Evening star., 1926-03-12
Plea for Memorials
To Maryland Heroes
To the Editor of The Star:

| To the Editor of The Star:
Having recently made some histor-
ical investigation on early Maryland
history, am greatly impressed with
the lack Of any show of appreciation
by the present generation of the won'
derful achievements Of the leaders in
the early days. While Maryland did
after 100 years delay finally erect In
the Hall Of Fame statues to Cecilius
Calvert and John Hanson, I know Of
nothing else in any memorial hall, art
gallery or other place commemorative
of any Of the great leaders Of the 1900.
100 or 1900 eras. My information is
| that Hanson. in the estimation Of sew.
erai historians. was one of the great
leaders Of his day. One said. while
Washington was the Father Of his
Country. John Hanson was one Of the
founders Of the United States by the
grace of God and the voice Of Mary
| land" Another says:
THE subject Of national independ.
| ence was in debate before the Congress
| OF the Thirteen Colonies. With moth
ing but a righteous cause, the patriot
| ism OF America was about to weigh
| Itself in the balance against all odds
| and opposers. Mr.. Hanson began now
| to see realized his views and predic-
contest. He had strenuously. but in
vain, opposed the instruction which
| the convention Of Maryland gave it's
representatives in Congress to 'disa-
vow in the most solemn manner all
| designs in the colonies of independ.
ence. He was now mortified in seeing
| the Maryland representatives in Con-
gress still tied down to those unwise
and timid instructions and resolved to
| exert himself at once for their repeal.
For this purpose he reused the people
of Frederick (his adopted county, to
assemble in public meeting on June
| II, 1875. and they resolved that they
would support the union Of the col
onies' with their lives and fortunes
, This resolution was Immediately for
! warded to Annapolis, where the pro.
vincial convention was in session, and
| 1t aided very materially in causing the
convention on the 28th Of June, 1776,
to withdraw the instructions of De-
cember, 1775, and substitute for their
instruction to concur with the other
United Colonies, or a ma jority of them,
in declaring the United Colonies free
| and independent States The new in.
structions were received by the Mar.
land delegates in Congress on July 2,
| when they gave their unanimous vote
Lol 11C was d 1OT0InOSI
figure in forming the government of
which he became the head in 1871 and
was thrice elected President of the
United States in Congress assembled" )"
He it was who thanked Gen. Wash
ington for the victory of the Nation
over Great Britain, and later Gen.
Washington was much pleased to re.
ceive a tender Of his correspondence.
You will notice in the first census of
the United States in $780," Maryland
| edition, the compilation will show a
very large and influential family con.
| nection of the Hanson name in Charles
| as well as other counties of the State.
And, too. sir. I notice. by another his.
torian, the Life and Times of Thomas
John Claggett, the First Bishop of
| Maryland" and the first bishop conse.
| Grated on American soil" l know of
| no memorial or other tribute to this
! distinguished man and do regard 1t a
| reproach on the present population of
the world, this lamentable lack of ap.
probation of the great blessings en-
joyed by the millions of Amer
leans, the great freedom of the United
States and the work of the great
| bishop who wrought for 25 years In
his bishopric on the waters Of the riv-
| ers and the banks Of the counties of
| Maryland. AUGUSTUS Y. GRAY.