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 13

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 13

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WHEREAS, In view of these considera- tions, and in order to commence the great and glorious work of our moral elevation and of our social and intellectual improve- ment, we are of the opinion that an organi- zation of the friends of this just and holy cause is absolutely necessary for effecting the object so much to be desired, and we are therefore

RESOLVED, That we will, each and every - one, here pledge ourselves to each other and to our God, to use, on every and all occa- sions, our utmost efforts to accomplish the objects set forth in the foregoing preamble; and that we will now and forever hereafter engraft this truth in our prayers, our hopes, our instructions to our brethren and our children; namely, that degradation is a sin and a source of misery, and it is a high, an honorable and a blessed privilege we enjoy -the right to improve ourselves and trans- mit to posterity, happiness instead of our misery-knowledge instead of our ignor- ance.

RESOLVED, That while we appreciate and

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acknowledge the sincerity of the motives and the activity of the zeal of those who, . during an agitation of twenty years, have honestly struggled to place us on a footing of social and political equality with the white population of the country, yet we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that no advancement has been made towards a result so desirable, but that, on the con- trary, our condition as a class is less de- sirable now than it was twenty years ago.

RESOLVED, That in the face of an emi- gration from Europe, which is greater each year than it was the year preceding, and during the prevalence of a feeling in regard to us, which the very agitation intended for good has only served apparently to embit- ter, we cannot promise ourselves that the future will do that which the past has failed to accomplish.

RESOLVED, That we recognize in our- selves the capability of conducting our own public affairs in a manner at once creditable and well calculated to further among us the cause of religion, virtue, morality, truth and enlightenment-and to acquire for our- selves the possession and enjoyment of that elevated refinement which so much adorns and beautifies social intercourse among mankind, and leads them to a proper appre- ciation of the relations existing between man and Deity, man and his fellow-men, and man and that companion whom God has bestowed upon him to console him in the hour of trouble and darkness, or enjoy with him the blessings that heaven vouch- safes occasionally to shower upon our path- way through life.

RESOLVED, That in a retrospective sur- vey of the past we see between the white and colored races a disparity of thought,

feeling and intellectual advancement which convinces us that it cannot be that the two races will ever overcome their mutual pre- judices toward each other sufficiently to dwell together in harmony, and in the en- joyment of like social and political privi- leges, and we therefore hold that a separa- tion of ourselves from our white neighbors, many of whom we cannot but love and ad- mire for the generosity they have displayed towards us from time to time, is an object devoutly to be desired and the consumma- tion of which would tend to the mutual ad- vantage of both races.

RESOLVED, That comparing the relative advantages afforded us in Canada, the West Indies and Liberia-these being the places beyond the limits of the United States to which circumstances have directed our at- tention-we are led to examine the claims of Liberia particularly, for there alone we have been told that we can exercise all the functions of a free republican government, and hold an honorable positon among the nations of the earth.

RESOLVED, That this convention recom- mend to the colored people of Maryland the formation of societies in the counties of the State and the city of Baltimore, who shall meet monthly, for the purpose of rais- ing the means to establish and support free schools for the education of our poor and destitute children, and for the appointment each month of a person whose duty it shall be to collect such information in relation to the condition of colored emigrants in Canada, West Indies, Guiana and Liberia, as can be obtained by him from all avail- able sources; which information shall be brought to these monthly meetings above alluded to and read before them for the

M Poker

1821-

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instruction of all in order that when they are resolved, if they should so resolve, to remove from this country to any other, they must know what will be their wants, opportunities, prospects, &c., in order to provide beforehand for any emergencies that may meet them on their arrival in their new homes.

RESOLVED, That as this subject is one of great importance to us and the considera- tion of which, whatever may be the result, cannot be put aside, we recommend to our people of this State to establish and main- tain an organization in regard to it, the great object of which shall be enquiry and discussion which, without committing any, may lead to accurate information and that a convention like the present one composed of delegates from the respective counties in the State and from Baltimore City, be held annually at such times and places as may be hereafter designated.

