Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-23
Mistorifal Skrtthes.
Written for he SENTINEL
FRANCIS THOMAS. \
Personal "reminiscences of Governor
Thomas, of Maryland.
Written for The SENTINEL
by REVERE.

| BY REVERE.
Surely no man can reflect, without won
der, upon the vicissitudes Of Human Life
arising from causes in the highest degreC
accidental and triffling. If you trace the
necessary confederation of Human Events
very little way back, you may perhaps
discover that persons very going in or out
of door has been the means of colourinp
with misery or happiness the remaining
current OF his life. "-GREvLLE.
II is certain that men frequently bear
calamities much better than they them
selves would have previously expected. In
misfortunes, which are of gradual growth
every change contracts and reduces their
views and prepares them for another and
they at length find themselves enrolled
in the gloom of adversely without any vio-
lent transition. How many have there
been who, while baskng in the smiles of
fortune and reveling in the luxuries of opu-
lence, would have been completely over
powered by revelation of their future
DOOM Yet when the yicisstudes of life have
brought them into those circumstances, they
have met their mislortunes with calmness
and resignation. The records of the French
Revolution abound with instances of ex-
traordinary fortitude from those it could
have been least expected, and who a few
years before would probably have shrunk
with horror from the bare Imagination of
their own fate. Women and men were seen
to.perish on the scatfold without betraying
The almost sudden ti3nsltion of Gdg.
Thomas from life Of comparative luxury
and activity to one Of profound isolation
produced little or no effect upon his iron
will Theme of his life had been rosy with
hope and promise, and ere the mellow hours
of noon had fallen, his unfortunate mar
rage and its sad and bitter memories had
frosted every tender emotion of the heart
and the stately edihce of his projected flu
ture lay wreck in the broad glare Of the
worlds highway. AS the sensitive plant at
the first cold breath that blows upon it folds
its leaves in shivering haste, with low bowed
head, he concealed his cares and disappont-
ments and seemed TO await the worlds SEN
tence. In the seclusion of his home, far re-
moved from the busy haunts Of men and
the worlds commotion, where every frown-
ing crag and peak were but hooking memo
ries ola wasted and broken life, he weathered
the waves and lashings Of adversely as the
monarch Of the forest contends with the
winds and fury of the storm The hand Of
time failed 10 wear ont the impressions of
his past life, and with it all he retained
much cheerfulncss amidst the recollection Of
former times when the world stretched out
like 'painted ship upon painted ocean
when friends thronged around him, when
every eye seemed to greet him with pleasure
and every object shared his satisfaction lie
courted solitude az eagerly and fondIy as q
young girl hangs over the early flowerets Of
Spring. remember distinctly upon one
occasion in speaking Of the pleasure it NJ
forded and he quoted the familiar lines of
Byron
"rhere il a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is Rapture on the lonely shore,
| There is society, where none intrudes,
| BY the deep sea, and music IN its roar;
love not Man the less, but Nature more,
From these our interviews in which ! steal
| From all | may be- or have been before,
| To minge with the Universe, and feel
What can ne'er express, yetcannot conceal
The closing portion Of Gov Thomas pub
lie career, at the time to which ! have re-
ferred, was marked with degree of bitter
ness and hatred that language fails 10 des-
cribe. Ills famous Free Soil letter" drove
him from the ranks Of the Democratic party
and awakened torrent Of popular indigna-
ton throughout his District and State It
drove from him legion Of influential friends
and supporters who delighted 70 see him hon
ored. The Democratic press opened its coli
umns all along the line, he saw and felt the
effect, and chafcd and writbed under iis
constant and remorseless fire. When a
candidate for Congress in 1853; he was de-
nounced by the leading Democratic politi-
clans Of his district--whlst that old Demo
cratic battery, the Frederick Citizen, under
the able and caustic pen Of the late John
! bhuknHthuf if9b'i ""n hA"iNh'o' INV N"''7
lenting in its attacks In our conversations
he often spoke with great severity Of the
course pursued towards him by Gov. Lowe,
Hon. VIM. Kimbe and the Citizen, and gave
me many Of his replies 10 the speeches Of the
former and the editorials Of the latter.
If not greatly mistaken, II was Immedi-
ately upon his defeat In 1858, that he re-
moved 10 Alegany, and from his on re-.
peated ayowals and mode Of life no one
ever supposed that he would again actively
engage In public life Laboflng under and
sharing In common this opinion, could
hardly believe the determination In She fol-
lowing letter received from the Governor In
the midst of the great excitement Of the
triangular fight for President Of the United
States:
II perceive, with great pleasure, that you
have enlisted under the Douglas banner
you are ia the right path, and popular senii'
ment will 10 decide ! have determined 10
enter the canvass and will be- glad II you
viii see your executive committee, asd know
when ;, will bc agreeable 10 ihsni ~ me 10