USA > Maryland > Anne Arundel County > Annapolis > The Ancient City.: A History of Annapolis, in Maryland, 1649-1887 > Part 28
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230
''THE ANCIENT CITY.""
By chapter 194, passed February 13th, 1819, the charter of Annapo- lis was altered so as to give the electors, qualified to vote for delegates to the General Assembly, the right to elect the Mayor, Recorder, five Aldermen and seven Common Councilmen.
The Board was to be elected every third year on the first Monday in October. By this act the city's right to hold a "Court of Hustings," was anulled.
CHAPTER XLVII. WILLIAM PINKNEY BANQUETTED IN ANNAPOLIS.
[1804.] The Gazette of November, 29, 1804, says :
"On Wednesday, the 21st instant, the Honourable William Pink- ney, Esquire, who has lately returned from a long residence in Eng- land, under a public appointment from the United States, and recently under a special appointment also from the State of Maryland, arrived in this city, and was immediately waited upon at Caton's tavern by a large concourse of respectable citizens, members of the legislature, &c., whose looks, still more than their declarations evinced the satis- faction felt at the safe return of this distinguished and highly accom- plished gentleman. Among others the persons whose names are sub- scribed thereto waited on Mr. Pinkney, and presented him with the following note :
"To the Honourable William Pinkney, Esquire.
ANNAPOLIS, November 21, 1804.
"SIR :- We are deputed by a number of your old friends and fellow- citizens of Annapolis, to congratulate you on your safe arrival in this country, and to express the pleasure they feel at your appearance in this your native city. We are desired also to declare their impressions in regard to the honourable manner in which you are understood to have fulfilled the objects of your late mission to Europe, and the ser- vice which you have incidentally been enabled to render to the State of Maryland in the successful termination of an affair of great impor- tance to its rights and interests. Those impressions we are authorised to say are as gratifying to the pride of your fellow-citizens as they are respectful and affectionate towards yourself. We are further deputed, Sir, to request that you will give your friends an opportunity of per- sonally welcoming you to Annapolis, by favouring them with your company at a public dinner at Mr. Caton's tavern on Friday next, at three o'clock.
"Desiring to be considered as sharing most cordially in the sentiments here expressed, we have the honour to be, with great esteem, Sir,
Your obedient servants, John Kilty, John Gassaway,
John Davidson, John Muir,
Burton Whetcroft, Samuel H. Howard.
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
E
"To which Mr. Pinkney, on the next day, (having in the interim signified verbally his acceptance of the invitation, ) returned the fol- lowing answer :
ANNAPOLIS, November 22, 1804.
"GENTLEMEN :- I have read with peculiar sensibility the kind and flattering testimonial of approbation and esteem which you have done me the honour to deliver to me on the part of my fellow-citizens of Annapolis. After an absence of more than eight years from my country to meet with such a reception from the inhabitants of my native city, to which in every vicissitude of life and fortune I have always felt, and shall continue to feel, the most lively attachment, is more grateful to my heart than I am able to express.
"I beg you, gentlemen, to accept, with my best wishes for the future prosperity of this city, my sincere acknowledgments for the terms in which you have been so good as to convey its sense of my public con- duet during my residence abroad. I shall take great pleasure in availing myself of your polite invitation.
"I have the honour to be, with unfeigned respect and regard, Gen- tlemen,
Your most obedient humble servant, WILLIAM PINKNEY.
John Kilty, John Davidson, Burton Whetcroft, John Gassaway, John Muir, Samuel Harvey Howard, Esq'rs.
"The following card of invitation was, on the same day, presented to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Dele- gates, and communicated by them (from the chair) to the members of their respective houses :
ANNAPOLIS, November 21, 1804.
"SIR :- A number of the inhabitants of Annapolis, desirous of giv- ing to their fellow-citizen. William Pinkney, Esquire, who has lately returned to this country from the successful discharge of important public functions in Europe, a testimony of the satisfaction they feel at his arrival among them, and of the high esteem they entertain for his character, have deputed us to request his presence at a dinner to be given for that purpose at Mr. Caton's tavern on Friday next : this invitation having been accepted by Mr. Pinkney, we obey with pleasure a further injunction by requesting, Sir, to be favoured at the said public dinner with your company and that of the members of the Honourable House in which you preside.
With great respect, we have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servants. [Signed as before.]
