USA > Maryland > Governors of Maryland : from the Revolution to the year 1908 > Part 11
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council of James Thomas, governor of Maryland, and was reëlected to the council in 1834.
At the close of Governor Thomas's administration, the whigs of the legislature named Mr. Veazey as candidate for governor, and the Cecil countian received 53 of the total of 76 ballots cast, the remaining 23 tickets being blanks. The first impression made by the Veazey adminis- tration was favorable. The eight-million-dollar bill, intro- duced in the legislature in 1835, was passed at a special session of the legislature in June of 1836, and upon its passage the people, unconscious of the bankruptcy which was to follow the state's reckless contribution to private enterprises, engaged in jollification throughout the common- wealth. The governor was feted and toasted, and every- body thought that a most notable thing had been accom- plished because Maryland gave to the Baltimore and Ohio, the Chesapeake and Ohio and several other companies sums aggregating $8,000,000 that were not in the treasury.
Just three days thereafter, however, or on June 6, 1836, the so-called reform convention met in Baltimore and discussed the necessity of changing the state con- stitution. Among the resolutions passed was one recom- mending the people of the counties and cities friendly to amending the constitution to elect at the next October election delegates pledged to introduce and support a bill to provide for taking the sense of the people on the question of such reform. That a majority of the people of Maryland desired a change in the constitution is certain; that that majority was then able to secure such a change is, never- theless, questionable, because of the manner of electing state senators, who were not chosen directly by the peo- ple, but by an electoral college. Representation in this college was not in accord with the population of the various sections. Each county had the privilege of choosing two
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electors of state senators, while Baltimore city was per- mitted to name only one member and a like privilege was also granted to the small city of Annapolis. As a result of this inequitable arrangement a majority of the least populous counties of the state could by combination name the entire state senate, which was elected for five years.
In the election of 1836 for members of the senatorial col- lege there were chosen 21 whigs and 19 democrats. The 2I whigs represented 85,179 constituents, while the 19 democrats represented 205,922. Thus it will be seen that the representatives of a little more than one-fourth of the people had a majority in the electoral college; the whigs however, lacked enough votes to have absolute control, as it was required that at least 24 ballots should constitute a quorum in the electoral college. Frederick county had instructed its electors that unless they could get the whig members to agree to name out of the fifteen men for state senators at least eight who were favorable to constitutional reform, they should refuse to go into session, provided, of course, they could get the other democratic members to act with them. The whigs refused to concede to this demand, and in consequence the democrats returned to their homes, without having gone into session, believing, as they did, that they had prevented the creation of a general assembly and hoping by some general convention to oust the whigs from power. But Governor Veazey calmly announced that since the electoral college had failed to elect a new senate, the old senate constituted the senate of Maryland, and that it should continue to do so until its successor was lawfully elected. At the same time he instructed the old state senators to assemble at Annapolis to discharge their duties until they should be superseded by legally elected successors.
This was Governor Veazey's masterstroke. A man with
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less courage than he would have faltered; a man with more passion would have gone too far. He went just far enough to rouse the people of the state to his support. Realizing that they had blundered, the bolting democrats returned to Annapolis; the electoral college went into session and a new state senate was elected. At this postponed election Mr. Veazey made his second masterstroke when he himself suggested to the legislature that the constitution be changed. Upon the reassembling of the electoral college fifteen whig senators were chosen, and thus the general assembly became even more strongly whig than it had been at the beginning of Governor Veazey's administration.
At the annual election for state executive on January 2, 1837, Mr. Veazey's name was the only one presented. Of the 81 votes cast he received 70. During the second year of his administration, however, the people of the state returned to their earlier political faith, and although Governor Veazey was reelected in 1838, he received only 52 votes of the 81, while 24 members of the legislature voted blanks and 5 votes were for other candidates. The gubernatorial election in 1838 marked the last time that the general assembly elected a governor for a full term. In the fall of 1838, in accordance with the amendment to the constitution the chief magistrate of the state was chosen directly by the people. The state senate was also reorganized, there being one senator from each county and one from Baltimore city, and the senators were chosen directly by the people, while the senatorial electoral college and the governor's council were both abolished.
