicated in 
 that letter has not been observed, for reasons which are to be 
 stated. 
 
 Part of that, perhaps, too hurriedly composed epistle reads as 
 
 follows : 
 
 " "Washington, January 13, 1873. 
 
 "Dear Sir: Allow me to salute you on occasion of your birthday 
 anniversary. Allow me to congratulate your family, your country, 
 and your times, that you have this day to mark with recollec- 
 tions of a life so busy, so distinguished, and so useful. Five-and- 
 sixty years of a life like that can not be without a rich possession of 
 delightful memories, however much of sad remembrance it may 
 have to blend with gladness, in making up the panorama of its won- 
 derfully various experience and observation. 
 
 " In some versions of the Book so venerated throughout the most 
 interesting regions of this globe of ours, with its investing ' circum- 
 ambient air,' this life is not described as in the sadly musing utter- 
 ances of the man that so moralized on meeting a 'rare fool, a motley 
 fool, i' the forest,' who discoursed philosophy. According to the mel- 
 ancholy Jaques, ' all the world's a stage, and all the men and women 
 merely players.' In those versions of the Bible, life is pictured as a 
 battle. 
 
 " How is it in the version you prefer? Some curious idiomatic 
 variations may be studied in a comparison of different translations. 
 
 '•I have not at hand the books, used by some English, French, and 
 German studies, which amused, as well as taught, a portion of the 
 leisure hours, devoted, some years ago, to home-teaching in my 
 house. But, assuredly, without forgetting how this day should be 
 
 1 Ante, p. 11.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND ■ IIASR. 
 
 <•>( 
 
 observed — not mat h propos — I can invite your attention to two 
 French, two German and two English idiomatic expressions of 
 another life-thought of the Bible— a conception well deserving to be 
 
 deeply studied, but too often utterly unknown, and seldom well con- 
 sidered. 
 
 "Find below the work of three Protestant translators and the 
 "work of three Catholic translators, rendering verse eleventh of 
 
 Ecclesiastes, chapter ninth: 
 
 ''Protestant and Catholic 
 English . 
 "'I returned, and saw 
 under the sun, that the race 
 is not to the swift, nor the 
 battle to the strong, neither 
 yet bread to the wise, nor 
 yet riches to men of under- 
 standing, nor yet favor to 
 men of skill; but time and 
 chance happeneth to them 
 all.' 
 
 " ' I turned me to another 
 thing; and I saw that un- 
 der the sun the race is not 
 to the swift, nor the battle 
 to the strong, nor bread 
 to the wise, nor riches to 
 
 " Protestant and Catholic 
 < !( rman. 
 "' Ich wandte mich and 
 sahe, wiees unterder Bonne 
 zugehet, dass zum Laufen 
 nicht hilft schnell sein. 
 sum Streit hilft nicht stark 
 sein, zur Nahrung hilft 
 nicht geschickt sein, zum 
 Ilcicliiliuin liilft nicht king 
 sein; dass Einer angenelim 
 sei, hilft nicht, dass er ein 
 Ding wohlkonne; sondern 
 Alles liegt es an der Zeit 
 and Gliick.' 
 
 " ' Ich habe mich zu an- 
 dern Gegenstiinden gewen- 
 det, and sah unter der 
 Sonne, dass zum Laufen 
 nicht genug sei, schnell zu 
 sein; noch zum Kriege, 
 
 "Protestant and ■ 
 French. 
 
 " ' Je me suis lomne ail- 
 
 lenrs, et j'ai to sous le soleil 
 que In course n'esl point 
 
 aux legcrs, ni nux forts la 
 balaille, ni aux Bag< 
 
 pain, ni aux prudei 
 richesses, ni la grace aux 
 Bayans; maie <\u? le temps 
 et 1' occasion ddcident de ce 
 qui arrive a tous.' 
 
 " ' Je me suis tourne ail- 
 leurs, et j'ni vu sous le soleil 
 que le prix de la course 
 a'eBl ]>as aux plus rites, La 
 victoire aux forts, le pain 
 aux sages, les richesses aux 
 doctes, la faveur aux ha- 
 biles ; mais en toutes choses 
 le temps et le hasard font 
 tout.' 
 
 the learned, nor favor to j wenn man tapfer ist; noch 
 the skillful, but time and zum Gewinne des Lebens- 
 chauce iu all.' unterhaltes, wenn man 
 
 weise ist; noch zum Sam- 
 
 meln der Reichthiimer 
 
 wenn man gelehrt ist ; noch 
 
 zum Erlangen der Gunst, 
 
 wenn man ein Kiinstler ist ; 
 
 sondern dass die Zeit und 
 
 das Gliick in Allem gilt.' 
 
 "I have at home a Latin version. I regret that I can not put it 
 beside the foregoing. 
 
 "Do you read Hebrew? I do not. Once, I read at it, 'as it were,' 
 a little, in a course of such linguistics as appeared to me appropriate 
 to a legist's culture, not for pleasure only, hut for daily use; but, 
 Were the original of the just-cited versions now at hand. 1 could not 
 compare them with it. as I would desire to do, in order, if possible, 
 to make demonstration perfect, touching my reading of the life-phi- 
 losophy now under notice. 
 
 "Demonstration only less than perfect is. however, effected by the 
 quoted versions. 
 
 "In the version you prefer, we have the expression, 'Time and 
 chance happeneth to all.' In the translation / prefer, we have just, 
 'Time anil chance in all. 1 The German, l Alles lie0 es m der Zeit 
 und Gliick,' may be freely Englished, ' All depends on time and lucky 
 chance ;' and the German, ' Die Zeit und da* Gliick in Allem gilt,' ma\ be 

 
 758 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 translated, 'Time and chance counts in (or runs through) all.' 
 Every French-English scholar knows that one may render 'Le temps 
 et I 'occasion decident de ce qui arrive a tous' with 'Time and occasion 
 decide of that (or determine that) which happeneth to all ;' and that 
 the French, ' Le temps et le hasard font tout,' may be literally Englished, 
 ' Time and hazard (chance) make (or do) all." 
 
 "This little lingual lesson may not seem to call upon you, my dear 
 sir, on this, your birthday, to lay to your soul a flattering unction; 
 and, indeed, I know not how to flatter. But have patience — I will 
 pay you all. You shall not fail to find that J remember that, to me, 
 indeed, forever- memorable letter, 1 which you wrote to a freshly 
 broken heart, almost ten years ago, when you were at your busiest 
 in the financial service of the countiy, in the Cabinet of Lincoln. 
 You shall see, moreover that if 1 refuse to glorify yon on account of 
 any mere success of your past life, or on account of the high office 
 you so honor and adorn by the manner in which you discharge its 
 duties, I know how to prize your merit, while I even solemnly 
 remind you that success can never be a test of merit. 
 
 "A disputable assumption of the seemingly essential poicer called 
 for by a given action, is, indeed, raised by the seemingly or really 
 successful performance of that action. This presumption is, of 
 course, exalted or lowered by apparent or supposed ascertainment 
 of the measure in which action w r as made difficult or rendered easy 
 by the circumstances and conditions in which it took place, the aid 
 extended to it, or the opposition it encountered. 
 
 "Need I say that such considerations had much influence on my 
 determination to prepare for possible publication some account of 
 the studies I have made of your past life, in its relation to your 
 countiy and your times? 
 
 •• I have begun to give a portion of my leisure labors to the work 
 designed by that determination. The divisions of the book may be 
 here specified. The} - are as follows: 
 
 " Part First. — The Life of Salmon Portland Chase, in its Relation 
 to his Country and his Times. 
 
 "Part Second. — The Student, the Teacher, and the Writer. 
 
 "Part Third. — The Lawyer, the Political Speaker, and the Senator. 
 
 "Part Fourth. — The Governor and the Cabinet Officer. 
 
 "Part Fifth. — The Chief Justice." 
 
 When I caused to be printed, for private circulation, the matter 
 which the already noticed pretended criticism of the New York 
 Herald 2 affected to treat as advance sheets of the present work, I 
 still felt bound to observe the just indicated method. But, on full 
 consideration, I considered that that method was no longer neces- 
 sary, and that it would prove decidedly inconvenient. It was 
 designed with reference to the seeming necessity of demonstrating, 
 in the first division of the volume, the propriety of paying the 
 
 1 Ante. * Ante, Chapter L.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 759 
 
 intended biographic honors to allying man, in very high position — 
 the Chief Justice of a Court in which it was my expectation to 
 appear at bar for clients. 
 
 In that birthday offering were also the paragraphs: 
 
 "May I have the happiness of offering a copy of the printed book, 
 next year, on occasion of an auspicious repetition of this interesting 
 anniversary, and may that birthday offering prove worthy ol 
 
 acceptance! May you have many other returns of occasion to 
 
 remember the beginning of your days, and may your country long 
 enjoy the benefit of your example and your counsels! 
 
 "In view of the presumptions I have mentioned, and the true laws 
 of success and failure, what a monument the bare statement ol the 
 parts into which the volume that this letter introduces is divided, 
 necessarily creates, for all who know what difficulties and resistance 
 you have met and overcome! Here is no fancy Bketch; the Btory 
 told by that un gilded statement is no fiction ; it is not a eulogy. 
 No panegyric ever equaled it in brevity or in simplicity, yet no 
 encomium ever surpassed it in reality and truth. 
 
 " "Were the pen that has just composed it without effort, were 
 that little instrument the pencil of a master-painter, or the chisel 
 of a master-sculptor, it might make a very different work of art. 
 Were it the pencil of a great painter, it might otter to the country 
 an elaborately formed and colored ' counterfeit presentment ' of your 
 face and figure, and demand that that production of its genius be 
 associated, in the Capitol, with the likenesses of other worthies, 
 never to be forgotten while this nation has a 'local habitation and 
 a name.' Were it the chisel of a noble sculptor, it might shape your 
 image in the best that it could do in marble, and present that mas- 
 terpiece for fit association with the statues now exposed to admira- 
 tion or to criticism in the same basilica-like building, the grand tem- 
 ple which at once commands and gives character to all the views of 
 landscape visible at the Capital of the Republic. After all, however, 
 the painting might be. like the likenesses of Sir Joshua Reynolds, too 
 ideal to be faithful ; or the statue might, like many other products 
 of the sculptor's cunning, be a flattered image. 
 
 "The division of this book into parts is, also, in a certain sense, a 
 work of art; but it is rather one of ait and science, each ami both. 
 It tells, at least allusively, the story of the many public services that 
 you have rendered; and it is, at least in outline, a brief history of 
 the public honors paid you by your fellow-citizens. 
 
 " A.8 faithful in design, and as accurate, J trust, in execution, shall 
 be at least the great body of the book, whose general intentions ami 
 anticipations, that bare statement must enable you and other read- 
 ears to discern. There may he weak places here and there; hut I 
 engage that the totality shall he entirely free from aught resembling 
 sycophancy, or the disposition to idealize a real ami a living man. 
 ""Allow me to return a little to the subject of success and failure 
 as no test of merit. 
 
 "One-and-thirty years and more have passed, since a shop-window 
 offered to my passing curiosity a little book, with others. Yielding,
 
 760 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 partly, to the Hollel lege!' of that presentation, I became the buyer 
 of that little book, went home without delay, and read my new 
 purchase, which proved to be as lively as a book of Dickens, as 
 didactic as a dictionary, as methodic as the multiplication -table. 
 
 "About nine-and-twenty years had elapsed after that reading, 
 when I j-ielded to a like appeal made by a book-stall, bought a lit- 
 tle volume, took it home, and made myself acquainted with its con- 
 tents, as one reads a splendid poem, and yet found in it the very 
 depths of a profound philosophy. 
 
 '• Both the books were, as we say, translations, though, selon moi, 
 complete translation of a whole book of any magnitude — nay, of 
 even a score or so of pages in a book — would be a very miracle. 
 The first was a fine Englishing of Cicero's immortal work, De Ora- 
 tore; in the second was a not less admirable Frenching of Plato's 
 Republic (or The State). 
 
 ■I need not say to you that the former is entirely worthy of the 
 genius whose embracing studies comprehended jurisprudence and 
 philosophy and arms, as well as orator}'. "Without prescribing uni- 
 versality of study to an intending orator, it demonstrates the neces- 
 sity of a wide range and an almost appalling variety of learning to 
 a legist-orator. No American law student ought to fail to study it. 
 and to avail himself of its remarkably suggestive contents, while 
 determining the necessary method and extent of his own reading, 
 thinking, and acting; the first, without the two others, being rather 
 worse than worthless. 
 
 "But let no intending legist, no intending statesman, no intend- 
 ing orator of any order, read that book of Cicero with the assurance 
 that the method it proposes, modified in any manner, or that any 
 other method, can enable study, in association even with the best 
 behavior, to command success. Eemember Cicero's own story, so 
 eventful ; finally so tragic. 
 
 "The French book, to which allusion has been made, bears on 
 its title-page these words: '•ISEtat on la Republique de Platon, 
 traduction de Grou ; revue et corrigee sur le texte grec d 'Emm. Bekker* 
 Turning to the ' Avis de VEditeur' we discover that the ' Introduc- 
 tion' is derived from an interesting work, crowned bj; the French 
 Academy, and having for its elevated subject, ^'Education des 
 meres de famille, ou la Civilisation du genre humain par les femmes' 
 the author being M. Aime-Martin. This Introduction is among 
 the most animated and effective pieces of didactic morals I have 
 ever met — I, who ought, perhaps, to be ashamed of having read so 
 much and learned so little; and among the passages of it which 
 most deseiwe to be singled out for special recognition is that in 
 which remark is made on something like a foreshadowing of the 
 tragedy on Calvary. 
 
 " Let us attempt a free translation of that passage : 
 
 "'At that epoch it was a wide-spread doctrine, that nothing is 
 more onerous and cumbersome than wisdom, and nothing is more 
 useful than injustice. Seeing virtue feeble and indigent, men judged 
 it to be unhappy; seeing crime rich and powerful, men judged it to 
 be happy; and from this double spectacle (which does not afflict
 
 OF SALMON l'OKTLAM) CHASE. 761 
 
 republics only) they had deduced this principle, thai injustice ii 
 more favorable to happiness than virtue. 
 
 '"Far from weakening this picture, Plato consecrates it in creat- 
 ing an imaginary just man and an imaginary bad man, whom he 
 places in the highest degrees of crime and wisdom. Bis jusl man 
 shall not only be subjected to misery; be shall be subjected to in- 
 famy and the torture, lie shall be calumniated, whipped, cursed, loaded 
 icith irons, drawn in ignominy, then </< livered to the execution* r, and nailed 
 to the cross. 1 
 
 '""We have here as a presentiment, as a revelation, of the life and 
 of the death of the Christ. 
 
 " 'His bad man ■ shall not be merely a devotee of ambition, without 
 shame; he shall be a hypocrite, the hideous type to which Bffoliere 
 shall go for his Tartuffe; happy in his riches, powerful through his 
 alliances, drawing from all things advantage, because no crime 
 affrights him; conciliating by simulation of virtue the good-will of 
 the people, and by his .sacrifices the protection of the gods. Con- 
 summate villain, whom fortune crowns, and whom men honor I 
 
 "'Well! it is in presence of this suffering and of these prosper- 
 ities, it is in contradiction to the general voice of the nations, that 
 Plato, in the second book of the Republic, solemnly proclaims the 
 just man happy because he is just, the bad man unhappy because he 
 is bad. Admirable revelation of the conscience of Socrates!' 
 
 "Assuredly, success is not a test of merit ! Not alone have 'time 
 and chance' to be considered, but some things of deeper mystery. 
 of darker d}"e. 
 
 "Where Ecclesiastes teaches that the battle is not to the strong, 
 it can not mean that the strong are always beaten b}' the weak, or 
 the good b}' the wicked. Where it teaches that the race is not to 
 the swift, it can not mean that the slow are always first at the goal. 
 The lesson really intended must be, that a good, strong man must 
 not expect, in spite of 'time and chance,' to win the battle, just lie- 
 cause he is so strong; and that the swiftest feet must not expect to 
 win the race because of their velocity, in spite of circumstances — 
 that, 'under the sun,' things are so ordered that what we call acci- 
 dent, and what, perhaps, we may allow ourselves to call interfering 
 causes — not to speak of what men often call • mysterious provi- 
 dence' — must be largely taken into view in trying to forecast BUCO SB 
 
 "Whoever has not read Mill's Logic of the Moral Sciences, partic- 
 ularly where lie turns attention on what he proposes to denominate 
 Ethology — the science, namely, of the formation of character — should 
 now 7 peruse that part of his great work on Logic at large. The 
 doctrine of tendencies is there finely explicated. Such or such a 
 course of* conduct, such or such a bearing, may be said to tend to 
 make a man successful, popular, renowned; but, while what we call 
 accident — while what may be well designated interfering causes — 
 while what, in religion, bears the name of Providence — must be 
 
 ll 'Il sera calomnie. fouette, mnudit, charge de fen, traine dans l'ignoiainie, puis 
 livre au bourreau et cloue sur le croix." 
 
 * So I translate "son meclmnt."
 
 762 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 considered in all sober calculations, we ought not to teach our 
 children that success of any kind can be commanded or secured by 
 any way of life whatever." 
 
 Now and then, as I have found some new difficulty in the way of 
 recognizing Salmon Portland Chase as one of the true worthies 
 of the world, my heart has almost died with apprehension that, 
 after all, I would be forced, by love of truth, to own my judgment 
 that he was a trickster and a trimmer. But I have, without known 
 violation of veracity, been able to proclaim, throughout, my confi- 
 dence in the general rectitude of the man to whom I made that 
 birthday offering. 
 
 I scorn to answer the miserable intimation in the .New York 
 Herald, that that letter was an artful blending of flattery with fair- 
 ness. During the month and more that had elapsed between the 
 day when I began to write this work and the day when I com- 
 posed that birthday letter, I had studied deeply what I could then 
 ascertain about the life of the Chief Justice, with what I had long 
 known of him. Indignant at the treatment he had received in the 
 Cincinnati Commercial and in other papers, and affected not a little 
 also by what 1 had heard about alleged sayings of the Attorney- 
 General, 1 I had perhaps been led to idealize the life and character 
 of the Chief Justice. We shall see, however, after all, that what I 
 said in praise of him, in that birthday offering, needs little qualifi- 
 cation, in the presence of all due considerations. 
 
 But of this, more must be said hereafter. Let me now invite 
 attention to this farther extract from the same birthday offering : 
 
 " In a biographic sketch of Yolney, whom the sketcher curiously 
 paints as few would think that somber soul could be portrayed, 
 notice is taken of the far from philosophic notion that the life of a 
 man of letters may be found complete in the productions of his 
 pen. Rejecting that idea, the not very genial biographer of Yolney 
 falls into an error at the opposite extreme. According to him, the 
 life of a man of letters ought to be an histoire raisonee of the con- 
 tradictions between his avowed principles and his actual behavior. 
 Instances, Rousseau coldly exposing his own offspring, while his 
 pen so tenderly provides for the nurture and education of the little 
 ones in general; Lord Bacon, 
 
 ' Wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind,' 
 
 1 The matter here alluded to was information given to me by my nephew, Mr. 
 Clifford Warden, as to information he had received from Mr. Knowlton, telegraphic 
 correspondent of the Commercial and other papers, on the 7th of December, 1872.
 
 OF SALMON TORTLAND CHASE. 768 
 
 perfecting a philosophy and selling justice; and :i few others, 
 hardly less remarkable, are given, not precisely :is here stair. I, 
 but not very differently; while the Bketcher finds in Volney's pen a 
 
 true reflection of his inmost soul. 
 
 '•Poetic as the prose of Volney is — inspired wi*h all the bigotry 
 of unbelief, so frequently more fearful than the bigotry of the most 
 superstitious faith — it may be simply a reflection of the average 
 condition and characteristic tone and temper of its composer. But, 
 in my opinion, much the greater number of good book 8 must be 
 much better than their authors. 
 
 "Are they, therefore, merely sentimental, or affected, or half- 
 hypocritical? Xot at all. One's life is tempted by itself, and by all 
 that is within it and without;- one's book is not so tempted. When 
 one ceases to write at night, how knows he that lie has not put on 
 paper his last words of real or pretended aspiration? Even if that 
 thought be absent, or, being present, be but little attended to, what 
 a brief space of time is to elapse before one's time to sink into the 
 tomb must come; and, if his pen-work is to live beyond his little 
 span of life, how soon it must be as a voice from the realm of 
 spiritual shades! 
 
 •• Even so, the book ma}' be at once as gay and soaring as a sky- 
 lark at the choicest hour of that bird's musical delight. The very 
 thought of speaking, alter death, to loving hearts, may have in it 
 a very rapture of enchantment; but that rapture ought to be as 
 conscientious as if it were soberest sadness. 
 
 "He who does not wish to make his book much better than its 
 author, is unfit to be an author. 
 
 "Certainly, as I began this letter, I was clearly conscious of a wish 
 that almost ventured to express itself as invocation. That my book 
 about your life, your country, and your times, may more or less 
 idealize itself, as well as him whose speaking, writing, ami other 
 modes of public service, it endeavors to set forth in their true shapes 
 and colors, can not greatly trouble me, if only I can satisty myself 
 that my present work observes, with energy and earnestness, the 
 law just recognized ; the law, namely, which requires a book to bo 
 better than its author. 
 
 "That a writing of this nature may be better than the life of 
 which it is a labor, is not difficult to show. 
 
 "What is a book? Is it a pure creation, or a mere product inn? 
 Does it issue from a single brain, or is it always what might be 
 distinguished as a guiltless plagiarism? M. de Tocqueville, and BOme 
 other censors of our manners," have accused us of an overfondness 
 for quotation — us Americans, I mean, of the description sometimes 
 designated Stock-Americans. Lf these observers had been more fa- 
 miliar with the English people, and with the productions of the 
 English press, for a century or so past, they would not, perhaps, find 
 our proclivity to quote so notable. But, be that as it may. whether 
 one's book formally quotes, or carefully transforms all that it con- 
 sciously derives from other works, it represents, in greater measure 
 or in less, not one man's thoughts and feelings only, but the thoughts 
 and feelings of unnumbered "books and men, the predecessors and 
 precursors of itself and of its author.
 
 764 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 " May this book be infinitely bettor than its author ! May it seem 
 to him so infinitely, better than its author, that, acknowledging his 
 fallibility, and feeling that he may attribute to the life his volume 
 is subjecting to a free and fair examination, an ideal interest, or, on 
 the other hand, deny to it the elevation really belonging to it, he 
 may } T et feel that the absolute requirements of his book forbid him 
 to indulge in any childish vanity about the views of other persons." 
 
 That excitement marks this language, is not to be denied. I was 
 excited — I do not conceal it — when those words were written. I had 
 just discerned -new illustration of the truth that, at the best, this life 
 must be a battle. I did not foresee the fearful battle that this work 
 would have to deliver to all manner of desperate opposition; but I 
 did foresee that the then designed account of our hero's life and times 
 would be obliged to face innumerable prejudices. 
 
 I adhere to those excited words, however. They were warmly 
 written ; they were very earnest. After all, however, it appears 
 to me, their ouly inspiration was an unaffected love of truth and 
 justice. 
 
 I am told that one of the maligners of this work — one of its 
 prophetic censors (Mr. Halstead, namely) — dissented from the pre- 
 tended judgment of another (Mr. Whitelaw Reid), who had stooped 
 so low as to describe me to the public as a blackguard. Mr. Hal- 
 stead, I am told, has pronounced that I am not a blackguard, but 
 only a fanatic. I thank Heaven for the fanaticism that has 
 made this book so faithful, so veracious, so determined — at all haz- 
 ards, and in spite of every form of at least attempted persecution — 
 to perform its holy office, without fear or favor! 
 
 In the Introduction is an extract from that birthday letter, indi- 
 cating, at once, my desire of autobiographic contributions and my 
 purpose to preserve, throughout, due biographic independence. The 
 conclusion of the letter reads as follows: 
 
 "At present, let me say a word or two, by way of farther salu- 
 tation. 
 
