USA > Maryland > Governors of Maryland : from the Revolution to the year 1908 > Part 4
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Early in his public career, from 1767 to 1773, he filled acceptably the position of naval officer at Patuxent, in which capacity his father had served before him. He was elected as a representative of his county in the convention that assembled at Annapolis on May 8, 1776, and that invited Governor Eden, the representative of the English crown, to vacate. A few weeks later, May 26, he was appointed one of the council of safety, and he was elected a delegate from his county to the convention which met at Annapolis on August 14, 1776. While it has been inferred that Mr.
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Plater was a commonplace man, it was rather with the aim to stress his quiet demeanor in filling the public offices given him, as opposed to the gallery play of many men of his time, than to discredit him or belittle his intrinsic worth. He was not a man of large creative ability; he was not a legislator of extensive influence, nor did he possess an individuality of marked distinction; but withal he was a reliable represen- tative of the people as long as the atmosphere in which he existed was legal or constitutional. His value as a lawyer and a lawmaker came to be fully appreciated by both his constituents and the representatives at Annapolis, and on August 17, 1776, he was appointed a member of the com- mittee chosen "to prepare a declaration and charter and a form of government" for the state. He was elected a mem- ber of the Continental congress in 1778, serving consecu- tively until 1781. After his service in the Continental con- gress he was repeatedly chosen as the representative of St. Mary's in the upper house of the general assembly and on several occasions was president of the senate. When the constitution of the United States was submitted to the several commonwealths for ratification, Mr. Plater was a member of the Maryland convention elected to vote upon the document This body, which finally ratified the consti- tution on April 28, 1788, was presided over by him.
It is doubtful just how much Mr. Plater contributed to the defeat of the enemies of the constitution, but it is cer- tain that by his intelligent and just direction over a body of men which was somewhat easily influenced he helped to win favor for the instrument which was designed to bind together the thirteen states. William Paca was anxious to have the convention adopt certain amendments to the con- stitution, and was requested to prepare a series of proposed changes; but when Mr. Paca rose to present his amendments, he was informed that the convention had been assembled
GEORGE PLATER
1369799 3.5
not to amend the constitution, but to vote for its ratifica- tion. A significant testimonial to Mr. Plater's guidance of the deliberations of the body is found in the record that, after the remarks of William Paca upon his proposed amend- ments, the convention offered a vote of thanks to its presi- dent and then adjourned without acting upon Paca's sugges- tion. In 1789 Mr. Plater appeared as a candidate for presi- dential elector on the federalistic ticket, and cast his vote for George Washington for president
At the close of Mr. Howard's administration it seems that gubernatorial material was scarce. The legislature had become discouraged in the matter of electing governors, since it was a common occurrence for a citizen, after having been chosen governor of the state, upon being notified of his election by a committee of the legislature, to inform it that he could not serve. For this reason the legislators learned to train their gaze for available timber just a little lower than they had at first been accustomed to do. In 1791 they invited George Plater to serve as governor of Maryland, and Mr. Plater accepted, becoming the sixth governor of the state. Governor Plater's administration, however, was short. His health soon became impaired and early in the year following his election he died, breath- ing his last on February 10, 1792. He was buried at his birthplace, Sattorly. His brief service as chief magistrate of Maryland contains no single event of great moment out- side of the locating of the national capital-an affair in which Maryland had a deep concern.
Mr. Plater was twice married. His first wife, who had been Miss Hannah Lee, died in 1763. His second wife was Elizabeth Rousby, a granddaughter of Ann Rousby, the widow of the first George Plater-Governor Plater's grand- father. This second marriage was solemnized on July 10, 1764.