The administration of Governor Veazey was brought to a close in the opening days of January, 1839, when he was succeeded by William Grason. He retired to his Cecil county plantation, where he passed the closing years of his life. He had been married three times, and a large
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family was sheltered under his roof in the latter part of his life. His first wife, to whom he was wedded in 1794 was Miss Sarah Worrell, of Kent county, who died in the follow- ing year, leaving to his care a little daughter. His second wife was Miss Mary Veazey, the governor's first cousin; she died in 1810, leaving a family of children. In 1812 Mr. Veazey married Miss Mary Wallace, of Elkton, by whom he was the father of five children. The public question in which Governor Veazey was, perhaps, most interested was calling forth heated discussion at the time of his death, which occurred on July 1, 1842. Had he lived longer he would doubtless have played an important part in the ante- bellum strife of debaters, for he was a large slaveholder, an uncompromising foe of abolition and an ardent supporter of the doctrine of states' rights.
XXV WILLIAM GRASON
Of all the sorts of men that go to make up the human family, there is none more discredited, less loved, or as much abused as the clan of Jeremiahs. Their office of lamenting strikes no responsive note in the average bosom, for they see only the ills of the world, while the people are striving to forget that there is aught of unpleasantness in life. The ordinary man finds a mountainous argument in favor of optimism in the mere fact that it is more cheerful than pessimism; and therefore the painstaking being who has smoked his glasses that he may see the truth clearly is either shoved to one side by the masses or greeted with derision, while he who wears the rose-tinted spectacles has ever at his heels a respectable mob. The people of Maryland in the first half of the last century were chiefly optimists, although the course which public affairs were taking then was des- tined to lead to financial disaster. It seems inconsistent, therefore, that they should have chosen as their first popular governor a pessimist, for Mr. Grason throughout his admin- istration seldom emerged from the rôle of a political Jere- miah. The fondest delusions of the people he shattered as easily as one might prick a bubble, and the thing which had for years been worshiped as prosperity he labeled "failure," As governor, at least, Mr. Grason was a destructionist; but the result of his efforts along this line were more bene- ficial to Maryland in the long run than many times as much constructive work of his predecessors.
William Grason was born at Eagle's Nest, on the Wye river, in 1786. His father, Richard Grason, was a farmer. The
WILLIAM GRASON 1839-1842
6
WILLIAM GRASON
Of sul the sorts of bien that go bo, make up the Tircon Randy avere is not taure discredital, less lover, or is troca
o baly tho (Give My werid. While the people are Living to forget that there is aught of unpleasantness in life. The or lindty mbe fods & moorislogus argument in lavor af ontapisw: in thi there luct that it is more cheerful than possiamo, and therefore this pain taking being who has ruled Die glasses that his muy . in ruarty is cathvor
Tell a respectable m
Samo chomo au pair first popular BovepoorOF the ophout bis admin istración aldi, of the tale of a political Jele- totale The forkmes iahinin il The people be shattered as easily as one englit pride a los and thething which baud-
but the rest i Marts song this line vere more bitte finnJ 16 Maryland at the Dog Fin than. many turo constructive & Ms prosecutors,
William Creme ahora at Bugle's N.t. wer
COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY H. E. BUCHHOLZ.
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WILLIAM GRASON
boy received his elementary education in the neighboring schools on the Eastern Shore, but later was sent to Annap- olis, where he entered St. John's College. His intimacy with the sea during boyhood had developed in the youth an inclination for the life of a sailor, and after completing his course at St. John's, Mr. Grason entered the United States navy as a midshipman. His connection with the navy, however, did not continue for long, and he soon returned to his home, with his back forever turned upon the career of a sailor. In 1812 Mr. Grason was married to Miss Susan Orrick Sulivane, daughter of James Bennett Sulivane, of Cambridge, and the young couple settled near the Dorches- ter county home of the bride. After two or three years, however, Mr. and Mrs. Grason returned to the native county of the future governor, and here were spent the remaining years of his life, except when his gubernatorial or legislative duties carried him to Annapolis. Mr. Grason was very much of a home man. Although he filled a number of public offices and showed a disposition to fill more, he neverthe- less was happiest when amid home surroundings. He followed the rather unpretentious calling of a farmer; but in manners and in intellectual development he was as far from the common conception of the old-time farmer as "Log-cabin and Hard-cider" Harrison was from the things which were associated with his name in his presidential campaign.
