The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-06-13
CHAPTER XXI.

The war being over. the people of the
county begun to turn their attention to
matters of public Importance. The first
matter of this kind that claimed their
attention. was II more convenient location
for the county seat. In accordance with
the wishes of the people an act was
passed at the November session. 1871.
authorizing Thomas May. John Stock
ton. and David Smith to act as Judges
of an election to be held during the last
week III the ensuing February, mt the
Court House. on Monday and Tuesday,
at Head of Elk. on Wednesday and
Thursday. and ut CharlpStown. on Fri
day and Saturday; these three places be-
ing the ones talked of as most suitable
for the seat of justice. The certificate Of
David Smith is still extant and shows
that due notice having been given, he
attended at the Court House on Monday.
the 25th of February. a. also did the
other two gentlemen. who had been in
duced to decline acting rs judges: and
after their refusal had been made known
to him, he appointed John Ward NeaSey.
James CreSwell. and Edward Mitchell as
clerks. and proceeded to take the votes
of the freemen of the county.
AT the election held ut the Court
House there were given and published
fOrtythree votes for CharlcStown. one
vote for the Head of Elk. and two votes
for no removal. At the Head of Elk,
there We're given thirty-four votes for
CharlcStOwn. and two votes for the Head
of Elk and mt the election held ut Char
leStown. there Were given four hundred
and fifty votes for CharleStown." The
great want which the propl" of the
county experienced for Il town some
where within its limits. no doubt inu-
cnced them To remove the seat of justice
10 CharleStOwn. with the hope of build
ing it up and adding to its prosperity.
More than two hundred years had clap
Sel since the first settlements had been
made in the county. and many unsuc-
ceSSful efforts had been made to build II
town some where within its limits The
projected town on Town Point. ana
Ceciltuwn on the Bohemia. ha,. been to-
tai failures. as had also been the effort to
build town ut Court House Point.
Charlestown. with all its advantages for
shipping, had found Il successful rival
in Baltimore. and those who lived there
never having been able to divert the
'''.' VI -N'NN'I4S ll'Iii lsl'
channels. through which it reached the
towns along the Delaware. was in great
need of something to stimulate its
growth But notwithstanding all this.
and the apparent Unanimity of the pro-
PIE. some of the Justices of the Court ut
first refused to assent to the removal of
the seat of justice to that place. 1t is
highly probable that they We're influenced
in some WHY by Il desire and belief that
the Head of Elk would ultimately he
selected for the county seat. The JUS
tees seem To have been equally divided
upon the subject of the removal of the
county seat for ON the II 18th of March
following. half of them met 1t the Court
House ut Court House Point. and the
others at CharlrStown. ana the Count
seemed to be in IL likely way to reach
the same condition that it had been in
many years before. when the Justices
present ordered the clerk to record the
mournful fact that it was "miScuntinurd
and dropped and fallen" The following
correspondence will explain itself aut
throw some light upnn subject that
agitated the people of the county very
much when took place:
"Gentlrmrn We have. under advise
ment. met and called Court at the usua
place of holding Counts for Cecil County
and have adjourned until tomorrow. at
8 o'clock. We therefore. aS the Court
order and reuuir" you to attend 1T thi,
place tomorrow ut the time of the salt
adjonrnment; and that You have your
records and other public papers witt
YOU. Given under our hands this iii
March. 1TS2.