"Agreeably to this arrangement a great number of the citizens, the members of the Legislature generally, with the Judges of the Court of Appeals, several other gentlemen o. distinction who had also been invited, and the Honourable Mr. Pinkney, assembled on Friday at Mr. Caton's tavern, and partook of an elegant dinner, at which the utmost degree of conviviality and harmony prevailed. After din- ner the following toasts were given alternately by the Honourable
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY. "'
Mr. Harwood of the council, who (in the unavoidable absence of the Excellency the Governor) presided and Nicholas Carroll, Esquire, who acted as vice-president.
1. The people of the United States.
2. The President of the United States.
3. The Congress of the United States.
4. The memory of General Washington.
5. The ever memorable day of the Declaration of Independence.
6. The memory of Benjamin Franklin and other departed States- men of America.
7. The memory of Warren, Montgomery, Mercer, and other de- parted soldiers of America.
8. The late revolutionary army and navy of the United States.
9. The heads of departments in the government of the United States.
10. The militia of America.
11. The army and navy of the United States.
12. A speedy enlargement to our countrymen in captivity.
13. The State of Maryland.
14. Agriculture, commerce, and manufactures.
15. Peace, union, and public confidence.
16. The cause of freedom throughout the world.
17. The American fair.
After Mr. Pinkney had retired, by Mr. Montgomery of the House of Delegates,
"William Pinkney, Esquire, the successful agent for the recovery of the bank stock belonging to the State of Maryland in the British funds."'
"On Saturday the following resolution being propounded to the House of Delegates was read and concurred with :
"Resolved, That Mr. Stephen and Mr. Montgomery be a committee to wait on Mr. Pinkney to present him with the compliments of this house, and to congratulate him on his safe return to his native coun- try, and to inform Mr. Pinkney, that the House of Delegates will re- ceive any further communications or elucidations which he may be pleased to make to them in person relative to the affairs of the bank stock, for the recovery of which the State of Maryland is so much in- debted to his personal attention and exertions.
"Mr. Pinkney, having received the aforegoing communication by the gentlemen named for the purpose of making the same, imme- diately attended the House of Delegates, and being conducted to a chair within the bar, gave, with his accustomed precision and ele- gance, the elucidations required relative to the recovery and transfer of the bank stock, on the subject of which his lengthy and able com- munications, comprehending his correspondence with the ministers and law officers of the British government, and with the American Secretary of State, had already been read in both Houses of the Leg- islature with every mark of interest and approbation. After receiv- ing such private civilities as the shortness of his stay would permit, Mr. Pinkney left Annapolis on Tuesday morning, intending, it is sup- posed, to visit the seat of the general government, where it is not doubted his reception will be such as is due to acknowledged merit, highly cultivated talents, and faithful public service."
233
HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
CHAPTER XLVIII. ANNAPOLIS DURING THE WAR OF 1812.
The period of the war of 1812 was one of alarm, dissension, and ex- citement in Annapolis. Two parties were arrayed against each other with all the bitterness born of political strife, intensified by the clash of arms before their very doors.
The Federalists of Maryland were sympathizers with England in the war and bitter opponents of the policy of the administration. The re- publicans, or democrats, were intense haters of every thing British and firm and loyal supporters of Congress and the President in the prose- cution of the war.
Peace meetings were held in the county, Peace tickets voted for at elections, and the Gazette, the organ of the Federalists, rang with bitter denunciations of the President, the results of the war, and the republican party generally. The Maryland Republican, a democratic paper, had been established a few years before the war. It was edited by Jehu Chandler, and it proved a brave and merciless advocate of its principles. The editor was rewarded for his zeal in the end by an office at Washington and a knock-down at Annapolis.
The free and fearless utterances of the Gazette against the war and the administration shows that a high appreciation of the principles of liberty animated the people of the Republic in the early days of its history.
On July 29, 1813, the Gazette in an editorial declared :
"Mr. Madison may well call this "a season of trial and calamity" for never, since the struggle which united these states into a repub- lican government, did the citizens of this country witness such a scene of difficulties as now stare them in the face, and threaten a subversion of their liberties. Whence do their difficulties arise, and who have been their authors ? From the imprudence of our own rulers they may be easily traced. notwithstanding all the arts made use of to cloak their designs. Could it for a moment be supposed, that this state of thing proceeded from measures which were unavoidable, there would then be some consolation for all of our troubles; but this ex- cuse cannot, with any justification, be pleaded. Can any one believe that our differences would not be immediately accommodated, and that upon the most honorable terms, provided a proposition to that effect was made by our government ? By a continuance of the war, they can never, with any reason, expect to obtain the object, the only object, which is now in dispute : but it is, day after day, plunging us deeper into disgrace and rendering us tenfold more contemptible in the eyes of all foreign nations. It may, indeed, be well to set apart days of humilition, fasting, and prayer."
