Class Book _ COPYRrCKT DEPOSIT MEMOIRS OP Hon. ELIJAH STANSBURY. ai_ . rJ e^'t^:\rents of some of the members of Captain Stansbury's Company secretly followed, in order to see how they would acquit themselves in battle ! This was not known to our young heroes till they returned to their quarters. At all events. Captain Stansbury's command 16 MEMOIRS OF gave at least this manifestation of bravery and pluck, by marching to the battle field to confront the enemy — and if the foe was not there, it certainly was not the fault of our young soldiers, who so faithfully followed their commander. This incident tends to show that the candor and manliness of Elijah Stansbury's dispo- sition were thus early displayed among his young companions, and the commanding influence of his character was first discovered by his ascendency over them. At the age of fifteen, the military bias of his mind was discovered, and had his aspirations for military life been gratified by a cadetship at West Point, we have no doubt that he would have carved his way to military renown, blended with a literary reputation of the highest order; for when at school, he generally was at the head of his class, manifesting an ardent love for letters, which only waited for a favorable opportunity to develop the industrious stu- dent and thorough scholar. In the rural districts, at the time of which we write, the branches taught in the schools rarely extended beyond an ordinary Eng- lish education. In all the youthful sports requiring skill and activ- ity, such as bandy, trap ball, cat, &c., he, although somewhat lame, was always chosen by his schoolmates as their captain or leader. He had acquired such ex- traordinary precision in throwing stones that he has been known to kill as many as five birds on his way to school in the morning. Young Stansbury was a universal favorite. This partiality seems to have ex- tended to his father and mother, for parents will have COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 17 their preferences. It may have ai'isen from the fact that, besides bearing his father's christian name, which was a favorite one with the mother, he was the only child that strongly resembled her. So striking was the likeness that persons, previously seeing the mother would recognize the son upon meeting him alone, though a perfect stranger to them. It is mentioned as a singular circumstance that, as young Elijah ap- proached manhood, his likeness to the features of the mother gradually changed to the counterpart of those of the father. At the age of seventeen, Elijah decided that the vocation of farming was not suited to his taste or in- clination, and that he preferred some mechanical pur- suit, and, accordingly, he took measures to carry out his wishes. This did not meet the approval of his indul- gent parents, nevertheless they did not interpose their authority to frustrate his purpose. But they kindly offered him great inducements to stay at home, but all in vain, as the reader will learn presently. At this period his father had two farm.s and a mill seat on Deer creek, in Harford county, Maryland. The mill seat consisted of a large stone mill for grinding flour and meal, a saw mill, a fulling mill and a carding machine. This was in 1808, when manufacturing was in its infancy in that section of the country. The carding machine was secured as a preliminary step to going into the manufacturing of domestic goods. But that enterprise was never carried into effect. Attached to this mill scat were, one hundred and twenty acres of land. All this last mentioned farm and mill seat his 18 MEMOIRS OF doting parents offered to give him, provided lie would stay at home, making him a deed for the same, and giving him full possession upon his reaching his twenty- iirst year. But all this could not induce him to change his mind. They made no further objection. Having a brother living in Baltimore, who was a bricklayer by trade, he at once apprenticed himself to him for four years, and faithfully served his time out. What a noble and manly example is this, for youth of the present generation to follov/. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 19 CHAPTER II. The War of 1812. At this time, 1812, the war between the United States and Great Britain broke out. Before we pro- ceed further in our memoirs, we beg to indulge in a di- gression. The people of Baltimore were among the first to resent the outraires of Endancl, as exhibited in the various taxations, which she had levied on the Colonics. They were, also, among the first to stir up tlie Colo- nies of the south to a just indignation of those wrongs ; and when the war actually took place, although Mary- land w^as nearly exempt from any visitation of the enemy, yet that did not prevent Baltimore from fur- nishing her quota of officers and troops, who, under the proud name of the " Old Maryland Line,'' did honor to the cause they aided and espoused, as well as to the people, by wdiom they were sent to the battle field. It is therefore a grateful duty, to mention in these pages, the names of some of these gentlemen, in order to offer to those who may be hereafter called upon to sustain their country's honor, such an example as shall, vv^heu imitated, secure to themselves unfading honor. General Mordecai Gist was born in Baltimore county, and when the war commenced he was appointed Major in a regiment of regular troops. He remained with his regiment, which was stationed at Baltimore, for some time after its formation. It was afterwards 20 MEMOIRS OF marched to the north and served in the campaigns of the Northern Army. Major Gist was considered so meritorious an officer that he was soon promoted to tlie rank of Colonel, and when the Maryland Line was sent to the south he also went as a Brigadier-General, continuing in the service an active and meritorious officer until the peace. Subsequently he married in South Carolina, and died there in 1791, the very year the subject of these memoirs was born. General Otho Williams was a native of Prince George's county, Maryland. He commanded a com- pany as early as 1775, which marched to Boston. At the attack on Fort Washington he was wounded and taken prisoner, being at that time a Major. From the treatment he received from the enemy, cruel in the extreme, his health became so seriously impaired that he never recovered it, being an invalid the balance of his life. He was promoted to the command of the Sixth Regiment of the Maryland Line during his cap- tivity, and on being released he marched with his com- mand to the south, and in all the battles fovight by that celebrated line, he signally distinguished himself. He acted. as Deputy Adjutant-General of the Southern Army, under General Gates, and was in the disastrous battle of Camden. A remnant of the defeated army was formed into two battalions, constituting a regiment, and the command was given to Colonel Williams and Lieutenant-Colonel Howard. When General Gates joined the army he appointed Colonel Williams Adju- tant-General. In the battle of Eutaw Springs he gained the highest honors. Near the close of the war COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 21 he was promoted by Congress to the rank of Brigadier- General. About a year before peace was restored, so sliattercd was his constitution that he was reluctantly constrained to retire fvom military service and was appointed by the State, Naval Officer for the Port of Baltimore, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Sollers, the late incumbent. He held this office till the organiza- tion of the Federal Government in 1789, when he was appointed Collector of the Port by the illustrious Washington. General Williams died in July, 1794. Colonel John Eager Howard was a native of Baltimore county. He entered the army as a Captain, and in the battle of the White Plains he became dis- tinguished. When several battalions were required to be raised by a resolution of Congress, Captain Howard was appointed a Major in one of the number allotted to Maryland. He was with the army at Rockey Hill, near Princeton, in April, 1777, and remained with it until June, when he returned home for a while in con- sequence of his father's death. He however re-joined the army in the following September, and was in the battle of Germantown. In June, 1779, Major Howard received his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Maryland Regiment. He was in the disastrous battle of Camden, but that portion of the duty assigned to Colonel Howard in the battle was sustained with great gallantry. In December subsequent to the bat- tle, General Green arrived and took command of the Southern Army. In January, 1781, was fought the battle of ^Uhe Cowpens/' The glories of that day 2* 22 MEMOIRS OF belong principally to Colonel Howard. At Eutaw, ho had the command of the Second Regiment. Colonel Howard on this occasion again distinguished himself, and in the action received a severe wound in the left shoulder. General Green observed of him in one of his letters : " Colonel Howard is as good an officer as the world afforded, and deserves a statue of gold no less tlian the Roman and Grecian heroes.^^ Certainly a higher compliment could never be paid than this. In Nov^eraber, 1788, Colonel Howard was chosen Gov- ernor of Maryland, and continued in the Executive chair for three years. In the year 179G, he was elected a Senator of the United States, in which relation he continued till the year 1803. He died full of honors in 1827. General Samuel SxMITII was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, but came to Baltimore in childhood. At the opening of the revolutionary war, he w^as appointed Captain in one of the regular companies stationed in Baltimore, but rose soon after to the rank of Colonel, and in that capacity, he joined the army, at that time w^atching the movements of Sir William Howe near Philadelphia. He was stationed with part of his regiment, at " Mud Fort," on the Delaware, when the British fleet was ascending that river. His gallant defence of that fort won him the reputation of a skilful and gallant officer, and, as a testimonial of his bravery, Congress presented him with a sword. He returned from the army some time after this battle, but did not withdraw from the service of his countrv. In Baltimore he took coLO^'EL ELIJAH STA^^SBU^vY. 23 command of a regiment of militia, and continued doing duty during the whole of the war. General Smith, some years after the war, was elected to the Legislature of the State, where he remained till he was elected to Congress, in the year 1792. In Con- gress he continued until the year 1833, having served forty years in the Kational Council. In the war of 1812, General Smith took a conspicuous part, which will be appropriately referred to in a future page of this book. 24 MEMOIRS OF CHAPTER III. The Battle of North Point. The year 1812 was an epoch in the life of Colonel Stansbury; for it was in that year he had reached his manhood — a year rendered eventful by the breaking out of the war between Great Britain and the United States. Although exempt from military duty by lame- ness, caused through accident in his childhood, yet, believing that every man that was able to defend his country, though thus afflicted, should not hesitate to do so, and animated by that military spirit which characterized his earlier youth, he unhesitatingly vol- unteered his services to Captain John Montgomery, of the Baltimore Union Artillery, and was accepted ; the following constituting Captain Montgomery's com- mand, which numbered, officers and men all told, a total of ninty-one, as follows : David Harris, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 1st Regiment Artillery. Baltimore Union Artillery, O/" the First Reg'uneyit of Artilleri/ of the Maryland Militia. Officers. John Montgomery, Captain. John S. Stiles, First Lieutenant. Joseph E. Brooks, Second Lieutenant. Jonathan Fitch, Third Lieutenant. Jesse Haslup, First Sergeant. John Riley, Second Sergeant. Geo. Eaverson, Third Sergeant. Wm. Sewell, Fourth Sergeant. COLONEL ELIJAU STANSBURY. 25 Alexander Boyd, First Corporal. Geo. Bartol, Second Corporal. Wm. H. Fonerdon, Third Corporal. Samuel House, Fourth Corporal. Priyates. Adrcon, Geo. Armstrong, John Armstrong, Thos. Bowers, Martin Barger, Geo. Barger, John Barnes, John Bartlett, Wm. Burull, Theophilus Brunett, Andrew Barcroft, Kalph Brown, John Cator, John Chalmers, James Chambers, John M. Childs, Samuel Curlett, James Curlett, Thomas Crossan, John Campbell, Hugh Churchman, Alfred W Camaham, James Dwyer, William Delcher, Geo. Davidson, James Douning, Wm. Elliot, Jos. B. Elliot, John B. Etchberger, John Erwin, John Franciscus, Geo. Farrall, James W. Finn, John W. German, Jonathan Gill, Ezekiel C. Holland, James Howard, David Hewett, Wm. Hill, Arthur Hazletine, David Jones, Joshua Jordan, Fred'k Joseph, Manuel Keen, Jr., AVilliam Lamb, John Long, Abraham Lowry, Robert Mamma, Samuel Mills, Ezekiel Mills, Wm. P. Miller, Fred'k Mopps, Adam Nippard, Geo. Pollard, Seth Penman, John Parker, Evan Renshaw, Thos. S. Robinson, John Riley, John Rowles, John 26 MEMOIRS OF EingrosG, John W. Towson, Joshua East, Chas. Turner, John Shade, John West, "William Sharkey, Michael West, John Stewart, Thos. Wimmel Geo. S. Shaw, Jas, B. Wiese, Pred'k A. Stone, Pvich'd Williams, Thomas Smuch, Wm. Walter, John Stansbury, Elijah Officers' Seryakts. Emanuel and John. After the aifair at Bladensburg and capture of Wash- ington, an attack upon the city of Baltimore was con- fidently expected. Indeed, General Eoss had fixed upon it for his winter quarters, and boasted that with the force he had he would go where he pleased through Maryland. Thus forewarned, considerable additions were made to the defences of the city — some of the troops of General Winder's command were collected — Kodger's and Perry's were here; and a good many noble volunteers flocked in from the adjacent parts of our own State, and from Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Baltimore Brigade was taken en masse into the service of the- United States ; and the whole submitted to the direction of Major-General Smith, of the Mary- land Militia. On Saturday, the 10th of September, 1814, information was received that the enemy was ascending the bay, and on Sunday morning, his ships were seen at the mouth of our river, the Patapsco, in number from forty to fifty. Some of his vessels entered the river, while others proceeded to North Point, (at COLO^'EL ELIJAH STANSCUIIY. 