CHAPTER I.Birthplace and Ancestry in New England.PAGE.The town of Bedford, N. H.—King Phillip's War—Land grants to surviving soldiers—Souhegan-East—Grant of a charter—Naming the town—The early settlers—The thirst for civil and religious liberty—Records of the church—The thrift of the people—Native humor—A patriotic record—Services in three wars.19CHAPTER II.Parentage and Childhood.The Chandlers of New England—The first Zechariah and his possessions—Settlement in the intervale of the Merrimack—Genealogy of the family—Noted family connections—Prominence in church and State—The family residences—Birthplace of Zachariah—Inherited traits—A strong, self-reliant boy—His school-days—One term as teacher—Work on the farm—Military experience—Clerk in a store—His journey Westward—Affection for the old town—Some of Bedford's emigrants.31CHAPTER III.Removal to Michigan—Mercantile Success—Business Investments.Business start in Detroit—The cholera epidemic—Caring for the sick—Characteristics of the young business man—Nearest approach to an assignment—Pushing his business—Visits to the interior—Strong friendships—His young clerk and successor—Commercial integrity and sagacity—Accumulation of property—Helping the Government credit—Incorruptibility as a Legislator.44CHAPTER IV.The Panorama of Northwestern Development.Early explorations of the Lakes—A mission at the Sault—Passage of the Strait—First settlement at Detroit—Steam navigation upon the Lakes—Organization of the Territory—An imperial domain—Detroit in 1833—Marvelous development of a great City and State—Statistics of 1879.54CHAPTER V.The Commencement of Political Activity—Record as an Anti-Slavery Whig.A conspicuous figure in politics—Lewis Cass, his career and characteristics—A strong contrast—Mr. Chandler as a Whig—A sinewy worker at the polls—The Crosswhite case—Making a firm friend—Nomination and election for Mayor—A sharp campaign—Invitation to Kossuth—Nominated for Governor—An energetic but unsuccessful canvass—First nomination for the Senate.71CHAPTER VI.The Formation of the Republican Party.The Compromises of 1820 and 1850—Annexation of Texas—Calhoun's farewell—Profound Northern indignation—Memorable debates in Congress—"Free Democrat" action in Michigan—Public anti-slavery meetings and private conferences—The Whig Convention at Kalamazoo—Steps toward union—A stirring address—"Under the Oaks" at Jackson—A notable convention—Formation of the Republican party—A ringing platform—The first of a series of uninterrupted successes—Work of Mr. Chandler in the campaign.89CHAPTER VII.The First Election to the Senate.Work in the campaign of 1856—The National Conventions—Aid in making Michigan radical—Republican success in that State—An earnest Senatorial canvass—Mr. Chandler nominated over Mr. Christiancy and others—His election—Composition of the Thirty-fifth Congress—Subsequent career of his associates.119CHAPTER VIII.The Development of the Southern Conspiracy—The Election of Abraham Lincoln.Preparations for Disunion—Imbecility of the Administration—Gloomy forebodings—Mr. Chandler's first prepared address—A vigorous and unanswerable speech—The Dred Scott decision—The John Brown raid—A warning to traitors—Denunciation of treason—Personal peril—Giving "satisfaction" to Southern "gentlemen"—Mr. Chandler not to be bullied—The Chandler, Cameron and Wade compact.133CHAPTER IX.Services to the Cause of the Protection of Home Industry.Beneficence of "The American System"—Reply to the "mud-sill" speech—Defense of free Northern labor—Review of the tariff controversy—The Morrill tariff of 1861—Modifications proposed in 1867—The priceless value of the skilled mechanic.151CHAPTER X.Services to Northwestern Commercial Interests and the Cause of Internal Improvements.The Committee on Commerce as first organized—Unavailing protests—Mr. Chandler's first speech in the Senate—The St. Clair Flats improvement—A defeat and significant prophecy—The work, its cost and value—Mr. Chandler a member and then Chairman of the Committee on Commerce—The wide scope of that committee's labors—One-half of the entire amount expended by the United States for