The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-03-13
POstmaster.General Creswen.

owe to him more extended notice.
His appointment to the head of the Post
Office Department, has everywhere been
hailed with unbounded satisfaction, and
from the high encomiums of the press
throughout the country, is evidently the
most popular selection that President Grant
has made. The Republicans of Maryland
and the Southern States are more than sat
isfied with this choice. Never, before, has
the national popularity of Mr.. Creswell
been SO clearly manifest as at the present
time, when placed side by side with the
sterling men who have been selected by
General Grant as his advisers. And well
may the Republicans of Cecil be proud of
their young captain and his noble history
in the army of freedom. The career of this
young statesman has not been over q smooth
and beaten path, with bed of roses on
which to repose, but constant battle with
the champions of slavery. Always in the
enemy's country, he has been compelled to
Sleep as it were, in his armour, surrounded
at times by mere handful of faithful
friends, he has steadily and CALAMITY fought
his way from obscurity to distinction with
dauntless courage.
Born at Port Deposit, in this county, on
the 18th of March, 1928, lie first drew in
FAINT breath at the base of the granite hills
of that rock-bound town. His stern irseg-
rity and moral courage seem to partake of
the nature Of his own native granite, and
to make lasting impression wherever they
have been felt.
He was educated at Dickinson College,
Carlisle, Pa, where he graduated, with the
first honors, in 1913. On leaving College,
he studied law with the late Col. Groome,
of this town., and was admitted to practice
at the Elkton Bar. lie opened law office
here. and soon went into partnership with
George Earle, Esq. This firm built up
one of the most extensive and lucrative
practices in the county, and was always
marked for the prompt, methodical man.
agement of its business affairs.
Mr.. Creswell S first essay in political life
was as Wing in 1850. He was the nominee
of that party as delegate to the Constitu-
tonal Convention. 1t seems to have been
fortune special pleasure to put her favorite
son against the most powerful champions
and formidable obstacles, as if to train and
fit him for special purpose, hidden in the
future. In this canvass, the boy champion
was called to take the field against one of
the most forcible orators and ablest politi-
clans that Maryland ever produced, the
late Judge Constable. His rival was elected,
the Democratic party being generally i'll
the majority in the county at that time,
and having nominated by odds their ablest
man. When the Old Wing party fell to
pieces, Mr. Creswell joined the Democratic
party and was one of the delegates from
this State to the National Convention at
Cincinnati which nominated Buchanan for
President. He still retained his place as
member of the party, until the breaking
out of the rebellion, and up to the firing
on Sumter by the rebels. His mate pa
triotism then broke all ties that connected
him with, what from that day was nothing
but the rebel party. Well do We remem-
Der his first public speech in the Union
Wigwam, which was erected on North
street, Elkton, where the Odd Fellows
Hall now stands, by the Union party, in
the Summer of '61. His thrilling appeals
in the cause of the Union, and his wither
ing denunciation Of Secession and the Re-
! bellion, made every Union heart bound
| with Joy, and cheer upon cheer shook that
rough temple Of liberty, as they were sent
| up for the old flag. From that hour, he
has had the party of slavery and rebellion,
| under it's manifold names, for his most bit
| ter and relentless enemy. No opportunity
| has been allowed to escape by that party
for hurting it's shafts at him. No means
! were too vile or low for it to employ in the
prosecution of its malignant warfare against
| him. But in spite of malice of the bitter
est kind on the side of treason, the young
| champion of the Union cause rose steadily
| up, till his enemy is at last fairly beneath
| his foot.
| In the Fall of 81, Mr.. Creswell was
| elected to the Maryland Legislature, where
he took a leading and active part. In 1862
he was appointed Adjutant- General Of the
State of Maryland. In 1868 he canvassed
the Eastern Shore, as the Union candidate
for Congress, against J. w. Crisfeld and
was elected to the House Of Representa-
tives. In those dark regions of slavery and
ignorance, he was the first to proclaim the
doctrines of the abolition of slavery, and
we have often been amused to hear him re-
late anecdotes of the blank amazement
with which his speeches, proclaiming the
new gospel of freedom, were listened to by
those old balons of the whip and hand-cuff
| We extract from the New York Tribune
| popular sketch of the political career of
| Mr.. Creswell, from his election to Congress
till 1866:
! s. In 1858 he was elected to Congress from
the Cecil District, and took h S seat beside
the great Baltimore orator, at the beginning
| OF the Ihirty-eighth Congress. Here he
remained for some little time in the usual
| obscurity of a new member. A bill for the
employment of negroes as soldiers first
| drew him out. Davis had been preparing
the way for him by assuring his friends
that Creswell would yet make his mark
When he rose, therefore, he soon secured
| the attention of those about him--an I'M
usual thing for a new member of the
House, rising in the midst of debate, to
read written speech. His fine presence
and impressive style of reading, however
soon gained him the ear of the House; and
when he. came to culogize the proclamation
of Emancipation, and to tell how it was
received by the poor negroes who, at mid
night prayer meetings in the cabins of the
Eastern shore, spent the hours snatched
from toll IN praying God to make them
worthy of the great gift bestowed upon
them, he rose to a pitch of genuine elo-
quence that secured undivided attention.
and unbroken silence. He was most warm
ly congratulated as he took his seat, and
the effort was on all hands pronounced one
of the most successful ever made in that
Hall by new member. From that day he
rapidly rose to a commanding position in
State and national politics. The death of
| Governor Hicks soon made Il vacancy in
the Senate, and to the horror of the slow