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 34

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 34

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Mr. Walsh was the advocate of the op- pressed in Ireland. On the 22d of January, 1852, a Baltimore delegation presented to the President of the United States a petition signed by fifteen thousand people praying his intercession with the British Govern- ment for the liberation of Smith O'Brien and his co-patriots. Mr. Walsh entertained the committee and its friends at Gadsby's Hotel. In the evening the Washingtonians

entertained the visitors sumptuously at Carusis. G. W. P. Curtis presided. Mr. Walsh responded for the Baltimoreans in this speech:

"Mr. President, the friends by my side, to whom the sentiment read so kindly refers, have directed me in such phrase as I can suddenly command, to express their grate- ful acknowledgments. The source, sir, whence this order comes ensures willing and prompt obedience. It comes from the constituency of the Monumental City-a constituency who have made me all I am, and whose word to me is supreme law. And yet, Mr. President, I am hardly equal to the task which is now demanded. As I look upon this scene I feel something like the depressing influences which filled the heart of the Irish emigrant. Mine does not to be sure travel back to the

' Place where Mary lies,'

But it goes back as I gaze upon my old friend Mr. McNally to the basement of the old church in Calvert street where we were accustomed to assemble and to have an hour's talk about old Ireland, concerning her sufferings and her sorrows, her hopes and her fears-when we indulged in the sen- timent of the homely ditty which says:

' Up steps General Washington and takes you by the hand

How is old Ireland, and how does she stand ?

A poor distressed country as ever was seen Where they punish men and women for dressing in the green.'

And, as these mournful memories come over me,

' In vain I strive with livelier air To wake the breathing string -

The voice of other days is there, And saddens all I sing.'

Mr President, the friends whose organ I

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am, thank you from the bottom of their hearts for this manifestation of your kind- ness. Their sympathies are enlisted as deeply as your own in behalf of the Irish patriots and exiles who now most signally illustrate, 'not the atrocity of any offense,' but the 'atrocity of punishment.'

"I speak, sir, from personal knowledge when I declare that the attention of iny people was early attracted to these gentle- men, sir; they presented a glorious specta- cle, for no more interesting sight can be given to humanity than the offerings, high and holy, of genius at the shrine of liberty. They failed in their struggle. One could have believed that their hearts were to have been made desolate-that they them- selves were to die, and to die upon the gal- lows. One of them breathed forth from his dungeon this beautiful sentiment:

' Whether on the gallows high, Or in the battle's van, The fittest place for inan to die Is where he dies for man.'

Sir, we could have believed that the grave might be the refuge, and that the lofty spirit might fly to the throne of the God who gave it. But, sir, we cannot realize that these heroes should be associated with the felons of the world. We desire, sir, to come to some understanding with the Brit- ish Government. Let us look at our re- spectivelexicons and ascertain how it is that in theirs a devotion to country-to hearth- stones and to altars-is regarded as sig- nifying a felony, while in ours it is held to mean a cardinal heaven-born virtue. We can all, gentlemen, do something to enforce our own interpretation. Let us appeal to the good, and the wise of the world, to say which signification should prevail, and rely

with confidence upon the judgment which we revoke. That judgment shall not only aid you in procuring the release of the no- ble men who now command your sympa- thies and prayers, but it shall be the har- binger of better things for Ireland. Her cause, gentlemen, shall always be entitled to my best services. In my public place and in my private position I shall always have the word to cheer, and, I trust in God, al- ways the hand to succor. Yea, gentlemen, let us hope for better days, and, as we gaze upon the national emblem, seek

' To call back the time when pleasures sigh First breathed across its strings, And time itself in flitting by.

Made music with his wings.'

Let us all according to our opportunities try to kindle up once more the shrine of old Kildare, so that its light may unite with the stars of the Republic in illuminat- ing the world.

"And even if, sir, there should be no hope for the nationality of Ireland-if the people whose native genius is music shall not be permitted to join in the chorus of freedom, regulated by the breathing strains of their own harp --

' Here at least, is the spot, no cloud can o'erc And a heart and home all their own to the last.'

They can come out, sir, from among the oppressors and thus contradict the mourn- ful prophecy of the dying patriot, so that the last entrenchment of liberty shall not be the entrenchment of her sons, but the ram- parts of the American Constitution.

