History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 10

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 10

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gress; Peter Little polled 3,974 and Mr. Stansbury 3,337 votes. Stewart by a vote of 3,688 and Kell by one of 3,636 were sent to the General Assembly. The members of the electoral college elevated George Stiles to the Mayoralty.

1817.

This was a rare year; unanimity pre- vailed. Messrs. Thomas Kell and E. G. Woodyear were without opposition in their election to the Legislature. The election of the members of the First Branch of the Council does not seem to have disturbed the smooth surface of the political sea. Verily, how delightful it was to behold such heaven-born unity. Such calms are always ominous; clear weather means foul weather (it presages the coming storm).

1818.

At the election held in 1818, the anti- Federalists voted the soldiers stationed at Fort McHenry, and also the sailors and marines on board the United States ves- sels. They were furnished with ballots, marched to the polls and exercised the pre- rogatives of freemen with all the vim of qualified citizens. A sergeant distributed the ballots while the soldiers were on pa- rade. During the contest made to give Baltimore a larger representation in the Legislature, the Federalists opposed that measure. They maintained that it would concentrate the power of the State in the city of Baltimore. The anti-Federalists or Democrats in that place, were styled "Jaco- bins," in consequence of their revolutionary conduct and disregard of law and order on election days. They were charged with being one-third foreigners attached to the governments of their nativity, whose object

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

in obtaining a residence in this country was to obtain riches, which the disturbed con- dition of Europe in consequence of the Napoleonic wars, rendered impossible. The Federalists maintained that the contest was between the city and counties for su- premacy, and that the potential question which every voter going to the polls should put to himself is, "Shall I vote for the man who will assist in effecting changes which will pass the great agricultural communities into the clutches of merchants, bank specu- lators, brokers, the lottery office, keepers of the fair grounds and the mob of Balti- more?"

Such questions have had all time for their birth and are not new as some political phil- osophers, who have developed in the pres- ent era, have supposed. The Democratic party at that day was severely arraigned for monopolistic tendencies and their adversa- ries were in return denounced by them in the following vigorous manner: "Shall I give my support to those who will lower the honor, the dignity and independence of the cultivators of the soil?"

There were so many persons announcing themselves candidates for the First Branch of the Council this year that the editor of the Federal Gazette cried out to them to spare hint and the space in his paper; he positively declined to print any further an- nouncements. Kell and Breckenridge were sent to the Legislature, receiving respect- ively 3,739 and 2,986 votes. The city was now divided into twelve wards and entitled to twenty-four members of the First Branch and twelve members of the Second Branch of the City Council. . The electoral college continued Stiles as Mayor. Smith and Lit-

tle were elected to Congress without oppo- sition.

1819.

General Andrew Jackson reached Balti- more February 27; he was received with great eclat. The Mayor called on him, ac- companied by the Council, and his Honor made an address to which "Old Hickory" responded.

In the fall Legislative contest, Mr. Mont- gomery, by a vote of 3,166, and Mr. Breck- enridge, by a vote of 1,741, were privileged to represent Baltimore in the Legislature.

1820.

The Congressional election resulted in sending General Samuel Smith and Peter Little to Congress and Barney and Ken- nedy to the Legislature. Of the candidates for Mayor, Montgomery received for that office 3,319 votes, and Johnson 2,917 votes.

A question which assumed importance as early as 1816 in Legislative session was comprehended under the head of "The Jew Bill." Only a few people were affected by it, at that time there being not over one hundred and fifty of that nationality resid- ing in the State. They were politically pro- scribed and could neither vote nor hold places of public trust.

1821.

The usual election of two members from each ward took place in the fall of this year for the First Branch of the City Council, and for members of the General Assembly. For the latter office Kennedy received 4,958 votes and Barney 4,564. They were both elected over opposition.

I822.

Smith, by a vote of 5,558, and Little, by a vote of 5,143, were returned to Congress.

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Kennedy and Purviance were elected to the Legislature. The electors favorable to Montgomery for Mayor received 3,500 votes and those favorable to Johnson 3,518 votes.