27 tlie mouth of the Patapsco,) distant twelve miles from the city, and commenced the debarkation of their troops in the night, and finished early next morning. In tlie meantime, the frigates, bomb-ketches and small vessels, approached and ranged themselves in a formi- dable line to cannonade the fort and the town. The frigates were lightened before they entered the river — and the ships of line lay oiF North Point to overawe r»s and protect the whole force. The force that landed consisted of nine thousand men, viz: five thousand sol- diers, two thousand marines and two thousand sailors. The first, under Major- General Poss; the latter, com- manded by the famous Admiral Cockburn. The troops were a part of Wellington's Invincibles. Some works were erecting not far from North Point to arrest their progress; but their incipient state forbade a stand being made at them ; and the enemy marched four miles towards the city uninterrupted, except by a few flying shots from the cavalry. Here they were met by General Strieker, with his entire Baltimore Brigade, (except tliat he had only one company of the regiment of artillery,) consisting of Colonel Biay's Cavalry, the Pifle Corps, and the 5th, 6th, 27th, 39th and 51st Pegiments of Infantry, commanded respectively by Lieutenant-Colonels Sterett, McDonald, Long, Fowler and Amey. In the 5th was incorporated an elegantly uniformed company of volunteers from York, Pennsyl- vania, under the command of Captain Spangler; and in the o9th. Captain Metzger^s fine company of volun- teers from Hanover, Pennsylvania, and Captain Quan- tril's, from Hagerstown, Maryland ; and in the 6th, 28 MEMOIRS OF Captain Dixon's volunteers from Marietta, Pennsyl- vania — all the rest were city troops; and the whole, including Captain Montgomery's Company of Artil- lery, (with six four- pounders) amounted to about three thousand two hundred men. The rest of our forces were judiciously stationed in or near the various de- fences, <&c. About one o'clock, a party of one hundred and fifty or two hundred men, consisting of Captain Levering's and Captain Howard's Companies of the 5th Regiment, and Captain Aisquith's Rifle Corps, were detached from the line to feel the enemy and bring on the battle. They were accompanied by a few artillerists, with one of their pieces — Captain Mont- gomery's Company, Before they expected it, they were attacked by the British, in very superior numbers, and driven in with some loss, after a few fires, to the main body. As the enemy advanced, the artillery opened a destructive fire upon them, which Avas returned from two nine-pounders, and the action became general along the line of the 5th and 27th, which were in front. The 39th and 51st were in the rear of these, and the 6th advantageously posted still nearer the city, to protect and cover the whole. The fire from the 5th and 27th Regiments, as well as from the artillery, the latter firing one hundred and thirty rounds, was very active and uncommonly effective for about an hour. Of the 5th much was expected, but the 27tli behaved at least as gallantly. The men took deliberate aim, and the carnage was great — the famous "AYellington's Invinci- bles'' dodging to the ground, and crawling in a bend- ing posture to avoid the militia — the "yeomen" they COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 29 ■were taught so much to despise ! When the 5th and 27th (between which was 2)lpced the artillery) were outflanked by the much greater force of the enemy, they retired in better order than could have been ex- pected under a galling fire; falling back reluctantly at the repeated command of their gallant officers. The right of the 39th was gallantly engaged, but the 51st took no part in the action ; and it was not at that time and place expected that the 6th would share in it, else (under its veteran Colonel Paul Bentalau, a soldier of the Revolution, and one who met the same foe under the brave Pulaski,) it would no doubt have distin- guished itself. The cavalry, though they performed very severe and important duties, had but little to do in the battle. The whole number of our men actually engaged did not exceed one thousand seven hundred. Nearly as much, perhaps, being done at this point as was expected, our force retreated towards the city. The enemy followed slowly and very cautiously, and on Tuesday night approached within about two miles of our entrenchments. Measures were taken to cut them off and punish their temerity; but before General Winder, with the Virginia Militia and a squadron of United States Cavalry, could bring his plans fully to bear, the British, suspecting the design, or probably not liking the appearance of our works, decamped sud- denly in the niglit, and embarked with such precipita- tion, that though closely pursued, a few prisoners only were taken. But the pursuing force merited and have received the thanks of their General ; and the whole body, collectively, is entitled to the enduring gratitude 30 2JEM0IRS OF of Baltimore, aiul of their coiintrVj for the sufferings they so patiently and patriotically met, being compelled to sleep, if sleep was allov/ed, in the open air, with the heavens for their canopy, for four nights, during the chief part of which it rained pretty constantly, and sometimes heavily, receiving their refreshments irregu- larly ; the rations being packed up in prudent prepara- tion of events that might have happened. COLOXEL ELIJAH STAXSBUllY. 31 CHAPTEE lY. The Bombardment. The attack on Fort McHeniy was terribly grand and magnificent. The enemy's vessels formed a great lialf circle in front of the works on the 12th, but out of the reach of our guns, and also the battery at the Lazaretto, on tlie opposite side of the great cove or basin around the head of which the city of Baltimore is built. Fort McHenry is about two miles from what was then considered the city — a ^' light little place/' as it was called, with some finely planned batteries, mounted with heavy cannon, as the British very iceU knew, through certain traitors in our midst. At six o'clock on Tuesday morning, six bomb and some rocket vessels commenced the attack, keeping such a respect- ful distance as to make the fort rather a target than an opponent; though Major Armstead, the commander, and his brave garrison fired occasionally, to let the enemy know the place was not given up! Four or five bombs were frequently in the air at a time, and making a double explosion, Vv'itli the noise of the flam- ing rockets and the firing of the fort, lazaretto and our barges, created quite a horrible clatter. [Many of these bombs have since been found entire; they weigh, when full of their combustibles, about two hundred and ten or two hundred and twenty pounds, and were thrown much farther than our forty-two-pouuders could reach.] Thus the bombardment continued until about 32 MEMOIRS OF three o'clock in the afternoon — nine hours — when the enemy, growing more enboldened, dropped nearer the fort and gave the garrison and batteries a little of the chance so much desired. The batteries opened fire and the balls flew like hail stones — the Britons slipped their cables, hoisted their sails and were off in a moment, but not without damage. AVhen they got out of harm's way they renewed the gallant attack, throwing their bombs with desperate vigor and ac- tivity commensurate only to the deep mortification of an unexpected repulse. So they went on until about one o'clock in the morning of the 13th, our batteries at intervals firing a single gun. At this stage of affairs, aided by the darkness of the night, and screened by a flame they had kindled, one or two rocket or bomb vessels and many barges, manned with one thousand two hundred chosen men, passed Fort McHenry and proceeded up the Patapsco, to assail the town and fort in the rear, and perhaps to effect a landing. The short-sighted mortals, believing a noble achievement near at hand, were emboldened to give three cheers and began to throw their missive weapons. But, alas! their cheering was speedily turned to groaning, and the agonizing cries of their w^ounded and drowning people reached the shore; for Forts McHenry and Covington, with the City Battery and the Lazaretto and barges, vomited forth an iron flame upon them from the great semi-circle of large guns. The houses in the city were shaken to their very foundations, for never, perhaps, from the time of the invention of ord- nance to that day, were the same number of pieces fired COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 33 in such ra])id succession ; particularly from Fort Cov- ington, where a party of Rodgers' really invincible crew was posted. Barney ^s flotillamen, at the City Battery, maintained the high reputation previously earned in naval combat. The enemy's vessels opened fire, lighting the heavens with a sheet of lurid flame — the fierce booming of canon and explosion of bombs continuing for half an hour. Having met with this unexpected reception, the enemy precipitately retired with his remaining force, battered and crippled, to his respecfful distance ; the darkness of the night and his ceasing to fire (which was the only guide our people had) preventing his annihilation. All was for some time still, and solemn silence reigning. But being beyond danger some of his vessels resumed the bom- bardment, which continued until after day-break — lasting in all about twenty-four hours, during which there were thrown not less than fifteen hundred of these great bombs, besides many rockets and some red shot. The enemy must have suffered seriously in this affair. Two of their large barges had been sunk, and in them were yet found some of the dead. But the real loss probably will never be known to us. They also suffered from the guns of Fort McHenry, the Lazaretto and the barges. A spectator says he saw several shot take effect during Tnesday afternoon, and further adds, that the preservation of our people in the fort was truly wonderful. Only four were killed and about twenty wounded, and less than three hun- dred dollars repaired damages sustained ! Lieutenant Claggct and Sergeant Clemm, of Captain Nicholson's 34 MEMOIRS OF Company of Artillciy, were the only officers killed in the fort. They were merchants of high standing, and their deaths were deeply regretted by a large circle of acquaintance and the whole community of Baltimore. Admiral Cockburn boasted that he vv'ould take the fort in two hours, speaking of its surrender as a matter of course, saying that when it was taken, and the ship- ping destroyed, "/le loould then think about terms for the city!^^ All about and in the fort gave such evidence of his zeal, to faithfully execute his threat, that it seems like a miracle that more damage was not done. We are informed that Major Armstead, through watch- ing and excessive fatigue (for he liad other great duties to do, besides defending his post,) flagged as soon as the fight was over, and remained quite ill for several days. Many of his gallant companions were also ex- hausted, but, finally, recruited their strength. To return to the field engagement. The force of the enemy is said to have amounted to five thousand men. They were fine looking fellows, but seemed rather un- willing; to meet American bullets — their dodt^-intr from the artillery of the brave Montgomery and his men, and their stooping before the musketry, have already been noticed. The prisoners and deserters say that, for the time the battle lasted, they never before faced so destructive a fire. Our men fired, it is said, not by word of command only, but also took deliberate aim at the object. Of the 21st British Regiment, about five hundred were landed. On the mornina: of the 13th, they found one hundred and seventy-one killed, wounded and missino\ The whole loss of the British COLO^'EL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 35 might be safely estimated at eight hundred. Major- General Koss was killed in the early part of the action, and there is reason to believe that two or three other officers, high in command, met the same fate. His death was probably the immediate cause, why an attack upon our works was not made. Colonel Brook, on whom the command devolved, would not risk the undertaking. Our whole loss, in the 3d Brigade, was as follows : In CAPTAiisr Moxtoomery's Artillery, of Avliicli young Stansbury was a member, and vAio for his gallant conduct on the field, was personally complimented in the highest terms by Captain Montgomery, were the following casualties : Wounded — • Jos. E. Brooks, Second Lieutenant, one Sergeant and twelve Privates — one since dead. 5Tn Eegimekt or Infantry. Killed— Six Privates. Wounded — Captain Stewart, Lieutenant Reese, one Sergeant, two Corporals and forty Privates. 27Tn Eegiment of Infantry. Killed — Adjutant Jas. L. Donaldson and eight Privates. Wounded — Major Moore, two Sergeants, two Corporals and forty-one Privates. SOth PvEgiment of Infantry". Killed — Three Privates. Wounded — Captain Quantril, two Corporals and twenty Privates. 51sT Eegtment of Infantry. A';7^:cZ— Three Privates. If oi/nc/ecZ— Ensign Kirbv and three Privates. 36 MEMOIRS OF Rifle Battalion. Al/^er^— Lieutenant Andre and two Privates, (McComas and Wells,) said to have killed Ross. Wounded — Two Sergeants and five Privates. Recapitulatiox. Killed — One Adjutant, one Subaltern and twenty-two Privates — Total, twenty-four. Wounded — One Major, two Captains, three Subalterns, twelve Non-commissioned Officers and one hundred and twenty-one Pri- vates — Total, one hundred and thirty-nine. Made prisoners — One Subaltern, forty-nine Commissioned Offi- cers and Privates — Total, two hundred and thirteen. The Recapitulation contains the aggregate of prisoners taken by the enemy, excepting those paroled at the meeting house, included in the wounded. I am unable, at present, to state to what regiments they were attached. As the honorable Colonel Brook has vied with his compatriots, in falsifying an official report, I beg you will favor the public with this account, in any form you please. I pledge myself for its correctness. Yours respectfully, L. Frailey, Laie Brigade Major, Sd Brigade. M. M. The above list was copied from Niles' Register, and has the following caption : List of the killed and wounded of the 3d Brigade, in the late engagement at ^'Long Log Lane/^ Septem- ber 12th, 1814. Communicated and signed as above. The Officers killed were James Lowry Donaldson, Adjutant of the gallant 27th Regiment, and one of the Representatives of Baltimore in the House of Delegates of Maryland. He fell while encouraging his brethren and Lieutenant Andre, of the " Union COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 37 Yagers," a valuable young man. Dr. Samuel B. Martin, now (1874) in his ninetieth year, who was Surgeon to the 1st Eifle Battalion of Maryland, in- forms the writer that he saw the brave young Andre fall off a fence when he was shot. He died instantly. Third Sergeant Alexander McKenzie of the Sharp- shooters was dangerously wounded at the same time. Surgeon Martin took him off the field on his horse, securing him safe shelter and proper care. Wells and McComas belonged to the same company. Brave young patriots ! your countrymen will ever cherish your memory.* Major Moore, of the 27th, was severely, but not dangerously wounded. Major Heath, of the 5th, had two horses shot under him, and Major Berry's, of the same regiment, was killed. The cav- alry lost several horses, and some of them on the look- out were taken prisoners. Brigadier-General Strieker, whose urbanity had long endeared him to the citizens under his command and the people at large, behaved as became the high charge entrusted to him as a sol- dier. He had, we are told, the entire confidence of his brigade. Robert Goodloe Harper, Esq., who volun- teered his services as an Aid-de-camp ^ also greatly exerted himself in the hottest part of the fire, to encourage and give steadiness to our troops. The enemy's bomb vessels, the writer is informed, were much wrecked by their own fire, in consequence of the heavy strain upon them from stem to stern — every discharge sinking them two feet in the water. * Monument at Ashland Square, Gay street, was erected to their memojy by the citizens in 1873, the Councils making an appropriation to complete it. 3 38 MEMOIRS OF Never was the mortification of an invader more com- plete than that of our enemy. Beaten by the militia and repulsed by the fort, he crept away meanly and sullenly in the worst possible humor, sustaining a total loss, in all probability, of not less than eight hundred men. For the satisfaction of the reader, the following official documents are appended : Battle of J^ortu Point. OFFICIAL LETTERS. Washington City, September 22J. Ccypy of a letter from Major-Gencrnl Smith to the Secretary of V/cir^ dated IIkad-Qcarters, Baltimore, ") September 19th, 1814 J Sir : In compliance with the promise contained in my letter of the loth instant, I have now the honor of stating that the enemy landed hetween seven and eight thousand men on Mon- day, tlie 12th instant, at North Point, fourteen miles distant from this town. Anticipating this debarkation, General Strieker had been detached on Sunday evening with a portion of his brigade on the North Point- road. Major Eandel, of the Baltimore County Militia, having under his command a light corps of rifle- men and musketry taken from G-eneral Stansbury's Brigade and the Pennsylvania Volunteers, v/as detached to the mouth of Bear creek, with orders to cooperate with General Strieker, and to check any landing in that quarter. On Monday, Brigadier- General Strieker took a good position at the junction of the two roads leading from this place to North Point, having his right flanked at Bear creek, and his left by a marsh. He here waited the approach of the enemy, having sent an advance corps under the command of Major Heath, of the 5th Regiment. This ad- vance was met by that of the enemy, and after some skirmishing it returned to the line, the main body of the enemy being at a short distance in the rear of their advance. Between two and COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBUEY. 89 three o'clock, the enemy's whole force came up, and commenced the battle by some discharges of rockets, which were succeeded by cannon from both sides, and soon after the action became general along the line. General Strieker gallantly maintained his ground against a great superiority of numbers during the space of an hour and twenty minutes, when the regiment on his left (the 51st) giving way, he was under the necessity of retiring to the ground in his rear, where he had stationed one regiment as reserve. He here formed his brigade ; but the enemy not thinking it advisable to pursue, he, in compliance with previous arrangements, fell back and took post on the left of my entrench- ments, and a half mile in advance of them. In this aft'air, the citizen soldiers of Baltimore, with the exception of the 61st Regi- ment, have maintained the reputation they so deservedly acquired at Bladensburg, and their brave and skilful leader has confirmed the confidence, which we had all so justly placed in him. I take the liberty of referring you to his letter for a more particular mention of the individuals who, new to warfore, have shown the coolness and valor of veterans ; and who, by their conduct on this occasion, have given their country and their city an assur- ance of what may be expected from them when their services are again required. I cannot dismiss the subject without expressing the heartfelt satisfaction I