The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-15
THE CHIEF JUsTrCEsHIP.

Iuc ucdtu VI VuuSO 1AVoSo AShuSAo sAiS
highest judicial Office in South Carolina
vacant, and, in the recess of the General
Assembly, Governor Hampton is empow-
cred by the Constitution and laws to ap-
point some one learned in the law to act
until the conyening of the Legislature.
In the present status of the Court it is
very desirable, if not absolutely necessary,
that the vacancy should be filled, as
there is but one Judge of the Supreme
Court of this State who is acting in dis
charge Of his official duties. The death
of the Chief Justice and the unexplained
absence of the colored member of the
Court, Judge Wright, completely blocks
the transaction of business. It is there
fore. probable that Governor Hampton
will at an early day either call the Leg
islature together for the purpose of elect
ing or that he will appoint some member
of the Bar in South Carolina to succeed
the recent Chief Justice, and in either
event who shall be the new Chief Justice
is a question of Importance to our people.
There are many able and pure lawyers in
South Carolina who would grace the
position and be universally acceptable to
our people in ordinary times, but in view
of recent occurrences there is one man in
the State who pre-eminently deserves
this distinction, and that man is Asso-
ciate Justice Willard, to whose sound in
tegrity and unwavering courage as a
Judge the people are indebted for the de-
cision of the Supreme Court by which
the Hampton government is recognized
as the lawful State government. Had
Judge Willard desired to do more or less
than his official duty, he could have re-
versed that decision .and thereby made
the Chamberlain government safe for
two years more. His course has pre-
served to the Democracy the victory
which they fairly won last November,
and which was about to be wrested from
them by fraud and corruption which had
grown so bold and dangerous as even to
approach the Supreme Court itself He
stood as just Judge and advocated the
right without favor, fear or affection, and
prevented the consummation of the
Chamberlain conspiracy in this State.
He is a Republican, but as a Judge he
has kept aloof from politics, and in this
instance rendered a decision which shows
that he considers official duty as more
binding than party adherence. His de-
cision too was rendered after it was
known that Hayes was to be President
and that the Supreme Courts recognition
of Chamberlain would be carried out by
the Republican party. But Judge Will
lard was actuated by law, not interest.
He is man of remarkable ability, and
has worn the judicial ermine as Associate
Justice without spot for the past nine
years. His ability, independence and
upright character make him eminently
qualified for the position. 1t would also
dissipate any semblance of the foul as
PERSONS cast upon our people by those
who say there is q prejudice against
Northern men in South Carolina. Judge
Willard should have the position not as
q reward for his course, because he
simply did his duty, but because he has
shown capacity and eminent fitness for
the place. To make him Chief Justice
would be to show to the world that our
people recognize official virtue and will
reward it. His course in going against
party is in such striking contrast to the
example set by Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States upon the
Electoral Commission, that his elevation
would be the reward of noble actions and
not the recognition of political services.
The choice would be eminently proper,
and we hope ere long to greet Chief JUS
tice Willard.