The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-01-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM HARTFORD COUNTY.
A Review of the History of the Demo-
cratic Party Continued-Revolu-
ton in Maryland in 1896.
BELAIR, Nd, Jan. 14th, 49,

A Review of the History of the Demo-
cratic Party Continued-Revolu-
ton in Maryland in 1886.
BELAIR, Nd, Jan. 14th, 1884.
Editors Union In September of 1886, the
voters of Maryland in accordance with an organic
law elected Board of Electors, whose duty it was
under the constitution to assemble at the State
Capitol on the third Monday of said month, and
after taking the oath of office prescribed by the
constitution "to support the constitution and
laws thereof, &c." and "they or any "a of them,
met shall proceed to elect and by ballot, either
out of their own body or the people at large, if-
teen Senator'S" &C., &c. This body which was
known as the College of Electors was composed
of so members. At this election 81 of this num-
Der were elected as Wings, viz :-Messrs. G.. r..
Leigh B. 1. Heard, G. Vickers, j. P. Gale, Jas.
Kent, j. A. D. Dalrymple, II. Brauner, W.
Merrick, S. Dickinson, G Dudley, W. Williams,
LIr., S. 1. X. Handy, W. w. Lake, II. II. Hicks,
G. w. Duvall, T. G. Pratt 7. A. Spence H..
Franklin, Eph. Gather, R. Beall, and A. Bruce,
and the remaining number of 10 were elected as
Van Buren, men. Since the memorable events of
which am writing, they have been known as the
"Gorious Nineteen" There names Chas.
McGill, Casper Quynn, Washington Duvall, Geo.
EiIicott, Ephraim Bell, Thomas, Hope, Samuel SUIT
ton, John Evans, Robert T. Keene, Robert Wa
sou, Joshua Vansant, George A. Thomas, Sprigg
HARDWOOD, Wesley Linthicum, Marcy Fountain, j..
B. Thomas, Enoch George and Ohm S. Sellman.
When this College of Electors met at Annapo-
lis according to the constitutional requirements
these 10 Van Buren, Electors refused to join in the
proceedings with the 81 Wings unless the said 81
would consent to certain propositions made them.
This they refused to do, and the 10 refused to
enter into election for Senators. This con-
stituted what then known as Revolution, :"
and the stigma of this upon the part of these 10
has ever been as stencil in the nostris of all
honest men. In an editorial in one of the lead
ing journals of that day it says-"The attitude
in which the State of Maryland stands in conse-
sequence of the refusal Of the Van Buren, Elec-
tors of the Senate to enter the Electoral College,
is unprecedented in the history of this nation.
and has caused much excitement, not only in this
but in the neighboring States" Van Buren,
meetings were held in Frederick, Hartford and
Cecil counties, and in Baltimore city, encourag-
ing the 19 to stand firm in their revolutionary
course, and recommending to the people of the
State " to proceed forthwith, to elect on the first
Monday of November next six delegates from
each county and city to meet in convention at
Annapolis on the third Monday of the same
month, clothed with full powers to extend the
authority of all civil any military officers in
commission until convention hereafter to be
chosen can be convened to amend the old or form
an entire new government. y " u What
will be the result it is difficult to predict; for
while one party appears resolved to accomplish
revolution, the other is equally rescute in its
support of the constitution" l shall say moth
ing of these public meetings except the one held
in my own county of Hartford. This meeting was
held in the Court House in Belair, on Tuesday,
the 18th of October, 1886, and was presided over
by Col. Andrew Turner, Col. 1. d. Maulsby and
VIM. L. Horton as Presidents, (it seems to have
taken a goodly number to act in that capac-
ity,) and Henry w. Archer and James L
Bartol as Secretaries. A committee on resolu-
tons expressive of the sentiments of the meeting,
consisted of Ohio Scott, James w. Williams,
Thomas Hope, Henry II. Johns, James Williams,
Robert W. Holland, DR.. VIM. I. Munikhuysen,
DIR. St. Clair Street, DR.. Parker Forwood, A. L..