The question of removing the disabilities of the Jews would not down. A bill for that purpose was introduced in the Legis- lature of this year and passed. Under the Constitution before it could become a law it needed confirmation by the next succeed- ing Legislature. It was in its inception an unpopular proposition. Of forty members who voted for the bill only sixteen were returned to the Assembly of 1823. The measure developed ultimately into a popu- lar one. In Baltimore City delegates nomi- nated for the Legislature were required to avow themselves upon it. Finally on Sat- urday, February 26, 1825, the "Jew Bill," or a bill to alter the Constitution so as to relieve from political qualifications certain persons on account of their religious opin- ions, again passed. It was successful in the House by a vote of twenty-six for to twenty-five against, fifty-one of the eighty members responding to the roll call. On its final ratification by the Assembly in the fall of 1825 the vote in its favor was forty- five and the negative vote thirty-two. Mr. John VanLear McMahon was the author of the bill; he interested himself in the measure, and the association of his distin- guished name with it, and the influence he personally exerted in its behalf, was largely the bias that ensured its success. The He- brews in Baltimore have grown in wealth and influence; they have not made the event a ceremonial one, nor have they hon- ored Mr. McMahon who honored them-

selves, with a statue of bronze, such as his eloquence, learning and skilfulness in the law entitle him to receive.

1823.

Stewart, by a vote of 2,906, and W. G. D. Worthington, by one of 2,736, were elected to represent the city in the lower popular branch of the Legislature. Twen- ty-four new members from the twelve wards of the city were chosen to seats in the First Branch of the Council.

1824.

The election this year was one of import- ance. The Jackson Presidential electors were elected over the Adams electors. The highest vote polled in the city was for Cloud, Jackson's elector. His vote was 3,904; Winchester, his associate, had 3,903. Messrs. Warner and Dorsey, the Adams electors, had each 3,004 votes.

The two Congressmen elected from the city were Little, by a vote of 6,270, and Barney, by one of 3.502. Benjamin C. Howard and J. S. Tyson were sent to the Legislature. For Mayor the Montgomery electors defeated those of Johnson by 339 majority. The two branches of the Council were also elected; the First Branch by the people and the Second Branch by the elec- tors chosen for that purpose.

1825.

Howard and Tyson secured from the peo- ple a renewal of the right to represent them in the Legislature. A vote was taken in the Twelfth Ward for and against the pub- lic school system. Sentiment came near being unanimous. Out of 621 votes polled only fourteen were unfavorable.

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

1826.

Small's electors for Mayor this year re- ceived 4,841 votes and Montgomery 2,646 votes. J. S. Tyson and J. Stucke were elected to the Legislature, and Peter Little, by a vote of 4.750, and John Barney, by a vote of 4,467, were returned to Congress. Among the twenty-four First Branch Coun- cilmen elected were Solomon Etting and Joshua I. Cohen, Israelites. They were the first of their nationality to be so honored in Baltimore.

1827.

George H. Stewart, by a vote of 4,078, and John V. L. McMahon, by a vote of 4,303, were elected to the General Assem- bly. They ran on the Jackson ticket and stood for the cause of that great soldier. In the following year they were again re- turned. Small was elected Mayor over Mosher. The two Jackson electors, Sell- man and Howard, were elected respectively by a vote of 4,783 and 3,150.

The Council had on the 20th of March passed an ordinance for the registration of all qualified voters of the city of Baltimore, which was the first law of its character in Maryland. When submitted to the Mayor he approved of it. The wrong course was pursued when, in 1830, it was repealed, by an ordinance approved January 19th of that year.

1830.

In the legislative contest of this year Bal- timore elected to the lower house of the General Assembly Mr. Hunt, who received 4,471 votes, and Mr. Nicholas, who received 4,268 votes. They were elected as Jack- sonians over Mr. Stewart, who polled 4,087 votes, and Mr. Finley, who had 3,902 votes.

The defeated candidates were designated on their ticket as anti-Jackson.

In the fall of this year Mr. Small was. elected Mayor, receiving 4,844 votes to 3,824 cast for his opponent, Mr. Barry.

1831.

The anti-Masonic convention met in Bal- timore on the 26th day of September; it was the first convention held to nominate a President, and was composed of one hun- dred and twelve delegates, who assembled in the Athenaeum. Its work was speedily accomplished. William Wirt, who had a fondness for being a citizen of Virginia and then of Maryland, was at the moment of his nomination bona fide of Maryland. On the ticket with him was Amos Ellmaker, of Pennsylvania, nominated for the Vice Pres- idency. This movement was more serious than the one that nominated St. John and Daniel for the same places at a later date. It actually received the seven votes of Ver- mont in the electoral college.