 " Five-and-sixty years ago, this day, began the life to which my 
 book is to devote its chief attention. If one open with that life a 
 double-entry system of Debit and Credit, moral, intellectual, and 
 physical, one must put down on the Debit side a certain harmony 
 of machine and of mechanics, of faculty and function, of corporeal and 
 incorporeal possibilities and capabilities. Such was the trust that 
 you received from nature, and the trust was much increased by 
 education. 
 
 " How is it with the Credit side of that account? Success, again I
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND « \i.\-\ . 765 
 
 say, is not a test of merit. I do bono* bo do man on account of bis 
 position or of his successes. Have not I, myself; with all my foibles, 
 ami in spite of my mistakes, held places of high trust, snd delii I 
 as well as great ami various, responsibility 7 Assuredly, I bans do 
 morbid feeling on the subject of success ami failure. Y. t. air, if 1 
 very highly honor and felicitate you, as yoa know 1 do, this day. 
 not on account of your position, or of any of your ]>a>t distinctii 
 and successes. 
 
 "Truly meritorious and very various use of your original endow- 
 ment and acquired ability, has made the Credit side of that account 
 a crowd of items you may well regard, on this interesting anni\ 
 sary, with grateful eyes, and all the pride that may become self- 
 contemplation. 
 
 "As for your successes, one may say that some id' them arc sim- 
 ply wonderful, in view of the relation to them of the people, the 
 great mass of voters, with their leaders; many ol the latter, faith- 
 less demagogues. 
 
 "Five and- thirty years, I think, have passed since the writer of 
 this letter began to see, without hearing, him to whom it is addressed. 
 And the lapse of nearly three-and-thirty years lies between the 
 present writing and the time when I began to hear as weli 
 to see you, and commenced to study your characteristic traits ^nd 
 tendencies, as I supposed that 1 discerned them. But, in common 
 with vast numbers of the dwellers in the Cincinnati valley, on both 
 sides of the river, I was made, b} T unconscious prejudices, quite inca- 
 pable of justly judging your ideas and your disposition. 
 
 "You were then represented as an Abolitionist. In common with 
 so many of my fellow-citizens, I looked on an Abolitionist as either 
 of disordered intellect or morbid morals. 
 
 "Were you, really, an Abolitionist at any time? To answer DOW, 
 would be an ill-advised anticipation, and would be impossible, with- 
 out a very careful definition I am not disposed to undertake at pi 
 ent. 1 Let the answer be reserved. However that may turn out, 
 the entirely certain facts are, that you were denounced and hated as 
 an Abolitionist, and that the gnat bod}* of the people, at the period 
 referred to, hated and denounced all real or imagined Abolitionists. 
 About these facts there ought to be no question. 
 
 "Yet you are, this day. and have been, for more than eight years, 
 Chief Justice, and you would have been Chief Magistrate, more than 
 eight years ago, had you been less in earnest, le>s devoted to your 
 principles, less proud, and vainer. 
 
 "This distinction between pride and vanity must he explained 
 with some care. It is not the distinction made by Montesquieu ami 
 other writers; but I feel quite ready to defend it, as 1 shall define 
 it, as well taken and substantial. 
 
 "Let me hold the contemplated explanation for the letter in 
 which I propose to indicate the sources and the claims of my d( 
 to have you make some autobiographic contributions to tin- volume 
 which this open letter, aided by one <>r two others, is designed to 
 introduce to other readers; in short, to the public.'' 
 
 « Post.
 
 766 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 January 18, I received this answer : 
 
 " "Washington, January 17, 1873. 
 
 "My Dear Judge: I was surprised and gratified by your letter, 
 on the occasion of my birthday. Should you pursue the purpose 
 you indicate, I shall be happy to afford you all the aid — not much — 
 in my power. 
 
 " You are right in repeating that success does not argue merit. 
 It has phased Divine Providence to make [?ne] instrumental in the pro- 
 motion of two great Reforms, both political — one social, and the other 
 financial. But I claim no merit in either. 
 
 " The difficulty I find in writing, must be my excuse for brevity. 
 But I shall always be glad to see you. 
 
 "Meanwhile, I am, gratefully and faithfully, yours, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE. 
 
 "Hon. E. B. Warden." 
 
 Did the writer of that letter comprehend his true relation to his 
 country and his times? Could he behold himself as he was seen 
 by others? Did he know himself? 
 
 The sentence on which special stress has just been laid, points 
 out, I think, the chief relations of the life we study to the coun- 
 try and the times. But, in my judgment, precedence in point of 
 glory, as in time, belongs to the work done in promotion of the 
 social reform, though I have endeavored, in order, to display a due 
 appreciation of the work done in promotion of a real or supposed 
 financial reform.
 
 OF SAI.Mon PORTLAND CHASE, 767 
 
 CHAPTER LII . 
 
 SUPPLY OF MATTER FOR THIS WORK — NEW RELATIONS. 
 
 MY views of the necessities of biographic composition, in the 
 month of January, 1873, did not induce me to call frequently 
 on the Chief Justice. I did not desire again to meet him :it his 
 table, or in the society of his near relatives, whose way of life so 
 differed from my own, whose taste appeared to me to have been 
 cultivated to excess, and who, it seemed to me, could not assist me 
 greatly in the gathering of matter for a work of the description 
 then in contemplation. But, one morning in the month jtwt 
 named, I had occasion to see the Chief Justice for an instant, at 
 the conference-room, as the clerk supposed I might. But the Chief 
 Justice sent me word that he could not see me then, but that he would 
 be happy to meet me that afternoon at Mrs. Sprague's reception. 
 
 Thus I had to face a difficulty I had, so far, carefully avoided. 
 I addressed a note to the Chief Justice, most respectfully declining 
 his kind invitation, and explaining my intention not to go into 
 " society " that winter. In reply, he wrote to me as follows : 
 
 "Washington. January '.)]. ]>~'.\. 
 " 601 E" Sikh , 
 '•Dear Sir: At the moment you called, I was actually engaged 
 in my duties as presiding judge. The clerk was not much mistaken, 
 though it is seldom, on conference days, that I have even live min- 
 utes' leisure. 
 
 "I wish you would call on me freely. "Whether you care to be 
 presented to the ladies or not. may be a subject of after consideration. 
 "Yours, cordially, S. P. CHASH . 
 
 " To the Honorable Robert B. "Warden." 
 
 Even after receiving that answer, I could not bring myself to call 
 on the Chief Justice freely; but, on the evening of the 7th of Feb- 
 ruary following, he sent me, on one of his visiting-cards, the 
 request : 
 
 "Dear Judge: Can you call this evening, before 9. If you can 
 conveniently, you will oblige me by doing so. 
 
 "Yours, truly, S. P. C, 001 E Street. 
 
 "Hon. R. B. "Warden.
 
 708 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 What was wanted was, it seemed, the copying of an opinion ! 
 But that was, evidently, a mere pretext. So^ indeed, I learned, 
 afterward, from the Chief Justice himself. 
 
 I confess, I felt somewhat affronted on learning what I had been 
 sent for, though I was told that Mr. Lloyd, the private secretary, 
 had gone to New York, and that the opinion was to be used next 
 morning. The Chief Justice saw how I felt ; and said what he 
 could to explain so strange an application. I consented to do the 
 required copying. Afterward, I conjectured that he had wished to 
 see what I could do, when I tried, in the way of legible handwrit- 
 ing; and that what he had in view was nothing less than to pro- 
 pose to me so far to " waive rank," as he expressed it, as to take the 
 place of Mr. Lloyd for a short time, — first, in order that the Chief 
 Justice might feel freer to make a contemplated summer trip; and, 
 second, that my biographic undertaking might, as he conceived, be 
 much facilitated. 
 
 But I have anticipated. On the 8th of February, in the morn- 
 ing, he received from me the copy I had made at his request. He 
 did not thank me; but began at once to question me about my 
 family, about my purposes and prospects at Washington, and about 
 a report that he had heard that I had become the correspondent of 
 a certain paper. I explained to him that I had no connection 
 whatever with any paper ; but that I was very strongly tempted 
 to abandon the profession of the law, though I knew that I could 
 never cease to take great interest in legal letters. And I owned 
 that I would willingly become again, in a special sense, a follower 
 of Franklin, whose works, as admirably rendered into French by 
 Laboulaye, I had been reading, not for the first time, that winter. 
 
 Will the reader please remember what winter that was? It was 
 the darkest moral winter Ave have had at Washington. It was the 
 Credit Mobilier winter. Never had I felt so tempted to be ashamed 
 of being an American. At that time, Washington appeared to* me 
 a very hell on earth. In studying the aspects of the public life 
 there within reach of observation, I had stood aghast. It seemed 
 to me, in my depression and dismay, that every department of 
 our public life at the seat of Government was poisoned ; and the 
 practice of the law at Washington then seemed entirely uninviting. 
 
 On the morning of the 8th of February, I received the first 
 supply of biographic matter from Chief Justice Chase; and learned 
 from him that he intended soou to visit Edgewood, with his private
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASEt 7<>!» 
 
 secretary, for the purpose of enabling himself to supply me in full, 
 according to his promise and my expectation. But I t ■ > 1 < 1 him 1 wa- 
 
 not impatient, and that he could take his time; that I arai Studying 
 the Wirt family, and especially the head of it, with special reference 
 to the relation of that family to part of his career. 
 
 He knew that I had contributed to the Capital a piece entitled 
 Agyics Wirt, a Story. He had indeed communicated to me that .Mr. 
 Lloyd had erroneously informed me that he, the Chief Justice, had 
 been engaged to Agnes Wirt. 
 
 " I was,"' he said, "too poor, at that time, to look so high." 
 
 If I remember rightly, I did not again see him till about the 1st 
 of March. Then it was that he opened to me his wish to have me 
 take what he called a "clerkship in bankruptcy," which, a^ be ex- 
 plained, would place me daily mar his person while he remained in 
 Washington, and, during his intended trip to Colorado, would 
 enable me to act for him as already indicated, in recommending 
 registers for appointment. He made known, at the same time, that 
 acting as his private secretary was, by usage, incident to the holding 
 of the place proposed; and he asked me to "waive rank" for a 
 time, by taking the proposed position. He considered that to do so 
 would not only greatly relieve him, but much promote my biographic 
 undertaking. 
 
 I confess, I felt again affronted. That offer seemed to me, at 
 first, an offer equally unworthy of Chief Justice Chase and of the 
 man to Whom it was proposed. I was not, indeed, ashamed to toil 
 in any honorable way for daily bread ; but to be private secretary — 
 even to Chief Justice Chase — was a thing which, at first, I could 
 not look upon as other than a degradation. 
 
 On reflection, I considered that this feeling was a weak one, and 
 that nothing inconsistent with the respect and kindness I had been 
 accustomed to receive from the Chief Justice was in contemplation 
 in that offer; yet the offer seemed to me an ill-considered one. and 
 I was inclined to say at once that I would not accept it. Bui 1 
 only said that, while it seemed to have much in its favor, I could 
 not at once determine how to treat it. He explained that he mu.-t 
 know before the 21st of March, because at that time Mr. Lloyd ex- 
 pected to vacate his post. I told him I could let him know within 
 a few days my determination. So we parted, for the time. 
 
 After consultation, I regret to say, my judgment yielded to advice 
 and counsel, and I told our hero that, limiting the time of service
 
 770 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 from the day proposed by him — March 21 — as the day of begin- 
 ning, to December 1, I would perform the duties he proposed. 
 
 That that was a great error, no one can discern more clearly than 
 do I. But my motives were, at least, entirely proper. Much of 
 the evil that has followed that great error was then almost wholly 
 beyond the reach of apprehension. 
 
 On the 20th of March, 1872, a large supply of biographic matter 
 was delivered to me. At first I used it in the library at Senator 
 Sprague's; but, early in April, it was taken, by the servants of our 
 hero, under his direction, without my presence and without my aid, 
 to the house in which the body of this work has been composed. 
 
 But soon I saw that all was not well as to the manner in which 
 my new relations to Chief Justice Chase affected Mrs. Sprague and 
 the Senator. Their bearing toward me caused me to address the 
 former, very courteously and kindly, in relation to this work and 
 in relation to some other matters proper to be touched in such a 
 note. 
 
 That note was dated and delivered March 28 — about forty days 
 before the death of the Chief Justice. It commenced as follows : 
 
 " Washington, March 28, 1873. 
 
 " Madam : It is proper, I conceive, that you should not misap- 
 prehend the circumstances which have made me, with the sanction 
 of your father, his biographer." 
 
 Then followed a brief account of those circumstances, with some 
 other intimations which I deemed important ; and my note went on 
 as follows : 
 
 " Out of my entertainment of the idea so suggested grew, not like 
 a mushroom, the idea explained in a letter to your father, dated Jan- 
 uary 13, 1873, which, foreshadowing as it does the scope and spirit 
 of the book I am composing about ' The Life and Times of Chief 
 Justice Chase,' I am quite willing to submit to your examination at 
 any time." 
 
 Had that offer been accepted, Mrs. Sprague, our hero's gifted and 
 accomplished eldest daughter, would have read, among other things, 
 the words quoted in the Introduction, touching my determination 
 not to suffer any person — not, above all, to suffer the hero of the 
 work — to supervise or to dictate its contents. But she would have 
 found no indication that I was unwilling to receive either informa- 
 tion or suggestions from her.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 771 
 
 I was not in the least inclined to disregard any well-considered 
 
 views of hers. She seemed to me, 1 own, too tasteful — for excessive 
 taste is possible — but I was willing, nay desirous, to be aided by 
 her, and to pay due respect to all her reasonable wishes. Was if, 
 then, ridiculous to offer to submit my birthday letter to examina- 
 tion, as the letter just quoted indicated I was willing t<> dp? Al- 
 most every thing has an aspect in which it may be ridiculed ; but 
 the letter just quoted was, at least, well considered aud well 
 intended. 
 
 It was answered — not quite promptly, but with characteristic 
 taste — in person, by the lady to whom it was written. She assured 
 me that she was much gratified by the explanation made in my 
 communication, and desired me to feel quite at home beneath her 
 roof while my duties called me there. What more she said I do 
 not feel required, and am not disposed, to set forth at present ; but 
 it was in terms, at least, quite interesting and agreeable. 
 
 There was no word then about any other biographer. The lady 
 who has, since her father's death, felt free to insult and to attempt 
 to persecute the man so honored and so trusted by her father, did 
 not mention Mr. Schuckers. And I ought to state at once that 
 when, months after the death of the Chief Justice, the indiscretion 
 of Mr. Maunsell B. Field, in conversation with a friend of mine, 
 allowed me to learn that Mr. Schuckers, more than countenanced 
 by our hero's daughters and their husbands, was at work on a Life 
 of Chase, the representation was that that work was only a " Memo- 
 rial Life," whatever that may have been thought to signify. 
 
 But on the 28th of March, 1873, and while our hero remained in 
 life — indeed, until I saw the first indications of a desperate con- 
 spiracy against my biographic enterprise — I would have been 
 glad to receive information about him from any source whatever. 
 On the other hand, I intended at all times to preserve with 
 care the necessary freedom and the necessary independence of a 
 conscientious biographer, in spite of every man and every woman 
 in the world. 
 
 When I began to see the nature of the matter furnished for my 
 biographic use, I was almost confounded. I had not before had 
 the slightest conception of the vastness and variety of the matter I 
 would have to handle. The responsibility thus cast upon me 
 weighed upon my heart and disturbed my health. 
 
 The Chief Justice had taken ample time to consider what he 
 50
 
 772 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 ouo-ht to furnish. I had kept away from him until he almost found 
 fault with me for so doing. Knowing me as we have seen he must 
 have known me, he determined for himself how much he would 
 confide in me; and he confided all. 
 
 Among the documents he furnished me was a locked register, or 
 diarv. I did not have the key of it at first. He waited till I joc- 
 ularly owned my curiosity about it, and referred to the plot of Blue- 
 beard ; then he told me that I was to have the key, but that it was 
 at Edwewood. He would get it for me when we next went out to 
 that country-seat of his. 
 
 By this time we had had more than one conversation as to the 
 intended biographic and historic work. It had become apparent 
 that he wished me to pay more attention than I had originally con- 
 templated giving to his private life. 
 
 As I have learned more and more about his public life, I have 
 been more and more enabled to appreciate that wish of his. With- 
 out the studies I have made of his private life, I would be quite in dan- 
 ger of discerning little in his public life, after 1 845, to praise or even 
 to excuse. His public life would not in general seem laudable to 
 me without the light afforded by his private life. 
 
 But when I obtained the key of that locked diary, and compared 
 its contents with the contents of other diaries or registers, I was al- 
 most prostrated by the sense of the responsibility that he had put 
 upon me, by acquainting me with the revelations which those doc- 
 uments were capable of making. 
 
 Once, in spite of my intention to preserve due biographic inde- 
 pendence, I attempted to submit to him a question touching the 
 propriety of using some of the revelations here referred to. He 
 declined to aid my judgment, saying that he was an interested 
 person, that he had referred all that to my judgment and my 
 sense of justice, and that I must do just what my judgment and 
 my sense of justice should, after due reflection, seem to order. He 
 would only say that, where there was a doubt, perhaps the proper 
 way would be to resolve that doubt against suppression. All the 
 contents of those diaries were at least true; and the truth was 
 very seldom really injurious to any interest. 
 
 I have at hand a work, entitled Lincoln and Seward, 
 by Gideon Welles, Ex-Secretary of the Navy. What I find in 
 that book, what I found contributed by its author to the Galaxy, 
 what I found in Mr. Field's already more than once noticed Memories
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 77-1 
 
 of Many Men and of Some Women, what I have reason to expect to 
 find in Mr. Sclmckers's book about our hero, — these and other things 
 might be mentioned as affecting my final conclusion as to the pro- 
 priety of using all the matter offered by preceding pages of the 
 present work. Even on putting the manuscript into the hands of 
 the publishers, I reserved the right of striking out some portion-, 
 if, on full consideration, they should seem to me improper* After 
 what appears to me sufficient study of the subject, I have judged 
 as indicated by preceding paragraphs and chapters. I am sen- 
 sible that I may have erred in this conclusion ; but my conscience 
 is entirely satisfied with it, and I have no apology to make for 
 it whatever. 
 
 Possibly, the judgment of fair-minded and enlightened critics 
 may condemn our hero for recording certain portions of the matter 
 here in question. I am far from clear that he did well in that be- 
 half. But had I taken the responsibility of not presenting the 
 matter here referred to, I could not have felt that I had thoroughly 
 performed my biographic duty. 
 
 Let me now invite attention to another fallacy and falsehood in 
 that Herald article. That article, having said that Mr. Chase 
 "kept full notes of the conversations had with him by public men 
 during his services in the Treasury," proceeds, in its fine English, 
 to subjoin : 
 
 "It is not the purpose, we believe, to print them; Mr. Schuckers, 
 in whose possession they are, only using them to guide him in his 
 work." 
 
 No statement could be falser. Even supposing that this fine 
 critic means, not the conversations, but the notes of them, those 
 notes are now in my possession. Mr. Schuckers tried, no doubt, to 
 get them when he visited my trunk, as elsewhere stated ; but I had 
 removed them, in anticipation of some outrage of that kind, after I 
 learned of the frauds that had been practiced on this work. But 
 the article just quoted also says: 
 
 "Their substance is in the biography, wherein they illustrate Mr. 
 Chase's views, but freed from the explosive force that Judge Warden 
 promises from the diaries; for it is well understood that he is to 
 publish them." 
 
 And this in the same wretched libel which accuses me of a design 
 to mutilate these diaries ! I grant, however, that no explosive
 
 774 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 force, nor any other force, is likely to distinguish the biography so 
 much preferred to that presented in these pages. But the sen- 
 tence just partly quoted ends by stating that my " friends have 
 already taken pleasure in informing the world that many things 
 which Mr. Chase said of himself and his family will prove very 
 distasteful to his daughters." Now, no friend of mine has made 
 any such intimation. If the daughters of our hero find the reve- 
 lations of this work distasteful, they must vindicate their taste. My 
 work requires, in that behalf, no vindication. 
 
 Never have 1 found, or fancied that I found, or hinted that I had 
 discovered, aught that ought to be distasteful to either of our hero's 
 daughters. Nor, reviewing what this volume shows about the three 
 marriages of Salmon Portland Chase, do I find a sentence which 
 should be offensive to those ladies, or to any other person. 
 
 That study of Wirt's life and character appeared to me a proper 
 part of preparation for the final composition of the present work, 
 has been already intimated. Well ! one day I was looking in Alli- 
 bone's Dictionary of Authors for the article " Wirt," when, to my 
 astonishment, I found a little article entitled, " Warden, Robert B." 
 I had had reason to suppose myself, and I had up to that time actually 
 supposed myself, to be unnoticed in that work. I had tried to keep 
 out of it, indeed, for reasons I have not here space to indicate. The 
 article I found, at my expense, was most delusively defective. There- 
 upon, alarmed as to what might happen to the present work, if a 
 publisher, applied to to make publication of it, should turn to that 
 provoking article, I wrote to Mr. Whitelaw Reid a letter contain- 
 ing a card I wished him to publish in the Tribune, in the course of 
 which card my relation to Chief Justice Chase as his biographer 
 was most distinctly indicated. Mr. Reid replied, in patronizing 
 tone, as an "old editor," impertinently offering unasked advice. 
 His letter bears date April 7th. Yet this man has since either 
 written for the Tribune, or permitted the Tribune to contain, with- 
 out correction, a coarse editorial, implying total ignorance of the 
 fact just mentioned. 
 
 Whether wisely or unwisely, my policy was to give extensive 
 notice of my biographic undertaking, so that I might draw out 
 matter which, otherwise, might not come out at all. The National 
 Republican, :it Washington, contained two letters from me on the 
 subject, and the Ohio State Journal three, all published during our 
 hero's life-time. He took no exception to that course, and I know 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 775 
 
 that he read at least one of the letters referred to; for he mentioned 
 and commented on that one. 
 
 Just here I may relate an anecdote that may appear decidedly 
 significant. 
 
 A short time before I became Chief Justice Chase's private secre- 
 tary, I visited him one morning. I found with him Governor Law- 
 rence and Mr. R. C. Parsons. He took out of my hands Kennedy's 
 Life of Wirt and Bigelow's edition of Franklin's Autobioynipla/, 
 works belonging to my own collection. That occasioned talk about 
 books. I felicitated Governor Lawrence on a French book I had 
 read, of which he was the author. Thereupon "dear Parsons" felt 
 inspired to talk about a book of mine, which he said my publishers 
 had sent to him to review. Good Heavens ! what a notion ! But 
 he said my book had proved too deep for him, entirely. I expressed 
 my conviction that he told the truth. He said that he was serious. 
 I assured him again that I did not doubt it. Then he tried auother 
 form of making that assurance clear ; and I again assured him that 
 I had no doubt of his assurance. By that time the Chief Justice had 
 begun to be markedly amused. " Dear Parsons," even then, could 
 not persuade himself to quit the subject. I assured him gravely 
 that I had no doubt at all that my book had proved too deep for 
 him, though it had not proved too deep for Mr. Rice, his towns- 
 man, or for the North American Review, or for the Independent, or 
 for the Neiv Englander, or for ; but I will not continue the list. 
 
 " Dear Parsons " evidently had an object. I supposed that I 
 divined his object; but I knew what he did not, as to the estimation 
 of that former work of mine by the Chief Justice. And I have no 
 doubt at all that that little failure of "dear Parsons" to make 
 game of me, was one of the things that tended to increase the 
 attachment between the hero of this volume and its author. 
 
 But the incident was one to be remembered. And I did remem- 
 ber it when I saw the relation of " dear Parsons " to the already 
 indicated plot against this book.
 
 776 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER LIII. 
 
 TALKS AND "WALKS WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE — GRANT AND CHASE. 
 
