Are those who opposed his anti-slavery, pro-Union views during the Civil War having the last laugh? The senator from Michigan who was one of the radical Republicans during the conflict, who served on the War Committee, who opposed any expansion of involuntary servitude and worked to pass the Reconstruction Amendments, is finally being removed from the halls of Congress. Well, at least a statue of him is: Detroit News
In a sidebar, the News sums him up thusly, giving his positions but not really reflecting his impact:
About Zachariah Chandler
- Born: 1813 in Bedford, New Hampshire.
- Moved to Detroit in 1833, where he ran a general store, engaged in land speculation and was a founder of a bank.
- In 1851 was successfully sued by Ulysses S. Grant, then a lieutenant stationed in Detroit, for not clearing the ice and snow in front of his home. Chandler was fined six cents and court costs of about $8.
Vigorous anti-slavery activist for the Whig party and later Republican party.
- Mayor of Detroit, 1851–52.
- Four-term U.S. Senator from Michigan, 1857–75, 1879.
- Secretary of the Interior under President Ulysses S. Grant, 1875–77.
- Active in the campaign to impeach President Andrew Johnson, whom he viewed as an incompetent.
- Died in 1879, buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit.
A modern, fuller exposition of his contributions to America can be found in Michigan and the Civil War: A Great and Bloody Sacrifice, in a chapter entitled "The War Politicians".
It is really sad that people don't know about Chandler anymore. Maybe he will get more attention in the atrium of the state capitol, although I think he belonged in Statuary Hall.
Posted by: Liz Homer | January 11, 2012 at 04:03 PM