Evening star., 1927-05-22

such a room. but they take good.hu-
moredly the whispered quip reputed
to a later guest: George Washington
must have been an even greater man
than l had suspected"
Station ON Postal Route.
Previous to the Revolution and the
establishment of the Capital at Wash
ington, Port Tobacco was principal
station on the postal route between
Philadelphia and the South. But its
decline must have started shortly
after the struggle for independence.
In 1895 a traveller thus described it:
There are 80 houses. mostly very
poor. There is large Episcopal
church on the border Of the town
which is built Of stones and formerly
was an ornament to the place; the
windows all are broken and the road
is carried through the churchyard
over the graves, the palings that sur
round ii having been torn down"
Even after it's business declined
Port Tobacco remained q social and
official center for southern Maryland.
In the courthouse there such men
as Roger Taney, Reverdy Johnson,
William Writ and William Pinckney
argued their cases. In Colonial days
stocks were set up in the streets for
the punishment of minor offenses,
Later the gallows in the old Jail yard
was quite frequently in use and lynch
ing parties were not uncommon. Then
came the Popes Creek Railroad, which
ignored the declining county seat al
together There is a Port Tobacco
station, but 1t is about miles from
the town. A new village was spring
ing up at the crossroads settlement
Of Chapmans, miles north, which
afterward was named La Plata after
large farm in the vicinity. In
Charles County, it Is interesting to
note, each farm of any Importance is
named and the name is in frequent
use. One doesn't say, I'm going over
to see Mr.. Stone this evening"" In.
stead, he says, I'm going over to the
Habredaventure.'
La Plata became the home Of a
younger and more progressive ele-
| ment who soon began demanding the
courthouse. Port Tobacco didn't die
| without a fight. This was led by
Francis Marcellus Cox, the editor of
the local weekly paper. who referred
| contemptuously to La Plata as a town
| SO new that 'the stumps of the trees
still stand in the streets" Stung by
! the vitriolic editorials of Mr.. Cox, La
| Plata established a newspaper of its
| own, edited by Vernon b. Penuinr-
ton. and the two sheets kept up a
vicious crossfire. with the honors about
! even.
In 1892 the issue was placed before
, the voters of the county and Port
! Tobacco won, hands down. The older
! families were none too friendly to the
! upstart village. Then in 1898 the
courthouse burned down. 1t is assert.
ed everywhere in Charles County that
the La Plata element. angered with
an apparently losing fight, set 1t on
fire. 1t obviously was an act of in
| cendiarisnh, but nobody ever was con-
victed.
The fight ragged hotter than ever
over the site for a new courthouse.
The Port Tobacco people We're willing
to compromise and erect the new
building at Chapel Point La Plata
would have no compromise. Finally.
in 1894, the present county seat won
out after a special election. at which
some Of the older people still grumble.
This special election was the legal
execution of Port Tobacco Its trade
long since had disappeared. Now its
last excuse for existence was gone.
Some of the houses were moved to La
Plata. Among these was the old
Episcopal Church, which was moved
stone by stone and set up beside the
new courthouse. Other buildings, de-
serted, were allowed to tumble down
Most Of the bricks. some Of them