VII JOHN HOSKINS STONE
Toward the close of the eighteenth century Maryland stood sorely in need of a constructionist for governor. Some of the earlier state executives had been constructionist to a slight extent, but they were constructive legislators, not executives. Mr. Johnson, for instance, was not anxious to resume the administration of the state's affairs, because he had come to believe, that in the legislative halls or on the bench were open the only opportunities to blaze the way for more perfect government, and that in the executive office there was presented little chance to do more than represent the commonwealth socially. But with all his far-sighted- ness, Governor Johnson, among other leaders of his day, failed to see that the gubernatorial office was denied the right to become constructive only because no large man assumed the lead in imparting to the office this power. These leaders did not seem to realize the fact that the proper man with the proper spirit might broaden the dignity and prerogatives of the gubernatorial office until its social side should become secondary and its political power advance it to the first office in the state. It was not until after the second administration of Governor Lee that there was called to the executive chair a man who fully realized the needs of the occasion-who, too, possessed daring and originality enough to experiment, and was endowed with tact sufficient to avoid giving offense. This man, elected in 1794, was Governor Stone.
John Hoskins Stone was born in Charles county, Mary- land, in 1745. On his paternal side he was a descendant
JOHN HOSKINS STONE 1794-1797
JOIN HOSKINS STONE
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COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY H. E. BUCHHOLZ.
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JOHN HOSKINS STONE
of William Stone, who, toward the close of the first half of the seventeenth century, was appointed governor of Mary- land by Lord Baltimore. His father was David Stone and his mother was a daughter of Daniel Jenifer. Young Stone was trained for a legal career. He received at the private schools of Charles county what was then considered a liberal education and obtained the finishing touches to his profes- sional training by being brought in contact with the lead- ing legal lights of the day. When the American Revolution became inevitable Mr. Stone had reached the age of thirty years and had already won a fair amount of attention as a lawyer, both in his own county and at Annapolis. In No- vember, 1774, he had been chosen to serve on the committee from Charles county which was to carry out the resolutions of congress. He was a member of the committee of corre- spondence and, in 1775, a member of the Association of Freemen of Maryland. Like many a young political leader of his day, he was prompt in answering the call to arms. Even before his native state had sanctioned a declaration of independence he mounted his war horse to fight for separa- tion. On January 14, 1776, he was elected a captain in Colonel Smallwood's First Maryland Battalion and served with sufficient distinction to receive a promotion to a colonelcy by the following December. But the military ability of Mr. Stone must always remain an unknown quantity, for when he had attained to a position where he would best be able to show the stuff of which he was made, misfortune interposed herself between him and opportunity. It is recorded that he fought with distinction at the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Princeton and Germantown, but at none of these places did he win greater praise than was accorded many of his fellow-officers. At the engage- ment of Germantown, however, he received a severe wound, which not only disabled him from further military service
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but crippled him for life. For some time he clung to a vain hope that he would be able to resume service with the Conti- nental forces, but finally, on August 1, 1779, he resigned his commission and again became a private citizen of Maryland.
Mr. Stone's misfortune succeeded in diverting his ambi- tion from the military to the political field, and in November of the year 1779 he resumed his position in the council chambers of Maryland, and was named as a member of the executive council chosen to advise Thomas Sim Lee, then governor. Two years later in 1781, Mr. Stone became a clerk in the office of Robert Livingston, who was secretary of foreign affairs under the articles of confederation. He was elected a member of the house of delegates in 1786, and was named as one of the committee to prepare instructions for commissioners to the Philadelphia convention, which framed the constitution of the United States. For a period of several years thereafter Mr. Stone dropped somewhat from the public eye, but in 1794, when he was chosen gov- ernor of the State of Maryland, he assumed a position of much importance in both the affairs of Maryland and of the nation. He had been a hearty supporter of the federal party, and it was as a federal candidate that he was chosen governor. The newly elected executive realized first of all, that the office of chief magistrate in Maryland was not as important as it should be, and he devised means for aug- menting its dignity. He seemed indisposed to let the legis- lators not only pass the laws, but create them, while the governor devoted his time to basking in the smiles of fash- ionable society. The means which suggested itself to him as opening up a new avenue of influence for the guber- natorial office, was the outlining by the executive of the affairs of moment which to his mind were deserving of the consideration of the legislature. With the purpose of thus enlarging the influence of his office, the governor
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JOHN HOSKINS STONE
addressed a message to the legislature at the opening of the session, in which he called attention to those duties that he thought confronted it. The members of the assembly were pleased with the innovation of a governor's message. "Although not sanctioned by precedent," they wrote him, "or enjoined by the constitution, such communications certainly have their use, and we wish that future governors may follow the laudable example whenever it may seem expedient to submit to the legislature such matters as they shall judge deserving its attention."
