USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > A history of Anne Arundel County in Maryland : adapted for use in the schools of the county > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
At the assembling of the Legislature the subject of the fees of public officers was ignored.
Gov. Eden made formal announcement of the death of the Lord Proprietary, Frederick Lord Baltimore, and the succession to this position of the Right Hon. Henry Harford, Esq., who, with his guardians, gave promise of assisting the Prov- ince in matters conducive to its welfare. Sir Henry Harford was the natural son of the late Proprietary.
A bill was brought in by the Lower House "for the Establishment of Religious Worship in this Province, for the Maintenance of the Clergy, and for other Pur- poses therein mentioned." The Upper House objected to this on the ground that a similar bill, passed in 1702, was still in force. Further, they disapproved of a provision aiming to establish an equality in the incomes of ministers, which would
PARAGRAPH 11. (a) On what questions were political parties divided in 1773 in Maryland? (b) What famous correspondence took place during this campaign? (c) What was the result of the elections? (d) What had expired before the cause of American liberty?
PEGGY STEWART HOUSE.
The house, now known as the Peggy Stewart Honse, is on Hanover Street. It was at one timo the residence of Anthony Stewart, the owner of the famous hrig Peggy Stewart. It was built in 1763. On this porch Stewart made his threat to the mob October 19, 1774, which had greeted a gallows in front of his house because he paid the tax on tea.
THE CHASE HOUSE.
The house, on the north side of Maryland avenue, corner of King George, built in 1770, by Judge Samuel Chase, (known in the family as Judge Samuel Chase, the Signer), has been described as " probably the most stately house in Annapolis, being the only colonial residence which is three stories high."
- يوم ٥
129
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
" impose an nnequal tax on the people, as well as damp the emulous Exertions of Merit, which the hopes of preferment are wont to animate."
Honor and fame, arising throughout all Maryland, now crowned the brow of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Press and people united to do him homage in pub- lished enlogies and public meetings, and now, to give a new laurel to that wreath of immortelles, tradition informs us that the Lower Honse conferred upon the illustrions writer a dignity unique in the annals of a legislative assembly. As one body, the members repaired to the stately mansion on the Spa, and, at his own home, in person, they thanked Mr. Carroll for the valor and success with which he had defended the rights of the people in his controversy with Antilon.
The rancors of religions differences were now in their unholy sepulchre. Created alone by political jealousies as the Catholics obtained promotion in the government, before the one cause of American liberty, State and Colonial, they had expired without a parting gasp. At this time, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, the illustrious and honored patriot, was a Roman Catholic, deprived under the laws of England, in force in the Province of Maryland, of the right of franchise on account of his religions convictions.
12. Legislative action, as now, was not without its undercurrent of events, in the past. This was visible in a noticeable incident in the Session of December, 1826. It was through John V. L. McMahon's indefatigable etforts that the measures necessary to inaugurate the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were passed. On one occasion the fates seemed against him. He had counted his supporters, and had found that he had just the number of votes required to pass the bill if he could hold his forces together. In the number of his adherents were several Eastern Shore members. If the steamer Maryland came on time, they would go home and the bill would be lost ; if she did not, the members would remain and the bill would pass. The steamer, therefore, must not come on her scheduled time. Captain William Taylor, a warm friend of McMahon's, was the master of the good steamer Maryland. To him McMahon stated the situation, and said to him, " the Maryland must not make that trip !" "Why," exclaimed the excited captain, "the boat's advertised to come at that time." " Well," said McMahon, " I am a good friend of yours." "The boat," concluded Captain Taylor, "can get her engines out of order, or something like that," and this she conveniently did, for the Maryland never made that trip, the Eastern Shore members remained in Annapolis, and MeMahon's bill passed !
13. The Constitution of Maryland became an attenuated relic of colonial times with a dash of republican spirit permeating it. By it an extraordinary mode of elect- ing one branch of the legislative body was preserved. An Electoral College, composed of forty electors, was elected by the people according to certain defined electoral districts. Of these it required twenty-four to make a quorum. The State, since the adoption of the State Constitution in 1776, had gained so in population that
PARAGRAPH 12. (a) What remarkable incident occurred at the December Session, 1826? PARAGRAPH 13. (a) What was an attenuated relic of colonial times in the session of 1836?