RESOLVED, That in thus expressing our opinions, it is not our purpose to counsel emigration as either necessary or proper in every case. The transfer of an entire peo- ple from one land to another must neces- sarily be a work of generations. Each in- dividual now and hereafter must be gov- erned by the circumstances of his own con- dition, of which he alone can be the judge, as well in regard to the time of removal as to the place to which he shall remove; but deeply impressed ourselves that sooner or later removal must take place, we would counsel our people to accustom themselves to the idea.

RESOLVED, That this convention recom- mend the ministers of the gospel among the free colored population of Maryland to en- deavor, by contributions from the congre-

gations and by other means, to raise funds for the purpose of forwarding the benevo- lent object of educating the children of des- titute colored persons of this State; and that they also impress upon the minds of their hearers the benefit which would neces- sarily result from the development of their intellects and the bringing into fullest use those mental powers and reasoning facul- ties which distinguish mankind from the brute creation; and that this be requested of them as a part of their duty as ministers of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A committee of five was appointed to draw up a memorial to be presented to the Legislature asking that they "be apprised beforehand of any action it might take in regard to the free colored people of Mary- land." The resolution passed and J. H. Walker, J. A. Handy, William Perkins, Thomas Fuller and Daniel T. Ross were named for the purpose. The committee may have discharged its functions but there is no record that the Legislature ever ap- prised beforehand either the committee or anybody else but themselves of their pur- pose, as suggested.

After the appointment of an Executive Committee charged with attending "to all matters affecting colored interests" within the State, the convention finally adjourned.

This was Mayoralty year. The candi- date of the Whigs was Mr. France and of the Democrats Mr. Hollins.

The election resulted in Gen. Scott re- ceiving 9,558 votes, Pierce 14,035 votes, France 8,981 votes and Hollins 1,265 votes.

1853.

The Whigs re-nominated Thomas Yates Walsh for Congress. He was opposed by Henry May, the Democratic candidate.

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Mr. May, in his canvass, vigorously as- sailed the record of his opponent in Con- gress, which had been of the most honor- able and distinguished character. A vote which Mr. Walsh had given to establish a line of steamers from New York to a for- eign port in Europe furnished the text. It was charged that he should have sought to have had Baltimore made the terminus.

October 19, 1853, Mr. Walsh addressed a mass meeting of his supporters at the cor- ner of Madison and Eutaw streets.

It was an able address in which, re- ferring to his past poiltical career, he said: "I retired from the arena of politics to the practice of my profession thinking I had finally abandoned political life, but two years ago I was most unexpectedly nomi- nated for the representation of the Fourth District, and I was solicited by a large body of citizens to accept the office of their rep- resentative in the hall of the Federal Legis- lature. I succeeded, but no personal exul- tation was mingled in my feelings of satis- faction at that success. Death had scat- tered those whom it would have most re- joiced."

On the subject of a protection tariff, Mr. Walsh said: "I believe our native indus- tries ought to be protected. There were indications of a tendency to do justice to the mechanical portion of the population. Our navies and merchant marine are now equipped with Russian hemp which has driven our own rope makers out of the market. Is this unpardonable condition of things to be permanent? President Jack- son had advocated the protection policy for materials requisite for national defense."

In the campaign, Henry Winter Davis made his first appearance on the Baltimore

stump. Tuesday, November 4th, he was advertised to speak with Mr. Walsh, R. T. Merrick and William H. Traverse in the Fourth Ward. He subsequently spoke at other meeting.

Both Mr. May and Mr. Walsh were able men, foemen worthy of one another's steel. They conducted active canvasses. The re- sult was May's election, he receiving 5,630 votes to 5,300 votes cast for Walsh.

A Governor was elected at the same time, Bowie, the Whig candidate, receiving in the city 8,327 votes, and Ligon, Democrat, 10,876 votes.

In Baltimore the supporters of the Maine Liquor Law made a successful fight on that line, electing ten delegates by 964 majority. Their platform was warm with words de- nouncing the manufacture, sale and con- sumption of intoxicating liquors. The dele- gates chosen were pledged to extirpate the traffic by remedial and effective legislation.

1854.

