The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-05-15

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\, B. Claxton, W. Il. Ward. J. ]. Boisseau, Com
initee.
CD. James 6. Berret.
Col. Berret made this acknowledgement:
WAsHINGToN CITY May H. 1860.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. communication of the Sth in
slant, informing me of my nomination for Mayor
by the democratic and anti-know nothing eonyen-
tion was duly received.
viii not attempt to disguise the fact, that this
evidence of the continued confidence Of my polit-
cal friends is the cause of great personal gratilca
ton to me. l trust may, without mourning the
imputation of presumption, indulge the hope, II
not the belief that this renewed evidence of trust
may in part, be attributed to the manner in which
am kindly supposed to have discharged the duties
of the office which the partiaity of my fellow cit-
zens has conferred upon me.
If know myself, can truly say that have NTH
fully devoted my limited abilities, in season and
out of season, to the promotion of what, with the
best intelligence | could command, have con-
sidered the true welfare of my fellowcitizens with
whose interests my own are indissolubly mingled
| trust that at the close OF my term OF two Years
shall be able to feel that neither the peace and quiet
of the city the personal security CT Its Inhabitants
the condition of its finances nor any OF Its material
interests have suffered by any act or omission OF
mine. But with the best intentions on my part
and the faithful devotion of my time and my best
faculties to the promotion of the interests of the
city it is very easy for me, through the blindness
of personal friends, and the pariaity of political
ones, to be selfdeuded in this respect Twas taken
at first upon trust. My friends have seen hit to pre-
sent me again for the sufrages of my fellow-cltl-
Zens upon trial And while feel the consciousness
of honest intention and effort, in behalf of those
who placed me in my present position, will not
conceal the hope-for / think it both natural and
laudable-that l may have earned from them a
verdict of appreciation. The circumstances attend
ing my nomination and election were highly graft
flying to me. To have the assurance from those
have faithfully tried te serve that my endearors
have been appreciated by them would be the most
gratifying event of my life, and one of which
should be justly proud.
In speaking thus far for myself, have not ven
tured to claim credit for anything more than good
intentions and faithful devotion to the public SER
vice The Mayor is the only of the city officers
danpndpDt Mt the coming election upon the general
voice of the constituency for his positlon-the only
one who represents the whole body of citiZens.T II
his reelection is to be taken las 1t is perhaps a1r
it should) as approval on their part ofthe man
ner in which the affairs of the city have been man
aged during his term of service it by no means fol-
lows that such expression is to be confined to him
alone. Such appreciation would be as unwar-
rantable his part as it would be unjust to those
capable and yigiant public officers, without whose
constant and efficient support and cooperation all
effort on his part would be vain. Should such a
verdict of approval be pronounced through me, no
one can be more sensible than myself that 1t would
be due mainly to those associated with Inc in the
government of the city
ferred upon me by the convention, i'll the unanl-
nous presentation of my name for reelection, and
with a fixed determination not again to be candl-
date for the favor my fellow citizens, have the
servant JAMES G. BERRET.
MessrS S S. Parker A. B. ClaXton. James S. Hol-
land, VIM. ii. Ward, P. J. Ennis j. T. Boisseau, j.
c. Cook, Committee.
Monday, June II, 1860, Colonel Berret was
again duly inaugurated as 5iayor for another
term, with the usual ceremonies.
The Democratic Convention, which as
sembed at Charleston, South Carolina. IN
May 1860, having failed to make any noml-
nation, adjourned to meet in the city of Bal
timore, June l, 1860. The convention was
presided over by Hon. Caleb Cushing, of
Massachusetts, and after an excited struggle,
which lasted several DAYS, finally nominated
ToI Rraol-anriInn of u nnfuplSV for
President, and Joseph Lane, of Oregon, for
Vice President.
The Free Soil wing of the Democratic party
withdrew from the regular convention. and
nominated as their candidates Stephen A.
Douglas. Of Illinois, for President, and Her
schel Y. johnson, of Georgia, for Vice resi-
dent.
