Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-12-21

I '"ahh, deceastef "
turn this State over to the Democrats,
and as it is quite interesting. We give
il full Mr.. Compton's Recollection on
the subject
The coterie of democrats who led this
fight and who carried it to ultimate sue
cess was composed of eight men These
were Oden Bowie, then Stat Senator
from Prince Georges county. james g
Clark, Delegate from Baltimdrs county;
Philip Francis Thomas and .Iujgs Rich
ard B Carmichael, of Talbdi Barnes
Compton, State Senator from Charles;
Oliver Miller, Speaker of The House;
Eli j Henkle, of Anne Arundel and
James T Earle, of Queen Apnes.
Of these men the only two now living
are James G. Clark, who is President
of the Mobile and Ohio RAILROAD Com
pany aud who lives in Mobile Ala. and
Barnes Compton, who is at present ma
val officer Of this port.
Mr.. Compton gives the following &C.
count Of the struggle:
That Maryland was dom mated at
that time by influences following var is
is a matter ofrecord and of history. The
ironclad oath was still on the statute
books, which DISTINGUISHED many Demo.
Gratis The State was under Che shadow
Of the National Capital, was supposed 10
contain an overwhelming Southern SEN
tinent and was, consequently, regarded
with suspicion by the Federal authorities
The Northern clement in the State was
particularly watchful of those citizens
supposed to harbor Southern sympathies.
The registration books were filled with
the names Of Northern soldiers left in
the State after the war.
''These things made it i'm ,ossibe to
secure needed reforms and to allow the
overwhelming Democratic sentiment in
the State to have expression At the polls
1t was in this emergency that Gov
Thomas Swami was approached and
pleaded with in the name Of patriotism
and State pride to open the registration
books for the registration Of those Dem-
ocrats legally qualified to vote.
1t cannot be tented that as an incen-
tive to Gov Swanu's prompt action it
was promised that the Democrats il the
General Assembly would elect him to
The United States Senate, Gov. Swami
aided the Democrats. and his l1efs in
this connection cannot be too highly
commended, as the good results follow
ing are we'll known and duly appreciated
The first difficulty encountered was
with the Representatives from the Eas-
tern Shore. To carry out the promise
to elect Gov Swami to the Senate it
was necessary to repeal the Eastern
Shore law, as Reverdy johnson already
represented the Western Shore in that
body. The Eastern Shoreman finally
consented to the repeal of the law and
the election of Gov Swami. with bind
ing agreement made in writing and sign
ed by all the Democrats in the General
Assembly at that time, that Immediately
after Gov. Swami was elected the law
should again be re-enacted and put on the
statute books
This agreement was carried out
Gov. Swami was chosen United lstes
Senator and the Eastern 81 -. ORR
al law as 1t now stands Fed
sit was not long after The eles icn Of
Cos Swami as Senator that th Demo
Gratis hear Of conspiracy ent 4 into
~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS c Cox,
who would succeed Mr.. Swami Chief
Executive of the State, and Seed tary Of
War, Edward NJ. Stanton Cox
had visited Washington and IN confer
ence with the Secretary Of War had de-
clared his intention Of turning tie State
over to the Republican party as soon as
he became Governor.
This was condition not anticipated
! by the Democrats, and when We learned |
of it, you may be sure we all felt blue
aud thought our cake was dough-
Gone night we were assembled in |
| Senator Bowie's room, Messrs. Miller, |
Clarke Bowie, Henkle Carmichael,
Thomas, Earle and myself we're A. the
conference all trying to devise means
of relief, but each plan suggested was
discarded as impracticable. Is
Finally Mr.. Clarke leap.d from his
seat with a CLEAN of inspiration in his
eyes
Hold on, boys, har. an idea, he
shouted Wait here until leone back,
and if | do not return tonight meet me
here at 10 o'clock in the morning.
"ln about two hours Mr. Clark re-
turned. His face beamed with delight,
and waving a telegram aloft be said:
" It's all right. Swami won resign,
in my opinion, and we are saved this
time.
His telegrau was from Montgc merry
Blair, and it read as follows i have
seen Senator Drake. Hesays mat under
no circumstances will Swami be admit
ted to the Senate
| While we were discussing Mr.. Cox's
succession in the room the thought had
entered Mr. Clark's fertile Train that
perhaps the Senate would not accept Mr..
Swami He at once acted on the thought
To appreciate the importance Of Mr..
Blair's telegram it is well to re member
that Mr.. Drake, who was a Senator from
Missouri, was Chairman oftbe Senate
elections committee and was one of the
most rabid and ultra-haep of every
thing Democratic or Southern. We
knew this and knew that Bis statement
vas final, and settled Mr. Sgaun's case
SO far as the Senate was Concerned.
Another difficulty aro., How we're
we to get this information TO Governor
Swami? 1t would not be uise to show
him We had been making these inquiries.
This might offend bin and make him
stubborn. Mr. Clark again came to the