 THE author of this work had many walks and many deeply 
 interesting talks with its hero. 
 
 "We talked more than once about the President, and this at my 
 special instance. It was evident that I could not use the material 
 with which he had furnished me without saying more or less about 
 Ulysses Grant — a man of whom my first impression had been 
 eminently favorable, but whom I had afterward come to regard 
 unfavorably. 
 
 I may here avail myself of a letter, written to the President last 
 summer, in these words : 
 
 "Washington, June 19, 1873. 
 
 "Sir: I shall take the liberty of sending to your Excellency some 
 printed pages, indicating the plans, the motives, and the contemplated 
 scope of a work, in which much must be said of your apparent tend- 
 encies and past demeanor. 
 
 "That I am not prejudiced, as I have reason to believe I was, for 
 some years, against your Excellency, is very largely, though not 
 wholly, due to some uncommonly careful conversations with the late 
 Chief Justice. 
 
 •' I explained to him my ardent desire to do you entire justice in 
 the work referred to, telling him that your apparent magnanimity in 
 the Runkle case, in which I was of counsel for accused — a conversa- 
 tion 1 had had with Mr. Justice Swayne — and some other talks — of 
 which some were with my brother, Colonel "Warden — had strongly 
 tended to convince me that I had been, for some time, at fault, 
 respecting your true characteristics and your real conduct ; but that 
 I was very anxious to be well advised as possible on a subject so 
 important to my biographic and historic undertaking. 
 
 "He conversed with me quite freely, in the interest of that anx- 
 iety, on more than one occasion ; and always manifested high appre- 
 ciation of your military merits and your general rectitude of purpose, 
 while he quite severely censured the Congress, and decidedly con- 
 demned some things which you were understood to sanction. 
 
 "He ascribed to you exalted love of country, and acknowledged 
 that ho had misjudged you, years ago, especially in 1868. 
 
 " To set out here more than the general effect of what he said 
 about your Excellency, would be to make a very voluminous commu-
 
 OP SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 777 
 
 nication of this letter. But, mindful of the uncertainty of human 
 life, and taking into view that my work aforesaid may not fully go 
 before the public for some time to come, I take this meaus of doing 
 simple justice to the dead as well as to the living. 
 
 " I put at your Excellency's free disposal the foregoing statement; 
 and I take great pleasure in acknowledging that, though I never 
 spoke or wrote a word about you, which did not, at the time, appear 
 to me well warranted, I am now entirely satisfied that I have unin- 
 tentionally done injustice, publicly as well as privately, to your 
 intentions and your actions both. 
 
 " With great respect, E. B. WAEDEN. 
 
 "The President." 
 
 That letter remained unanswered up to the 7th of February, 1874. 
 On that clay I again addressed the President, saying, in substance, 
 simply, that I had, while he was at Long Branch, in 1873, ad- 
 dressed to him a perfectly courteous letter, on a subject of supposed 
 interest to him ; and that whether he had received it or not, still 
 remained unknown to me. Thereupon I received this note : 
 
 " Executive Mansion, 
 "Washington, February 11, 1874. 
 
 " Sir: The President directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 7th inst., and say that he did receive your letter last 
 summer, and supposed it was acknowledged at the time. He wishes 
 me to assure j'ou of his thanks for the kindness which dictated it, 
 and his regrets that he should have seemed to neglect it. 
 "1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 LEVI P. LUCKEY, Secretary. 
 "Mr. E. B. Warden, Washington, D. C." 
 
 The Chief Justice needed little more than a hint to make him 
 understand my deep desire to have this work as free as possible 
 from aught resembling injustice to the President of the United 
 States. 
 
 He had read the report of a speech in which his biographer had 
 freely criticised the course of citizens whom he called Grantites. 
 He knew that it must always be impossible for me to see in any 
 man a hero, to be worshiped as the citizens referred to were, or pre- 
 tended to be, disposed to worship Grant in 1872. But he could 
 readily understand that his biographer would naturally wish to learn 
 as much as possible about the President, and to set aside every prej- 
 udice against that eminent citizen which self-examination could 
 detect, or which conversation with well informed acquaintances of 
 Grant could have the effect of exposing. 
 
 He was evidently pleased to find me so disposed. He talked
 
 778 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 with me about the Congress and the President. Of the former he 
 did not speak praises; of the latter he spoke kindly and appreci- 
 atively. He seemed to think more highly of the President than 
 of his party, to which, on the whole, he evidently preferred the 
 Democratic party. 
 
 I did not agree with him in that preference; which, nevertheless, 
 I could not consider as the less entitling him to my regard. 
 
 Among the things he said to me about Grant, I now proceed to 
 mention one. He said, in substance : 
 
 " I am free to confess, I was mistaken about Grant, in 1868. He 
 had never been a Republican. He had never been opposed to slav- 
 ery, as far as I could learn, before the insurrection of the South. I 
 had no evidence that he would be disposed, if elected President, to 
 do any better for the South — any more to bring the South to the 
 required relation to the Union and the Constitution — than had been 
 done by President Johnson. I feared that, if elected President, he 
 would be even more in the way of a right reconstruction than John- 
 son had been; that he would out-Johnson Johnson. I thought that, 
 if elected, he would not carry out the ideas which had organized the 
 Republican party in the first instance. I confess, if I had not 
 
 thought so, I would not have allowed my name to be used as a can- 
 ts •* 
 
 didate for the Presidency in 1868 ; and I must acknowledge that I now 
 think I did Grant unintentional injustice in so supposing. It seems 
 to me that, though he was not well prepared for the Presidency, he 
 has paid more respect than he might have been expected to pay to 
 the ideas of the party which supported him. He has done or sanc- 
 tioned many things which I can not approve, and he has left un- 
 done many things which I think he could have done, and should 
 have done; but he seems to me, on the whole, a man of good 
 intentions, with a really exalted love of country." 
 
 That is nearly all this volume feels required, or even free, to say 
 about Ulysses Grant. I never yet have spoken to the President. I 
 never heard him say one word. I was not even present when our 
 hero, for the second time, administered to him the Presidential oath, 
 though I was in Washington and passed the grand inaugural page- 
 ant as I went my way westward from the Capitol. This volume is 
 not written by a hero- worshiper. But I sincerely trust that the 
 good opinion of Ulysses Grant, expressed by Salmon Portland Chase, 
 may appear to have been fully warranted. 
 
 We have seen how our hero, for some time, could write about the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 779 
 
 Blairs. Allow me, next, to call attention to this extract from a 
 pleasant little note from Hon. Montgomery Blair to me: 
 
 "For a time, as you intimate, he may have had some resentment 
 toward some of the Blairs. He certainly bad reason to feel resent- 
 ment, and would have been something more or less than a man if 
 he had (not) felt it. But lie was too groat and good a man to har- 
 bor such feelings long toward persons who, though too earnest in 
 controversy, do not themselves eherish malice, and who, after the 
 political divergence had passed away, which alone led to any per- 
 sonal estrangement, were ready to have supported him for the 
 highest position in the nation. 
 
 ••And accordingly you see, by the manner in which he closes his 
 last brief note to me, that if there ever was any other than a kindly 
 feeling toward me, arising out of my opposition to his views, our 
 old friendly relations had been resumed before his career was closed 
 on earth. He had not only pardoned any wrong I had done him 
 before he went hence, but he was my -sincere friend.' 
 
 "I certainly tried to be his friend. I remonstrated with him very 
 earnestly against continuing to discharge his duties on the bench, 
 telling him that men in his situation ought to allow their friends to 
 counsel them, that he had earned the right to a leave of absence, 
 that he was not giving himself a fair chance, etc. 
 
 "Yours, trulv, M. BLA1B. 
 
 "Washington, May 12, 1873." 
 
 In the same note, Judge Blair furnished me with the copy of the 
 note addressed to him, as follows, by our hero : 
 
 " 601 E Street, Monday Morning, 
 
 "2Sth April, 1873. 
 
 "My Dear Mr. Blair: I have not read Mr. Adams's oration. 
 There is no reason, I think, to apprehend any damage to Mr. Lin- 
 coln's memory from the exaggeration of Mr. Seward's merits. But, 
 if my health permitted, T should have no objection to comparing 
 views with yourself and Mr. Welles, and letting the results be made 
 public. Sincerely, your friend, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Xine days after so writing, the Chief Justice ceased to live. 
 That little note appears to me a very precious document. 
 
 The present work may well serve, in part, to correct some of the 
 statements in the already mentioned work of Hon. Gideon Welles, 
 entitled Lincoln and Seward. In that work, as I conceive, Mr. 
 Lincoln is not a little damaged by his indiscreet defender's dis- 
 position to disparage Seward. 
 
 Every scrap of paper in which I find a word addressed to me by 
 the Chief Justice, now appears to me most precious. At hand is
 
 780 THE PRIVATE LIFE ASTD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 this undated scrap of writing, on an also undated note addressed by 
 me to the Chief Justice : 
 
 ""Will you come to breakfast to-morrow, at 9 ? Professor Pierce 
 will be here. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 The breakfast, to which I was thus invited, was a thing to 
 be remembered, though it is to me less tenderly memorable than 
 the breakfast of the 3d of May, the last I had with u my Chief/' 
 as he was not displeased to have me call him. I remember also, 
 with peculiar interest, the breakfast with him on the day when he 
 started on his last visit to Richmond. But the day on which Pro- 
 fessor Pierce was entertained at breakfast, is a day marked in my 
 remembrance by a talk about the Ernest Institute and Popular 
 Nomology. The chief objects of that still but embryonic In- 
 stitute had been explained to the Chief Justice. Proper popular- 
 ization of the popularizable parts of jurisprudence and State science 
 was a thing in which he could not fail to take some interest; but he 
 agreed with me that it seemed almost impossible to convince our 
 savants that nomology can be considered as belonging to the order 
 of true sciences. Indeed, I dare not say that he himself was ever 
 a deep student of nomology. 
 
 Yet I would not be understood to underrate his legal learning. I 
 have already intimated that I thought he did injustice to himself as 
 to his legal learning and ability. 
 
 In this connection, quite as well as in another, I may offer all 
 that I propose to add to what I have elsewhere advanced, about his 
 power and his learning as a legist. 
 
 In endeavoring to aid the readers of these pages to appreciate the 
 legal lore and other learning taken by the hero of this volume 
 into the Chief Justiceship of the United States, perhaps the author 
 is in danger of appearing quite too " "Western," and therefore too 
 narrow, in his notions. 1 Let the reader bear in mind the maxim, 
 " Strike, but hear !" 
 
 1 Among the far from creditable attempts which were made to disparage, in ad- 
 vance, this volume, may be mentioned an announcement in the Publishers Weekly, 
 of three lives of Chase as in progress. Two of them were said to be under very 
 happy auspices. Of this work was said with brevity, if not with the true soul of 
 wit, that the author was "a Western gentleman, Judge Worden." Such is fame ! 
 And such are some men's manners. Eh lien! I trust I prove myself, at least, a 
 gentleman, although a "Western" one. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 781 
 
 I am neither a native nor a resident of Ohio; but it has long 
 seemed to me that there is something wonderfully typical in the 
 whole tract of territory comprehended in the Cincinnati valley and its 
 environs, and that Ohio is, in many aspects, the most representative 
 of all the States. Ohio notably represents the land, which, though 
 its ample boundaries inclose much less than half of the new conti- 
 nent, is generally called America. New York and California are 
 also very typical. They represent, however, not so much the 
 country as some districts of the country. So it is with the " Pal- 
 metto State," and with Louisiana. But Ohio, never equaling, in 
 some respects, the States named with her, much surpasses each of 
 them in typicalness. You behold no " Golden Gate," no stately 
 Hudson, no great spread of waters, where Ohio built her most 
 characteristic city. California has mountains, and the Empire 
 State has mountainous expanses ; a " new Switzerland " delights 
 the tourist in New Hampshire; through the Keystone State, the 
 Old Dominion, the two Carol inas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, 
 Kentucky, pass the Alleghanies or their cognate elevations ; in 
 Missouri, there appear forerunners of the Rocky Mountains ; in 
 the heights last named are aspirations and depressions, illustrating 
 the majestic force of contrast in the mountains, — while the territory 
 of Ohio, generally level, is but hilly even where it borders the two 
 terraces of Cincinnati. Once, the Cincinnatian could anticipate the 
 flourishing of a new Rheingau in the lands about these terraces; 
 but California has surpassed Ohio as the Vineyard of America. 
 Then, in important points, New England is more representative than 
 any other portion of the country; and a like remark is applicable 
 to the South. But, on the whole, Ohio, in her land, her people, 
 and her polity and jurisprudence, is more representative than any 
 of her sisters, wayward or demure. 
 
 While Salmon Portland Chase yet lived, I wrote, and the Ohio 
 State Journal published, three letters; one of which, I know, was 
 sent to him, as I expected that it would be. I have reason to 
 believe he did not read it; though he would have done so had he 
 lived a little longer, and been somewhat more at leisure. He and I 
 conversed about those letters, and I told him that I wished him, at 
 his leisure, to peruse them carefully. One of them (the second) 
 reads, in part, as follows : 
 
 "It is worth more than a passing thought, that the Chief Justice 
 set out, as observed in my preceding letter, as a so-called literary
 
 782 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 lawyer. He composed, for publication, verse as well as prose. Yet 
 he was early chosen as a bank attorney, and was destined to become 
 renowned as Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 '•Bank-notes and the notes of music seem not very near akin. A 
 poetic genius is not considered likely to apply itself to financiering. 
 Bid a true poetic genius manifest itself in the verse-making of Chief 
 Justice Chase? A turn for making metrical and rhymed expression 
 of poetic thought and feeling is not seldom seen where no poetic 
 genius is to be discerned. For instance. Warren Hastings, who was 
 certainly no very gifted bard, made verses which admirers could call 
 poetry. 
 
 "The legal teacher of Chief Justice Chase, the tuneful "Wirt, not 
 only wrote poetic prose; he versified with ease and grace. Perhaps 
 his poetic compositions never equaled those of his illustrious pupil ; 
 but only a mere eulogist would venture to maintain that either 
 teacher or pupil came into the world to give splendid illustration to 
 the truth, ' poeta nascitur.' 
 
 " It is far more the taste for poetry than the ability to write it, 
 that displays itself in these two eminent legists. But the fact that 
 each of them indulged and cultivated love of poetry, and, decidedly, 
 had truly poetic fancy and imagination, as well as the emotional 
 characteristics which appear in the souls born to court the muses 
 with success, is not to be forgotten in comparing and contrasting their 
 distinctions. 
 
 " Wirt was a musician. Chase could never either sing or play. But 
 no ungenial man could have composed the verses which the pen of 
 the Chief Justice offered to the public when he was a legal youngster. 
 
 "I have had the privilege of reading his diaries as well as a vast 
 number of his letters. If I were now ready to communicate to read- 
 ers all the revelations of those diaries and letters, no peruser of these 
 paragraphs could fail to see that the hand by which those diaries 
 and letters were composed was guided by a truly genial heart. 
 
 " The sad, sweet story of the earlier sorrows of that heart I must 
 not now relate. 
 
 "Wirt died of grief, they say — of grief for the loss of a 3'oung, 
 bright daughter. I have lately told elsewhere the story of that 
 undying, killing sorrow; and I must again relate it in another place. 
 Chase grieved, perhaps, as deeply, during years of his young man- 
 hood; but his nature was endowed with greater strength than had 
 been given to the nature of his amiable, admirable legal teacher. 
 
 " Something half poetic runs through the whole legal life of Chase, 
 except where the prosaic only could be manifest. The conclusion 
 of his argument in the celebrated Vanzandt case reminded me of the 
 poetic prose of Milton. 
 
 '• Wirt was a good lawyer. Chase is a great legist. 
 
 "He is not so learned in so-called 'case-law' as his brother, 
 Swaync. or as Senator Thurman ; he is not so eloquent as many 
 lawyers one could name; but, take him for all in all, he has no 
 superior within my knowledge as a jurist; and his argument of 
 legal questions, whether at the bar or on the bench, has always been 
 felicitous in thought as well as in expression. 
 
 "In Ohio, much attention has been given to the limitations of the
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 783 
 
 local vigor of the English common law. atl'ected by constitutional 
 provisions, by legislative enactment, and by the customs, modes of 
 life, and ideas of the people of that State. The maxim, cessante ra- 
 tione cessat lex, has there been deeply studied. To discern those lim- 
 itations, and to comprehend the application of that maxim, is to be 
 a statesman. 
 
 "This was evidentl}- very clear to Salmon Portland Chase, when 
 be had finished his laborious and faithful compilation of the Statutes 
 of Ohio. It is not so evident as it ought to be to many lawyers, 
 who have massive dockets ami rich clients. Many lawyers are ap- 
 parently of the opinion that the law is an unnecessary study to the 
 legist. Mr. Chase was never of that ilk. He was, in all things, 
 thorough, patient, practical, and therefore, in the best sense, phi- 
 losophical. 
 
 "Therefore it was that his agitation as a legist against slavery 
 was so effective. What inspired it, how it came to be an earnest 
 and determined agitation, and how it fairly forced the agitator into 
 candidature, I will not, in this communication, undertake to inti- 
 mate." 
 
 It seems to me entirely safe to stand for that entirely unpretend- 
 ing judgment, save in one particular. My subsequent studies of 
 the legal learning and ability of William Wirt have tended to 
 make me question whether it is right to rank him below our hero 
 as a legist. 
 
 Wirt, we have observed, was what is called a "literary lawyer.'' 
 Now, your literary lawyer's legal learning, and even his ability as a 
 mere advocate, the whole body of mere lawyers will be always 
 found disparaging. But Wirt was really, all things considered, 
 one of the best lawyers of this country. 1 
 
 1 In an article on The Supreme Court, in the Cincinnati American, our hero, then a 
 young lawyer, wrote as follows: 
 
 "Leaving the bench, and descending to the bar, the names of Webster and Wirt 
 immediately occur to the mind. The action of Mr. Webster's mind seems to be pecul- 
 iar. His distinguishing attributes are clearness and force. His views are always 
 lucid, and are presented with great power. They appear to be the result of deep 
 reflection, rather than of study, and seem to indicate a preference of the enlarged 
 reason of that universal justice, which Cicero styles 'the wisdom of command and 
 prohibition,' to the more artificial methods of the common law. He is remarkable 
 for strength rather than for acuteness; for the herculean vigor with which he 
 grapples with his adversary, than for the dexterity with which he subverts his 
 positions. He seldom attempts the sublime; but when he does soar, his flight is 
 upon no middle wing, and for no ignoble purpose. His enunciation is clear and 
 distinct. His voice is deep and sonorous; his language plain and intelligible, yet 
 chaste and elegant. Sometimes his phraseology is peculiarly striking and ex- 
 pressive. His manner, though somewhat deficient in ease and grace, is dignified 
 and impressive. Such is a meagre description of Daniel Webster as a lawyer.
 
 784 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Hon. Reverdy Johnson, who presided at a meeting of the mem- 
 bers of the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, held in 
 the court-room of that tribunal in the Capitol, October 13, 1873, 
 said, in the course of his opening statement: 
 
 "As our late loss was that of the presiding judge, it is sufficient to 
 pay a passing tribute to the memory of those who preceded him as 
 well as to that of the late chief. It may with truth be said that no 
 nation in the world has produced abler and purer judges than Jay 
 and Ellsworth, Marshall, Taney, and Chase. The labors of Marshall 
 and Taney, covering so many years of service, do, more and more, 
 as time rolls on, command the admiration of the profession, and of 
 the country. Chief Justice Chase's term was so brief that the law- 
 yer readily remembers the few judgments which he pronounced. 
 
 "The ability of these judgments, the full knowledge which they 
 display, and the admirable judicial style in which they were ren- 
 dered, filled the professional mind not only with admiration, but 
 with wonder. For many years he had ceased to practice the profes- 
 sion, devoting himself almost exclusively to the political contests of 
 the day. His immediate labors before his elevation to the bench 
 were, it is true, excessively arduous, and evinced the greatest ability, 
 but they bore little or no analogy to the subjects which he had to 
 treat when he became the head of the tribunal. It was surprising, 
 therefore, that, at the very threshold of his duties, he exhibited a 
 knowledge entirely adequate to their able and satisfactory discharge. 
 
 "Mr. Wirt, is the great rival of Mr. Webster at the bar. To say that he is worthy 
 to be so, is a high, yet far from a just tribute to his merit. The character of his 
 mind is not generally understood. There is a general impression that he is distin- 
 guished for brilliancy rather than strength, that he is endowed with a fertile fancy and 
 splendid imagination, but is deficient in the power of deep thought and logical inves- 
 tigation. Never was opinion more groundless. True it is that he can paint in the 
 most glowing colors of fancy, and true that he is master of all the graces of elo- 
 quence. But these are but auxiliary, subordinate powers. They are but a light 
 drapery, which he can put on and off at will. The higher powers are equally his, 
 and are far more frequently exhibited in actual exercise. His investigations are 
 remarkably profound. There is no principle, however slightly connected with the 
 case, which he does not examine in all its bearings. His argumentation is close. 
 severe, and logical; of course, exceedingly powerful. 
 
 " His mind is thoroughly imbued with legal learning, and that system of reason 
 which is peculiar to the law. He grasps at once the whole subject in all its exten- 
 sion ; and, at the same time, inspects the detail in all its minuteness. His power of 
 sarcasm is tremendous, and woe to the unlucky wight who provokes its exercise! 
 His generalship in the conduct of a cnuse is admirable. Every strong post is forti- 
 fied with assiduous care, and the intervening spaces are not left unguarded. Few 
 of his positions can be assaulted with hope of success, and few are the contests in 
 which he is obliged to yield to superior strength. In fine, it may be justly said of 
 him, while as an orator he is acknowledged to equal any, in strength of mind, depth 
 of thought, power of argument, and splendor of genius he is surpassed by none."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 785 
 
 The occasion will not permit me to refer particularly to any of his 
 opinions; but I know you will not think me going too far when I say 
 that, judging him by those opinions, he proved himself in nil respects 
 the equal of the great men who preceded him; and that his uniform 
 kindness and courtesy to all the members of the profession com- 
 manded their esteem and regard." 
 
 I beg pardon; but it seems to me that was not said with full 
 knowledge of the facts. Whoever knew the legal life of Chase at 
 Cincinnati, knew him not only as a legal genius, but as a man of 
 thorough legal learning. He was not distinguished as a "jury 
 lawyer;" he was not, addressing a jury, happy as were other advo- 
 cates that I could name; but his addresses to the court were very 
 models. Then, one thought not of his troubled utterance. His lofty 
 reasoning, so fitly worded, then made one forget his elocution, the 
 defects of which were wholly natural, and pay to his ideas that at- 
 tention which is never given to an ordinary thinker, whether he 
 address us with the voice or with the pen. 
 
 Yet we are told that he went to the Supreme Court without ap- 
 preciating that tribunal! So a writer in the Bench and Bar would 
 have us understand ; and so would others have us concede. 
 
 But the truth is, once, a lawyer, always a lawyer. Nothing ever 
 made the man whose life we study inattentive to those parts of legal 
 learning which are of the greatest interest to the judicial mind. 
 And never did he cease to reverence the great tribunal in which 
 he succeeded Taney. 
 
 As for Taney, what should here be said of him ? Somewhat 
 more than a passing word I feel obliged, though most reluctantly, to 
 say about that legal luminary. 
 
 That I can not bring myself to praise him, results in great part 
 from my comparison of his life at the bar with his life on the bench. 
 
 At the bar, he argued Jacob Gruber's case. If he told the truth, 
 as we must believe he did, what he there said in favor of the cause 
 of freedom — what he uttered there against the darling and peculiar 
 institution of the South — was not merely the language of an advo- 
 cate. It was the studied utterance of a mature mind, and a heart 
 carefully instructed. As just intimated, he was not then young. 
 He had arrived at middle age. He was not, like Chase, a man born 
 in a free State. Born in a slave State, he had lived nearly all his 
 life within the borders of that State. 
 
