identified with the Republican party, finally Southard for the acquisition of an excellent became attached to the Democratic organi education. He was prepared for college at zation, and in the end supported Andrew one of the very best academies in the State, Jackson. He was offered the position of and under the tuition of a thorough and ex Minister to Russia, but declined the ap perienced instructor. Here he met Theodore pointment, and in 1834 became a member of Frelinghuysen, his life-long friend, Joseph General Jackson's Cabinet, as Secretary of R. Ingersoll, and Philip Lindsley, who be the Navy. In 1840 he was made Judge of came eminent men in their different profes the District Court of the United States, for sions. At a very early age he entered Prince New Jersey, in the place of Judge Rossell, ton College, where he again met his academic who had just died. He held the office about friends. He graduated when only a little six months. He was offered the position of more than seventeen years old. He was Reporter of the Supreme Court, but declined then obliged to face the stern realities of life it. There are no reports of his decisions unassisted by his father's purse. Very soon while on the bench. He was not fond of after leaving college he taught a school at the profession, and it is not probable that .Mendham in his native State, and in his he exhibited any great proficiency in legal nineteenth year made his way to Virginia, knowledge; but he was an able man, and and became a tutor in the family of Col. made an impartial and discreet judge. He John Taliaferro, a wealthy planter, living in was of very courtly manners, a gentleman of Prince George County. Here he was treated the olden time. He never married, and left as a member of the family, and introduced to a large fortune to his relatives, some of whom a refined and cultured society, in which he are now occupying and owning his valuable met James Madison, the future President of property at Succasunna. His death occurred the United States, for whom he had a high in 1853, when he was eighty-two years old. admiration. Here, too, he found the lady Samuel L. Southard was a representative whom he afterward married. While en Jerseyman of the better class of politicians. gaged in his duties as tutor, he studied law, His position in the political circles of the and in 1809 was licensed by the Virginia courts. He returned to New Jersey, and ir. Republic was so pronounced, and his utter ances in public life were so brilliant, that it 1811 was licensed by the Supreme Court as is frequently forgotten that he was ever an attorney-at-law. He began the practice Governor and Chancellor or Judge. His of his profession at Flemington, in Hunter father before him was a remarkable man, — don County. His talents and industry soon at first but a common day-laborer; but secured a large clientage, and he became one rising by the sheer force of his native ability of the leading lawyers in West New Jer sey. He had not been long in Flemington from his low condition in life, he filled suc cessively the offices of Justice of the Peace, before he was appointed Prosecutor of the member of the Assembly, and finally became Pleas for Hunterdon. a Representative in Congress, where he met In 18 1 3 the Legislature of New Jersey his more distinguished son, then a Senator passed a statute which provided that Aaron from New Jersey, both being members of the Ogden and Daniel Dod should be vested joint committee which reported the Missouri with the exclusive privilege of using the Compromise. The father was a Representa waters of New Jersey for steamboats pass tive in Congress for sixteen years, — perhaps, ing between that State and New York. the longest time of service in that position This statute was intended as a check to an ever given by any citizen from New Jersey. act which had been passed by the State of Notwithstanding his father's poverty the New York, providing that the first person who very best opportunities were afforded to young should construct a steamboat capable of a cer