The inauguration of the practice of sending a message from the executive mansion to the legislature at the begin- ning of a session is the greatest monument of Governor Stone's constructive administration. Another accomplish- ment, though of less importance, was the aid which he, and the legislature at his instigation, rendered the national government in the matter of erecting buildings. After the city of Washington had been laid out and everything was in readiness to begin construction, it was found that the available funds would not go far toward defraying the necessary expense. An effort was made to float a foreign loan, but it proved futile. As a last resort Washington wrote a personal appeal to Maryland to aid the federal government in its endeavors to house the machinery of the central government. " In response to Washington's appeal Maryland, toward the end of 1796, lent the national govern- ment $100,000. This amount was subsequently increased on two occasions, making it $250,000.
Another feature of Governor Stone's administration was the hearty support that was given by Maryland to Washington during that period when his enemies were making bitter attacks upon him. The Maryland assembly, on November 25, 1795, went on record as being fully in accord with Washington upon all the affairs of his admin-
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istration and entirely opposed to those who sought to dis- credit him. The first president was again subjected to attacks in 1796, and in December of that year the legisla- ture once more expressed by resolution its full faith in Washington. Governor Stone wrote Washington, under date of December 16, 1796: "I consider it the most agreeable and honorable circumstance of my life that during my admin- istering the government of Maryland I should have been twice gratified in communicating to you the unanimous and unreserved approbation of my countrymen of your public conduct, as well as their gratitude for your eminent services." Mr. Stone was twice reelected governor, bring- ing to an end his three terms of one year each in 1797. After his retirement from the executive mansion, he con- tinued to live in Annapolis with Mrs. Stone, who had been a Miss Couden before her marriage, and their daughter. But he gradually withdrew from public affairs. He died October 5, 1804.
1
JOHN HENRY LAW YER STATESMAN GOVERNOR
BORN IN DORCHESTER GO TEC DJED 1-58 CONT 'D SONGRESS 17/1133 U.S. SENATE 1739-1791 GOVERNOR.MARYLAND 1797-193
HONORED FOR HISWISDOM AND POLITICAL INTE GRITY
COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY H. E. BUCHHOLZ.
1
JOHN HENRY
From the very beginning of America's struggle for inde- pendence the e verel states were violently and unreservedly opposed to section control, If it had been announced in the closing yeus of the nightbeth watery that England contemplated mlmpozy w adliyeye. American
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ari attempt. YAMAH KHOL TO THEMU OM ne of the
Commonwealthid that some ståPriser of another section ATfated a course that would give them a small control in that particu- hur commonwealth's administration, every man, woman kød child of the state conspired against would have risen up instantly and anned for stubborn resistance. It is not irEnge, therefore, that in the childhood days of the United States The Eastern Shoreman of Maryland should have taken we will his fellow- gtesthan on the westem banks vs De peske and declared that the Western Shorema M nor have one whit more authority in the direction of nawealth's affairs than he It was the spirit of 10 Americans that was manifestiny Itself. for the citizen of laz Usdal States regarded as poison the attempt of any body i men to control because of their geographical pocitiom Art in the ardent support which was accorded Mr. Henty As senatorial, gubernatorial and presidential candidate there is found at least a tracing of
MONUMENT OF JOHN HENRY 1797-1798 Christ Episcopal Cemetery, Cambridge, Md.