 To reconcile the spirit of his utterances at that time with the
 
 786 THE PRIVATE LIFE AXD PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 spirit of his dicta in the Dred Scott case, must be the task of a fool, 
 a madman, or a knave. 
 
 But how was it with his perceptions? Mr. Vansantvoord, in his 
 biographic sketch of Taney, 1 yields this information : 
 
 "Mr. "Wirt, though in general chary of his compliments, did not 
 hesitate to do ample justice to the great abilities of his rival. On 
 one occasion, . . . he alluded to Taney ... as 'the man 
 of moonlight mind. I mean,' he added, 'the moonlight of the 
 Arctics, where you have all the light of day without its glare.' " 
 
 Neither the light nor the glare of a fine intellectual day can I 
 discern in the mind of Roger Brooke Taney, as reflected in his ut- 
 terances as a judge. The best argument that could be made in 
 mitigation of the sentence history must certainly pronounce against 
 him, would, it seems to me, make much of Wirt's conception of 
 his character as a "man of moonlight mind" — a character of mind 
 too often seen in legal luminaries, I conceive. 
 
 And how was it with Marshall? Marshall, like the hero, one of 
 whose biographers he was, has been almost apotheosized. It is 
 almost as perilous to speak of him with simple truthfulness as it 
 would be to write a simply true biography of Washington. But 
 some things I must venture to submit about the most illustrious of 
 our hero's predecessors on the bench of our supreme tribunal. 
 
 Marshall was a soldier and a politician before he was commis- 
 sioned as Chief Justice. He was not profound in statesmanship, 
 though he had rendered diplomatic service. When he was commis- 
 sioned as the highest judge of our highest court, he had but little 
 legal learning. As an advocate, he never could have equaled 
 Salmon Portland Chase. And, certainly, he took with him on 
 the bench far less of legal learning and ability than our hero had in 
 December, 1864. 
 
 Yet he achieved, by extraordinary merit, aided by the force of 
 time and chance, a splendid reputation as a judge. 
 
 That reputation would, indeed, be less, if it were well remem- 
 bered that he did some very unbecoming things as Chief Justice — 
 tilings done in the interest of party spirit. For example, let me 
 mention the celebrated case of Marbury v. Madison. 2 
 
 Mr. Randall not only says, but clearly proves, that " toward Mr. 
 Jefferson, politically and personally," Marshall " entertained the 
 deepest aversion;'' and he well adds, "And it is but justice to say 
 
 1 Lives of the Chief Justices, 478. 2 1 Cranch, 138.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 787 
 
 that these feelings were heartily reciprocated by the latter." 1 Yet 
 it seems but proper to concede that Marshall, though a warm Adams 
 man, and though known as a " moderate Federalist " — was at least, 
 in general, almost a no-party man. And I would say that there 
 was more of the Adams man than of the Federalist, that there was 
 more of personal and political aversion toward Jefferson than of 
 devotion to the Federal party, in his action in Marbury v. Madison. 
 
 That case is not of interest to legists only. Every enlightened 
 citizen should be familiar with it. But I must confine myself to 
 one or two remarks about its indications as to Marshall's feeling 
 for his office. 
 
 He decides, distinctly, that the court has no jurisdiction of the 
 subject-matter ; and then, as if to foreshadow Taney's misbehavior 
 in the Dred Scott case, goes off into mere obiter. He unbecomingly 
 expresses an opinion as to the case that might have called for an ex- 
 amination; and all this, that he may impertinently censure the Chief 
 Magistrate of the United States — a personage he hates. 
 
 These are the hard, historical facts of the case. I grieve to have 
 to own that they are undeniable. 
 
 It must not be inferred, however, that Salmon Portland Chase 
 did not reverence John Marshall, 2 or that the composer of this 
 
 1 Life of Jefferson, ii, 36. 
 
 2 In the already cited article, contributed to the Cincinnati American by our hero 
 as a young man, appear also the sentences: 
 
 "The Chief Justice has long been venerable for the blameless purity, the consci- 
 entious fidelity, and the extraoi'dinary ability with which he has exercised his high 
 functions. His mind is equally remarkable for the reach of comprehension, by 
 which it takes in the remotest relations and consequences of things, and the won- 
 derful power of discrimination, by which it reaches at once the precise question in 
 every controversy, and tears from it every folding which enwraps it — to the eye of 
 his mind, facts are naked, and to his understanding a few principles are the con- 
 densed expression of the law. 'He has the rare faculty,' said a friend who knows 
 him intimately, and is capable, if any man is, of estimating his mental character, 
 'he has the rare faculty of looking at a subject with a simple directness and inten- 
 sity, that resolves it into its elements.' With an intellect so singularly endowed, and 
 with learning various and extensive as the requisitions made upon it, and with an 
 integrity that suspicion lias never questioned, it is obvious that he is eminently 
 qualified for his exalted and responsible station. Happy is our country, that in 
 the youth of our national existence, one has been found to preside in her highest 
 court of judicature, whose decisions upon the delicate and important questions, at 
 this period perpetually arising, by their wisdom, their justice, and their explicit- 
 ness, commend themselves equally to the understanding, the conscience, and the 
 heart of all her citizens." 
 
 51
 
 788 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 work would raise a question as to the ultimate title of John Mar- 
 shall's memory to high regard. 
 
 I think, indeed, that Chase idealized the character of Marshall. 
 But John Marshall, like George Washington, was but a man. Like 
 Salmon Portland Chase, he was a far from faultless person. He 
 had foibles and grave faults, as had George Washington. 
 
 And here allow me to submit a farther word, in simple justice to 
 the method and the spirit of this book. That method guides us to 
 just judgment of our hero. Such a method in a life of Marshall, 
 such a method in a life of Washington, might seem iconoclastic. 
 After all, however, Washington, the real man, was nobler than the 
 myth. He was a real worthy, if a real worthy ever lived beneath 
 the heavens. Marshall, also, far from faultless as he was, was a 
 true worthy. And it is with confidence that I expect a favorable 
 final judgment of the hero of this work by every fair-minded reader, 
 though I have, from time to time, throughout the work, exposed 
 what seems to me the naked truth about the errors and misconduct 
 of the man whose life we study. 
 
 Such is the true spirit of this work. Such was its real spirit, 
 always. The prophetic criticisms of it — some of which were simply 
 savage — were as foolish as ferocious.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 789 
 
 CHAPTER LIV. 
 
 CHASE AND THE THEATER — HIS RELIGION, HIS AFFECTIONS, AND HIS 
 MANNERS ALTERED HEALTH. 
 
 DANIEL DOUGHERTY, Esq., of Philadelphia, is a lawyer. 
 But sometimes he goes lecturing about Orators and Oratory, 
 and about Actors and Acting. He allows himself, indeed, to he 
 described, in show-bill-like hand-bills, as the greatest living orator. 
 In truth, it seems to me, he is not an orator at all. He is, I grant 
 a tolerable actor, for an amateur, in spite of the trick in his walk, 
 and the trick in his talk, and his nasal cadencies, and his bad pro- 
 nunciation of the first letter of the alphabet of his mother-tongue. 
 In short, as a performer he is rather entertaining. Having heard 
 him about Orators and Oratory, I, quite ignorant that he was an 
 acquaintance of Chief Justice Chase, advised the latter to go, see, and 
 hear aforesaid Daniel Dougherty perform, in a so-called lecture on 
 Actors and Acting. 
 
 Greatly entertained was the chief justice, of whom many evidently 
 thought, while Mr. Dougherty repeated the words put by Shakes- 
 peare into Wolsey's mouth as follows : 
 
 " Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear 
 In all my miseries ; but thou bast forced me, 
 Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman. 
 Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell; 
 And — when I am forgotten, as I shall be, 
 And sleep in dull, cold marble, where no mention 
 Of me more must be heard of — say, I taught thee — 
 Say, Wolsey — that once trod the ways of glory, 
 And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor — 
 Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in — 
 A safe and sure one, though thy master missed it. 
 Mark but my fall and that that ruined me. 
 Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition ; 
 By that sin fell the angels ; how can man, then, 
 The image of his Maker, hope to win by t T 
 Love thyself last : cherish those hearts that hate thee : 
 Corruption wins not more than honesty.
 
 790 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, 
 
 To silence envious tongues. Be just and fear not ; 
 
 Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, - 
 
 Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, Cromwell, 
 
 Thou fall'st a blessed martyr." 
 
 Much the best part of the " lecture " was the rather too stagy 
 reading of these words ; and those by which they are immediately 
 followed were also rendered very fairly. To say that every eye in 
 the audience was turned toward the chief justice would be to dis- 
 parage the attention given to the "lecturer;" but one felt that every 
 one else was thinking, then, of the man whose high career and char- 
 acter now occupy the thinking of my gentle reader. 
 
 Daniel Dougherty, Esq., was certainly as happy, at that moment, 
 as he could have been had he been, indeed, the " greatest living 
 orator." He was applauded to the very echo. And Chief Justice 
 Chase applauded him as heartily as did the others. 
 
 The next morning, I was called upon by the chief justice for an 
 opinion of the "lecture" aforesaid. I objected to the lecturer's ap- 
 parent failure to appreciate the golden opportunity he then had, and, 
 before that time, had more than once had, to show, if he was able to 
 show, the higher, deeper, broader interest of the drama to religion 
 and to morals as well as to high art. 
 
 " My chief" agreed with me in that behalf. We had, indeed, 
 talked of the stage before; and he had half regretted that he had so 
 seldom visited the theater. 
 
 That was to me a wholesome indication. As already mentioned, 
 I had never met him in the theater at Cincinnati, where I had often 
 met some of the best men I have ever intimately known. And now, 
 speaking for myself alone, I have no hesitation in expressing the 
 opinion, that he would have been more wholesomely religious had 
 he visited the theater more frequently, and devoted more attention 
 to the plays of Shakspeare, which might almost be described as a 
 second Bible. 
 
 But, for all that, his religiousness was eminently creditable to him. 
 Whatever it may have been at one period, it was, toward the last, 
 neither bigoted nor superficial. It was very like his love of country, 
 which was cosmopolitan and philanthropic. 
 
 Was he, after all, a genial man — a man to love as well as to 
 admire ? 
 
 No inordinately ambitious man was ever truly amiable. But, I
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, 791 
 
 trust, I have already shown that Salmon Portland Chase was really 
 quite moderate in his ambition. 
 
 He was fairly worried into presidential candidature. Perfect de- 
 monstration of that fact I can not make, indeed j but I have at least 
 offered evidence that very strongly tends to prove, that what I have 
 just said is but the truth, respecting the connection of our hero's 
 name, and even his occasional desires and aspirations, with the presi- 
 dency. 1 
 
 I have not attempted to conceal his faults. But is it not of great 
 significance that this man so freely opened to me all the secrets of 
 his life ? 
 
 He did not hide that Barney debt. I found among the papers 
 which he furnished for my biographic use two copies of the letter, 
 showing his indebtedness — his most unwise, his weak indebtedness 
 — to Hiram Barney, while the latter was Collector at Xew York ami 
 he. himself, was Secretary of the Treasury. He hid nothing. He 
 directed me to open all his letters when he should be absent, saying 
 that he had no secrets, thenceforth, from his biographer. Is not a 
 mens conscia recti here apparent ? 
 
 He was well acrpaainted with my weaknesses, but he also knew 
 that my love of truth, as I discerned it, was a very passionate at- 
 tachment. He did not expect me, he did not desire me, to deny or 
 to conceal the truth about him. 
 
 Great is my reliance ou this indication. Great is my reliance 
 also on the indications of our conversations touching love of conntrv 
 and our talks about religion. 
 
 And now I wish to call attention to the Psalm that seems to have 
 been his favorite. It is the 119th ; and, according to the version 
 he used, concludes as follows : 
 
 " TAU. 
 
 " Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord ! give me understand- 
 ing according to thy word. 
 
 "Let my supplication come before thee : deliver me according to 
 thy word. 
 
 "My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy 
 statutes. 
 
 1 In Chapter L. I omitted to state, as to Mr. Hassaurek, that I understood thai 
 distinguished journalist to base his opposition to Chase, in 1872, chiefly on the 
 ground that no Judge of the Supreme Court ought to allow himself to be a PreBl- 
 dental candidate.
 
 792 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 '■ My tongue shall speak of thy word : for all thy commandments 
 are righteousness. 
 
 "Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. 
 
 "I have longed for thy salvation, Lord! and thy law is my 
 delight. 
 
 " Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee ; and let thy judgments 
 help me. 
 
 '• I have gone astray like a lost sheep ; seek thy servant ; for I 
 do not forget thy commandments." 
 
 Feeling deeply my unworthiness to speak at large of holy themes, 
 I still presume to repeat, that the supreme distinction of the life we 
 have been studying is deep, though it may be somewhat dark, reli- 
 giousness. 
 
 To whom should that be an indifferent consideration ? When 
 life seems full of joy or glory, we may care but little for religion ; but 
 when some great grief descends upon us, even if it fall not like the 
 thunderbolt, but rather like 
 
 "The gentle rain from heaven 
 Upon the place beneath," 
 
 how is it with us then ? 
 
 Ah ! then, at least, we feel there is no God but God. 
 
 According to that strange John Ruskin, grief must be classed as 
 a noble passion. Truly, that is not ill said. The works of sorrow, 
 as already hinted, are more beautiful than all the works of joy. 
 
 Have we not seen how wonderfully sorrow wrought in the heart 
 and through the lips and pen of Salmon Portland Chase? The 
 well-nigh tragic death of his first wife — have we not seen how it 
 inspired and guided him for years, during the very strength of his 
 noble manhood ? 
 
 Possibly, that sorrow made his piety almost too sombre. So, at 
 hast, most German readers will be apt to think. 
 
 Yet is it easy to misunderstand the joyous views of the German. 
 Few Americans would be ready to distinguish German tendencies 
 and tones of thought and feeling in the terms, in which William 
 Srhlcgel describes the difference between the ideal of Christian or 
 Romantic Art, including poetry, and the Art called Classic. 
 
 A foot-note 1 enables readers of the German to appreciate the man- 
 
 1 The passage referred to is in the lectures on Dramatic Art and Literature. 
 Part of it is as follows : 
 
 "Die Anschauung des Unendlichen hat das Endliche vernichtet; das Leben ist
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND 0HA8E. 793 
 
 ner as well as the matter of the fine comparison referred to. But I 
 am not at liberty to assume that every reader understands the very 
 words of the very interesting extract contained in that foot-note. 
 The substance of their meaning is that, in the ideal of < Ihrbtian or 
 romantic art, which Schlegel is comparing with classic art, the con- 
 templation of the Infinite has annihilated the Finite ; life has Income 
 a world of shadows and night; and not until we pass the boundary 
 between this life and the life beyond the grave, rises the endless day 
 of our real existence. Such a religion, says this eminently German 
 thinker, must waken into distinct consciousness the suspicion, slum- 
 bering in each feeling heart, that we are longing for a bliss, here 
 unattainable, that no outward object can ever cpuite fill our souls, and 
 that all enjoyment is a fleeting illusion. 
 
 No discerning reader understands that I consider Schlegel a per- 
 fectly representative German — as typical, for example, as Goethe, or 
 the two Grimms, or the two Humboldts. Nor will any reader sup- 
 pose that those words of Schlegel are presented as describing the 
 ideal of felicity which every good German contemplates with aspira- 
 tion. But it seemed proper to present those ideas of a German, 
 lecturing in Vienna, on dramatic art and literature, and to say, 
 that, contrary to the notion of so many non-Germans in this coun- 
 try, very many beer-drinking, wine-glorifying Germans, fully accept 
 the theory of Christian joy and sorrow, intimated by that lecturer. 
 
 I acknowledge that the true characteristics of the German often 
 appear to me precisely opposite to the traits attributed to him by 
 English and New-English prejudices. 
 
 Chase did not read deeply the German literature. He might 
 have been more wholesomely religious had he been able to read ap- 
 preciatively such verse as the Frau Schnipa of Buerger, for example, 
 or as the just cited lectures of William Schlegel on dramatic art 
 and literature. 
 
 We conversed, on more than one occasion, about what appeared 
 to both of us the fearful error which the Roman Catholics committed 
 in declaring that the Pope is, in certain utterances, to be deemed in- 
 
 zur Schattenwelt und zur Naeht geworden, und erst jenseits gelit der ewige Tag des 
 wesentlichen Daseins auf. Eine solche Religion mnsi die Ahnung. die in alien 
 gcfiililvollen Herzen schlummert, zum deutlichen Bewusitsein weeken. . 1 : i ^ z wir 
 nach einer hier nnnerreichbaren Gluckseligkeit trachten, d&8l kien ausierer 
 Gcgenstand jemals unsre Seele ganz wird erfiillen kunnen, dasz aller Gtanusi eine 
 fliiciitige Tauschung ist."
 
 / 
 
 794 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 fallible. I took some trouble to define my understanding of that 
 declaration. But I did not hide from him how strong my feeling 
 for that church remained. He sympathized with me in that behalf, 
 and spoke most kindly and appreciatively of Roman Catholics and 
 Roman Catholicity. 
 
 He did not like the men whom I called bigots of unbelief — such, 
 for example, as Henry Thomas Buckle, and such lesser lights as 
 Moncure D. Conway. When I asked him once how he could read 
 such and such works without doubting as to revelation, he explained 
 by saying, shortly : 
 
 " I do n't read 'em." 
 
 I do not ascribe to him the proper interest in the relations be- 
 tween faith and science. Nor do I ask leave to vindicate or even 
 to indicate my own religious views. My object is to indicate the 
 tone and turn of religious feeling in the hero of this work. 
 
 As already intimated, we had delightful walks and talks, a full 
 account of which would fill a volume of considerable size. But I 
 must hasten toward the conclusion of this work. I have not room 
 to say much more about the intercourse referred to, nor can I consider 
 that it would be well to add much to the revelations I have made 
 already. 
 
 I must not, however, omit to relate this anecdote : One day, we 
 traversed a place where he had lately had a heavy fall. I told him 
 what Captain Burritt, of the Washington Herald, had related to me 
 of that accident. He said : 
 
 " ( >h ! that's nothing." 
 
 For a moment I felt silenced. Then I said, with some emo- 
 tion : 
 
 "It may seem nothing to } r ou; but every thing that affects your 
 welfare is of interest to me. I am not a good flatterer, but I believe 
 I am a good friend.'' 
 
 He answered, turning his full gaze upon me, and in a tone of 
 deep feeling : 
 
 " I believe you are ! " 
 
 And so we dropped the subject, and walked on. 
 
 From that time till we parted finally, our intercourse grew more
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 795 
 
 and affectionately intimate. One morning, when I was reading, lie 
 came ami leaned over me, putting his arm around my Deck, and 
 reading with me. The work so read was Kennedy's Life of Wirt. 
 
 I often read to him Wirt's letters, in which he apparently found 
 much to interest him deeply. 
 
 I have not intended that it should be understood that before the 
 intimacy here referred to, I had ever been extremely intimate with 
 the chief justice. But we came to love each other dearly. 
 
 Now and then, indeed, his old imperiousness made his bearing 
 very trying; and I had to let him know that if he could not better 
 bear himself toward me, it would not be possible for our relations to 
 continue. Once, I wrote him a note to that effect. He was going to 
 Richmond, and I sent my note so that he would find it there. But 
 then I repented, and, in another note, which, at his request, I read 
 to him at the breakfast table, requested him to send me back the 
 other note, unopened. In the second note, I indicated my intention 
 to bear all I could, in view of his greater age and his ill-health. 
 
 That explanation was most pleasantly received, and it made us 
 better friends than we had ever been before. The first note was re- 
 turned, unread, as I desired. 
 
 One day, his little grandson, Willie Sprague, had disturbed his 
 papers and mine also. He spoke to me on the subject, saying: "I 
 suppose Willie sometimes puts you to some trouble." I responded, 
 "Oh! no matter. I love children." He replied: "Dear little 
 fellow! he may live to thank you, some day, fin* what you are now 
 doing for his grandfather." 
 
 How affectionate the tone of that expression was, I have no 
 power to intimate. The remembrance of that tone, those words, 
 must dwell in my heart forever. 
 
 Here is a paragraph I find afloat in the press: 
 
 "An old friend of the late Chief Justice tells us an anecdote show- 
 ing Mr. Chase's cleverness at repartee. While on a visit to tho 
 Southern States, after the war. Mr. Chase was introduced to a very 
 beautiful woman, who prided herself on her devotion to the ' lost 
 cause.' Anxious that the chief justice should know her real senti- 
 ments, she remarked as she gave him ber hand : ' Mr. Chase, you see 
 before you a rebel who has not been reconstructed. 1 'Madam,' ro- 
 plied he, with a profound bow, ' you are so perfectly constructed that 
 any reconstruction is altogether impossible.' " 
 
 Chase could say such things, and he could say them happily, 
 
 in
 
 796 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 manner as in matter, when his mood allowed. But lie was very 
 moody. I can well appreciate these words of Judge Hoadly, spoken 
 in the elsewhere-mentioned public meeting, held on the occasion of 
 the death of the Chief Justice : 
 
 "I have heard men call him cold and selfish. How little those 
 knew him. When I first made his acquaintance he was reserved and 
 taciturn, at the time a bereaved and disliked man, whose manners 
 repelled rather than encouraged intimacy. 
 
 "But to his children he was the most loving father, and to his 
 partners and his friends, to Gamaliel Bailey, and a little company 
 of younger political sympathizers, he was then what, in after years, 
 in sunnier days of his life, all men came to know him — the most 
 genial, companionable, and agreeable of friends. I served him as 
 student, as clerk, as partner, and as friend, and in the years of our 
 intimate intercourse never missed the smile, the warm grasp, the en- 
 couraging and stimulating word, nor the more valuable aid of sub- 
 stantial service." 
 
 True, I could not say that the late chief justice ever was "the 
 most genial, companionable, and agreeable of friends." 
 
 In an article contributed by Mr. Trowbridge to the magazine, 
 Our Young Folks, is the following account of our hero's temper : 
 
 "He was a man of moods, and often appeared cold and stern to 
 his nearest friends. To subordinates his manner was sometimes very 
 imperious. He himself was not aware of this until, on one occasion, 
 he noticed that his private secretary, to whom he was giving instruc- 
 tions in some unpleasant matter, apj)eared to lose all his wit and 
 self-possession. 
 
 " ' Are you sick? ' Mr. Chase inquired. 
 
 "'No, sir,' was the reply; 'but you frighten me so that I don't 
 know what I am about.' 
 
 " Mr. Chase at once saw his fault, and, with characteristic frank- 
 ness and justice, thanked the young man for showing it to him, and 
 promised to correct it. But sternness of temper was one of the 
 strong traits in the Chase family, and it is not to be supposed that 
 the late chief justice ever entirely succeeded in overcoming it." 
 
 An anecdote related to me by our hero himself bears some likeness 
 to the anecdote so told by Mr. Trowbridge. But that Chase was 
 not aware of his occasionally offensive manner toward subordinates, 
 until that young man was so frightened into the confession that he 
 did not know what he was about, is certainly a mistake. On the 
 contrary, he told me that he had been long aware of the fault in 
 question, and had greatly labored to correct it; that it seemed to be 
 almost incorrigible; that it had given him great trouble and done
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 797 
 
 him great harm, and that he often astonished those who rebuked 
 him for it by his meekness under their reproaches. 
 
 On page 69 of a diary, kept by our hero (date April 10, 1830), I 
 find this note : 
 
 '• Wirt, the attorney-general, when young, wrote a play, in which 
 the most eminent practitioners at the Virginia bar are introduced. 
 Among others, James Barbour, the late Minister to England, who 
 
 was then remarkable for large, swelling, and ' expressions, is 
 
 represented as engaged in the conduct of a cause in the Count}' Court. 
 He has occasion to request the clerk to call some one into court, and 
 thus addresses him : 
 
 "'Mr. Jones, have the benignity to vociferate Peter Jolley into 
 court.' 
 