experience in thus bearing testimony to the courage and good conduct of my fellow-townsmen. About the time General Strieker had taken the ground just mentioned, he was joined by Brigadier-General Winder, who had been sta- tioned on the west side of the city, but was now ordered to march with General Douglass' Brigade of Virginia Militia and the United States Dragoons under Captain Bird, and take post on the left of General Strieker. During these movements, the brigades of Generals Stansbury and Foreman, the seamen and marines under Commodore Rogers, the Pennsylvania Volunteers under Colonels Cobean and Findlcy, the Baltimore Artillery u!ider Colonel Harris, and the marine artillery under Captain Stiles, manned the trenches and the batteries — all prepared to receive the enemy. We remained in this situation during the night. On Tuesday the enemy appeared in front of my entrenchments 40 MEMOIRS OF Avhence he had a full view of our position. He manoouvrecl during the morning towards our left, as if with the intention of making a circuitous march and coming down on the Hartford or York roads. Generals "Winder and Strieker were ordered to adopt their movements to those of the enemy, so as to bafile this supposed intention. They executed this order with great skill and judgment, by taking an advantageous position, stretching from my left across the country, when the enemy was likelj'- to approach the quarter he seemed to threaten. This movement induced the enemy to concentrate his forces (between one and two o'clock) in my front, pushing his advance to within a mile of us, driving in our videttes, and showing an intention of attack- ing us that evening. I immediately drew Generals Winder and Strieker nearer to the left of my entrenchments and to the right of the enemy, with the intention of their falling on his right or rear should he attack me ; or, if he declined it, of attacking him in the morning. To this movement, and to the strength of my defences, which the enemy had the fairest opportunity of observ- ing, I am induced to attribute his retreat, which was commenced at half-past one o'clock on Wednesday morning. In this he was so favored by the extreme darkness and continued rain, that we did not discover it until daylight. I consented to General Winder's pursuing with the Virginia Brigade and the United States Dragoons ; at the same time Major Eandal was despatched with his light corps in pursuit of the enemy's right, whilst the whole of the militia cavalry was put in motion for the same object. All the troops, were, however, so worn out with con- tinued watching, and with being under arms during three days and nights, exposed the greater part of the time to very incle- ment weather-, that it was found impracticable to do anything more than to pick up a few stragglers. The enemy commenced his embarkation that evening, and completed it the next day at one o'clock. It would have been impossible, even had our troops been in a condition to act offensively, to have cut off any of the enemy's rear guard during the embarkation, as the point where it was effected was defended from our approach by a line of defence, extending from Back river to Humphrey's creek on the Patapsco, thrown up by ourselves previous to their arrival. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 41 I have now the pleasure of calling your attention to the brave commander of Fort McHenry, Major Armistead, and to the operations confined to that quarter. The enemy made his ap- proach by water at the same time that his army was advancing on the land, and commenced a discharge of bombs and rockets at the fort, as soon as he got within range of it. The situation of Major Armistead was peculiarly trying — the enemy having taken his position at such a distance as to render offensive operations on the part of the fort entirely fruitless, whilst their bombs and rockets were every moment falling in and about it — the officers and men being at the same time entirely exposed. The vessels, however, had the temerity to approach somewhat nearer — they were as soon compelled to withdraw. During the night, whilst the enemy en land was retreating, and whilst the bombardment was the most severe, two or three rocket vessels and barges succeeded in getting up the Ferry Branch ; but they were soon compelled to retire by the forts in that quarter, commanded by Lieutenant Newcomb, of the navy, and Lieutenant Webster, of the flotilla. These forts also destroyed one of the barges, with all on board. The barges and battery at the Lazaretto, under the command of Lieutenant Fvutter, of the flotilla, kept up a brisk, and it is believed, a success- ful fire during the hottest period of the bombardment. Major Armistead being seriously ill in consequence of his continued exposure to the Aveather, has rendered it impossible for him to send in his report. It is not therefore, in my power to do justice to those gallant individuals, who partook Avith him the danger of a tremendous bombardment, without the ability of retorting, and without that security, which, in more regular fortifications, is provided for such occasions. The loss, in the fort, is, I under- stand, about twenty-seven killed and wounded — amongst the former, I have to lament the loss of Lieutenants Claggett and Clemm, who were both estimable citizens and useful oflaccrs. From General Strieker's Brigade, the return of the killed and wounded has not yd come in. It is supposed, however, to amount to about one hundred and fifty— among the former, this city has to regret the loss of its representative in the State Legis- lature, James Lowry Donaldson, Esq., Adjutant of the 27th 42 MEMOIRS OF stituents for his zeal and talents, and by his corps for his bravery and military knowledge. I cannot conclude this report, without informing you of the great aid I have derived from Commodore Rodgers. He was ever present and ever ready to afford his useful counsel, and to render his important services. His presence, with that of his gallant officers and seamen,' gave confidence to every one. The enemy's loss in this attempt on Baltimore, amounts, as near as wo can ascertain it, to between six and seven hundred killed, wounded and missing — General Eoss was certainly killed. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant, S. SMITH, Colonel James Monroe, Major-General Commanding. Acting Secrctai^y of War. Copy of a letter from Brigadier-General Stricker to Major- Gcneral Smith, dated Head Quarters, 3d Brigade, "> Baltimore, September loth, 1314. j" Major-Gcneral S. Smith, Sir: I have the honor to report to you, that in obedience to your orders, I marched from Baltimore on Sunday, the 11th instant, with part of my brigade, as the advance corps of the army under your command. My force consisted of five hundred and fifty of the 5th Regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Ster- rett; six hundred and twenty of the 6th, under Lieutenant- Colonel M'Donald; five hundred of the 27th, under Lieuten- ant-Colonel Long; four hundred and fifty of the 39th, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fowler; seven hundred of the 51st, under Lieutenant-Colonel Amey ; one hundred and fifty riflemen, under Captain Dyer ; one hundred and forty cavalry, under Lieuten- ant-Colonel Biays, and the Union Artillerj^ of seventy-five men, with six four-pounders, under Captain Montgomery, making an aggregate of three thousand one hundred and eighty-five efi'ec- tive men. I moved towards ISTorth Point by the main road, and at 8 o'clock, P. M., reached the meeting house near the head of Biiar creek, seven miles from this city. Here the brigade COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 43 halted, with the exception of the cavalry, who were pushed for- ward to Gorsuch's farm, three miles in advance, and the riflemen, who took post near the hlacksmith's shop, two miles in advance of our encampment. At seven o'clock, on the morning of the 12th, I received information from the advance videttes that the enemy were debarking troops from and under cover of their gun vessels, which lay off the bluff of North Point within the mouth of Patapsco river. I immediately ordered back my baggage under a strong guard, moved forward the 5th and 27th Eegi- ments and my artillery to the head of Long Log Lane, (so called,) resting the 5th with its right on the head of a branch of Bear creek, and its left on the main ISTorth Point road, while the 27th was posted on the opposite side of the road, in line with the 5th, its left extending towards a branch of Back river. The artillery I posted directl}- at the head of the line in the interval between the 5th and 27th. The 39th occupied a ground three hundred yards in the rear of the 27th, and the 51st the same distance in the rear of the 5th, extending each parallel to the front line. The 6th Kegiment was thrown back to a position a short distance this side of Cook's Tavern, and a half a mile in the rear of the second line. My orders were, that the 5th and 27th should re- ceive the enemy, and, if necessary, fall back through the 51st and 39th, and form on the right of the Gth or Eeserve Kegiment. The riflemen were ordered to the skirts of a thick low pine wood beyond the blacksmith shop, with a large sedge-field in front, that, as the cavalry were still in advance, who would inform of the enemj^'s approach, they might take advantage of the covering of the wood, and annoy his advance. I soon learned that the enemy's advance party was moving rapidly up the main road, and as the cavalry continually announced their progress, I flat- tered myself with the hope, the riflemen w^ould soon proclaim by a galling fire their still nearer approach. Imagine my chagrin, when I perceived the whole rifle corps falling back upon my main position, having too credulously listened to groundless in- formation that the enemy was landing on Back river to cut them off. . My hopes of early annoyance to the enemy being thus frus- trated, I threw the riflemen on the right flank of my front line, thereby, with the addition of a few cavalry, very well securing 44 MEMOIRS OF that flank. My videttes soon brought information that the enemy in small force Avas enjoying himself at Gorsuch's farm. Insulted at the idea of a small marauding party thus daringly provoking chastisement, several of my officers volunteered their corps to dislodge it. Captains Levering's and Howard's Companies from the 5th, about one hundred and fifty in number, under Major Heath, of that regiment; Captain Aisquith's and a few other riflemen, in all about seventy ; one four-pounder, with ten men, under Lieu- tenant Stiles, and the cavalry, were immediately pushed forward to punish the insolence of the enemy's advance, or, if his main body appeared, to give evidence of my wish for a general engage- ment. The latter purpose was soon answered ; this small volun- teer corps had proceeded scarcely half a mile before the main body of the enemy showed itself, which was immediately attacked. — The infantry and riflemen maintained a fire of some minutes, and retired with some loss in killed and wounded ; the cavalry and artillery, owing to the disadvantageous grounds, not being able to support them. In this skirmish, Major Heath's horse was killed under him. At half-past two o'clock, the enemy commenced throwing rockets across my left flank, which seemed harmless, and had no other effect than to prepare my line for the sound of the artillery, which soon commenced by us on the enemy's right column then pushing across towards my left, and returned by their six-pounders and a howitzer upon my left and centre. The cannonading was brisk for some minutes, when I ordered my fire to cease until the enemy should get within close range of can- nister. Seeing that my left flank was the main object of the enemy, 1 brought up the 39th into line on the left of the 27th, and detached two pieces of artillery to the left of the 39th ; still more securely to protect my left flank, Colonel Amey, of the 51st, was ordered to form his regiment at right angles with my line, resting his right near the left of the 39th. This order being badly executed, created for a moment some confusion in that quarter, but was soon rectified by the eflbrts of my Aid-de-camp and Brigade Majors, who corrected the error of Colonel Amey, and posted the 51st in its ordered position. The enemy's right column displayed and advanced upon the 39th and 27th. The COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURV. 45 61st, unmindful of my object to use its fire in protection of my left flank in case an attempt should be made to turn it, totally forgetful of the honor of the brigade, and regardless of its ovrn reputation, delivered one random fire and retreated precipitately and in such confusion, as to render every effort of mine to rally them ineffective. Some disorder was occasioned in the second battalion of the 39th, by the flight of the 51st, and a few gave way. The fire now became general from left to right ; my ar- tillery in the centre poured forth an incessant volley of cannister upon the enemy's left column; who were endeavoring to gain the cover of a small log house, about fifty yards in front of the 5th, which, however, precaution had been taken to fire, so soon as Captain Sadtler's Yagers from the 5th (who were originally posted therein) should be compelled to leave it. The enemy's line advanced about ten minutes before three o'clock, with a severe fire, which was well returned by the artillery, the 27th, the 5th, except the three companies of Captains Levering, Howard and Sadtler, which w^ere too much exhausted by the advanced skirmish of the two former, and the ordered retreat of the latter, to resume their positions in line, and from the first battalion of the 39th, who maintained its ground in despite of the disgraceful example set by the intended support on the left. The fire was incessant till about fifteen minutes before four o'clock, when, finding that my line, now fourten hundred strong, was insutficient to withstand the superior numbers of the enemy, and my left flank being exposed by the desertion of the 51st, I was constrained to order a movement back to the reserve regi- ment, under Colonel McDonald, which was well posted to receive the retired line, which mostly rallied well. On forming with the Cth, the fatigued state of the regiments and corps which had re- tired, and the probability that my right flank might be turned by a quick movement of the enemy in that direction, induced me, after proper deliberation, to fall back to Worthington's mill, which I was the more persuaded to, by my desire to have the 6th Regiment (whose ofiicers and men were eager to share the dangers of their brother soldiers) perfect and in good order to receive the enemy on his nearer approach to the city. All retired as I could wish, and were ready to act as circumstances might require. In 46 MEMOIRS OF this situation you found the brigade on the morning of the 13th, somewhat fatigued, but with increased confidence in ourselves, and renewing our preparation for the annoyance of the enemy alone, if deemed proper, or in conjunction with any other force. I have thought it due to the merits of my brigade, to detail thus fully their whole movement, and I feel a pride in the belief that the stand made on Monday in no small degree tended to check the temerity of a foe, daring to invade a country like ours, and designing the destruction of our city, in whose defence some of the best blood of the country has already been spilt, and for whose safety and protection the citizen-soldiers of the 3d Brigade are ready to suffer every privation, and meet every danger. Should report be true, (and I doubt not the fact,) that the ene- my's commanding officer. Major- Gena^al Moss, was killed in this action, and that the enemy suffered in proportion to his supe- rior numbers, I shall feel still more the valuable consequences of our fight. The conduct of many company ofiicers and privates was such as I calculated on ; that of most of my field officers also merits my particular notice. Major Eichard K. Heath, of the 5th, who led on the advanced party to bring on the action, behaved as became an officer j the facts of his first horse being killed under him in the first skirmish, his second being badly wounded, and himself receiving a contusion on the head, by a musket ball, in the general action, are ample proofs of his bravery and exposure in discharge of his duty. Lieutenant-Colonel Sterett and Major Barry, of the 5th, gained my highest approbation, and they united with all in praise of Captain Spangler and his company of volunteers from York, Pennsylvania, then attached to their command; also of Adjutant Cheston, who is slightly wounded. Lieuteuant-Colonel Long, of the 27th, and his field and company officers did well, this whole regiment were unsurpassed in bravery, resolution and enthusiasm. My brigade has to bewail the loss of Adjutant James Lowry Donaldson, who fell in the hottest of the fight, bravely discharging the duties of his commission. Lieu- tenant Colonel Powler and Major Steiger, of the 29th, did their duty in every respect ; they speak highly of the volunteer compa- nies of Captain Quantril, from Hagerstown, and Captain Metzgar, COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 47 from Hanover, Pennsylvania. Captain Quantril is wounded. Cap- tain John Montgomery, commanding my artillery, gained for himself and his company lasting honor. Captain Aisquith and his company of riflemen merit my thanks. Ensign Wilmot, commanding the company of United Yolunteers of the 5th, and many of his men, distinguished themselves. To Brigade Majors Calhoun and Frailey, 1 am under great obligations for the prompt and zealous performance of their duty. To my Aid-de- Camp, Major George P. Stevenson, too much praise cannot be given, his industry in every arrangement before the fight, and in animating the whole line, was conspicuous ; his zeal and courage are of the most ardent kind, the sprightliness of his manners in the most trying scenes, had the happiest effect upon all to whom he had to communicate my orders ; and the precision with which he delivered my commands, could be exceeded only by the cool- ness with which he always saw them executed. He was animated, brave and useful. Major William B. Barney and Adjutant Lemuel Taylor, of the cavalry, who, having no opportunity of distinction in their regiment owing to the grounds, did me great service, the former, in aiding Captain Montgomery, the latter, in conveying my orders through the whole. Mr. Pvobert Goodloe Harper deserves my thanks. He visited me just before the action, accompanied the advanced party, and aided me much throughout. The brave soldiers under my command have suftered many pri- vations, and I recognize among our killed and wounded many valuable men ; of which I will make a report in a few days. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, JOHN STEICKEE. Captain John Montgomery was as brave an officer as ever drew a sword, and it is but a matter of simple justice to young Stansbury, to record upon these pages that Captain Montgomery, on repeated occasions, paid him high compliments for liis bravery as a private on the battle-field of North Point. 48 MEMOIRS OP CHAPTER Y. Captain John Montgomery as State's Attorney. AYhen Captain Montgomery was State's Attorney for tlie Criminal Court of Baltimore, a trial was pend- ing in that Court against a person with whom Mr. Stansbury was associated in business. The ground of the suit was the supposed cruel treatment of a slave in defendant's employ, inflicted while Mr. Stansbury was in Annapolis. The plaintiff's counsel, in prosecuting the case, indulged in some vindictive language against Mr. Stansbury, implicating him in the case. As State's Attorney it was the duty of Captain Montgomery to prosecute all offences committed against the laws of the State — nevertheless, feeling that injustice was inflicted on Mr. Stansbury by his colleague, (the plaintiff's counsel,) he rose instantly and said: ''I emphatically repel the charge against Elijah Stansbury as an unjust one, for I know the man, and no person living shall utter a foul calumny against him. I know him to be a brave and gallant soldier, as well as a gentleman of untarnished honor. I knew his highly honored parents, who were once my neighbors in Harford county and were the peers of that community. How- ever much the person may be to blame who caused this suit, or what may be said against him in this prosecution, nevertheless I cannot stand here aud listen to assaults against Mr. Stansbury's character; nor will I tolerate any attempts to sully his honor while I have a voice or an opportunity to defend him. He was COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 49 "with me at North Point to repel the British forces landing there, having in view the destruction of our beloved city. I speak of him as I know him. ^He is worth bis weight in gold ten times purified.' '' At tbe time referred to Mr. Stansbary was in the city of Annapolis, and knew nothing of the incident till informed of it by friends. Well might he feel proud of this voluntary eulogium, emanating as it did from the lips of a disinterested friend and gallant soldier, in commendation of the valuable services and good qualities of one whom he so meritedly admired, and whose subsequent life only tended to confirm all that had been uttered by the distinguished jurist. With what proud satisfaction must his venerable and honored father have dwelt upon the occurrence when it was brought to his knowledge ! and to illus- trate the patriotic spirit of Elijah Stansbury, Sr., we here give place to the following characteristic anecdote : When the war broke out he resided at his country- seat in Baltimore county. On the day the battle of North Point was fought, great excitement and anxiety prevailed among the people. Some of his neighbors visited the old homestead on that memorable day to chat upon the all-absorbing subject, and to dine with the hospitable host. In the course of conversation the old gentleman mentioned to his guests that he was proud to say he had seven sons under arms that day in defence of their country; and added with emphasis, in language becoming a true patriot, *' that he w^ould rather that all should be weltering in their blood upon the gory battle-field, than that even one of them should 50 MEMOIRS OF falter, show the white feather or shrink from duty as a soldier." In furtlier evidence of the noble spirit that animated Colonel Stansbury, we will here state, that five years after his marriage (in 1822) his kind parents oiFered to give him a clear title to tlie old homestead in Bal- timore county, so dear in its reminiscences to the gen- erous donors. It was valued at eight thousand dollars. But the no less generous and grateful son most posi- tively declined the offer, assigning as a reason for so doing, that it was more than his just proportion of an estate to be divided among a large family of children. For this refusal, however, he was most severely re- buked by his father. As an illustration of the strong hold that Captain John Montgomery had upon the affections of his com- patriots, we give the following : On Monday, Septem- ber 28th, 1816, the Baltimore Union Artillery Com- pany, commanded by Captain J. S. Stiles, had a banquet at Watkin's Hotel, Howard street. General Samuel Smith presiding. The following, among other interesting proceedings, took place : Toast by Captain John Montgomery. The Baltbnore Union Artillery. Hereafter, when the story of the battle of North Point and the Defence of Baltimore shall be repeated, those in it will be remembered ; in the one they gallantly participated — in the other they won lasting honors : whereupon General Smith rose and made the following address : Gentlevien of the Union Artillery Company : Accept my thanks for the Jionor you ^jave conferred on me this day — a da}^ you celebrate as the anniversary of that on which your company covered itself with glory — a day that will be recol- COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 51 lectcd by all of you with pleasure — a day on the annual return of which your sons will exultingly say to their sons, "and my father also was at the battle of North Point." You have added to my gratification by placing me near the gallant commander who led you to battle, and to the Brigadier-General whose exertions and gallantry on the memorable 12th of September, 1814, contributed eminentlj^ towards the safety and preservation of the city of Bal- timore. That you may long live to enjoy the honor gained by your company at the battle of North Point, is my sincere prayer. General Strieker made a similar speech, and oifered the following toast : John Montgomery, late commander of the Union Artillery Company. His cool and deliberate conduct at North Point, proved to us that on the field of Battle he was worthy of the trust reposed in him. Salute — three guns and nine cheers. Captain Montgomery made an appropriate reply, and drank the following toast: Commodore Rodgers. "Who is not animated at the sound of that hero's name? a name that inspired the hearts of all when It was in this year General Samuel Smith was elected to Congress with Peter Little, Esq. July Uhy 1816. The United Volunteers attached to the 5th Regiment of Maryland Militia, presented the Committee of Vigilance and Safety, the sum of $1,000 to assist in erecting the Battle Monument. The military career of Colonel Stansbury did not terminate with the war, for after the restoration of peace between Great Britain and the United States, he volunteered his services to Colonel Samuel Moore, Commander of the 27th Regiment Maryland Militia. 52 MEMOIRS OF Colonel Moore duly appreciating the honorable record of Elijah Stansbury, immediately made application to Governor Thomas W. Veazy, for a Lieutenant's Com- mission in the 4th Company. The alacrity with which the Executive responded to Colonel Moore's application, was but another evidence of the strong- hold Mr. Stansbury had upon the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and deservedly so as the sequal proved, he subsequently rising from rank to rank till he finally became commander of the regiment, and continued in that responsible position till the militia system as then organized ceased to exist. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 53 CHAPTEE VI. Battle of Life. In 1815, Mr. Stansbury directed liis attention to business, having faithfully, as already intimated, served out his apprenticeship to the trade of bricklaying. With that indomitable, independent spirit of self-re- liance, for which lie was distinguished, he determined to rely upon his own energies alone in entering the battle of life, although his father was in comfortable circumstances, and doubtless would have aided him had he sought his assistance ; but the son knowing his aged father had a family of thirteen children to provide for, magnanimously resolved to depend upon' his own exertions without adding to the cares of a parent who had been so kind to him in his tender years. What a noble example this to the young men of the present age. He had been often heard to say that if ever a man made a fortune by prosecuting his business with a singleness of purpose to attain that end honorably, he was determined to be that man. Although he practically understood his trade, yet he had never built by contract, as a master workman ; but this In no wise discouraged him. At this time, his brother, with whom he had learned his trade, and who had carried on largely, relinquished the business and moved to Louisiana. But Mr. Stansbury having seve- ral rich relatives, owning many houses, and yearly building others, was encouraged by them to persevere. 54 MEMOIRS OF He at once secured the repairing of those houses and the buildings of others, besides, lie obtained the princi- pal part of his brother's customers. This gave him a start in business, and most zealously did he throw his spirit of enterprise into his vocation. In 1817, being then twenty-five years of age, Mr. Stansbury married a most estimable young lady. Miss Eliza Eckel, the second daughter of Philip P. Eckel, Esq., of Baltimore. He prosecuted the business of bricklaying for ten years, the fruits of his labor and enterprise being a handsome competency. After this he commenced merchandizing in lime, bricks, hair, cement, calcined plaster, groceries, dry goods; and entered largely into the manufacture of botanic medi- cines, known by the name of Thomson! an Medicine. 'The firm, in the medicine line, consisted of G. Myers, E. Stansbury and Dr. Thomson, The place of the latter business was at the corner of President and Fawn streets; and the former, corner of Albemarle and Fawn streets, where Colonel Stansbury lived forty- three years, about which time he met with an accident which partially dislocated his right hip, rendering it imperative that he should retire from business, he being then (1862) in his seventy -second year, ofien expressing his grateful thanks to a kind and over- ruling Providence for his success in life, and the secur- ing by industry of an ample provision for the balance of his life and that of his amiable consort. In politics Colonel Stansbury was always an inflexi- ble and uncompromising Democrat of the old school, having imbibed his principles in early youth from his COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 55 father, who was doubtless a great friend and lover of his country, having been often heard to declare that Iiis greatest pride was that he inherited the honor of Jiaving been born in the United States of America, and being a Democrat from principle, because he believed that Democracy promoted the greatest hap- piness of the greatest number, and thereby secured the civil rights and religious liberties of the people; that he thought the Federalists were not tenable in their doctrines, and certainly were unstable in action, having often in his. time changed their name; whereas the Democrats were firm and united as Democrats and continued always so, having never been known by any other title. Not so the Federalists — for the form being changed the substance of the thing is destroyed. This was the status of the venerable father, who was remarkably independent and unwavering in maintain- ing his principles. And when he thought the liberties of the people were assailed and their interests or happi- ness trampled upon, he was ever ready to defend them with all proper and honorable means in his power, regardless of consequences — even to the sacrifice of his best friends and his dearest interests, if they stood in his way; yea, even to the loss of life if needs be. By pursuing this independent course Elijah Stansbury, Sr., rendered himself very unpopular among his felow-citi- zens of the Federal party; nevertheless his motto was, " this hand is hostile to tyrants." As it was Avith the father, so was it with the son. Equally firm in main- taining his political views, the son was no less steadfast and sound in his moral principles, having repeatedly 66 MEMOIRS OF expressed himself openly to the effect that man should ever plant himself upon the broad platform of truth, whether in morals, politics or religion; that this was the only sure and proper principle, leading always to good results and fitting him for the harmonies of another and a better Avorld. He maintained that honesty in every relation of life should be embraced and practised, regarding hypocracy as an abomination that should be shunned by every true-hearted man. Although fully aware that it was a common sentiment among many well-meaning politicians, that trickery and deception in elections could be practised without reproach, yet such was the sterling honesty of Colonel Stansbury that he never could be brought to that way of thinking during the whole course of his long politi- cal life; but, on the contrary, he thought the elective franchise one of the most inestimable and sacred privi- leges conferred upon man in a Republican government — the best form of government ever God had vouch- safed to mortals — and that its perpetuation depended solely upon the purity of the ballot-box ; and therefore honesty should always be practised in the exercise of this precious privilege ever dear to freemen. He has been heard to say that there was not a shadow of doubt that gigantic frauds in this particular had been prac- tised by all political parties, but notwithstanding this the practise was rendered none the less reprehensible and criminal ; that he thought the voter found guilty of knowingly voting, in violation of law, more than once, or receiving money or any other consideration to influence him to vote for a candidate, or for such politi- COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 57 cal ^jrliiciplcs as his own judgment did not dictate, should, upon conviction, be deprived of the right of suffrage during the rest of his natural life — a like penalty to be visited upon the person bribing or offer- ing to bribe. Colonel Stansbury had been for many years before the people for their suffrage ; and to his enduring honor be it here recorded, that repeatedly had he been heard to declare, in the most solemn and emphatic manner, that if he could be induced to believe that he had received even one more vote than his oppo- nent, anvl that vote was an illegal one, he would at once decline the position thus conferred upon him. We would here add, that Colonel Stansbury was ever true to his principles most scrupulously, so far indeed as to never, in all his long political life, even to solicit a vote for himself under any circumstances whatever. The year 1824 was rendered an epoch In the life of Colonel Stansbury by his first entrance into public life, having been elected on Monday, October 4th, in the Fourth Ward, to the First Branch of the City Coun- cil, while at the same election his gallant commander. Captain John Montgomery, was elected Mayor of the City, the following being the official vote. The following vote for all the officers Is appended because several other Defenders were elected, and there- fore will prove interesting to the reader : 68 MEMOIRS OF Tuesday Mok.mxg, Octoljcr 5th, IS21. ELECTION RETURNS. ■WARDS. 