Whilst these denunciations of the war and the administration were weekly heralded in the city, Annapolis was turned into a military camp, with the enemy frequently before its harbor, and its citizens constantly excited by expectations of attack and calls to arms.
The Governor of Maryland wrote, in the early part of this year, to the secretary of war acquainting him with the defenseless situation of Annapolis. The letter was lost on the way which gave rise to many suspicions of bad faith.
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY.''
On April 9, the citizens of Annapolis were alarmed at an early hour by the discharge of cannon from the fort, (Fort Madison, ) and the drum beating the town to arms. The alarm was caused by the arrival of several privateers who reported that they had been pursued some considerable distance up the bay by the blockading squadron. The people responded to their rendezvous with an alacrity that did credit to their promptness and patriotism.
During this period of excitement the records of the State were re- moved from Annapolis to a place of greater safety, boats were pressed into the service of the State, and Major Charles S. Ridgely and his squadron hastened to Annapolis with great rapidity. Several companies of militia were also called to the place: but their services were not needed.
During these trying times William Ross, of Annapolis, was charged with treasonbly making bad cartridges for the soldiers.
In the early part of May, a British sloop went aground on Thomas' Point bar. The patriots of Annapolis were very anxious to attack it, but the Governor prudently forebore as five British frigates were near to protect it. The publication that the Governor said he was glad that the sloop got off, caused considerable correspondence and a lively newspaper war. The weight of evidence was that the words were not used.
On the evening of August 3rd, three of the enemy's ships came up the bay and anchored within three miles of Annapolis. Nineteen other vessels stood a short distance below, and were distinctly visible from the State House. Every preparation was made for an attack, A large body of military and drafted men, with detachments of regulars and volunteers, under Col. Carbury, were in the town. Most of the fami- lies of the city fled to the country with the principal part of their goods, and the town assumed the air of a military post awaiting the immediate onset of the enemy. In a few days the scenes shifted. Two 74's and, and one 64, seven other ships, frigates, and sloops of war, and three tugs, lay between Hackett's and Sandy Points. One large frigate dropped down immediately opposite the city, and a smaller one lay about two miles farther down. Below, were two 74's and two frigates, besides several smaller vessels, tugs, schooners, and tenders. There were constant calls to arms made on the citizens and the town was in a state of feverish excitement, not knowing at any moment when at attack would begin. The forces of the city were augmented by the arrival of Capt. Morris, of the frigate Adams, who was given command of both forts. He brought a large body of prime sailors. Capt. Miller, from Washington, came with a detachment of marines, and Capt. Getzeudanner, from Frederick, with a company of riflemen. In the midst of these exciting times, soldiers in arms and the enemy in front, the Gazette was denouncing in the most vindic- tive manner the war and the authors of it. This imprudent conduct at a period so calamitous proved the great forbearance and love of free speech and a free press that prevailed amongst the people of the enlightened city. At the same time peace meetings were being held all over Anne Arundel.
In the latter part of August, the British squadron sailed down the bay, and the excitement at Annapolis subsided.
Internal dissensions, however, did not cease with the departure of the British, and they culminated from a remote cause in January,
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
1814. From the chord of sympathy touched for the English in the war with their own country, the Federalists despised Napoleon. When he fell, they rejoiced. At Annapolis they celebrated his downfall at the hands of the allied armies by a banquet on the fifteenth of January.
A large concourse of gentlemen from different parts of the State and from the District of Columbia, assembled for that purpose and a procession formed at twelve o'clock at the City Tavern, " and marched to St. Anne's Church, headed by a band of music, "where the throne of grace was addressed in an appropriate manner by Rev. Mason L. Weems, and an oration pronounced by the Hon. Robert Goodloe Harper, replete with political knowledge and the eloquence of truth."t
The distaste, which the democratic or republican portion of the community felt to these proceedings, was shown by the boys disturb- ing the ceremonies of the church by throwing stones at the windows and making other violent demonstrations whilst men in the gallery expressed their opposition to the proceedings by behavior that added to the general confusion. Major Alexander Stuart, commanding a detachment of United States troops in the garrison at Annapolis, ordered the national flag to be lowered to half-mast and minute guns fired to show his regret at the discomfiture of Napoleon.
