Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-07-02
Judge Vim. q. napton.
His APpoinfmrnt To tho Supreme
ncnch by-Gov. yyoocson.
kansas city Times, 9th. ]


Governor Woodson certainly mani
tested tho utmost consideration for
the wishes of the Democratic party
of Missouri, and o duo regard for her
national interests rs well, when
in the place upon the Supreme Bcucb
made vacant by the death of the la
mentcd Ewing, he appointed Judge
William II. Napton, Of ST. Louis. Ills
fame and his name ns jurist are CO.
extensive with the country. or him
Taney, of the United States Supreme
Court isreported to have said; "It is
sufficient to know that Napton rem.
dered the decision 10 declare that il
contained the law SO exactly that it
would, be cqnal!ed only in its
logic by the clearness and
purity Of its statement. uss
decisions have never been reversed.
We understand that Gov. Woodson,
of his own volition aud unsolicited
on the part of. any one, rendered tho
appointments to Judge 'Napton in a
letter that did infinite credit alike to
the man and TO the executive OF the
great State of Missouri. This APP
pointment, aside from it's eminent
justice and lituess, is doubly crafty
ing to that party whose chosen coun-
sellor, leader aud advisor Judge Nap
ton was far SO many years, and who
saw him cast away in scorn the robes
of his Office because of a test oath
which, if taken by a man believing as
he did, would haye taruished his hou-
or aud sullied q name great i'll the ali
mails of Missouri.
Judge William B. Napton was born
in Princeton, New Jersey, and cdu-
Gated at Princeton College. lie
graduated and received the first loI-
ors at that institution when hc was
only eighteen yc>rs of age. Immcdi-
ateiy afterwards lie removed to Fir-
ginia and entered upon the study OF
the law at the University at Char
lotsvfile, graduating in that depart
Inent with distinction, and was Sc
iectcd by his classmates to deliver the
annual address at the close os the ses-
sion. isnnoving from Charlottesville
to Missouri i'll 1852, lic located first IT
| Columbia. but subsequently removed!
10 Fayetie, where he practiceti his
profession and edited the first news
papsr published west of st. Louis, q
paper called the Eoonsiick Democrat,
Ills eininont ability rs a writer and
lawyer soon attracted the attention o.
| The leading Inen in tho State, aud il
1885 he received the appointment O
attorney General of Missouri, wlici
Office he held for four years, during
WHICH Time it is said he was he autl!oi
of most Of the State papers emana
ting from the Executive of that and
n later period in the history of ouI
State. IN 1910 -he was appointed
Judge of the Supreme Court, jus,
having reached the age to entitle hin
to hold that position under the Con
stitution, and remained UPON Tho
bench from that time until 1861, witt
the exception of all interim of six
years. His decisions will be founI
running through the Missouri Re
Reports from The fourth up to thu
thirty-second volume. Being man o
thorough and classical education, hi,
opinions are characterized by tlla
purity and elegance of dictiou no
always to be found in the law-books
and there are many lawyers wht
think lie has had no equal on tn
bench i'll this State, and a few that h
has any superior. Since his retire
ment from the bench in 1861, he ha
been in full practice in ST. Louis, ali,
in Iesuming II position upon the Su
preme Bench, i. cannot be doubteC
but that lie will add to his rcputa
ton as a jurist.