"Mr. President, I love to linger upon the old times of Ireland-I love to linger upon the principles of ninety-eight there as well as upon the principles of ninety-eight here. Be assured, sir, that the Irish and American

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doctrines of 'ninety-eight, united with the spirit of seventy-six, constitute a unity that will save the world."

The committee on returning home from Washington unanimously passed the fol- lowing resolution: "To our worthy Repre- sentative in Congress, the Hon. T. Yates Walsh, we have no language sufficiently strong to express our feelings of gratitude for the untiring assiduity with which he has labored for our cause."

April 29, 1852, Mr. Walsh addressed the House on the "Whig Caucus-Compro- mise Measures." It was a brilliant speech sparkling with such jems as this: "Let me say, having in all respects endorsed this pa- per, I come not here to-day to indulge in any extravagant enconiums upon the Con- stitution of my Country. I have no nec- romancy of words to employ in setting forth the blessings of the Union. Devoted as I am to the Union and to the principles of the last compromise, I have been distrustful ever since a particular event to which I shall allude, of every man who exhausts dic- tionaries and vocabularies in the praise of the one or the other.

"I stood, sir, three years ago, under a July sun, listening to an oration of a scholar and statesman as he was then called, and thought that I could never tire of the praises that were bestowed upon our national in- stitutions; and I passed from that spot only to find that our political Gratiano spoke an infinite deal of nothing. He went to the Sen- ate chamber from that scene only to turn that sacred house into an auction in which he could make bids for abolition votes, in the language of a distinguished man 'spend- ing a national reputation with the prodigal- ity of a spendthrift.'"

Mr. Walsh was a Southern Whig; in early life he had been a Jacksonian Denio- crat; on the subject of slavery, which he be- lieved ought not to be interfered with, be- cause of its Constitutional recognition, he had this to say in the same speech: "Al- though the South may hold on to a barren scepter, they are even shut out practically from the enjoyment of the principles of the Constitution. Is it not necessary to take our stand under these circumstances, when we have no further sacrifices to make, and when we have no further surrender to of- fer? The North has got all men could re- quire at the hands of others, and being un- der the same form of Government they have got all the newly acquired territory. The South simply say to them now, stand by the old Constitution-stand by it as you under- stood it at the period of its adoption. Stand by it on the naked right of the owner to reclaim his fugitive slave."

Mr. Walsh did not hesitate to encounter the Speaker when in the House; on more than one occasion he differed with the oc- cupant of the chair, and appealed from his decisions.

Mr. Walsh closed his term of service in Congress so creditably that his praise was on every one's lips. Representative George T. Davis, who resided at Springfield, Mass., and served with him in the House, express- ed the opinion that Mr, Walsh was one of the strongest men in it. Mr. Davis him- self was a gentleman of great ability, whose opinion is worth quoting. The mirthfulness of Mr. Walsh's temperament did not for- sake him during his congressional career. In his speech on "Whig Compromise" he frequently permitted it to assert itself.

One morning he called on Daniel Web-

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ster, Secretary of State, to mollify his oppo- sition towards a gentleman Mr. Walsh was endeavoring to provide with an office. Webster was entering his carriage to go to the White House, and asked Mr. Walsh to ride with him. He pressed his case so vig- orously during the ride that Mr. Webster said, "Why, Mr. Walsh, you almost convert me," to which Mr. Walsh replied, with pathos, "Would to God I could hear you give just one campmeeting shout." Mr. Webster was greatly pleased at this re- joinder.

In 1853 Mr. Walsh was renominated. He published this address Friday, October 7, 1853, to his constituents of the Fourth District: "I am a candidate to represent you in the Popular Branch of the National Legislature, which will assemble at Wash- ington on the first Monday of December next. The recorded acts, votes and speech- es of the last Congress will, I think, show that I did my best to serve you. If hon- ored once more with your confidence by a re-election, I pledge myself to a like faith- ful effort in your service."

