USA > Delaware > History of Delaware : 1609-1888 > Part 78
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New Castle
Olay. Jackson.
318
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
stepped up to a fence, and standing against it said, " You can not come further than this; now come one, come all." A line was formed and. in order, thou- sands eagerly grasped his hand. After this reception he was the guest of Chancellor Johns. He passed through Wilmington, February 15, 1848, and was met at the railroad depot by thousands of friends and admirer-, to whom he made a brief addres.
- The people of Delaware expressed their opposition to the removal of the public deposits from the United States Bank by a memorial to Congress signed by one thousand six hundred and tifty citizens of New Castle County, which Mr. Clayton presented on March 3, 1834, praying the restoration of the public deposit to the Bank of the United States, and the permanent establishment of a sound and uniform currency. This memorial called forth a counterblast from the "Jackson " party of New Castle, which was also laid before the Senate reciting the " views and opinions of the Democracy of New Castle County." and approving all the acts of the executive. This last memorial Mr. Naudain assailed in the Senate and denounced it as coming from men who but recently had avowed that "if they thought they had one drop of Democratie blood in their veins, they would have it out at the risk of their lives," and he added that " if this meeting had professed merely to rep- resent the views and opinions of the Jackson party of New Castle, I should not have trespassed upon the time of the Senate. But when such men have pro- fessed to represent the views and opinions of the good old Democracy of New Castle, I feel that the duty I owe to that party with whom it was alway- my pride and pleasure to act, compelled me to break that silence I have hitherto imposed upon myself since I have had the honor to be a member of this body."
The Jackson party of the State nominated for Con- gress James A. Bayard in September, 1534. The election took place in November, and Mr. Milligan, Whig, was elected by 155 majority ; and the Legisla- ture stood, Senate, 6 Whigs and 3 Jackson ; the House, 14 Whigs and 7 Jackson. Hon. John M. Clayton, by letter dated November 24, 1834, an- nounced his purpose of not being again a candidate for the United States Senate, claiming that his oppo- sition to the measures of the administration had been sustained by the people of his State." The Legisla- ture, remonstrating against the intimated purpose of Mr. Clayton to resign from the Senate, emphasized the respect and confidence of the State by re-electing him to the Senate for six years after March 3, Ist5. Notwithstanding the compliment, Mr. Clayton resigned in January, 1856, and Thomas Clayton, chief justice of the Superior Court of Delaware, was appointed to fill the vacancy."
I Ri hard A, Bay ud, who had been elected to the state Si nate in the full of 18 2 for form years, Fisiche] on June 2, 1-1, because har could not support General Jackson's admm-tration.
2 In November, 1st, James \ Bavari was af juanted United States attorney for the district of Delaware, in the place of figurer Read, de- Ceased,
Judge Thomas Clayton at first declined the app ou ment of United State - Senator, but he was inducer withdraw his letter and accept the position. J .... M. Clayton was appointed and accepted the position ot chief justice of Delaware in January, 1837.
Richard fl. Bayard was elected, 17th June, 1 - 5 to the United States Senate, in place of Arnold Nur dain, resigned. The majority for the Harrison el. tors, at the election in the fall of 1836, was five hun dred and eighty three; and the Legislature then elected passed and forwarded to Mr. Bayard a pre- amble and resolutions, requesting the United State- Senate to rescind the expunging resolutions of Mr. Benton. Mr. Bayard. in presenting the resolution- said it would be impracticable, or at least improper. to obey these resolutions, and announced his purpur to persevere in the effort to restore the journal of the Senate to what he believes to be the expression of the public will all over the country.
The political opinions of the people of the State had been gradually undergoing change, and at the elec- tion in November, 1838, the Van Buren ' candidate for Congress, Mr. Robin-on, was elected over Mr Milligan, Whig, by a majority of twenty-three, and the Legislature was Democratie also, and upon assem- bling elected Thomas Jacobs ( Adm.) speaker of the Senate, and also John P. Brinekle (Adm.) Speaker ot the House. Changes were also made in the judi- cary of the State, Richard H. Bayard being appointed, by the Governor, chief justice of the State, to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of Hon. John John M. Clayton ; and the Hon. J. J. Milligan was appointed associate judge, to fill the office vacated by the death of the Hon. John R. Black. The Legis- lature adjourned withont electing a successor to Richard H. Bayard in the United States Senate.
