Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-02-25
Original skett5es,
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
LIVES .OE
Distinguished Jerseymen.
BY Ii Q my w q


BY Henry Ward.
r.
Gov. William Livingston, T. T.
They who shine forth as stars of the
first magnitude, in the respondent galaxy
Of their country's glory, shall receive new
@lustre. and brighten and brighten more
and more through the cycles Of eternal
ages. SoGod ordains;-and good mea ex-
ult, while bad men trcmble. Among all
the luminaries OF the nation, we know OF
none who sent forth a steadier and wider
splendor than New Jcrsey's patriot
Governor, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.
Ills ancestors were some of the most
noble and eminent men of which Scotland
could boast; and William was in every
respect worthy of them. The precise
time Of his birth. the writer does not now
recollcct. but thinks ii was in the year
1741. His parents were in good circum-
stances, and gave him a first ate collegi-
ate education, leaving him to make choice
OF that profession most eongenial to his
taste, and in which his strong powers of
mind would he most likely to excel. Hc
preferred the Law; and in this intermina-
BILE science, he soon stood pre-eminent at
the Bar. Bold and fearless in the right,
he never would submit for q moment to
anything manifestly wrong.
Accordingly we find him at the. very
outset strongly contending Tor the civil
and religious rights of his countryimeu.-
He was no less powerful with his pen,
than in verbal argument. And when
Great Britain began to advance her pre-
posterous claims to the serfdom Of the
Colonies by a monstrous system Of taxa
ton and oppression, he boldly opposed
every measure with his vigorous pen and
eloquent speech. His c%ountrymen exhul-
ted in the fact, that God had raised up for
them a champion Of such astonishing pow.
ers Of mind, to vindicate their cause with
the pen; and they doubted not, that should
worse come to worse, he would also raise
up one, to defend it with the sword. 1t
is difficult to say which was the most DOW
erful, the pen Of Livingston, or the sword
Of Washington. Both were equally nee
ded for the gloomy period that tried
mems %souls;" the one to rouse up and en-.
kindle the flame of patriotism through the
land, and the other to direct its course
against the enemies of Liberty.
He resided for some time in the City Of
New York, where he held several, Offices
Of distinction, with much credit to himself
and great benefit to his fellow-citizens.-
Thence he removed to the State of New
Jersey, where his fame and good report
had long before preceded him. He was
chosen a Delegate to the staunch old Con-
~tincntal Congress of 1774. And here, in
real activity and eloquence. he was sur.
passed by none. That remarkable shrewd
ness too, derived from good old Scottish
ancestry was no small help to his coun-
try, in time Of need. He could be no
more outwitted, than Washington could
be out generated. Soon after the break
ing out Of the Revolution. there happened
to be a Royal Governor over the State Of
Now Jersey, by the name Of William
Franklin. The people of that patriot
State did not exactly like to be saddled
with such an i%ncunbrance; it went rather
against their grit and grain; but now to
get rid Of him, was the question. At
length a plan was his upon. which sue.
ceeded admirably. We do not charge
Mr.. Livingston with having anything to
dc with the plot; but think, that he al
ways knew very we'll how to keep his own
counsel. Gov. Franklin was surprised in
the night, by a party Of New Jersey pa
triots, taken prisoner, and marched under
a strong guard, with all the honors of
war;" into Connecticut. The old Jail in
my native village Of Litchfeld, had the
honor Of receiving the Royalist prisoner,
who promised to behave well, until such
time as he could be exchanged.
Thus. having rid themselves of one
great annoyance, the people of New Jer-
sey chose William Livingston to be their
Governor, and they never had occasion
to repent Of their choice: for he was de-
cidedly the best Governor that ever pre-
sided over that State. His integrity and
| virtue wers Of q truly republican charac-
ter. He was never known to swerve in
one instance from moral rectitude. Such
was the implicit confidence which his fell
low-citizens reposed in him, that they con.
tinued to elect hir Governor Of New
jersey until his death. We know Of but
one other Governor who was his equal in
every respect. and resembFed him in the
prominent traits OF his character and
that was the incorruptible Jonathan
Trumbull. of Connecticut and next to
them, vas Governor Samuel Ward, Of
Rhode Island. l speak simply in regard
to their patriotism and efficiency il lei
dering important and substantial aid to
Gen. Washington in the most trying
emergencies Of the Revolutionary War.
They could always be relied upon in eve
lry difficulty ; and at all times, promptly