VIII JOHN HENRY
From the very beginning of America's struggle for inde- pendence the several states were violently and unreservedly opposed to sectional control. If it had been announced in the closing years of the eighteenth century that England contemplated attempting to resubjugate her American colonies, it is probable that the states in a leisurely sort of way would have appointed delegates to go to the mother- country and seek to convince her of the uselessness of such an attempt. But if a rumor had crept into anyone of the commonwealths that some state or states of another section contemplated assuming rule over it, or even meditated a course that would give them a small control in that particu- lar commonwealth's administration, every man, woman and child of the state conspired against would have risen up instantly and armed for stubborn resistance. It is not strange, therefore, that in the childhood days of the United States the Eastern Shoreman of Maryland should have taken issue with his fellow-statesman on the western banks of the Chesapeake and declared that the Western Shoreman should not have one whit more authority in the direction of the commonwealth's affairs than he. It was the spirit of all Americans that was manifesting itself, for the citizen of the United States regarded as poison the attempt of any body of men to control because of their geographical position. And in the ardent support which was accorded Mr. Henry as senatorial, gubernatorial and presidential candidate there is found at least a tracing of
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the determination of the Eastern Shoreman to divide evenly between the two sections control of Maryland's affairs.
John Henry was born at Weston, the Henry home stead, in Dorchester county in the month of November, 1750. His father, Colonel John Henry, represented his county in the legislature. His mother was a daughter of Colonel Rider, an Englishman, who came to America in the early part of the eighteenth century and settled in Dor- chester county. Young Henry was sent to the West Not- tingham Academy, in Cecil county, where he prepared for college. He then entered the College of New Jersey (sub- sequently Princeton), from which he was graduated in 1769. He continued his studies in New Jersey and later went to England, where he took up law in the Temple. In England he mingled freely in the best society, and while the war clouds were gathering in his native land, joined in merry debate with the youths of Britain upon the subjects that were being considered very seriously by his fellow-country- men at home. Mr. Henry sailed for America the year pre- ceding the rupture with England and immediately upon his arrival began to entertain his fellow-countians with the feats of argument which he had performed while engaged in mental battles with the young men across the sea. The manner of the speaker and his culture soon won him the favor of Eastern Shoremen, and he was sent to represent his county in the council hall of Maryland.
John Henry was elected delegate to the Continental con- gress in 1777 and served in that body from 1778 to 1781. He was again elected in 1784 and continued a member until 1787. He was appointed in 1787 a member of the com- mittee which was to prepare an ordinance for the North- west Territory. During his first term in congress Mr. Henry was a warm champion of the men who were carrying on the conflict in the fields and also a rather severe critic of the
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JOHN HENRY
merchantmen who sought to reap a golden harvest through the pressing needs of the people. He was, first of all, a fear- less critic, and both the mercenaries, who were striving to amass fortunes by overcharging the people, and the legis- lators, who showed little wisdom in the management of the country's affairs, came in for blunt judgment at his hand.
The close of Mr. Henry's service in the Continental con- gress witnessed an increase of the strife between the people of the Eastern and Western Shores of Maryland as to the division of power which should hold under the federal constitution. The chief concern of the people at this time centered upon the question of the election of two United States senators. On December 9, 1788, members of the state senate and of the house met in joint convention for the election of senators and the absence of unity in the state of Maryland was again manifested, for the Eastern Shore members carried a resolution which required that "one senator should be a resident of the Western Shore and the other of the Eastern Shore." John Henry and George Gale from the Eastern Shore and Charles Carroll of Carroll- ton and Uriah Forrest from the Western Shore were named. Several ballots were taken before any one candidate received the required number of the votes cast, and then John Henry, having polled forty-two tickets, was declared to have been elected. Mr. Henry was, therefore, the first senator elected by Maryland to a seat in congress. The body then adjourned until the following day, when the names of Charles Carroll and Uriah Forrest were put in nomination for the Western Shore senatorship, and Mr. Carroll was elected. The terms for which the first senators were elected were unequal, one being for six years and the other for only two years. The senators-elect drew for the terms which should fall to each and Mr Henry secured the six-year slip. At
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GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND
the close of his first term, in 1795, he was reelected for four years additional, but did not complete the second term, resigning to accept the governorship.