In 1840 the State was entirely free from debt and had 819,222,34 in the treasury and the population was 78,167. The political canvass of that year opened as early as June 20th, when the Administration or Democratic party held its convention and nominated Warren Jeffer-on for Governor; Thomas Robinson, Jr., Representative to Congress; Thomas Jacobs, Nehemiah Clark and Christopher Vandegrift, Presi- dential electors. The Whig convention nominated for Governor, W. B. Cooper, of Sussex ; for Congie --. George B. Rodney and Benjamin Caulk; Peter F. Causey and Dr. H. F. Hall, Presidential electors. 1 very active canvass began and was continued throughout the State; ' the Legislature to be elected
.Mattin Van Buren spent two days in Wilmington in Isgy as the guest od Lant Melanie He was then Sortetary of State in Andrew Many of the Timesury, und Mit , Ist, Secretary of state in the wall diately before his deg some let Europe as muster to England
Stated trong which me spicker was at this point of the lowest legges-por ated urated with wreaths, vawes, fe-tools and pendant strings of Howers in
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319
FROM THE TREATY OF GHENT TO 1.60
having a Governor and two United states Senators to mers' Bank at Dover. This position be retained un- elrit. The result of the election was 5963 votes for Har- til 1829. rison, and $$72 for Van Buren, a majority of Ft for Harrison. The Legislature elected Thomas Clayton And Richard UL. Bayard, both Whigs, to represent the -tate in the U'nited States Senate.
Cornelius P. Comegys (Governor of Delaware 1537 to fstt) was born in Kent County, Maryland, Janu- try 15, 1780. He was the son of Cornelius Comesys, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and a lineal descendant of the first of the name who came to America, settling on the Chester River, within twenty years of the time (1632) of the grant of the province of Maryland made by James 1. to George Calvert, Lord Baltimore.
Early in life, while employed in the counting- house of a Baltimore merchant, Mr. Comegy, made a trip to the island of St. Bartholomew, W. I., as su- pereargo. After he became of age he removed to Delaware and married Ann, daughter of Benjamin Blakiston, of Duck Creek Hundred. Kent County. His wife died in about a year, leaving him a daugh- ter, who survived the mother but a few days. He was next joined in wedlock to Ruhamah, the eldest daughter of John and Hannah Marim, near Dover, Kent County, Delaware. At the close of 1804 he went to Cherbourg, which is a few miles from Dover, and the family-seat of the Marims. Here for thir- teen years he profitably farmed an estate of which himself and wife had become owners.
In the war with Great Britain he served in the State troops, becoming, eventually, a lientenant-colo- nel. When peace was proclaimed, in 1815, he became an agent for the miller‹ on the Brandywine to pur- chase grain, and while so employed he risked his means in a personal venture of wheat and suffered an unfortunate loss, from which he never peenniarily entirely recovered. He now became engaged in mer- eantile business, and had an interest in vessels trad- ing to Philadelphia. At this time he was also carry- ing on farming, working the land with some negroes he owned, together with hired labor. At this period he was elected a director of the Commercial Bank of Delaware, whose principal business was at Smyrna. In 1811 he was chosen a member of the House of Representatives of the State. Subsequently he was elected Speaker of that body. For four successive years he served as Speaker at every session. He was one of the committee to carry into effect the resolu- tion of the Legislature presenting Captain Jaco !. Jones with a piece of silver plate. He was also upon the committee to carry out the resolution- of the Legis- lature in the case of Commodore MeDonough, after the victory over the British on Lake Champlain. In January, ISIS, he was elected cashier of the Far- were present to hear him. When he closed his speech " the air was rent with the shouts of the mighty compour -. " John M. Clayton, " pela- ware's favorite son," spoke next. Dr. Arnold Naudait, United States Senator from that to love, was president of the meeting. Webster dine at the Delaware House, the " Tippecanoe headquarters, ' then kept by Brooke T. Turner, an Englishbin, and a noted Whig. In the evening h. was the guest of John M. Claylon.
Mr. Comegy, wa- ar ardent politician, and when his party mot a defeni by the election of General Jackean over John quincy Adams, he returned to his farm at Cherboury. He was at this time chosen one of the State directory of the Farmers' Bank, and at the next legislative session he was a member of the House. He held the other of State treasurer from 120 to 1885. In iste his name was used in the convention tor the nommeation for Governor; but Dr. A-moll Naudeia received the nomination, who, however, was defeated by Major Bennett, a Dem- oerat.