In the fall of 1854 the National American party nominated a straight ticket for the municipality of Baltimore. Samuel Hinks was the candidate for Mayor. He was op- posed by William G. Thomas, the Demo- cratic nominee. The religious sentiment and fervor of the community was violently roused and hostility to the Roman Catholics was bitterly engendered. Hinks was elect- ed by 2,744 majority. The National Amer- icans secured fourteen members of the First Branch and eight members of the Second.

1855.

In the election of members for the First Branch of the City Council in 1855, the Democrats carried Baltimore by 1,029 ma-

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jority. Fraudulent elections of the grosser order had not yet held high carnival.

1856.

In October, the Mayoralty election oc- curred. Thomas Swann, a millionaire and a gentleman of high social position, was the American candidate for Mayor; he was elected over Robert Clinton, the Demo- cratic candidate, by 5,067 votes. The elec- tion was the scene of disturbance, and great disorder prevailed. It was charged that il- legal voting was practiced unblushingly.

October 17th, the National American party assembled in Baltimore. Its sessions were held in the Maryland Institute. Mil- lard Fillmore was chosen its nominee for President, and Andrew Jackson Donaldson for Vice-President. At the election held in November, Baltimore recorded for Fill- more 16,900 votes, and for Buchanan 9,870 votes. Fremont, the Republican candidate, received 214 votes.

A battle royal took place in the Bel Air market house. The redoubtable Eighth Ward Limerick club marched to the Sixth Ward to participate in conducting the elec- tion. The boys there wanted no assistance and with guns and cannon they drove the invaders in the market house, where a systematic battle was kept up until dark. One cannon was captured by the Limerick contingent, but tumbled off the wheels while being hauled away. The Sixth Ward- ers were much exposed during the battle but kept up their aggressions. Throughout the city episodes of a similar character took place. Eight persons were killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. Those unpen- sioned warriors have never been applicants for a bounty. A squad of police marched

to take the Eighth Warders prisoners but were themselves captured and finally pa- roled and released without exchange.

1857.

The American party held a nomination convention in Baltimore, at Temperance Temple, July 23rd, A. R. Sollers, of Calvert county, presiding officer. James B. Ricand, of Kent; Wm. H. Purnell, of Worcester; C. C. Cox, of Talbot, and Thomas Holliday Hicks, of Dorchester, were the Guberna- torial candidates in nomination. Seven bal- lots were taken, the last with the following result: Ricard, 47; Purnell, I; Hicks, 48. Previous to announcing the vote, Dr. Jar- ett, of Harford, changed his vote to Hicks, giving him a majority. The convention ad- journed until half-past three, when Mr. Hicks appeared before it accepting the nomination, and in doing so, he said: "It did his very soul good to talk about the doctrine that 'Americans should rule Amer- ica.' He understood that a groom had been singled out for the nag that they had this day selected, but neither whip nor spur would be necessary for the animal they had put on the course." Wm. H. Purnell was nominated for Comptroller; Daniel H. Mc- Phail for Lottery Commissioner, and W. L. W. Seabrook for Commissioner of the Land Office. Mr. Hicks reached his home at Cambridge by the steamer Kent, which was decorated with flags. As it glided down the river and bay it was loudly cheered by passing steamers. When at Cambridge, a cannon planted on the wharf belched forth its welcome. The entire population of the town escorted him to the court house, where a reception was held.

The Democratic Convention met in the

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Maryland Institute Thursday, July 30th, and was presided over by Wm. T. Hamil- ton. Col. John C. Groome, of Cecil coun- ty, was nominated for Governor; Joshua R. Nelson, for Lottery Commissioner; James Murray for Commissioner of Land Office, and Bradley T. Johnson, Comptroller. The Fourth District American Congressional Convention assembled August 12th and nominated Henry Winter Davis for Con- gress. At the municipal election held in Baltimore, October 13th, the American ticket was elected with the exception of the Council candidate in the Eighth Ward. It received 11,898 votes to 2,000 votes for the Democratic ticket. The "American" of the 15th said that the election was a mere mockery of the elective franchise, ac- companied by riot and bloodshed. The fighting men of both parties were out. Peaceable citizens abstained from the polls; naturalized citizens were not allowed to vote in some of the wards, and a native citizen could not vote in the Eighth. In the last named ward, a serious riot took place in which one police officer was killed and another wounded. In consequence of the disorder, Governor Watkins Ligon or- dered the major general of the militia to hold himself in readiness to preserve order on the November election. His authority was disputed by Mayor Swann and a lengthy correspondence ensued between them. The Mayor was sustained by the legal opinion of Milton Whitney that per- sons enrolled and acting under the Gov- ernor's proclamation were not protected from individual responsiblity to the crim- inal law for offenses committed by order of any officer in command, which opinion was concurred in by Frederick Pinkney, and a