"After the performances at the church were over," the company joined, by an illustrious deputation of their friends from Congress, Messrs. Pickering, Grosvenor and Hanson, who had just arrived in the city, formed into a, procession, and marched back to the City Tavern, and then to the Assembly Rooms, where they sat down to a sumptuous repast prepared by Mr. Isaac Parker. J. C. Herbert, Esq., Speaker of the House of Delegates, presided at the table, as- sisted by Col. Plater and Samuel Ridout, Esqr., as vice presidents. The local chronicler says : "A spirit of unanimity reigned throughout the company, for they all felt the importance of the events they had convened to celebrate, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasures and enjoyment of the day. Actuated by the purest motives, and governed by the most laudable feelings, a heartfelt gratitude to the great heroes who had stayed the arm of the oppressor, all hearts united in responding these sentiments, and imploring aid from the great arbiter of the world for their patriotic exertions. When they were ground to the dust by the iron hand of ruthless power, we sympathized in their situation ; now they have burst the chains which enslaved them, we rejoice at it. Can there be feelings more philanthropic, more worthy of freemen, who estimate liberty above all things, even life itself ? The influence of events of such moment will not be confined within the limits of Europe, but their beneficial effects will be bounded only by the universe. This then is another cause of rejoicing."
It was natural that such sentiments, and especially the assertion that "the influence of events of such moment will not be confined within the limits of Europe," would produce the greatest indignation to the advocates of the war with England, when that influence was none other than England's hand off Napoleon, could come down all the heavier on the United States.
* City Hotel.
1 Md. Guzetle.
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"'THE ANCIENT CITY. "
After the cloth was removed, a number of toasts were drunk, in- terspersed by songs, and music by the band.
Among the toasts were :
"The Union of these States-May it be preserved on sure and just foundations.
"The Principles of our Constitution-Which have taught us to sym- pathize in the common cause of national independence.
"Alexander of Russia-The magnanimous emancipator of nations.
"The Coalesced Powers of Europe-Whose banners have waved in triumph over the ruthless enemy of the liberties of mankind.
"The active, indefatigable, and glorious Blucher-The worthy pupil of the Great Frederick.
"The Return of Peace-Its light is only to be reflected to our land from the blaze of Bonaparte's funeral bier.
"Our National Councils-Purse and brain both empty, the brain the heavier for being too light, the purse too light for being drawn of heaviness.
"Our Country a Volunteer-May the emancipation of the nations of Europe be the harbinger of her deliverance from the bane of French influence."
By Mr. Grosvenor-A Volunteer-"Maryland the Ararat of the Southern States-In the deluge of democracy, there the ark of Fed- eralism finally rested."
By Mr. G. Calvert-A Volunteer-"May Bonaparte never receive more agreeable dispatenes from this country than the toasts of this day."
This banquet augmented the animosities existing in the city, the democrats going so far as to charge that the Federalists, who inspired the occasion, huzzaed for the Prince Regent.
After dinner, when nearly half the company had retired, those who remained formed themselves into a procession, and, headed by a band of music, marched through several of the principal streets. Whilst thus marching the procession was met by a mob, and assailed with clubs, brick-bats, and other miscellaneous weapons. Several of the processionists were injured but not seriously. They, however, turned tables on the ringleaders of the riot, says the Gazette, and adminis- tered to them summary punishment.
The bitterness of the factions led not only to political, but personal, polemics. The Gazette, which had maintained a dignified silence under numerous attacks of the Republican, finally broke into severe infective. On Wednesday, January 26th, 1814, it wrote : "We had, as heretofore expressedly determined not to notice any of the in- famous paragraphs which might appear in that contemptible chroni- cle, the Maryland Republican, wherein, 'every third word is a lie duer paid than the Turk's tribute'-nor would we now be diverted from our proposed course, were it not that the falsehoods which marked the two last numbers, might acquire a circulation from their very malignity. We know not, nor do we care, whether they be the venemous effusions of the vulgar scoundrel (Jehu Chandler) who pro- fesses to edit the paper, or of his associates in the school of defama- tion, who occasionally exercise themselves in the wanton butchery of character. We have, indeed, seen and we have noticed too, a certain puffed up, conceited, swollen fool, who is ever first to laugh at his
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HISTORY OF ANNAPOLIS.
