Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-08-22
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JuDcE PETER W. CRAIs TsTERvrEw-
ED.-A representative OF the Baltimore
Bulletin had a conversation recently
with Judge Peter w. Grain, gentle
man tsell-known in this city and State,
during which The Judge called up the
following interesting "reminiscences Of
fifty-one years ago: In the year 1927
there were two political parties, known
as Federal;sts and Democrats, which
were in violent antsgonism.
A number oil conservative men Of both
parties in Baltimore conceived the idea
that the country would best be served
by the selection of President at the
election in 1928 who u ould rise above
mere party interests and save the coun-
try from what was regarded as an i'm
pending danger. General Andrew
Jackson was then very popular and was
regarded as the coming man.
About the e5th OF September, 1927,
twelve gentlemen, Democrats and Fed
eralists; in conformity with previous
call, met at Sinners old Fountain Inn,
Light street, for the purpose of forming
the basis Of jackson party" These
were Roger b. Teney, Afterwards Sec
rotary of the Treasury, under Jackson's
administration, and Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
who presided at the meeting; McClin-
took Young. who became chief clerk of
the Treasury Department. under Mr..
fancy, Reverdy Johnson, who became
United Ststes Senator. Attorney Gem
eral of the United States, and Minister
TO the Court of st. James; BENJAMIN C.
Howard, member Of Congress and
reporter of decisions OF the United
States Supreme Court; Upton Heath,
Judge of the United States Circuit
Court: John Glenn. also Judge of the I'm
tied States Circuit Court; William Frick,
Collector of the port of Baltimore, Judge
of the Court of Appeals of Maryland,
and Judge of the Superior Court OF Bal
timore city; James Heath, member of
Congress; John V. L. McMahon. men,
Der Of the State Legislature and one of
the most distinguished lawyers of his
time; General George Steuart, member
of The Legislature and a distinguished
State militia officer; William II. Cat
chell, clerk of the Criminal Court of
Baltimore, end Peter w. Grain, for rs
years Judge of the first district Of Mary
land and Judge Of the Court of APP
peals.
Resolutions embodying a declaration
OF principles were adopted by this meet
ing, which were afterwards readopted
by the people and became the platform
OF the jackson party" tits a singular
fact that while at the time this little
conference was held, all of The worthless
were in private stations, and that in Of
ter years all of them held high and i'm
poriant positions in the State or FEEDER
al Government, and acquitted them
selves with great honor.
OF the dozen who met on that occa-
sion, Judge Grain alone remains alive
to-day. He was then the youngest man
among them. Mr.. Gatchell died only
two months ago.
II may be added that the Jackson party
were not successful in 1924. Mr.. John
Quincy Adams, by the help OF the
friends of Henry Clay, was elected by
the House of Representatives, there
having been no election by the people.
In 1928, however, thc- kson Ricn
were more fortunate, and succeeded in
electing Jackson by large majority
The present Democratic party claims 10
have its birth m the jackson party of
1927. From the date of this memora-
bic meeting at The Fountain Inn CO.
terie of local politicians, known as he
courthouse clique, was most powerful
in controlling nominations and appoint
ments TO Office in the city, and to some
extent in the State.