further opinion of Grafton Dulaney, Wm. Price and Thomas S. Alexander. The Gov- ernor notwithstanding the counter opinion of Reverdy Johnson and others, was com- pelled to revoke his orders calling out the militia. Special police was appointed by Mayor Swann for the preservation of peace. Notwithstanding this there was much disor- der which they were unable to quell. Mr. Hicks received 16,237 votes for Governor against 6,616 votes for Mr. Groome. J. Morrison Harris, in the wards of the Third Congressional District received 6,741 votes against 3,519 votes for William Pinkney Whyte. Henry Winter Davis, in the Fourth District, received 9,492 votes against 3,073 polled for Henry P. Brooks.

1858.

A reform movement developed itself in the fall of this year, but the time was not ripe for its expansion and assured success. The candidate of those associated in this cause was Col. A. P. Shutt, for Mayor. Early in September, 1858, they proclaimed their platform of principles, arraigning the dominant party for its violence. Col. Shutt, during the existence of Whiggery, had fol- lowed the fortunes of "Harry of the West." Since its demise he had remained without the pale of parties. In his acceptance he asserted: "The citizens of adjoining places are afraid to come to this city to transact business and their wives do not wish them to do so, fearing they may suffer violence." Mr. Swann having been re-nominated, in acknowledging the compliment, maintained that the percentage of lawlessness was not greater in Baltimore City than in other mu- nicipalities of its size. He was re-elected the 13th of October by a returned majority

- -

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of 19,149. So farcical was the performance that at noon of election day Col. Shutt withdrew from the contest and called on his friends to desist from further attempts to exercise the elective franchise. A curious feature in tins election was, that the Fourth Ward gave Mr. Swann 2,507 votes out of a poll of 2,866 votes, and the Eighth Ward returned a majority of 3,307 votes for Col. Shutt. The latter was reported to have re- ceived 4,859 votes in the city, of which 3,428 were represented to have been cast in one ward, leaving 1,430 votes as the sum total of ballots cast in the other wards for Mr. Shutt. Disorderly proceedings were ram- pant in all the wards. The American ticket was marked on the back with a blue checkered stripe. Those who did not vote it were easily recognized. Stuffing the bal- lot box by men and boys was a mere pas- time. For this outrage the American party has always been condemned.

Such a rankorous growth could not longer be permitted. The 15th of Novem- ber subsequent to the election the City Re- form Association met and issued an indig- nant address, setting forth its future plans and purposes.

1859.

In the campaign ensuing, sledge hammer blows were given by reformers that roused the public to action. The Baltimore Amer- ican espoused their cause and as always happens in such a crisis, some of the most influential men in the American party co- operated with the reformers for its over- throw. Ten thousand people assembled in Monument Square on the 8th of September, William Woodward, presiding officer. The

President and Vice-President, according to the adopted resolutions, were instructed to appoint a committee of twenty of Balti- more's representative citizens, one from each of the wards, and they, at an early day, were to nominate candidates without regard to party; the best, most reliable and compe- tent in the community.

Mayor Swann was invited to co-operate with the Reformers and throw his social and official influence with them. He de- clined and continued steadfast with his party friends.

