Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/302

Rh town of Fort Madison. Upon the organization of the state government he was chosen judge of the first judicial district and held that position for five years. In 1 85 3 he was ap- pointed by President Pierce, Chief Justice of Oregon Terri- tory and in 185 7 was re-appointed by President Buchanan. In 185 7 he served as a member of the slale constiLutioncd convention and canvassed the state while its adoption was pending before the people in favoi of the section ^vhich pio- hibited slavery, it having been submitted for a separate vote.

In 1864 Mr. Williams was elected to the United States Sraate and upon taking his seat in the following March at once attracted the attention of the nation by his far-seeing statesmanship and clearness of expression. He took a lead- ing part in the great legislative work connected with the re- construction of the southern states and was an active member of the committees on finance and public lands. He was the author of what was known as the "Tenure of Office Act" which was vetoed by President Johnson, but was passed over the veto. He made a brilliant record as United States Attor- ney General, the duties of which position were extremely im- portant, and highly technical owing to the vast amount of legislation growing out of the Civil War. He was appointed a member of the international commission to settle differ- ences between the United States and England which had re- sulted from the war and won the high esteem of his fellow members for his learning and diplomacy. President Grant appointed him Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court to succeed Salmon P. Chase; but owing to political complications which arose, the confirn:iati(3ii was delaved and Mr. Will lams wi thdr ew his name. This is deeply to be regretted for during the thirty years he lived after that event he would have made a splendid record in that high office. When the serious controversy was presented in 1877 in the contest between Hayes and Tilden over the Presidency of the United States it was an artich written by Mr. Williams and published in the "Washington Star" which contained the first