 "Upon which, the clerk bawls out: ' Vociferate P. Jolley! come 
 into court.' 
 
 ■■ The court is convulsed with laughter, but one kindly informs the 
 clerk that he has misapprehended Mr. Barbour's meaning, and the 
 error is corrected. On the same occasion, he is represented as ex- 
 amining a loquacious female witness. At last, he loses all patience 
 and exclaims : 
 
 " 'This woman ought to be deposited into taciturnity ! ' 
 
 " The woman, in a violent rage, retorts : ' You may go to Tass 
 Eternity yourself, but I reckon you '11 have none of my company, 
 Mr. Barbour.' 
 
 "I mentioned this story to Mr. Wirt, and asked him if he plead 
 guilty. 
 
 " He replied : 'I plead youth to it.' " 
 
 It would be difficult to plead youth to any error of our hero. In 
 reviewing his whole life, it almost seems to me that he was young 
 in boyhood only — that he passed at once from boyhood to the full 
 maturity of manhood as to manners and ideas. 
 
 Here is a suggestive letter : 
 
 " Washington, D. C, May 24th 1S64. 
 
 "Dear Sir: I can not leave the department this afternoon with- 
 out expressing my regret for what occurred this morning. You were 
 warm and so was I. Provoking incidents, before you eame in, had 
 made me more excitable than common; and probably the ease was 
 the same with you. But I am sincerely your friend, because I 
 believe you earnest, manly, and honest, and because you have given 
 me, in my difficult position, a generous support, for which my heart 
 thanks you; and I hate to have the shadow of unkindness between 
 us. Yours truly, 
 
 " Hon. John Conness. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 1 A word illegible.
 
 798 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 While I acted as our hero's private secretary, I wrote many 
 letters for him, generally but not always, under his dictation. 
 
 Many letters in relation to the fabled Chase estate had to be 
 answered. At least, they were answered, whenever they inclosed a 
 three cent postage stamp. And many letters asking very foolish 
 questions were most courteously responded to. 
 
 Among the letters he dictated, may be mentioned one to the Lord 
 Chancellor and one to the Chief Justice of England. That to the 
 Lord Chancellor ran thus : 
 
 " My Lord : Will you honor me by the acceptance of a Work in 
 which we Americans take, as we think, a just pride? Edward Liv- 
 ingston was among our most illustrious jurists, and his works on 
 criminal law and prison discipline, republished by the National 
 Prison Association of the United States, are his most important con- 
 tributions to the thought of the world on the great subject to which 
 they relate. 1 offer them to your acceptance in the hope that they 
 will prove not uninteresting to you, who have so largely contributed 
 to jurisprudence. I learn from my brother, Swayne, that you have 
 some thought of visiting the United States, and I beg leave to add 
 my assurances to his of the great pleasure which it will afford to the 
 members of the Supreme Court, and to the profession in general, to 
 welcome you here. With profound respect, 
 
 " Yours, very truly, 
 
 " S. P. CHASE." 
 
 •i 
 
 The letter to Chief Justice Cockburn reads, in part, as follows : 
 
 " My Lord : Will you, whose devotion to the law has been so con- 
 spicuously manifested, accept from me a copy of the works of Edward 
 Livingston on criminal law and prison discipline? These works are 
 republished by the National Prison Discipline Association of the 
 United States. They are the most important writings of their author 
 on the subject to which they direct attention. They are the work 
 of one of our most distinguished jurists; and we Americans take 
 great pride in them. 
 
 " I can almost fancy I know you from the reports of my friend 
 Mr. Evarts, than which no one could desire better." 
 
 To John Bright, the Chief Justice, on the 24th of March, dictated 
 a note of introduction in these terms: 
 
 " My Dear Mr. Bright : I beg leave to introduce to you the 
 Hon. Mr. Arnold, of Chicago, who desires very much to know you, 
 and shares, with all of us Americans, our common admiration and 
 esteem for you. 
 
 " He was an intimate and trusted friend of Mr. Lincoln, and I am 
 sure you will bo gratified by knowing him. 
 
 •• I am very glad to hear of your recovered health, and wish that
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 799 
 
 my own -was good. Unfortunately, for some years, it lias not been 
 •what I could desire. 
 
 " With great respect and esteem, very truly yours, 
 
 "S. P. CHASE." 
 
 Many other letters I would like to offer here I have not space to 
 present. But here is one I must not fail to lay before my readers -. 
 
 "My Dear Sir: I thank you for sending me the proof-sheet- in 
 McConologuo's case. The decision of the Supreme Court of Massa- 
 chusetts was, in my judgment, unquestionably sound law. 
 
 " I am sorry to read the last sentence of your note to the case, that 
 c the practice in this commonwealth has since conformed to the 
 decision in Tarble's case, 13 Wallace, 379.' 
 
 "My health did not permit me to give my views in that case as 
 fully as I should otherwise have felt it my duty to do, nor to partic- 
 ipate at all in the discussion in confereuce, of which, indeed, there 
 was little or none before the opinion was written. 
 
 " Yours, truly, 
 
 « A. G. Browne, Jr., Esq. S. P. CHASE." 
 
 On the 24th of April, the Chief Justice received from Prof. 
 Brown-Sequard what seems to me a very remarkable letter, dated 
 on the 23d. It reads as follows : 
 
 " Dear Sir : The amount of work I have at this moment on hand 
 prevents my sending you the full information I had intended to con- 
 vey as regards your mode of living and treatment. I have to leave 
 New York to-day to go to Boston to deliver lectures at the Lowell 
 Institute. On my return, next week, I will write you again ; but, 
 as I consider that it is essential that you should begin to be treated 
 at once, I send you a prescription for a medicine which I hope will 
 have a great power in diminishing one (and the principal) of the 
 morbid states of your brain. Any great looseness of the bowels 
 would be, or rather might be, increased by this medicine, so that if 
 any cause acted upon you to produce a disorder of the bowels, you 
 should stop the use of the remedy I prescribe. But you should 
 resume it as soon as the bowels have become normal again. 
 
 " Believe me, with great respect, 
 
 " Yours, very truly, 
 
 « Hon. Salmon P. Chase. C. G. BROWN-SEQUARD." 
 
 On Sunday, the 26th, the Chief Justice had been taking that 
 remedy — I know not what it was — for two days. At that time, 
 some " cause acted " upon him " to produce a disorder of the bowels." 
 But, alas! he did not "stop the use of the remedy" so remarkably 
 prescribed. I did not see him that day, though I generally passed 
 some part of Sunday with him. On Monday morning, he told me 
 of that disorder of the bowels, and I asked him if he had observed
 
 800 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 the direction as to stopping the use of the medicine prescribed by 
 Dr. Brown-Sequard. Somewhat excited, he said that he had not *, 
 and asked me if I had preserved the note. I answered that I had, 
 and, getting it, read it over carefully to him. He seemed quite con- 
 cerned, and said that he had entirely forgotten that direction. 
 
 From that time until he left Washington forever, he was very 
 weak and notably disordered. He appeared more and more de- 
 pressed from day to day, though he strove to be cheerful. 
 
 Then, he more and more revealed his amiable traits. Day after 
 day, I grew more and more attached to him — I, who have been 
 libelled all over the land as one disposed to trifle with his memory, 
 to mortify his children, to take a morbid pleasure in exposing or 
 acknowledging his foibles or his graver faults. 
 
 My only apprehension is, that the discerning may accuse me of too 
 favorably judging the enigma in the life and character we have been 
 viewing. 
 
 It was hard to see this man sinking, sinking, sinking, and to 
 think the thoughts I could not avoid as to the medical treatment 
 to which he had been subjected by Prof. Brown-Sequard. Think 
 of it, discerning reader ! Here is a great man in a most critical 
 condition, prescribed for at a distance, and left to forget or to re- 
 member a direction, the importance of which it seems difficult to 
 exaggerate. 
 
 Prof. Brown-Sequard may have been blameless in all this. His 
 judgment may have been right — his practice right — but I can not 
 rid myself of the thought, that, had our hero fairly trusted nature 
 and let medicine alone, he might have been alive and tolerably well, 
 this day. 
 
 His life had come again to be so beautiful, so noble, so entirely 
 amiable and admirable, that I can not remember his last days with- 
 out a sorrow, full of reverence. 
 
 He was at heart a real worthy. He idealized too many men, and 
 he idealized some measures also; but in much the greatest number 
 of his years, he labored nobly for the good, the true, the beautiful, 
 as he discerned them. 
 
 I can not excuse some things he did, some letters that he wrote. 
 His correspondence in relation to the Presidency is by no means 
 creditable to his memory. But still I cling to the conviction, that 
 he was a real worthy, if intention is the true and only test of 
 worthiness.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 801 
 
 On Thursday night, May 3, lie dictated and I wrote as follows to 
 his old friend, William Davis Gallagher : 
 
 " a[y Dear Gallagher : I received your letter, and would call 
 upon Mr. Richardson, it" I were well. I have written to him in the 
 strongest terms, and inclosed your letter, which telle what might 
 be done, and why, better than any verbal communication. 
 
 " We adjourned to-day, and I intend to leave, if well enough, for 
 New York, day after to-morrow morning. 
 " Pardon my brevity. I am not well. 
 
 " Faithfully your friend, 
 
 "8. P. CHASE." 
 
 On speaking the words, " I am not well," the Chief Justice seemed 
 completely overcome with an emotion that appeared to me self-pity, 
 if I may use that expression. He did not at once dictate the follow- 
 ing words of the letter. He arose abruptly, and, almost stagger- 
 ingly, went into the parlor. After some time, he returned, " him- 
 self again," and dictated the conclusion of the letter. After that, 
 he never seemed to me greatly depressed, though he appeared quite 
 weak, and I regarded him as at the very door of death.
 
 802 THE TKIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 CHAPTER LV. 
 
 CHASE AND SUMNER — THE LAST DAYS OF CHASE — HIS DEATH. 
 
 MR. SUMNER called on the Chief Justice on the 2d of May. 
 I was at luncheon with our hero when he went to receive the 
 illustrious Senator. They met in the parlor; and, the door by which 
 that room is entered from the hall being left open, as I went to the 
 library (situated on the other side of the hall), I saw, as I passed, 
 the large features of the visitor. 
 
 I had met Mr. Sumner in Ohio ; but our acquaintance had not 
 been kept up. 
 
 As I passed, his face appeared to me expressive of a very deep de- 
 jection. Neither he nor the Chief Justice was then speaking. 
 
 That was to be their last conversation on this earth. 
 
 After some time, they appeared at the parlor door, and, as they 
 were about to come into the hall, I heard the Senator mention my 
 name, and express his gratification at something he had, it seemed, 
 just heard the Chief Justice say about me as his biographer. The 
 Senator had a coarse, heavy voice, in keeping with his features ; and 
 the words here alluded to were loudly uttered. Then the Senator 
 said, in substance : 
 
 "I would like to know Judge Warden. Possibly, I could aid him 
 somewhat with some facts and some suggestions." 
 
 Not until after the death of the Chief Justice did I fully ascertain 
 what Mr. Sumner had just said to his entertainer, and what the 
 Chief Justice had just before said to his guest, touching my 
 fitness or unfitness for this work. At my request, my nephew, Mr. 
 Clifford Warden (correspondent of the Boston Post), conversed with 
 Mr. Sumner on the subject, before I called on that gentleman. It 
 was after I had heard my nephew's account of the statements made 
 by Mr. Sumner as to his talk with the Chief Justice, on the subject 
 under notice, that I first visited the Senator myself. And, having
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 803 
 
 then heard his account also, I feel warranted in saying tliat the 
 Senator addressed the Chief Justice in this fashion : 
 
 "But is Judge "Warden a good biographer? You want a good 
 biographer. Can Judge Warden grasp 1 your life and character? 
 If he can, can he then put on paper his conception, in such form that 
 it shall be attractive to the reading public?" 
 
 It appears that the Chief Justice answered, in substance: 
 
 "I don't know, Mr. Sumner, that Judge Warden is quite up to 
 your Massachusetts standard; and I don't think I am quite up to it 
 myself. But Judge Warden knows the people of Ohio, and they 
 know him ; and I have always considered that the chief interest of 
 the work on which he is engaged would be taken in Ohio " 
 
 Mr. Sumner, then, it seems, professed to be entirely satisfied, and 
 expressed the wish I heard him utter, as already stated. 
 
 Hearing him express that wish, I walked out of the library into 
 the hall, meeting the Chief Justice. He said : " Here is Judge 
 Warden, now." 
 
 He then presented me to Mr. Sumner, and said, visibly embar- 
 rassed and almost confused : 
 
 " I have been telling the Senator some things about you. I told 
 him you were forty years of age." 
 
 I said that if I was, indeed, so young, I must have a preternatural 
 memory ; for I remembered him for almost forty years — that he 
 must add nine years to the number he had allowed to me. I then 
 said to the Senator that I had been pleased to hear him intimate that 
 he desired to have me call on him ; that, indeed, in the interest of 
 my biographic enterprise, I had been thinking of committing a sort 
 of burglary on his privacy. 
 
 " Well, now," said the Senator, " I am glad to hear that, and J 
 hope the burglary will begin very soon." 
 
 I promised that it should ; and then the Senator said to the Chief 
 Justice, and the Chief Justice said to the Senator : 
 
 II God bless you ! Good-bye ! " 
 
 And so the great men parted, as it proved forever, as to all that 
 is beneath the heavens. 
 
 After going in his carriage, driven by William, to the bank, and 
 coming back to 601 E Street, the Chief Justice took me with him, 
 
 1 Pronounced by Mr. Sumner grawsp. 
 
 52
 
 804 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 in his carriage, out to Edgewood. On the way, he said to me in 
 substance : 
 
 ." I am very glad that you have met Mr. Sumner, and I think it 
 -will be well to call on him as he suggested, and to be aided by him 
 as he offered; though I am not certain that he can tell you much 
 about me which is not already known to you. I have no doubt you 
 understand m}' character and course of life much better than it has 
 been possible for him to do. I have always admired Mr. Sumner, 
 lie is a much more learned man, and a much more scholarly states- 
 man, than I have ever pretended to be; but he lived in Massachu- 
 setts, while I lived in Ohio ; and he was an abolitionist, which I 
 never was." 
 
 He then proceeded to discourse about his life at large. That brief, 
 but full autobiographic utterance at least attempted to do perfect 
 justice to the living and the dead. It more than ever bound the list- 
 ener to the speaker. Yet, in some particulars, it seemed to me the 
 product of a mere idealization of the Democratic party, and of his 
 relation to that party. 
 
 It is not my purpose here or elsewhere in this volume to assail 
 that party, or to advocate the cause of any other party. Many 
 members of the Democratic party are endeared to me in many ways. 
 This work, moreover, never was intended to do service as a par- 
 tisan. I would but say, that whether the Democratic party ought 
 to be preferred or treated with the opposite of preference, it never 
 seemed to me that that party was rightly understood by Salmon 
 Portland Chase, and this, in part, because, as I have intimated, he 
 idealized that party and his own relation to its members and its 
 tendencies. I can not think that he was ever really a member of 
 that party, even for a moment. 
 
 At the time of that visit to Edgewood, it was expected that I 
 would be much there during the ensuing summer. The Chief Justice, 
 therefore, made known to his housekeeper, Cassy, that I was to be at 
 home there, save as to the table — there was only to be a servant's 
 table — while he should be absent, and that I was to have assigned 
 to me there a lodging room, and this was designated. 
 
 I never actually occupied that room. In a few days, a great mis- 
 take or something worse than a mistake, was to undo that arrange- 
 ment. I do not complain — I state ; and I wonder as I state. 
 
 The leave-takings at Edgewood were most touching. I can not 
 describe them. Cassy Vaudry's eyes were full of tears as she parted, 
 as it proved forever, from the lord and master of the mansion.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 805 
 
 Then we drove back to Washington. There were letters vet to 
 write. 
 
 After dinner, several letters were worked off. But we had some 
 talk about old time?, and some about my biographic enterprise. 
 
 Again, no word about any other biographer! Again, no word 
 about the biographic Schuckers. 
 
 " My chief" invited me to breakfast with him the next morning. 
 I was with him as invited. I remember, above all, the kindness of 
 his face and voice. He said but little ; and not much was said by 
 any one, though there were three ladies at the table — his old friend, 
 Miss Susan "Walker, and his relatives, Miss Moulton and Miss Auld. 
 The conversation was not free, but it was not remarkably depressed. 
 
 Then came the time for parting ; and his eyes were eloquent with 
 feeling as he answered my parting salutation with a most affectionate 
 " Good-bye ! " 
 
 Here are his last words to his preferred biographer: 
 
 " New York, May 4, 1873. 
 
 " My Dear Judge : Please excuse my penciling, it is more con- 
 venient than ink. 
 
 " I had rather a cold and bleak ride yesterday, relieved by the 
 comforts of a compartment, which I should call a box, but was re- 
 warded at the end by seeing my children in good health and some 
 of my grand-children. 
 
 '• There is nothing changed in n\y personal condition. 
 
 " How do you feel now that I am gone ? Relieved from my sick 
 ways and utterances, or upon the whole, are you sorry to miss me ? 
 
 " Remember me to Donn and Mrs. Piatt when you see them. I 
 hope Mrs. Piatt has recovered from the shock and discomforts to 
 which she was subjected by the fire. Tell Donn that I was disaj>- 
 pointed by his non-fulfillment of his promise to Mrs. Sprague to call 
 on me to say good-bye. 
 
 " Do you remember Dr. Brown-Sequard's note ? Was it left among 
 the letters of which you took charge? Please inclose it by return 
 mail. 
 
 " I still propose going to Boston on Wednesday or Thursday, and 
 particularly want the note. Faithfully, your friend, 
 
 " Hon. R*. B. Warden. S. P. CHASE.'' 
 
 In my answer, I said, among other things : " I miss you as a 
 friend whose 'sick ways and utterances' have only endeared him 
 to me more than ever; and I miss you, on account of my desire, as 
 your biographer, to see you as much as possible, and to hear as much 
 as possible from you, while the work referred to is in progress." 
 
 He was dying when that answer reached New York, and, in a few 
 hours, he had ceased to live. That was on the 7th of May, 1873.
 
 806 THE PRIVATE EIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Of the last hours of the life we have been studying I can give no 
 satisfactory account. The ill-will toward me which had been 
 masked till then, now suddenly unmasked itself. I was, at once, 
 offensively and studiedly ignored, and, soon, I was insulted, very 
 grossly. It was to a telegram from Mr. Sterne Chittenden that I 
 was indebted for the only kindness that came to me from the scene 
 of death. 
 
 Yet I endeavored to remember only my great obligations. Letter 
 after letter, which I would most willingly submit to the perusal of 
 my present readers, testified my earnest wish to be at peace with the 
 daughters of the man who had so trusted, so respected me, in making 
 me, in effect, his literary executor. But all my prayers for peace were 
 scorned ; and, very soon, the New York Herald, at whose instance I 
 can only conjecture, told the public, in substance, that this work 
 would not appear, in consequence of serious disagreements between 
 the author and the surviving relatives of the hero. 1 
 
 Now, these facts appear to me not unimportant to the readers of 
 this work as well as to its author. They are part of a strange his- 
 tory, a full account of which would fill a volume of decided interest. 
 Thev appertain to a conspiracy, in which the surviving relatives of 
 the Chief Justice appear to me, and have always appeared to me, as 
 only the too ready instruments of a malice they had not the means 
 of measuring, of fears they could not fathom, of designs which must 
 have been imperfectly made known to them. 
 
 The body of this volume shows how many persons, in how many 
 places, might have wished that the composer of this work had been 
 less faithful, not so conscientious, not so fond of true biography and 
 real history. I do not wish to say much more, at present, of the 
 desperate but stupid plot against the very publication of this work. 
 I think there never was such a combination of sheer stupidity with 
 sheer desperation as that plot presented to my view. The stand-point 
 of my observation of it enabled me to see, that if God would only spare 
 my life, and give me health, for a few months, that stupidly desper- 
 ate and desperately stupid plot must ignominiously fail. And, soon 
 enough, without even seeking a publisher, I had a contract for the 
 
 1 Here is the language of that ill-intended paragraph: "It is rumored that the 
 work upon the life and times of the late Chief Justice, which was in progress with 
 a view of speedy publication, by Judge Robert B. Warden, of Ohio, will not appear, 
 in consequence of serious disagreement between the biographer and the surviving 
 relatives of the Chief Justice."
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. >»>7 
 
 publication of this work — the only contract ever made in that behalf; 
 and the place of publication was the very place I had desired from 
 the beginning — Cincinnati, namely, where the most creditable years 
 of our hero's public life had passed, and where no libel could deprive 
 the author of the reputation he had gained in public service and In- 
 private conduct. 
 
 Let me warn readers not to charge against the memory of Salmon 
 Portland Chase the fair indications, yielded by the vile conspiracy 
 just noticed. He desired no concealment whatever. All he had, 
 in the way of biographic matter, he subjected to my examina- 
 tion and placed at my disposal ; all he was, and all that he had been, 
 he seemed to wish to show me, fully, and without exception or re- 
 serve. And, to the last, he showed that he had not lost that most 
 precious of all possessions — self-respect. 
 
 But the conspiracy in question seemed absolutely infatuated. When 
 the Herald's paragraph had rendered its nefarious tribute, other par- 
 agraphs were put into the same ignoble service. One of these was 
 to the effect, that Mr. Hiram Barney was to write an elaborate biog- 
 raphy of our hero, and that he had been copiously furnished with 
 material! In every instance, the quite evident design was so to 
 discredit and, if possible, disgrace the present" work, that no pub- 
 lisher would venture to present it to the reading world. 
 
 The course of Mr. Sumner in relation to this work was most re- 
 markable. He was an Eastern man, full of Atlantic prejudices and 
 partialities. I would not have expected him to presume that any 
 so-called Western man was fit for any literary enterprise whatever. 
 Tolerably free, myself, from sectional aversion, I did not expect to 
 find in him like liberality; but, I confess, his interference with the 
 confidence reposed in me by the late Chief Justice, when the latter 
 made me, in effect, his literary executor, somewhat perplexed me for 
 some time ; and, even now, it seems to me a thing of doubtful indi- 
 cations. 
 
 Very little does this volume owe to the aid he volunteered as has 
 been told. 1 He showed himself a fearful egotist, when I conversed 
 with him, as he invited. He could say but little about Chase with- 
 out launching into talk about himself and his own senatorial exploits. 
 I soon found that, though he said that Chase and he had, in the Sen- 
 ate, been as brothers, he could tell me very little about Chase which 
 
 » Ante, p. 802
 
 808 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 I did not already know much better than he knew it. I own I 
 could not learn to like him greatly. He appeared to me in every 
 sense — in substance as in form — an egotist of the first water. His 
 conception of biography appeared to me, moreover, colored by his 
 own peculiar case — exceptional, unhappy, as it must have seemed, 
 even to himself. He held up to me, as a model for my life of Chase, 
 the life of Lord Eldon, by Twiss ; and he talked to me about Talley- 
 rand's private papers as though they could be regarded as analogous 
 to those of Chief Justice Chase! 
 
 Ere loug, I saw that I must not allow myself to be much influ- 
 enced by Mr. Sumner in the composition of this work. He took, 
 indeed, no exception to the specimens he saw of it; on the contrary, 
 what he said to me, and what I heard that he said to others, about 
 the indications of those specimens, was quite flattering; but soon I 
 came to look upon him as having assumed a part that I could not 
 permit him to perform without rebuke; and he more and more re- 
 vealed pedantic tastes and notions. 
 
 He appeared to me an actor. There appeared in him but little of 
 the simply natural. He seemed more English than American in 
 his pronunciation, in his dress, and in his bearing. 
 
 Once I tried on him a rather hazardous experiment. I told him 
 what the late Chief Justice had said to me, on the way to Edgewood, 
 as related already. 
 