Four years later Mir. Cemegys was elected Gov- ernor of Delaware on the Whig ticket.
After his official life be carried on the business of farming. At length financial embarras-ments closed around him, and he was compelled to surrender all his property io his creditor -. He died at Dover, January 27, 1851, at seventy-one years of age.
Governor Comegys was a man of profuse hospi- tality and of a social disposition. Generous to a fault, he aided all who made demands on his charity. A family of eight children survived him, six of whom are still living, viz. :
Hon. Joseph P. Comegys. LL.D., chief justice of Delaware; Cornelius G. Comegys, M.D., Cincinnati, Ohio; Benjamin B. Comegys, president of the Phila- delphia National Bank ; John M. Comegys, M.D., St. Albans, Vt .; and two daughters .- Mary Eliza- beth, widow of Dr. Benjamin F. Chatham, and Maria Comegys
The message of Governor Comegys referred chiefly to local affairs, and particularly to the defective condi- tion of common schools throughout the State, recom- mending the appointment of a general superintendent, and the modification of the law imposing the school- tax ; thepenal code was defective, asmany ofits punish- ments were severe beyond the modes and feelings of the age, and that the exce -- ive vigor of the law defeated its own ends, through the necessary interposition of the pardoning power or the unwillingness of juries to conviet. The Governor also called the attention of the Legislature to the French spoliation cases, saying that "this claim is preferred against the United States on the well-known Constitutional principle that pri- vate property should not be taken for public uses without just compensation," and urging that the favor- able consideration of the claim be brought by the Legislature before Congress. The Legislature elected at its session in ISI, W. B. Cooper, Governor, who in his inaugural message called attention to the fact that the State had never known what a State debt is from any experience of its own ; that she had collected but one small tax since the adoption of her amended Constitution and had a surplus of more than a half million dollars in her treasury.
The legislation of Congress in regard to banks, refusing to re-charter the banks in the District of
320
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
Columbia, called forth from the Legislature of the State resolution, which, ou March 6, I> 11, were pre- sented to the United States Senate by Mr. Clayton, to the following effect : That the refu-al of Congress to re-charter the banks of the District of Columbia was unwise and oppressive; that they are unwilling to believe, with the citizens of Washington and George- town, that their only chance for good goverment and prosperity rest- in a retrocession of the territory to Maryland, and confidently hope that the next, it not the present, Congress will grant a redress of their grievances ; that the people of the District of Colum- bia ought to be represented in Congress.
The State was this year placed in the Fourth Judicial District of the United States Courts.
The Legislature, in order to relieve the banks of the State, voluntarily suspended the provisions of the bank charters of the State requiring them to pay twelve per cent. interest for refusing to pay their notes in specie.
The surplus of the State this year was one million and a half of dollars.
The Governor appointed James Booth, Esq., of New Castle County, chief justice of the State, in lieu of the Hon. Richard II. Bayard, resigned; and in compliance with the requisitions of a law passed at the late session of the Legislature. the Governor appointed L. L. Lyons commissioner of wrecks, or wreck-master, for Su-sex County.1
In 1842 the demand for real estate continued very good throughout the State. " Elleslie," the estate of the late Archibald Hamilton, was sold to a gentleman from Philadelphia for $10,500. That property is on the Delaware River, two and a half miles above Wil- mington, and contained less than two hundred acres.
The anditor's account presented to the Legislature showed the amount in the State Treasury to be 8518,693.92, and the estimate for expenses for the next year was $16,414, and the State revenue for the same time $23,810.
The banks of the State resumed the payment of specie without any dithenlty, and their ability and eredit was found not to have been impaired by the legislative action. The Wilmington facette, remark- ing on this subject, said : " Without making preten- sions to vast abilities and profound sagacity, the men who make our laws and protect the interests of the State have proved themselves gifted with a wisdom that has led them forth in a path of safety, economy and prosperity. For a State, in these times of depres- sion and embarrassment, to be not only out of debt, but to have half a million dollars surplus, is some- thing to boast of; and we do feel a pride when we consider the safe and unburdened condition of Del- aware."
The political campaign of 1842 opened on July 5th, with the Whig Convention of the State at Dover, Dr. William Burton, of Kent County, presiding. George B. Rodney, then Representative in Congress, was re-
nominated for Congress, and a series of resolution condemning the course of President Tyler, nomna ing Henry Clay for President, recommending Midaa ton Clayton, of Delaware, for Vice-President, 5: approving the distribution of the proceeds of th .. public lands, and other Whig measures. The Pero crats nominated W. H. Jones for Congress. '1) contest was so well conducted that the result w. only ascertained by the official count-Mr. Rodu receiving 5167 votes and Mr. Jones 5458-a majorny of only 9.
