History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 116

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 116

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The male and female panpers eat apart and have their separate rooms. The graveyard is neatly in- closed and contains nearly an aere of ground. A law has been lately passed that all children between the ages of two and sixteen years are not to remain at the poor-house over sixty days, but that the directors

shall provide places for them, thus rendering schools unnecessary here for the instruction of the young. In 1872 the former building was burned, fortunately when the present was nearly completed. The officers of the institution in January, 1884, were as follows : Directors, John A. Righter, John O. Clemens and Daniel Shuler; David H. Ross, clerk ; Adam F. Say- lor, steward; Joseph H. Johnson, deputy steward ; Samuel Rambo, farmer; Dr. J. W. Royer, physician ; Horatio Sands, engineer; and Charles Ulrich, watch- man. Number of paupers, three hundred and five ; monthly average, two hundred and forty-seven; cost of each per week, $1.46 ; net expenses, $18,798.80.

Through a late purchase the farm now contains two hundred and ninety-eight aeres, of which but ten or twelve remain in timber. The woodland in 1858 comprised about thirty acres. The land is quite roll- ing and appears to be under good cultivation. The main building fronts south, and, as seen from below on the east bank of the river, presents a fine view, the scenery around being unusually interesting. Above it is the Black Rock bridge spanning the Schuylkill, nearer a lovely island reposing on its bosom, and the boats passing up and down the river impart variety. The government of the entire place is under the com- plete control of the three directors, who hold their posi- tions for three years, one being elected annually. They appoint all the officers of the institution and are ac- countable for its management. They are required by law to meet at least every month at the place and see to the proper regulation of the same. On the first Monday of January the directors, county audi- tors and treasurer meet here to adjust and make out the accounts of the previous year. The expenses are met by funds raised from taxes levied by the county commissioners on requisition of the directors, and through their order paid by the county treasurer.

From the following statistics relative to pauperismn in this county interesting information may be ob- tained: Number of paupers in the poor-house on the Ist day of January, 1815, was 82; in 1825, 106; in 1832, 110; in 1849, 198; in 1858, 233; in 1876, 265; and in 1884, 305. The important question now arises, Have the poor increased or diminished with the population according to the several enumerations made? By calculation in 1815 we find it was about 1 in 393; in 1825, 1 in 350; in 1832, 1 in 360; in 1849, 1 in 290; in 1858, 1 in 343; in 1876, 1 in 340; and for 1883, 1 in 280 of the population. It would have materially aided us if we could have had the statistics at hand of the number of paupers in the poor-house in census years, which would have been more accu- rate; but it is evident that pauperism among ns is increasing in spite of the great diminution tak- ing place in the use of intoxicating liquors and the considerable sums now raised and paid out by benevo- lent and seeret associations to ward off poverty and ameliorate the condition of society. It must be ad- mitted that a considerable number of the poor are

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

improvident foreigners, as the officers of the poor- house have informed us; yet we doubt that the ratio is near as great now in proportion to our native popn- lation as formerly ; at least, it does not appear so ob- vious. One of the great causes, most probably, is the rapid increase of our larger manufacturing towns, where habits of dissipation and idleness are more readily acquired and more prevalent than among the simpler habits and more regular pursuits of country life.

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE PAST AND PRESENT POLITICS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THE political changes of a century are many and difficult to chronicle. Montgomery County became a subdivision of the State at the close of the Revolution, and at that time the people recognized but one politi- cal division, that of loyalist and rebel, patriot and Tory. For almost eight years the contention was for independence of or submission to the continued dominion of Great Britain. Patriots and Tories could not live in the same political atmosphere, and between these radical and warlike parties many conservatives and peacefully disposed men, while the fierce struggle lasted, were crushed as between two mill-stones. It is difficult to recall the exact condition of the public mind in Montgomery County during the win- ter of 1784, when our municipality became officered by appointments made at the instance of the Supreme Executive Council, composed of men who had been members of that repository of power through the last years of the war, and who were prominent officials in the execution of summary laws, by which a large proportion of the landed estates of the county were confiscated and their owners disfranchised and practi- cally exiled. To have been a loyalist, or to have favored the mother-country, was to be proscribed in all political matters. Although the commonwealth had been established by the Constitution of 1776, yet the forms of the colonial government were still in use. The only State officers elected at that date were the members of the General Assembly, and the only county officers elected were the sheriff, coroner and county commissioners, all others being appointed by the Supreme Executive Conncil, or by the few officers elected. The county commissioners had the power of appointing the county treasurer every year, and generally appointed the retiring member of their own number. While the right of universal suffrage was established, its use was greatly restricted by the un- willingness of executive power to yiekl its extensive influence resulting from appointments to municipal office.