In early years Mr. Grason had been a member of the federalist party, and in later years one of the arguments used against him as democratic candidate was the fact that he had been with the federalists in their opposi- tion to the war of 1812-15. But the charge, although partly admitted, did not accomplish his defeat. Indeed, his ardent advocacy of the chief doctrines of President Jack- son was able to overcome all doubts as to his right to appear
1
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under a democratic standard. The two legislative tickets in Queen Anne's in 1828 were made up of Jackson and anti- Jackson candidates respectively. Upon the former was included the name of William Grason, and in the election this candidate received the greatest number of ballots of any of the members chosen to the lower house of the general assembly. In the following year he was again nominated, and once more outdistanced his fellow candidates. Mr. Grason was chosen an elector of state senators in 1831, and two years later he appeared as a candidate for nomination for congressman. When the democratic delegates of the several counties met to nominate a candidate, the Queen Anne's members were for Mr. Grason; but the other dele- gates gave preference to John T. Reese, of Kent, and the lat- ter was named. Before the election, however, Dr. Reese, died, and another convention had to be called. Queen Anne's delegation had now deserted Mr. Grason, for Richard B. Carmichael, who was nominated and elected. Mr. Grason was the nominee for congress of the Jacksonian party in 1835, but was defeated by the whig candidate, James A. Pearce, who was elected by a majority of 123 ballots. Nothing daunted by his failure first to get the congressional nomination and then to win the election, Mr. Grason appeared in 1837 as a candidate for the state legislature, and received the greatest number of votes of the four suc- cessful candidates in his county.
The state constitution as amended by the reform act, provided that the governor should be chosen by the people instead of the legislature, after 1838; and the term was to be for three years, which had come to be the customary time in office of most governors elected under the one-year term provision. The state was divided into three gubernator- ial districts: the Eastern Shore; Baltimore city and the southern counties; and Harford, Baltimore and the western
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WILLIAM GRASON
counties; and each of these districts was to have a turn in naming the candidates. In the spring of 1838 the democrats nominated William Grason for governor, while the whigs named John Nevett Steele, of Dorchester county, thus mak- ing the first popular gubernatorial candidates representatives of the Eastern Shore district. The contest was one of excess- ive bitterness and vilification, and throughout the campaign charges of dishonesty and fraud and corruption were lodged against anybody and everybody who chanced to get into the contest. Mr. Grason was elected by a scant majority of 3II votes in the entire state, and was inaugurated on January 7, 1839. But thelegislature was slightly whiggish in complexion.
From inauguration day until his term expired, Governor Grason's voice gave expression to one endless jeremiad. First of all, the people of Maryland had engaged recklessly in appro- priating public funds, which had to be raised by loans, for in- ternal improvements, and they had never for a moment con- sidered that there would come a time when both interest and principal would have to be paid. The people had known only a light taxation for the current expenses of the govern- ment, and the mere suggestion of imposing a tax for the pur- pose of taking care of the obligations thus unwisely incurred aroused the masses to a state of bitter opposition. As his initial greeting to the legislature Governor Grason took up what he said would be the problem demanding the general assembly's most earnest thought-Maryland's pecuniary embarrassment. He pointed out how the public debt had been increased, and how it promised to continue to grow unless a radical change of policy was made, and he called attention to the necessity of guarding against "an increase of existing evils, and of providing, if possible, for the gradual redemption of the public debt." He combated the arguments of those who favored repudiation rather
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than tax an unwilling people, by declaring that the debt had "been contracted, and confirmed by successive legis- latures sanctioned by the people themselves, in the contin- ued reëlection of representatives who were most prominent in creating it, and the obligations of the state are in the hands of men who relied upon good faith, and whose borrowed money has been expended on her works. It is impossible to question the validity of the debt, and unreasonable to plead inability without first making an effort to discharge it."
