On May 7, 1873, Salmon P. Chase, the sixth Chief Justice of the United States, died at the age of 65.
Chase served as Chief Justice from 1864 until his death in 1873, a period marked by significant legal and political developments following the Civil War. His tenure included landmark cases that shaped Reconstruction and civil rights.
Chase’s Dissent in the Slaughter-House Cases
Just one month before his death, Chase dissented in the Slaughter-House Cases, a pivotal 1873 Supreme Court decision. The case centered on Louisiana’s monopoly on slaughterhouse operations and its impact on butchers’ rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Court’s majority ruled 5-4 that the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges or Immunities Clause did not protect butchers from state regulations. Chase was among the dissenting justices, arguing that the amendment’s protections extended to fundamental rights.
Chase’s Sole Dissent in Bradwell v. Illinois
Earlier in 1873, Chase was the lone dissenter in Bradwell v. Illinois, a case concerning Myra Bradwell’s attempt to practice law in Illinois. The Court upheld Illinois’ refusal to grant Bradwell a law license, ruling that the state could restrict the practice of law based on gender.
Chase dissented, asserting that the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment should have protected Bradwell’s right to pursue a profession free from gender-based discrimination.
His dissents in both cases reflected his commitment to civil rights and equal protection under the law, principles he had championed throughout his career.
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