Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-08-28

land. September S1h, 1870, and is nov
htty-eight years OF age. His parents
were residents of BOonsboro. IN which
town. umder the tnitioa cf James Brown.
ESQ., i0FmeF SarseyOe Of Washingfon
county, TIE foundation Of bis education
waa Lid. His mother died when he
waa n5x years el nxe, and his father
kiensv Hamslson1 some sWo years
llleEs zs3s lsaNga8 S. hisg suxvinine
brother. nov. the Kev. Vim. Hamilton.
u. d. 80 well known 10 The religious
e6mmunsties ol shls city and WISHING.
ton. he was adopted BY bis mateFnal
aheles-three Of the then Oldest citizens
OF HageFst0wn--remaFkable for their
ldevotioa 20 business and 10 democratic
principles Of the old Je6eFsonian school.
His education was continued at The FTa-
gerstown Academy, and completed at
Jefferson COLLEGE, COnnonsburg, Pa
Upon his return 20 Hsgersiown he
studied Law undeEi The Hon. John Thom.
as Mason. end was admitted 70 The bar
Of Washington county in 1S45. In 1916
he was nominated upon the Democratic
ticket, and elected to the House Of Del
egates, the ticket. in q close and hard
fought contest, having been divided,
with WIN. Beverley Clarke, q Whig,
elected to the Senate.
The prominent measure ofthat session
Of the Legislature was the payment Of
the interest upon the debt Of the State,
recommended by Governor Pratt, which
received the support of Mr.. Hamilton.
10 1S4T he was again nominated upon
the DemoeFalae ticket, for the same po-r
sition, and aIthough he ran largely at
the head OF his ticket, was defeated,
the Whigs having that year carried the
county. On their ticket was The Hon.
Robert Fowler, Whose reelection as
State Treasurer preceded by few days1
that Of Mr.. Hamilton as Senator. In
1913 he was placed upon the Cass elec.
torial ticket for his Congressional dis
trict. In 1S48 he received from the
Democratic party his first nomination
for Congress, and was elected in a close
and very animated contest, although the
district had the year before given large
majority for General Taylor. The ab.
sorbing issue Of the day in the district
was the tariff. The results Of the Con-
gressional elections in the different
States were ascertained, and il was be-
lievd that the vote Of Maryland would
be decisive Of the ascendencv of the |
Democratic party in The House. Mr.
Hamilton ,adxncaiad H. Democratic
u .sAs.<r With hss able III 10f6S
lII u gI6uit TIE district, and teomnetnk
the manufacturing and mining Interest," I
OF Alegany county, proclaimed and
the Democratic creed, and
was elected by a signal but close vote.
During his first term in Congress,
Mr.. Hamilton gave steady support to
the compromise measures Of 1850, in
troduced by Mr.. Clay. In 1851, be
was reelected to Congress for his se-
cond term. In 1853, Mr.. Hamilton de-
sired 10 withdraw from public lite and
declined to be candidate, but, at the
urgent instance of prominent gentle
men, throughout the Congressional DIS
trict. he was, for the third tune, nomi-
mated BY the regular Democracy, and
agsh elected oveF DE HOnotSOie Fran-
cIs Thomas, whO y q as an indepeGde Uni
candiaasg saiast bin. Ffhs Pas 1ne
amcnest the most stanimated aud ceiling
contests eESE had N the disttira, involv-
ing gioint tdiscassiop between the eaTNli-
dales % every eouAty and TeHiidng in
a maiArift oEppNafds OF one tiseusand
forsM +. ii ahiIlan oRefs his eIoq6skf 4nd
vel eEapg e0Apsiit0rT In ceRgFsss he
gavfs ! 1dasists nj supp0gs toit he Ada6n-
istt tat506 OF rFesfde dent PIsfes ena tnr-
ina the last term of. bis seEvice vas
chairman- ok The eommittee .o6 fhe Dis
trisl Al cSldsslsiA and - sarli shairAan
he took leading part in the commence
ment and prosecution ofthat vast work
by which the city Of Washington il now
supplied with water from fhe gre - falls
Of the Potomac.
1855 Mr.. Hsmilton again deteTminsd
TO withdraw from pubic life, bot TIE
great "American" or Know Nothing"
party having sprung into existence, he
was once more induced 10 bear ihe
standard Of Democracy and battling for
the principles OF bis party, he was de-
Eeaied. From that time 20 the adoption
ofgthe pgesept Constitutions Of MARYLAND.
perssste6sIy decIiaing aIl nomisatiohs %
Office, including that OF Governor in
1851, he devoted himself exciusiv elg 10
has profession.
During his Congressional career Mr.
Hamilton had associated with him in
the practice OF The Law, the Hon. Rich
ard II. Alvey. now chief judge OF the
Circuit and Judge Of The Court Of APP
peals. AiteT bis retirement from Con-
eress, and up to bis election 10 the Uni
ted States Senate. he applied himself 10
his profession, in the prosecution Of
which be has been signaiIy successful,
and very soon became one Of The Lead
ing members Of the bar Of Western
Maryland, which In point Of ability is
not exceIled BY any in The State. His
practice has Of late years frequently
carried him 70 the CogFt OF Appeals IN
the trial Of important causes, where his
standing as lawyer has been As clear
/ Iysdefined as 81 home. -
0a 1aaaars l17fh. 1898 he Ms elee-
ted by the legislature United States SEN
aior from AfaryIsad Dor a8ix gears from
The Alh Of March, 1869; the vote
being HamiIloa 56 (ihe exact number
oi votes necessary 60 ehoiees) Swasn
IS, Merriek T. His term Of 0Giee ex-
pired in 1875, and in that year he be-
came candidate Tor The mOmiBaii0n ol