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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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УЛАННІЗ ЗУВИЯ УТИЦОВ ИЗЦИЯ
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GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
The Author's Autograph Edition of "Governors of Maryland," limited to 200 numbered copies, was distributed as follows:
1. Alameda Free Library.
2. American Antiquarian Society.
3. Charles M. Andrews.
4. John W. Avirett.
5. Mrs. E. Buchholz.
6. Mrs. N. G. Buchholz.
59. 60.
Eichelberger Book Co.
8. Baker and Taylor Co.
9.
Baltimore American.
61. 62.
10. Baltimore City College.
63.
11. J. T. M. Barnes. 12. Charles J. Bonaparte.
64.
13.
Carter Lee Bowie.
68. Evening News (Baltimore).
69. Executive Mansion Library.
16. Frank Brown. Mrs. John Marshall Brown.
70.
Executive Office Library. Frederick W. Feldner.
17. 18. W. W. Brown. 19. W. Cabell Bruce.
71.
72. Thomas Fell.
20. John Stewart Bryan.
21. James A. Buchanan.
John Lee Carroll.
Frank A. Furst.
J. M. Gambrill.
Catholic University of America. S. C. Chew. Chicago Public Library.
79.
80. Georgetown College (Ethelbert Mor- gan Fund).
81.
J. Cardinal Gibbons.
82. W. Hopper Gibson.
83. Daniel C. Gilman.
84. A. S. Goldsborough.
85. John C. Groome.
86. Hagerstown Mail.
87. A. B. Hagner.
88. Mrs. William T. Hamilton.
89.
James D. Hamill.
90. Harford County Historical Society.
91. William M. Hayden.
92. Thomas G. Hayes.
93. J. Winfield Henry.
94.
Joshua W. Hering. H. G. Hilken.
95.
96. Francis T. Homer.
97. John Hood.
98. P. Lesley Hopper.
Henry M. Hurd.
99. 100. Alpheus Hyatt.
101. W. M. Isaac.
102. Mrs. E. Austin Jenkins.
103. Michael Jenkins.
104. Johns Hopkins University (Li- brary).
105. Spencer C. Jones.
32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. J
Eichelberger Book Co.
75. 76. 77. 78. Stephen Warfield Gambrill. G- William J. Gascoyne.
22. 23. 24. 25. 26. W. B. Clarke Co. 27. Cleveland Public Library. 28. Congressional Library. 29. Congressional Library. 30. Connecticut State Library.
31. Court of Appeals (Maryland).
Wilbur F. Coyle (Baltimore City Library ). Mrs. Thomas Cradock.
Walter I. Dawkins.
Brother Denis (Calvert HallCollege). Alfred R. L. Dohme.
73. John D. Ford.
74. Frederick News.
14. 15. L. Tierman Brien.
65. 66. 67. Mrs. Theodore H. Ellis.
A. Hunter Boyd.
54. 55. 56. 57. 58.
7. William B. Baker.
iv
DISTRIBUTION OF AUTOGRAPH EDITION
106. B. P. Keating, Jr.
153. George F. Sloan.
154. W. W. Spence.
107. Land Commissioner's Office (Mary- land).
155. J. Nevitt Steele.
108. Land Commissioner's Office (Mary- land).
157. The Sun (Baltimore).
109. H. Fillmore Lankford.
110. Ferdinand C. Latrobe.
161. De Courcy W. Thom.
162. De Courcy W. Thom.
163. Armstrong Thomas.
115. Miss Esther Polk Lowe.
164. Douglas H. Thomas.
116.
Loyola College.
165.
James Walter Thomas.
117.
G. A. Lyon, Jr.
166.
Oswald Tilghman.
118. Maryland Agricultural College.
167.
E. Stanley Toadvin.
119. Maryland Historical Society.
168.
Murray Vandiver.
120.
Edward P. McAdams.
169. Edwin Warfield.
121. William W. McIntire.
170. Edwin Warfield, Jr.
122. Henry L. Mencken.
171.
John Warfield.
123.
J. William Middendorf.
172.
Washington College Cain ).
(James W.
124. Minnesota Historical Society.
173.
Washington County Free Library.
126. John L. V. Murphy.
127.
John G. Murray.
176.
J. S. T. Waters.
129. New York Times.
177.
Henry Watterson.
130. The Newberry Library.
178.
Rowland Watts.
131. H. T. Newcomb.
132. Nunn & Co.
180.
George L. Wellington.
134.
E. B. Passano.
182.
Wheeling Register.
135.
Peabody Institute (Library).
136.
James A. Pearce.
