The
Vol. III.
No. ii.
Green
BOSTON.
Bag.
November, 1891.
THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY. By John Whitehead, Esq. IV. TO EL PARKER had in his lifetime a national reputation, not as a lawyer, nor as a jurist, but as a politician and pa triot. It will be impossible, in speaking of him, to overlook his political record, although, presumably, these sketches refer only to those of whom they treat as judges. But Joel Parker's life was so important in its public aspects, not only as connected with New Jersey, but also with the Republic, that violence would be done to his memory if nothing were said about his relations, politi cally, to State and country. He was born in 1816 in Freehold Town ship, Monmouth County, from a family long known in the history of that county. His an cestors were among the men who aided their country in Revolutionary times, at the risk of their lives and with the loss of property. His father was an honored citizen of Monmouth, having filled many official positions; and his grandfather was an officer in the Continental army, and served with distinction. Like many other eminent Jerseymen, young Parker was educated at the Academy at Lawrenceville. He graduated from Princeton in 1839, and then became a student-at-law in the office of Henry W. Green, afterwards Chief-Justice and Chancellor, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He opened an office immediately after being licensed, in his native place, and ever afterwards resided there. Like most other young attorneys, he was led by a nat ural ambition towards a political life, and until he was seated on the bench, always 64
seemed to have a predilection for politics. But with him this taste did not arise from a grovelling greed for office, but it was the outcome of a high-toned, noble-souled pa triotism. He often declined office, much oftener than he sought it; in fact, office sought him, he never solicited it. In 1844 he threw himself with all the energy of his determined nature into the presidential contest, and being an attractive speaker was in great demand at political meetings. In 1847 he was elected to the Assembly, where, although he was the young est member in the House, the position of leader of his political party was unanimously conceded to him. It was during this session of the Legislature that he distinguished him self by his efforts to equalize taxation by the passage of a law taxing personal as well as real estate. Whatever may be said of the measure, and its merits are certainly debatable, it is undoubted that the law could not have been passed but for his persistent exertions. At the expiration of his term he refused a nomination to the State Senate, and turned his attention to the care of his rapidly in creasing practice. In 1852 he was appointed Prosecutor of the Pleas for Monmouth County. During his term of office his ability to advise and ap pear for the State was fully tested. A mur der of unusual atrocity was committed; James P. Donnelly, a young man well connected, was suspected as the murderer, was indicted and tried. His relatives and friends were
