Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-05-19
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1876.

his public course; but his resignation
was not accepted, and he resumed his
seat when the convention reopencd the
ensuing fall When Judge Woodward
was called TO the Supreme Court bench
the other Judges wcrc Black, Lewis
Gibson and Lowric all able and emf
nent jurists, but with whom tho new
conner at once stood fairly equal. His
opinions are exceedingly well-written
clear and forcible, and on all constitu'
tional questions, or questions in which
personal rights are involved, they give
forth no uncertain sound. His opin-
ions are reported in thirty-six volumes
of the (Pa.) State Reports, commenc-
ing with Deal VS. Bogue, In 8 Harris
(20 State Reports), and ending with
Oakland Railway Company VS.. Keenan,,
in 9Th P. F. Smith (56 State Reports),
and are an enduring monument to his
ability and learning.
Probably the mostimportantde decision
Of the Supreme Court in which he
concurred, was whatisgcnerally known
as the Sunday car decision" in 1867,
or rs It is in the books, Sparhawk VS..
The Union Passenger Railway Com
pany, reported in 4 p +. Smith; Nc
Elroy and Porter for Sparhawk, and
Il. Spencer Miller and George W. Bid
die with whom was 0'Byrnc) for the
railway company. After sharp and
decided opinion against the running OF
cars on Sunday, by Judge Strong at
Nisi Prius, Chief Justice Woodward
turned the scale by joining his broth
ers Read and Thompson, both Of whom
delivered long and able opinions, against
Justice Agncw and Strong, who dis
sentcd 1t is said that Judge Wood
wards enlarged view of the necessity
and propriety Of this then-considered
radical measure, was shaped by his
European travels, "having," as one of
the Judges has said privately, "thc
scales lifted from his eyes, by his
knowledge Of the blessings of giving
freedom and health to the working
classes, by affording easy and cheap
means of travel to the country on Sun
DAYS. Chief.Justice Woodward about
three years ago, his first wife having
died some years before, married the
widow of Edward Manchester, man
Of note and large wealth in Lexington,
KY, and brother of Charles Macales-
ter, Of this city. She survives him.
The present Judge Woodward, of the
Supreme Court Of this State, is his
nephew. The distinguished deceased
was a man of the highest integrity and
fidelity, no one, whether he agreed
with him in sentiment or not, ever
doubted his honesty of purpose or the
sincerity of his opinions. As indicat-
ing his radical opinions the following
may be cited In the course of a speech
delivered in the House in March, 1868,
he used the following characteristic
language "If this legislation means
anything, il just this that the Presi-
dent shall not exercise the constitu-
tional functions Of his office, the judges
shall not exercise the constitutional
powers vested in them, but the lcgisla-
tlVc VIII shall De supreme winch say
IL q repeal of the Constitution of the
United State and n consolidation of MI
10 ,,,I;,;,,I ,,o,,,o,. 80 tl,;s r,
wy Pv",ou' Powoi Vi 'n'e "o'v'n'i,"'
INTO the hands OF legislative oligarchy
to be welded know not by whom"
.Uo wins p,ark oil f,, b;s f,,rco ~ cbar
"''' II ~ ~ '.s %
ac,er. ho was an apic iegisiatlve ue-
batter, but was apt TO be led on INTO
extreme opinions on pohucai suolects;
nc had large views on constltut'onal
Jaw ana was an apie Iuoie'a' writer on
ques.ons > y. " u'oau ,a "l., coinp,cncn'
u'nar,,yg9oa =, ,.' ,ecnn,cal q & lawyer' ne
Judge, his charge TO the jury having
always great weight, there being some
thing about his presence which i'm
pressed those VINO first came III con
tact with MN. HIS personal appear
ance contributed largely TO this infiu-
ence overthc jury as he was man cast
In a remarkably large mould, being