Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-26

MARYlANDSGREATEST SONS
Whose Statues Should Be Put in the
% III
Capitol?
A Question That il Being Widely Dis
cussed by the People of the State
Scanning the Names in History.

BALTIMORE, Md, May g. 1897.
At the last session Of the Maryland legis-
lature, at Annapolis, five commissioners
were appointed by Governor Lowndes to
lect two deceased Marylanders most worthy
to be honored by statues in Statuary Hall
OF the national Capitol at Washington.
Inc discussion now going on in the daily
papers In regard to the two most distin-
gufshed Marylanders worthy of such an
ncnor Is attracting a great deal Of atten-
tlen all over the state, and is creating
fresh interest In the history of Maryland.
The commission is composed of J. Writ
Randall of Annapolis Messrs. Reverdy
johnson. Charles ]. Bonaparte and Thomas
w. Hall Of Baltimore city, and James AL
fred Pearce. Mr. Randall is relative of
the eminent William Writ. Mr.. Johnson Is
son of the late eminent lawyer Reyerdy
Johnson, and James Alfred Pearce is a SON
OF the late James Alfred Pearce of Kent
county, who was in the United States Sem
ate for several terms as representative
OF the eastern shore senatorial district.
me resolutions passed by the legislature
asked the committee to consider "particu-
larry whether or not, in the Judgment of
sucn commissioners, one Of said statues
should be of Francis Scott Key, author of
Inc star Spangled Banner" Among the
names that have been suggested SO far are
Key, Charles Carroll Of Carrollton, Thomas
Johnson. Samuel Chase, William Small
wool john Eager Howard, Stephen Deca-
tur, Cecllius Calvert, Chief Justice Roger
Brooke fancy. William Pinkney, John P.
hennedy, Reverdy johnson, Henry Winter
Davis Luther Martin, Col Moses Rawl-
lnFs, Chief Justice Buchanan.
Prominent Marylnnders in Political
Life.
Maryland has never furnished a candi-
date for President of the United States.
out she has furnished in times gone by
good share Of members of the cabinet.
among them being James McHenry, Secre-
tary OF War under Washington and the
elder Adams: benjamin Stoddert, Secreta-
ry of the Navy under Adams and Jeffer-
son; Robert Smith, Attorney General and
Secretary of the Navy under Jefferson, and
secretary of State under Madison; William
Tnhkhey, attorney General under jackson;
john Nelson. Attorney General under Ty-
ier; heverdy Johnson, Attorney General
lnder Taylor; John Pendleton Kennedy.
secretary of the. Navy under Fillmore
s sniEp FRANK Thomas Of the eastern Shore
an; Montgomery Blafr,I Postmaster General
under Lincoln; John A. J. Creswell of the
easter eastern shore; Postmaster General under
General an nndea Gary
Pearce OF Kent county, was appointed Sec
retary or the Interior by President Fill
more but declined.
johnson
Samuel Chase. Gabriel .Duval and Roger b:
Ianey We're Justices Of the Supreme Court
John 2. Howard and Samuel Smith were
Senate Z: +
Thomas johnson was the great war gov.
ernoT OF Maryland.i. 1t was he who led in
the province of Maryland the opposition, to
the stamp tax. 1t WAS he who was a chief
pr2mo1er OF the. cali for the first eGpntt-
mental Congress: As a member of Congress
ne nominated Washington for commander
in chief, and during the. war Washington
relied upon his AID. more, perhaps, Than
upon any other man. He was elected to
the highest offices. Three times he was
chosen governor of Maryland, was chief
judge Of the general court of Maryland, as
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and Washington rendered to
him the office of chief justice of the United
states and insisted upon his taking it, but
1t was declined. He also declined an equal
~ pressing and urgent request from Wash
1ngton 10 take the portfolio of Secretary of
State. In military affairs also he had a
career When Washington was retreating
through New Jersey he appealed to John
son for aid. and johnson responded with a
body of 1850 choice soldiers, which he re-
cruited in the western part of the state
and led to the seat of war. In civil affairs,
in the development of the state, he took a
leading part. Probably no Marylander had
such a great career.
Great in Revolutionary Days.
No one from Maryland is so well known
from a national standpoint as Charles Car
roll Of Carrollton, as signer, statesman and
patriot. He was the recognized leader in
his DAY OF those who stood between Mary
land and her English foes, who sought to
deprive her Of her rights and liberty. His
influence and patriotism during the reyolu-
ton helped us to freedom. No one is more
worthy of recognition than he, who, by his
services, became prominent at that time
hou oil
the state and city by large gifts of land.
These of the original thirteen states
which have placed statues in Statuary
Hall have nearly all taken Characters
from the revolutionary period. The two
great representative types of that period
are: In the cabinet, Samuel Chase: in the
Held. William Smallwood. Chase was un-
doubleday in this state the moving spfrit
of his time. He resisted the stamp act and
assisted In burning the stamps; he was in
the Continental Congress continually from
liza 1 to ITS; he 1t was who first spoke of
American Independence: he delivered
speeches in Maryland in its favor. He was
In continual discussion answering he
tories He signed the Declaration of Inde-
p pen. enthusiasticaliy: The state sent
invested by it in the Bank of England he
fore the war. He secured $3.50. COO and re-
ceived the thanks Of the legislature for his
zeal. He was judge In Maryland, and
Washington appointed him justice Of the
United States Supreme Court His great
ness and purity were beyond question
Gen. Smallwood was Marylands highest
rarking officer in the continental army. AT
White Plains he and his troops bore che
brunt Of the fight: there he was wounded.
His gsllantry caused Congress to appoiat
him a brigadier general, At Fort Washing
ton his command was IN the vanguard and
suffered severely. IfAtti Germantown he re-
e er,eveG the M day. FS Rtprins part of the
and is he was in ssRshand Of the IMPORT ep
ant post. WilmihgtS capturing a supply
brig in the DelawaHe tver. At the battle
Of Camden he renaeraa conspicuous sery-
ices. which ELECTED The thanks Of Congress.
He was commissioned, q major general IN
1850, refusing to serve under Steuben. He
was a member Of Congress and governor Of
the state He has Been denied 8. monument
at his grave and deserves to have a statue .
in the company Of those with whom he
served In bringing forth nation.
Jurists and Orators.
Chief Justice MaPshall declared william
Pinkney to be tkei greatest man hs had
ever seen in court af Justice, He stands
as one OF the GREATEST jurists Of the coun-
try. and was one Of THE best forensic ora
tors the country ever produced. Not only
did he gain renown as q lawyer, but as q
statesmen In the positions he held In the
national government, which made his name