The Legislature assembled on the 3d of January 1848, and organized by the choice of Presley Spruance. President of the Senate, and William O. Redden, Speaker of the House. Governor William B. Cooper in his message, congratulates the State that he finances are free from embarrassment, and the surplu- remained undiminished, while every demand which had been made on the Treasury had been promptly discharged. The currency, though reduced, was per- Jectly sound; the eredit remained unimpaired, and no imputation or suspicion of fraud or publie dishonor rested on the fair fame of the Commonwealth ; while every consideration conspired to prove that the peo- ple of the State, as far as their condition was affected by the action of the State Government, were still pre- eminently prosperous and happy.
During the year a memorial to Congress from the people of the State was prepared in favor of an issue of 8200,000,000 of government stoek, which Mr Bayard presented to the Senate on February 17th.
The Democratie party in the State, in 1844, de- elined sending delegates to the National Convention of the party in Baltimore, but William Thorp of Kent was nominated for Governor, and Edward Wootten of Sussex for Congress, who afterwards de- clined ; and an electoral ticket was nominated, and the national administration of Mr. Van Buren indorsell.
The total valuation of property on the tax-list was $25,324,718 ; the annual tax, $70,092; scholar> in public schools, 11,876; balance in treasury, $516,182. The State was free of debt, and the population numbered 78, 107. The election in the fall for Presi- dent gave the Whig electoral ticket 287 majority and Stockton, Whig, was elected Governor over Thorp, Democrat, by 46. The Legislature was also carrot by the Whigs, securing the election of a Whig to the United States Senate. There were at this time less than three thousand slaves in the State, and it was stated at an anti-slavery meeting in Wilmington that three-fourths of the people were ready to sign petitions for immediate emancipation, without com- pensation.
The Hon. Jolin MI. Clayton was re-elected to the United States Senate, in place of Richard 11. Bay- ard, by a vote of nineteen to ten tor Martin W. Bates. Joint resolutions were passed by the Legis- lature of 1545 against the annexation of Texas, and presented to the Senate by Mr. Clayton at the second session of the Twenty-eighth Cougres ..
I CHARLES DICKENS, the chetingnished novelist, when on his visit to America, stopped for a few hours in Wilanngton on March 11, 1:41.
321
FROM THE TREATY OF GHENT TO 1860.
The Pennsylvania newspaper describes the con- election, but in the Legislature the Whigs had a ma- Jition of the State in 1845 as most excellent in jority, and secured the election of a United States Senator in the place of Thomas Clayton, whose term expired March 3, 1847. every respect, that rapid and very great improve- ment had taken place in every section, and that "the use of lime and manure is what has mostly ef- The Secretary of War, on May 10, 1846, by direc- tion of the President, called for volunteers to prose- cute the war against Mexico. of which three hundred and ninety was the number required from Delaware. At that date the revenue cutter " Forward," Captain Henry B. Nones, commander, with Lieutenant John MeGowan, Charles W. Bennett, Richard S. Jones, Pilot Joseph Davis and forty-five seamen, shipped principally in the State, lay in the harbor of Wil- mington. On May 21st sealed orders were received to proceed at once to the Gulf of Mexico, which were promptly complied with, and the " Forward" arrived at the seat of war in time to participate in the attack on Alvarado, and in the capture of To- footed the beneficial change in the agricultural ap- prarance of those counties, Immense quantities of this fertilizer are imported from New York and Pennsylvania as well as burnt in the State. Frum Delaware City to Cantwell's Bridge, and South through the whole country is in a state of high cultivation. In the vicinity of Smyrna, and back of it for many miles, reaching into the forests along the roads towards Dover and Leipsie, fine fields of clover and heavy corn have taken the place of stunted wild grass and corn producing little else than nubbins. Around Leipsie, on Raymond's and Little Creeks, the same change has been eflected, as well as around Dover and Camden. Occasionally is seen a green spot rising toward Milford, Milton or Lewistown. But as yet the spirit of improvement has not extended into Sussex. But in Kent it is everywhere manifested. The crop of wheat at the late harvest throughout the State was large and of good quality, and perhaps it never yielded so abund- ant a erop of corn as the present. The value of land has risen in Kent and New Castle very considerably, and we are rather surprised to hear farmers selling tracts at fifty dollars an acre and upwards, that could have been bought some years ago for ten. We miss- ed from many places forests of oak and hickory and found corn in their place. We ineline to think such changes will not only be productive in a pecuniary point of view, but add to its salubrity. There is not much difference in the appearance of the villages compared with the period of which we speak. Smyrna has improved ; Dover has grown; Milford, Milton, Lewistown, little or none; Cantwell's Bridge and Leipsie, however, have grown materially in CAPTAIN HENRY B. NONES. population and activity. On the whole, the ardent spirit of agricultural improvement was pleasing to us, and the good work has already strengthened the hand of our gallant little neighbor. Long may she prosper and be proud of her agricultural, mechanical and commercial prosperity."
