The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-11-04
More shameful Business"

TO Tie Edit0r Of The EgiS:
In an article in the Bel Air Times Of the 2sth
ut., headed, "A Shameful business. am charg-
ed with having agreed with the Democratic man
ayers for a certain sum of money, ito defeat the
Republican ticket by turning over to the Demo-
cratic party the major part of the colored vote,
deliver at so much per head, Just as man ordi-
narily would sell sheep or cattle.
The statement is wickedly, maliciously and alb,
solutcly false. 1T was inspired by men who used
more money the last campaign than was ever be.
fore used in this county. 1t is the offspring of
certain political manpulat0rs who are now en-
ploying colored men to ride over the county to
deceive, mslead and drive coored people into
voting fora ticket composed of Democrats and
jority of the old, staunch Republicans of the
county, Including the Hon. VIM. NJ. Marine, who
should have no word from his lips favoring its
success,) have denounced as an outrageous be-
trayal of the Republican party. The moment
this ticket was made denounced it, because
believed then, and every day since has convinced
me of the correctness of my convictions, that it
was but an attempt to revolutionize, in the inter
est of the bosses, and must prove fatal to the Re
publican party in the county. twas the hauling
down of Republican colors in the face of a demon
allied enemy that could easily have been beaten
with straight-out Republican ticket. 1t was the
display of cOwardly weakness by self-constituted
and Entrusted leaders when the party itself was
animated with enthusiastic consciousness of
With regard to the letter of one Thomas p.
Norton, the facts are simply these: | had heard
from several sources that Norton agreed with my
views of the ticket in question, and went to see
him and found that with the exception of Mr.
Mccoy he was inclined to cut the whole county
ticket. His reason for desiring to vote for Mccoy
was that he had desired place in the Baltimore
Custom House and Mr.. Mccoy had manifested a
disposition to assist him; but advised him to wait
until after the election when, as Mr. Mccoy said,
Col. Webster would be appointed Collector, and
Mccoy felt sure Norton would be provided with a
place. ! told Norton that | did not think Col
Webster would be made Collector, as the Colonel
himself said he had no claims on the Rcpubl ican
party. and was not an applicant for the place ;
but If he was did not believe Mccoy had any
right to promise places under him.
then said to Norton, considering the future
welfare of the Republican party, it would not do
to advise people to vote for the ticket, as several
persons on it are avowed Democrats who had
given no indication whatever that they propose
acting with the Republican party in the FUTURE
That to save the Republican party from ridicule
and contempt my best Judgment was that the OBJ
noXious persons on the ticket should be scratch
cd, but under all circumstances to vote for the
Comptroller nominated at Cambridge, for knew
Mr. GOrsuch to be Il consistent and true Republic
can who had not made business of deserving
parties when personal interest seemed likely to
be benefited by the deserton. Norton then said
he was poor man about two years before he
had fallen in flint quarry and had injured him
self; that he had been able to work very little
since, and aske me if | thought he could get II
place in the Custom House. His mind seemed to
he burdened with hopes of future reward in that
line. ! told him it would give me great pleasure
to see him gratified but that had come to as
certain how he felt about the mongrel ticket we
were discussing He entirely and unquafedly
agreed with my views, but depored his poverty,
for which reason he could not devote much time
to disseminating our views. Whereupon l said
that it would be agreeable to me to compensate
him for time devoted to saving the Republican
party from the disgrace of deserving its coors,
and gave him all the silver money | had in
my pocket, which was three silver dollars 1t
seems that this aspirant for Custom House en-
ployment had higher estimate of himself than
that and one mightier than | came Immediately
after me, who sent him to Bel Air, where he fell
into the hands of the socalled Republican bosses,
who TOl him that the money | had given him
was Democratic money; that he ought not to de-
file his fingers with it, but should put it into their
treasury for campaign purposes; and after hay
ing taken this paltry sum from this p0O7 20Taiyzed
negro for 'cdHipaign purposes" the Bosses wrote
the letter he signed. and then. so far as has yet
us with the hope that Norton will get a place in
the Custom House. and the editor of the Times be
indicted for trying to bride one of the present
board of County Commissioners.
Very truly, yours,
A. NJ HANCOCK,