Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/194

 CHASE.

CHASE.

impeachment trial of President Johnson in March, 1868, Chief Justice Chase presided, and his im- partial and dignified demeanor won the respect of all save the intense partisans conducting the prosecution. He became dissatisfied with the policy of the Republican party as voiced by the majority in Congress, and when the Democratic national convention met in New York in July, 1868, he was announced as a candidate for the presidency. At one time his chances of the nomination seemed to be flattering, but the tide changed before the balloting began, and he re- ceived but four votes. In the presidential can- vass of 1872 he favored the election of Mr. Greeley, the Democratic candidate. Dartmouth conferred on him the degree of LL. D in 1855. Mr. Chase was thrice married, and his daughter Katherine, born to his second wife, Eliza Ann (Smith), to whom he was married Sept. 26, 1839, was the head of his household in Washington, his third wife, Sara Bella Dunlap (Ludlow), hav- ing died some years before. Miss Chase, popularly known as Kate Chase, was a society leader during the war; she was married to Senator William Sprague of Rhode Island, and after the expiration of her husband's senatorial term established a palatial home in Rhode Island. Chief Justice Chase's health became greatly impaired through a paralytic stroke, and he died in New York city, May 7, 1872.

CHASE, Samuel, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Somerset county, Md., April 17, 1741. His father, the Rev. Thomas Chase, was a clergyman in the Church of Eng- land. Two years after the birth of the boy he was appointed rector of St. Paul's church in Baltimore, and himself conducted the education of his son, who in 1759 began the study of law, and two years later was licensed to practise in the mayor's court. In 1763 he was admitted to the bar, and settled in Annapolis. He was ar- dentlj- devoted to the cause of the colonies, and became a member of the '"Sons of Liberty." When the stamp act was up for discussion he was vehemently opposed to it, and was among those who assaulted the stamp oflScers and destroyed the stamps. The authorities of Annapolis attempted to rebuke htm, but this only added to his growing popularity with the people. In 1774, by a conven- tion of the people of Maryland, he was appointed one of the five delegates to the first Continental Congress, and became a member of the committee on correspondence. He was bold and outspoken in his advocacy of independence. He was again a delegate in 1775, and did all in his power to strengthen the army then concentrating at Bos- ton, Mass. In 1776, with Benjamin Franklin, Cliarles Carroll of Carrollton, and Bishop Carroll he visited Canada to ask its concurrence with the

action of the other colonies. After the failure of their mission he returned to his seat in Congress. The question of independence had been broached, and Maryland had expressly prohibited her dele- gates from voting for it ; Mr. Chase traversed the province, and made such effective addresses and instigated the sending of such petitions to the convention then sitting at Annapolis that the convention lifted its restrictions, ihis bar removed, Mr. Chase hastened to Philadelphia, tak- ing his seat Monday morning in time to join with the majority in a vote for, and to sign, the Declara- tion of Independence. He continued a member of Congress imtil 1778. In 1776, a delegate from Georgia, the Rev. Dr. John J. Zubly, was charged with secret correspondence with the royal gov- ernor, and Mr. Chase denounced him before the house as a traitor. Zubly fled and made good his escape. As chairman of the committee con- cerning those who gave '" aid and comfort to the enemy," he recommended the arrest and im- prisonment of wealthy Quakers in Philadelphia. In 1778 Mr. Chase withdrew from the practice of his profession in Annapolis. He drafted in this year a convincing reply to charges made and circulated bj' the Tories. In 1783 an incident occurred that deserves notice. He was in Balti- more and invited to attend a debating society. Among the speakers was a young man who at- tracted his attention by his felicitous English and close argument. He ascertained that he was a clerk in an apothecary's store ; he sought him and advised him to study law, offered him instruc- tion, the use of his library, and a seat at his table. The 3'oung man was William Pinkney, who after- w^ards became attorney-general of the United States, and minister at the court of St. James. In 1783 Mr. Chase visited England and recovered six hundred and fifty thousand dollars that had been invested by the state of Maryland in. the bank of England before the war. He again served in Congress. 1784-'85. In 1786 he changed his residence to Baltimore, and on leaving Anna- polis the corporation of the city presented him with an address commending his fidelity in tlie discharge of his public duties and his patriotism as a citizen. In 1788 he was appointed chief justice of the criminal court for the district of Baltimore, and also served in the convention that adopted the constitution of the United States. In 1791 he became chief justice of the supreme court of the state. In 1 796 he was ap- pointed by Washington associate justice of the supreme coiirt of the United States and the nomination was confirmed by the senate. His irritable temper brought him into trouble, and his sharp words from the bench, however true, were resented. At the Fries and CaUender sedi- tion trials he was accused of misdemeanor, and