(b)
130
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
these districts, which, at first, fairly represented the population of the State and the will of the people, had become a huge, political monstrosity, by which less than one-fourth of the people of the State elected one entire co-ordinate branch of the legislative department, and had a large influence in choosing the Governor of the State. As it happened, the Whigs were strongest in these numerically smaller districts, and, while not representing the fourth of the State, were enabled to dictate to the other three-fourths in two important branches of the Government. Against this the Democracy of Maryland revolted, and, assisted by many Whigs who were opposed to the unequal system, had called loudly for reform.
The Whigs, loth to give up power, resisted the appeals of party and people for redress. In the election of 1836, the Whigs elected 21 members of the Senatorial College, and the Democrats 19. On this the Democrats resolved to stop the wheels of government itself or obtain the redress they asked.
From Major Sprigg Harwood, who represented Annapolis in the College, ou August 18th, 1886, when the Major was in his 78th year, and the sole survivor of " the glorious nineteen," as the democrats were wont to call them, the author of this history obtained the following :
"We had a little caucus at the Baltimore House, corner of Baltimore and Hanover streets, Baltimore, and then agreed that we would assemble at Annapolis and send a communication, as we did, on the 19th of September, to the twenty-one Whig electors, who were in the Senate Chamber, and who had qualified, and were waiting for all of us, requiring at least three before a quorum could be formed to transact business. When we sent our communication to them, they would hokl no communication with us until we qualified. If we had qualified, they could have then proceeded to business with their majority of twenty-one.
"I first heard of the intended proceedings some days before the Baltimore meeting, by Mr. Dick Higgins coming out to the country at Mr. Evans's, and telling me of the letters written to the Democratic and Reform electors to meet in Baltimore. Before going, I consulted with my people here to learn their views. I said they could instruct me now, but, if I went to Baltimore, and committed myself, it was then too late, I would have to stand by it. They said ' Go, the principle is right, and we will stand by you.' This they did, although they had a representation equal to Baltimore's two delegates in the Legislature.
"We met in Baltimore about a week previous to the meeting of the college here on the 19th of September, and agreed on the outlines of the proposition as indicated by the letter dated on the 19th.
" There was no personal animosity among the participants. I used to associate with the Whig electors outside, and they would ask me to go up to the Senate, but I would say-' No, you will lock me in.' The outsiders were very much alarmed.
What dramatie event resulted? (c) What were the democratic electors called by their friends? (d) What penalty did a Whig Senate inflict upon one of " the Glorious Nineteen."
131
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
They thought no rights were left in property as there was no Legislature, the Whig judges actually taking this view, and the people generally thought the country was gone.
" Afterward, when three of the nineteen concluded to participate in the organi- zation of the College, John S. Sellman wrote to ns to meet at Annapolis, but all declined save Marey Fountain, Enoch George, George A. Thomas, and Wesley Linthicum. Messrs. Thomas and George regretted coming, but finding three were going in, (enough to make a quorum,) they also consented to go, but not then until the basis of electing a Senate and the reforms to be given had been agreed upon.
" The Whigs gave the election of Governor to the people and altered the repre- sentation in the Legislature so as to equalize it somewhat in the State."
The Democrats thereupon elected the Governor-the Whigs only succeeded getting in Gov. Pratt in 1843, and the Know Nothings, Thomas Holliday Hicks, in 1857. The Whigs often, however, had the Legislature. Major Harwood said : "Our people were satisfied, but the Whigs were excited here. They did not like giving up the State. Several steamers came here daily from Baltimore and the counties, filled with Whigs, who hoped to make an impression on the nineteen. Everybody had gone away then except myself."
The calm of Annapolis, whilst this peaceful revolution was in progress, was in strong contrast with the excitement prevailing in other parts of the State. People generally felt a political catastrophe was at hand which threatened the destruction of property and government, and, with these dire forebodings, the timid saw impend- ing and overwhelming evils, whilst the courageous prepared to meet the coming danger with heroic effort.