1st..... Congress — Baltimore w 1-1 376 City. 2d 558 873 3d 809 514 4th 712 352 5th .' 367 ^•n 6th 401 262 7th 302 223 8th 375 187 9th 417 249 10th ....' 629 262 11th 553 924 12th 771 307 Total 6,270 Congress^ County. DISTRICTS. 1st (Kelly's) 354 2d (Green's) 242 3d (Little's) 4th (Woollery's) 5th (Reisterstown) 6th (Hessen's) 7th (Govanstown) 353 8th (Cockoy's) 9th (Weis's) 10th (Shide's) 11th (King's) 180 12th (Johnson's) 215 Total, (as far as heard from).. 1,344 Total, City 6,270 Total, City and County 7,614 3,443 175 91 139 145 210 1,011 3,443 4,454 Note.— Tliough these returns thus far were imperfect, Messrs. Little and M'Kim were the successful candidates. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 59 Assembly — City. iz; . 2 w r' < ^ ^ S a p g ^ g « g S ^ 6 W H ph p o P ^ ,.. 248 195 79 165 10 26 28 335 286 148 270 23 48 57 458 389 297 177 11 25 76 387 398 316 151 34 50 64 229 1G4 126 132 19 32 61 293 190 198 137 19 32 58 268 114 112 136 6 25 23 182 193 206 81 12 47 24 300 217 169 125 11 37 17 396 297 331 148 34 84 47 ...- 298 298 243 153 21 46 66 400 386 318 220 27 76 51 TotiU 3,794 3,127 2,543 1,895 227 528 572 Mayoralty. o W 5 f^ ^ ^ r/2 135 313 15 302 362 13 402 441 40 481 304 35 163 243 27 227 226 53 120 199 56 189 121 126 138 163 181 316 208 203 354 181 108 506 233 98 Total 3,333 2,994 950 Mr. Montgomery'.'^ majority, 339. 60 MEMOIRS OF Sheriffalty — Gily. )^ o WAEDS. ^ 1st 351 2d 437 3d 393 4tli ■. 401 5th 183 6th 182 7th 149 8th 151 9th 165 10th 277 11th 218 12th 333 Total 3,240 < Q < > 126 9 10 263 26 60 514 46 62 436 66 85 263 43 29 326 77 16 193 115 6 293 54 16 288 129 8 427 182 13 372 182 14 509 184 11 4,010 1,113 Sheriffalty — County DISTRICTS. 1st (Kelly's) 101 2d (Green's) 159 3d (Little's) 4th (WooUery's) 6th (Reisterstown).... 6th (Hessen's) 7th (Govanstown) 297 8th (Cockey's) 9th (Weis's) 10th (Slade's) nth (King's) 12th (Johnson's) 239 311 116 123 48 59 10 53 Total (heard from). 769 598 10 132 40 115 COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 61 City Council. FIRST WABD. First Branch — James H. Clarke, 270 ; John H. Browning, 243; Isaac Atkinson, 163; James P. Smith, 103. Second Branch — David Burke. vSECOND WARD. First Branch— Wm. Hubhard, 524; Frederick Shaffer, 443; Dr. John Stafford, 253. Second Branch — Philip Moore, 643. THIRD WARD. First Branch — Hezekiah Niles, 528; Charles Diffenderfer, 438; Jonathan Fitch, 400 ; Maybury Parks, 190. Second Branch — Daniel Bosley, 448 ; "William Keany; 396. FOURTH WARD. First Brajich— Michael Klinefelter, 386; Elijah Stansbury, 383; Archibald Stirling, 356; Lambert Thomas, 336. Second Branch — Dr. C. G. Stevenson, 358 ; Thomas Kelso, 302; John H. Barney, 120, FIFTH WARD. First Branch— James B. Bosley, 321 ; B. C. Eoss, 233 ; John Pranciscus, 207. Second Branch — Wm. Meeteer, 415, SIXTH WARD. First Branch— John B. Morris, 391 ; John White, 354; Edw'd J. Coale, 194. Second Branch — James Beatty, 481. SEVENTH WARD. First Branch— \JY>ton S. Heath, 202; E. L. Finley, 188; Steuart Brown, 162; John I. Donaldson, 125. Second Branch — James Mosher, 36 L 4 62 MEMOIES OF EIGHTH WAPvD. First Branch — Colonel Samuel Moore, 258 : Benjamin Eaw- lings, 208 ; Daniel Schwartzauer, 173 ; Nathan Grafton, 133. Second Branch— Vciev Gold, 363. NINTH WARD. First ^ronc7«— Alexander Eussell, 239; Noah Eidgely, 220 Wm. Baltzell 179; Thomas Eussell, 159. '' Second Branch — Eobert Miller, Jr., 445. TENTH WAKD. First Branch — John Eeese, 648 ; James Curley, 527 ; Dr. Geo. Williamson, 151. Second Branch — Benjamin Ellicott, 085. ELEYENTH WAED. First Branch — Joseph Gushing, 413 ; John Lynch, 319; Beale Eandall, 183 ; Wm. Preston, 111 ; John W. Glenn, 110. Second Branch — Henry Stouffer, 361 ; George Hebb, 249. TWELFTH WARD. First Branch— WiWiavA Krebs, 613; Eezin Wight, 567 ; Ben- jamin Comegj^s, 309. Second Branch — Wm. P. Patterson, 439 ; Moses Hand, 330. At this time, solid business men were sent to the Councils — men in whom the people had the greatest confidence. Such men, for instance, as Hezekiah Nilcs, Upton S. Heath, John B. Morris, Elijah Stans- bury, Ebenezer L. Finley, Colonel James Mosher, Colonel Samuel Moore, Phil. Moore, &c. &c. There was on this occasion extraordinary bustle and excitement in Baltimore, because the election of all the principal Officers came together, as was the case once COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 63 in six years, viz : Members of Congress, Delegates to the General Assembly, Sheriff and the Mayor of the city, with the members of both branches of the City Council. On Monday, all ^yas dissention and confusion, for parties in respect to most of the candidates, were very nearly balanced. Those that were warmly contending one against the other on the 4th of October, and doing all they could to defeat and confound one another, were agreed at least on one point, for the noble Lafayette had arrived as the "nation's guest," and every heart was delighted ; and as if one man possessed every heart in Baltimore, it w^as tendered to him warm and unalloyed by recollections of late differences, manifest- ing the glorious truth that opposing opinions may not rest on opposing principles, and that persons may equally love their country and its benefactors, no mat- ter what individuals they support at the polls ; a state of things that cannot exist in any other than a free and enlightened nation, in which each man, jealous of his own rights, is willing to yield an exercise of the same rights to his felloAV. This is the purity of a true re- publican system, the safety of the state pride of its citizens, and should be cherished as the life's blood of all liberal institutions. 64 MEMOIRS OF CHAPTER VII. Keception of Lafayette. General Lafayette, with his son George Wash- ington Lafayette and Secretary, arrived in Baltimore, on Thursday, the 7th of October, 1824, in the steam- boat United States, accompanied by the civic and military committees who had proceeded to Frenchtown to receive him. He landed at Fort McHenry, where he was met by the venerable Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Colonel John Eager Howard and Colonel Paul Bentalou, and several other distinguished gentle- men of the " oldentime '' with whom he had cooperated to fight for our liberties. The General was received on the platform at Fort McHenry, by Colonel Hindman, of tlie Army of the United States, and Edward G. Woodyear, Esq., a member of the committee of arrange- ments. The officers of the army and navy, then in Baltimore, the citizen volunteers at Fort McHenry during the bombardment, the committee of vigilance and safety of 1814, the members of the City Council, of which Colonel Stansbury was a member, and the officers of the late 36th and 38th United States Kegi- ments of Infantry had their stations, and the General marched through their line on his way up to the "Star Fort.'^ Upon entering the gate, the troops of the garrison presented arms — then opened to the right and left, which brought to liis view the Tent of Washington ! Whereupon, Governor Stevens ad- COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. G5 vanced from the tent and greeted him with an eloquent address, at the conclusion of which he conducted the noble old hero to the tent, Avhere he found the Society of Cincinnati, the patriarchs of the Revolution. Here he was received and embraced by all of them, the scene being one of the most impressive and heart- touching that was ever witnessed; all present being bathed in tears, but they were tears of joy and gratula- tion. As soon as the sacred feeling of the occasion had somewhat abated. Colonel Howard presented an address in behalf of himself and comrades in arms, to which the General made a warm and feeling reply. The General was then handed into a splendid barouche, drawn by four elegant black horses, attended by grooms in full livery. Seated with him were Charles Carroll of Carrolton, General Samuel Smith and Colonel John Eager Howard. In the second wei-e the GeneraFs son, • Monsieur Le Vasseur, Secretary, and Governor Stevens. In the third. General Strieker, Colonel Bentalou and Mr. De Bois Martin, and the Committee of Arrangements and the Society of Cin- cinnati, City Council, followed in carriages. Upon passing the outer gate of the Fort, the General was received by the whole body of cavalry which were there stationed. The first city troops preceded him, the second city troop fell in after the carriages, and the escort was closed by the remaining troops, comprising a corps of seven or eight hundred horse, well mounted and handsomely equipped. As he passed Federal Hill, a detachment of artillery saluted him with twenty-four guns. 6(y ' MEMOIRS OF The General entered the city at what was then called Forrest street, and at the intersection of Montgomery street, he passed under a beautiful cIvig arch erected by the patriotic citizens of what was then the eighth w-ard. The arch liad a span of forty feet, flanked by one on' each end of fifteen feet span, all richly hung with drapery and festoons of evergreens and flowers. The main arch was surmounted by a large and well exe- cuted artificial eagle with extended wings, bearing in its beak a wreath of laurel. On the smaller arches were the mottoes "Brandy wine,'' '^Yorktown'' — and on the principal arch, " Welcome Lafayette ! '' The pro- cession passed through Forrest, Lee, Sharp, Pratt and Paca streets, greeted with the heartfelt huzzas of the citizens and the weaving of handkerchiefs from every position which afforded the least prospect of beholding the noble old gentleman. At the intersection of Paca and Baltimore streets, the General remained in the front barouche alone, the gentlemen accompanying him thus far now taking their seats in the second and third barouches. As the General entered Baltimore street, the elevated ground rendered him a conspicuous object for many squares below, ten thousands of voices now sent up a united shout of welcome. At the intersection of Baltimore and Eutaw streets, (it being the original line of Baltimore city,) was erected, fronting to the w^est, the city arch. This noble and elegant structure was composed of three semi-cir- cular arches. The centre arch was forty feet in chord over the coach way: the lateral ones were about twelve feet in chord, all springing from the same line, and on COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 67 piers or pedestals of suitable proportion ; the whole bearing the character of the beautiful clouded marble of the Susquehanna in Maryland, and of much the same character of the Corova marble of Italy. The outer line of each archivolt was formed by a wreath of laurel, from which (at about one foot apart) radiated well polished bayonets. On the vertex of the great arch was the great star of fellowship, in a blue field encircled by thirteen silver stars, from which radiated the national ensigns, including that of Hibernia. The extremities of the staifs formed a semi-circle, in the vertex of which was a large golden eagle with a foster- ing expanse of his wings, grasping the upper edge of a laurel wreath encirclino; the o;olden letter "G.'^ In the face of the great archivolt, in large golden letters, was ^' Welcome our Friend ! '^ The north or rigl^ archivolt had on its face the name of Washington — as had the south that of Lafayette in golden letters, each bearing respectively the marble busts of Lafayette and Washington encircled in wreaths of laurel, over which was a silver star resting on the national cockade of red, Vv^hite and blue, and from which fell the drapery festooned over the wreath and arch. On the pedestals at the springing of the arches, were raised blockings bearing on the face of the north arc the golden figures of "1776," and on that of the south " 1824"— sup- porting each Si fasees of muskets with fixed bayonets, bound by bonds bearing on them in golden letters the names of " Yorktown/^ " BmndywinCy^ " Trenton/' " Monmouth,'^ &c. 68 MEMOIRS OF The patriotic citizens of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth wards, had erected a similar and equally beautiful civic arch, at a short distance from the eastern side of the bridge, rising to a lofty and im- posing height, of thirty-six feet span in the clear. After passing nnder the city arch, the General entered upon the right of the line of splendid artillery, infantry and riflemen, stationed in the order designated by the Major-General of the division. There were several thousand troops in line — coming, many of them, from the rural districts of Maryland, and even other cities. For elegance of dress and soldier-like appearance, we were assured by those who had seen the parades in the eastern cities, that the Baltimore troops far surpassed those of their sister cities. Colonel Stans- bury was then in commission as Captain in the 4th Company of Infantry, 27th Regiment, and participated in the honors of the day. The General received the salutes of the different corps as he passed the line uncovered, while from the w^indows and other positions along the street, thou-, sands of snow-white handkerchiefs were waved by the ladies, adorned in their loveliest smiles and gayest attire. As the General passed down the line, a sacred and interesting relic of the revolution was presented to his notice — Pulaski's standard, &c. Continuing along the line, cheer after cheer of heartfelt gratitude assailed his ears, till overcome by his feelings, the brave old .man burst into tears! and how could it be otherwise? When he reached the bridge, he passed under thir- teen arches, representing the old thirteen states. These COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 69 were placed at equal distances, and were decorated with a profusion of variegated lamps, wdiich, with the trans- parencies on the principal arch already referred to, w^ero to be illuminated in the evening. When the General arrived at the end of the line, he was again received by the escort of the city troops, the Cincinnati and the corporation committees. He was then conducted through Great York, (now East Baltimore,) Market, (now Broadway,) Fell's, Bond and Pratt streets, throughout which the same undi- minished enthusiasm and testimonies of joy and grati- tude were exhibited towards hira. On entering Gay street, he passed in view of the boys belonging to the different schools, with their teachers at their head, drawn up six deep, in uniform dress, and wearing ^'Lafayette badges^' on the lapels of their jackets, and such cheers were sent up by this juvenile band as to make the ^^ very welkin ring ! " It was to this body belonged the writer of these line, who was at that time a mere boy, and to him it seemed the happiest moment of his life. The badges worn by the boys were made of silk, bearing the likeness of Lafayette with the caption : " Welcome the Nation^ s Guest ! '' Passing up Gay street, the General alighted at the principal entrance of the Exchange, and was conducted into the great hall or rotunda, where the ]\Iayor and City Councils were in waiting to receive him. The seats on the floor were occupied by distinguished stran- gers, deputations from neighboring cities and towns, revolutionary soldiers, and officers of the navy and army — the galleries being occupied by ladies. The 4* 70 MEMOIRS OF " Nation's Guest " was conducted to an elevated plat- form at the west end of the hall, the floor of which was covered with crimson cloth — at each end w^as a marble bust of Washington and Hamilton. Upon this the General was received by the Mayor, who addressed him in feeling and elegant terms, the Gen- eral replying with such deep emotion as to sensibly affect his utterance. When the reply of the General was delivered, the members of the Corporation were respectively intro- duced ; after which a number of the soldiers of the revolution, who had been mustered by Colonel James Mosher. The scene was highly interesting — tears of joy rolled down the furrowed cheeks of these venerable few of *' the days of glory, '^ who doubtless would have cheerfully fought their battles over again with their beloved General. " I wore this cockade at Mon- mouth,'^ said one, pointing to it on his hat, — " I was by your side at Brandywine,'^ said another, — and a third pronounced the word ^' Yorktown.'