The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-11-04
HORSE AND
BUGGY DAYS
by
Ida 10 Martin

Some of the outstanding events
that have occurred in Washington
County at the close of past elections
have been told in these columns, re-
calling especially the celebrations
and general rejoicing after the cleo
ton of our first President, and many
of the incidents around Lincoln's
campaign and election.
Another already described was
the hard fought battle of old Stone
wall Jackson. One writer, discuss
ing the Jackson campaign, began
his remarks in this way:
1.-THE following year (182D it
seemed as if the entire population
of the County had lost their minds
in the wild excitement of the jack
son campaign" The newspapers
were devoted almost entirely to the
issue, and most of them bitterly OPP
posed the election of Jackson. Even
Nathaniel Rochester wrote from his
new home in upper New York State,
to plead with his old acquaintance
in Hagerstown and Washington
County to keep a military man out
of the Presidency. The local papers
resorted to wild name-calling, and
vicious attacks on all who opposed
the writers. Then came the Cot
fin handbills," designed to discredlt
General Jackson by picturing him as
ruthlessly numbering a group OF
deserters.
But all this was to no avail; Cen
eral Jackson became President jack
son. Excitement was so high that
it called for unusual demonstrations
by the victors. One of the demon
STATIONS was the firing of cannons
on Cannon Hill and at Walnut
Street, both of which burst, killing
one local man, George Bowers.
Then before he took office, the
people of Washington County had a
chance to meet the man they had
argued so heatedly about. Very
few of the opposing Wings went out
to see him, but the "Hagerstown
Torch Light of February Is, 1929,
spoke well of him, as quoted here
in part;
'"The President elect, General An
drew Jackson, arrived in Hagers-
town on Sunday 9th inst. early in
the morning, accompanied by Maj.
Donaldson and Lady, Maj Lee and
Lady, Mrs. and Miss Love, Miss
Easton, and Maj. Lewis, and took
lodgings at the Bell Tavern. He,
with his suite, attended divine serv-
ices at the Presbyterian Church, and
much of the remainder of the day
was taken up by the crowd of
friends who were continually press
ing forward to greet him, not as
conquering Hero but as a plain
Republican citizen, who has been
called almost by reclamation to fill
the first and most exalted station in
the gift of free people. His great
urbanity has riveted the attach
ment of his friends; and were we to
judge from appearances, we should
say it has smoothed down some of
the asperities of his enemies"
Fourteen years later, the people
of Hagerstown had another chance
to greet a President-elect. This
time it was the popular hero of Tip
pecanoe, General Harrison. He was
warmly welcomed, and treated to
many things including huge cake,
weighing one hundred and twelve
pounds, inscribed with numerous
appropriate notices, and decorated
with flowers.
And now here are few items of
less known incidents of past cleo
tions. Sometime before 1900, a poor
boy, born in Ireland, had made his
way to Hdgerstown, named Will
liam Clark. He secured position as
clerk in the office. of the sheriff here,
and settled down to the spare time
study of law. By 1895 he. was a
lawyer with large practice and a.
far-reaching reputation. In that
year President Washington appoint
ed him United States Attorney for
the State of Kentucky. Mr.. Clark
was later appointed by President
Adams as Judge for the Indiana
Territorial Government.
A very interesting note arises
from the elections of 1903. Benja-
min Galloway commended that "three