Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-08-07
p O l. l II I Q ~ L
OF TRHE ENHDy RE
PUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL.
HHNEETEEE.
COMMITTEE Rooms.
HARRISBURG, July 26, 1867,
To the People of PENNSYLVANIA.


FeitO'0- citizens Tho official term of
George w. Woodward, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the State is
about to expire; and under the Consti-
tuition his successor will be elected on
the second Tuesday of October next
This election is every way important,
and the more SO, because of the great
principles and issues involved, and of
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, Ex
ecutive and Judicial. The people are
the source of all power and our Con
stitutions provide the manner in which
all offices shall be filled, and the terms
for which they shall be held The Ma
tional Judiciary being for life, and that
OF the State judiciary fifteen years,
changes in these tribunals 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 pub
lie importance than a wise and patri.
otic judiciary. Our past history shows
"a constant tendency in these several
departments 20 enlarge their respec
tive Jurisdictions, and occasionally to
encroach on each other; and especially
is this true of the Judiciary 1t is but
recently the Supreme Court of the
United States, in the interests of sla-
very, gravely undertook to overturn
the foundations Of the Government on
that question, and to nullify and de-
SlrOy acts Of Congress enacted by the
men who made the Constitution. The
bred Scott decision virtually legalized
and extended slavery over all the Ter
rilorics Of the Union, in defiance of
Congress aud the people; and laid down
principles, which, but for subsequent
events, would have extended slavery
and made it lawful in all the States.
And after the recent civil war was in
augurated, 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 save the nation.
so impcril our cause as to make intel
ligent patriots everywhere trembe 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 National and State Governments,
distracted and disheartcned our peo-
pie, gave aid and comfort to the enemy.
"a, rnA hh
measurably to our sacrifices of blood
and treasure. Hence it is, That warned
by past mistortunes, 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
and GEORGE SHARsWooD, the candidates
for this vacant seat upon the Supreme
bench What are their past records,
and where do they stand, in these
eventful times, and on these moment
Gus issues The veal or woe of the
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 Re.
publican candidate, we here propose
to give no extended biography. He
is u Aigh-tonrd Christian gentleman,
about 46 years of age, Il ripe scholar,
and learned and eminent lawyer,
with fifteen years judicial experience,
on the bench Of the District Court of
Allegheny county He was first
elected judge in 1851, when he ran
over one thousand votes ahead of his
/ ticket, and was reelected in 1861, by
the unanimous vote OF all parties. =
Tho following extract from an editorial
/ in the Pittsburgh Post (the principal
Democratic paper of the West shows
the estimation in which he is held by
political advcrsaries
'The nomination Of the Hon. Henry
W. Williams as candidate for Judge
Of the Supreme Court is a good one
lie 'oaS the best man named betore the Re
publican Convention, and possesses legal
and moral qualifications for the respon.
sblo position to which be has been
I..-,,,,notol