There were less than twenty thousand people in the

county at the time of its creation, and only three places fixed by law to poll the vote,-i.e., Norristown, George Eckart's tavern in Whitemarsh township and Michael Krepse's tavern in New Hanover township. There was no general government of the Union at this date. The States that had become independent were operating together by reason of certain articles of confederation. All of the first officers of the county were men who had been identified with the Revolution, and while there were minor differences of opinion among them, they were always united upon political questions involved in the contest, and this condition of things continued until the Union was established, and the election and re-election of Washington to the Presidency had become a matter of history. It was in the candidacy of John Adams and his subsequent administration that political parties crystalized. During the last year of Washington's administration he refused to be a candidate for a third term. John Adams, then Vice-President, aspired to the succession, and called around him the leaders of the Federal party. Thomas Jefferson, who represented the opposition of the period and what was thought the more liberal tendencies of the people, induced the organization of a National Republican party, and be- came its idolized leader. John Adams was elected President, and Thomas Jefferson being the next highest candidate voted for, became Vice-President under the law then in force.

The policy of uniting political rivals in one and the same administration worked well enough under the great and good Washington, but with John Adams in the Presidential chair, watchful for his own succession, and the brilliant Jefferson organizing a new party to oppose him, it was not long before the work of the primaries reached every county in the Union. The first party lines were those of the Federalist, in support of the Adams administration, and the Republican, led by Jefferson in hostility to the former. The leaders of both organizations were identified with the Revo- lution, and they differed only upon questions which arose subsequent to the treaty of peace and the adop- tion of the Constitution of the United States. The Federalists, by acts of conciliation in both political and social circles, attracted to their party all those who had been in sympathy with the mother-country during the war for independence, while the more radical Republicans were remorseless in their pro- scription of those who were known as Tories during the struggle. This fact, if borne in mind, will account for much of the political "lingo"1 used by the Jeffer-

1 "John Funk, minister of the gospel, in one of his political sermons, on Monday, the 18th inst. (1817), at the house of Mr. Joseph Hans, had the boldness and impudence to say that no man but Federalists, Tories and Vagabonds would vote for Joseph Heister. We would advise him to pay more attention to his religions duties and not trouble himself quite so much in slandering General Heister and his supporters, or he will soon hear from us again."-Norristown Herald, August 27, 1817.

"WHIGGERY .- It is said that the secretary of the Hartford Convention will shortly publish a genuine history of the 'Now Whigs,' giving a

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THE PAST AND PRESENT POLITICS.

son Republicans against the Federalists during and subsequent to the war of 1812. And even many years later, when the Republican party merged into the Democratic party, led by General Jackson, it was no uncommon thing to hear Demveratic orators charge the old Federalists and young Whigs with being the descendants of the Tories of the Revolution. The leaders of the National Republican party were shrewd and far-seeing, and by a system of agitation showed to the world the advantages of emigration, and advo- cated and secured the adoption of such naturalization laws as at once won for that party the support of that class of persons. The impress of this early policy still prevails, and the Democratic party throughout the country reaps the political advantage of it. The Alien and Sedition Laws of the Federalists and the later efforts of the "Know-Nothings " were held by the Jeffersoniau school of political economists to be alike abridgments of American citizenship. During the period from 1800 to 1824 political parties and organi- zations in Montgomery County operated under various names, The followers of Jefferson were known as "Democratic Republicans ;" the opposite party styled themselves "Federal Republicans." In 1779, Thomas MeKean and James Ross were rival candidates for Governor. The canvass was spirited in Montgomery County, as will be seen by the following campaign documents circulated by their respective friends, Mc- Kean being the successful candidate:

" FREEMEN BE PRUDENT !

