The Washington herald., 1908-03-18
MARYLAND LOSES
ITS GRAND OLD MAN


Continued from Page One.
the city then was dominated by the
'plug-uglies." and the Know-nothing can
didate was elected. Mr.. Whyte. knowing
that frauds had been perpetrated, con-
tested the seat vigorously. and won his
contest before the committee. His vic
tory was overturned however, in the
House. His fight against the election
corruption which then prevailed in Balti-
more. however, had much to do with the
action OF the Maryland legislature in re-
forming the electoral methods Of the city
in 1889
In July. 1868. when Reyerdy johnson. OF
Maryland. was made Minister 10 the
court OF St James by President Andrew
Johnson he resigned his seat in the
United states Senate and Gov. Swan
rendered the vacancy 20 Mr.. Whyte He
accepted IL was at the time when Presi-
dent johnson and the radical Republican
majority IL the Senate were at logger
heads. Attempts were made 10 impeach
the President, but they failed By pitlablv
small majority. Things went from bad
10 worse. until II seemed that the coun-
Try was against its own Executive
December 8. 1858. President johnson sent
his message 10 the Senate. but its read
Ing was hardly begun by the Secretary
ere Senator Conness, of California, was on
MS feet moving that the further reading
De dispensed with, characterizing the mes
sage as offensive.
Senator Whyte had taken his seat only
lew months before. in the midst Of a
special summer session. But he was I'D
In an instant, facins the militant ma
JoTlty' al a Time when the Democrats
IN that body could be counted almost
on the fingers Of a hand. But he had
an implicit belief IN the invlolability of
the Constitution. On that ground he op-
posed the motion, while many men who
are famous in American history listened
to him with disfavor that slowly gave
way before his logic and the nonpartfsan.
patriotic attitude which be maintained.
The President he declared. was dis
charging his duty under the Constitu-
ton in sending 10 Congress a message
putting forth his views on the state OF
the country and the measures necessary
20 its welfare. Whether Senators agreed
with him OF not, il was their duty To
listen TO the message and not 70 stihe
its reading He concluded with the ex
preston OF hope that the motion OF the
Senator from California would not Ere
vail
His speech won 10 his way OF thinking
two OF the strongest opponents OF the
President. and after their attitude was
made known. Senator CONFESS asked for
leave 10 withdraw his motion. Simoa
Cameron renewed ii. and in that situation
the decision was postponed until the fol-
lowing day. In the interim heated minds
mad chance to cool of. and when the
Senate met again Cameron withdrew his
objection and the message was read.
This was the keynote Of his service IN
the Senate Without flinching. he stood
UP for the proper Interpretation Of the
Constitution, opposed the reconstruction
measures Of the radicals. fought the use
OF troops 10 carry elections in the South.
and IN every way that he could sought
to prevent fresh thrusts into the wounds
OF the suffering people OF the South. He
made himself a national reputation
through his stand, and won the enduring
gratitude OF the Southern people.
In ISL senator Whyte was elected gov
ernOr OF Maryland. He served as chief
executive until the early part OF 1874
when he was elected United States Sen
ator for full term OF six years. He re-
signed as governor IN order that his sue
cessor in the executive chair might be
elected by the legislature
A year intervening before his term as
a Senator began, he was appointed the
States advocate before the Joint COM
mission TO determine the boundary line
between Maryland and Virginia. He pre-
sented the case with such clearness and
force that Maryland won before the com
mission. and afterward, while he was in
the Senate, he secured The epacfn,e,+ -
bill confirming the award. so that the
southern bank of the Potomac River has
ever since been the undisputed boundary
between the two States.
In 1876 Senator Whyte was ona NJ thu
three Senators appointed, together win
a Ike number from the House. TO draft
a suitable form of government for the
District of Columbia, and he was appoint- |
ed, with Gen. Hunton, one OF the House
members, to draw up the proposed char |
ter. Senator Whyte himself wrote the
bill and the report OF the COMMITTEES. and
the charter as written by him became |
law and is now the organic law OF the |
District. il has been largely responsible
Tor the Districts becoming known as |
the best-governed municipality in the
country, and President Hayes. who had /
criticised the government OF many cities
declared it the best that he had seen.
After his retirement from the Senate !
Mr.. Whyte was elected mayor of Balti- |
more, in 1881. He also served the State
and city in a legal capacity on several |
occasions. He was a lawyer OF great
ability, and. although he had tried over
fifty murder cases on the side of the ac- |
cused, II was his boast that he had never
lost one.