The National Republican party, or Whig party, met in convention in Baltimore De- cember the 12th, Gov. Barber, of Vir- ginia, presiding. There were present one hundred and forty member's. Henry Clay was unanimously nominated for President, and on the 14th John Sergeant, of Penn- sylvania, received the selection of his run- ning mate for the Vice-Presidency. . The previous year Mr. Clay was in Baltimore; he came by the steamer Patuxent; when he landed on the wharf there was a dense. crowd present and the cheering was loud and enthusiastic. Mr. Clay was spirited off to Barnam's, on the porticos of which he often stood and addressed vast crowds. The following day, from II to 2 and from

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

7 until 9, he was called upon by the masses. A constant throng passed before him.

In the contest for seats in the National House of Representatives Benjamin C. Howard and Mr. Worthington were elected by the Jacksonians. They received the fol- lowing vote: Howard, 4,625; Worthington, 4,261.

1832.

General Jackson, whilst serving out his first term, had announced that he would be a candidate for re-election, and his party friends made no opposition to that arrange- ment. A National Democratic Convention was thought to be necessary only to deter- mine upon a candidate for the Vice-Presi- dency. With an eye single to that purpose the convention assembled in Baltimore, on May Ist, avowedly to nominate Van Buren, of New York, for the second place. The convention adopted the two-thirds rule as necessary to a choice, and that rule has since governed nominations of like charac- ter in National Democratic conventions.

During the sessions of this particular con- vention they were divided between being held in the Athenaeum Club and Warfield's Church, located in St. Paul street near Sar- atoga street. This building was afterwards put to a better use than its consecration to any political party could ordain, by its dedi- cation to the education of female youths, under the tutelage of the gifted Nathaniel C. Brooks, who resides in Philadelphia, an alien to Baltimore, where his useful and brilliant poetical and educational life was spent. In the fall election Messrs Jenkins and Harper were sent to the Legislature. Hunt, Jacksonian, by a vote of 5,269, beat Small, anti-Jacksonian, who received 3,532

votes. Jackson for President had 5,025 votes and Clay 4,248 votes. Thursday, the 29th day of December, Baltimore citizens, regardless of party, met at the call of the Mayor to consider the ordinance of nulli- fication adopted by the South Carolina Con- vention. Mayor Jesse Hunt was called to the chair. On motion of Judge R. B. Ma- gruder William Patterson and Robert Oli- ver were selected vice-presidents and E. L. Finley and J. S. Nicholas secretaries. The president in a speech stated the question at issue between South Carolina and the Fed- eral Government administered by President Andrew Jackson. A series of resolutions was offered by Hon. Isaac McKim; they recited that "the peace, safety and inde- pendence of these United States depend es- sentially on the preservation of the Union, and the support of the Constitution and form of Government established by the peo- ple, the only legitimate source of power and authority;" that "certain proceedings char- acterized by unjustifiable violence and based on a mistaken and rash policy have taken place in the State of South Carolina, which threaten disunion, all the horrors of civil war, and eventually the destruction of the finest fabric ever erected to liberty."

"The President of the United States has issued his proclamation, denouncing such proceedings as unconstitutional and illegal, so far as they assume a paramount author- ity to nullify an act of Congress, to inter- rupt the collection of the public revenue, and to dissolve the sacred bond of our Union."

"An expression of public opinion at this momentous crisis is proper and becoming a free people;" and it was resolved "that the proceedings of the State Convention of

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

South Carolina, and the political principles avowed in the extraordinary and unprece- dented document, styled 'an ordinance,' are disapproved by this meeting as tending to disturb the harmony of Government, men- acing the integrity of the Union, violating good faith, and impairing if not destroying, the prosperity of the Union ;" "that we high- ly and entirely approve the opinions and sentiments avowed in the proclamation of the President of the United States. In this important public act we recognize the wis- dom of the statesman, the firmness and in- flexible integrity of the patriot, and the deep feeling of solicitude becoming a Father of his Country, in the existing crisis of diffi- culty and danger-with him we proclaim The Union must be preserved;" "that the Union party of South Carolina has earned and deserves the high distinction of fearless . and true patriots-their course is honorable and must lead to success, supported, as it is, by the approbation of all good citizens, who have not been artfully drawn into the de- stroying vortex of nullification nor enlisted under the banner of mad ambition."