There was no more unpleasant truth that Governor Gra- son could have uttered to the people of Maryland, who were seeking to devise some means by which to escape the large public debt which had been accumulated. When the people suggested that the national government turn over certain moneys obtained from public lands, he showed how unreasonable and unconstitutional such a course would be and advised that, instead of planning to escape their obli- gations, the people of Maryland should meet them bravely and promptly. In his message of December, 1840, Governor Grason sets forth in some detail the way in which the finan- cial troubles then oppressing the state had been brought about, and also how they might in his opinion be removed. And finally, while the words in praise of the amended consti- tution, uttered by Governor Veazey, were still echoing through the state, Governor Grason made the rather melan- choly observation that "No one can tell what the constitu- tion is, or where it is to be found."
He repeatedly arraigned the whigs for the burden they had brought upon Maryland, and the fact that the legisla- ture was whiggish never suggested to him the need of con- cealing his displeasure at the blunders of his political oppo- nents. After his retirement on January 3, 1842, Mr. Grason returned to his Queen Anne's farm. In 1850, he was nomi-
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nated by the democrats of Queen Anne's for the constitu- tional convention and helped to frame the constitution of 1851. In that year, 1851, ex-Governor Grason was nomi- nated for the state senate and he once more showed his popularity in his home county by polling more votes than any of the other candidates voted for at the election. Six years later he was again candidate for the upper house of the general assembly, but was defeated by the know- nothing nominee, Stephen J. Bradley. Queen Anne's county became much wrought up over the presidential cam- paign of 1860, and when Lincoln's election was announced, the countians began to discuss means of self-protection. How strongly the county was against the republican candi- date is shown by the fact that Lincoln received not one vote in all Queen Anne's. A delegation was appointed by the county to take part in a conference of leading Marylanders, to be held in Baltimore in January, 1861, to determine what course Maryland should pursue in the "emergency," and Mr. Grason was one of this delegation. He was chosen president of the convention, but was unable to preside. Gov- ernor Grason was now getting well on in years, and his ill health prevented him from taking the active part in public affairs which he had taken when a young man. He spent the closing years of his life on his Queen Anne's farm, dying on July 2, 1868, at the age of eighty-two.
XXVI FRANCIS THOMAS
Caesar, Brutus, Antony-each in turn sways the masses, and under the momentary spell of his influence what the people said and thought and did yesterday is made of no effect by what the same people say and think and do today. It has always been so; it is so now; and it ever will be so- public sentiment is as restless as a fluttering humming-bird. In the early part of the whig administration of Governor Veazey, a few senatorial electors sought, by somewhat revolutionary methods, to accomplish a reform for which three-fourths of the people were clamoring. But Mr. Veazey -really a representative of the remaining one-fourth- by a fine bit of strategy brought many of his political enemies to his support, and led the people generally in a charge upon the very leaders, who a short time before had been their champions. And Governor Veazey triumphed and was reelected, while the once-favorite electors were labeled as revolutionists and dangerous men. This occurred in 1837-38; but just a few years later, 1841, the chief of the discredited leaders of the former revolt came before the people for their votes, offering neither justification nor apology for his earlier action, and straightway the masses flocked to his standard and made him governor of the state. With this election there entered the company of Maryland's chief magistrates one of the most remarkable men who has been honored by the commonwealth with public offices -Francis (or Frank) Thomas.
