Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-05
TX.
Hon. Holm Hamilton.

We naturally revert with feelings Of
reverence, to the memory of The early
pioneers of tho American Colonies. the
founders of States, and the fathers of the
Republic. With all their rigid supersti-
tions and strong religious prejudices
they had much in their composition that
was truly ennobling, and worthy Of imi
tation at the present day.
John Hamilton was of Scottish origin
and was born about the year 1880. He
studied law, and was well versed in the
literature of the age in which he lived.
He was a man of shrewd observation,
and strong powers Of mind. In 1713, he
was elected a member of the Council of
New Jersey, in which station, he acquit.
ted himself with great ability, and was
regarded as the ablest legislator in the
province; which was then Under the do
minion of Great Britain, George [. being
the reigning sovereign. The views OF
mon at this time in regard to the great
principles of civil and religious freedom,
were somewhat narrow and contracted.
Blind submission to royal DEGREES, and q
tacit obedience to ministerial teachings,
were considered the very perfection OF
loyalty. But nature had given to Mr..
Hamilton an Independent mind, and with
much feeling and eloquence, he was &C
customed to express his opinions boldly.
even though they conaicted with the
views Of men in power. This rendered
him highly popular with people, whose
rights he ever sought to maintain, and
whose interests lay nearest his heart
Not so Gov. Anderson. He was a mere
pliant.tool of loyalty, and if he could
only please the king and parliament. be
cared not for the people. Consequently
many Of his measures were arbitrary and
oppressive and finding that the people
were daily becoming more and more dis
satisfied with him and his policy, he
finally resigned his Office, and returned
to England.
In March, 1876, John Hamilton was
elected Governor of the Provinceso of New
Jersey in the room of Gov. Anderson /;
and the affairs of the Colony began to
assume a brighter aspect. Let it be re
membered, that in almost every instance,
where a courtier was by royal appoint
ment constituted Governor of any Of the
kings provinces in North America, he
was received by the people, with distrust
and disaffection. They insisted, and
justly too, that they had a right to the
choice of their own Governors, and would
not part with that right, but with their
lives. 1t was finally, though reluctantly,
conceded to them. And thus was laid
the foundation of our Liberty.
Governor Hamilton administered the
government of the Colony Of New Jersey
with lasting honor to himself, and greatly
to the benefit oil the people, for a period
of two years only when his increasing
in6rmities compelled him to resign the
Office.
He passed his few remaining years in
retirement and having an ample fortune,
speat much of his time in acts of benevo-
lence and was held in great esteem by
all who had the pleasure Of his acquain.
lance.
Always inaexible in what he consider
ed the right. the ~sternness of his charac
ter was not such as to darken it's more
amiable features, any more than the foli-
age OF a venerable old oak would repel
from its expanded boughs the genial dews
and refulgent sunshine.
He died in 1746, at an advanced age.