Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-25
Judge Sharswood for Governor.


us a Just and deserved tribute to the
distinguished and noble old Statesman,
which we take great pleasure in pre-
senting TO our readers. No word Of
praise that can be uttered, nor no
word Of commendation that can be
advanced as TO his fitness and excel
lence in connection with the Office Of
Governor, that will not receive n re-.
sponse from us. Still we doubt very
much whether nomination for Gov
ernor would be acceptable to the aged
jurist, or desirable in view Of compli-
cations that may arise in settling the
representation of Philadelphia in the
Democratic nominations.
"a correspondent of the Harrisburg
Patriot of the 18th inst, suggests the
name of George Sherwood, the pres
ent Chief Justice of our Supreme
Court, as a proper Democratic candi.
date for Governor. To us this looks
like both a wise and timely suggestion.
Ever since there has been a Democra-
tic party the Sharswoods have been
Democrats. james Sharswood, the
grandfather Of the present Chief JUS
tice, was one of the original leaders
and organizers of the Democratic party
in Philadelphia nearly a century ago,
and there has been no break in the
Democratic line in the family from
that day to this.
That the Hon. George Sherwood is
qualified, far above the candidates
usually chosen, to fill 30 bright and
honorable q position "a the chief mag.
isiracy Of this great commonwealth,
is demonstrated by simple statement
of the responsible positions he has so
worthily filled in the past. In 1887
he was a representative in the Legis.
lature from Philadelphia, and the fol.
lowing year he was elected a member
of the select council Of that city. In
1912 he was sent for the third time
to the Legislature Of Pennsylvania.
While member of this body the Jour.
nal shows his name very frequently
connected with proposed legislation.
In April, 1s4j, Governor Skunk nom.
mated him for Associated Justice Of
the District Courts of Philadelphia.
This appointment was at once con-
firmed, and in lS4S when the presi-
dent judgeship of the District Court
became vacant, he was at once selected
to fill the vacancy. When by an
amendment to the State constitution
adopted in 1850, the Judiciary we're
made elective Sherwood after being
nominated by the Democratic conven.
ton, notwithstanding the fact that he
was then, and had been all his life
strong opponent of the Wing party
and Democrat, the Wing convention,
recognizing his preemineut fitness for
the position he held, gave him their
unanimous endorsement. In 1861 he
was reelected without opposition and
had served partly through his term,
when in 1867 his fellow-citizens called
him to be a Justice in the Supreme
Court of the State, where by the rule
Of seniority governing that Court ne
became its Chief Justice on the first
Monday of January, 1879. All these
positions, as we'll as the one he now
holds, he has filled with an integrity,
ability, fidelity and honesty of purpose
rarely seen in the whole course of
human life.
The labOrs be performed while Judge
of the District Court of Philadelphia
we're simply herculean and could be
done alone by a man of great intel
lectual strength. During the twenty
two years he presided in the District
Court of Philadelphia, II is said he
delivered written opinions in over four
thousand cases, Of these one hundred
and forty-six we're taken to the Su.
preme Court, and al but twenty-five
we're affirmed.
The careful preparation of bis opin-
ions while in the District Court quail