In many places in the State publie meetings were held. At Baltimore an immense gathering of citizens denounced the nineteen in forcible terms, and similar meetings followed in Washington, Frederick and Allegany counties, at which all pledged themselves to sustain the supremacy of the law. On the 18th of October, the grand jury of Allegany county presented the nineteen electors " as unfaithful public agents and disturbers of the public peace." In the interim, whilst the Whig electors remained out of the College, and awaited events, the presidential election was held. On the day following, November 8th, Governor Thomas W. Veazey issued a proclamation denouncing in severe terms the conduct of the " recusant electors and their abettors," calling on the civil and military authorities to be in readiness to maintain the law, and convening the old Senate and House of Delegates to assemble ou the 21st of November. The proclamation added greatly to the excitement in the State, and was responded to cordially. One military company, the Planters Guards, tendered their services to the executive to support the authority of the law. Happily, their aid was never required.
Although the nineteen, Major Sprigg Harwood, who lived at Annapolis, alone accepted, had left the capital, steamboat load after steamboat load of people came to the city, in the spirit of some vague knight errantry, hopeful that they might, by some means, influence the nineteen to absolve their resolve.
132
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
John S. Sellman, of Anne Arundel, early in October, announced his determi- nation to take part in the election of a Senate. He was followed by Wesley Linthicum, of the same county, on November 12th. Sellman signified this inten- tion by letter to his associates in the communication of the 19th of September to the twenty-one Whig electors.
The election of Delegates to the House hastened the dissolution of the combi- nation. Sixty Whigs and but nineteen Van Buren, or Democratic delegates, were returned. The Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's, and Caroline county electors regarded the elections in their counties, as instructions from their constituents, and November 19th, Mr. Wesley Linthicum, of Anne Arundel County, Dr. Enoch George and John B. Thomas, of Queen Anne's County, and Marey Fountain, of Caroline County, all of "the glorious nineteen," appeared, and, also qualified as Senatorial electors. The College, then composed of twenty-six members, proceeded to elect a Senate.
On the 25th of November, Governor Veazey sent a special message to the General Assembly on this subject in which he declared, " the annals of party con- tention and political errors and aberations from duty " *
* "would be searched in vain for a case of such plain and palpable violation of constitutional duty and moral obligations as the conduct of the recusant electors of the Senate of Maryland exhibits." He regretted no statute existed to meet such an emergency and suggested the passage of one.
The revolt had crystalized public opinion on the subject of the needed reforms in State government, and the measures for which the democrats contended were generally conceded by the Legislature. There being no statutory punishment for their offence, the Whigs, who generally had control of the Senate, visited an unwritten penalty on " the glorious nineteen." No matter to what office one of them was ever appointed by the Governor, a Whig Senate would invariably reject the appointee.
14. It was during the administration of Gov. Francis Thomas that a scene most remarkable in the annals of the proceedings of the General Assembly of Mary- land occurred. Gov. Thomas, who had married the young, beautiful and aecom- plished daughter of Governor MeDowell, of Virginia, had fallen into a tremendous quarrel, originating from serious charges affecting the Governor's personal character, with several male members of his wife's family-one, the Governor himself and the other, the illustrious Thomas H. Benton. In the course of the war of words, Gov- ernor Thomas had printed at Annapolis a most violent attack upon his adversaries, and had a copy of the pamphlet placed upon the desk of every member of the Con- gress of the United States, at Washington. Thereupon, the Governor was sued for libel. As the Governor had said some things, very probably, that he could not prove, he desired to postpone the trial. and this became a battle of legal giants, for there were eminent counsel on either side. The Governor was able to delay the trial from time to time, and to prevent himself from appearing in the Court, in Washington, to which he had been summoned.
PARAGRAPH 14. (@) What remarkable scene occurred during the administration of Gov. Francis Thomas?
THE " CARVEL HALL."
of Richard Carvel. Built by Dr. Upton Scott about 1770. Now owned by the Sisters of Notre Dame.
THE JENNINGS' HOUSE. Built by Ethinund Jennings, about 1770, for a son-in-law, one of the Brices. Now owned by the family of the late Thomas E. Martin.
