The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-01-19
THE NEW e. 5. SENATOR.

The Democratic caucus of the Cen
eral Assembly of Maryland that assem-
bed at the State House at Annapolis,
Thursday night, selected the Hon. James
Black Groome, of Cecil county, as the
candidate ofthat party for United States
Senator from Maryland, which is equiva-
lent to an election. Mr. Sullivan, of
Dorchester county, withdrew the name
of Senator Dennis, when the ballot stood
-Groome 81, Robinson 81, Pearce >,
giving Groome clean majority of %
on Joint ballot Gov Groome was form
ally elected in joint session yesterday,
his term in the Senate to commence at
the expiration Of the term of Mr.. Den
mis-, the 4th of March, 1879 to serve
for six years.
Senator Groome was born in Cecil
county, Maryland, on the 4lh of April,
1888. and will therefore be forty nine
years of age when he becomes United
States Senator On the paternal side
he is the grandson of Dr. John Groome,
and on the maternal side the grandson
of the Hon. James R. Black, of Della
ware for whom he was named.
Senator Groome was educated at
'Tennent School," Hartsvile, Penn
svlvania, but about the time he was
prepared to enter college he was com
PEELED to abandon his studies for some
wears on account of defect in his eyes
Finally recovering, be entered his faith
er's office as a student of law, and in
the Spring of 1861 he was admitted to
the bar of Maryland. His practice has,
from the beginning, been lucrative, and
according to his taste confined in some
degree to Office business and the chan
Gerry practice.
In politics Mr.. Groome has always
been Democrat, and in the early DAYS
Of the late war, when there was Re-
publican majority of nearly 1000 in
his county, took an active part with
other prominent Democrats of Cecil in
keeping up the Democratic organiza-
ton i'll the county. The result was
that the Republican majority in Cecil
steadily decreased, until the fall of 1866,
when the party was beaten in the
county.
In the ensuing Spring, Mr.. Groome
was elected a delegate from Cecil county
to the convention to frame new con-
stitution. He took a prominent part
in that convention and made several
speeches, which were pronounced EEK
haustive aud mastery"
In 1871 Mr.. Groome was nominated
as a Democratic candidate and elected
to the Legislature from Cecil county, in
which he was regarded as one of the
ablest members, and soon took such
rank that, although at FIRST unacquainted
with a large proportion Of tbs men,
bers, he received twelve votes for L.
S. Senator. He has been member of
the judiciary committee of the House,
and was known as an efficient business
worker
In 1873, although Gen Grant had
carried the county of Cecil, Mr.. Groome
was renominated for the Legislature,
and was the efficient means Of carry
ing the county for the entire Democratic
State ticket by majority of about $50.
The week after the session of 1874 be-
gan, Gov William Pinkney Whyte, who
then filled the gubernatoriai chair of
the State, was elected l'nited States
Senator, and resigned as Governor,
making it necessary for the Legislature
to elect a Governor. Mr.. liroome also
resigning his seat in the House, and
was elected Governor, receiving ses.
enty-tive votes to eighteen cast for his
opponent lie was Immediately there
after naugurated Governor, and served
out the unexpired term Of Gov. Whyte.
Since that time he has been quietly pur-
suing the practice of his profession in
his native county. With high physical
health and vigorous, compact intel
lect, well trained to public business, his
future seems bright and useful