184.
William Pinkney Whyte.
138.
William C. Pennington.
186.
139.
W. J. Price, Jr.
187.
140.
Public Library of Cincinnati.
188.
141.
Public Library (Detroit, Mich.)
189.
142.
Public Library (St. Paul, Minn.)
190. 191.
144.
J. Wirt Randall.
192.
145.
Isidor Rayner.
193.
146.
John R. T. Reeves.
194.
147.
Ira Remsen.
195.
148. Mrs. John Ridgely of H.
196. Samuel M. Wilson.
149. John C. Rose.
197. Woman's College (Library.)
150. Raphael T. Semmes.
198. William Woodward.
151. J. H. K. Shannahan, Jr.
199. William H. Wootton.
152. Mrs. Rebecca Lloyd Post Shippen.
200. John D. Worthington.
137.
Josias Pennington.
185.
Allen S. Will.
Williams and Wilkins Company.
143.
Public Library of the City of Boston.
179.
Max Ways .
133. Albert S. J. Owens.
174.
Washington Post.
175. Francis E. Waters.
128. J. S. Myers.
159. F. T. Tagg.
111. Thomas Leaming.
160. Hattersly W. Talbott.
112. Peter Leary, Jr.
113. Guy Carleton Lee.
114. Henry Lloyd.
156. Edwin J. Stevens.
158. Sherlock Swann.
125. W. W. Montgomery, Jr.
181. James R. Wheeler.
183. William Pinkney Whyte.
COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY H. E. BUCHHOLZ.
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND" FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE YEAR 1908
HEINRICH EWALD BUCHHOLZ
ИОСИНОЙ МАМОНТ
SECOND EDITION.
BALTIMORE WILLIAMS & WILKINS COMPANY 1908
1
THOMAS JOHNSON 1777-1779
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
FROM THE REVOLUTION TO THE YEAR 1908
BY
HEINRICH EWALD BUCHHOLZ
SECOND EDITION
BALTIMORE WILLIAMS & WILKINS COMPANY 1908
Copyright, 1906 By H. E. BUCHHOLZ
Copyright, 1907 By H. E. BUCHHOLZ
Copyright, 1908 By H. E. BUCHHOLZ
WAVERLY PRESS BALTIMORE
1369799
PREFACE
Few writers of historical books can afford to omit the preface. This time-honored personal introduction of a work by the author has a distinct mission to perform, and its non-performance imperils the intelligence of the reception that will be given the volume. There is a certain conven- tional programme gone through by the maker of serious books. His text in manuscript is sent to the printer, who puts it into type, and proofs of the matter so set are sent back to the writer. After the author has read these proofs he undertakes to pen last of all the opening pages of his book-in short, he writes a preface in which he endeavors to tell, not what is in the book, but what he meant to put there. Because of this preface, the critic-whois the only man called upon to fathom the meaning of the book- is saved the necessity of reading the text proper. Thus it will readily be seen that the wise historical writer by lightening the burden of his critic very discreetly prejudices that judge in his favor.
And even the author of "Governors of Maryland" had a purpose in mind when he started upon the work which here appears. He undertook to write a series of intimate and critical sketches of Maryland's state governors. He aimed to paint as a background for each biography some phase of the political, economic or social life of the commonwealth contemporaneous with the particular character studied, and pertinent to a full understanding of this character's public career. He knew, of course, that in a local field of the sort he had chosen he would be subjected to the special plead-
viii
PREFACE
ings, the biased assertions, and the unreasonable protests of many descendants of Marylanders falling under the scope of his book, and he resolved to hear and weigh their claims, but to hold nothing sacred in his final conclusions but the truth. Out of these rather pretentious aims grew this simple volume.
One distinction, at least, must be given this work among the historical volumes dealing with Maryland subjects; its author purposely refrains from naming in his preface those who aided him in his work; he also willfully neglects to supply a list of his authorities. Ungrateful, indeed, would be the author were he here to print the names of those kindly persons who have made easy his search for data, since by so doing he would invite other writers to impose upon their kindness. As to sources-too often the historical writer is tempted to copy a page or two or three of some bibliography and offer it as his authorities. But the writer of this work will not hold any other author or any book responsible for his statements or misstatements, for he has drawn his data not only from books, but newspapers, legislative journals, letters, private diaries, his own imagina- tion and, in a few isolated cases, the gossip of old women.
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations xiii
I Thomas Johnson. I
II Thomas Sim Lee. 9
III William Paca 14
IV William Smallwood. 20
V John Eager Howard.
26 32
VI George Plater.
