Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-09-02
HON, GEORGE W. WOODWARD.
Testimony ola Distinguished Opponent.

lhe i"ho"lng sketch OF the Democratic
candidate for Governot is fro the pen of
David Paul Brown, Esq. the great Phila-
delphia lawyer We copy from work of
his entitled " The Forum" published in
1856. Mr. Brown is an Abolitionist Of
the etricleat sect, and therefore his testi-
mony in behslf of the ability and great
moral worth of Judge Woodward will not
be doubted by the opposition tothe De-
mocracy;
"We shall for the present draw no
comparisons but regulating onr antici-
patlons 10y our experience, there would be
little hazard in saying that in all quaIfi-
cations Of the Judicial character, extensive
legal learning, sound morality, aud most
urbane and agreeable manners, there have
been but few judges 10 the State, perhaps
in the country, who At his age, have given
promise Of greater excellence or cu uenCe
than the Hon George w Woodward Let
il not lie said our praise is too general IN
regard 10 the members Of this court to be
acceptable ar valuable This ia morning To-
us. il there be genera, merit, there should
be general approval. We borrow M mans
opinions, and ask 70 men 70 adopt ours,
Truth is more desirable and more valuable
and more lasting than popularity. We do
not mean 10 say that all or any oi the
Judges arc without faults but We leave il
to others to find them out, and trust We
shall never manifest that very qoestiona.
bic virtue Of seeking for vice aud bieml,h-
Is where they do not betray Themselves.
Judges have pretty bard life and
need not be ervied. They cannot please
everybody aud they never satisfy the par
ty or counsel against whom they decide
How unreasonable, then 10 is whea they
encounter 80 many prcjudlces. to with
hold from them the just need ofapproba-
ton. There is no safety IN Judge that is
sVayed byany other Consideration than
sense Of duly. A very distinguished
Judge, upon on occasion not many years
since, ncnsuited the plaintiff, TO the great
displeasure olthe counsel OF course, which
= the judge perceying said to him, calling
him aside, You seem TO he hurt.' = To
be sure am hastily replied the counsel,
- think have reason 10 feel hurt i
think you are mistaken, said the judge.
/, Remember we Eave both our dutie4to
perform yours have been faithfully per-
formed and ! trust SO have mine. You
have TO more right 10 make yourself the
Judge, than have to make myself the
/, counsel This once understood and
there can be no dissatisfaction.
- Judge Woodward 5 birth was on the
, Goth Of March, 1908, in the village OF
Bethany, Wayne county, Pennsylvania
His parentage was as good as any in the
, State, of which no other voucher can be
required than the moral and religious
r training Of their son,
The academic education of young
| Woodwork was principally received at
, Geneva, New York, and AT Wilkesharre IN
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Ugon its
completion, he entered, at the latter place,
, into the office of the Hon. Garrink Nal
lory, and was admitted to practice al Au-
gust term, 1880.
"In the spring Of 1881, few months
after the admission Of Judge Woodward
Mr.. Mallory WAS appointed TO the bench
Of Northampton, Lehigh aud Bucks coun-
ties, aud upon assuming his scat transfer.
red his entire professional business, which
, then extended all through the counties OF
Northeastern Penn,y lgania, 10 his !sVorte
pupil. Mr. Woodward who, thougE at
tina: time not twenty-three years old, had
already given an earnest Of that industry,
y fidelity and ability, whioh could not fail
! to secure future success and eminenca at
5 the bar. Judge Woodward, irem the
+ time of his admission, remained in Judge
! Mallory's Office, which he retains sal
e dowa 10 the present moment.
Here he continued in the enjoymen
orfull practice at the bar until the begin
T.t-z ~ u. .
= OF his age, at least in the interior OF the
- State, was ever more rapid in his advance
= ment, mo,e implicitly relied upon by lhC
/ community, or more deserving of that al
, yancement and reliance.
lin lS4l, through bis professional IL
y bors and OK posure upon the circuits, hr
! health beginning to fail, he accepted
! commission as President Judge OF lh'
II Fourth judicial District, composed of the
y counties Of Huntingdon, Mlttin. Centre
a Clcorfell and Clinton -lerutOrmily thl
/, largest district in the State, The tw,
counties first named were taken from th,
district the next year, and in the othe
. three Judge Woodward presided until th
? expiration of his term of Office, IN ti
- spring of 1851
" " Declipg an election in the Fourth dis
II trict, TOR at his time the office bad b,
!, constitutional provision become elective,
and also declining nomination on tn
State ticket for the Supreme Bench, h
returned TO his practice NJ WiIkesbarre
with the full intention of continuing a
J. the bar for several years and such wa
e his popularity with all who knew him
{, that he would have no difficulty IN r.
,e trieylng his former extensive and lucratlv
n besiness but upon the death OF Judg
y, Coulter, in the year 1852, the appoint
: ment to the Supreme Court, in the plac
d Of the deceased Judge, being rendered L
N him by the Executive, Bigler lac accepte
il, aud thus unexpectedly but not undo
seryedly, reached the highest judicial hor
a. ors of the State.
G. AT the fa,l election TOR the Governor
D. appointment was temporary and prov
! sional.l he was chosen by the people fc
4 the full constitutional period Of fttee
years.
: Judge Woodward is now about fort,