The American party held a meeting in Monument Square November 2d. A pro- cession of clubs marched through the streets of the city and filed into the crowded square where the meeting was in progress. Fire works and cannon were discharged. The Blood Tubs had the right of the line, One of their transparencies represented the operation of dipping the head of a voter in a tub of blood. The "Acorns," the "Live Oak Club" and the "American Pioneer Club" had cannon which they fired off from furniture wagons. The "Rough Skins" of the Third Ward; the "Red Necks of '76;" the Ashland Club of the Sixth Ward, and clubs from the Seventh Ward; the "Spar- tan Band," of the Eighth Ward; the United American Club;" the "Black Snakes" of the Eleventh Ward, with a motto, "Swin- dled but not Conquered;" the "Thunder Club" of the Sixteenth Ward; the "Tigers;" the "Decatur;" the "Enbolt Club," of the Seventeenth Ward, and the Mount Clair Club, of the Eighteenth Ward, were among those in line. The latter club had a blacksmith's forge on wheels with men at work making awls. "The Regulators," of

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the Tenth Ward, appeared with Citizen Crab Ashby at their head, mounted on a mettlesome black steed. He was marshal of the club and wore a blue and pink satin sash, and held in his hand an awl about four feet in length; he proceeded to the speaker's stand, by riding rough shod through the audience, who gave way at his approach, and from a large chandelier he suspended his awl over the heads of the speakers. When he had retired the awl was removed. The stand had as ornamentation American flags with the inscription, "Henry Winter Davis, Fourth District, Union for the Sake of the Union, Baltimore City, O. K., J. Morrison Harris, Third District, Pro- tection to American Labor," and in the cen- tre was the picture of a swan, emblematical of Thomas Swann, one of the great political leaders of that party.

United States Senator Anthony Kennedy spoke of it "As a glorious demonstration and those who were present were doubtless influenced by the same motives which en- livened and enkindled the party in 1856, they were now called upon to act with the same vigilance and to make the same efforts that were then made as great and important issues would probably grow out of the pres- ent campaign. They were not dismayed by party misrepresentations or personal malev- olence. The American party had the same high aims to animate them, the same du- ties to perform; the same cardinal virtues to develop and the same great platform to uphold. They had indeed great national principles to carry out, and to do this all sectional strife, squatter sovereignty and alien suffrage must needs be repudiated. It was in defense of great national principles that they were called once more to rally

around the great national standard of the party. The American party stood up for the rights of the States; the Union of the States for the sake of the Union, and for protection in the fullest sense to the rights of American citizens throughout the world."

Henry Winter Davis commenced his speech by saying: "The grand army of Americans is marching for the fifth time to victory. They were not about to engage in battle against a new enemy, but an old enemy disguised in a new uniform and called by new names; it had new lieutenants in front and old generals behind. Why, then, should Americans fear? They had smitten them in 1855, and in 1856 they had fought and conquered them in the disguise of independent candidates, and now it was neither Independents nor Democrats, for their opponents had revived and dug up the dried bones of the old court house clique and arrayed them for the conflict. There were the foreign legions for their left wing, the old Democrats in the centre and on the right the old line Whigs who had helped to elect James Buchanan, with a few renegade Americans to keep them company."

"The Reformers had declared war and he was ready for it, and no child's play, either. If they called the leader of his party a dema- gogue, he would return the compliment and say that they surpassed that. Come out on election day, not for the purpose of vio- lence, but to put it down and to see that the laws are observed."

At the October election the Reformers carried the Eighth, Tenth, Twelfth, Four- teenth and Nineteenth Wards, notwith- standing the asserted bad faith of the muni- cipal authorities. The November election

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followed for Comptroller, members of Con- gress and of the Legislature. At 2 o'clock the Reformers abandoned the field except in the Eighth Ward, where a native Ameri- can always experienced the same difficulty in voting that the Democrats did in the other wards.

The 17th of November, a Reform con- vention was held. Severn Teackle Wallis called it to order and nominated George M. Gill, president. A committee on elections was selected to collect evidence of fraud and violence used at the late election and to present it to the Legislature. The commit- tee was composed of William Henry Norris, Philip Francis Thomas, I. Nevitt Steele, S. T. Wallis and Nelson Poe.

The committee collected a mass of ex- parte statements in relation to the Novem- ber election, it evidencing a lamentable con- dition of affairs. Adam B. Kyle was struck at the polls and raised his stick to resent the blow when he was surrounded by a crowd who struck him and fired pistols at him. His brother George, who had been shamefully set upon in a similar manner, went to his assistance, firing into the crowd. When within a few feet of Adam, he saw him fall, and as he did so, place his hand to his groin. He was mortally wounded and died that evening.

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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