MDRANY
٨ ٠ ٨٠
.M . AND
MA
133
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
During the legal warfare, the Governor created a new excitement by charging the Chief Justice of the State, Judge LeGrand with having abstracted an article of value (the very nature of which seems not to have been handed down) from the Governor's home in Frederick. These two had been fast friends and Judge LeGrand owed his appointment to the bench to the Governor who had also honored him by having chosen him, before this new dignity, as his Secretary of State. It was suggested that the Governor had gotton up this charge, with the effort to have the Chief Justice impeached, because he desired his necessary presence at Amap- olis, to press the impeachment, to serve him as a sufficient legal reason not to appear in the Washington Court in obedience to its summons, as his counsel stated it : " His State having the first claim."
Gov. Thomas made his impeachment address against the Chief Judge before the Legislature. He was armed with a long array of legal papers, and, taking them up, one by one, he exhausted each point at such length that a week passed, and the Legislature adjourned before action was taken. Gov. McDowell was present, together with Thomas H. Benton, at the Governor's masterful presentation of the case, during which Maryland's Governor introduced his own domestic tronbles. He, in one of his extraordinary sentences, stated that "from investigation, I can say that the MeDowell women were of the best type of American motherhood. He wished he could say as much for the men. His own wife," the Governor declared, " was as pure as the icicle from the frozen north." Then, changing his attack to the McDowell men, he said : " They have followed me through the trackless forest like the hell-hounds of perdition," and exclaiming, "Let them come !" he struck his chest with his fist, until it rang like the clang of armored metal, and added : "I fear them not-from Bully Benton to Blackguard MeDowell." Pencils dropped from the hands of the note-takers, a half dozen members rose and called for order, and Benton stood up and demanded protection from the House, "or he would protect himself."
Governor Thomas remained silent and motionless until the storm had sub- sided, and then calmly said :
"Mr. Speaker : I have sat in this House; twice I have occupied the seat in which you sit ; I have served in the Halls of Congress, and never has an honorable. gentleman called me to order."
At the end of the proceedings, with the ease of an evening promenade, Gov. Thomas escorted his wife to the train, placed her under the care of Richard Thomas, the President of the Senate, and a relative of the Governor, and she went back to hier father's house.
With this startling episode faded Maryland's opportunity to have one of her citizens in the Presidential chair-for. up to that time, it was conceded that Gov- ernor Thomas was to be the coming democratic nominee for President-a choice that fell later to James K. Polk, at a time when the country was immovably democratic.
This administration was also stirred by the stabbing of John C. LeGrand, Secretary of State, as he was passing through the rotunda of the State House, by
134
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
Townley Lockerman, a man not mentally sound. The cause was jealousy on account of a lady, with whom the Secretary was not even acquainted.
15. These dramatic legislative scenes of the past are repeated in the present. On the evening of February 6th, after the fire in Baltimore, the 4th and 5th Regi- ments were called out at 7 P. M., by Brig. Gen. Lawrason Riggs, who could not communicate with the Governor then, but who gave the order at the request of president of Police Board, under whose orders the law compelled him to act. A few hours later the Governor put Gen. Riggs in charge. All persons, other than military, were then excluded from burnt district. A number of the members of the Legislature were made indignant that their passes from the Governor were not honored and that other men on important business were excluded from the burnt district. The House of Delegates, thereupon, passed a resolution that Gen. Riggs' action "be condemned as an unwarrantable discourtesy to the House of Delegates and to his Excellency, the Governor of Maryland," and that he be summoned to appear before the House of Delegates, February 11th. A sergeant-at-arms was sent to Baltimore to deliver this summons, and, on the . appointed day, Brig. Gen. Riggs appeared in the House and explained his actions. His bearing was martial, his langnage courteous, his explanation dignified and solliery. His conduct appeared at once in a most favorable light. It had been suggested by a member of the House that Gen. Riggs had been guilty of insubordination in not paying attention to passes issued by the Governor. It was now shown that the Governor is not at the head of military affairs unless placed there by the House, and such was not the case. Therefore, Gen. Riggs really outranked Governor Warfield as far as the militia was concerned-the Police Board being, at such times, alone in sole command of the militia, and they had directed Gen. Riggs to furnish passes to all newspaper men desiring them. These instructions Gen. Riggs promptly obeyed, recognizing that they came from the proper authority.
