The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-10-16

On the night the reform societies of Wood.
berry marched to the city to attend the grand
mass meeting in Monument Square, in pass
ing the corner of Falls road and Cross street
they were assaulted with stones and clubs which
were hurled at the line by parties concealed
near the road. A correspondent of the Wood
berry Nel0S charges that this assault was In
stigated by police officers. If this is so the
sooner that class of men can be turned off the
force the better it will be for the safety of our
citizens. The authorities should inquire into
this matter at once. ~
"A few days ago number of gentlemen
had discussion as to the correct meaning of
the word Democrat" or Democracy" Web
sters latest Unabridged Dictionary gives it
thus: "DemocrGcy- Government by the people
a form of government in which the supreme
power is in the hands of the people, and di-
rectly exercised by them hence, more usually,
a form of government in which the power re-
sides ultimately in the whole people, who con-
duct by a system of representation and delega-
ton of powers a constitutional and represen-
tative government; republic"
William Grason, Esq, Of this town, son OF
Hon. Richard Grason, was married on Thurs
day last to Miss Mamie Chew, second daugh-
ter of Capt. Chas. R. Chew. The ceremony
took place at "Epsom," the residence of the
brides parents, and was performed by Rev. j.
F. Hof, D. D., rector of Trinity P. E. Church,
Towsontown. On account of the illness of
Capt. Chew the wedding was very quiet one
and was witnessed by the members of the two
families only. We extend our sincere congrat-
ulations to Mr.. and Mrs. Grason and wish
them long, happy and prosperous life.
An ELECTION IN THE OLDEN TIMEs-A SCRAP
FROM LOCAL HIsToRY.-The American Of late
date says: "There are some people, perhaps,
who think that the exciting scenes witnessed in
This city and State are without parallel, but
peep into our local history proves the contra
nv. Colonel J. Thomas Scharf, in his research
es for data for his forthcoming history of Mary
land, has come across an account OF an election
for representatives of Baltimore county in the
House of Delegates, which was held on March
I'd, 1852, at JOppa, the county seat of Baltimore
county. In those days Joppa was fourishing
and important place. 1t was situated on the
Gunpowder river, in the vicinity of the track
of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad, but there is now scarcely any vestige
of the place The election referred to was for
the purpose of electing four delegates in the
place of VIM. Govane, Thomas Franklin, Lloyd
Buchanan and Chas. Ridgeley. The gentle
men had been elected to the House of Dele
gates, but their seats were contested by John
Paca, Walter folly. VIM. Smith and John Mat
tn ews, and they were dismissed from the House,
and new election ordered. The following is
the petition of the contesting delegates. 1t
will give an insight into the modus operandi
of carrying an election in Maryland 123 years
ago:
"That VIM. Govane, one of the gentlemen
who stood candidate at the said then ensuing
election, in order to procure himself and other
gentlemen who promoted his interest in said
election, gave or caused to be given greatquan
titles of rum, punch and other strong liquors to
the people in several parts of the country, in
order to secure the votes of the said people for
himself and friends and when the said people
were warmed and intoxicated with strong Ii
quors, engaged their promises to vote for him,
the said Govsne and his friends. That the said
William Govane, the better to hold the people
to their promises, procured great quantities of
rum and punch and other strong liquors to be
lodged in the way OF the people to the said
election, and gave the same to the people; and
at the Court House before the election and at
the taking of the poll procured SO much strong
liquor to be given to the people that many of
them were made drunk and net capable of Civ
ing their votes with prudence and discretion or
agreeably to what they would have done had
they been SOBER"
1t was further recited that the voters finally
became so disorderly that it was found heces-
sary to adjourn the voting, which greatly de-
layed the election. 1t was also charged that
the Sheriff shut the Court House doors for
two hours, "and thereby kept out several of your
petitioners and their friends, by means whereof
several of your petitioners friends were pre-
vented from going to vote, and your petitioners
were prevented from Directing to the votes of
several unqualified voters" 1t was also stated
that the clerk who kept the polls was not sworn
as required by law.
The election to fill the seats of those ousted
from the House of Delegates came off in due
time and proved very exciting affair. There
were "mere people present than ever before"
The election lasted three days, during which
time there was considerable fighting and two
men were killed. At the end of the three days
there were but 9e2 votes cast. Of these VIM.
Govane received 547, Thomas Franklin SAT,
Maj Chas. Ridgeley 523, Mr.. Lloyd Buchanan
sos, John Paca 400, VIM. Smith 457, Walter
Tollv dd6 and John Matthew'S SS0