Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-08-14
sflisteIIaneoas 5icaoinp.
ADDRESS OF THE UNION REPUBLICAN
STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE Rooms,
HARRISBURG, July 70, 1861.
To the People Of Pennsylvania.

"
FELLow-ClTIZENS The official tern
Of George W. Woodward, Chief Justic,
of the Supreme Court Of the State i,
about to expire aud under the Con~ritu
| ton his successor will be elected on the
second Tuesday of October next Thi.
election is every way important, and The
more so, because of the great principles
aad Issues involved, and oi the fact that
the term is for fifteen years.
All the powers of our Governments
both National and State, are divided into
three classes : the Legislative, Executive
and Judicial. The people are the source
Of all power and our Constitutions pro.
vide the manner IN which all Offices shall
be filled, and the terms fox which they
shall be held. The National judiciary
being for life, aud that of the State udi-
cIary fifteen years, changes in these tribu-
mails are wrought more slowly than in the
other branches Of the Government, and
hence should be made With the greater
caution and wisdom for nothing is of
greater public Importance than wise aud
patriotic judiciary. Oar past history
shows constant tendency in these sever,
al departments to enlarge their respective
Jurisdictions, and occasionally to cncroach
on each other; and especially is this true
Of the Judiciary. 1t is but recently the
Supreme Court Of the United States, IN
tLe interests Of slavery, gravely under
took to overturn tae foundations of the
Government Oh that question, and to null
lily AID destroy acts OF Congress enacted
by the bred Scott decision virtually legal
lied and extended slavery over all the
Territories of the Union, III defiance of
Congress and the people; aud laid down
principles, which, but for subsequen:
events, would have extended slavery and
made it lawful in all the States. And af-
ter the recent civil war was inaugurated,
our State Judiciary, by denial of the
constitutional powers Of Congress and our
State Legislature, in measures absolutely
necessary to carry on the war and srve the
nation, 50 imperil cur cause as to make
intelligent patriots everywhere tremblc for
the issue of the contest True, these
false theories did not prevail. But it is
equally true the continued assertion Of
them paralyzed the arms of both the Ma
tional and State Governments, distracted
and disheartened our people, gave aid and
comfort to the enemy. prolonged the war,
and added iWmeasGrabiy to our sacrifices
of blood and treasure Hence it is, That
warned by past misfortunes, we ask that
the Supreme Court Of the State be placed
in harmony with the political opinions of
the majority Of the people, to the end
that the Court may never again, by un
Just decisions, seek to set aside laws vital
to the nation."
Who, then, are Henry w. Williams
aud George Sharswood. the candidates for
tins vacant seat upon the Supreme beech
W hat are their past records, and where
Go they stand, in these eventIul times,
and on these mOmentuous issues? The
veal or wOe Of :he Commonwealth, and
perhaps Of the nation, is involved in these
questions and it behooves every patriotic
voter in the State to examine them with
care.
Of Judge Williams, the Union Repub-
llean candidate, we here propose TO give
no extended biography. lie is high |
toned Christian gentleman, about &c years
OF age, ripe scholar, and learned and
eminent lawyer, with fifteen years judicial
experience, on the bench Of the District