Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/245

 CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR 201 to ride in any of the city cars was thus secured. The Colored People s Legal Rights Association for years celebrated the anniversary of their success in this case. Mr. Arthur became a Henry Clay whig, and cast his first vote in 1852 for Winfield Scott for president. He participated in the first republican state convention at Saratoga, and took an active part in the Fremont campaign of 1856. On Jan uary 1, 1861, Gov. Edwin D. Morgan, who on that date entered upon his second term, and between whom and Mr. Arthur a warm friendship had grown up, appointed him on his staff as engineer- in-chief, with the rank of brigadier-general. He had previously taken part in the organization of the state militia, and had been judge-advocate of the second brigade. When the civil war began in April, 1861, his active services were required by Gov. Morgan, and he became acting quarter master-general, and as such began in New York city the work of preparing and forwarding the state s quota of troops. In December he was called to Albany for consultation concerning the defences of New York harbor. On December 24, he sum moned a board of engineers, of which he became a member; and on January 18, 1862, he submitted an elaborate report on the condition of the national forts both on the sea-coast and on the inland bor der of the state. On February 10, 1862, he was