" The following Paper has been published in the Town of Washington, where Mr. Ross lived at the time of the Western Insurrection ; It is in the County of Washington, which adjoins Alleghany County, in which Pittsburg lies. The Author, we see, has left his Name and his Proofs, and challenges a denial in a Firm and Manly style. The Friends of Order in the Senate have lately chosen Mr. I. Woods (Mr. Ross' Brother-in-law) Speaker of the Senate, though he was a regular Deputy to an Insurgent meeting held at Pittsburg. This was an Election made by Messrs. Hare, Mcclellan (of Chester County), Potts, Matthias Barton, Gurney and the other Federalists in the Senate of l'ennsylvania. Now many of the Gentlemen are on Con- mittees to promote James Ross to the office of Hovernor. The l'eople will learn what manner of a Man James Ross is.

"To Ma. JAMES ROSS :

"Sir,-You are a Candidate for an high and important Office in this State. The People are called upon by their Constitution to elect, on the 8th of October next, a person to succeed our present Chief Magistrate, and you are one of the Candidates for that office. Your conduct aod character ought to be fairly and strictly examined, and your merits and demerits made known to the Public. You are now, Sir, called upon in this public maoner to answer the following solemo queries, without equivocation or finesse. They are addressed to your conscience. Your Silence nist be construed into guilt. If the charges are declaredl by you to be unfounded, theo the author pledges himself to bring forward such

particular and authentic account of the party from its commencement, io 1775, down to the present time. It will contain the history of 1775, when they were called Tories; 1778, their reudezvous on Staten Island ; 1782, their flight to Nova Scotia; 1784, their return, whitewashed patriots ; 1789, monarchists in the Convention ; 1794, British treaty men ; 1798, Federalists-Black Cockades ; 180G, advocates of impressment and opponents of the embargo ; 1812, Peace and Submission men ; 1813, Blue Lights; 1814, Hartford Conventionists; 1816, British Bankites ; 1824, Federal Republicaos; 1828, Adams meo ; 1831, Clay men ; Is32, National Republicans ; 1833, Nullifiers ; 1834, Bank Whigs."-Norristown Register, October 8, 1831.

proofs and vouchers as will put falsehood to the blush and substantiate the facts.

"I. Did you not vote for the British Treaty ? A treaty which has prostrated America at the feet of Britain, and which under the specious mask uf reciprocity and justice delivered up an American Citizen to be sacrificed by the British nation.

"Il. Did you or did you not vote for the increase of salaries of the officers of the Federal Government when the People were groaning under the weight of its new taxes, excise, &c., to support stamdling armies, Davies, &c .?

" III. Did you or did you not vote for raising a STANDING ARMY ; and were you not one who sanctioned the arming the people ut the Statea south of the Potomac as militia and those of the States North as Regular troops, thereby making a bold and obvious attempt to diride the Union ?

"IV. Did you or did you not declare 'That any Person who would kill an Excise Oficer you would defend him Gratis,' thereby bringing dis- grace upon our Country and encouraging the citizens infamously to vio- late the laws of GOD and Mao ?

"V. Did yon or did you not persuade the delinquent distillers not to pay their arrearages of excise ?

"VI. Shortly before the Insurrection did you not importune John Baldwin, of Washington County, to bring suit against Gen. Nevill for Whiskey he had seized in Alleghany County, the property of said Bald- win ? And did you or did you not observe, after having repeatedly sent for Mr. Baldwin to prosecute the suit, that you did not wish the suit until the old Ruscal (meaning Nevill) had so large a quantity that you would have it in your power to sarrifire all his property ? And further, Did you not, when you thought the time had arrived that a suit ought to le brought, advise said Baldwin to prosecute in Alleghany County, and request him to employ Mr. Brackenridge as the proper person to bring the suit, but promised that you would assist all in your power in conduct- ing the same ? Thereby throwing thr odium of prosecuting on Messrs. Brackenridge and Baldwin, when in fact you were the prime mover.