VII John Hoskins Stone. 36
VIII John Henry. 41
IX Benjamin Ogle. 46
X John Francis Mercer 51
XII Robert Wright.
XI Robert Bowie 57 64 70 75
XIII Edward Lloyd.
XIV Levin Winder.
XV Charles Carnan Ridgely.
8I
XVI Charles Goldsborough.
86
XVII Samuel Sprigg
9I
XVIII Samuel Stevens, Jr.
95
XIX Joseph Kent. 99
XX Daniel Martin. 104
XXI Thomas King Carroll. 109 XXII George Howard II4
XXIII James Thomas 119 XXIV Thomas Ward Veazey 124 XXV William Grason 130
XXVI Francis Thomas. I 36
XXVII Thomas George Pratt. I44
XXVIII Philip Francis Thomas. 150 XXIX Enoch Louis Lowe. 158 XXX Thomas Watkins Ligon. 165
XXXI Thomas Holliday Hicks. I71
XXXII Augustus Williamson Bradford. 178 XXXIII Thomas Swann. 184
X
CONTENTS
XXXIV Oden Bowie. 192
XXXV William Pinkney Whyte. 198
XXXVI James Black Groome.
XXXVII John Lee Carroll. 207
2I3
XXXVIII William Thomas Hamilton 22I
XXXIX Robert Milligan McLane. 228
XL Henry Lloyd.
2 35
XLI Elihu Emory Jackson
XLII Frank Brown.
248
XLIII Lloyd Lowndes.
255
XLIV John Walter Smith 261
XLV Edwin Warfield. 268
XLVI Austin Lane Crothers 276
Appendix A Gubernatorial Elections in Maryland. 28I
Appendix B Administrations in Maryland , 1777-1908 284
242
Appendix C Biographical Chart of Governors 286
Index. 289
ILLUSTRATIONS
Thomas Johnson frontispiece
Facing page
Needwood, Thomas Sim Lee's Home
9
William Paca.
I4
William Smallwood.
20 John Eager Howard.
26 George Plater
John Hoskins Stone
John Henry Monument, Cambridge, Md.
Benjamin Ogle.
John Francis Mercer.
Robert Bowie
Robert Wright
Edward Lloyd
Levin Winder
Charles Carnan Ridgely
Charles Goldsborough.
Samuel Sprigg
Samuel Stevens, Jr
Joseph Kent.
Wilderness, Daniel Martin's Home
I04 109
Thomas King Carroll
George Howard. II4 James Thomas.
II9
Thomas Ward Veazey
William Grason.
Francis Thomas.
Thomas George Pratt
Philip Francis Thomas
Enoch Louis Lowe.
Thomas Watkins Ligon
Thomas Holliday Hicks.
Augustus Williamson Bradford. 178
Thomas Swann.
184
32 36 4I 46 5I 57 64 70 75 8I 86 9 I 95 99
I24 I30 I36 I44 150 158 165 I7I
xii
ILLUSTRATIONS
Oden Bowie.
192
William Pinkney Whyte 198
James Black Groome. 207
John Lee Carroll.
213
William Thomas Hamilton
22I
Robert Milligan McLane.
228
Henry Lloyd
235
Elihu Emory Jackson 242
Frank Brown. 248
Lloyd Lowndes. 255
John Walter Smith
26I
Edwin Warfield. 268
Austin Lane Crothers
276
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
1
THOMAS JOHNSON
It is fashionable, perhaps because pleasant, to regard the American Revolution as a general uprising of abused colonists, who sought to free themselves from a foreign yoke which had become so burdensome that it could no longer be borne. But this view does not take into account hesitating conservatives, lukewarm temporizers and God- fearing loyal British subjects. When the struggle that bore the American nation came, there was more than a little dis- sension among the colonists of Maryland, as well as of the twelve other provinces, regarding the questions at issue. Many good people were either moderately opposed to revolt, or else determinedly and conscientiously in favor of a continuance of British domination. The colonists who joined the Continental army were not all heroes, nor were those who opposed the Revolution necessarily cowards. That tory who, holding England in the right, was willing, though surrounded by a host of revolutionists, to adhere to his faith was decidedly more of a man than the average American history has been inclined to paint him. Though these facts combat popularized tradition, they do not take one whit from the glory that envelopes the Revolutionary period of American history; indeed, they accentuate its brightness, for they show that in the legislative hall as on the field of battle, men opposed men; that gentlemen who fought against England had cause for some com- punction in opposing gentlemen who supported England's claim; that all the valor and all the courage were not on one side, but that both parties, and in fact, even those who for
2
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
conscience sake remained neutral, had their virtues as well as their vices, their heroes as well as their traitors.