^ Lafayette was exceedingly affected. The Mayor also introduced to the General, Alex. McKim, William Patterson, Samuel Hollingsworth and Nathaniel Levy, as a small remnant, as he ob- served, of the gallant and patriotic troop of '' first Baltimore cavalry '^ who voluntarily repaired to the standard of Lafayette on his call upon Maryland for soldiers, and fought under him in Virginia, during the campaign in 1781. Desirous of causing as little fatigue as possible to the General, in receiving the welcome of the citizens, the COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUKY. 71 number of introductions was limited — it being gener- ally understood that the presentations would come off on the 8th, at the Exchange. Therefore, after a short interval, the General again entered his barouche and was escorted to an elevated pavilion at the corner of Light and Baltimore streets, accompanied by the Gov- ernor, members of the Cincinnati, Mayor and members of the Councils and several distinguished strangers, Avhere he received the passing salute of all the troops under arms, commencing with the cavalry. It was perhaps the most splendid military display that our country can easly furnish, Baltimore having long been famous for the number and the beautiful uniforms of lier volunteer corps ; which on the occasion had been joined by old friends from York, Pennsylvania, and several companies from Frederick, Annapolis, Elk- ridge, Prince George's, New Lisbon, &c., &c., horse and foot. The ceremony occupied upwards of an hour. During the passing salute of the military an incident occurred which is worthy of special notice. An asso- ciation of youths called the ^'De Kalb Cadets,^' were admitted into the line on the left of the National Guards. The Marshals of the association had each a scroll in his hand, bound with blue ribbon, upon which was inscribed the word ^' gratitude!'^ As they arrived in succession at the pavilion, each Marshal deposited his scroll at the foot of the General. He repeatedly opened and closed his arms, as if in the act of press- ing them to his heart; and, when the procession had ended, he suddenly turned away and burst into tears ! And his were not the only moist eyes that were pres- 72 MEMOIRS OF ent. We have read of Koman Triumplis, but never, never ^vas there before this such a triumph on record — essentially a " Triumph of Liberty ! '^ He was then escorted to his lodgings at the Foun- tain Inn, where he reposed himself for about an hour, being suffered to remain undisturbed. The whole street was filled with a mighty mass of people who liad not yet seen him, or were anxious to have another look at his benevolent face; but every thing was orderly and respectful, notwithstanding the pressure of the great crowd. After a while he again appeared, and, in company with the Mayor, both uncovered, passed through the multitude which opened right and left to make room for them, though every one was anxious to be near him to take him by the hand, and send up a brief but fervent prayer to heaven for his health and happiness. This occupied about an hour, when the Greneral again retired a short time to his chamber, previous to the time appointed for dining. The dinner was served up in the most splendid style in the magnificent room provided and furnished for the General. Nearly one hundred persons sat down to table, by invitation of the Committee of the Corpora- tion. After the cloth was removed, the "Nation's Guest '^ gave the following toast : " The CUy of Baltimore " — Glorious, beautiful and prosperous. May she more and more reap the honors and advantages of her patriotic spirit and republican institutions. We could write pages concerning the many interest- ing incidents of this good and brave man's visit to COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 73 Ballimore alone, but limit admonishes; yet we cannot resist briefly noticing the Illumination, the General's visit to the Grand Lodge of Masons, and the Presenta- tions on Friday, October 8th. The Illumination. A general illumination took place in the evening. Intelligent travelers, who had witnessed such scenes in Europe and elsewhere, conceded tliat they never be- held a more splendid illumination ; and it is certain that no one ever was conducted in a more orderly manner. Not the least disturbance was made — nor did a single accident occur. The streets were in a fine condition for walking, and more than fifty thou- sand persons were moving about with unalloyed de- light and without confusion. There was no press — every one seemed to feel the necessity of observing a courteous deportment, and the most delicate female might have walked alone with perfect safety. The quiet that prevailed was no less remarkable. The transparancies, with their innumerable appropriate mottoes and surroundings, w^ere gotten up in a most elaborate, tastefully refined manner, and many in- stances at immense expense. The name of the Gen- eral often appeared in variegated lamps and his full length likeness was conspicuous in many transparan- cies, some of which were exceedingly beautiful. The General witnessed the whole of the illumination; the writer well remembering, though a mere boy then, that the illustrious guest passed him on Baltimore street, 74 MEMOIRS OF between North and Gay streets, walking in company with General Robert Goodloe Harper, and many pass- ing were none the wiser of it till advised by some more knowing one. The old hero conld not fail of proclaiming his pleasure at the beauty and order of the scene. He felt that the manifestation of the people came from the heart, a compliment money cannot buy or wealth confer. By eleven o'clock the streets were cleared of people and the watchmen took peaceful charge of the property of our slumbering citizens, while tlie noble old soldier had sweet and pleasant dreams. \&^ COLONEL ELIJAH STA^'SBURY. 75 CHAPTER YIII. Presentations. The next morning, Friday the 8tli, the General received the visits of a great number of the people, many bringing their children with them that they might hereafter have the proud privilege of saying they too had seen the good Lafayette ! He re- ceived them as a father, kissing and caressing the delighted little ones in the most affectionate manner. At twelve o'clock he proceeded to the great hall (rotunda) of tlie Exchange to receive the respects of the people at large. The crowd was immense; but by passing in at one door and out at another very many had the pleasure of taking him by the hand, and the writer of this has the proud satisfaction of numbering himself among them, but he had to work hard for it, worming himself through the crowd as boys only can do ; and when he touched that hand he felt as proud as some hero ! Shortly after the military officers, who had passed in review before him the pre- vious day, to the number of two hundred and seventy- six, having assembled at General Harper's, in south ^Gay street, formed a procession and passing round the square entered the Exchange for presentation. Pre- vious to which General Harper addressed him in his usual eloquent style. Following the spirit of the address, Lafayette replied in a feeling and very im- pressive manner, expressing liis gratification at the 76 MEMOIRS OF appeo ranee of the military, and his sincere hope that the great cause of constitutional liberty they all advo- cated, would finally be as triumphant in the old world as well as in the new. Then came the French residents of the city, headed by the venerable Mr. Du Bois Martin, each of whom took him by the hand. This was followed by an address from Mr. Girardin, Principal of Baltimore College, which was highly spoken of as a splendid composition. At five o'clock, P. M., the General sat down to dinner with the Corporation. All the profusion and taste of the Fountain Inn were again displayed, about ninety persons being present, consisting of the mem- bers of the City Council and other officials, the Com- mittee of Arrangement, the deleo^ations from various towns and other invited guests, every thing passing off in the most agreeable manner possible. The old became young, and the young rejoiced — as gentlemen and freemen always should. YisiT TO THE Grand Lodge. At little past seven o'clock, the General proceeded to visit his Masonic brethren, assembled in the Grand Lodge in the great room of the Masonic Hall in St. Paul street, which was splendidly illuminated and decorated throughout. On the portico, in the front, was placed a beautiful transparency, the design of. which manifested much taste — representing a figure of Charity — having upon her lap a cornucopia, and holding in her right hand a pitcher of oil and wine ; a COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. t I poor youth standing on lier right in the attitude of receiving her bounty. Upon her left was a naked infant, with its foot upon a globe, indicating its first entrance into the world, with hands extended towards Charity as if asking a share of her kindness. The interior of the hall was lighted and ornamented iu the highest Masonic style, and filled with the mem- bers of the fraternity, as indeed were all the adjacent rooms. Preceded by his son, George Washington La Fayette and Secretary, the General entered the Lodge, where he was received with appropriate cere- mony and elected an honorary member. Col. Benja- min C. Howard, (son of the hero of the Cowpens, &c.,) the Grand Master, on delivering the diploma, addressed him in a very eloquent and impressive man- ner, to which the General made a very feeling reply. His eyes were filled with tears, and the example was contagious. The Grand Master especially Avas deeply affected. The ceremony was, altogether, highly grati- fying to the brethren. The General, before retiring from the Lodge, accepted an invitation to dine with the fraternity upon his return to Baltimore. On leaving his Masonic brethren at the hall, the General repaired to a fete of another and still more splendid description, where there was all that could delight the eye, the ear and the heart. It was the grandest entertainment of the kind ever witnessed in the city, both as regards the style and taste of the decorations, and the brilliant and elegant appearance of the company, which was far more numerous than usu- ally assembled here on the occasion of a Grand Ball. 78 MEMOIRS OF A Grand Ball and Supper came off at the Assembly Rooms and Holliday Street Theatre — which were connected by a temporary pas- sage for the purpose — the latter for the ball and the former for the supper. It would be impossible to give the faintest idea of the affair in a brief sketch. The decorations were magnificent. We will barely give some of the many mottoes that in gold letters adorned the interior of the buildings. "i?e«r loelcoyyic in your eye^ your tongue^ your heari.'^^ '■•The ninteenth of Octohcr, 1781." The mottoes in the theatre were all taken from Shakespeare. Round the circle in the centre of the floor, was this line : ^^More is thy due than viore than all can pay.''^ And round the semi-circles at each end were : "i>e kind and courteous to this yentleman.-' And '^Welco7ne ever smiles.'^ Omitting many others, we give the most strikingly appropriate inscription : " Welcome brave captain and victorious lo7'd! "When I. was young, (as yet I am not old,) I do remember how my fatlier said, A stouter champion never handled sword. Long since we vv^ere resolved of your truth. Your faithful services and your toil in war." COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 79 The boxes were decorated with flowery chaplets, and the columns tastefully entwined with spiral bauds of flowers, adding much to the gay appearance of the spectacle. There were more than one thousand two hundred persons present, and we shall only add, that when the ladies were seated at the five upper tables, such a group of exquisite beauty and fashion never before gave lustre to an assembly in the new world. On Saturday he visited the University of Maryland, at ten o'clock in the morning, and in the afternoon dined with the "Society of Cincinnati of Maryland,'' at the mansion of James A. Buchanan in Monument Square. On Sunday he attended divine v/orship at the Cathedral. On Monday, October 11th, he reviewed the 3d Division of troops at Whetstone Point, under the command of Major-General Harper. After the review, the division escorted him to the Washing- ton turnpike, where he took affectionate leave of the division. He stopped over night at Rossburg, and next morning entered Washington, where a grand recep- tion awaited him. The variety of circumstances under which he passed through the United States as the "]N"ation's Guest," tended to render the welcome truly grand and affect- ing. The deep-mouthed cannon roared their loud and warlike welcome — the soul-stirring trump breathed forth its clear and martial all hail ! — harmonious music floated along the air — the gay, the shrill, the rapturous notes of the fife ascended aloft — the drums rolled their 80 MEMOIRS OF accordant battle sound — the bells '^ pealed the notes Omnipotent to charm ; '^ but resonant over every other sound, was heard redoubled and predominant, the well known name of the object of a nation's rapture, with a power, a deafening power, that caused the ears of every true patriot to tingle with delight — Huzza ! Lafayette ! Lafayette ! rang from the voices of the multitudes that roll on, and on, and on, like wave after wave of the ocean in numbers. Lafayette! beat in every grateful heart — Lafayette ! hung on every lip — Lafayette ! burst from every tongue — Lafayette ! glowed on every cheek — Lafayette! glistened in every swimming eye — Lafayette ! swelled on every gale. f As an evidence that republics are not ungrateful, the 18th Congress of the United States passed an Act December 21st, 1824, to the effect that two hundred thousand dollars in stock, dated July 4th, 1824, should be issued to Major-General Lafayette. Also one complete and entire township of land, and that patents be instantly issued to the noble patriot for the same — all of which taken together, being estimated to be equal to two millions of francs in the currency of his native land — thus rendering this worthy old soldier perfectly independent for the re- mainder of his days. And when he left for his native shore, he carried with him the blessings and grateful prayers of ten millions of people for his safe passage and an unalloyed, happy old age. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 81 CHAPTER IX. The Colonel's First Entrance into Public Life. Truly, then, this was an auspicious year for Colonel Btansbury to enter public life, and it seemed to augur ^vell for him, as did the sequel prove. Baltimore was comparatively in her infancy, the population being then 3ut 62,627. As a matter of interest to the general reader, we would state some interesting facts relating :o the population of the city, beginning from 1790 — ust one year before the birth of Elijah Stansbury — ivhen the population was 13,503, being about 2,000 less than the population of a single ward at this :ime of writing, 1874. In 1800, the population was 26,514; increase in ten years 13,011 — nearly doubling in ten years. In 1810 the whole number of population was 46,555; increase in ten years 20,041. In 1820 'otal population was 62,627 ; increase in ten years 16,072. Of the last census, (1820,) 10,326 were free people of color, and 4,357 slaves; 1,659 foreigners not oaturalized. In this connection, we would here give 1 striking instance of fluctuation in population. In 1820 it was estimated that in 1816 the population of Baltimore was at least 10,000 more than that of 1820 ! which was accounted for by the fact, that for some time after the conclusion of the war there was a steady influx of strangers; it was difficult to get houses to shelter them ; but the artificial excitement having subsided, most of these retired, and ''dull times" following, in- duced many merchants, mechanics, professional men, 82 MEMOIRS OF and free white laborers to seek their fortunes abroad. It was iu 1820 that Tobias E. Stansbury, Esq., was elected Speaker of the House of Delegates, and during this session the General Government adjusted the claims of Maryland for militia expenses in the war to the amount of $93,090. The population of ISIary- land this year was 407,350 — that of the United States being 9,625,734. Mr. Stansbury proved himself a useful working member of the City Council, advocating every meas- ure calculated to further the interests of Baltimore; and so faithful was he in the discharge of his duties, that he gained the confidence of his constituents, w^ho continued him in the Councils eight consecutive years, at the expiration of which, in 1832, he retired from his municipal relations, honored and respected by his col- leagues and fellow-citizens — and this was no common mark of consideration, when it is well known that in these times men were selected for public office more for personal merit than otherwise,— in confirmation of this, we append a list of the members of both branches in Mr. Stausbury's sixth year of service as Councilman, 1830 — public schools having been established the year previously. City Council. — Elect. The following is a list of the members of the City Council^ elected October, 1830. FIRST WAKD. First Branch— -^Feter Fenby, -E. D. Millhollaiul. Second BrancJi — William Inloes. Those marked thus * were new members. C0L02sEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 83 SECOND WARD. Hubbard Second Braiich — Philip Moore. THIRD WARD. First Branch — "Wm. H. Hanson, --^Charles Diifenderffer. Second Branch — Wm. Reaney. rOURTH WARD. First Branch — Lambert Thomas, Elijah Stansbury, Jr. Second Branch — ^Joshua Mott. FIFTII WARD. First Branch — B. C. Eoss, Wm. Meeteer. Second Branch — Baltzer Scha?ifer. SIXTH WARD. First Branch — J. I. Cohen, Jr., -John B. Morris, Second Branch — Philip Laurenson. SEVENTH WARD. Miwiroc Second Branch — P. Lucas, Jr. EIGHTH WARD. First Branch — ^Zachariah Woollen, *John Denakcr. Second Branch — "^Samuel Moore. NINTH WARD. First Branch — *Noali Ridgcly, *Alex, Russell. Second Branch — -^^'Richard Bevan, Sr. TENTH WARD. First 5rowc7i— ^Frederick Sevier, Dr. M. S. Baor. Second Branch — -Mark Grafton, 84 MExMOIES OF ELEVENTH WARD. First Branch Second Branch — Hcnn' Stouffer. TWELFTH WARD. First Branch — ^'Valentine Dushane, ^'George W. Williamson Second Branch — *George Keyser. It was during Mr. Stansbury's time in the Councils, (1827,) that the Jew Bill was enacted by the Maryland Legislature ; and the first of that persuasion elected to the City Council was J. J. Cohen, Esq., from the sixth ward, a gentleman of acknowledged worth in all the relations of citizenship. Mr. S. Etting, of the same creed, was, likewise, subsequently elected from another ward. We are gratified to find a more enlarged and en- lightened spirit prevailing in this land of civil and religious liberty, where man is suffered to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. 