 It was quite distinctly that I enunciated to Mr. Sumner that com- 
 munication. And I watched him closely as I slowly and distinctly 
 uttered it, as just intimated. I confess that I was not surprised on 
 finding how impatiently the Senator listened while I made that 
 statement. He manifested great disturbance while I was proceeding. 
 When I ceased to speak, he drove his hands deep down into the 
 pockets of his gray trowsers, and stretched out his formidable length 
 of person, while he said, in his coarse voice : 
 
 " I am astonished that he could have had such a notion ! Really, 
 now, I did not think that he could have fancied that the differences 
 of opinion that divided us could have affected my account of him to 
 you." 
 
 I said, replying: 
 
 "It appears to me, Mr. Sumner, that you do not notice the entire 
 significance of what the Chief Justice said to me on that occasion. 
 On reflection, you must comprehend, yourself, that the fact that he 
 resided iu Ohio, where I also lived, while you were always resident
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 809 
 
 in Massachusetts, must, more or less, affect tlie value of whatever you 
 
 might have to bay to me about his life at "Washington." 
 
 The Senator had rather warmed toward me before I made that 
 communication. Until then, he had apparently appreciated my de- 
 termination to preserve due biographic independence. After that, 
 he grew cold toward me. After that, in another conversation, he 
 interrogated me as follows : 
 
 "Now, Judge Warden, let me ask you — mark! I only ask for in- 
 formation, and as a friend to all concerned — did you not intend, when 
 the Chief Justice should have come back from Colorado, to submit to 
 him your work, as far as it should then have gone; and does it in>t 
 now appear to you reasonable that these children should expect to 
 succeed to that supervision ? " 
 
 Such, in substance, I am quite certain, was the question. And my 
 answer, as I now remember, was in substance this : 
 
 "Senator, you shock me. In the first place, you shock me by the 
 supposition that I ever had a thought of submitting my work to the 
 hero of it ; but }*ou shock me still more by the supposition that, even 
 if I could ever have intended to submit my work to his supervision, 
 I could now think of allowing one or both of his daughters to suc- 
 ceed him in that supervision." 
 
 Here the Senator broke in with: 
 
 " I intended no offense. I only wished to ask the question — that 
 is all." 
 
 "But, Senator," said I, "the question was offensive, I conceive, in 
 spite of what you say was its intention. I am little known to you, 
 sir; but I am not quite unknown in Ohio, where it would seem 
 strange, indeed, that I could have stooped to play the sony role 
 your question indicated you considered not improper." 
 
 Mr. Sumner once more interrupted me. He said in substance: 
 
 "I perceive, now, that I was in error, and I beg your pardon." 
 
 Then I entered into a full explanation as to the impropriety of 
 submitting any thing to be contained in this work to the supervision 
 of the daughters, one or both ; but told the Senator what, after the 
 death of the Chief Justice, I had offered, in writing, addressed to the 
 elder daughter, to do, in order to combine due accuracy with due 
 independence. 
 
 I confess I had the feeling that the part Mr. Sumner had thought 
 fit to undertake, had been, in effect, misleading toward all concerned.
 
 810 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 He may not so have judged that part himself; it may have seemed to 
 him simply the part of a friend to both parties; but it appeared to 
 me, at the time, a part that no man should have undertaken to per- 
 form, in any circumstances whatever. 
 
 It is evident, at least, that it was well for this work that it so 
 soon became relieved of Mr. Sumner's influence. Indeed, ere long, 
 I saw that, painful as had been the manner in which it had been 
 treated, after the death of its hero, by his family, I was thereby freed 
 from another great embarrassment. Had I succeeded in persuading 
 the daughters to regard my work with favor, would I not have been 
 most fearfully embarrassed in the handling of certain material ? 
 
 As to Mr. Sumner, I would not be understood to have found noth- 
 ing in him to admire. Overrated as he was, in some respects; arti- 
 ficial, egotistic, and pedantic as he was ; he had, undoubtedly, char- 
 acteristic virtues in association with characteristic vices. 
 
 That this work might have been benefited, as to form, by greater 
 intercourse aud farther consultation with him, I do not deny. But, 
 as to substance, I repeat, it would have been greatly damaged, had 
 I suffered him to influence it considerably. 
 
 Doubtless, it will be severely handled by some critics, after all. 
 I am prepared for every thing but self-reproach, in respect to its 
 future. Self-reproach, respecting its contents, I could not bear; but 
 that I have no reason, now, to apprehend. Imperfect as this volume 
 is, I know that it has been composed with good intentions and with 
 extraordinary care. In the circumstances (which have been ex- 
 tremely trying) I have done my best; and, so assured, I can not 
 greatly concern myself about what may be said of it by reckless crit- 
 icism. I allow myself to hope that it will be received with welcome 
 by reviewers worthy of the name.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 811 
 
 CHAPTER LY I. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 ALTHOUGH it had been known to the public for some time 
 that the Chief Justice was not well, the tidings of his death 
 quite shocked the public heart. 
 
 His obsequies, indeed, were very different from those of Lincoln. 
 We have ascertained that Chase himself could comprehend that he 
 had lived a very enigmatic life, especially with reference to party 
 politics. By many of his old acquaintances, indeed, he had come to 
 be regarded as almost a traitor to his old convictions and associations. 
 It was not to be expected that his obsequies would be as had been 
 those of our assassinated President, the very manner of whose death, 
 while he was yet in office, had more than a little to do with the 
 unmeasured tribute paid, in his obsequies, to his career and character. 
 In Lincoln, the whole country venerated, for a time, a patriotic 
 martyr. Chase's obsequies could not have been expected to resem- 
 ble those of Lincoln. 
 
 Yet the work of eulogizing Chase, just after he departed from the 
 battle-field of life, might have much deceived a young or a superficial 
 observer. Really, it was, too often, artifieial and extravagant. I 
 felt that very soon I would have to make note of censures and dis- 
 paragements instead of praises and glorifications. And it was not 
 long till a portion of the press began to utter the anticipated censures 
 and disparagements, one of the worst of which, as I remember, was 
 in the New York Herald — the very paper which appears to have 
 been chosen as the leader of the opposition to the undertaking of the 
 work here offered to the public. But the very worst of all, perhaps 
 (all things considered), was the elsewhere noticed article in the 
 North American Review on the Ourreney and Finn nee* of the l'nit<<l 
 States. Two of the best articles ever published in that periodical 
 ■were written by the pen of Salmon Portland Chase !
 
 812 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 Perhaps, indeed, that almost savagely censorious article may now 
 appear to its composer justified by certain revelations of this very 
 work. For, judged uncharitably — judged in a censorious mood — 
 the life I have endeavored to set forth is one which may be most 
 severely censured, as to many of its actions and associations. 
 
 To suppress the revelations here in question would have been at 
 once a great crime and a fearful folly. Other evidence of them 
 would have hereafter come to light, and then the spirit in which 
 that evidence would be regarded would distort its real indications. 
 
 The letter to Oliver Johnson, set forth in a foregoing chapter, 1 
 shows that our hero strangely deceived himself as to the attention he 
 paid to self-vindication and self-exposition. He devoted quite too 
 much attention to those things. He talked too much, and, above 
 all, he wrote too much, in exposition and in vindication of his view^:. 
 
 His conduct toward Lincoln and McClellan I can not affect to 
 view with admiration. 
 
 Jomini and our own Halleck have defined a comprehensive branch 
 of martial art and science which might well be studied by civilians. 
 My opinion is, indeed, and long has been, that not only every pro- 
 fessor of the law, but every enlightened citizen, should be acquainted 
 with a pretty comprehensive part of martial science. Therefore, 
 when I entered on the composition of the work here offered to the 
 public, I had read, not superficially, not narrowly, with the design 
 of fixing in my memory some knowledge of the things which are of 
 special interest to soldiers. Had John Hookham Fiere been better 
 versed in military learning, he would not have so presumed toward 
 the fated Sir John Moore. It is not the effect of thoroughness and 
 depth in martial reading by a mere civilian, to dispose him to forget 
 that here, as elsewhere, it is proper to respect the maxim, ne sutor 
 ultra crepidam, or, as the Germans have it, Schuster I bleib bei dei- 
 nem Leiden ! 
 
 Chase did not sufficiently respect the truth denoted in those 
 proverbs. He presumed too much in judging men and measures of 
 the martial order. He neglected duty in so doing. He was not, 
 indeed, a mere meddler in taking that disproportionate interest in 
 martial men and martial measures ; but lie acted most unwisely when 
 he took that ill-regulated interest, as we have found it indicated in 
 his diaries and letters. 
 
 1 Ante, p. 

 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 813 
 
 Doubtless, to the average reader, the matter of a martial cast pre- 
 sented by this work, as drawn from Secretary Chase's diaries and 
 letters, will afford more entertainment than any other matter here 
 inviting the attention of the public. Even men devoted to arms 
 as a profession may discover in that matter much to interest them. 
 I have faithfully endeavored so to state the facts, that competent 
 investigators of the matter here alluded to may form their own 
 opinions, touching the responsibility of Secretary Chase to history 
 for what he did and said, and recorded in his diaries, respecting the 
 rise and fall of generals and other martial figures, during his con- 
 nection with the government as Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 And how as to his purely economic views and actions ? How as 
 to his conduct and ideas as a financier? Do I presume to speak, 
 as if judicially, respecting his characteristics and his course as keeper 
 of the public treasure and adviser of the Congress and the President 
 respecting ways and means ? 
 
 About the rushing in of fools, where angels would at least go 
 slowly, we have heard and read more than a little. 
 
 I have felt disposed, throughout, to bear in mind how easy it is 
 to fall into pernicious errors in political economy. The contents 
 of those portions of my work which manifest its hero's economic 
 views and actions, stimulated me to new and deeper studies in the 
 department of literature devoted to the science that professes to sup- 
 ply to economic art its necessary precepts ; but they also warned me 
 to abstain from the dogmatical in treating of the way to wealth for 
 nations. It is not dogmatically, therefore, that I repeat that, in my 
 judgment, Chase was not, in theory or in practice, a great financier. 
 
 On the 30th of March, 1870, he wrote to a committee of corre- 
 spondence of colored Cincinnatians a letter, in the course of which 
 he said : 
 
 "Almost a quarter of a century has passed since some of you, 
 probably, heard me declare, on the 6th of May, 1845, in an assembly 
 composed chiefly of the people whom you now represent, that all 
 legal distinctionsbetween individuals of the same community, founded 
 on any such circumstances as color, origin, and the like, are hostile 
 to the genius of our institutions, and incompatible with the true 
 theory of American liberty; that true democracy makes no inquiry 
 about the color of the skin, or the place of nativity, or any other 
 similar circumstance of condition ; and that the exclusion of the col- 
 ored people, as a body, from the elective franchise, is incompatible 
 with true democratic principles. 
 
 ' : I congratulate you on the fact that these principles, not then
 
 814 THE PEIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 avowed b} T me for the first time, nor ever since abandoned or com- 
 promised, have been at length incorporated into the Constitution 
 and made part of the supreme law of the land." 
 
 That letter has relation to what seems to me the greatest public 
 merit of our hero's life. I do not intimate, indeed, that he was 
 always right, even in his agitation against slavery ; he erred, I think, 
 from time to time, even in that portion of his public conduct; but it 
 was the truest, the least selfish, and the most nobly aspiring part of 
 his relation to the country and the times in which he lived. 
 
 Incidental notice has been taken of Mr. Charles Francis Adams' 
 far from measured eulogy of William Henry Seward. Incidental 
 notice has been taken, also, of ex-Secretary Welles' expansion of his 
 Galaxy articles about Lincoln and Seward. Weak as the last 
 named work appears, as a defense of Lincoln, it is almost strong 
 as an attack on Seward. But its animus is evidently bad ; 1 and, 
 after all, it clearly proves that, at least for some time, Lincoln did 
 subordinate himself to Seward, as alleged by Seward's eulogist. 
 
 The sectional arrogance — nay, insolence — put by Mr. Adams into 
 that eulogy, is not ill pointed out by Mr. Welles, whose work, indeed, 
 is otherwise of real service to the interests of history. But the showing 
 made by that volume being added to the showing here drawn from 
 Chase's diaries and letters, there can be no reasonable question, that 
 to Seward's influence the presidental life of Lincoln was, for a time, 
 at least, too subject. 
 
 Lincoln yielded to Seward in not wishing to consult his Cabinet. 
 He preferred to consult Sumner as to some things, Seward as to 
 most ; and he evidently did not relish Chase's disposition to concern 
 himself more about the sword than about the purse. 
 
 We have seen 2 our hero's account of what Lincoln said to him, at 
 Springfield, about Seward. We have seen how Lincoln combined 
 with Seward to prevent due discussion in the Cabinet. In short, 
 the revelations of this volume clearly tend to show that, while Mr. 
 Adams may have exaggerated Seward's domination over Lincoln, 
 Lincoln clearly was too greatly influenced by the man whom he evi- 
 dently regarded as the premier of his ministry. 
 
 But does it follow that we are to look on Lincoln as a weakling? 
 I think not. As well might we conclude that Washington was not 
 
 1 This appears, I think, quite clearly on pages 46 and 86. But almost every page 
 displays the disposition of the author to disparage Seward. 
 2 Ante, p. 364
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. SI 5 
 
 a really great man, because he showed too much regard for Alexander 
 Hamilton, and was too much influenced by that predecessor of our 
 hero in the treasury. 
 
 Not often has biography been brave enough to toll the simple 
 truth. "We must not judge either Seward, Chase, or Lincoln too 
 severely. Any one by whom biography has been profoundly and 
 methodically studied, must be ready to agree, that if either of the 
 three distinguished men just named shall be faithfully compared with 
 other famous characters, his title to remembrance will not thereby 
 be annihilated. 
 
 Chase, we have seen, was a great student of the Bible. Did lie 
 study deeply, in the version he preferred, the words in the ninth 
 verse of the thirteenth chapter of the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah ? 
 They read thus : 
 
 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; 
 who can know it?" 1 
 
 Never was biographer more called upon than is the compiler of 
 this work — for it is little more than compilation, generally speak- 
 ing — to remember, constantly, that the heart, even of the most 
 thoughtful, self-introspective man, may be its own deceiver and be- 
 trayer. Chase, at all times, I believe, supposed himself to be aspir- 
 ing after none but worthy objects. Now and then, as in the case of 
 
 1 1 have not at hand the Douay version. Here, however, is the language of a 
 French Catholic rendering : 
 
 "Le coeur de l'homme est trompeur et impenetrable; qui le connaitre?" 
 A French Protestant rendering of the same verse has the words: 
 "Le cceur est ruse, et d£sesper£ment malin par dessus toutes choses; qui le con- 
 naitre?" 
 
 But I have, "Die Bibel oder die game Heilige Sehri/l des alten und neuen Testaments 
 nach der deulschen Uebersetzung Dr. Martin Luihers ;" and here we have the words: 
 "Es ist das Herz ein trotziges und verzagtes Ding; wer kann es ergrunden ? " 
 Yet the German Catholic version, which is in my library, contains the sentence: 
 "Aller Menschen Herz ist bfise und unerforschlich; wer wird es durchschauen?" 
 As already intimated, I prefer the Douay version and the French Catholic render- 
 ing; but learned preference may be the other way. Perhaps that of Luther may 
 appear the best. However that may be, the world has long since accepted as a 
 doctrine of the Bible that the heart may be deceitful even to itself. 
 
 'Unconscious cerebration'' is the name given by some physiologists to the phe- 
 nomenon of mental action that is not at all or but imperfectly self-conscious. Dr. 
 Carpenter* is one of the explicators of the learning in relation to this topic, equally 
 of interest to the psychologist as to the physiologist. But the most wonderful phe- 
 * Human Physiology, (Amer. ed.)
 
 816 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 his indebtedness to Hiram Barney, 1 he was clearly wrong in act; but, 
 even in that case, I can not think that he was wrong in purpose. 
 Similar remarks appear quite applicable to his intimacy with the 
 Cookes. But is it not quite clear that such a man was never fit for 
 any other than judicial office *? 
 
 In reviewing what I have advanced, here and there, about his 
 judgments of persons with whom he had to deal, I find apparent 
 inconsistency, resulting from occasional failure to express completely 
 my ideas on the subject here referred, to. I desire, in this final 
 chapter, to retouch the theme. 
 
 In some circumstances, he formed very accurate conceptions of 
 character. In other circumstances, he allowed himself to judge too 
 favorably men whose want of worth he ought to have perceived 
 quite clearly. Often, his desire to think well of a person overruled 
 his judgment. He was very seldom disposed to judge severely. He 
 discerned the good in character more readily than he discerned the 
 evil in design and disposition. Jealousy and envy were almost 
 strangers to his heart. Designing men, pretending to adopt his 
 ethics, too often won his confidence, and involved him in apparent 
 sympathy with their unworthy objects. How this damaged him, 
 from time to lime, some revelations of this work have very clearly 
 shown. 
 
 He would, I think, have been a great Chief Justice had he not 
 been worried out of due devotion to his high and holy office into 
 almost silly presidential candidature. But the real glory of his life 
 was in its private walks and ways, and in its persevering agitation 
 against slavery. 
 
 In saying that, in my judgment, the great glory of his life was in 
 its private walks and ways, and in its agitation against slavery, I do 
 not forget that Salmon Portland Chase, for some time, seemed fan- 
 atical in the agitation just referred to. But there was admirable 
 method in that madness while it lasted ; and it lasted only a few years. 
 Throughout, I think, it was inspired by conscientiousness ard love 
 
 nomenon of unconsciousness is that which novelists and poets, as well as psycholo- 
 gists and physiologists, have long discerned in emotion, feeling, comprehending love 
 as well as hatred, which is not at all or but imperfectly self-conscious. This phe- 
 nomenon, it seems to me. was not unknown to the composer of that verse in Jere- 
 miah's seventeenth chapter. Benedick and Beatrice are instances to prove that 
 Shakespeare studied the spiritual phenomenon in question. 
 'Ante, p. 557
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 817 
 
 of country. It drew out some of the finest utterances of the truly 
 great heart and great mind we have been studying. And it was 
 followed by a nobler agitation in the interest of freedom. This has 
 been quite clearly shown in some of the foregoing chapters. 
 
 That he had the greatness of fine person, port, and presence, 
 during much the greatest number of his years, will not be ques- 
 tioned. That he had an admirable mastery of words, in writing and 
 in certain modes of oral utterance, is also not to be denied. That he 
 had legal learning of a high order, I expect to be admitted by fair- 
 minded readers. That he cultivated a high-hearted love of country, 
 is quite evident. That his private life was pure, I am well satisfied. 
 
 In some respects, he was unfortunate. He would have seemed to 
 me most fortunate, had he been undividedly devoted to his duties as 
 Chief Justice. But, unfortunately, he was variously almost forced 
 into presidential candidature, after he became possessed of Ids finest 
 opportunity in public life. Thus, strange spectacle ! in spite of his 
 apparent fortunateness, he was really unfortunate — an object rather 
 of compassion than of envy to discerning minds — while he was in 
 the highest place he ever held. 
 
 The revelations of his diaries and letters are, it seems to me, of 
 wonderfully various interest. Even if the final judgment of the 
 reader should be, that the hero of this work does not deserve the 
 credit I ascribe to him, it would not follow that the contents of this 
 work should be considered unattractive. But I can not apprehend 
 such final judgment. 
 
 A biographer of Goethe used these words : 
 
 "And, without wishing to excuse or to conceal faults which he 
 assuredly had, we must always bear in mind that the faults of a cel- 
 ebrated man are apt to carry an undue emphasis; they are thrown 
 into stronger relief by the very splendor of his fame. Had Goethe 
 never written Faust, no one would have heard that he was an incon- 
 stant lover, and tepid politician. His glory immortalizes his shame." 
 
 In some degree, the suggestions of these words are here of service. 
 Constant as a lover, Chase was never tepid as a politician ; but I 
 can not attempt to justify or even to excuse some features of his life. 
 Lewes also says, in his Life of Goethe : 
 
 "Merck said of him that what he lived was more beautiful than 
 what he wrote ; and his life, amid all its weaknesses and all its errors, 
 presents a picture of a certain grandeur of soul, which can not be 
 contemplated unmoved. I shall make no attempt to conceal his
 
 818 THE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICES 
 
 faults. Let them be dealt with as harshly as severest justice may 
 dictate, they will not eclipse the central light that shines through 
 them.' - ' 
 
 I dare not say of Chase that what he lived was more beautiful 
 than what he wrote. I think, indeed, that what he wrote was far 
 more beautiful than what he lived. But I do say, and most heartily, 
 that the life of Salmon Portland Chase, amid all its weaknesses and 
 all its errors, presents a picture of intellectual and moral grandeur 
 which can not be contemplated without wonder. I have made no 
 attempt to hide those weaknesses, those errors. Let them be chari- 
 tably judged; and let us pay the due attention to the central light 
 of conscientiousness that, not uneclipsed at times, distinguishes his 
 life at large. 
 
 And who among us feels entitled to uplift his voice in censure 
 of that life? What famous European, what illustrious American, 
 whose real conduct and true character are known to us, appears to 
 have lived better than did Salmon Portland Chase, all things con- 
 sidered ? 
 
 He appears to have been well devoted, in intention, to great causes, 
 and, taken as a whole, the part he played in life seems clearly 
 marked by beauty, dignity, and value. 
 
 In a private circular, intended to foreshadow some of the then 
 intended matter of this work, appeared the since grossly misrepre- 
 sented paragraphs: 
 
 " Let me carefully explain, before proceeding farther, that a special 
 law of composition seemed to be dictated for observance in this work 
 by this consideration, with some others: He whose life and times 
 these pages undertake to make better known than they could be 
 without the revelations here presented, having begun life as a ' lite- 
 rary Lawyer,' never ceased, while life remained, to write much, and 
 with rare mastery of words, in the expression of well-studied 
 thoughts, relating to a great variety of subjects. 
 
 •• Wherefore the special law of composition, dictated as just hinted, 
 orders that the language of Salmon Poi'tland Chase be put into the 
 service of this tribute to his memory, whenever that is possible. In 
 Other terms, it orders that his words be used when that is not for- 
 bidden by the very nature of this undertaking. 
 
 "So may this work avail itself of superior style and diction, and 
 so may the reader soon begin to see, as in a faithful glass, the man 
 whose very physiognomy, as well as his distinctive traits and ten- 
 dencies, these pages naturally wish to make familiar, just as soon as 
 ma}- be, to perusers of their revelations. 
 
 1 The Story of Goethe'! Life, by George Henry Lewes, p. 12.
 
 OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE. 819 
 
 "If, therefore, the judgments which the author of this work- may 
 from time to time express or imply about Salmon Portland Chase, 
 shall seem to any reader false, each reader is to have at hand the 
 means of forming his own judgment for himself." 
 
 But, after all, is it true that the writings of this man, who, in 18G8, 
 was not astonished that some good men found in him an enigma, 
 
 yield a glass, deserving to be called a faithful mirror? Have I not 
 already indicated my opinion, that what he wrote was far more beau- 
 titul than what he lived? 
 
 That saying of Merck about Goethe is not true. It is not true 
 that Goethe's life was better than his writings. Neither life nor 
 writings, in that case, deserved the praise they have received. How- 
 ever that may be, the language used by the present writer, about a 
 faithful glass, as furnished by our hero's writings, clearly calls for 
 some qualification, as this volume nears its final word. The glass in 
 question yields rather an idealized likeness than a bare reflection. It 
 must be corrected by the exercise of a judgment at once just and 
 charitable. After all, we see in it a life and a character which form, 
 together, an enigma, not to be interpreted in any single sentence. 
 But this work at large, imperfect as it is, appears to its composer to 
 have represented Salmon Portland Chase, with his imperfections and 
 his virtues, with his greatness and his weakness, with the sins he 
 committed and the good deeds he performed, just as they were; and 
 so it leaves him to the proper judgment of these times and of the 
 times to come. 
 