Mr. Walsh was opposed by Henry May, who possessed decided talents. The cam- paign was brilliantly conducted by both gentlemen. The district was Democratic and for years defied the efforts of the Whigs to carry it. They had nominated strong candidates unavailingly. When Mr. Walsh defeated Mr. Whyte Democratic dissen- sions existed. The smoke of the election of 1853 passed off and the vote stood: May 5,630 votes, Walsh 5,300. It was a great disappointment to Mr. Walsh's friends, who felt that his record ought to have triumph- antly re-elected him. The Whigs obtained the Legislature and thereby United States

Senator. Mr. Walsh was mentioned for that office, but he made no effort to secure it, and a great name and fame was lost to the Nation.

To a gentleman in after years who was impressed with the great abilities of Mr. Walsh, and who basked in the sun- shine of his presence, he said, speaking of his two years in Congress, not profanely, but sadly, "Sir, a one-term Congressman is not worth a d-n." His meaning is plain enough; he referred to the lack of oppor- tunities it afforded for usefulness.

The Whig party died and was buried with honorable ceremonies. The Native American party took its place in the field of politics. Mr. Walsh declined to be a mem- ber of its household. He simply voted against the Know Nothings and assisted in the reform movement to overthrow the reign of violence prevalent at that period. His latter days were darkened by financial reverses. The story of his misfortunes, the darkest shadow clouding his life, is told in the following colloquy.

There were three volumes of rare books in his library, published in London; being asked what they cost, he replied twenty thousand dollars. The astonished inquirer exclaimed, "Do you really mean it?" "Yes, sir; they cost me twenty thousand dollars. A gentleman was in the habit of making me trifling presents. Among other things he presented those books; he was elected to a responsible office, and I was his bonds- man; he misappropriated the public funds and I satisfied the penalty of the bond. Never accept, sir, gifts, great or small."

Mr. Walsh was sensitive on the subject of abolition interference with slavery; he believe in the constitutional right to hold

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slaves as property. During the war for the Union he was in sympathy with the South. He avoided overt acts, but made no con- cealment of his sentiments.

The course of Governor Hicks he repro- bated. A gentleman wrote him in lauda- tory terms of the Governor when he was elected United States Senator. His an- swer was this, "You and I have long since agreed to disagree about Mr. Hicks. Let him enjoy his honors."

When arrests were made of his acquaint- ances by the military authorities he had ap- prehensions of exchanging his office for a cell. He tried a case in the Court of Ap- peals. Returning to Baltimore, at An- napolis Junction it was necessary to transfer to a train from Washington. At the Junc- tion United States troops were encamped.

While waiting for the expected train, Joseph J. Early, a lawyer, and a noticeably handsome man, who subsequently moved to Missouri, and was killed by being shot in the public street, was among the return- ing lawyers.

He indulged in conviviality before leav- ing Annapolis, and when the Junction was reachedthreatened totakethe camp of sol- diers prisoners in the name of Jeff Davis and the Southern Confederacy. He was made a prisoner instead and locked up until it was train time, when he was liberated. While in the guard-house he repeatedly sent for Mr. Walsh to come and see him, but that gentleman declined to do so. Mr. Early, on his return from the guard-house complained of his friend's refusal to visit him: "What, sir," said Mr. Walsh, "and run the risk of your tongue having me in- carcerated to keep you company? No, sir, no, sir."

During the war the Clipper, a Union sheet, and the Argus, a paper noted for its Southern sympathies, vied in publishing sensational canards about the victories of their respective sides. At 2 o'clock p. m. the newsboys passed along the streets shouting their papers. Mr. Walsh was al- ways impatient for the Argus, when the armies were moving and a battle imminent or in progress. At such a time a boy hur- ried along crying, "Here's the Clipper, another battle; ten thousand rebel prisoners taken; twenty thousand rebels killed; the Federals going to take Richmond and end the war."

"What paper is that?" asked Mr. Walsh of George W. Aspril, a law student, in an adjoining office.

"The Argus, sir." "Get me a copy."

The Clipper was purchased and Mr. Walsh began to read. His face wore an intent expression, he was heard to murmur at the end of each paragraph, "That is a lie." Finally he said, "What paper is this anyhow?" And turning to the head lines he informed himself, and in an instant the paper was in the gutter.

Aspril, who enjoyed the episode amaz- ingly, scampered off, while his victim good naturedly said, "If lying could subdue the Southerners the Clipper would soon end the war."

