New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-17
PRESIDENT JOHNSOTS NEW ATTORNEY
GENERAL.

WILLIAM NJ. EyARTs, whose appointment as
Attorney General was confirmed by the United States
senate Wednesday last was born In 1915 IN BOSTON,
Mass His father, jeremiah Evarts was well-known
and highly respected citizen of Boston, and prominent
Congreg and held for many years the important
position OF Secretary American Board OF Commits
sioners for Foreign Missions He was sent after com
plotting thorough preparatory course to Yale College,
where he noticed beng one OF the hardest work
ing students OF that institution and from which he grad
uated with high honors the class Of 1885, The appre-
citation in which he held by the faculty Of his old
alma mater Is shown by the fact that they last year con-
fered upon him the honorary degree Of LIZ d. He next
entered Law School of Harvard University and CON
tnued his studies there for two years Upon the com
petiOn OF his education he Immediately engaged In the
practice Of law in this city, and rapidly acquired high
reputation for ability in the management OF complicated
commercial cases many of which soon found their
! into his hands. On the 10Th OF April, lB49, j.
| Prescott Hall, esq, having received from fres-
! ident Taylor the appointment OF United states
for the Southern District OF 10rk'
offered Ar the position OF Deputy Dissatisfaction
which accepted and this Office he held for pre-
cisey -four years-tat April 49, 1885, and during tho
whole term OF Office OF Presidents Taylor and Fillmore
One Of the most important events which occurred during
ms occupancy OF this Office the celebrated CUBA TX
pcdiOn 10 otherwise called, the Cie-
Opara EXpedtiOn-which developed IN April lS5l
The briefly as follows John L. OSullvan then
quite Appointment writer having editorial charge OF the
Democratic Reririr who had been editOraly con-
nected with The Ereig and other papers, had such
relations the people OF the Island Of Cuba as to lead
him to believe that expedonary force OF 1000 men,
landed at some part that island under the lead OF
daring freebooter would DO enabled TO incite
revolution. and, ralying the native popu
| laton seize upon the reins OF government
and proclaim themselves rulers In pursuance Of this
scheme Capt A. Irwin Louis had been directed 10 char
ter steamboat and had engaged the Cleopatra. and re-
crutng for the required number OF commenced
by one Major Lewis schlessnger the enlisted being
mainly Huugarians These prelminares were all com
peted and the Cleopatra was lying at the wharf with the
leaders OF the board, provisions supplied
and everything prepared for start when information OF
/ the movement communicated to the Office OF the
United states DstrictAttorney Mr. Hall being at the
Frustrated with sickness the duties OF his Office de-
! VOWED upon Mr. Evarts, who Immediately dispatched
Mr. James Rdgway the chief clerk OF the Office, to com
municate with Daniel Webster the then Secretary OF
state and President Fillmore and receive their nstruc-
tons Upon the receipt, by telegraph OF the expected
| instructions, Mr. Evarts ordered tho detention
1 Of the expedition and the arrest Of tho leaders.
when the warrants for arrest served steam had
been gotten mp and every preparation made for the i'm
| mediate sailing OF the steamer Indictments for at
tempted violation OF the neutrality laws were speedily
framed against Osulivau, Lewis Schlessnger. ana sew
cra Others and they due time brought TO trial
before Judge JudsOn Of the Connecticut District then
holding the United states Circuit Court in the New York
Southern The trial lasted above month, but
the jury failed 10 and the pro
ceedings discontinued the main object OF the pro
cceding that u.s. the prevention Of the expedition, hay
ing been accomplished by the arrest Mr. Hall s said to
have been 80 impressed with the energy and ability dis
played by Ar Evarts IN this and other important cases
which required his during his occupancy OF
this Office rs remark that II Mr. Evarts lives he will
he the first lawyer at the New-YOrk bar. and. per
lla rg
mcnt from the onice Of Assistant United
states District Attorney Mr Evars has been engaged in
some OF the most important civil gaons In the United
States aud has also prominent many Of the poti-
cal movements OF the past ten years In tho celebrated
Lennon slave ease. during the administration OF Presi-
dent Pierce he conducted the behalf Of the state
" New York while Horny d. lie Pau was the attor'
ney FOR the State OF Virginia assisted by Chas OConor
osd (Who had succeeded Mr. Hall United states DIS
trct Attorney this Dstrc counsel In TINS case
steamer conveying Mr.. Lennon OF Virginia TO Texas
with some his human chatcls. driven out OF It's
course by adverse winds and compelled 10 put into New
York arbor While lying there within the Jurisdiction
81 Pre- STATED some OF the Anti-Savery So
cety procured writs Of habcas corpus demanding the
persons ae slaves with tho view OF giving them their
/ freedom. aud this followed by an action.
! brought by the state OF Virginia on behalf
" Mr. Lennon 20 the legality OF the Issuing ~ such
wrts The ease camo mp IN the United states supreme
the slaves Another case which had great celebrity
while IN progress, was known the Parish Will case, IN
| which a will made by Henry Parish bequeathed the
larger portion Of estate 10 his wife and respectable
residue to brothers; and utterward second will was
made giving the interest which had then accrued on
the resduary portion OF the estate TO his wife, IN addition
10 her former legacy which second will sought to be
set aside by the brothers the grounds Of alleged want
az mental capacity at the time II made more re-
cent but less important ease. In which Mr. Evarts was
engaged was one In which the will OF Mrs Gardner the
mother Of the widow OF the late President Tyler was
contested tie ground that undue influence had been
exercised by Mrs Tyler 20 obtain the making Of the WILL
Ia her favor Although the evidence was papaby nsuf
nccn 10 support this theory staten sand jury affirmed
H. From this verdict Mr. Evarts took an appeal, and.
after arguing the matter before the last General Term
of tho Court Of Appeals secured reversal Of the decision
by the unanimous voice OF fun bench. The Important
part taken by Eyar, IN the recent trial OF Andrew
johnson upon Impeachment Articles brought by the
House OF Representatives which he was the leader OF
the counsel the defense. IL too fresh III the minds Oh
all 10 need any repetition. In political as well as legal
CIRCLES no has always taken active part In 1850 ana
! 1851 MI Evarts was q member OF the Board OF Conn
| nus,Iouers OF tho Aims House which body Is
now succeeded by the Board OF Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction. He Chairman OF the
New York Delegation in the Republican National Con
yeuton Of s6O aud aborcd earnestly for the nomination
OF William H. seward 10 the "H'o vi io''D'''"'' ~
II wa. seen that the Of tho Convention was IN FAVOR
OF Mr. Lincoln he moved that the action OF the Conve
ton be made unanimous. He prominently urged III
the Republican caucuses OF the NewIork state Leglsa
ture for the office United States Senator but sue
ces-uly opposed by the friends Of Mr. Harris He was
also a leading member Of the late New-Iork state Con
suonal Convention. In person Mr. Evarts Is tan ana
rather slender His head and face are remarkaoe tho
font deyeopment Of his Uranium being both broad ana
bgh while his rather deep set eyes and the firm lines OF
his month and chin give him unmstakabe expression
a. ulffn