A committee to consider and report upon the resolutions was selected by the chair- man; he named the following representative Baltimoreans: Gen. George H. Stewart, Isaac McKim, Judge N. Brice, Judge R. B. Magruder, Gen. S. C. Leakin, Talbot Jones, P. Laurenson, Luke Tiernan, Col. W. E. Stewart, Charles Howard, of John Eager, John E. Stansbury and William George Read. The committee recommended the adoption of the resolutions without amend- ment and that a copy be transmitted to the President and published in the city papers, and it was unanimously so ordered.

1833.

Henry Clay was a frequent visitor to Bal- timore; its prominent citizens were his friends and delighted always to entertain him. On such occasions he avoided public receptions. On the 8th of October he reached the city, and was tendered a public dinner, which he declined, but received a number of citizens who called.

The election in the fall of this year was for Congress. Upton Heath, in the Fourth Baltimore City district, received 2,805 votes and Benjamin C. Howard 2,592 votes.

The vote in the five wards of the city, apart of the Fifth district, resulted in Mc- Kim, Democratic candidate, receiving 2,049 votes, and Stewart, Whig candidate, receiv- ing 1,678 votes.

1834.

Greater reverence was paid public men then than is customary now. Hero worship was pronounced and worth possibly more inspiring. Saturday, April 19th, four promi- nent public men, well-known in the annals of the county, Messrs. McDuffie, Preston, Binney and Webster, reached Baltimore. They were escorted by five thousand en- thusiastic citizens to the Exchange and to Barnam's, rival hotels. Each of the gentle- men being called upon for that purpose, made speeches.

The 23d of April Monument Square was filled to its utmost capacity with a concourse of people which was phenomenal. It was a curious episode that took place. Former supporters of President Andrew Jackson, differing from him as to his policy and his protest to Congress, had ceased longer to follow his political fortunes and were pres- ent to give expression to their sentiments of

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

disapproval. Gen. William McDonald was the presiding officer. The orators who spoke in turn were John P. Kennedy, Charles G. Harper, Joshua Jones and John V. L. McMahon. The resolutions sus- tained the Senate and were pronounced for the formation of a State Whig organiza- tion. The supporters of Gen. Jackson were not at all pleased with either the dem- onstration or what they termed the apostasy of some of their leading lights, of whom there were a greater number than those who addressed the meeting. The disorderly re- sorted to violence and an attempt was made to break up the meeting, which was unsuc- cessful, and those undertaking to do it were driven out of the square. The following evening a renewal of violence occurred, which caused the young Whigs to form a military association on South street. The Mayor and his posse, by timely action, sup- pressed the rioters.

R. B. Taney, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Jackson, after re- turning to Baltimore on the IIth of July, was met on the outskirts of the city by two hundred persons, who escorted him to the Columbian Garden. Here was assembled a multitude which was addressed by Mr. Taney, Mr. Benton and Mr. Allen, a Con- gressman from Ohio. A heavy storm of wind and rain suddenly made its appear- ance; the awnings over the tables were swept away and the company drenched. Mr. Benton was in the midst of his speech when the storm descended.

The Baltimore "Republican," in its issue of Saturday, May 10th, under the head of "Attention," published the following proc- lamation: "Those young men of Baltimore who are willing to pledge life, fortune and

sacred honor in the support of their patriotic Chief Magistrate, against the lawless course of a factious Senate, are requested to as- semble on Thursday evening next, the 15th instant, at half-past 7 o'clock, at the Colum- bian Gardens. The object of the meeting will be explained in an address, from a friend, to the cause of equal rights and uni- versal suffrage." The meeting was a large one, whereat resolutions were passed in sup- port of the administration of President Jack- son and denunciatory of the Whig Senate.

The 7th of May a Jackson Republican Convention in the city of Baltimore issued a call for an administration mass meeting in Monument Square on the evening of that day. Col. Upton S. Heath organized the meeting and William Frick was chairman. The resolutions were laudatory of Gen. Jackson's administration and condemnatory of the Whigs. Col. Benjamin C. Howard, Samuel Brady, William George Reed, John Nelson and Col. Heath were the orators.

In October the Whig party issued an ad- dress signed by Hezekiah Niles, S. H. Barnes, Isaac Monroe, Robert Purviance and William P. Dunnington, in which oc- curred these sentences: "Thousands of citizens became alarmed at the desperately daring encroachments of the President. The noble experiment we are accomplish- ing in the science of government must make us become the laughing stock of nations. I will it or I forbid it, says the king. ‘I take the responsibility,' says the President."

