The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-24
Hon. w. A. Richardson-The New
Secretary or the Treasury-Who
and Wh at he is.

| aud What he is.
THE Washington Star furnishes the
following sketch OF Mr.. Boutwelrs sue
cessor in the Cabinet:
Hon. William Adams Richardson, OIL
as he is more commonly desig gnsted
Judge Richardson, the new Secretary
OF the Treasury, was born at Tyngs-
borough. Massachusetts,. November 2
| 1921. He is q gentleman Of decided
convictions in all matters upon which
he is called upon to act in his official
capacity, but, nevertheless, possesses a
uniform smiability Of manner, which
has rendered him very popular during
his residence in Washington. Like
his predecessor, he is democratic sud
thoroughly American in bis ideas, and
believes that the people have q right
to consult their officers freely aud at
all times in matters affecting their in
teres's.
The Secretary is lawyer by proies-
sion, as was his father; be has two
brothers who are also lawyers, and his
uncle, William NJ Richardson, is chief
justice OF the Supreme court OF New
Hampshire. He graduated at Har-
vsri in lS43; and three years later re-
ceived from that institution The degrees
Of A NJ and A B. On the 9th o. july,
1876 on motion OF the late Governor
Andrew. OF Massachusetts. he was ad-
mitted to the B Dston bar. and sub-e-
qnently began the practice OF law with
his brother 10 Lowell He was for two
years president OF the common council
OF that city; WAS president o the Wam-
iset bank OF Lowell, and slso OF the
Mecnsnrcs association Tor several years;
and in 1855, with Professor Joel P ,rker
and A A. Richmond. was appointed TO
revise the general statutes OF Mass
schusetts.
TIE result OF his four years labor in
this direction WAS 30 satisfactory that
he was selected TO edit the revision, and
it was then published in q large eleven
hundred page volumn, entitled tue Gen.
praI Statutes o Massachusetts,, which
wa subsequently enscied into q code
by the legislature. Tne later body a
lew months since appointed JUICE
Richardson snd Judge Geo P. Sawyer
to revise the ssrutes and the suple-
meut, and the former has expended q
vast amont OF labor in the work. all OF
which has been performed outside OF,
and in addition to, his labor as Assis
tant Secretary o. the Treasury.
In 1856 he was appointed Judge OF
the Probate court OF NJ ddlesex county,
and IN 1853 on the consolidation o.
the offices o. judge of probate and judge
OF insolvency, he was appointed to the
consolidated office, which he held until
the spring OF 1872, when he resigned to
acc pit the office OF Assistant Secretary
of the Treasury, which he had previ-
ously Fl led. In 1869 be declined an
appointment ss judge of the Suureme
Court OF Massachusetts,, and in 1865 he
published a volume entitled THE Bank
ing Laws OF Massachusetts " Last sum.
mer, while acting az Secretary OF the
Treasury, he prepared and published
work entitled practical Information
Concerning the Public Debt OF the Uni.
ted States and National Banking
Lava"
His visit 10 Europe at the request o.
Secretary Boutwell,, in 1871, to negotiate
q loan, and the signal success OF his
mission, are wall remembered While
in Europe he placed SIC, 0,000,0 600 Of five
per cent bonds Ad purchased the same
amount of old bonds, which be brought
back to the United States. Secretary
Boutwell, has ALWAYS placed a hisL
estimate on Judge Richard. one fnsn-
cisl ability, and it was only at bis re-
quest that Judge R was induced to
come to Washington. His spboint-
ment to succeed Secretary Boutwell,
will, is ia believed, gives general saris-
faction, since his eminent fitness for the
position seems to be conceded on all
sides.