Mr. Walsh, in his late life, resided on his farm near Stevenson's Lane, in Baltimore county. He had an Irishman for an overseer; his wife was also in his em- ploy, besides a housekeeper. The latter for twenty years performed that office in his service. These looked after things for him. He was fond of the large old oaks that sur-

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rounded his house and walked amid their shade and admired them far more en- raptured than lovers of art in a gallery of paintings. He had feelings that disap- pointment awakes, yet they never quenched the genial currents of his soul. At home he felt like a statesman in retirement, but never complained of the world for not having gratified more of his desires. It was his daily custom to leave home in time to reach his office in the city by nine o'clock a. m., and he usually left his office to re- turn to it by railroad by 2.30 p. m.

When Gilmore raided in the neighbor- hood of Balitimore, the city was in a furor of excitement. Barricades were erected at the leading entrances to the town, defend- ed by citizens and convalescent Federal troops from hospitals. For a few days in- gress and egress were difficult, and only with the permission of the military authori- ties. Mr. Walsh was in the city and was anxious to reach his farm, fearing that the raiders would plunder his place of stock and other things. He did not relish the idea of applying for a permit to pass the lines, for he was opposed to taking an oath of loyalty administered by an officer in the army, and a permit without such an oath, so administered, could not be had. He therefore visited a friend's livery stable and had him select a faithful Jehu to run the barricade. Mr. Walsh in a hack was driven through the labyrinth of windings by the way of Pikesville to his farm, where he re- mained until the retirement of Gilmore and the end of the excitement. The authorities never learned of the defiant act thus per- petrated.

For several years prior to the death of Mr. Walsh, his health was not the best; he

suffered with rheumatic complaint, and while the attacks were not of long duration, they seriously effected his inclination for the activities of the profession. He could not abandon the habit of visiting his office punctually and regularly where his old friends gathered to greet him with the familiar "How are you, Yates?"

There were days when he did not go to the office, when pain prevented his walk- ing. He carried all his business concerns in his head, without the aid of books of ac- count. He knew when a payment was due to and from him, and he was intent on hav- ing performance and performing. To that end he would write letters of such plain and detailed instructions to his student so that he was thoroughly understood.

On one occasion, when confined at home, the genial and whole-souled Robert C. Barry, a wit of no ordinary gifts, under date of February 20, 1864, wrote humorously to him in this vein: "When do you intend to come this way? Folks are inquiring about you? Shall we have prayers offered up for the sick or shall we soon take by the hand a well and hearty man?"

When he did reach the city, after con- valescing, he would send for one of his friends, and he would spread the news: "Yates is at his office," when callers pre- sented themselves.

William H. Collins and Mr. Walsh from manhood had been intimate; throughout their professional lives they had never known an estrangement. The war for the Union divided with remorseless swift- ness friends who were on opposite sides; but Collins, who was for the Union forever, and Walsh, who sympathized with the South, never felt a jar in their inter-

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course. Collins was in the habit of fre- quently stopping in to see Walsh in the morning on the way to his office. He was a cultured, polished, precise, dignified gen- tleman, and talked in a stately manner. Walsh always called him "a Union shriek- er," and heaped his jokes upon him about his political affiliations. What Mr. Walsh said being only an ebullition of good nature, no offense was given or taken. Damon and Pythias were not more loving, and neither would have submitted without resentment to a reflection on the other.

The death of Mrs. Griffith, his house- keeper, who, without premonition, fell dead in his presence, greatly shocked and dis- tressed him. She preceded him to the grave three weeks. A few days before his death he was stricken with erysipelas; it made its appearance under his chin and attacked his throat. He died Friday morning, January 20, 1865, between the hours of 6 and 7 o'clock, at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Mary Penniman, on Cortland street.

The press spoke kindly of him, and his thousands of friends who were stricken with sorrow had only good words to utter. The Sun made this appropriate mention in connection with the event: "Of late years he has not identified himself with political parties. He was considered one of the most sarcastic stump speakers of his day, and his witty repartees were proverbial. As a member of the bar he was ranked as one of the bright particular marks for ingenuity of argument, eloquence of language and gen- eral legal abilities; he was one of the most successful criminal lawyers of his day, and was held in high esteem by his brother members of the profession. In social life Mr. Walsh had a host of friends-of gener-

ous influences and warm friendly attach- ments, he had but few, if any, enemies, and his death has left one more void in the list of the Maryland Bar of which all citizens of the State have reason to be proud."

