Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-16
| am Sir Oracle,
And when | open my mouth
Let no dog bark.

i'ce nv N'S paiN
"The idea Of making general canvass,
that is, going to every man s home and seeing
every man is entirely unnecessary. Single out
some prominent and influential men in every
district, obtain their confidence and support,
and leave the balance to them"
cannot now recall all that was said in
conversation of more than an hour, the
announcement Of tea interrupted US and we.
parted.
During the winter of 1858 various meas
ures were brought before the Legislature rel
alive to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
prominent; and among which attracted the
most attention was bill to lease the canal
for limited time to the preferred bondhold-
ers Of the same. Governor Thomas was
present as the attorney and counselor NJ the
bondholders The matter created consider
able excitement. The politicians Of both
. parties were opposed to the bill with some
few exceptions, whilst its friends were ac-
tive, and brough every possible nfluenceand
! argument to bear in order to secure it, pas
! sage Governor Thomas was as interesting in
vigilance as he was active in its support.
had many long interviews with him rela-
tiveto the fairness and expediency of such
a measure, and but for the abundant advice
of personal and interested friends should
have given the bill my support.
Pending the passage of the bill, Governor
Thomas had ii announced that he would
address the members of the Legislature in
the hall Of the House Of Delegates upon
certain afternoon. Long before the hour of
speaking every available seat was occupied.
His speech upon this occasion was regarded
by friend and foe as one of the ablest efforts
of his life. He dwelt with whitening sar-
casm upon its improper management He
asserted that the great purposes, as antici-
pated by its orignators, had been defeated,
the expectation of those who had been in
7nced TO invest their capital had proved UNI
re muneratiye and worthless because of its
having been made the football of party.
That il had been used as an engine of infu-
encc and power in every political contest
for years, thousands of dollars had been per-
verted FROM its legitimate channels and pros
tituted in the advancement Of party schemes,
until il had become nothing more nor less
than political soap-house for hungry office
seekers That the preferred bond-holders
were before the Legislature asking that this
work be leased to them Tor limited while,
that they might put practical men at its
head, and thus test whether ii would not
prove better for all parties interested He
charged that it was laboring under finan-
cial paralysis that ii was yearly growing
verse; and without some such Legislation as
this sll called for was adopted, then the
honest would 10 compe!'al .cscek
relief ya.sxa I'LL in easgy
III never forget the 1l0aing remarks 81
this H.ss. BUS speech. In speaking Of the in
dignation which would follow the defeat Of
this bill he said:
:" can tell you, gentlemen Of the Senate
and House, that if the names Of those men
whose blood helped to cement, as it were, the
archways of that great work, and whose
sweat first moistened the earth over which
was to float the vast mineral wealth Of West
ern Maryland were to rise from the dead, they
would pick up the stones from the pavement.
and pelt you from this city"
! remember an amusing incident which
occurred during the argument Of Governor
Itk1,.ag nr .t ko
member Of the House from Montgomery
The Doctor had listened for probably an
hour with considerable attention, when sud
denly he arose upon his feet and remarked
in an audible voice, lie isl dangerous man
to listen to; | took his advice in 1896 and
it took me one and twenty years to recover
it," and left the hall.
One Of the Baltimore papers, in speaking
of the effort of Governor Thomas upon the
occasion referred TO, said, =" II Is acknowl-
edged by all Of his friends and warmest adj
mircrs 10 be one Of his ablest efforts and in
every sense ~ the word TO be worthy Of his
palmiest days. He reviewed the origin of
the canal the difficulties and embarrass-
ments under which il abored, and the re-
cent pecuniary paralysis with which it had
10 contend"
For two years from the defeat Of this bill
met Gov. Thomas only occasionally, and
then but for a few minutes Time, trouble
and want had hung out sad signals Of dis
tress The votares Of ambition which
he had carefully cultivated had sickened
and died because Of neglect the hours of
prosperity had fed, and perhaps forever; the
cup of pleasure had been drained TO the
very bottom. The bubble Of reputation had
bursted and vanished las the baselcss fabric
of dream" and he moved along like one
who was feeding upon the memories Of a
life long dead-the child Of fortune whose
mighty genius had been shattered on the
rock Of his head-strong passion Remorse,
like the back-robed execuiioner, dWdA seemcd
-ts,~-sitendant, that mercy his life had re.
fused, that mercy he could not now claim.
In the year 1860 held an official relation
with the county commissioners Of Allegheny.
In the month Of June Of the same year,
whilst the commissioners were engaged in
making their annual levy, Gov. Thomas
called at my Office and stated that he had
a request to make Of the commissioners and
he would be- glad IL would take charge Of
the matter and urge its adoption by the
board. replied that / would do 50 with
great pleasure, when he went on 10 explain
"Some two or three years since ] was sue
sessful in having road condemned across
one Of the spurs Of the great Savage Noun
tain, and subsequently obtained a small levy
the amount Of money has not proved slG-
ficient 10 open the road and want another
levy Of two hundred dollars with which b.
complete the opening 81 the road"
suppose, Governor there will hardly be
any objection to making smother levy.
wether they will allow you that amount |
am unable 10 say--of one thing ! feel Ger.
I A.