Jarrett and Preston McComas. After the resolu-
tons were reported, which warmly approved of
the course of the recusant electors, and resolv
ing that six persons be elected on the first Mon
day in November next, to represent this county
lin oon~ention, Be- - and o~i natins for saia con
sention Messrs Chas. S. Sewel James W. Will
Hams, John W. Rutledge, Ohio Scott, Henry W.
Archer and VIM. L. Horton. the meeting was ad
dressed bv James W. Williams, Israel d. Mauls
by, Ohio Scott and DR.. Horton.
Meetings of the friends and supporters of the
constitution were held in different parts of the
State. one of which in Baltimore city was pre-
sided over by such menCSs Columbus oDonnel
S. Owings Hoffman, VIM. Crawford, Jr.. Osmond
G. Tiffany and VIM. G. Harrison, Esqs., and ad-
dressed by John V. L. Mcmahon and David
Stewart. Esqs. Among other resolutions passed
at this meeting is the following" That in their
attempt to overthrow the government of the State
and to introduce anarchy and revolution in its
stead, the said 10 electors have warred against
the peace, order and happiness of society, have
sacrificed the best interests of the people Of Mary
land have endangered the present prosperity,
and bi GIFTED for a time all the fair prospects OF
this city: and that in so doing, they have proved
themselves deShWctiues."
The action of the 10 caused Gov. Veazey to is
sue his proclamation for extraordinary session
of the Legislature, and appointing the 21st of
Nov. as the day to meet, and to "sOlemnly de-
clare and proclaim that the constitution of the
State mast be preserved and the go eminent main
tanned they are, until altered, changed or
abolished in the manner censtitutiOnally pro-
vided for"
Before the time arrived for the Legislature to
meet in extra session. five of the recusant electors
viz: John S. Sellman, Wesley Linthicum, Mar
cy Fountain, J. B. Thomas and Enoch George
entered the college, and joining with the 81 Wings
they proceeded to elect Senate.
The proceedings of these 10 recusants was the
cause of great excitement and deep concern for
the stability of our State government at that
time, and sample of the indignation with
which their course was met, the following will
speak for itself: Presenfment Of the nine'een re
cmsant electors By the Grand Jury Of Alegany
county.
The grand inquest for the body of Allegany
county being about to return to their homes, deem
it their duty before they separate, to take some
notice of the causes which have led to thepresent
momentous and alarming crisis in the public at
fairs of the State. Certain individuals entrusted
by the people with the duty of appointing Sen
ate for the State, have refused to execute their
trust, and have left the State without Senate.
The conduct of those men is without eccuse, or
pdlliation !; they intended TO secure the triumph
of party, and failing in that, to subrert the gov
eminent and endanger the public tranquility
The Grand Jurors do, therefore, present-here fol-
lows the names of the gorious-or | should say,
inqlorious 49," as mfaithfI public agents and
disturbers of the public peace" This is signed
by George McCuoh, foreman, and the other
nineteen Grand Jurors, ii of whom were Van
Buren, men.
At the regular election for members of the Leg
isaure in October of this year, after the action of
the 10 recusants had been thoroughly canvassed
we find in Hartford Messrs. B;llingsea and Cough,
Wings, and Messrs. Maulsby and Nelson, Van
Buren,, were elected. This county had elected
Messrs Hope and Sutton, Van Buren,, to the Elec-
toral college. We also find that the counties Of
Washington. Frederick, Montgomery, Annapolis
city, Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's ard Caroline,
elected % Wings against Van Buren, men, all Of
which at the September election for electors had
returned Van Buren, men.
The Legislature, numbering so men, stood 60
Wings, 10 Van Buren,, and tie between Messrs.
Hardcastle and Keene, Van Buren, men, in Caro-
line county. The result of this election was a
stern rebuke to the reuoluiOnists. and encouraged
the adherents of Gov. Veazey to hope for con-
ciliatory solution of the troubles that had shook
the State government from centre to circumfer-
ence.
1t is good for the young politicians of the pres
ent day to read and know something of these rev.
dictionary acts of the ancestors of their party.
Never claim party immaculate who has so many
sins to answer for. RAMBLER.