American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-31
Address of the Union RepubIi-
Iican State Central Commit
COMMITTEE Rooms,
HARRISBURG, July 26, 1867.
% The People Of Pennsylvania :

of the Supreme Court o. the State, is
about to expire and under the constitu-
tiou his successor will be elected on the
second Tuesday of October next. This
election is every way important, and the
more 50, 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, Exeeu-
tive, and Judicial, The people are the
source of all power and our constitu-
tiors provide the manner in which all
offices shall be filed, and the terms for
which they shall be held. The National
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 Gov>
ernment; and hence should be made
with the greater caution and wisdom (;
for nothing is of greater public imports
ance than a wise and patriotic Judiciary.
Our past history shows constant tend
ency in these several departments to en-
large their respective 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 destroy acts
of Congress enacted by the men who
made the Constitution. The Dred Scott
decision virtually legalized and extended
slavery over all the Territories of the
Union, in defiance of Congress and 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 inaugurated, our State jus
dietary, by denial of the constitutional
power of Congress and of our State Leg
islature, in measures absolutely necessary
to carry on the war and save the nation,
so imperiled our cause as to make intelli-
gent patriots everywhere tremb!e for the
issue of tho contest. True, these false
theories did not prevail. But it is equal
ly true the continued assertions of them
paralyzed the arms of both the National
and State Governments, distracted and
disheartened our people, gave aid and
comfort to the enemy, prolonged the war,
and added immeasurably to our sacrifices
of blood and treasure. Hence 1t Is,
THAT wrtned 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 unjust 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 q? What are their past records,
and where do they stand, in these event
ful times, and on these momentous is
sues ? The veal or woe of the Common.
wealth, and perhaps of the nation, is in
volved in these questions; and it be-
hooves 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
high>toned Christian gentleman, about
forty six years of age, ripe scholar, and
learned and eminent lawyer, with fif-
teen 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 re-
elected in 1861, by the unanimous vote
of all parties. The 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 adversaries
81 The nomination of the Hon. aenry
w. Williams as candidate for Judge of
the Supreme Court is good one lie
aods the best man named before the Re
publican Convention, and possesses legal
and moral qualifications for the response
BILE position to which he has been mons
mated"
He is Of the Webster and Clay school
of politics, and during the recent civil
war, from the beginning to the end, did
everything in his power, through his
meaus, his voice, and his votes, to strength
en- the hands and encourage the hearts
of the loyal people in the struggle to
maintain the Union.
Who, and what Judge Sharswood is,
as public man, will appear from what
follows
Early in the history of this nation pn-
iitical sentiment became divided on the |
powers of the National and State govern
ments, and their true relations to each
other. On these divisions two great par
ties were subsequently founded. The
one, known as the State Rights party, |
had John G. Calhoun for its champion
aud The other, for its recognized leader, |
had the great expounder of the Constis
tuition, Daniel " ebster The former had
tree trade, and the right of notification
and secession as cardinal doctrines, de-
nying the constitutional power of Con-
gress. to impose duties for protection, and
claiming publication and secession as in
herent rights of State. The latter de-
MED these assumptions, and between
these conflicting principles and parties
there has been perpetual warfare. In the
main, tho old Wing party ranged it.
self under the banner of Webster, and |
the Democratic party under that of Call
houn. One of the legitimate fruits of