The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-10-01
The Nomination of Col. Webster.

We announced briefly, last week, that Col
Edwin II. Webster, of Hartford county, had
been nominated, on the 23d of September, as
the Republican candidate for Congress in the
second district, which is composed of Cecil,
Hartford, Baltimore and Carroll Counties
The following is his letter of acceptance:
BEL AIR, Nd, September 25th.
To Mess,S. Daniel Po,Uet A. Bttingsled,
j. T. Mccullough, A. Vosbay, Committee ::
Gentlemen Yours OF the 23d inst. is at hand
by to-day's mail, informing me of my unani-
nous nomination rs the Republican candidate
for Congress, by the Republican Congressional
Convention of the Second district of Maryland,
and expressing the hope that would accept the
nomination. For the very kind manner in
which you have communicated the action and
wishes of the convention please accept my
thanks. Coming, as this nomination does, with
out my procurement and even against my person
al wishes freely expressed, and believing, as do,
in the untrammeled right of the people to make
their own selection of agents and public SER
wants, consider it my duty to comply with the
wishes of your convention; and hereby accept
their nomination with high appreciation of
the honor which it confers upon me and with
an earnest desire to merit and maintain the con-
fidcnce it implies. Owing to the fact that have
held for some years an independent position us
to political organizations, and being DESTROYS
that no voter in the Second congressional dis
trict shall be in doubt as to my political views
at this time, 1 wish in accepting your nomina-
ton to say that earnestly favor the election OF
the noble standard bearers of the Republican
party-Garfleld and Arthur; that believe the
best interests of the country will be advanced
by their success, and that am in full sympathy
and utilization with the national Republican par
ty. At the same time wish it also to be under
stood that can never surrender the right to eX-
ercise my individual judgment upon all ques-
tons that might come before me as represen-
tative of the people, and that, if elected all my
efforts shall be given to promote the interests OF
my entire constituency, and the honor and well
fare of the whole country.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
EDWIN H. WEBSTER.
SKETCH OF THE NOMINEE.
Col. Edwin Hanson Webster is fifty-one years
ofage, having been born in Hartford county March
81, 1899 and was educated at Dickinson College
His political life began with his election to the
Maryland Senate in 1855. He served in that body
for four years, and at the session of 1853 was
elected President of the Senate. In 1856 he was
Presidential elector ON the Fillmore and Don
| aldson ticket. In 1860 he was elected to thu
Thirty-seventh Congress, but resigned his posi-
tion in the House for the purpose of forming tho
Seventh Maryland Union Regiment. in 1862 hi
| was reelected to the Thirty eighth Congress
| serving on the Committee on Claims and on Pub
| lie Expenditures. In this Congress he served
| warm friends. In 1864 he was reelected to tn,
Thirtyninth Congress, but resigned in July, 1865
| when he was appointed by President johnson col
lector of the port OF Baltimore. In 1SG7hc wen
over with the johnson following to the Dem
ocratic party but was never actively engaged il
Democratic politics, and always refused to hoit
Office under the party. For several years pas
he has been an earnest, although q conservativ,
Republican. Col. Webster resides upon hi
| handsome estate, near Bel Air, where he has on,
of the finest herds of Jersey cattle in the State
Col. Webster is gentleman of the highes
personal worth, and his nomination was pro
badly the best that could have been made by
| the Republicans He will not be supported
| with much enthusiasm by extreme Republi
| cans in this county, but the conservative Re
publican vote, which since 1867 has beer
| cast for the Democratic ticket, may be rallied
to his support, The loss of these votes, n
| the next election, may therefore slightly dc
| crease the Democratic vote here, but the ma
jority is SO large in the district as to make i
impossible for Col. Webster or any other Re
publican to overcome it. Besides, in q Pres
idential contest party lines are more closel,
| drawn than at other times, and those whit
are earnestly DESTROYS ola change in the ma
tional administration will feel that it is neces
/ sary to send an undivided Democratic dele
CATION to Congress from Maryland, in orde
l to aid General Hancock in his work of re
| union and reform.