The present greatest production of the State-the peach crop-was, in 1845, just beginning to develop the capacity of the State in that direction. Major Reybold sent in that year, in one day, 5420 basket- of peaches, and up to September Ist had sent off 16.000 baskets, while the family had to that date shipped over 50,000 baskets.
In 1846 the " Loco" or Democratie party nomi- nated for Governor, William Thorp of Kent, and John I. Dilworth of New Castle, for Congress.
The Whigs nominated Peter F. Cau-ey of Kent. for Governor. Mr. Thorp was elected Governor, and Mr. Houston to Congre-s, the former by one hundred and seventy-five majority and the latter by ninety- eight. Thus each party was triumphant in a State 21
baseo. Captain Nones' gallantry and seamanship received the commendation of Commodore Perry, who wrote : " I am gratified in bearing witness to the valuable services of the Revenue Schooner 'For- ward' in command of Captain Nones, and the skill and gallantry of his offieers and men." Remaining on duty in the Gulf during the year, Captain Nones returned in the "Forward " to Wilmington, arriving on May 22, 1847, after the absence of exactly one year. The vessel showed many marks and hard knocks received in the engagements in which she had participated. Her commander was welcomed home by many friends. The "Forward" was dis- mantled and repaired at the oldl wharf, and com- pleted August 3 of the same year. John Lund, Samuel Wade and Andrew Fulmede, now (1897) re- siding in Wilmington, were with Captain Nones on the " Forward." 1
1 Henry B. Nones, captain I'nited States Revenue Marine, the son of a & blier of the American k Solution, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in I> 4. He served in the Florida War, 1-45, and commanded the cutter
322
HISTORY OF DELAWARE.
A recruiting office for the regular army was opened at the Swan Hotel, now the Gibson House, on Fourth Street, January 26, 1847. Captain Chaytor the same day began to raise a military company in Wilming- ton. After having recruited fifteen men in the city, of whom Joseph S. Wheeler, now (1s -7) a merchant tailor in the city, was one, they weretransferred to Com- pany E, of the Eleventh Regiment of United States Infantry, then in Philadelphia. This company was commanded by Captain Pemberton Wardell.
The company, being now full, on the 8th of April started for Mexico. They went by cars to Johnstown, Pennsylvania (then the limit of the railroad line), by canal to Pittsburgh, by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and on a sailing vessel to the Island of Brazos. From thence they proceeded to Point Isabel and to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and there took a steamer for Camp Palo Alto, where they joined the Eleventh Regiment, under command of Colonel Ramsay.
In the mean time ('aptain Chaytor, who was a phy- sician by profession, continued recruiting men for the service, and on May 13, 1847, had a company of eighty officers and men. They received orders to at once proceed to Vera Cruz. George W. Chaytor was captain ; Joseph S. Hedges, first lieutenant; Columbus P. Evans, second lieutenant. They marched from Wilmington to New Castle, and from there were transported by the Union Steamboat Line to Fort McHenry, at Baltimore, and from thence conveyed to Vera Cruz by a steamship in waiting for them. One month later they landed in Mexico. Captain Chaytor immediately returned on a "sick leave," and never went back to his company. Though he did not resign, the command of the company devolved upon Lieutenant Hedges first, and afterward upon Lient. Evan4. This company was also assigned to the "Forward," as we have stated, in the Mexican War, being attached to Commodore Conuer's squadron. He participated in the operations of the navy and gained particular distinction in the action at Toba-co. He was also actively engaged in the Civil War He died at Wilmington, Angust 25, 1868.
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