Year: 1867

our candidate 1or supreme Judge has
been carefully prepared, and was deliver.
ed at public meeting held in Pittsburg
few days since by C. B. NJ. Smith, Esq.
1t will be qualification to every Union
voter to have the pleasure of supporting
such an able and pure minded gentleman.
Read the biography:


Mr.. Smith was received with raptur-
Gus applause, and proceeded to deliver
the following biographical sketch of our
candidate. He said:


| come here tonight, my fellow-citi-
zeus, to perform what is to me pleasant
duty to join with you in giving our ad-
herence to the platform of principles
adopted by the great Union Republican
party of this State, at the Convention
lately held in Williamsport, and in mani
testing our satisfaction and pleasure in
the nomination by that Convention, of
our fellow citizen, Hon. Henry W. Will
liams, as a candidate for election to the
highest judicial position of this Common
wealth.


While shall express my cordial ap-
proval of the principles enunciated in
that wise, moderate and patriotic creed of
political faith, which breathes, in every
line, love for freedom and human rights,
aud mixed with no demand for vengeance,
by saying that [ would hardly add to, or
detract, one word therefrom, shall leave
its discussion to those able gentlemen
who may follow, and devote. the brief
time allotted me upon this occasion in
speaking of the personal moral character
of our candidate; and it is, perhaps, fit
ting that L should do this, as L have
known Judge Williams longer, and more
intimately, than any person in this house.


" Ny acquaintance with hinr commenc-
ed in College in 1888, as class mate, and
since that time | have studied with him,
taught with him, aud practiced in my
profession with, and under him. l have
known him as student, as teacher, as law
yer and as Judge; and what is more, du-
ring all time | have known him as an in
innate personal friend.


4" L have known him more thoroughly
than have ever known any other living
man, not excepting my own brother, and
say here tonight, in the presence of
this large audience, that, even were | so
disposed, could truthfully speak no i'll
of him.


Judge Williams is of the good old rev.
olutionary Wing stock, which achieved
our national independence in 1776, and
from his ancestors he has Inherited
steady love of liberty, independence, free
dom and national union, which has been
strengt thened by the great events of these
later times. He was born in the beauti-
full valley of the Connecticut State
which has given birth to such men as
Henry Baldwin, Walter Forward, Gar
rick Mallory aud William Strong and
is now in the prime of vigor and man
hood. From the people and of them, he
fortune. His father, well to do-f farmer,
held with most New England fathers of
that day, that it was better for boys to
help themselves than to be dependent
upon the paternal savings, and after bav-
ing furnished his son with the means of
acquiring an education, he sent him forth
from the paternal home at an early age,
to make his way in the world and fight
the battle of life unaided, save by his own
energy and talents.


" In college Judge Williams gave pro-
mise Of his future success. He became
at once one of the most popular men Of
his class, loved and respected by all for
his correct department, his kind and
social disposition, his high sense of honor,
his great regard for truth, his strict in
tegrity, and for his entire freedom from
envy and jealousy. He Immediately took
high rank as a scholar, especially as a
speaker, writer, debator, a logician
and metaphysician, which rank he
maintained and increased during his COL
.legiate course He graduated at Amherst
College, Massachusetts,, in the summer of
1887, and so proud has his alma mater
| been of this one of her favorite Sons that
| she sometimes since honored herself by
bestowing upon him the honorary degree
of Doctor of Laws. After spending the
intervening time in teaching, he COM
menced reading law in the Office of ex-
Chief Justice Lowrie, of this city, in the
spring of 1899, and was admitted to the
bar of this county in May, 184l. lie
practiced his profession with increasing
success from the time Of his admission to
the bar, as partner with his preceptor,
until the latter was appointed Judge of
the District Court of this county and then
with the late William NJ Shinn, until
elevated for the first time to his present
position in the fall of 1851.


As lawyer, Judge Williams was a
cautious, safe, honest and reliable coun-
sellor, and an earnest, eloquent aud gene
rally successful advocate. He endeavored
to keep his clients out of the law instead
of getting them in, but when in, with
good cause, all his energies and abilities
were bent to bringing matters to favor
II \ IL l. IL. L..