His death was announced in the Superior Court by William H. Collins, who was called the "Father of the Bar," who moved the Court's adjournment in respect to Mr. Walsh's memory. The motion was second- ed by George William Brown in a short tribute. Judge Robert North Martin feel- ingly responded and ordered the Court ad- journed. In the Court of Common Pleas William M. Marine, Mr. Walsh's former pupil and law associate at the time of his death, made the announcement of Mr. Walsh's death. He indulged in some feel- ing remarks in relation to the deceased, which were replied to by Judge John C. King. In the City Circuit Court, William Schley eloquently told of the great man's death, and Judge William Alexander ad- journed his Court. In the Criminal Court, Judge Hugh L. Bond suspended business and announced, "The community has been pained to hear of the death of Thomas Yates Walsh, and out of respect to his memory this Court is now adjourned."

In the United States District Court, Wil- liam Price spoke of Mr. Walsh "as one of the departed gems and stars of the Balti- more Bar," and paid his character and per- son a high tribute.

Judge William Fell Giles said "he was a companion of the deceased in boyhood, was reared in the profession of the law with him; and he had the honor and pleasure of his friendship throughout his life." He spoke of the deceased as an eloquent orator, an able lawyer, a benevolent and kind-

Richard B. Lippet

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hearted friend, and good citizen, a danger- ous political antagonist, but at the same time a generous one, and remarked that he was among the shining marks of the Mary- land Bar who had passed away."

A Bar meeting was held on Saturday at noon 'succeeding his death in honor of his memory, Judge Martin, Chairman, and Bernard Carter, Secretary. A committee to draft resolutions appropriate to the oc- casion consisted of William H. Collins, William Schley, John H. B. Latrobe, ex- Judge William George Krebs, S. Teackle Wallis, I. Nevitt Steele and George William Brown. The gentlemen chosen were the leaders of the Bar, who had no superiors in eminence in their profession. The second resolution recited: "Although Mr. Walsh was so long withdrawn from active profes- sional life, and perhaps but little known to many of his juniors personally, his death re- calls, with sadness, to his contemporaries and associates, the recollection of a career of brilliant promise and great early success. He had a clear and vigorous intellect of remarkable ability and brightness-some- what impatient of labor and system, but quick, acute and vigorously fertile of re- sources. Those fine endowments were aided in forensic controversy by an elocu- tion of much impressiveness and power, un- usual ingenuity in the presentation and dis- position of questions of both law and fact, earnestness and zeal in the discharge of duty. In personal and professional inter- course there were few more attractive and popular than he, and scarcely any man of his day will be more genially remembered for those sallies of wit and humor which pass into the festive traditions of a genera- tion."

Mr. Collins and Mr. Brown spoke to the resolutions. Judge Martin, before sub- mitting them to a vote, said: "I unite with the Bar in lamenting the death of the late Hon. Thomas Yates Walsh, for many years a prominent and highly esteemed member of the profession. I cordially con- cur in all that has been said by the gentle- men who have addressed the Chair in com- mending the personal and social qualities of Mr. Walsh, and of his legal professional at- tainments, and upon the adoption of the resolutions which have just been read, I shall direct them to be placed on the records of the Court, as a mark of our respect for his memory."

The funeral of Mr. Walsh took place Saturday, and was largely attended. His pall-bearers were members of the Bar, among whom were William H. Collins and George William Brown. The interment was in Mr. Walsh's lot, in St. Paul's Ceme- tery, which he had purchased to lay away the remains of his father. The ceremonial burial service of the Protestant Episcopal Church was read at the house and at the grave. When the coffin was lowered in the earth the snow was falling fast, and large flakes lay on the dark cloth covered coffin lid to some present recalling Montgomery's lines-

"Blessed is the bride whom the sun shines on, Blessed is the corpse which the rain rains on."

To the right of Mr. Walsh's grave is that of Samuel Chase, and to the left that of Judge Upton W. Heath.

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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