In the election of Mr. Henry as executive of Maryland there is presented further evidence of the struggle between Marylanders on the eastern side of the bay against any endeavor of the Western Shoremen to control the affairs of the state. General Smallwood, an Eastern Shoreman, who served as state executive many years before Mr. Henry, was not chosen to office because of his political faith nor the section of his birth; but solely upon his military record. He represented the sentimental candidate, and as far as political affairs were concerned was a nonentity. But when Mr. Henry was nominated in the closing days of 1797, his candidacy appealed to some people most forcibly be- cause he represented a section, and had been selected by the voters upon the Eastern Shore as a fit subject upon whom to bestow the greatest honor at their command. He had, however, long been a prominent laborer in the fed- eralist party. When the country was called upon to elect a successor to President Washington in 1795 the name of John Henry was mentioned for that office, and he polled two votes in the electoral college; the same number that was given to Washington, who, however, had some time before declared that under no circumstances would he become a candidate for reelection.
John Henry was elected the successor of Governor Stone on November 13, 1797, on the joint ballot of the two houses. But he was not altogether to the liking of the entire body of legislators, and some daring opponent of his moved that the words "unanimously elected," customarily entered upon the record when a candidate was unopposed, be stricken from the minutes. In other words, the election was not unanimous; but the majority of the members of
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JOHN HENRY
the legislature decided that it should be entered as "unani- mous" and refused to grant the requested change in the journal of the legislature. Governor Henry was in office for but one year. Because of failing health he declined to stand for reelection. His administration was marked by a thorough reorganization of the militia of the state. At this time the country was putting on its war paint prepara- tory to doing battle with its late ally, France. It was stirred to its depths with hatred for the nation to which it had sworn a lasting friendship. Washington, but lately retired from public affairs, was called out of his seclusion and directed once more to lead the American army into action as its commander-in-chief. The people in Maryland and throughout the Union began to build fortifications and to prepare generally for a conflict. And then, when there had been as much excitement as could have been gotten out of an actual war, the bubble was pricked, the war clouds dispersed and America extended the hand of friendship to France. On November 12, 1798, Thomas Sim Lee was elected governor of Maryland as successor to Mr. Henry. He declined to serve, however, and two days later Benjamin Ogle was chosen in his stead.
John Henry had been married in 1787, to Miss Mar- garet Campbell, of Caroline county, by whom he had two sons. Like Governor Lee, he left no portrait of himself. He died at Weston, December 16, 1798, after having spent a little more than one month in retirement from the executive mansion. He was buried in the old family burial ground at Weston. In 1908 his body was removed to Christ Episcopal Cemetery, Cambridge, Md., and over his grave a fitting memorial monument was erected by his descendants.
IX BENJAMIN OGLE
When the legislature, in 1798, undertook to provide a suc- cessor to Governor Henry, its choice first fell upon Thomas Sim Lee, who had already had two administrations of three and two years, respectively. Governor Lee was at this time the strongest federalist that Maryland afforded, but he declined to serve again as the executive of the state. The legislature had several times been forced to accept a declination from one who had been chosen to the high office of governor, and invariably after one of these humiliating experiences it sought out a less conspicuous citizen upon whom to bestow the honor. On November 14, 1798, there- fore, the senate and house in joint session presented the names of two men who had not won great fame theretofore in the affairs of the commonwealth, and Benjamin Ogle and Nicholas Carroll were nominated for the office of governor. The interest-or lack of it-that was manifested by others than the assembly members and the two candidates in the result of this election is indicated by an item in the federal Gazette of Baltimore, Thursday, November 15, 1798, in which announcement is made that: "A gentleman from Annapolis has politely handed us the following correct elec- tions by the general assembly of governor and council- Benjamin Ogle, governor; Messrs. Shaaf, Davidson, Thomas, Brice and Wilmer, council."
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