 53
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 NOTE A. 
 
 The following is extracted from a letter to Chief Justice Chase 
 from Mr. JSewby Chase: 
 
 " You requested me to write to jour daughter, Mrs, Sprague, at Paris, which I did 
 without delay, and directed to the care of John Monroe & Co., Bankers. Paris. I 
 also requested of her to drop me a line, that I might know she received it. but, 
 never having heard since, I am afraid she did not get it. and, lest you should vcrv 
 justly consider me neglectful. I send inclosed a sketch of the arms, with an account 
 of the family and name, as far as I could find it out yet. The 1 on the shield is 
 Saxon, but however that may be, the family, it is asserted, came first from Piedmont. 
 I expect to find out the meaning of the 1 yet, as there is a Lieutenant-Colonel Chase 
 living at 3 Nottingham Place, Marylebone, London, W., ami John Chase. Esq., 50 
 Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London, W., and a Miss Chase, Devonshire 
 Place, London, W., from whom I expect to get information about it. 
 
 "I have a small book, entitled 'a report of proceedings in Ireland, relative to the 
 Church of Ohio since the arrival of the Rev. G. Montgomery West, chaplain to the 
 Right Reverend Bishop Chase, together with a list of Patrons and Donations as laid 
 before the public meeting in the city of Dublin, 10th Nov., 1828.' It contains some 
 letters from Bishop Chase to Sir Harcourt Lees, chairman of the meeting, etc.. and 
 if you would like to see it, I would forward it to you with pleasure, as 1 l.elieve 
 small books can now be forwarded by post to the United States for a trifle. 
 
 A letter to Mrs. Sprague from Mr. Newby Chase, Nov. 19, 1867 
 
 contains the following sentences : 
 
 "The family of Chase came originally from Piedmont, and belonged to the perse- 
 cuted Waldenses who had to fly their country. Hamilton, in his History of the 
 Albigenses, I think it is, mentions one of the name who accompanied a deputation 
 to the Duke of Savoy to intercede for his persecuted Bubjects. Two brothers of the 
 name came to England about the year 1654 or '5; took up arms under Crom- 
 well, and for their services obtained estates in Ireland. One of these brothers 
 settled in the County Wicklow, near a place called Limeahealy. where he got a 
 confiscated estate; the other in the County Wexford, near a place called Bally 
 Arnerd, where he also got a confiscated estate, and from which latter I am descended, 
 and about the fifth in descent. One of the family from Wicklow emigrated to 
 America, and lived in Boston, where he kept a hotel at the commencement of the war 
 for Independence, and, taking the King's side, had to fly and come back to Ireland, 
 where his wife followed him. They remained in Dublin until the peace, when they 
 went back again and settled in New York, and I believe was the first of the name 
 
 (821)
 
 s_'J APPENDIX. 
 
 in America. One of the same family settled in England, a great many years ago. 
 in the Pottery District; married a rich widow there, and, after a few years, amassed 
 large fortune. He and his family used to communicate with their friends in Ire- 
 land until the Rebellion in 1798, when, I understand, all communication with them 
 ceased; but 1 believe lie had settled in London before that time. A Robert Chase, 
 an uncle of my father's, kept a merchant tailoring establishment in Collingwood 
 Place, Ratcliffe, London, a great many years ago; and some of the name, who, I have 
 no doubt are branches of those families, are in respectable positions in England at the 
 present time, but it is somewhat difficult to trace them where noregular record is kept. 
 There is a Lieutenant-Col. Chase living at 3 Nottingham Place, Marylebone, London, 
 W. ; John Chase, Esq., 50 Upper Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London; and a 
 Miss Chase, Devonshire Place, London, W., who, I have no doubt, are of the same 
 family, and I expect to get some information from them about the arms. 
 
 "The family in this country has dwindled down very much. I and my family 
 and a few of the name who reside in the North of Ireland being the only ones of 
 the family in Ireland at the present. The old people foolishly let their properties 
 out of their hands, as many old people in this country did, 50 or 100 years ago. 
 
 " Underneath I send a rough sketch of the seal of the Right Rev. Bishop Chase, 
 which, I believe, is the true arms of the family, as some old silver spoons which 
 have been in my family for a great many years have the same crest. 
 
 " The shield is ensanguined, the Saxon F reversed, scroll blue and gold, crest a 
 lion rampant, holding an 1 in his forepaws ; motto, Pro C'/trislo et Palria — For Christ 
 and my Country. 
 
 " Hoping you will excuse this, I remain, Madam, very respectfully, 
 
 "NEWBY CHASE." 
 
 In a letter to the Chief Justice, Mr. Newby Chase, then at Black- 
 rock County, Dublin, Ireland, said, on the 19t'h of November, 1867 : 
 
 " I have just returned from the North of Ireland, where I and a daughter of mine 
 have been for three weeks on a visit. I called to see all of the name in that part of 
 the country, and they are not many; but every-where we were showed the greatest 
 respect and kindness, and that by some I had never seen before, but who, like my- 
 self, would feel happy in meeting any one of the name. I will just relate an anec- 
 dote of the name, which 1 heard from my father forty years ago : 
 
 " ' A vessel arrived from England in the port of Dublin, a great many years ago, 
 commanded by a Captain Chase. One of the name, who resided at that time in 
 Dublin, hearing of the arrival of a name-sake, called to see him, and told him what 
 brought him.' ' Oh,' says the captain, 'I am an English Chase, and don't know you.' 
 ' Well, says the other, 'I am an Irish Chase, and don't know you,' and was turning 
 to go away, when the captain seized him, and said he should not leave him in that 
 way, for he was surely a Chase. He made him go on board the vessel, and ever 
 after they were intimate friends.' " 
 
 Surely, whoever knew the late Chief Justice long and well, saw 
 in him a turn of temper not unlike that shown in these two Chases. 
 Here are extracts from a letter from the same pen : 
 
 "Blackrock County, Dublin, Ireland, Nov. 19, 1867. 
 " Honorable Sir : I received your letter of the 17th of September, with the letter
 
 APPENDIX. 823 
 
 of the adjutant-general inclosed, and I feel very thankful for your kindness in the 
 matter. I am sorry that all efforts to find a clue to the sword and effects of my son 
 have failed. It is too long since his death to expect to recover them now ; but if I 
 had the good fortune to have applied to you at the first, before the regiment was 
 disbanded, I have no doubt you would have recovered them forme, and I would have 
 them as a memorial of him. 1 received a letter a few days ago from Burlington 
 Iowa, stating that Major McClure sold the sword, sash, and effects of my son, and 
 has not made his appearance there since. 
 
 '•I have tried to get the army list for the Western States, which was compiled and 
 published immediately after the war — as it would show the engagements my Bon's 
 regiment was in, his promotion, death, etc., but 1 have failed in this also. Mr. W <■-!. 
 our United States Consul at Dublin, showed me one for the New England States, 
 and promised me several times to get me one, but somehow or other he forgot it. The 
 price is, I believe, one dollar; but it can not be got here. ...... 
 
 • Hoping you will excuse this long letter, I remain, honorable sir, your much 
 obliged, etc., 
 
 •• Hon. S. P. Chase, etc., Washington. NEW li Y CHASE." 
 
 Mr. Ncwb} T Chase thus appears to be a worthy bearer of his name. 
 His interest in pedigree is by no means discreditable. 
 
 The book from which I have transcribed the foregoing extracts 
 was furnished to me by the Chief Justice as part of the material 
 for this work. It contains the memorandum, " See letters of Newby 
 Chase for sketch of arms referred to." 
 
 It is not possible to pronounce with certainty upon the question 
 as to the supposed origin of the Chases in'Piedmont; but it would 
 seem to me not improbable that the country, named from its lying 
 at the foot of mountains, ma}* have sent the earlier Chases forth, 
 as indicated in one of the foregoing letters. 
 
 "Among the early settlers of New England." says the New England Genealogical 
 Register for January, 1847, "were three persons by the name of Chase; namely. 
 William, Thomas, and Aquila. The first settled in Yarmouth, and there died, in 
 1G59, leaving two sons, Benjamin and William. The last two were certainly brothers, 
 as appears from a deed given in 1GG7, by Aquila, to 'the sons of his brother Thomas.' 
 The name is found in various places in English history, from the time of William 
 the Conqueror to the present time. Thus, we find, in 1326, a family of that name 
 in Suffolk; a Thomas Chase, who was barbarously murdered in 150G ; a Sir Robert 
 Chase, Knight, in the west of England, 1628; a Sir John Chase in Exeter, prior to 
 1G37; a John Chase. Esq., Apothecary to Queen Anne, 1690, etc. See Mayna Brit- 
 annia, Lysson's London, Polwhele's Devonshire, and other works. 
 
 "Thomas and Aquila Chase were among the first settlers of Hampton, N. H., 
 in 1639." 
 
 Of Aquila Chase we know too little. He is set down by tradition, 
 however, as a native of Cornwall, England, and tradition also fixes 
 the year of his birth — it can not fix the day — in 1G18. Bishop Chase 
 assures us that the records of the town of Newbury, at the mouth 
 of Merrimack Hiver, prove that he was the first captain who, in a 
 regular vessel, ever sailed into that port.
 
 824 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Bishop adds, respecting Aquila : 
 
 "By reason of his nautical skill and enterprising character, he received an invi 
 tation from the inhabitants of that infant settlement to bring his family from 
 Hampton, not far off, where they had lived a few years on coming to America, and 
 make his home among them; and to insure his compliance, the ' selectmen,' who acted 
 M I what is called in other places than New England) a town council, tendered him 
 ili- donation of several lots of land and some other immunities. He complied with 
 their wishes and became an inhabitant of that then promising maritime village." 
 
 If the histories of men had had women for historians, would we 
 have known so little of maternal ancestry? 
 
 Dudley Chase was, doubtless, a strong character. But Alice Cor- 
 bett. I would say, was of yet stronger mold and temper. 
 
 Bishop Chase, her son, devotes a portion of one chapter rnd the 
 greatest part of another to accounts of that heroic and devoted wife 
 and mother. Under the title, Story of the Pine- Apple, he sets forth 
 her relation of a series of facts which, he says, she " used to tell her 
 children, to illustrate her abhorrence of the sin of covetousness — that 
 sin which, by its idolatrous nature, calls down God's judgment on 
 his people." — Reminiscences of Bishop Chase, I., 9. 
 
 Dudley and Alice lived in Sutton, Massachusetts, about ten years, 
 and then moved to New Hampshire. When the family, in their pain- 
 ful journey through the woods, arrived at Fort No. 4, it was thought 
 advisable that the mother and children should remain there for 
 shelter and for their greater security from the Indians. To this 
 arrangement noble Alice consented with the greatest reluctance, as 
 she afterward related to her son, the future bishop. 
 
 "I shuddered," said she, "at the thought of being penned up with my precious 
 bairns within the precints of a narrow fort, rudely built for defense against savages, 
 for a period of time I knew not how long; for it was sixteen miles up the river 
 whither your father and his company of workmen were going, where the land was 
 to be cleared and the crop for the approaching season was to be planted. But 
 necessity is an imperious dictate, and submission was my duty. It was, neverthe- 
 less, a hard parting when your father pressed his babes to his bosom, and mine to 
 his manly cheek, as he stepped into his canoe and took command of his little fleet 
 of stout and cheerful men, both able and willing to subdue the forest and plant the 
 virgin soil. 
 
 " It was some time in the early spring that this parting scene took place on the 
 banks of the Connecticut River. The bud was then bursting from its wintry fetters; 
 tin' birds were commencing their wooing songs, and the wild herbage sprang up all 
 around me. Among these I wandered, admired their beauty, and inhaled their 
 sweets; but all had no charms for me while your father was gone. I tried to banish 
 my fears for his safety when I thought of his defenseless state and the proximity 
 of the ruthless savage; for there was then war between France and England, and 
 no fort between us and Canada. I also endeavored to seek refuge from my painful 
 feelings in employment for myself and children; but our condition in the fort pre- 
 cluded the observance of regularity, and without that, little can be done. So much
 
 APPENDIX. 825 
 
 mingling of contending interests, especially among a crowd of little children, bade 
 defiance to all efforts for order or peace. Days seemed weeks, and weeks seemed 
 months ; and scarcely did a sun rise without witnessing my wanderings on the b&nkg 
 of the flowing stream where I had parted from your father and his blithe company 
 of Cornish woodmen. 
 
 •' It was in one of these walks that, with my children by my side, I saw, as the 
 day drew near its close, a canoe coming round a point ' of the river bank above me. 
 I first thought of the approach of savages; but before I had time to flee, I recognized 
 the well-known canoe of your father, and in it our trusty neighbor, Diah Spalding. 
 My heart leaped with joy; and no sooner did the canoe reach the shore than the 
 children were in it and on his knees; nor did they suffer him to stir till they bad 
 told him I was resolved that we should all return with him to their father in the 
 woods. 
 
 " ' Do you know, are you apprised, dear madam,' said he, respectfully approaching 
 me — 'are you aware that such has been our anxiety to put in a crop and plant the 
 ground for the coming summer, that we found no time to erect the semblance of a 
 house ? I am come to tell you your husband is well, and all his men are well, and to 
 obtain information of your health and safety; and to carry back with me a recruit 
 of provisions for their comfort ; but we have all slept upon the uncovered ground, 
 and, as yet, have no place to shelter ourselves — much less you and your little ones 
 — from the pelting of the storm; and will you venture with them into the woods 
 before you are sure of a refuge ? ' 
 
 "'I will go, and, with all my children, endure any storm, if you will give me but 
 a safe and speedy conveyance to my husband. If there be no shelter, or fence, or 
 fort, his faithful arm will guard me, and his trusty men will aid him; and there 
 God, who is above all, ruleth all, and directeth all, will provide.' 
 
 " A much smaller degree of sagacity than our neighbor Spalding possessed would 
 have been sufficient to make him sensible that it was in vain to thwart a resolution 
 so firmly taken; and the speedy removal once determined on, all the force of his 
 ingenious and friendly mind was called into action to make things ready. Such 
 goods as we needed least were secured in the fort ; and such as the boats would carry, 
 and we needed most, with ample provisions, were put on board; and the morning 
 sun had scarcely risen ere the indefatigable exertions of Spalding and the assiduity 
 of my children had made all things ready for the voyage. Spalding was a good 
 canoe-man ; and under the protection of the Almighty, in whom our trust was placed, 
 the exertions of his strong arm and the industrious aid of my elder sons made our 
 speed, though slow, yet unceasing; and, in time of war. ascending a rapid stream in 
 a frail Indian canoe, we reached before night the little opening among the towering 
 trees, from whence the spot of your father's choice appeared to our longing eyes." 
 
 Is the story long? The narrative of this devoted woman seems 
 to me too brief. I can not bring myself to leave out one word 
 thereof. It goes forward in this fashion : 
 
 '"There they are,' said the mingled voices of my children; 'there is our dear 
 father, and yonder are his men; I hear his voice and the sound of their axes.' 
 
 "For a moment all was hidden from our view by the density of the intervening 
 forest trees. This gave me time to utter what was laboring in my bosom — a prayer 
 of faith and benediction. 
 
 1 In the west, called a bend.
 
 826 APPENDIX. 
 
 " ' God of our ancestors, bless your father and me, your helpless mother, and you, 
 my loved children, now. even now, as we shall, in a few minutes, take possession 
 of this our dwelling-place in the wild woods, and though, like Jacob, we have naught 
 but a stone for our pillow and the canopy of heaven for a covering, may we all find 
 God indeed to be in this place ; and may this place be to us a house of God and a 
 gate of heaven ! ' 
 
 ■ What a moment was this to one who had left all for her husband and the future 
 fortunes of her children! Th« wealth of India would have been meanly estimated 
 in comparison of the endeared spot before me. 
 
 "'With your leave, madam,' said pilot Spalding, 'I think it prudent that your 
 husband come to us, and give orders where he will have his family landed.' 
 
 •• Accordingly, he made fast the canoe to the willows, and desired us to await his 
 return. Your father could get no direct answer from Spalding as to the nature of 
 the cargo he had brought. ' Come and see,' was all he would say. 
 
 " ' Is all well ? ' said your father. 'Have you brought us a good supply of food?' 
 
 " ' Come and see,' replied Spalding, with animation, and in an instant they burst 
 upon our view ; and as your dear father stood on the margin of the high bank, he 
 saw beneath his feet the frail bark in which were his wife and children. The emo- 
 tion was almost too much for him. I saw this, and spi'ang forward, the children 
 quickly following. He received us with a mixture of joy mingled with agony. 
 
 " 'Are you come to die here,' he exclaimed, 'before your time? We have no house 
 to shelter you, and you will perish before we can get one erected.' 
 
 " ' Cheer up, cheer up, my faithful ! ' said I, to your father; ' let the smiles and the 
 ruddy faces of your children, and the health and cheerfulness of your wife, make 
 you joyful. If you have no house, you will have strength and hands to make one. 
 The God we worship will bless us, and help us to obtain a shelter. Cheer up, cheer 
 up, my faithful ! ' 
 
 "The sunshine of joy and hope began to beam from his countenance; the news 
 was communicated throughout the company of workmen, and the woods rang with 
 shouts at the arrival of the first white woman and the first family on the banks of 
 the Connecticut River above Fort Number Four. All assembled to see the strangers, 
 and strove to do them acts of kindness. The trees were quickly felled and peeled, 
 and the clean bark, i-n large sheets, was spread for a floor; other sheets, being fast- 
 ened by thongs of twisted twigs to stakes driven in the ground, were raised for 
 walls, or laid on cross-pieces for a roof; and the cheerful fire soon made glad our 
 little dwelling. The space of three hours was not consumed in effecting all this; 
 and never were men more happy than those who contributed thus speedily and thus 
 effectually to supply our wants. Beds were brought from the canoe to this rustic 
 pavilion, and on them we rested sweetly, fearless of danger, though the thick foliage 
 was wet with dew, and the wild beasts howled all around us, trusting in the pro- 
 tecting hand of Providence and the watchful fidelity of our faithful neighbors. 
 
 " The next day all hands were called to build a cabin, which served us for the 
 coming winter, and in which, cheered by the rising prospects of the family and the 
 mutual affection of all around us, my enjoyments were more exquisite than at any 
 aubsequent period of my life." 
 
 As one of the Cornish Chases, Alice is a character of great interest 
 to this work. 
 
 And now let us look a little at the history of the so-called seces- 
 sion of Cornish and the fifteen towns associated with her.
 
 APPENDIX. 827 
 
 Careful study of some paragraphs in Do Tocqueville's Democracy 
 in America might greatly aid examination of the tract of history 
 about to be reviewed. According to that writer, there is a certain 
 likeness between the town of New England and the European com- 
 mune. Both he considers rather as the work of nature than as that 
 of art. The State appears to him man-made, while the town and 
 the commune seem to him God-made. It appears to me that in this 
 respect, as in so many others, he draws considerably on imagination 
 where it would have been better to confino himself to sober specu- 
 lation. But, however that may appear, the paragraphs referred to 
 are at least suggestively of interest, 
 
 Dr. Belknap saj-s that " the inhabitants on the eastern side of 
 Connecticut Biver were very conveniently situated to unite with those 
 on the western side, and man}' of them had the same principles and 
 views." x Another historian of Massachusetts tells his readers that 
 " most of the settlers in that section were from Connecticut, and were 
 more assimilated, in their manners and feeling, to the people of Ver- 
 mont, than to those of the eastern parts of New Hampshire ;" and 
 he adds, that " they wished to form a State, whose center and seat 
 of government should be in their own vicinity, at some town on 
 Connecticut Biver." 2 But, however conveniently situated for asso- 
 ciation with the townships of Vermont, the Chases in Cornish and 
 the dwellers in the western towns of Grafton County, did not vest 
 their right to li secede " on such considerations. 
 
 On the other hand, the doctrine of secession at will appears to 
 have had no part in influencing their action. They could not have 
 been ignorant, that in the Exeter Convention, in January, 177G, the 
 preamble of the proposed constitution was made to recite, that the 
 British Parliament had, by many grievous and oppressive acts, de- 
 prived the colonists of their native rights ; and that to enforce 
 obedience to those acts of oppi'ession and privation, the British min- 
 istry had sent a powerful fleet and army into this country, and had 
 wantonly and cruelly abused their power in destroying lives and 
 property. They must have known that, in the same preamble, 
 farther recital was made to the effect, that the sudden and abrupt 
 departure of the " late governor " of Xew Hampshire had left that 
 colony destitute of legislation ; that no judicial courts were open to 
 punish offenders ; and that the Continental Congress had recommended 
 the adoption of a form of government ; and that the convention there- 
 upon proceeded to say : "We conceive ourselves reduced to the neces- 
 
 " Hist. N. H., II, 338. 
 
 2 AVhiton's Sketches of the History of New Hampshire, 141.
 
 828 APPENDIX. 
 
 sittj of establishing a form of government, to continue during the 
 present unhappy and unnatural contest with Great Britain ; pro- 
 tosting and declaring, that we never soughtto throw off our depend- 
 ence on Great Britain ; but we felt ourselves happy under her pro- 
 teetion, whilst we could enjoy our constitutional rights and privi- 
 leges ; and that we shall rejoice, if such a reconciliation between us 
 and «>ur parent State can be effected, as shall be approved by the 
 Continental Congress, in whose prudence and wisdom we confide." * 
 The Cornish men and the inhabitants of the other so-called seceding 
 towns, moreover, must have known that, as late as March, 1776, the 
 Legislature of New Hampshire had not given up all hope of a satis- 
 factory adjustment of relations with Great Britain. In the preamble 
 of the then adopted plan of government, they said : " "We shall re- 
 joice if such a reconciliation between us and our parent State can 
 be effected, as shall be approved by the Continental Congress." 2 
 
 Cornish and the other " seceding" towns must have also known, 
 that, in New Hampshire, on the 11th of June, 1776, a committee was 
 chosen by the assembly and another by the council, " to make a 
 draught of a declaration of the Independence of the United Colonies ;" 3 
 and that on the 15th of the same month "the committees of both 
 houses reported a Declaration of Independence, which, having been 
 unanimously adopted, was sent, by copy, to the delegates from the 
 State in Congress." i But they must have known also, that that 
 bold paper based the claim to independence, not on the right of se- 
 cession at will, but on the right arising out of British misrule. 
 
 The recital of the declaration here referred to is, in part, as follows : 
 
 " Whereas, it now appears an undoubted fact, that, notwithstanding all the dutiful 
 petitions and decent remonstrances from the American colonies, and the utmost ex- 
 ertions of their best friends in England on their behalf, the British ministry, arbi- 
 trary and vindictive, are yet determined to reduce, by force and sword, our bleeding 
 country to their absolute obedience ; and for this purpose, in addition to their own 
 force, they have engaged great numbers of foreign mercenaries, who may now be on 
 their passage here, accompanied by a formidable fleet to ravish [sic] and plunder the 
 sea-coast; from all which we may reasonably expect the most dismal scenes of dis- 
 tress the ensuing year, unless we exert ourselves by every means and precaution 
 possible." 5 
 
 It is not proper here to present at large the argument by which it 
 could be shown, so easily, that thus far nothing like the notion of 
 secession, causeless and capricious — nothing like the doctrine of the 
 right to secede at will from a governmental union — found consider- 
 ation in the town of Cornish. But it is proper to make some farther 
 
 1 Belknap, II, 308, 309. 2 Whiton, 133. 
 
 3 Barstow, Hist. N. II., 252. « Ibid. 5 Ibid.
 
 APPENDIX. 829 
 
 statements, touching the so-called secession of Cornish and her fif- 
 teen town associates. 
 
 We have seen how the majority in Cornish and ihe other so-called 
 
 seceding towns could reason. Now, let l>r. Belknap tell as how the 
 
 Other side could argue. That delightful writer — whom one can not 
 read without dearly loving him — relates as follows: 
 
 "In these sentiments, the people were not all united. The majority of some towns 
 
 was in favor of their former connection, and in those towns where the majority in- 
 clined the other way, the minority claimed protection of the government. 
 
