The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-17
THE MAN WHO HELPED HA MPTt)N
RIO WAS u Carpet Ba9ger," But lie
Decided the Law In Favor OF His
Political Op pponents.


Political Op pponents.
Hon. A. j. Willard formerly chiel
justice OF the supreme court OF South
Carolina, died suddenly Of apoplcxy on
the 9TH inst. at his home in Washing.
ton, d. g., in the 10Th year Of his age
He was born in Albany, N. y.
MIR. John s. Reynolds, OF Columbia,
has written the following sketch OF
Judge Willard, who was once an i'm
portant aud conspicuous factor in the
affairs Of Sonth Carolina. Mr. Key
nolds has written from memory, but
his statements are substantially cor
rect
Judge Willard came to this State as
lieutenant colonel OF rogiment Of
United States cOlOrru troops. His
command took part in the battle OF
Honey Hill, Nov. 30, lSGl ono Of the
hottest and most remarkable fights in
| the War OF ScCessiOn-unu WIS men
toned by his commanding general in
! his report. lie came first into gcOeral
| notice by his connection with u military
commission in Charleston in 1866,
| which tried three cit.Z ms OF Anderson
district for tho alleged murder OF n
United States soldier. Col. Willard
WAS recorder Of the commission, ana
his prosecution, whilst naturally harsh,
WIS recognized ns CViGcncing much
ability. The accused were convicted
and sentenced to be hanged. They
| were afterwards released under u writ
OF habcas corpus from the Federal
court, and were never tried again.
Judge willard was elected to the
bench Of the State supreme court or.
gaGiHcd undCr the constitution OF 1868
by the legislature that met here in the
summer tf that year. +. j. Moses, Sr.,
Was elected chief Justice and S. H.
lioSc the other associate Moses was
Tor some months under political dis.
abilities, so that the court IN thHt pc
rod consisted OF Willard and H0gc.
Tue lattice WAS 50 far uulit for the post
that he never wrote SiDgl2 opinion.
The wOi OF the court TINS fell almost
entirely upon Justice Willard.
Judge Willard came most promincnt.
~ into public notice in the contest for
the possession OF the State government
following the election OF November :.
1876. That contest, IN It's different
phases, WAS promptly taken by The
Democratic leaders into the supreme
court. The case most important in It's
cons YucnGG5 WAS the State OK rel
Wa! lac" ". H"yMc, secretary ut State,
and r.. W. III. Mackcy. On tic face OF
the returns tnn Democrats h:,d IA ma
jority uf the Ia members making up
the house Oi representatives Bot the
State board OF cuuvasscre (compused ot
Republican GlliGG-hOldcrs) withheld
certificates from the membcra.clect
from luurcna aud Edgclcld-th Civ
ing the Republicans u majority Of the
| IN a m hers ii;jiiiH;. i.n;t t;.,i;.,s
| Republicans organized with T.. w. nj.
Mackry Us speaker, but with less than
u ma jority OF IA members. The
Democrats organized with VIM H.
Wallace ~ speaker, having IL majority
OF the III, members from Edgciicld ana
Laurcns cOun.el. lInync, secretary of
state, had delivered to Mackcy the re-
turns OF the vote for governor t. be
aggregated and declared in JOINT see
sion Of the general assembly. The pro-
cecdings in the supreme court were
upon an application for writ Of
| mnndamus TO compel lluync and
Mackcy to deliver to Speaker Wallace
the returns mentioned. The case, on
| tile inain Issue, went UM Oh Ii question
raised by the COurt, and was never
| afterwards presented Tor aa ajuuiCHJiOn.
Bat the court nevertheless decided
that the Wallace house Was the lawful
house OF representatives Of South Caro-
lima. THAT decision practically de-
tCrmincd the contest OF the white peo.
pie under Wade Hampton ior the
possession Ct the State gUvernmcn,
unlawfully claimed by ID. II. Chamber
lain and his followers.
There can be little doubt that Judg,
Willard deserved chief credit for the
stand taken by the supreme court in
| i. M ,l,.l ~
Wright was purchasuble. a decision
contrary TO precedent would not have
bcen dillicult to either. During tho ar
gument Wiliaru's purpose was mani
| tested by his frequent Interruptions OF
| tho counsel for Eaync and Mackey.
| The propositions thus advanced mot
disputed by doses or Wright) under.
| lay the judgment rendered. There can
be little doubt that one OF Wizards
objects WIS TO hold Moses and Wright
to their HCquir0ccncc and leave them
no excuse 10 dodge or to rcccde. The
decision OF the court WAS only such us
| IL should have been. But an opposite
conclusion would have had the sanction
Of lawyers like Chamberlain and Cor
bin OF this State, Judge Settle OF North
Carolina and numerous legal lights OF
Itcpu blican proclvitics in Washington.
AT ali events an adverse decision won Id
nave brought no end OF trouble upon
the Hampton side in South Carolina
Such decision would have been worth
much TO willard, had he chosen TO ask
a price fer it. But lie decided accord
ing TO law.
In the summer OF 1877 Judge Willard
WAS elected chief justice to fill the va.
nancy caused by the death OF Judge
Moses-his elevation duo largely to tho
known wishes OF Gov. Hampton, evil
IDENTIFY shared by large body Of the
white people OF the State. Filling the
uDexpired term Df Moses, Chief Justice
Willard remained on the bench Till
July, 1880
Judge Willard WAS an educated law.
YER ambitious only OF success and pre-.
fcrment in his profession. His opinions
in important cases evidenced careful
preparation and laborious research.
Many OF his citations were such rs to
show that he had fully read every case
citod. Ills style was not clear--a fact
probably due to his love Of fine distinc-
tions. His opinions need to be studied,
rather than read, in order TO an apprc
hcnsion OF all the points made. His
style lacked the clcarncss which mark