Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-08-04
Historical gkettbes.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
LIVES OF
Distinguished Jerseymen,
Hon. Richard stockton.

Does true greatness of character spring
from an innate principle; or is it the re.
suit Of cultivation /? My opinion is, that
1T requires a combination of both, to
make the perfect man, and that extraot-
binary circumstances, and severe trials
are necessary to developc, and mature,
and strengthen all the moral and intel
~lectual faculties. so as to render a man
what he should be, an honor and a bless
ing to the age in which he lives. In no
characters with whom we have been &C
quai1ted, either personally or by history,
is this truth more strikingly Illustrated,
than in the Stocktons. those noble minded
men, of whom New Jersey may we'll be
proud.
Richard Stockton was a native of New
Jersey, and was born about the year 1881.
He was q youth of promise,
and possessed astonishing powers of mind
far beyond his years. Genius and talent
seemed to be with him an innate, inherent
principle. In his ~boyhood, he scorned
those little petty tricks and that low Gun
ming, in which most boys seem to delight.
He would soone have died, than been
guilty of a mean action. In fact, in every
sense of the word, he was one of Natures
true nobility.
Ia LAS. he graduated at Princeton
COffege, WITH a reputation which but few
of her enlightened sons were enabled to
obtain. He was highly esteemed as a
true pattern and example for the other
students to follow. Whenever a question
of doubt or difficulty arose, it was always
put to rest by the simple ob~seryation-
" 1t must be so; for Richard Stockton
said it, And Richard Stockton invari.
ably spoke the truth.
Soon after his graduation, he devoted
the powers of bis vigorous and compre,
hensiye mind to the study of the Law
In this department, he had DO rival. No
advocate at the Bar in his dav, could
measure weapons with him. with any hope
of success. His eloquence was command.
ing, powerful, captivating, convincing,
and irresistible. And what gave it ten.
fold power, was the blameless integrity
Of the man himself. Let it ever be re-
~membered, that the American LAWYER. if
he would rise high in his profession, must
be a man Of strict integrity. For with.
out it, all the talents of q Patrick Henry.
an Ames, a Randolph; a Clay. Calhoun
or Webster, will avail him nothing in the
end-will only serve to render the de
formity o. his character more conspicuous;
and his influence the more to be dreaded,
because the more pernicious. Let him
strive to emulate the exalted character
of Stockton; and all will be well with
them in time and in eternity. God has
given such men for an example; and it is
well-pleasing in His sight, when the rising
generation strive to emulate them, not
only in word and deed, but III truth.
He was appointed a Judge Of the Su.
perior Court, under the Grown of Great
Britain, sometime previous to the War Of
the Revolution; and was also elevated to
the same high and responsible Office in
1776. The duties Of this station he faith
fully discharged, with an impartiality
that knew no fayoritism, an ability that
never wayered or slaekened, and an up.
rightness that never leaned either to pei.
sonal interest on the one hand, or to pop
ulaF favor on the other.
But one OF the most prominent and en-
~nolbing traitsin Judge Stockton's charac-
ter, Was his ardent and inlexible patri
otism. He was q leading member of the
immortal Congress of 1776; and one Of
the Signers Of the Declaration of Ameri.
can independence. In this august body,
his great talents were exerted with over.
whelming energy, and contributed most
powerfully to confirm the minds of those
illustrious statemeu, in the justice of the
cause which gave birth to a new nation.
The remaining period of his life was
devoted to the duties of his profession,
in which he was successful, far beyond
his most sanguine anticipations. He also
took a lively interest in the welfare of
young men who were fitting for the Bar,
and aided and encouraged them in their
legal pursuits, as often as lie had oppor-
tunity.
His descendants have greatly distin.
guished themselves, aud rendered them
selves truly worthy of their yenerated
ancestor. Few men Of the present day,
are possessed Of a more noble, energetic,
and irreproachabls character, than Com.
modore Stockton of the American Navy.
And, having heard him speak in political
assemblies, We venture to assert, without
fear of contradiction, that as an orator,
he has power to electrify and arouse an
audience, beyond most speakers Of this
or any other age. He is a worthy scion