own folly, chuckling with apparent self-gratulation at the appetite excited among the vulgar, for the gross ailment weekly published by this cannibal editor. From these circumstances and the brutal sym- pathies of his nature which would necessarily impel him to the asso- ciation, we strongly suspect him to be a member of the Jacobin club, * which conducts that Journal. *
"We have been led to these remarks, by the notice taken of the fes- tival of Thursday last in the Maryland Republican ; which, we are happy to learn, has met with the decided disapprobation of the more decent and respectable of the Democratic party.
"The celebration of their Master's defeat has set in motion all the sullen humors of Democracy, and has excited them so far as they dare, to acts of violence and outrage."
Not only were specific acts made the bases of editorial amenities be- tween Mr. Green and Mr. Chandler, but articles, upon public matters, became the texts for most vindictive tirades. In the issue of August 10th, 1815, the editor of the Gazette said : "When a graceless scoun- drel, like the editor of the Maryland Republican, a villainous com- pound of knavery and folly, promises not to be too familiar with us, we feel indebted to him for the only obligation which it is in the power of such a reptile to confer. What could induce him to take such particular notice of our remarks on bribery we cannot divine ; perhaps experience had rendered the subject familiar to him, and habit had endeared it. But the burthen of his song seems to be, that, in the proposed distribution of bribes, not one was offered to the poor wretch himself. The unlucky fellow ! after toiling in the work of de- famation with the most unremitting veniality, after selling malicious slanders, libels, and lies, by the square ; after having acquired the contempt of the world, and after having excited the blushes of his friends, if there be any so mean-spirited as to hold friendly commu- nion with him, to find himself at last almost hopeless, has he not a right to whine an I whimper, and pitifully to beg the legislature to let him put his finger in the treasury for services for the not doing of which he should have been prosecuted ? He seems to think it an in- stance of unbending integrity that a poor man should refuse the enormous bribe of five dollars, and, by his astonishment, he seems to doubt whether he could have withstood the temptation. We believe, however, that any attempts to bribe this worthy editor would, in all probability remain n secret, unless, at any time, it might serve his purposes to publish his own shame. We dismiss the fellow without inquiring whether money is the root of his evil propensities, or whether they proceed from a native villainy and obliquity of principle."
Mr. Chandler was apparently as caustic and far more industrious in his personal editorials than Mr. Green, and, it is not surprising that such offensive paragraphs had their natural result-a rencounter. Not, however, between the two editors. Mr. Chandler gave great offence in his issue of June 22nd. 1816, to Mr. J. N. Watkins by re- ferring to him in the following enigmatical sentence-" I have a very curious and important law case, which I shall report in my next. "Blue Light vs. Blue Light." Mr. Watkins, considering that he was personally alluded to, and the term Blue Lightª applied to him, pub-
. The name given certain New England opponent- of the wartet (Bkz, who were areused of sen ling up rocker signats from bul to the British Fleet hocering off the coast.
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"THE ANCIENT CITY."
licly declared the same day, that he would call upon the editor the first opportunity that offered, and make him declare whether he alluded to him, and what he meant by the term Blue Light as applied to him, and to chastise him if his explanation was not satisfactory. On Monday morning he met the editor in the street, and made the de- mand. Mr. Chandler informed him it was the case of the warrant of J. Howard against himself and Mr. Bowie, which was tried in the chancery office. Mr. Watkins then demanded what he meant by the term Blue Light as it applied to him ? Mr. Chandler replied-"Wait until next Saturday's paper appeared and he would see." Mr. Watkins answered, "I will not wait, and I am determined : o have an immediate explanation, or I will whip you on the spot." Mr. Chandler was at this time moving off, but Mr. Watkins seized him by the breast, and told him he should not move a step until he had made the explanation de- manded. Mr. Chandler immediately struck Mr. Watkins a violent blow over the head with a stick that staggered him, but recovering before the blow was repeated, he struck Mr. Chandler with his fist, and knocked him down, and made his stick fall from his hand. This Mr. Watkins seized, and alternately, with his fist, used the stick un- til Mr. Chandler was severely beaten.
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