rivers and harbors appropriated during Mr. Chandler's chairmanship.164CHAPTER XI.The Outbreak of the Rebellion—No Compromise of Constitutional Rights.First formal step of secession—Buchanan's "No coercion" message—Organization of the Southern Confederacy—Mr. Chandler opposes compromise—Thwarting the plots of rebel leaders—Securing the appointment of Secretary Stanton—Unwritten reminiscences—Denunciation of traitors and imbeciles—The proposed Peace Congress—The "blood-letter" and its justification.182CHAPTER XII.The Commencement of the Civil War.President Lincoln's arrival in Washington—Mr. Chandler's advice as to the Cabinet—Conciliatory character of the inaugural—An illustration of Southern perfidy—Surrender of Fort Sumter—A Detroit meeting—"But one sentiment here"—Reception of Michigan men in Washington—Visit to Fortress Monroe—Crossing the Potomac—Proposed confiscation of rebel property—"Two parties in the country, patriots and traitors"—Vindication of Michigan's record—An advance movement urged.201CHAPTER XIII.The Committee on the Conduct of the War.The disaster at Ball's Bluff—A committee of inquiry proposed by Mr. Chandler—Organization of the Committee on the Conduct of the War—Opposition and subsequent co-operation of the Administration—Confidential Relations with President Lincoln and Secretaries Cameron and Stanton—Laying out work—Mr. Chandler's great speech against McClellan—Distrust of McClellanism in politics—The Fitz-John Porter case—Last work of the committee.215CHAPTER XIV.The Vigorous Prosecution of the War.The political reverses of 1862—The "Union movement" in Michigan—Re-election of Senator Chandler—Proposition to arm the colored people—The Fremont proclamation and the Hunter order—Opposition to the colonization schemes—Influence with the Secretary of War—The Trent affair—Aid to Michigan soldiers in the Washington hospitals—"We must accept no compromise."250CHAPTER XV.The Presidential Campaign of 1864.The political and military successes of 1863—The Cleveland convention—Nomination of Fremont and Cochrane—Renomination of Abraham Lincoln—Resignation of Secretary Chase—Peace negotiations at Niagara Falls—The Wade-Davis manifesto—Nomination of McClellan—Mr. Chandler's conferences with the disaffected Republicans—Resignation of Postmaster-General Blair—Withdrawal of the Fremont ticket—An overwhelming political triumph.263CHAPTER XVI.The Administration of Andrew Johnson—Reconstruction and Impeachment.The Assassination of President Lincoln—The War Committee meet President Johnson—Revengeful disposition of the new Executive—Legal questions in reference to the trial of traitors—An important paper by Benjamin F. Butler—A practicable method for prosecuting Jeff Davis—Change of sentiment in President Johnson—He abandons the party that elected him—Development of his "policy"—Hindrance to successful reconstruction—The impeachment resolutions and trial—Disappointment of Mr. Chandler at the failure to convict—General work in the Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Congresses.279CHAPTER XVII.The Presidency of General Grant—The Republican Congressional Committee.Work in the campaign of 1868—Mr. Chandler's re-election to the Senate—The Fifteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights bill—Edwin M. Stanton's death and the fund for his family—Mr. Chandler's opposition to Southern war claims—His purchase of the Confederate archives—The value of these documents—Election of Senator Ferry—Mr. Chandler's fidelity to his friends—His denunciation of Southern outrages—His comparison of the two parties—His defense of President Grant against Charles Sumner's attacks—The "Salary Grab" opposed by Senator Chandler and his colleague—The Republican Congressional Committee and its efficient work—Intimacy between Mr. Chandler and James M. Edmunds—The latter's usefulness.298CHAPTER XVIII.The Maintenance of a Sound Currency and the Public Faith.Condition of the government credit in 1861—The first issue of "greenbacks"—Mr. Chandler's opposition to any increase in the amount—Taxation recommended as a substitute—Opposition to the taxation of national