Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-12-12
THE NEW CHIEF JUSTICE.

THE NE" CttkEr
Hon. George H. Williams. whose
name was recently sent to the Senate
with the recommendation that he be
as Chief Justice Of the U s.
Supreme Court,is a native Of Columbia
county, Now York. He Is Of Massa-
chusetts stock, bis parents having re-
to New York from Pittsfeld.
Massachusetts,, early In the present
century. He Is about tifty-four years
Of age, and has been a practlcing law
yer since 1874. At the age Of twenty
IL, or only three years after entering
upon the practice OF the law, he was
elected Judge Of the First judicial
District of Iowa, on the admission Of
that State into the Union. He served
out his term Of i've years As Judge,
until 1851. having by that time made q
judicial reputation attained by few
mer at his age. In 1852 he was n Of
the candidates for Presidential Elector
on tho Iowa Democratic ticket, and
thoroughly canvassed the State, OBJ
tanning a reputation as one Of her most
able and ready debaters. Indeed, he
was BY many deemed to bs tirst among
all her public speakers. In 1858 Judge
Williams was appointed by President
Pierce IS Chief Jnstice OF Oregon Ter
ritory, and accompanied by his wife,
at once emigratcd thlther. This office
he held during all Of the administra'
ton of Mr.. Pierce and part OF James
Buchanan's term, when he resigned.
He was In 1858 elected to the US.
Senate from Oregon, and took his seat
In that body where he served until
1860. Before being appointed At
torney General and after the expira-
ton Of his term Us Senator, he acted 4
somewhat prominent part as a mem
Der Of the High Joint Commission,
which convened for the settlement oil
the Alabama claims at Washington In
1871. His appointment to the At
torney Generalship. made vacant BY
General Ackerman's resignation. met
with very general favor, and he Is con-
coded to have ably filled that import
ant position.
Judge Williams Il q gentleman Of
very superior natural talent and OF
fins culture. and In his career as a
Judge and statesman, has exhibited
sound discretion and staunch integrity.
An instance OF the existence Of this
latter quality appeared in his record
on his first election as Judge In Iowa.
The Circuit or District in which he
served included a tract Of country
once very famous In Iowa politics and
courts, known as the "Half-Breed
Tract" Young Williams ran as a
Democrat, but the settlers on this tract
having the balance Of power, gave
him their votes In the hope that he
would decide their titles good and
thus rob the | f.breeds Of their lands.
They mistook their man, however, for
the first Ease which came before him,
the Judge decided against the squat
ters and In favor Of the half-breed
claimant. We have studied the rec
ord Of Judge Williams In Congress
somewhat carefully, and believe that
nothing exists which tends to prove
him either incompetent or unworthy
the exalted seat to which he has been
nominated. 'rrae, there are more bril-
liantlawyers, perhaps many ADLER men,
but in onr humble opinion the selection
Is = good one. The ablest men are not
always the best fitted for judicial posts,
A safe, discreet, impartial and honest
Judge, with mental and physical pow
ers bright and unlmpaired, educated
to the bar and experienced on the
bench, has been selected and will no
doubt be confirmed. 1t Il impossible
to please all In any executive appoint
ment, but In our judgment the promo
ton Of Judge Williams will be here
after deemed not only a wise selection,
but he will do honor to the Office.
Judge Williams Is not a demagogue ;
in this he Is superior to many others
who have been selected by the press
for this position. In relation to the
personal appearance and mental pow.
or OF the subject Of this sketch, we
subjoin the following from the CORE
spondence Of leading New York City
journal. 1t was written from Wash
ington In 1858:
Judge Williams Is tall aud angu-
lar, and for q man who Is In no sense
comely or handsome. very fine look
ing. / do not think him remarkable
for his individuality or immobility,
but he has plenty Of what we call
brains - intellectual power and
force. He Is clever, In both the Eng
lish and American sense Of the much
used and abused word car adapt him.
self to circumstances, and please In the
mahogany-furnished parlor or the pun
cheon-1oored cabin; IS generous and
unsuspiclous, and does not long cher
ish iii will toward any one, or love to
cherish up a wrong Personally he Is
popular with the people, and his cleo
ton Is very generally satisfactory. or
cheerfully %acquiesced In. Mr.. VIII
liams enjoys n laugh, and Il apt 70
laugh with the world. let the world
laugh at what it may ; and with him,
anything that can be successfully ridl-
cuied can hardly be right. Though
earnest he IL not destructive aud
will help TO build up rather than tear
down. He Is . good popular speak
er, clear and distinct In his IDEAS
always forcible, often eloquent
and sometimes rises into the region Of
imagination, and adorns his speech
with pure poetic gems. Some men
have their motives Of action noted in
the past, while others live for the far
of future; but Judge Williams Is a
man Of to-day, and draws his inspira-
:lon from the associations and events
of the present. Mentally, and / may