The conventional fife-and-drum history of the American struggle for independence is responsible for a total eclipsing of the true story of that conflict, for fife and drum were but the accompaniments of combats of intellect in legislative halls, and of herculean warfare waged by civilians to arouse the widespread dormant patriotism to conscious- ness. To the soldier who fired a musket has been given due credit, but the plain-clad civilian who roused him to action, who put a musket in his hand, and who reared a structure of government over his head while he slept at night, has been given no other reward than oblivion. The destructive forces which engaged in casting down the author- ity of Great Britain are made to stand out in bold relief upon the pages of history, but the constructive forces, which were the backbone of the country's hope, are hidden from view by false shadows. When investigation dissipates these shadows, then is revealed the true greatness of Maryland's first state governor. While the struggle to sustain the
Declaration was going on, the colonies set about to establish their individual governments. In Maryland affairs were first intrusted to a committee, but there was soon established another form of government that consisted of a legislative and an executive body, and when the time came for the election of the first governor the legislative body chose Thomas Johnson, whose fame at that time outshone that of many of his fellow-citizens whose names have since com- pletely overshadowed his own. The waning of Mr. Johnson's fame was due to his greatest virtue-his modesty. The army coveted the courage which his presence brought; the legislature claimed the wisdom of his intellect; the bench sought the soundness of his judgment, and to each he gave what was asked, but never thought to husband his reputa-
3
THOMAS JOHNSON
tion so that posterity might give him a place of glory in the story of the nation which he so largely helped to make.
The grandfather of the governor, also named Thomas Johnson, came to America from Porte Head, Yarmouth, England, in the latter quarter of the seventeenth century in somewhat romantic fashion. He had become enamored of a Miss Mary Baker, who was denied the privilege of marry- ing, because she was a chancery ward. Mr. Johnson, how- ever, holding love as dear a thing as reverence for unjust statutes, eloped to the New World with the young woman. The refugees settled at St. Leonards, where was born to them a son, who also was named Thomas Johnson. This son was married to Miss Dorcas Sedgewick, of whose twelve children the fifth was Thomas Johnson, Maryland's first state governor, who was born at St. Leonards on Novem- ber 4, 1732. From youth Johnson came in contact with men of learning. He became a resident of Annapolis and was reared in the office of the provincial court. He studied law in the office of Counselor Bordley, and was admitted to practice at the Maryland bar. His career from then on was cast among the mighty minds of the state. He took from the radicals their righteous fire without their unbridled passion; from the tories their wisdom without their arro- gance, and thus he grafted into his own character the best qualities of both parties. It is possible that the "fire-eaters" of the legislature did not look with entire approval upon the man who could discuss quietly things that they argued only with raised voices and clenched fists. John Adams, who was to become president, advanced the opinion that "Johnson, of Maryland, has a clear and cool head. * * He is a deliberating man, but not a shining orator; his pas- sion and imagination do not appear enough for an orator; his reason and penetration appear, but not his rhetoric." But the able Marylander lacked that fire that Adams thought
4
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
essential only because he scornfully discarded it. When the American Revolution began, Thomas Johnson was already a man of wide repute throughout the other colonies. At thirty years of age he had been elected to represent Anne Arundel county in the assembly, and there opposed the stamp act. When the colonists became displeased at the arbitrary views of Governor Eden regarding separate fees for every act of state officials, Johnson was chosen to present an address warning his excellency of the dangers of his course.
In 1768 Mr. Johnson was appointed one of a committee to draft a petition remonstrating with the king of England because of unjust taxations. He was a member of the Annapolis convention of 1774, and was named-with · Matthew Tilghman, Robert Goldsborough, William Paca and Samuel Chase-as a deputy from the province to attend a general congress of deputies to effect a common plan of conduct for the relief of Boston and the preservation of American liberties. By repeated election he served as a delegate to the Continental congress, 1774-77. On Octo- ber 2, 1774, when a resolution was passed by congress that an address to the crown should be prepared, Mr. Johnson was selected, with Richard Henry Lee, John Adams and Patrick Henry, to write it; and in December of that year he was appointed a member of the provincial committee of correspondents, and also as a member of the council of safety. Through his influence the deputies from Mary- land in congress were permitted, June 28, 1776, to declare independence of Great Britain; and it was he who, on June 15, 1775, nominated George Washington for com- mander-in-chief of all the Continental forces.