"VHI. How, or by what method were you appointed a Commissioner on the part of the Government, when your expressions and actions were in opposition to it ?

" VIII. Did you or did you not, upon your return from Kentucky during the opposition to the Alien and Sedition laws io that State, in a public company at Pittsburg, declare, upon being asked 'in what situa- tion you left the people of Kentucky,' that 'they were just as the people of this Western country : would REBEL if they D.RED? Thereby casting the greatest odinm upon the people of this country and indirectly stigmatising them with the epithets Traitors and Cowards.

" IX. Did you or did you not, refuse to drink aa a toast, ' The Constitu- tion of the United States' at the table of Messrs. Holmes and Rainey, mer- chants in Philadelphia, io the presence of C'ul. Marshall, former recorder of this county ?

" X. Did you or did you not take from a respectable Citizen in this County, then in embarrassed circumstances, at the rate of Seventy-five per Cent. interest per Annum, SEVENTY pounds for FORTY. An un- equivocal and explicit answer is demanded to this Query. Your con- science, your honor, your character, your all depends upon it.

" XI. Did you or did you not, when called upon to prosecute Samuel Thompson, in this County, for Usury, refuse to act, but by some means quashed the business, a charge having been thrown out against you for the same crime.

" XII. Do you or do you not hold large tracts of land over the Alle- ghany river which you claim by warrunts, whilst the actual bettlers are daily deprived of their possessions by those warrants ?

" XIII, Did you or did you not sanction the sale of the lands North- West of the Ohio io large sections, so that they might become a subject of speculation. And have you or have yon not purchased, in conjunction with a person at the mouth of Buffaloe, the greater part of the said land at two Dollars per Acre, and are you not now selling it at the advanced price of eight or tea Dollars ?

" XIV. Did you or did you not act the part of a Harlequin in this town, and make different religions preachers, in particular the Rev. John MI'Millen, the object of your derision und ridicule, for the amusement of your companions at a card-table ?

"XV. Dil you or did you not derlare ' That whenever you could be- come the devotee to religion you hoped you might have reason enough left to cut your own throat ?'"'

" MONTGOMERY COUNTY, July 27th, 1799.

"Fellow-Citizens,-In consequence of the importance of the ensuing Election for Governor of this State, a large number of the Citizens of Montgomery county have assembled at the house of Nicholas Sweyer, in

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Whitepaine township; and upon due deliberation think it advisable to give their support to JAMES Ross, of Pittsburg, for that dignified office- Ilis integrity-his disposition-his eminent abilities-his patriotism and unshaken firmness, conspiring to render him a judicious eclection for that high and responsible station,

"Committees consisting of persons attached to their country's best in- terests, and consequently most likely to exert themselves on that behalf, have been appointed for the several Townships, to promote Mr. Ross's election.

" The Gentlemen composing the several committees, by turning their attention to what passed before the last general election, will feel them- selves at ao loss respecting one of the objects of their appointment-To them an useful lesson has been tanght, by the conduct of those who, lost to every principle of public and private virtue, set morality aside, and with the tongne of falsehood, traduced the government, slandered their officers, and with the foulest caluninies between their lips, rode from bonse to house, misrepresenting the laws, and poisoning the minds of the citizens, so as to lay the foundation of that insurrection, which ranked the county of Montgomery amongst those in rebellion against the United States,-Of conduct like this, the members of the several com- mittees will be npoo their watch ; and by a vigilant attention to such disturbers of the public peace, will detect their falsehoods, expose their calumnies, and where the public good requires it, report their names to the other committees, that those traducers of our laws and the characters of our most valuable citizens may be held up to public view as men de- void of truth, and unworthy the confidence of their neighbours and fel- low-citizens.