There had been held in Baltimore by the
old time Wings, convention, which was
known as a Constitutional Union Conven-
ton and nominated John Bell, Of Tennes-
see, for President, and E lward Everett Of
Massachusetts for Vice-President.
Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was nominal
ed for President, and Hannibal Hamlin, of
Maine, for Vice President, at a Convention
held in Chicago, May l6, 1860.
Following these nominations, public meet
ings were held in every section of the coun-
try and before the close of the campaign, the
excitement was intense. The Republican
party triumphed, its candidates, Lincoln and
Hamlin, being elected. The Southern States
we're not willing to accept this result. They
regarded these candidates as representing
principles inimical to their interests, and The
sentiment in favor of secession from the Union
suddenly assumed alarming strength in the
''Cotton States, as they are called.
The formal announcement of Mr. Lincon's
election at the joint meeting of the Senate
and House of Representatives still farther
exciGed the Southern people, and rumor,
which had not the slightest foundation. was
soon started that an effort would be made TO
prevent his peaceful Inauguration.
These rumors, which assumed the proper
tons of an alleged conspiracy, caused the
Mayor some anxiety, so much so, that he held
frequent conferences with his Captain of
Police, and set on foot the most extended in
quiry. leaving no avenue of information un-
explored He became thoroughly satisfied
that no organization of the kind existed in
Washington, or elsewhere, with such dla-
bolical object in view, and so informed Major
General Winfield Scott. There was strong
disposition to supersede the civil authority by
the military power, which the Mayor sternly
resisted, claiming that he felt entirely compe-
tent to maintain the orderly condition OF
things which then existed in Washington.
While Mr.. Lincoln was stopping at OWL
lard's Hotel,'' prior to his Inauguration, the
Mayor called on Mr. Hiram Barney, of New
York, soon thereafter appointed Collector for
the Port of New York Mr.. Barney said:
''Mr. Mayor, being familiar with the public
men of this locality, you might help your Re-
publican friends out of difficulty, which the
President-elect finds some trouble in deter
mining He then added ''If Mr.. Lincoln
should ask you, Mayor Berret, whether you
would select for Postmaster General, in the
Cabinet, Henry Winter Davis or Montgomery
Blair, of Maryland which would you recon-
mend to him?''
The Mayor told Mr.. Barney frankly that he
would most unquestionably recommend that
Mr.. Blair be selected, as he was in close touch
with the majority Of his party, man of mod
crate and liberal sentiments, whose father,
like himself, had contributed largely to secure
Mr.. Lincoln's nomination and election; where
as, Henry Winter Davis had been, and was,
recognized as a sort of political frebrand, an
extremist a man who had been violent in bis
utterances against, and denunciations of,
Southern people, and especially those of his
own State, Maryland.
The day after this conversation with Mr.
Barney, General Wadsworth came to the
Mayors Office repeated what Mr. Barney told
him about the talk he had with him, and said
''Would you, Mr.. Mayor, say the same thing
to Mr. Lincoln that you did to Mr.. Barney
about Montgomery Blair"
Decidedly not the Mayor replied, ''fol
my views of public men should not be volun-
tarily imposed upon Mr.. Lincoln, and coulC
not, for a moment, think of entertaining any
such proposition.
But, . said Gen. Wadsworth, ''should Mr.
Lincoln send for you, and ask your opinion
would you then say to him what you have sale
to Mr.. Barney?'
'That, - said Mayor Berret, would change
the phase of things very much. Should The
President elect send for me and request my
| Judgment, it would be gladly and cheertully
given"
During the day the Mayor received wore
from Mr.. Lincoln to call at "Willard'
HOTEL which he did, and when questioned
about Henry Winter Davis and Montgomer,
Blair, repeated to him what had been said il
his conversation with Mr. Barney, about those
! gentlemen. After some further conference
Mr. Lincoln said.
81 am indeed grateful to you, Mr.. Mayor
for your kindness and your excellent judg
ment, which has, in this emergency, saved mi
from doing something which might, eveutu
ally, have brought about great deal of un
pleasantness and many unwelcome compli
cations.
Baltimore County Reassessment.
From the Towson Democrat.
| Very many persons by the new assessment