Chase

Chase, Salmon Portland (1808-1873), an American statesman and judge. Born in New Hampshire, he studied law, and in 1830 was called to the bar, making a great reputation in Ohio. He was a great opponent of slavery, and held that it was only an institution of individual states, and not one to be upheld by the National Government. In 1849 he became a member of the senate, and, in 1855 was elected governor of Ohio, being re-elected two years after. In March, 1861, under President Lincoln, he became Secretary of the Treasury, a post which he retained till 1864, and showed great zeal and ability, though the wisdom of some of his financial measures has been greatly questioned. In 1864 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and presided at the trial of President Johnson. He might have secured the Democratic nomination to the Presidency in 1868, but, his views admitting the possibility of negro suffrage, he was rejected by the majority of the Convention.