" It is of importance that particular notice should be taken of the arts that are practised to injure Mr. Ross's character-anonymous pamphlets and papers are in circulation, containing charges against him which are totally unfounded, and which there is no doubt were believed to be so by the anthors themselves, and were intended to mislead the unwary and unsuspecting citizen, for the purpose of carrying a favourite measure. For if this was not the case, why did not the anthors give their names- and why do they circulate their pamphlets in a manner which evinces that they are unwilling an investigation should be had, and that their names should be publicly known-When the infamous aspersions con- tained in these pamphlets-the object of the lying arts, the low and scandalous devices of certain persons who have no character to lose, but that which they have gained by conduct that every American citizen ought to despise, and which would (if possible) disgrace even a French Jacobin-are considered, the necessity of being vigilant will be obvious. "Mr. Ross's parentage, his possessions, his religions and moral charac- ter are called in question-To men acquainted with him, and informed of the arts of those in opposition to his election, the slightest notice of such reports would appear unnecessary, but those who are unacquainted with him may think otherwise-It will therefore be adviseable to make a fair representation of his character, by stating facts as they really are. And with truth it may be said, that he is descended from a Farmer of respectable character, who is a native of, and now resident in the county of York in this state-that Mr. Ross by his extraordinary abilities, in- tegrity and industry, has become conspicuous amongst the most distin- guished members of the Senate of the United States-ranks with the most valuable and highly-esteemed citizens of his county, and possesses that portion of property which, although it is sufficient to secure his in- dependence and attachment to his country, yet its amount is not such as to raise him above his fellow-citizens, or render him dangerous to the public-That in religion he is sonnd, and has been its constant advocate -and that even his opposers in politics who reside in his own neighbor- hood, and are acquainted with him, acknowledge his morals to be un- impeachable.

" It is particularly recommended to the members of the several com- mittees to use their best industry to convince their neighbours of the necessity of exerting themselves to promote Mr. Ross's election ; as upon it our country's future prosperity and happiness very much depends. Every man in the several townships should be visited, excepting only such as are notorionsly governed by French principles, and are under French influence ; these are believed to be incorrigible, and from them no good is to be expected ; but the other citizens ought to be coolly rea- soned with-arguments and facts stated to them with candor, that their judgments may be convinced of the necessity of turning ont to the elec- tion, and using their utmost exertions in support of the candidate hervin recommended.

" It will be advisable for the committees to take to their assistance such of their fellow-citizens as are willing to be aiding on this important occasion.

" These measures are recommended from an assurance that unless the

evil practices spoken of are checked, we must fall a prey to those calami- ties which are the sure consequences of vices, so subversive of that public confidence which is all essential to the support of a Republican Govero- ment.

"If we turn our eyes to the revolution in France we shall find that deception, frand and violence have formed the ladder by which the different factions have raised themselves into power, and that under their influence the people have been stimulated to acts of violence and cruelty towards each other, which would be a disgrace to a nation pretending even to the smallest degree of civilization. Now if the people of this country who are opposed to our goverameat, and who seem to be imitat- ing the coodnet of France, should become sufficiently strong, and should persevere in their vilifying practices, have we not reason to fear that civil discord, which was fomented by the enemies of our government, and which lately rose into rebellion against the United States, will again ap- pear with redoubled fury ?- Neighbour will be in danger of personal vio- lence from neighbour-and citizen from citizen-the dreadful horrors of civil war will be our unhappy lot. And we, when it is too late, shall have to reflect upon ourselves, for neglecting that duty, which as men, as neighbours, as American citizens, was assigned us to perform. With the example of France and the late insurrection before our eyes, can we hesitate to set our faces against the authors of civil discord, or will we re- fuse to rally round our government as the place of our refuge, and as the only means under Providence of our political salvation ?- It has hitherto preserved us from the fangs of France, and if we give it our enpport, we may with confidence rest satisfied, that under its banners we shall be safe.

" NAMES OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEES FOR THE COUNTY OF MONT-

GOMERY.

ABINGTON.

Samuel Maulsby.

Jonathan Tyson.

George Fries,

George Fisher.

Jacob Dravs.

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 116

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534