Francis Thomas was born in Frederick county on February 3, 1799, the seventh child of Francis and Nelly
FRANCIS THOMAS 1842-1845
HNELA
XXVI FRANCIS THOMAS
Chess, Bisrue Antony-each in turn eways the chooses and under the momentary spell of his influence what the People said and thought and did yesterday is made of no sffect by what the same people say an think and do today 1. has always han so; it is so now aml it ever will be so- publi entireal is as restless as a fluttering humming bird. in the early part of the whig administration of Governor Voarev, a few senatorial electors sought, by somewhat revolutionary methods, to cocommish a reform for which three-fourths of the BAKOHT BIOMAAT But Mr Veazey by a ine bit of frain
charge upon the very boden, she a cori tma Malin-hd
Ark Usteperosi ma, Thus occurred 1. AKERAti Tel just a few years later, 1841, the chief of the de rodfest haulers of the former revolt came before the people be for vore, offering neither justification nor apology for Dis etrier alon, and straightway the masses flocked in " mandan and made bru governor of the state. With the election Um wlared the company ot Marward's chief ma ( rund or the most remarkable men y been brokens Vy the - monwealth with
-Francis Tor 1 Thomas.
Francis has was born in Fredens dy on February 5, ITog, Me seventh child of Franeb and Nelly
COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY H. E. BUCHHOLZ.
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FRANCIS THOMAS
(Magill) Thomas. At the age of twelve he became a student at St. John's College, Annapolis, where he continued for some time, although he was not graduated. He later prepared himself for the legal profession and was admitted to the bar of Maryland in 1820. Mr. Thomas set up an office as a counselor-at-law at Frederick and succeeded in acquiring a large and profitable clientele in the Western Maryland coun- ties. Just about two years after his admission to the bar he appeared as a democratic candidate for the house of delegates. Although the people of the western counties were perhaps inclined to the federalist, or whiggish, doc- trines on most points, rather than to the democratic creed, it was at this time that some little importance was being attached to the question of readjusting the apportionment of representatives in the general assembly. The federalists were unfavorable to a policy which would regulate legis- lative representation according to the population, because that would give the cities too much power, while the demo- crats were advocates of just such a readjustment of rep- resentation. As Frederick county was one of the divisions which would profit most by a change in the apportionment, it readily fell into the democratic ranks. Francis Thomas was strongly, even violently, in favor of cutting down the existing power of the federalists, and he was elected a mem- ber of the house of delegates.
He again appeared as a candidate for the legislature in 1827 and in 1829 and was successful in both campaigns. During his last term in the house Mr. Thomas served as speaker and in the following year he was nominated for con- gress and elected. Four times thereafter did he come be- fore the people of Western Maryland as a candidate for the house of representatives, and each time he was chosen to the coveted office. This gave him an unbroken service in the lower branch of the national legislature from December 5,
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1831, when he took his seat, to March 3, 1841. During a short part of this time, from 1839 to 1840, Mr. Thomas was president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company. It was also during his congressional career that he led the electors who revolted. The senatorial electoral college was made up at that time of 21 whigs and 19 democrats. Frederick county had instructed its members not to go into session for electing state senators unless the whigs would previously agree that at least 8 of the 15 senators to be chosen were men known to be favorable to constitutional reform. Congressman Thomas took charge of the demo- cratic electors, but the plan miscarried and the men who had sought to carry out the people's wishes were labeled revolutionists and unsafe agitators. The movement, how- ever, was succeeded by amendments to the constitution, reorganizing the executive and legislative departments of the government.
When the democratic state convention met in 1841 to nominate a candidate for governor to succeed William Gra- son, Francis Thomas was named. He was the second dem- ocratic gubernatorial nominee under the amended state constitution, and his opponent, according to the provision of the constitution which gave to each of the three guber- natorial districts of the state a turn in naming the candi- dates, also came from Western Maryland, or the north- western district, and was William Cost Johnson. In the election Mr. Thomas was chosen governor by a majority of 621 votes. He was inaugurated at Annapolis on January 3, 1842-his term to continue for three years thereafter. Around this period of Thomas' career clusters the greatest activity of his life. First of all, his nomination was in every sense an opportunity for promotion, and the nominee regarded it as the biggest battle of his political career. He went into it with a vim and determination that were not
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