New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-02
SENATORIAL FAMILIES.
HONORS THAT HAVE DESCENDED FROM
FATHER TO SON, AND FURTHER.
GENEALOGICAL INQUIRY THAT COVERS ALMOST
THE NATIONS WHOLE HIsTORY-A DIS
JUNCTION EOR PRINCETON.

TINcTroN FOR PRINCETON
I'm this country. where distinction Is won by indi-
vidual worth rather than by wealth or birth. It IL
rather striking fact that In all legislative historI
only five instances where the honor or seat
In the United States Senate has descended In the
same family from generation to generation said
Attorney General Stockton Of New-Jersey. some
time ago. speaking OF the death OF the late Senator
Co,Quitt, OF Georgia.
Following up the suggestion in these words. many
facts were brought to light not generally known.
but interesting. nevertheless. to an explorer OF the
bypaths OF history Tho families thus honored by
their fellow-ctzens the Bayards. OF Delaware:
the Camerons. OF Pennsylvania the ColQutts, OF
Georgia, and the Frelnghuysens and Stocktons OF
New-Jersey. With the Stocktons. the descent has
been longest and most direct. Richard Stockton was
a member OF the Continental Congress, and while so
serving signed the immortal Declaration. His son
Richard served in the United States Senate from
1893 until 1885, his grandson the celebrated Commo-
dore Robert Stockton OF 1872 served in like capacity
from 1851 until 1853 and his great-grandson. John r.
Stockton. now Attorney-General Of New-Jersey, was
elected Senator In ls6, and again in 1862
The Bayards also can boast OF four Senatorial rep
resentatves although the descent has not been ell
t.rely from father James A., his sons James
A. and Richard H.. and his grandson. Thomas F..
the present Ambassador to England. have all had
In the Senate
Three Frellnghuysens have been Senator's: FRED
srck his son Theodore. and his grandson, Frederick
Theodore With the Coquitts and Camerons the or
nce has descended from father 10 son.
Should the historian undertake to sketch the ca
reers OF these fifteen men, he would be compelled
TO discuss almost the entire history OF the Govern.
ment for Including the time they served as men,
bers Of the House OF Representatives., there are
only eighteen years in the history OF the country
when the name OF some one OF them does not appear
on the National legislative rolls and in almost all OF
heir raj yes
try or State in other high offices OF trust. The ag-
gregate of their Congressional careers Including
Richard Stocktons Continental services IL 10y years.
Sixty Of these belong TO the Bayards 40 to the cam
erons 20 each 10 the Coqu.tts and Stocktons ana ~
to the Frelinghuysens. Simon Cameron served longer
than any other indivdual-2l years: but II his son.
James Donald. completes his term. he Will take first
pace with a record Of q years. Frederick Freling-
huysen and K +. Stockton tie for the shortest tern
each having served but three years Their legislative
career-under the Constitution-began with the be-
ginning OF Washingtons second term as President
I'm 1893 when New-Jersey sent Frederick Frelinghuy-
sen the Senate. He gave place in 1896 to Richard
Stockton %. and in 1871 James A. Bayard. the
elder began his legislative career In the House. IL
was he who with Hamilton, led the attack on
Burr's Presidential ambition. in 1901 although he
was college mate OF Burrs and personal friend.
and every effort made 20 persuade him TO oppose
Jefferson In 1904 he was elected Senator and served
until 1873 when he withdrew Richard Stoc.'on.
3D. began his term Representative. 1t was during
his career IN the House that Stockton distinguished
himself by bitter attack on free trade, wnich ne
denounced as 'un-Amerlcan and suicidal
From 1916 until 1923 there no representative OF
any OF these families in either House. but then the
broken chain began again, and has continued until
the present day with the exception OF but single
year The Coquitts began their service in 1893. the
Camerons-the latest comers-in lsi5 ana OFTEN q
member of one OF the great families had some MEM
never all appeared together. however. although In
1868 there near approach to IT, when freder-
lex Theodore Freinghuysen and John r. stockton
were the New-Jersey Senators. Simon Cameron
came from Pennsylvania and Delaware sent James
A. and Thomas F. Bayard. This latter indeed, Is the
only instance in the Nations history where TWO
members OF the same family together served their
country In such a capacity. James A., the rather
was selected 10 I'LL unexpred term, and MS son
Thomas F. at the :ime began his hrst SIX
years Senator
Remarkable indeed has been the pubic career Of
those five families nor has II been confined 10 legis-
la,tve action alone In almost field or peace
ful and warl.ke achievement have they been prom'-
nent and almost every page OF thelr country
history have their names been written. James A.
Rayard Richard Henry Bayard and John r STOCK
ton have been foreign Ministers. +. T. Frelnshuy-
con was nominated as Minister TO England ana
was confirmed by the Senate. but declined the ohce'
and Thomas F. Bayard is the present Ampassaaor
az the Court OF ST. James. Frederick Freihghuysen
and Richard Stockton were soldiers OF l''o ana
bullet from Frelnghuysen's pistol put an end 10
the life Of the hated Hessian commander Co'onel
Rail- at the capture OF Trenton In IN. Robert r.
Stockton won National fame as a commodore ana
during the Civil War a. II. Colquitt was south
brigadier -.
simon Cameron and his son Donald were ootn
Secretaries OF War. the former under Lincoln the
latter under Grant. Frederick T. Freinghuysen was
Ar,hurs Secretary OF State. and r. f. stockton de-
cIined the portfolio OF the Navy. +. 7. Frelinghuy-
sen and John F. Stockton have been Attorneys-Gen-
era OF NewJersey. and the former was the nee
for the Presidency. They have laid hold on tn, me
Judges ermine. too and the scholars cap; as Wei
as the soldiers sword and the statesman gown TS,
Richard Stockton. LIST. was member OF the C soIo
NAL Council and was e ssS,si V Wss
Justice OF the Supreme Court OF Georgia and Fred
ss ., and "a css
regards Political aiat0n Inc families Ers, ARE
SsSss sdcs and
pronounced were the arstoerac eanngs OF Ric en-
Hamilton tha: he earned the nickname OF the
Duke His policy. indeed cos, him his ssnasosia
his term expired. was strongly Democratic, and ne
wisely declined renominaton His son and p srandd.
also Joined that party s when the the T saron 81
Wings and then Republicans ana frederlS TICK
cast Of res n ire The
outs were both Democratic after the old fashioned
southern school, and the Camerons were intense he-
publicans. 800 A.,
Widely different they are in the ways they
have trodden 20 fame In the States from when
they came. and the ideas they held on the great
National questions with which they have been iden-
titled since the foundation OF the Government there
Is one bond Of union between them all. the tie or
education. OF the fifteen men under discussion.
thirteen been college bred and all OF these re-
ceivA their education In New-Jersey all but one at
Princeton College. Richard stockton. LIST, was grad
VA ted IN the first class that received degrees from
that venerable insttuion-that OF l'S-and was the
only OF this class who did not enter the minis
try. His son Richard In the class OF l1s his
grandson Robert F. In that OF lsl2. and his great
grandson received his degree In 1913 James A. Bay
ard completed his education at old Nassau IN IDA.
and Ike a loyal OF his alma mater. sent both
his there Richard II. being In "A ana James
A. r.. In 'l5 W. T. Coauitt came from Georgia
TO Jersey for his educational training joining Prince
toms class Of 81 and Alfred H.. his SON was s grad,
Stockton. '43. James d. Cameron was graduated In
1852 -.
Frederick Frelnghuysen studied under the old
elms about North College while the British and