Gov. Warfield, meanwhile, declared that great injustice had been done Gen. Riggs. Gen. Riggs told the Legislature of the great necessity for keeping the burnt district free from interlopers, and the fact that at first numbers of people gained entrance on promiscuous passes. The manner of the General was tactful, conrteous and military. Arrayed in his elegant State uniform, the General presented a splendid figure, bearing himself with the courage of the soldier, the skill of the lawyer, the courtesy of a Maryland gentlemen. Delegate Johnson, who had proposed the resolution of condemnation, now said that he had acted under a mis- apprehension, and wished to withdraw it, and have it expunged from the proceed- ings. This was done by a decisive vote, the motion encountering but a few dissent- ing voices.
PARAGRAPH 15. (a) What dramatic legislative scene grew out of the Baltimore fire of Feb- ruary 6th, 1904?
135
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
CHAPTER FORTY-THIRD.
THE POLITICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORIC STATUS OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
1. Anne Arundel County is a part of the Fifth Congressional District of Mary- land. The other portion of the District consists of St. Mary's County, Charles County, Calvert County, Prince George's County and Howard County. The District is now represented in Congress by Hon. Sydney E. Mudd, of Charles County.
2. Anne Arundel County is an integral portion of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Maryland, composed of the counties of Anne Arundel, Howard and Carroll. The Judges of the Circuit are : I. Thomas Jones, of Howard, Chief Judge ; James Revell, of Anne Arundel, and William H. Thomas, of Howard, Associate Judges.
3. The county of Anne Arundel is divided into seven election districts, named in numerical order, save that there is the omission of the seventh, that district having been Howard District, ont of which Howard County was formed.
The First District is bounded on the north by South River, and on the south- west by West River and the Eighth District ; and on the northwest by the Second District.
The Second District is bounded on the northeast by the Severn River, and on the sonthwest by Sonth River and the Fourth District, on the west by the Patuxent River, and on the north by the Fourth District.
The Third District lies between the Patapsco and Severn Rivers, and is bounded on the east by the Chesapeake Bay, and on the west by Marley Creek and the Fifth District.
The Fourth District is bounded on the south by the Second and Third Districts, on the north by Howard County, and on the east by the Fifth District, and on the west by the Patuxent River.
The Fifth District is bounded on the south by Marley Creek and the Third District, on the northeast by the Patapsco River ; by Howard County on the north, and on the west by the Fourth District.
The Sixth District is Annapolis city, which lies on the south bank of the Severn River, two miles from its entrance into the Chesapeake Bay.
PARAGRAPH 1. (a) Of what Congressional District is Anne Arundel a part? (b) What other counties are in the District? (c) Who represents the District in Congress?
PARAGRAPH 2. (a) In what Judicial Circuit is Anne Arundel? (b) What counties compose the district? (c) Who are the judges?
PARAGRAPH 3. (a) How many election districts are there in Anne Arundel? (b) Can you name them and bound them? (c) Can yon name the polling precincts?
136
A HISTORY OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
The Eighth District is bounded on the east by the Chesapeake Bay, on the north by West River and the First District, and on the west by the Patuxent River, and southwest by Calvert County.
There are sixteen voting precincts in Anne Arundel County. They are : In the First District-First precinct, Galloways ; second, Mayo. Second District- First precinet, Chesterfield ; second, Eastport. Third District-First precinct, Armiger's : second, Asbury. Fourth District-First precinet, Gambrill's ; second, Odenton. Fifth District-First precinct, Brooklyn ; second, Harman's ; third, South Baltimore. Sixth District-(Annapolis)-First Ward, eastern section of the city ; second, central ; third, western. Eighth District-First precinct, Nutwell's ; second, Churchton.
4. The local government of Anne Arundel County is placed largely in the hands of the Board of County Commissioners, composed of seven members, one from each election district. This Board lays the taxes of the county, and provides for the payment of all accounts against it. It assesses property, takes care of the public roads, builds the county bridges, provides for the expenses of Courts and jails, and for the support of the county pensioners and of the Alms House of the county. The commissioners have general executive control of the affairs of the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.