New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-07
The Chief Justice.

Justice:
George II. Williams, Attorney General of
the United States, VINO has received the
presidential appointment to the Office OF
Chief Justice. Is a native OF Columbia
county, New York, and was born about the
year 1920, his parents having removed to
this State from Pittsfeld, Massachusetts,
situated on the border line. In 1914 ne
went to Iowa, where he commenced the
practice of his chosen profession, the law.
In this he made rapid advancement and
early attained an eminent position, being
made a Judge in 1917. This responsible
office he occupied five years, when in 1873,
he was appointed Chief Justice OF Oregon,
and exercised the functions of thai posi-
ton under the presidency Of Mr..
Pierce and during a part Of Buchanan's
administration. Resigning, he was elected
to the Senate of the United States
by the Oregon Legislature. and took his
seat n 1865 He acted a somewhat promi-
nent part as member of the High Joint
| Commission. which convened for the con-
sideration Of the Alabama claims in the
spring OF 1871. His appointment to the
Attorney Generalship, which was made
| vacant by the resignation OF Mr.. Acl.er-
man. met with very general acceptance, as
he is a gentleman of superior native talent
and hne culture, and in his career as a
| Judge and statesman has exhibited sound
on Iowa becoming State Of the Union, he
was, at the early age OF twent ythree,
elected jndge Of the first judicial district.
He served out his term OF five years as
judge, until 1851, having within that time
made reputation for judicial ability
achieved by very few men at the age of
! twenty -eight. In 1850 he married the eldest
I daughter Of General =. ?. Van Ant
| werp.
| In ha Of he Il lo&
| Presidential elector on the Democratic
ticket, aad thoroughly eanvassed the
State, adding largely to his reputa-
| ton as one of the most ready and
able debaters. By many indeed he was, at
| the close OF that campaign, assigned the
first rank among all of her public speakers
In 1855 Judge Williams was appointed by
| the President Chief Justice of Oregon. and.
| accompanied by his wife, at once emigrated
| to that then comparatively new Territory.
I In July. 1868, be met with the misfortune
| of the loss OF his estimabe and ccomplished
wife. In Iowa he served as Judge Of the
Circuit Court for the circuit including a
district of country which was once famous
in Iowa politics and courts, called the
Half breed Tract" He ran as a Demo
crat, but the settlers on this tract having
the balance of power gave him their vote
| and elected him in the hope that be would
| decide their titles to the land good; bat
| they were disappointed.
A correspondent. writing Of Judge Viii
liams, in 1868, said: Judge Williams is tall
| and angular, and for man who is in no
sense conely OF handsome, very fine look
| ing. do not think him remarka BILE for his
individuality or immobility, but he has
plenty OF what We call 'brains'-inteIlectual
power and force. He is clever in both the
English and American sense of that much
used and abused word, can adapt himself to
l <n,- ayo i H..
furnished parlor or the puncheon-foore
cabin; is generous and unsus pcious. and
does not long cherish i'll viii toward any
one, or to treasure up wrong Person
ally he is popular with the people, and his
election is very generally satisfactory, or
cheerfIliy acquiesced in. Mr.. Wilin1ns en-
joys laugh, and is apt TO laugh with the !
world, let the world laugh at what it I!
may and with him, anything that can
be successfully ridiculed can hardly be |
right. Though earnest, he is not 'destruc. !
tlve,' and viii help to build up ather chan |
tear down. lie is a good popular speaker, [
clear and distinct in his ideas, always forci- |
Bile, often eloquent, and sometimes rises |
into the egion OF imagination and adorrs |
his speech with pure poetic gems. Some
men have their motives of action noted in |
the past, while others live in the tar off fu-
ture, but Judge Williams is man OF to-
day and draws his inspiration from the as
soclations and events OF the present. Men
tally, and | may say physically he is in
the prime of life, has great capacity fer
work and business: and with the wide and
varied scope that the Senate will give him
to crafty his ambition and earn distiuc-
ton, will make his mark and reflect credit
upon his State and country"
A few days after Judge Williams ap-
pointment as Attorney General of the
United States several gentlemen from the
Pacific coast called upon him and rendered
their congratulations In response the new
Attorney General spoke in the following off |
hand manner:
Gentleman-Allow me TO make my ac-
for the expression OF kind ,
ness just made, and to say that feel highly
by your presence this eve
ming. l perceive that most of YOU reside !
upon the Pacific coast, and | presume that !
by this meeting you intend 10 signify your
satisfaction that one of your citizens has !
been called to a place in President Grants
Cabinet. l accept the position with diff
dence, but to the best Of my abilities | shall {
discharge its duties so as TO promote the {
true interests of the country and reflect |
credit upon the present administration. All | s
The abilities and energies which possess |
shall devote to the enforcement of the laws | ,
md the suppression Of violence disorder
Ind crime. promise all whom If may con- a
,cIu tHdt ALI place. dG Lue htau OF | a
he Department Of Justice in this govern 81
nent SO far as the jurisdiction of that de- .
'artment may go, its mandates will be dis 2:
,ensed without fear or favor. and with | L
qual vlgOr ana respect for all classes and
Of men. know not what NAV a
re in the clamor now made about official Il
in federal Office but so far as al
he exposure and prosecution OF such delin- | 4,
uencles deyolve upon the Department of | IL
t1pp |
weight, and no pains will be spared to N
ring the guilty to speedy and condign IA
deeply regret that in some | f.
ortions of the country spirit of lawless- g.
ess seems to prevail. l will favor !,
very consideration of kindness to 81 81
1duce obed fence to the laws; but if no O.
Their means will answer. then | am for
sing the whole power of the country in the y
lost vigorous and effective manner to crush W
ut every conspiracy against the peace of So
)clety and the safety of the unoffending
tlZens Governments were pr;maril es- OF
iblished to protect the weak against the f.
5rcng and if this government fails 10 per- II
'rm its functions in that respect it has a al
oor claim upon the support and loyalty of a.
s citizens. | am amazed that any consid | g.
able number OF persons in the country at s,
lis time should engage in acts of violence ch
nd disorder. tor there is nothing to be | %
aimed and much to be lost in that way. ha
lie without safety to person and property,
Id society without good order and peace 6b
e comparatively OF little value, but if the =,
ASSIGNS of hatred and revenge are allowed | ba
overcome these considerations, then it re
scomes the plain duty of the government -,
interpose with its strong arm to subdue 5 D..
I'd repress those passions No one. in the Gle
yht OF recent events in New York and else &c
here, can take office now and escape the SCI
gilant eye of the people, and nothing but "i-
r. c''V ~ ""u'! VIII give str
hoial Sd us tt'ctiop. SHAH struggle 10 meet | GU
@ popular demand. as well as 10 meat the ID