The Jacksonians issued an address signed by William Krebs, Benjamin C. Howard, Elijah Stansbury and John F. Haas; in it they said Jackson had no desire to over- throw American institutions and his life was a refutation of that assertion.

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

The Whigs elected Joseph Cushing and John Jones to the General Assembly this year. Cushing had a vote of 5,660 and Jones of 5,530, a total of 11, 190, to a Demo- cratic total of 10,562. For Mayor Jesse Hunt received 5,468 votes and Mr. Small 4,415.

1829. A Few Editors in Politics.

Samuel Barnes, editor-in-chief of the ""Chronicle," published in the twenties of the present century, had a fondness for political discussion. Such articles were potential with a certain class of his readers. He was an enthusiastic Whig, and his political ar- ticles favorable to his party doctrines were dry and caustic; some people thought him even morose and misanthropic on account of his extremely luminous nose, which caused those who did not know him to sup- pose that he was intemperate. It was quite the reverse; Mr. Barnes was a very ab- stemious man. His misfortune was caused by the bite of a rat; the nose became in- flamed and he was disfigured for life.

Billy Pechim, a popular man in his day, could write a scathing political article, rasp- ing his adversaries in the columns of the "American," When appearing on the hust- ings and indulging in speech he was ultra in character denouncing and decrying his opponents, his shrill clarion voice penetrat- ing a long distance and thus drawing a crowd, who good naturedly stood amused at his violent gesticulations.

Doctor Edward J. Alcock was editor of the "Jefferson Reformer;" he has been characterized as "a man of attractive man- ners and brilliant education, though a vio- lent and headstrong politician." The editor

was merciless with his pen, and apprehen- sive that his severity in the treatment of his political adversaries might endanger his life. He supported with zeal and enthu- siasm the administration of President An- drew Jackson. "His feelings frequently burst the bounds of control." Finally he published "a severe philippic" and in "some allusions to the family of the Stuarts," gave offense. A young member of that family sent him a challenge, which was declined, for the reason that he was near-sighted. Young George Stuart, the challenger, one night, when Alcock was seated in his office, on North Gay street, shot him, inflicting a fatal wound. Alcock was a member of the Marion Rifles, commanded by the poet, John H. Hewitt; he was buried by the com- pany with military honors.

William Lloyd Garrison, in 1829, was a resident of Baltimore; he was a member of an anti-slavery society which organized at that time in this city. It established a paper edited by Benjamin Lundy. Garrison was a contributor to its columns, and in one of his articles he charged Francis Todd, of Newburyport, of acquiring wealth by an in- human traffic in flesh and blood. A suit for criminal libel was instituted by Todd against Garrison in the Criminal Court of Baltimore. Garrison, after trial, was found guilty and Judge Nicholas Brice imposed a fine of fifty dollars and costs, and in de- fault of payment Garrison was sent to jail.

The "Minerva" taunted him for becoming a voluntary inmate of prison, saying "if he had not the money in his pocket to pay his fine, he could easily have raised it among his friends." His only cause of incarcera-

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

tion "being failure to comply with an order of court was not of itself a mandate for im- prisonment."

Garrison issued a reply, ending with this paragraph: "I understand that his Honor, Judge Brice, opines that Mr. Garrison is ambitious to become a martyr; to which I beg leave to reply, that if the suspicion of his Honor be correct, he is equally am- bitious to collect the faggots and apply the torch."

Garrison shortly afterwards found a friend to serve him in Arthur Tappan, who paid his fine and costs so that he was re- leased, and being threatened with violence left the State. The issue prominently pre- sented by Garrison did not leave with him; it showed itself in 1836, when the reforming of the Constitution of the State was dis- cussed before the people. Apprehensions existed that if a convention was called the relations between master and slave might be more liberally defined. To prevent fu- ture abolition agitation a constitutional pro- viso was inserted, declaring "that the rela- tion of master and slave in this State shall not be abolished unless a bill for that pur- pose shall be passed by unanimous vote of both branches of the General Assembly. It was further provided that it should be published three months before a new elec- tion, and unanimously confirmed by the succeeding Legislature." A further re- quirement was that full compensation should be received by the master for his slave. Such a result was unquestionably brought about by the efforts of Lunday, Garrison and their contemporaries in the cause of the liberation of the slave. The divinity of slavery and the fanaticism that afterwards characterized its pretensions had

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Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344