The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-12

II
her Of OREGON men have been men
toned there IN that connection. Prom
inert amoug thze spoken q are the
names Of Hon. Geo. II. Williams, RG-
rs Mallory and Ex-Governor Moody
Fifty well-known Republicans Of this
city were interviewed On the subject
recently, and nearly all wsre in favor
u Gen. Williams, who IS one Of the
most distinguished citizens IN the
state Of Oregon. He IS learned and
experienee,I furist, a profound thinker,
| : Great orator. an able statesman, an
| upright and honorable mat
| Eos. GE0RGE Il. WILLIAMS
| was born in Columbia county. New
/ York. on the 18th day 81 March, ls23.
| He xas educated at the academy On
Ponpey Hill. Onoadaga county
| where his father removed az an early
dav. He studied law with the Hon
| Daniel Gotf. At the age Of q he vas
admitted 10 practice in the courts 81
that state. In the same year he i'm
migrated TO the Them territory Of
| Iowa and commenced the practice OF
his profes sion az Fort Madison. In
lss7 he was elected judge Of the fifth
| judicial district Of Iowa He dis
charged the duties OF that Office for
| i've wears, when both political parties
offered 20 JOIN, in his reelection, but
| he declined In is52 be was nofni-
mated by the Democratic state couven-
| ton OF Iowa AZ one of the presidential
electors. and eanvassed the state for
Franklin Pierce In March, 1853.
chiefly upon the recommendation Of
Hon Stephen A. Douglas, who was
his personal friend, he was appointed
chief justice OF the them territory OF
| Oregon, aud Immediately. with bis
family, removed here. He was a
member OF the constitutional conyen-
tioa from Marion county, and was
chairman Of the judiciary committee.
He was re-appointed
cHiEF JUSTICE or THE TERRITORY
by President Buchanan, bat resigned
and resumed the practice Of his pro-
fession at Portland Many leaders OF
the Democratic party at the time the
state government was formed were IN
favor OF making Oregon slave state,
and that question, separate and apart
from the constitution, was submitted
| by the constitutional convention to
| the people. Mr. Williams took decided
| ground against the establishment OF
slavery in the new state speaking and
writing against il, and the prO-slayery
party was defeated. but his standing
a. party man was greatly impaired
by the contest. When the secession
| movement was inaugurated Mr.. Viii
| liams dissolved his connection with
the Democratic party and assisted in
the formation OF Mon party in the
state. Ia September. 1854, he was
elected by the Union, or Republican,
| party I nited States senator from this
state Mr.. Williams took his seat in
the senate about the end OF the civil
war, and when il became neces airy in
| congress 20 consider aud settle the dif-
| ticult and complicated questions grow
ing OUT of that sectional and sangui-
nary struggle. 4 joint committee of
the two houses, consisting OF thirteen
members, OF which Mr.. Williams was
one, was organized to examine and re-
port upon matters pertaining 10 the
| reconstruction OF the | MON. A vast
amount of testimony was taken and
various propositions discussed by this
committee without any definite con-
cluSion. Meanwhile President An
drew Johnson was proceeding indie
| pendently OF congress 10 re-organiZe
the reyolted states by re-instating in
power the leaders of the rebellion. On
the It'll OF March, 1861 Mr.. Williams
having prepared, introduced into the
Senate bill entitled. "A bill for the
more efficient government of the
states lately in rebellion" commonly
called
THE RECONSTRUCTION BILL.
which, after being amended. passed
both houses OF congress and was
vetoed by the president. The bill was
passed over the veto, and un Ter this
| act the Union was re-establlshed and
the state restored to harmonious re-
lations with the federal government.
Many other important measures, such
as the tenure of Office act and an act
| 10 regulate the election of senators,
were brought forward by the senator
from Oregon. Soon after the expira-
ton OF his term, Mr.. Williams was ap-
pointed one of the Joint high commits
sion to settle by treaty with Great
| Britain the Alabama claims and other
disputed questions between the two
countries. His appointment was with
| special reference to the northwestern
boundary between the United States
and Great Britain. which has been in
controversy ever since the treaty of
| the 18th OF June, lsi6. In December,
ISL, Mr.. Williams was appointed at
! tnrnev- general Of the nited States.
/ When he came into this office the
/ klu-kluX Khan and various other sim
/ liar organizations in the South, were
/ operating To deprive the Union and
colored citizens of that section of their
political rights AID the vigorous meas
ures adopted by the attorney general
for their suppression, aroused an in
| tense hostility to him in the party on
posed 10 the administration. In 1873
Mr.. Williams was nominated by Pres
ident Grant for
cHIET JUSTICE
of the supreme court OF the United
States. hut at his instance the presi-
dent withdrew his name. In the spring
OF ISIS Mr. Williams resigned the
office ot Attoruey-General, and has
since been practicing law in Portland
\ leading Portland lawyer. who Is a
warm friend and former law partner
| of Mr.. Williams. said tn Your CORES
pendent this morning: 1T is possible
( that Harrison may select member of
| his cabinet from the Pacific coast, but
| hardly probable. should he do So
think California will re the honored
state. and either John +. Swift or Mr..
NJ E>tee will he the man. There are
| bat two men who stand any show in
[ Oregon. y. Dolph and Geo. II.
Williams. ~ these two poiph'S
/ chances are best. He is warm per
/ Sonal friend Of Harrison, and while in
the senate made concessions in favor
I 81 the president-eleCt. which he (Har-
I risonl will never forget. Mrs polph
and Mrs, Harrison are personal friends
and on the very best ~ terms am
satisfied that il the Pacific coast should
unite on nolph for cabinet position
[ he would Ect il. in which event Geo.
H. Williams would probably he the
next United State. senator from Ore
gon,
HON. ". p. NEApY.
/ ES-~peaker OF the house oi rep
| re.sutative> and one 90 the
| shrewde-t politicians in the state.
said. Yes, | think Mr.. HarrY-
/ son will Se'cJt q member al hi- cabinet
/ from this coat think Oregon is mn
du lhtedlv entitled - the honor. owing
/ tn the IRE tiE- ~ the June election
/ The commercial Interests al the North
{ west would. in my opinion toe better
: sub~rTyri bv an oregon man. posse
! sing tuli knowledge al the require
\ utgpf. .rf NJ 4-lfussfsn ans If4hp tor