The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-30
Judge Woods Confirmation.

Judge Woods Confirmation
Judge w. B. Woods, of Alabama, has
been appointed by the President and con-
armed by the Senate, Justice of the Su
preme Court of the United States, in the
place Of Judge Strong, resigned. Judge |
Woods is native of Ohio but has resided |
In the South fifteen years. He took up his
residence in Alabama immediately after the
war, entered upon the practice of his pro-
iession and also identified himself with the
material interests Of that State by investing
In mineral properties and Industrial enter
prises. He was subsequently appointed
United States Attorney for the Alabama
District, and four or five years ago called
to preside over that Judicial Circuit. He is
a gentleman of ability, a learned lawyer,
an impartial and upright judge, land in every
way fitted for the duties Of the high posi-
ton to which he has been called. But the
one sin of not having been born in the South.
was urged against him by eight United
States Senators from the Southern States.
They maintained that the appointment
should have been given to Southern
born. and not to a gentleman borh in Ohio
notwithstanding his eminent fitness for the
place.
II the choice of successor to Judge
Strong had been given to US, we would not
have selected Judge Woods. We would
have chosen another Judge, on personal
grounds and because of personal acquaint-
ance, as we'll as for his legal requirements
and acknowledged abilities. But we can
see no just grounds for manifesting dis
pleasure at Judge Woods appointment -
He possesses all the essential requisites for
the position, and will no doubt discharge
faithfully the responsible duties to which he
has been called. The grounds of opposi-
tion urged are absolutely contemplate, and
the outcroppings of that sectional spirit
which has done and is doing so much to
harm the South. Judge Woods is as much
citizen of The South as the Senators who
protested against his nomination, and
doubtless has done more to advance the ma
terial interests of that section than all OF
them put together. 1t is the infusion of
this kind of population into Southern So
oiety that will have the effect to change the
methods and stimulate the energies of our
native born citizens, and hasten the time
when a new South, with new ideas and
new processes, will supplant the fossilized
habits and usages of the South of the slave
era and slavery Inspirations
The fact that Judge Woods was born in
Ohio is not, perhaps, the controlling reason
why his nomination was not acceptable to
these eight Southern Senators He is a
very pronounced Republican, with Repub-
lican views of our Constitution and the the
DRY Of our government. He was not edu-
Gated In the State Rights Democratic
School, but in the belief that this is Ma
zion, and that all other laws and govern
ments are subordinate to the national laws
and government. Had this objection been
urged against his confirmation, it would
have been entitled to more respect than thai
ofnon-birth in the South, because it would
have shown there was principle involved
In it, and was not the result OF partizar
prejudice and sectional feeling. Placing
the objection upon the ground it was
placed, is a declaration that no Northern
man is welcome in the South, if he shoult
chose to encourage the same aspirations ant
the same liberty of thought and actor
which he was privileged to do in the Stat
OF his birth. In this spirit there is nothing
but damage to the South. When Judg
Woods became citizen of Alabama, undo
the local laws of that State, he passed int
the possession of as many rights as an,
other citizen-was rs much entitled to thu
recognition of the government at Washing
ton, as citizen OF Alabama, as he was as
citizen of Ohio, and possessing the requi
site qualifications for the position to whcl
he has been called, there should have beef
no mere objection to him than there woul'
have been to any citizen of Alabama, VIII
had never travelled beyond the limits of tina
State, nor questioned the infallibility OF tn
Democratic party. 1t was not so much TIN
nativity as the politics OF Judge Wood
that inspired the opposition Of these Bour
bon Senators. Longstreet and Orr wer
both natives OF the Southland dedicated
their best talents and energies to the caus
OF the South; but when they accepted tn
situation, recognized national authority
and proposed to live up to what they pro
fessed. they were denounced and ostracise'
as traitors and enemies to Southern inter
ests, and unworthy of the confidence ana
respect of just such men as entered thei
Intellectual protest against the confirmation
OF Judge Woods. Not until this spiri
OF spite, partizan intolerance and sectiona
prejudice is abated, and broad and NOR
rational dispensation prevails in Southern
communities, will Southern development
and progress be assured.