Salmon Chase

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Salmon P. Chase:
Attorney General Of Fugitive Slaves

          In the nineteenth century there were many activist leaders and many abolitionists taking charge and striving to change the way of American life. Out of all the leaders, Salmon Chase stood out, being part of many activities. He was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of Treasury for president Abraham Lincoln, Founder of the Republican Party and an outspoken abolitionist. Salmon Chase was a big helper to many slaves in need of help.

          Salmon Chase was born the ninth of eleven children. Chase was born in Cornish, New Hampshire. When Salmon turned twelve, he was sent to Ohio to live with his uncle Philander Chase who was an Episcopal bishop. Chase had studied at the bishop’s school and also at Cincinnati College. Salmon Chase returned to New Hampshire and later graduated with honors from Dartmouth College in 1826. Later Mr. Chase then taught school and studied law in Washington D.C.

          Chase’s first idea of being an abolitionist came from defending abolitionist editor and activist James Birney. This case influenced Chase greatly. Defending Birney made Chase realize that African Americans should have equal rights. Later he had started representing runaway slaves,this caused him to be labled as the "Attorney General of Fugitive Slaves." He was a part of many organizations. One of his accomplishments was to be elected governor of Ohio in 1855 as a Republican and reelected in 1857. When he was a governor he advocated for public education, prison reform, and women rights.  

          Many people opposed Chase because of his abolitionist views. They would throw eggs at him. People were very angry with him and he lost much of his political respect. On the other hand, abolitionist supporters awarded him with a silver pitcher for his contribution to helping slaves. The pitcher stated, “A testimonial gratitude to Salmon P. Chase from the colored people of Cincinnati, for his various public services in behalf of the oppressed and particularly for his eloquent advocacy of the rights of man in the case of Samuel Watson, who was claimed as a fugitive slave, Feb. 12,1845.” ^{[ 1 ]}

          During the times of the Civil War, Salmon continued to fight against slavery. He accomplished many things such as serving as Secretary of Treasury for Abraham Lincoln and serving as Chief Justice. President Lincoln later appointed him Chief Justice of the Supreme Court where he served with distinction. Salmon Chase was a organizer of the Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party . He represented Ohio in the U.S Senate .As being U.S senate, this also interacted with the democratic legislators who elected him for that position. During this time Chase introduced new things such as the Pacific Railroad Act and the fugitive slave bill that played a part in the compromise of 1850. Chase opposed the Kansas - Nebraska act so he formed his own organization known as the Anti - Nebraska Party in Ohio. It would later become known as the new Republican Party.

          Chase was very importaint during the Supreme Court days. Chase was a part of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. He wanted to become the President of the United States, but being elected Chief Justice for the Supreme Court was good enough. During his role as Chief Justice, Chase elected an African American attorney to argue cases in the Supreme Court. When he played a part in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson he recieved a lot of opposition. Chase would not have the Senate changing the hearings into a mockery of the law in the Andrew Johnson case, he made sure that everything was handled in the right way.

          Chase married three times and all three wives died from disease. His daughter Kate was honored as the first lady of Ohio while he was governor. Later she moved to Washington D.C with her father when he became Secretary of Treasury. Salmon Chase had four children.

          Samuel P. Chase died on May 7,1873 at his daughters house in New York. He suffered a stroke. He was buried at the Oak Hill cemetery. Later in 1886 he was moved to Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. His daughter Kate was buried next to him, upon her death in 1899.

          Many slaves who Salmon Chase helped would be thankful for the things he did. Being an abolitionist against slavery was a great thing for him to be a part as of being white.If someone was to ever ask about the true helpful person who was memorable in slavery abolition, Salmon Chase would be that person. Below there is a quote that was said by him when he received his award for being such a good person to slaves.

True democracy makes no inquiry about the color of skin, or the places of nativity, or any other similar circumstances of condition. Whenever it sees a man, it recognizes a being endowed by his creator with original inalienable rights… I regard, therefore, the exclusion of colored people from the franchise as incompatable with true democratic principles.- Salmon P. Chase ^{[ 2 ]}

Did You Know?
* That salmon chase was pictured in front of the 10,000 bill?

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* Salmon Chases tombstone is known as the biggest stone in all of the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati?

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[Nyema Ivey]

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