 "They supposed that the existence of their town incorporations, and of the privileges 
 annexed to them, depended on their union to New Hampshire ; and that their accep- 
 tance of the grants was, in effect, an acknowledgment of the jurisdiction, and a 
 submission to the laws of the State; from which they could not fairly be disengaged 
 without its consent, as the State had never injured or oppressed them." 1 
 
 The minority were not allowed to silence the majority, however. 
 The historian relates, that the majority took "much pains " to " dis- 
 seminate the new ideas." They resorted to the force of printed pam- 
 phlets and to public conventions, as well as to private agitation. A 
 petition in the name of the seceding towns was addresssed to the 
 authorities of the new State which had assumed the name of Ver- 
 mont. In this paper the petitioners prayed to be received by the 
 State " into its union," 2 and alleged " that they were not connected 
 with any State, with respect to their internal police." At first, the 
 Assembly of Vermont appeared to be against receiving them ; but the 
 members from the towns situated near the river on the west side now 
 made themselves heard. They openly declared that they would 
 withdraw and join with the people on the east side in forming a new 
 State. 3 
 
 It is quite clear that Cornish and the fifteen towns associated with 
 her did not claim the right to nullify the legislation of New Hamp- 
 shire. We have seen that, according to their views, the town remained 
 intact, notwithstanding the effect of the revolution which put an end 
 to British rule, but that, beyond the town, the inhabitants of the 
 region in which they resided (namely, a region whose eastern 
 boundary was a line drawn sixty miles from the ocean) were re- 
 duced to what they called " a state of nature." 
 
 The year before, the people of the "New Hampshire Grant-, 
 within the present territory of Vermont, had arrived at the con- 
 clusion that they, too, were reduced by the revolution to "a state 
 
 1 J. Belknap's Hist. New Hampshire, III, 339. 
 
 2 Such is the phrase used by Belknap. P. 339. 
 
 3 Ibid, 340.
 
 830 APPENDIX. 
 
 of nature," leaving them destitute of government beyond the town 
 authorities. They resolved to form themselves into a State. " A 
 convention of delegates from the several towns west of Connecticut 
 Eiver met at Westminster early in 1777, which declared the said 
 territory to be an independent jurisdiction by the name of Vermont, 
 and made application to Congress for the admission of their dele- 
 gates to seats in that body." 1 
 
 Dr. Belknap's account of the convention that framed the constitu- 
 tion of New Hampshire furnishes this interesting narrative : 
 
 1; The inhabitants of the district on the western side of Connecticut River, which 
 was severed from New Hampshire in 1764, had been engaged in a long and bitter 
 controversy with the government of New York. They had even been obliged to have 
 recourse to arms in defense of their estates ; and frequent acts of violence had been 
 committed. There was among them a set of intrepid men, ready to encounter dan- 
 gers, and trained to hardy enterprise. At the commencement of hostilities, by the 
 advice of some principal opposers of the British government in the other colonies, a 
 company of those people, styling themselves Green Mountain Boys, marched to 
 Ticonderoga, and wrested that fortress, together with Crown Point, out of the hands 
 of the British garrisons. A regiment of them was embodied by order and in the 
 pay of the General Congress. Their exertions in the common cause were meritorious 
 and their services were acceptable. 
 
 "Soon after the Declaration of Independence, the inhabitants of that territory 
 assembled in convention to consider their peculiar situation, and concert measures 
 for their safety. The opportunity which then presented for a change in their polit- 
 ical connections was too precious to be lost. By the dissolution of the bonds which 
 had held America in subjection to the crown of Britain, they conceived themselves 
 free from the government of New York, to which the most of them had never vol- 
 untarily submitted; and being, as they said, reduced to 'a state of nature,' they 
 thought that they had a right to form such connections as were agreeable to them- 
 selves. Accordingly, they made and published a declaration ' that they would at all 
 times consider themselves as a free and independent State; capable of regulating 
 their own internal police; that they had the sole, exclusive right of governing 
 themselves, in such manner as they should choose, not repugnant, to the resolves of 
 Congress; and that they were ready to contribute their proportion to the common 
 defense.' Under the influence of these principles, they formed a plan of government 
 and a code of laws, and petitioned Congress to receive them into the Union." 
 
 The people of Vermont, on reference of the question to them, 
 decided to admit the seceding towns of New Hampshire. Nay, the 
 assembly of Vermont resolved that an}- other towns on the east side 
 of the Connecticut might be admitted, on producing a vote of a 
 majority of the inhabitants, or on the appointment of a repre- 
 sentative. 
 
 Thereupon, Cornish and the other corporate " seceders r ' notified 
 the government of New Hampshire of the political institution they 
 
 iWhiton, 135.
 
 APPENDIX. 831 
 
 supposed themselves to have accomplished. They expressed, how- 
 ever, their desire to have an amicable settlement of a jurisdictional 
 line, and a friendly correspondence. 
 
 In the name of the New Hampshire Legislature, the president 
 of that State wrote to the governor of Vermont, claiming the six- 
 teen towns as part of the State, the limits of which, he urged, had 
 been determined prior to the revolution. He relied upon the tacts, 
 that those towns had sent delegates to the convention that met at 
 Exeter, in 1775; that they had applied to the assembly of New- 
 Hampshire for arms and ammunition, which had been sent to them; 
 and that their officers had accepted commissions from the govern- 
 ment of New Hampshire, and obeyed the orders of that government. 
 He pointed out, also, that the minority of the seceded towns was 
 not only averse to a disunion, but had claimed protection of New 
 Hampshire, which the assembly felt bound to aiford ; and he besought 
 the governor of Vermont to use his influence with the assembly of 
 that State to dissolve the newly-formed connection. 
 
 At the same time, the chief magistrate of New Hampshire wrote 
 to the delegates of the State in Congress. He desired them to 
 endeavor to bring about the interposition of the national legislature, 
 and he did not hide his apprehension that, without that interposition, 
 the sword must be resorted to, to end the controversy; since (to use 
 Belknap's version of his letter) " every condescending measure had 
 been used from the beginning, and rejected. - ' 1 
 
 But the authorities of the new State of the "Green Mountain Boys " 
 were not disposed to give up Cornish and the other seceded towns 
 across the river. The governor and council sent a messenger to 
 Congress, who was to sound that body on the subject, and to ascertain 
 how Congress viewed Vermont. He found that Congress was unani- 
 mously opposed to the union of the seceders with the State, whose 
 interests he represented, but, with the exception of the members 
 from New York, had no objection to the independence of Vermont 
 herself. 
 
 When the representatives of the so-called seceding towns took 
 their seats in the next assembly of Vermont (which was held at 
 Windsor, opposite to Cornish), they expected that the towns they 
 represented would be formed into a county. They were disappoint- 
 ed. Debate arose upon the question, and it was decided in the neg- 
 ative. What then? Our plucky " seceders," "conceiving that they 
 were not admitted to equal privileges with their brethren," made a 
 new "secession." They withdrew from the Vermont Assembly, and 
 
 : Ibid. 341.
 
 832 APPENDIX. 
 
 drew with them several other delegates, representing towns adjoin- 
 in^ the Connecticut on the west side. A convention of the members 
 so withdrawing was thereupon organized, which invited all the towns 
 on both sides of the river to unite, and set up another State ! They 
 proposed to name the new formation New Connecticut. 1 
 
 According to Belknap, " this secession had nearly proved fatal to 
 the State of Vermont." He adds : " A ridge of mountains which ex- 
 tends from south to north through that territory, seemed to form 
 not only a natural, but a political line of division. A more cordial 
 union subsisted between the people on the eastern side of the Green 
 Mountains and on the eastern side of Connecticut River, than between 
 the latter and those on the western side of the mountains ; but these 
 alone were insufficient, without the others, to make a State." 
 
 But the governor and other great men of Vermont, it seems, resided 
 westward of the mountains. They became alarmed. The}' wrote to 
 the assembly of New Hampshire letters, disapproving of the con- 
 nection of Vermont with Cornish and its fifteen associates, east of the 
 Connecticut. But the great men of New Hampshire looked upon 
 these letters as ambiguous — as not expressing, clearly, disinclination 
 to a future connection with our hero's native town and its associate 
 seceders. 
 
 "Jealousy," remarks sage Dr. Belknap, "is said to be a republican 
 virtue; it operated on this occasion, and the event proved that it 
 was not without foundation." 2 
 
 Cornish now becomes the scene of action. On the 9th of December, 
 1768, delegates from several towns on both sides of the river assem- 
 bled in convention at that place. 
 
 At that time, Ithamar, the father of our Salmon Portland Chase, 
 the brother of another Salmon Chase, a son of Dudley Chase, who 
 still survived, and was to live yet many years, was a Cornish farmer. 
 
 And there was another Dudley Chase at Cornish, whom our hero 
 was to know as uncle Dudley, and who was to be a great man in 
 Vermont. This Dudley was to be Chief Justice of the Green Moun- 
 tain State, and to represent it in the Senate of the Union. At the 
 time that that convention met in Cornish, on the 9th day of Decem- 
 ber, 1778, he was nearly seven years of age. 3 No doubt, he remem- 
 bered the convention while he lived ; and certainly his elder brother, 
 Ithamar, the father of our hero, could have told the latter all about 
 its action ; and it is quite probable he did, though no evidence relat- 
 ing to that point has come within my knowledge. 
 
 Dudley Chase, the father of our hero's father, was a man of parts, 
 
 1 Ibid, 341. ■ Ibid. 342. 3 He was born in Cornish, Dec. 30, 1771
 
 APPENDIX. 833 
 
 a figure of commanding interest, a character in whom, I am quite 
 sure, the reader must feel lively interest. It is reasonable to sup- 
 pose that he took decided part in the convention here referred to. 
 But, on looking into the article, composed by "H. Chase, Esq.," 
 under the title Historical Facts about Cornish, N. II., and contributed 
 by him to Farmer & Moore's Collections, 1 I find no mention of the 
 name of Dudley Chase whatever. 
 
 It appears from that article, however, that Moses Chase, Esq., 
 was chosen to represent Cornish in that convention. It was, no 
 doubt, held in the meeting-house as ordered; and no doubt Moses 
 Chase represented Cornish as a delegate in that assembly ; but the 
 evidence within my reach does not extend as far as I could wish. 
 
 It seems, however, the courageous, but perhaps, not very prudent 
 little body came to the conclusion " to unite, without an}- regard to 
 the limits established by the King in 1764." 2 In that year an order 
 had been passed by the King in council, declaring " the western 
 banks of Connecticut River, from where it enters the Province of 
 Massachusetts Bay, as far north as the forty-fifth degree of latitude, 
 to the boundary line between the two provinces of New Hampshire 
 and New York." 3 The Cornish Convention, having resolved to form 
 a union, without regard to this royal limitation, farther resolved "to 
 make the following proposals to Xew Hampshire, viz., either to 
 agree with them on a dividing line, or to submit the dispute to Con- 
 gress, or to arbitrators mutually chosen. If neither of these pro- 
 posals were accepted, then, in case they could agree with Xew 
 Hampshire on a form of government, they would consent that ' the 
 whole of the grants on both sides of the river should connect them- 
 selves with New Hampshire, and become one entire State, as before 
 the royal determination in 1764.' Till one or other of these propo- 
 sals should be complied with, they determined 'to trust in Providence 
 and defend themselves.' " 4 
 
 To comprehend clearly the situation of these hardy people, it is 
 necessary to bear in mind, that New Hampshire, east of the so-called 
 seceded towns, was disposed not merely to resist their withdrawal, 
 but to claim the towns on the west side of the Connecticut. The 
 unsuccessful attempt made in 1779 to form a constitution for Xew 
 Hampshire proposed, indeed, to define the limits of the State as " the 
 same as under the royal government," but at the same time, the 
 proposal contained the words, " reserving nevertheless our claim to 
 the Xew Hampshire Grants, west of Connecticut River." Belknap, 
 
 1 Collections, II, 153. 2 Belknap, II, 342. 3 Ibid, 243. * Ibid, 342.
 
 834 APPENDIX. 
 
 having so related, adds that, "though this form of government was 
 rejected by a majority of the people, yet there was a disposition in 
 a great part of the assembly to l'etain their claim to the whole of 
 the grunts westward of the river." 1 
 
 It is farther necessary to remember that the Cornish people and 
 their associates in so-called secession had to consider the unabandoned 
 pretensions of New York. That State set up a claim to the same 
 lands west of the Connecticut. Belknap says " that it was suspected, 
 not without reason, that intrigues were forming to divide Vermont 
 between New Hampshire and New York, by the ridge of mountains 
 which runs through the territory." 2 
 
 The Vcrmonters were not to be outdone in claiming. Quite deter- 
 mined to maintain their young Statehood, they, to the end, according 
 to Belknap, "that they might have the same advantage of their ad- 
 versaries," set up claims extending westward into New York as well 
 as eastward into New Hampshire. In consequence, not only Cornish 
 and her fifteen associates, but several other towns in the counties of 
 Cheshire and Grafton, assumed to be incorporated with Vermont by 
 "articles of union and confederation." 3 
 
 Local aspiration and ambition greatly complicated this remark- 
 ably suggestive controversy. Thus, the Vermonters westward of the 
 Green Mountains wished to have the seat of government on that 
 side of those heights, while the dwellers on both sides of the Con- 
 necticut wished Co have the capital brought near that river; and the 
 leading men of New Hampshire were in favor of retaining the center 
 of jurisdiction where it was. 
 
 Congress recommended to the three States of New York, Massa- 
 chusetts, 4 and New Hampshire, to pass acts which should authorize 
 the national legislature to determine the disputed boundaries. At 
 the same time, the same body advised Vermont to relinquish juris- 
 diction over all persons on the west or east side of Connecticut Biver 
 who had not denied the authority of New- Hampshire; and to abstain 
 from granting lands, or confiscating estates, within their assumed 
 limits, till the matter should be decided. Massachusetts did not act 
 as recommended ; the Vermont assembly continued to grant lands 
 and confiscate estates ; but New York and New Hampshire passed 
 the acts advised by Congress. Congress could do nothing, at that 
 time, to end the controversy. 
 
 It was not till after discussion of the question whether the na- 
 tional assembly could, constitutionally, form a new State within the 
 
 1 Ibid, 343. 2 Ibid> 343 3 Ib id. 
 
 * Massachusetts, also, had claimed part of the territory now included in Vermont.
 
 APPENDIX. 835 
 
 limits of the Union, that, in 1781, Congress laid down as an indispens- 
 able preliminary to the admission of Vermont, that that spirited 
 community should "explicitly relinquish all demands of land and 
 jurisdiction on the east side of Connecticut Eiver, and on the west 
 side of a line drawn twenty miles eastward of Hudson's Eiver to 
 Lake Champlain.'' ' 
 
 Vermont was not yet daunted. In October, her assembly, having 
 met at Charlestown, stubbornly resolved to "remain firm in the prin- 
 ciples on which" it "first assumed government, and to hold the 
 articles of union inviolate." It resolved that it "would not submit 
 the question of independence to the arbitrament of any power what- 
 ever; but it declared its present willingness to refer the question 
 of jurisdictional boundary to commissioners mutually chosen, and 
 made known that when Vermont should be admitted into the Amer- 
 ican Union, she would submit any such disputes to Congress.'' 
 
 Meantime, Cornish and the other towns which had "seceded" 
 were not happy. Na} T , according to good Dr. Belknap, they were 
 " very unhappy." The minorities, respectively, were not disposed 
 to submit to the control of the majorities, and the majorities at- 
 tempted to compel submission on the part of the minorities. "At 
 the same time and in the same place, justices, sheriffs, and constables, 
 appointed by the authority of both States, were exercising jurisdic- 
 tion over the same persons. Party rage, high words, and deep 
 resentments, were the effect of these clashing interests;" and "an 
 affray which began in the town of Chesterfield, threatened a scene of 
 open hostility between the States of New Hampshire and Vermont." 3 
 
 A constable appointed by Vermont attempted to arrest an adhe- 
 rent of New Hampshire, on a writ in an action for debt. The de- 
 fendant was with a number of people of his own party, and the owner 
 of the house in which they were, interposed when the constable at- 
 tempted to make the arrest. Thereupon the constable began to read 
 from a book, which he said contained the laws of Vermont; but the 
 owner of the house forbade the reading : threatening words ensued, 
 and the officer retreated. This was followed up by the imprisonment, 
 in Charlestown gaol, of the owner of the house and another of tho 
 resistants of the constable; and this imprisonment occasioned a 
 petition to the legislature of New Hampshire for l'elief. The assem- 
 bly of New Hampshire empowered the committee of safety to direct 
 the sheriff of Cheshire to release the prisoners. In attempting to 
 release the prisoners, the Cheshire sheriff was imprisoned by the 
 Vermont sheriff, under the real or supposed authority of a warrant 
 
 Belknap, II., 346. 2 Ibid, 3-17. 
 
 54
 
 836 APPENDIX. 
 
 issued by three justices. The New Hampshire sheriff thereupon 
 caused application to be made, not for a habeas corpus, but for the 
 offices of a New Hampshire brigadier, in raising the militia for his 
 liberation. This fired the heart of the Vermonters ; and the gov- 
 ernor of the Green Mountain Boys ordered the Vermont militia to 
 meet force with force. 
 
 But now, pacific thoughts arising, a committee of Yermonters 
 wended their way to Exeter, empowered "to agree on measures to 
 prevent hostilities." Unfortunately, the arresting sheriff was of that 
 committee of intending peace-makers. He was at once arrested, and 
 thrown into prison, and there held as hostage for the release of the 
 sheriff of Cheshire ; and the assembly of New Hampshire issued a 
 proclamation, allowing forty days for the people in the revolted 
 towns to repair to some magistrate of New Hampshire, and to sub- 
 scribe a declaration acknowledging the extent of New Hampshire 
 to Connecticut Eiver, and engaging that the subscribers would 
 demean themselves peaceably as good citizens of the State. ' At the 
 same time, the same angry body ordered the loyal militia of New 
 Hampshire, in all the counties, to hold themselves in readiness to 
 march against the men of Cornish and the other residents of the 
 revolted district. 
 
 The " revolted towns " did not apparently care much for these 
 warlike demonstrations. Even after the committee of Congress, 
 having under consideration the matter of Vermont, prevailed on 
 General Washington to prevail on the governor of Vermont to pre- 
 vail on the majority in the legislature of that State to relinquish the 
 late extension, the revolted towns, including Cornish, still held out. 
 They continued to hold out in some measure even after they were 
 cut off from Vermont. At last, in 1782, they were induced to recog- 
 nize the jurisdiction of New Hampshire, and their unbloody secession 
 was no more. 
 
 At a meeting held in Cornish, May 31, 1783, "William Eipley was 
 chosen a delegate to sit in the convention to be held at Concord in 
 June, 1783 ; and, November 27, of the same year, Moses Chase was 
 chosen to represent the town in the General Court to be held at 
 Concord on the third Wednesday of the next December. 2 
 
 Here we see, in some respects, an adumbration of the fate and 
 fortunes of the nullifying secessionists of our own times. But how 
 many and how wide the differences between the attempt of the South 
 to dissolve the Union in order to perpetuate slavery, and that enter- 
 
 1 Belknap, II., 348. 
 
 2 H. Chase in the before cited paper, Farmer $ Moore's Collections, II., 156.
 
 APPENDIX. 837 
 
 prise of the Cornish Chases and their associates, in the interest of 
 what appeared to them a due regard for their autonomy, must be 
 apparent to each reader. 
 
 Chase, perhaps, knew little of the facts just reviewed. He said to 
 me nothing whatever about them. 
 
 In an extremely hasty notice of some pages of this work, a re- 
 viewer, who, it seems, supposed himself to be a friendly critic, repre- 
 sented me as knowing about as much of New England as a Kentucky 
 farmer, who had never left his farm, might be expected to know of 
 Yankee life and manners. It was the same hasty criticism that 
 discovered in the author of this work a judge, seated on a high, 
 infallible throne, pronouncing judgment on all persons and all 
 things. I never believed in the infallibility of any merely human 
 person in this world. I have not so spoken in this work as to just- 
 ify any one in saying that my work is too judicially inclined. But 
 I must say that my studies of American chorography, at large, have 
 been far from superficial, far from narrow ; and, also, that they have 
 greatly occupied my leisure for more than a quarter of a century. 
 My feeling for New England, consequently, is most kindly. I appre- 
 ciate her virtues and her services, though I discern her weak sides 
 and even her occasional misconduct. On the whole, I respect her 
 people very highly ; and, surely, I have endeavored, in this work, to 
 manifest a due appreciation of our hero's obligations to New Eng- 
 land, sometimes called the Scotland of America. 
 
 On the other hand, T would that I had more to tell about 
 his obligations to the blood of Sandie Ralston and his gude wife, 
 Jennie, born Balloch. 
 
 Jennie had, it seems, an inquiring mind. She was a black-eyed 
 body, full of pluck and spirit. Once, it is related, she endeavored 
 to initiate herself into the secrets of Free Masonry, in a decidedly 
 irregular fashion. In the course of that remarkable adventure, she 
 literally "put her foot in it" — her right foot, to wit, and the ankle 
 — nay, the calf thereto belonging. He right lower extremity slipped 
 (it is said) through the ceiling of the lodge-room, at Keene, while 
 the worshipful, mysterious lodge was in full session, her own gude 
 man being one of the brethren present. Sandie (says tradition) put 
 an instant end to all consternation by exclaiming, in substance, if 
 not in terms : 
 
 " Yon's Jennie's leg ! I'd swear to it among a thousan'. All 
 right, brethren ! " 
 
 Possibly, this anecdote (related to me by General Balloch) would 
 be rather difficult to authenticate. I give it for what it may seem
 
 838 APPENDIX. 
 
 worth ; and it seems not quite improbable. If true, it may be 
 deemed somewhat suggestive. 
 
 Very clearly, the disposition of tradition is to credit Jennie, the 
 gude wife of Sandie Ealston, with the soul and body of no ordinary 
 character. But I never heard her famous grandson even mention 
 her. Perhaps, he had heard too little of her history. Or, perhaps, 
 he did not quite appreciate her most distinguishing peculiarities. I 
 do not think he ever studied character profoundly. Indeed, the 
 body of this work, while it ascribes to him a various possession of 
 true greatness, does not credit him with deepness as a thinker. 
 
 NOTE B. 
 
 In saying that I can give no satisfactory account of the last hours 
 of Salmon Portland Chase, I imply no doubt of the reliableness of 
 accounts given by the press. But, had things gone as I had reason 
 to expect, I could have furnished an original account. As things are, 
 I have to depend on borrowed matter, which I can not look upon as 
 leaving nothing to desire. 
 
 One account says : 
 
 " Monday evening there was not discernible any shadow of the disaster so fast 
 approaching. He seemed in usual health, and in very good spirits, although com- 
 plaining of a little fatigue, and entered into animated conversation with the friends 
 who were present. About ten o'clock, the usual hour for retiring, he said, ' Good- 
 night,' and left the room. These were the last words he spoke. 
 
 "On Tuesday morning, about half-past six o'clock, his servant entering his room 
 found him sleeping quietly, with his hand under his face, as he habitually lay. On 
 approaching the bed a few minutes later, the servant saw that the Chief Justice was 
 seized with a spasm, and the features were convulsed, and a light foam appearing 
 on the lips. 
 
 " His daughter was immediately summoned, and servants dispatched for medical 
 aid. When the physicians arrived, the unconsciousness was found to have resulted 
 from a recurrence of paralysis All efforts to relieve him proved un- 
 availing, and it was evident that his vitality was ebbing away. Gov. Sprague 
 and his wife, daughter of Judge Chase, were summoned, and arrived in the city 
 last evening. His two daughters remained by his bed-side till 10.30 this morning, 
 when he breathed his last. 
 
 " He remained totally unconscious from the time his condition was discovered 
 until the end."
 
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