1833. Although Colonel Stansbury had this year withdrawn from public life, yet his public spirit was in no manner abated, taking always a lively interest in the enterprises of the day, giving cheerfully the weight of his personal influence to promote the prosperity of humane institutions, and the various benevolent move- ments of the times. It was on Wednesday, the 13th of November, of this year, we had the extraordinary meteoric phenomena, known as the '^ Falling Stars." It was the good fort- une of the writer to witness the wonderful display, a description of which will doubtless prove interesting to COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUKV. 85 the reader. About five o'clock in the morning, the sky being perfectly serene, and not a cloud observable, the heavens were illuminated by thousands of flying meteors, or what are commonly called shooting stars, descending towards the earth with a profusion and continuity closely resembling a shower of fire, or, if you will allow the comparison, ^'a golden snow.'' Occasionally a meteor would burst precisely after the manner of a sky-rocket, leaving behind it a stream of light. It is said, the meteors were seen to shoot soon after midnight, and that they continued to increase in number and intensity, until they faded away before the light of day. However that may be, at the time we witnessed the extraordinary phenomenon, the heavens presented a spectacle peculiarly grand and imposing. The light was so bright and brilliant that one could tell the hour of the morning by watch. Occasionally a large meteor would whirl through the atmosphere, and without noise burst asunder, scattering millions of fiery particles through the surrounding air. This phe- nomenon was not local, but extended over the United States, and was seen on the ocean. It created much speculation, and gave rise to much discussion among scientific men. Some of the credulous predicted the end of the world— others of more stern souls were sure that it, at least, prognosticated dreadful war; whilst the philosopher, smiling at their simplicitj^, calmly viewed the phenomenon, wonderful as it was. The newspapers were filled with articles concerning it. We subjoin one, as a specimen, taken from the Balii- more American. 5 86 MEMOIRS OF The extraordinary ineteoric phenomena which were seen in this city on Wednesday morning, were visible in several places at considerable distance, from which we have heard already. AVe copy below accounts from Alexandria, from Washington, New York and Philadelphia, in which places they exhibited vividly the like rare union of beauty and grandeur. It is a matter of curious and interesting inquiry to speculate upon the limits within which they appeared. An interesting account of a phenomenon very similar in its appearance, and described in terms that would apply very closely to that of Wednesday, is given in the travels of Humboldt, as having been seen on the morning of the 12th of November, 1799, (precisely thirty-four years ago,) at Cumana, South America, by M. Bonpland. It Avill be noted that those described by Hum- boldt, and which apparently were not more distinct nor of greater magnitude than those seen here, extended over a very wide space in South America, and were seen in Europe. We copy an abstract which is part of Macgillivray's condensed edition of Humboldt. It is worth preserving, in order to compare with it such subse- quent accounts as we may receive of the appearance of the late meteors in other places. It is as follows : "Towards morning of the 12th November, 1799, a very extra- ordinary display of luminous meteors was observed in the east by M. Bonpland, who had risen to enjoy the freshness of the air in the gallery. Thousands of fireballs and falling stars succeeded each other during four hours, having a direction from north to south, and filling a space of the sky extending from the true east thirty degrees on either side. They arose above the horizon at east-north-east and at east, described arcs of various sizes, and fell towards south, some attaining a height of forty degrees, and all exceeding twenty five or thirty degrees. No trace of clouds was to be seen, and a vQry slight easterly wind blew in the lower regions of the atmosphere. All the meteors left luminous traces from five to ten degrees in length, the phosphoresence of which lasted seven or eight seconds. The fireballs seemed to explode, but the largest disappeared without scintillation ; and many of the falling stars had a very distinct iiucleus, as large as the disk of Jupiter, from which sparks were emitted. The light occasioned COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 87 by them was white, an effect which must be attributed to the absence of vapors ; stars of the first magnitude having within the tropics a much paler hue at their rising than in Europe. "As the inhabitants of Cumana leave their houses before four to attend the first morning mass, most of them were witnesses of this phenomenon, which gradually ceased soon after, although some were still perceived a quarter of an hour before sunrise. "The day of the 12th of November was exceedingly hot, and in the evening the reddish vapor reappeared in the horizon, and rose to the height of fourteen degrees. This was the last time it was seen that year. " The researches of M. Chladni having directed the attention of the scientific world to fireballs and falling stars at the period of Humboldt's departure from home, he did not fail to inquire during his journey from Caraccas to the Eio Negro, whether the meteors of the 12th November had been seen. He found that it had been observed by various individuals in places very remote from each other ; and on returning to Europe, was astonished to find that they had been seen there also." Since the foregoing extract was made, we find that the phe- nomenon described by Humboldt, was also seen in the United States. The account of it is as follows : " Mr. Andrew Ellicott, who was sent out as our Commissioner to fix the boundary between the Spanish possessions in North America and the United States, witnessed a very extraordinary flight of shooting stars, which filled the whole atmosphere from Cape Florida to the West India Islands. This grand phenome- non took place the 12th November, 1799, and is thus described: ' I was called up,' says Mr. Ellicott, 'about three o'clock in the morning to see the shooting stars as it is called. The whole hea^'^ens appeared as if illuminated with sky rockets, which dis- appeared only by the light of the sun after day break. The meteors, which at any one instant of time, appeared as numerous a> the stars, flew in all possible directions except from the earth, towards which they were all inclined more or less, and some of them descended perpendicularly over the vessel we were in, so that I v/as in constant expectation of their falling on us.' " 88 MEMOIES OF In August, 1835, occurred the great riot in Balti- more, of which Colonel Stansbury and the writer were witnesses, and as it has an important bearing upon the history and reputation of Baltimore, we herewith give a detailed and correct account, believing it will greaJy interest the general reader. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 89 CHAPTEE X. Mob in Baltimore, 1835. To trace to its immediate origin, may seem a task of no difficulty, and if Ave were to assert that it was the failure of the Bank of Maryland, with the consequent stagnation of business, agitation of the general confidence and distrust among all classes in the common affairs of life, it would probably be received as a truism, which would require no farther evidence to meet with universal credence. But when we con- sider the lapse of time between the cause and the effect, we are at a loss to conjecture what could have been the motive or object of the delay of those dreadful and overt acts of depredation and disorder, which have left an odium upon the name and fame of our fair and prosperous city, that will baffle years of regret to erase from the blurred and blood-stained pages of history. True it is, that the misfortune visited indiscriminately the rich and the poor, the merchant and the mechanic, and where it was most severely fell, there is a proba- bility Uiat the sufferer brooded secretly over his loss, and hopeless, at last, of redress from " the law's delay," the ebullition of his feelings wrought him to the pitch of exasperation, which was necessary to beguile him from the path of moral rectitude and principled honor, and induce him to become a voluntary accomplice of the misguided party, who so fearfully avenged a com- mon wrong, it was the duty of every citizen to sustain 90 MEMOIRS OF with fortitude^ patience and forbearance. Yet, to account for that unanimity of action, which gave such a formidable character to this lawless outrage, seems a riddle beyond the ingenuity of the sage to solve, at least up to this present writing, (1874,) thirty-nine years after the event. It occured to the writer that there had been several manifestations of excitement in the public mind prior to the riot, relative to a circum- stance, to which we should feel a delicacy in alluding, but for the fact that the disgraceful affair became the subject of newspaper comment. The mystery, which at that time shrouded an affair, implicating the char- acter of a man who had held a respectable station in society, with a nefarious design upon the virtue of a young lady, supposed to have inconsiderately thrown herself upon his honor for protection from the attempts of another — had very unfxvorably prejudiced public curiosity. Rumor had bruited a thousand lies and was still busy in the creation of her ephemeral tales, which are sought with avidity by the idle and unemployed, and diffused without the slightest regard to truth, or even probability, decoying the ear and arresting the step of the passer-by, grouping the careless at every corner, and eliciting opinions, vague and shapeless as the story told. The offender was a Mr. B*'''**'^t — the young lady was a Miss *=i^***** from AVashington. Mr. B**^*>Kg^ from the last-named place, and guardian of the young lady, was the party who so terribly beat B****'''r. The occur ranee took place in a house in Frederick street, west side, and next to the corner of Second street, now standing. The matter came up COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 91 before the Criminal Court for judicial investigation, proving clearly the guilty intent of B'^*'''''^*r, who finally left the city for Kew Orleans, where he died. He was an accomplished scholar, a handsome man, with an unusually pleasing address. His wife and family resided at Franklin, (then known as AVm. H. Freeman's village,) Baltimore county. Such was the state of the public mind in Baltimore during the wdiole of the week preceding the riot. As food for this appetite "strange and unnatural,'' the ear was daily gorged with intelligence from various quarters of the total subjection of legal discipline to Lynch Law, while the press, lukewarm in its animad- versions, seemed to connive at or palliate these excesses from a fatal error in opinion, that, as they had a ten- dency to rid the country of an obnoxious portion of society, the end justified the means. It is generally supposed that a letter received and published by his Honor Judge Brice, (whose very name was a terror to evil-doers,) with his accompa- nying remarks, together with some hastily written editorials flaunted from the press, would have directed the popular indignation against the gaming establish- ments in the city, but that an artfully timed placard directecl the current, and turned it into that course, in which it spent its wild and ungovernable fury. On the evening of Wednesday the 5th of August, there was an assemblage in Monument Square of sev- eral hundred persons without any direct or avowed object, though the common topic seemed to be tlie affairs of the Bank of Maryland. At about eleven 92 MEMOIRS OP o'clock they silently dispersed, with the single impro- priety of a few boys who threw stones at the house of Eeverdy Johnson, Esq., who was supposed to be the principal acting Director of that institution. In a few minutes all was tranquil as usual. On Thursday this affiiir was banded about the city with the usual ex- aggeration and multiplication of incident common to report, and the consequence was that in the evening, at the former place of meeting, instead of hundreds there was a concourse of thousands. Disaifection had assumed a contentious tone and aspect, and it was soon found necessary to summons the civil authorities to the spot. Prompt in his duty, Jesse Hunt, Esq., the Mayor, appeared in the elevated area on which the Court House then stood, and in a brief and energetic speech addressed the assemblage, succinctly adverting to the^ unfortunate though unavoidable delay of the law, in providing that reparation for the injuries they had sus- tained, and which now seemed to have become the chief object they had in view. It was with difficulty, how- ever, that he could be heard, though after repeated interruptions we have reason to believe he was gener- ally understood. He was frequently applauded while speaking, but his words failed in effect, and the rattling of the broken glass from the windows of Mr. Johnson's house, was a too convincing proof of the unabated spirit of disorder which actuated the throng. On this eve- ning, there seemed to be no inclination to resort to further acts of violence, and as the night advanced, there was a quiet dispersion of the multitude and the COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 93 scene became once more still and silent as we are accus- tomed to find it. Whoever has had the least intimacy with the incon- siderate proceedings of an excite<:l city populace, will at once exclaim, that this was the period when prompt action and effective force would have been decisive in repelling the advances of the ^' mob '^ and averting the disastrous consequences which had ensued — and the writer of these lines believes that had Colonel Stans- bury been Mayor of Baltimore then, that by his firm- ness he would have upheld the majesty of the law and this stain on the fair fame of Baltimore thereby averted, notwithstanding the utter indifference mani- fested and confessed by a large majority of those who were merely spectators, as to the extent to which these depredations were carried, so long as they were con- fined to the property of Messrs. Johnson and Glenn. On Friday the 7th a public meeting of the citizens was requested, which convened at the Exchange, the object of which was to devise measures which would have a tendency to allay the excitement, or to embody a force sufficiently effective to coerce respect to civil law. Instead of which, this very meeting, so imbecile and impotent were the measures adopted there, actu- ally defeated its avowed purpose, by a most reprehen- sible indecision, and first gave a character to the mob, which now grew in temerity and brutal daring. At this meeting the lion. Jesse Hunt was appointed President, and S. C. Leakin, Wm. Krebs, C. O'Don- nell, Dr. Thos. E. Bond and Wm. George Kead, Esqs., Vice-Presidents; Wm. H. Norris, Secretary. 5* 94 MEMOIRS OF On motion of Mr. John G. Proud, the five Vice- Presidents were appointed a committee to report suita- ble resolutions for the consideration of the meeting. The committee, after having retired, reported the fol- lowing, which were adopted : 1st. Resolved^ That this meeting regards with most profound regret and disapprobation the recent attempts to create disturb- ance in our city. 2d. Resolved., That the spirit of violence which has been exhibited of late in diiferent parts of the United States, is cal- culated to injure our country in the esteem of other nations, to annihilate her weight in the social system, and to excite the most serious alarm in the friends of free institutions. 