American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-21

responsible position which he now holds,
and was placed upon the judicial ticket
of that party with the Hon. Walter For>
ward, as the candidate for President
Judge of the District Court and Hon.
William b. Mcclure as the candidate for
President Judge of Fhe Courts of Cons
mon Pleas, &c. His opponent at the
election in the fall was Judge Shaler, a
lawyer of eminent ability aud learning,
who added to his other qualIf ations for
the position an experience of several
years upon the bench, to which the dem
ocrrtic party sought again to elevate him.
The result Of the election showed that
the action of the Convention in nomina
ting Judge Williams, thout a dissent
ing voice, was peculiarly acceptable to
the people. He ran ahead Of his ticket
in the ward in which he lived, in "the
old Democratic Third Ward" and in the
county, b ating his able opponent 2,245,
while Judge Forwards majority oyer
Judge Hepburn was only 1928, aud
Judge. NJ Clure's over james S. Craft
only LILY.
So well, faithfully, impartially and
satisfactorily did Judge Williams dis
charge the duties of his office, and so
learned, upright and useful Judge did
he prove himself to be, in the estimation
of all men, that at the end of his first
judicial term of ten years, in 1861, he
was nominated by aclamation by the then
trO great parties of the country, and was
reelected without opposition from any
quarter. Such renewed evidence of pop,
uarity and appreciated in ones own
neighborhood, and among men of all
parties, are very rare, aud most clearly
toreshadow the very fattering vote which
the judge will receive from the people of
this county on the second Tuesday of
October next.
Judge Williams manners and bearing
are always pleasing. In social intercourse
he is the life of the circle in which he
m;ngles Cheerful, lively and witty,
never by look or word, inten tionally,
woundlng the feelings or speaking i'll of
any one, he makes friends Of all. His
extensive reading and large information
upon all subjects, make his society sought
for by the learned and scientific. In his
history, in the classics and in the natur.
al and metaphysical sciences, there are
few more thorough and extensive stu
dents than Judge Williams
Judge Williams moral and religious
character is beyond reproach. Temper
ate and chaste in al! things, truthful in
his words aud honest and upright in all
his dealing, neither by word nor by act
does he ever offend pubic deceney, or
bring the cause of sound morals and true
religion into reproaeh. Religious with
out Pharisaism or bigotry, while he Sc
!ects and chcrishes his own church con-
nectious, in which he has ever been
consistent. active and leading professor,
he chcerfully, and as a matter of pri1-
ciple, comedies the right of judging and
determining for themselves to other men
No one ever heard him denounce any
man, or any sect, for differing with him
upon theological dogmas.
In politics, Judge Williams was at
the first Wing Of the Clay and Web,
ster school, holding with the former that
protection to some extent was necessary
to encourage and foster the industrial in
terests of Pennsylvania, and with the
latter that there was no object in our
politics so much to be constantly kept in
mind and maintained. in every event, as
tie perpetual union of these States.
>, hen the exigencies of the times gave
irth to the Republican party his tar.see-
ng patriotism, and his long cheished
lcve of the Union, led him to cast his
votes and give his iufueacc, so far as it
vas consistent with his official station,
in favor of the principles and candi-
dates of that party. During the re-
bellion he supported the Government
and the armies of tho Union by every
means in his power, upholdiug the cred
it and authority of the former, and en-
couraging by constant faith the glorious
cuccess OF the latter. Those intimate
with him will not readily forget his en-
erggetic utterance againft treason and
traitors aud the strong and emphatic
manuer with which he was wont to de-
clare that the Union must and should.
at all hazards, be preserved. While no
partisan or ultraist in politics, he is in
favor Of improvement and reform, when
the changes of the times and wants of
the people demand them.
The judicial position which Judge
Williams has held for ouer fifteen years
is as important and responsible as any in
the State. 1t has been adorned by some
of the best legal minds, and it is not
saying too much for him to say that he
has proved himself in every respect the
equal Of any of them. Durisg that
time he has probably tried as many and
as important commercial, and constitu-
tional cases, as any other judge of his
years in the State, and as commercial
u I'D constitutional lawyer and Judge, he
has no superior on the bench. Quick
to see the real point in the cause pres
sented before him, and prompt to decide
! according to the well estab lished rules
of law aud evidence, be has shown him
self sound, clear and practical Judge,
whose opinions aud decisions have been
as seldom reversed by the Supreme
Court as those of any other Judge of any
other inferior Court in the State These
opinions, many of which have found
| Mace in our LEGAL reuoTts are sound and