When the American colonies were preparing for the on- slaught that was sure to follow a declaration of independ- ence, Mr. Johnson was among the most active organizers for resistance in Maryland. On May 21, 1776, he was
5
THOMAS JOHNSON
reëlected to congress, but he tarried at home, creating armed forces out of tillers of the soil and clerks from the counting room. He was elected senior brigadier-general of provincial forces early in 1776 and organized and per- sonally led the "Flying Camp"-a regiment of 1800 sol- diers-which went to Washington's relief during his retreat through New Jersey. Mr. Johnson was a man of wealth, and his fortune permitted, while his devotion prompted, him to contribute largely for the military defense not only of his province, but of the country at large. With the glory of a military career awaiting him, the very people who loved him most were instrumental in diverting his career back to the old life in the council halls, thus robbing him of a place among the lauded. On July 4, 1776, when Johnson was elected by the convention as a deputy from the province to the Continental congress, the members of that body went on record in a resolution as believing that his services were of more importance in congress than in the field, and that his place could be supplied with less inconvenience in the military than in the civil department.
The first state constitution of Maryland called for an immediate election of a governor by the two branches of the legislature. Accordingly, on February 13, 1777, the two houses were canvassed and Thomas Johnson received forty votes, while the remaining ballots were scattered among his opponents, Samuel Chase receiving nine, and Matthew Tilghman, George Plater and William Paca one each. The newly elected governor was inaugurated with great pomp on Friday, March 21, 1777. The official cere- monies of inducting him into office were observed in the state house at Annapolis. The soldiery drawn up for review on the lawn, fired three volleys, and a salute of thir- teen rounds was fired by the batteries. A night of gayeties followed the inauguration, the state ball reviving memories
6
GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
of the brilliant entertainments that had won for Annapolis international renown in the days preceding the Revolution. In the summer of that year the British forces under Admiral Howe made their appearance in the Chesapeake, and Gov- ernor Johnson issued a proclamation, in which he called upon the people to lend their aid. "To defend our liberties requires our exertions; our wives, our children and our country implore our assistance-motives amply sufficient to arm everyone who can be called a man."
There was here no mincing of words, and at the same time there was disclosed the high place which home held in Mr. Johnson's regard. On February 16, 1766, he had married Miss Ann Jennings, daughter of Judge Thomas Jennings, of Annapolis. The home that he gained by his marriage always held first place in his affection. When in later years there came a question as to which should be sacrificed, the demands of home or the claims of fortune, Johnson did not hesitate in deciding. Mr. Johnson voted for the Dec- laration of Independence, on July 4, 1776, but on the second of August-when the document was to be signed-there was illness in his family and he remained at home. Having helped to make the Declaration a fact, he permitted himself to be deprived of the honor that came to those who placed to it their signatures, in order that he might respond to a call from home for the comfort of his presence. As a con- sequence the name of Thomas Johnson is not among those of the signers.
The term of governor in the early days of Maryland's life as an independent state was for one year only and a governor was not eligible for reelection to more than three consecu- tive terms. Mr. Johnson was twice reelected without opposition. In 1779 he was succeeded by Thomas Sim Lee, and the following year Johnson was again elected deputy to the provincial congress, October, 1780. A few months
7
THOMAS JOHNSON
later he was chosen a member of the house of delegates. It was through his instrumentality that the deputies from Maryland were instructed to vote in favor of the articles of confederation, Maryland having at first refused to join in the confederation unless Virginia should agree to release all lands west of the Ohio River. Johnson also labored faithfully for the adoption by Maryland of the constitu- tion of the United States, and as soon as the ratification of the constitution was assured he rallied to the sup- port of General Washington for president. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Continental congress from 1781 to 1787. In 1789 President Washington tendered him the office of United States district judge, which he declined. On April 20, 1790, he was appointed chief judge of the general court of Maryland, surrendering the office Novem- ber 7, 1791, that he might assume the duties of associate judge of the supreme court of the United States, to which position he had been appointed. On the resignation of Chief Judge Rutledge some years later, Washington endeav- ored to persuade Mr. Johnson to accept this post, but with- out success.
When Edmund Randolph resigned the portfolio of state in 1795 President Washington invited Mr. Johnson to become a member of his official family. "The office of secretary of state is vacant," he wrote, "occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Randolph. Will you accept it? You know my wishes of old to bring you into the administra- tion. Where, then, is the necessity of repeating them? * No time more than the present ever required the aid of your abilities. * * * " Mr. Johnson's letter of declina- tion reveals the extreme modesty which worked such havoc with his fame. "I feel real concern that my circumstances will not permit me to fill the important office you pro- pose to me," he wrote. "I am far from being out of humor
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