bonds—Arguments for payment in coin of the "greenbacks" and bonds—Advocacy of the national bank system—The panic of 1873—Resistance to every measure of inflation—Mr. Chandler's speeches in January and February, 1874—The Resumption act.319CHAPTER XIX.Secretary of the Interior in the Cabinet of President Grant.Political reverses of 1874—The contest in Michigan a complicated one—Republican success by a narrow margin—A close Legislature—Resistance to Mr. Chandler's re-election—His pronounced success in his party caucus—A combination of a few Republicans with the Democrats elects Judge Christiancy—Like results elsewhere—Mr. Chandler's confidence—"A candidate for that seat"—Letter to the Republican members of the Legislature—A seeming calamity proves to be a benefit—Appointment as Secretary of the Interior—Changes in thepersonnelof the Department—How Alonzo Bell became Chief Clerk—The first blow falls—An entire room closed as a measure of "practical reform"—Purification of the Bureau of Indian Affairs—"The most valuable men" suddenly dismissed—Order against the "Indian attorneys"—President Grant's support—Changes in the Bureau of Pensions and the General Land Office—Mr. Chandler's admirable executive qualities recognized—Anecdotes of his Cabinet service—Fighting the patronage-seekers—A cowardly informer—A head to the Department—An investigation that failed—"Pumping a dry well"—Close of Mr. Chandler's term—Tributes of Secretary Schurz to the practical efficiency of his predecessor.337CHAPTER XX.The Presidential Election of 1876—At Home—The Marsh Farm near Lansing.Mr. Chandler made Chairman of the National Republican Committee—His original confidence in the result—Apathy in the West—Aid to Ohio—The closeness of the contest apparent—Measures to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat—Mr. Chandler's firm attitude during the remainder of the contest—Its great value—Dissent from the "policy" of the new Administration—A Cabinet anecdote—Mr. Chandler retires to private life—A visit to the Pacific coast—Other extended trips—The marsh farm near Lansing, Michigan—An important experiment in the reclamation of wet lands—Mr. Chandler's "expensive theory"—The method of drainage explained and illustrated in detail—Successful results of the earlier experiments in cultivation—General farm equipment—Houses, barns and stock—Relaxation at the farm—Mr. Chandler's correspondence—The answering of every letter his rule—The power of his oratory—Terse sentences, Saxon words, and brief speeches his aim—The sincerity and honesty of the man—Thestrength of his friendships—His hearty social qualities—His Washington and Detroit residences described—Narrow escape from a serious accident in 1858—Mr. Chandler's family—His domestic happiness—His wife and daughter his sole heirs.356CHAPTER XXI.The Michigan Election of 1878—Mr. Chandler's Return to the Senate—"The Jeff. Davis Speech."Development of "Greenback" strength in the West—Resolute resistance in Michigan to the spread of financial heresy—Mr. Chandler leads the Republican battle—A great victory—It is followed by his fourth election to the Senate—He takes his seat in time to answer rebel eulogies in the Senate on Jeff. Davis—His brief and telling response—It strikes the chord of patriotic feeling—The popular response—The "extra session" of 1879—Mr. Chandler's last Congressional speech.374CHAPTER XXII.The Campaign of 1879—Mr. Chandler's Last Days—Death and Funeral.Mr. Chandler at the front in the political contests of 1879—He is greeted by a popular ovation—His name urged for the Republican presidential nomination in 1880—Grant his own choice—Work affects his strong constitution—His Chicago speech—Dead in his bed at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Nov. 1, 1879!—The national grief—Funeral and burial.386APPENDIX.ZACHARIAH CHANDLER'S LAST SPEECH:Delivered in McCormick Hall, in the City of Chicago, on October 31, 1879.THE DORIC PILLAR OF MICHIGAN:A Memorial Address, Delivered in the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, Detroit, on November 27, 1879, by the Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D.