The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-08-01

cajoled into voting for aliens and strangers, in
stead of the true and tried men Of the past.
| The deed is done, however, and with the
gowped sndimmovable serenity Of real judges,
two United States officers will, for time, fll
the places of -ONeill, Harper, Richardson,
Dunkin, Inghs and Wardlaw.
The antecedents of Col. a. q. Willard, who
has been chosen for the four years. term, are
furnished in the following sketch, for which I
am indebted to one of his friends:
He was born in Albany, N. Y, in 1922, and
consequently is forty-six years Of age. Com
mencing the study Of the law in 1s42 under
Hon. Willis Hall, then Attorney General of
the State, he was admitted to practice in the
City Of New York in 1916. In 1S48 he was ap-
pointed Assistant Consul Of the corporation of
New York, under Judge Davies, now Chief JUS
tice Of the Court Of Appeals Of New York.
During the four years in which Col. Willard
thus served, questions Of the gravest charac-
ter, growing. out OF the changes of the con-
stitution,, and involving large interests, claim
ed his attention. It was at this time that the
principles of law recently ongrafted upon the
judicial system Of South Carolina, and the new
mode of procedure adopted, we're tried expert
mentally and applied to practical affairs. De-
prived Of bis Office in 1s49 by the election of q
Democrat, he formed copartnership with
Peter B. Sweeny, q well known politician Of
New York, and with him WAS engaged in many
Of the most important undertakings then on
foot-such, for Instance, as the present City
Railway system, the enlargement Of the Bat
terry and other local improvements. Later he
was associated in the practice Of law with the
present Judge Mcneil, Of the New York Su-
preme Court, and Judge Howe, an appointee
Of Gen. Sheridan in New Orleans.
In November, 1864, he joined the army, re-
ceived commission as Lieutenant-C Colonel Of
the 95th colored troops-the second regiment
that entered Charleston after its fall. Soon
afterwards Colonel. Willard was appointed
Judge Advocate, and in that capacity tried
Messrs. Crawford Keys, Byron and stowers-a
Gaze yet fresh in the recollection of the people.
In 1866 he left the service, and in July, 1867.
was selected as Solicitor Of the Second Military
District, and to take charge Of the Bureau of
Civil Affairs, which position he has occupied
till the present time.
In person, Colonel Willard is not an uncanny
looking being. He has soft brown, peaceful
eye, that twinkles with genuine "cuteness,"
face which corresponds handsomely with two
hundred pounds Of flesh, six feet high, and
broad, big head, covered with grayish brown
hair. Some of this hides his mouth, and is
pendant to the breast-s right good beard for
children to play with. he is q right good
talker, argues with the most voluble equanimi-
ty, don't lose his temper, and is never more
happy than when discouraing on one of his pet
theories, OF which be has more than you can
shake stick at. The chief concern of his
friends is that, when on the bench, such will be
the volcanic eruption of his ideas in making q.
decision, that neither The Chief Justice nor the
poor attorneys will be able to tell where the law
begins or Repubicanism ends.
Solomon L. Hoge, the Associate Judge, who
is elected for the two years term, is captain
and preyet major in the Sixth Infantry, and
Acting Inspector-G General of the Freedmen's
Bureau for South Carolina. he was born in
Logan County, Ohio, but his mother was
Janney, Of Loudon County, Va. Most of his
kindred now live in that State. The well-known
Rev. DR.. Hoge, Of Richmond, is his cousin. The
Captain is remarkably young man to fill
30 solemn position as that to which he has
been elevated, being only thirty-two years Of
age, and will probably find it difficult to draw
face written over with much worldly expe-
rience down to that punctilious and timo-hon-
ored shape which makes judge look 30 awful.
His knowledge of The law is confined to prac-
tice in Logan County and in Cincinnati since
1858, when he graduated, until the war, when
he entered the army. As a judge-advocate he
has had some experience in military law and
practice, but his recent transfer from the army
to the bench proper will prove most embar-
RAISING metamorphosis. How he came to be
elected, what influences combined to put him
in luck, what machinery in three days magnet
ICED enough Of the Legislature to secure the
Office for him. are questions that still dist urb
the astonished outsiders.
Politically, constitutionally and chroDically
Captain Hoge is said to be Democrat, al
though most Of the colored members mistook
him for Radical. He informs me that he is
no such thing. Has been shot five times, is
free liver, and, like his colleagues, anxiously
awaits the report of the Committee Of Ways
and Means as to the amount of the salary
which will compensate him for wearing the ju-
dietary black silk gown.
Governor Scott and the entire Democratic
delegation have had long interview tonight.
Conversation was chiefly on general topics.
Both parties much pleased
The repor. OF the Committee on Privileges
and Elections will be made to the Legislature
on Monday next. General MCGOWAN, OF Able
vile, yesterday argued the case for three hours
before the committee in behalf Of the Demo
Gratis. WI. Whipper {colored), counsel for the
contestants, spoke about two hours. The prob
ability is tia. the Democrats Will be ousted.
PERSONNE.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.