Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-16
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

Mr.. Editor On my visit to my home,
on Saturday last from Frederick, where /
have been attending Term OF the Circuit
Court since the middle of December last,
learned that good deal of heated and in
considerate language had been used against
the Judges in relation to the appointment
ed TO you to publish this in order to place
my conduct in its true light before the peo-
pie of the county, for whose benefit held
the trust which | have executed.
have also been told that my son has
been made recipient Of due proportion
of the vituperation, l did not need his adj
vice in the matter, and did not seek or get it ;
he had nothing to do with it, directly or in
directly, and is not responsible in the slight
est degree for what have done.
In December 1873, united with the other
judges of the Circuit Court in appointing
Messrs. Samuel Jones, VIM. T. Jones and
Waiter NJ. Talbot, County School Commits
sioners / did so because / considered them
worthy gentlemen, fully competent to dis
charge the duties Of the office, and likely to
do SO TO the satisfaction of the people.
In December, 1875 | concurred in the re-
appointment OF the same gentlemen for the
succeeding term of two years did so for
the same reason | united in their first APP
pointment, and in testimony of my appreci-
alton of the ability and fidelity upon which
they have flied the office curing the pre-
ceeding term. In December, 1877, / united in
again appointing them to the same Office for
the third term OF two years.
In December, 1879, persons had again to
be appointed to fill the Office for two years
These gentlemen have filled the office for
three successive terms; they did not express
to me any wish to be continued in office,
and no one asked TO have them re-appointed
for fourth term They had received the
full benefit OF the tlme-honOred Democratic
RUE OF rotation in office, and | was left en-
tirely free to follow my own judgment in
appointing some other gentlemen as | be-
lleved to he Democrats, worthy and compe-
tent to discharge the duties OF the office, so
as to promote the pubic interest and wei
fare, and strengthen the Democratic party
Judge Richard j. Bowie, had been elected
Chief Judge by the unanimous vote of the
representatives Of the Democratic party, in
the General Assembly, over both Judge
Lynch and myself, and | have been tod
by one OF those representatives that it was
the most judicious thing that could have
been done for the Democratic party; that
Judge Bowie was the most popular man in
this county, and could beat any other for
the office, II submitted to a vote of the peo-
PIE.
Under these circumstances he and myself
ment to make the appointments-he sug
gested the name of A. b. Davis Esq, and
expressed a wish for his appointment.
was bound to recognize Judge Bowie as
much the representative of the Democratic
wish of the county as myself, and in all re-
spects fully entitled to all the rights and
courtesies at my hands which asked at his.
| knew Mr.. Davis was eminently qualified to
fill the Office beneticially TO the public; his
great energy, integrity and experience in
business, and especially in finance, were too
we'll known to me to attempt to gain say it.
| | was not called on to take back anything
may have said, antagonizing many of his
political opinions, and | did not do SO, and
do not do now.
then suggested the name of Mr. Rich
ard T White whose devotion TO the Demo-
cratic party, and intelligence, industry and
energy in business are weil-known. He is
not engaged actively in politics, and lives
| in part Of the county remote from that OF
| Mr. Davis | also nominated Mr.. Henry
| Renshaw whose competency and Democ-
racy no one can doubt. lie resides in Beth
esda District, part of our county which
has always furnished the votes, but has rare
ly received much party patronage. lie is a
modest man and takes no hand in politics
and has not been an adheTent Of my poll
ical fortunes at any time in my contests
with other party friends. 1t was, therefore
agreed between US to fill up the order of ap-
pointments upon the names of those three
gentleman. Judge Bowie filled up the or
der accordingly, we both signedil and filed
it in the clerks office, and directed the clerk
to notify these gentlemen OF their appoint
ment do not think better men can be found
in the bounty and II these gentlemen who
are so Indignant at The appointments made by
the Couft could have made better selections
they ought to have had themselves made the
appointing power, and not supposed the
Court, would subordinate its conscience and
Judgment to others
Having discharged my whole duty under
the law, when | concurred in the appoint
ment of worthy and competent men as
County School Commissioners, | left them
entirely ffee to discharge the duties imposed
upon them by law, according to their own
conscience and judgment. | have not COM
muncated with them, or any of them, on
the appointment of Examiner, before or
since their appointment by letter. word or
otherwise, and did not know how they
would vote on that subject. | have too
much regard for the dignity of my own
position and personal respect for them to do
so. In consideration of these plain facts,
will be fully vindicated by the public from
the calumnies Of my revilers.
In the mean time, similar changes have
been twice made in the School Board in
Frederick county, and in almost every coun-
ty in the State
w VEIRs BoUIc.