3d. Resolved, That while popular excesses are, under despotic governments, sometimes justified, by the inveteracy of evils to Avhich no other corrective can be applied, they are inexcusable in free states, where the people, being the sources of authority and dispensers of power, can easily remedy any defect in their legal systems. 4th. Resolved, That universal obedience to the laws is the only guaranty of republican liberty. 5th. Resolved, That we should especially deplore any demon- stration of a contrary spirit in Baltimore, whose reviving pros- perity it would seriously impair, while it would degrade her from her high moral stand among' American cities. 6th. Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting, it is the duty of every friend of good order to cooperate with the civil authorities, in all such measures as may be deemed necessary for the maintainance of the public peace and the reputation of the city. 7th. Resolved, That it is recommended to the Mayor to offer suitable rewards for the detection of persons, who may be guilty of disseminating papers instigating the rash and the unthinking to a breach of the public peace. 8th. Resolved, That parents, guardians and otheris are re- spectfully requested to restrain those under their control from frequenting nightly assemblages. COLOXEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 95 On motion of James H. Tliomas, Esq., it was Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it would promote the peace of the city, if the present Trustees would relinquish th3 trust held by them, and transfer over to the creditors of the Bank of Maryland the books and papers connected therewith. The meeting then adjourned. The reader will at once see the unimportance of a string of resolutions of the above character, to meet the exigency of the time. There is not a single decisive line; but, on the contrary, an obvious infirmity of coun- sel and an imperspicuity of meaning. We would espe- cially refer the attention to the 3d, 5th, 6th and 7th, which unequivocally imply an inclination to temporise the exercise of the authority invested in their hands. Lest we may be charged with a querulous disposition to censure, without suggesting a course to have taken in which there would have been more propriety — we must confess our inability to have advised, and merely add that those active measures which proved so effectual on the subsequent Monday should have been put into requisition on Friday. As it was, it amounted to little more than barring the stable door after the steed was stolen. The events of Friday evening became still more threatening of disaster. Curiosity had multiplied her votaries, and at an early hour the square was thronged to excess. During the day a quantity of stones had been removed from the spot by orders of the Mayor, and the discovery of this incident soon gave occasion for considerable mirth at his expense. Missiles of 96 MEMOIRS OF various kinds were nevertheless found in the course of the evening by the determined few. At about eight o'clock, the attention of the multi- tude was directed to the occupants of the steps at the entrance from Fayette street to the City Hotel, from which several persons essayed to address them. It was at length understood that W. Jones, Esq., one of the counsel for the creditors of the Bank of Mar\dand, was about to speak, and the question was put, whether he would be heard. " Yes, yes ! '' — ^' we'll hear him " — *' have him out ! '' and similar exclamations of assent, was the response. Mr. Jones appeared, but scarcely uttered a sentence, when a most discordant noise from a horn, which con- tinued at intervals durins: the evenino;, excited a most uprorious peal of laughter. In the course of his speech, Mr. Jones took occasion to class the sufferers in a man- ner similar to the following : " Fathers have suffered '^ " Yes, we have,'' ejaculated a boisterous auditor. '^ Children have suf- fered " " Yes, we have ! " from the same voice. " Orphans have suffered '^ ^' Yes, we have," — and " widows have suffered " " Yes, we have ! " This was too much. The wldow^s voice had made a sensa- tion, and a deafening laugh was the sympathetic reply. As Mr. Jones retired, a gentleman stepped into his place, who was anxious to retain attention to something he had to communicate. He began : ^' Friends and fellow-citizens, my name is Preston ! " Here he was interrupted by a confused murmur, many supposing him to be Preston of South Carolina, who COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 97 might happen to be in tlic city, and thus political feel- ings were brought into play. He, however, continued : " My name is Preston — I am counsel for the creditors of the Bank of Maryland/^ — some interruption again ensued when, after a slight intermission, he resumed : ^' My name is Preston — prest on ! '' and Mr. Pres- ton's fun was acknowledged by a laugh, but he had lost his opportunity, and was heard no more. The vacancy was now filled by the person of Mr. Hunt, the Mayor, who was accosted, the moment he spoke, with the question, "Are you one of the Directors of the Bank of Maryland?'' Mr. Hunt replied: "I fear- lessly confess I was a Director of that Institution ; but I was elected before I was acquainted with the fact that I had been ever nominated for that office. And subse- quent to my election, I remained ignorant of the con- cerns of that bank until the period of its close. I was myself deeply involved in its failure, and never drew on its resources but once, and then for the trifling amount of three hundred dollars. Gentlemen, will you listen to me," — at this moment a pane of glass was broken by a stone — '^ will you support me, fellow-citizens, in upholding the laws of the State?" "We will! we will ! " and as he descended the steps, several voices shouted at once : " Support the Mayor ! Support the Mayor ! " Mr. Hunt, with a number of friends, im- mediately took possession of the portico of Mr. John- son's house, and again exerted himself until he was hoarse, in vain endeavors to bear reason to the under- standing of the violent. But now the stones flew thick and fast, and the broken glass came rattling to the 98 MEMOIRS OF pavement on every side. At length the portico became the target of the rioters, and the little party there were exposed to imminent danger. The door behind was frequently struck by missiles, which must have passed within a few inches of their persons, when yielding to the earnest solicitations of friends in the crowd, this spot was for a short time deserted. Mr. Hunt, now failing in any attempt to rally a force in the Court House yard, partially succeeded in forming a line in front of Johnson's house, striving with the assistance of the city watch (for at that time we had not the present police arrangement) to sweep the square to the opposite side; but the arrest of a refractory individual being made, and a scuffle in the rescue, which was accomplished, the line was broken, and the assailants once more approached the house. Mr. Hunt, now Avith a slight baton in his hand, calling upon those to follow, who were inclined to aid him in restoring peace, threw himself into the thickest of the crowd, and, followed by a handful of friends, made for the monument, the pediments and surrounding railings of which were clustered svith individuals, who were dis- persed at his approach, and a posse of watchmen with their Captain, A, I. W. Jackson, stationed at that place to preserve order there, while the Mayor, threading his Avay through the assemblage, gained the portico again, and from this moment order was gradually restored. An occasional seizure was made by the watchmen, but as a fight for the rescue invariably succeeded, these attempts were abandoned; during the remainder of the night, and long before morning, riot, with her thousand tongues, was heard no more. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUHY. 99 It now became evident to all, that there was a por- tion of the community, but how large it was impossi- ble to ascertain, who were possessed with a determined spirit of demolition ; and on the following day, Satur- day, the 8th of August, preparations were made of a character something more substantial and resolute to encounter force with force. As early as five o'clock, P. M., the various avenues to the Square were intercepted in files of one or two deep by such of our citizens, as in the course of the day had volunteered their exertions for the preserva- tion of the public peace. These individuals were sever- ally armed with staffs about two feet in length and six inches in circumference, which had been provided for the purpose during the day. After the hour just men- tioned, all access was inhibited to the interior of their lines, which was partly occupied by a troop of horse, somewhat heavily equipped with arms. While these arrangements were making in this quarter, it is easy to conjecture what was progressing in other parts of the city. The toils of the week were ended, and many of those who that evening received the wages of in- dustry, as is customary at all seasons, were indulging in an extra glass. The all-absorbing topic was the anticipated tumult of the night, and almost every one expressed an intention of becoming a spectator, and doubtless, numbers of those who went, innocent of any design that would not have been justified by propriety, wrought upon by the exciting circumstances of the affray, and elated by an artificial ardor for the reckless sport, participated in the work of destruction and shared in the disgrace. As it grew dark, there was a 100 MEMOIRS OF rapid assemblage at the intercepted stations, and the streets leading towards the Battle Monument, were thronged by the thousands whom curiosity or daring had attracted thither. It was very soon found that the most essential point of defence was at the intersec- tion of Calvert and Baltimore streets, the latter then known as Market street, the throng was so dense, that wdien a retreat was made from the charges of the horsemen, it must unquestionably have been done at the most imminent risk of life and limb. From a party of the rioters who had stationed themselves in Calvert street, at a short distance from the line of guard, an incessant volley of missiles was kept up on the mounted guard, which irritated the latter to re- peated and heedless charges upon the advanced front of those, who were perhaps, inoffensive spectators, but who had assimilated themselves with the " mob," and consequently become liable to suspicion. This in turn exasperated them to the resentment of an imaginary wrong and a supposed encroachment on their immuni- ties as American citizens ; the result was a more sensi- ble division of the assailants and assailed, and a distinct line of battle. Skirmishes now became rapid in suc- cession; and in the confusion the people mingled for a moment indiscriminately with the police, and not un- frequently appeared to be on the point of gaining access to the forbidden grounds; but though bruised and wounded, the guards promptly rallied and effectually maintained their position against the overwhelming flood of numbers. Similar proceedings, though less vio- lent in character, marked each of the stations which were occupied by the regular officers and volunteer policy. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 101 CHAPTER XI. The House of John Glenn, Esq. We leave the Square for tlie present to view the posture of affairs in another and an unexpected quarter. A large portion of the rioters liad collected at about nine o'clock in north Charles street, in the vicinity of the house of John Glenn, Esq. A pause preceded the attack which was after some minutes commenced in the usual way, by demolishing the windows, at which a continued flight of stones was kept up, while some fruitless attempts were made to force the door. In less than half an hour, intelligence had been received at the head-quarters of the police, and a detachment of about fifteen horsemen was despatched to this new scene of action, urging their perplexed and half maddened steeds into the density of assailants and unsuspecting mass of idle spectators, many of whom fled in conster- nation, and with the utmost precipitation from the spot. It was about this time that the first blood was shed by fire-arms, and that too by mere accident. It seems that Dr. Samuel Baker's son Samuel, then a student of medicine, who was on horseback, being struck severely on the shoulder by a stone, was, in the act of snatching a pistol from his pocket, severely wounded in the hip by its premature explosion. The mob had now become convinced of the fact, which had been hitherto doubted, that shotted arms were arrayed against them, whereupon they seemed to revel more 102 MEMOIRS OF reckless in ruin. As the troops passed swiftly down the street, stones and brickbats were showered upon them thick as hail ; and in self-defence, they were driven to the necessity of firing indiscriminately upon the populace, when a pistol ball struck a young man standing on the corner of Fayette and Charles streets, and he fell mor- tally wounded. He proved to be Thomas B. Murphy, an inoffensive and respectable citizen of Old Town. The ball had entered his head near the left temple and penetrated to the region of the brain. He died on the evening of Sunday, the 9th, and his remains were in- terred the following day. Another person, by the name of George Croft, was shot through the palm of the hand, the ball enterino; his thio-h. He was run- liing down Charles street, and was near Baltimore street, at the time he was wounded. He was conveyed to Fell's Point, where he was left on board a schooner, to which he belonged. Dying of hemorrhage on his way to Boston, his remains were committed to the deep. It was soon ascertained by the crowd at the house of Mr. Glenn, that the horsemen had returned to the square. The attack was renewed with redoubled vigor, but the precaution of the inmates had induced them to barricade the door and windows in such a way that efforts most violent were for a considerable time resisted. At length the iron railing in front of the house was forcibly torn away, and w^ith the bars and axes, which latter were brought by some of the people who had returned, the door was battered into atoms ; the assailants poured in, and successively COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 103 tlic cloor of every apartment in the house was riven from its hinges, and the work of destruction promised to be complete. The superb furniture, consisting of every embellishment which luxury could desire, was thrown from the windows into the street, where it was eagerly seized and broken up by the infuriated crowd without. Beds were cut up, and the feathers scattered to the play of the winds; valuable pier glasses dashed to the ground, while the welkin rung with the loud cries and bitter jeers of the despoilers. In short, not an article escaped the devastating hand of the exaspe- rated mob, the house being stripped from the attic to its foundation. Such was the scene in Charles street; while the guards had been more successful in protecting the property of Mr. Johnson in the Square, although with considerable difficulty, and not without bloodshed. It was found necessary in the course of the evening to have general resort to fire-arms, the police being sup- plied with as many muskets as could be obtained, with orders to fire on any persons who should persist in invading their line after a positive command to retire. To this end, the drill-room of the new company of Washington Blues, in the building at the corner of North and Fayette streets, had been forced by those in command, and their stand of arms put into requisition. The muskets were loaded with large shot, and some of them put into the hands of individuals who were inca- pable of using them judiciously, which may account for the numbers slightly wounded. Shortly after ten o'clock, a severe skirmish took place near the Frank- 104 MEMOIRS OF lin Bank, in which many persons on both sides were bruished and injured, and not a few were stung with an occasional shot. A young man named Watts had a portion of his under lip cut completely off by a stone; another received a shot under his ear, and the wound bled so profusely that it was supposed the jugu- lar vein was severed; he, however, recovered. A hat- ter named Pitts was twice wounded by charges of shot while assiduously engaged in laudable endeavors to quell the mob; he also recovered. Such mad confu- sion reigned from ten to twelve o'clock that it is impos- sible to describe scenes or circumstances at this time, which were utterly indescribable then. At midnight, order was partially restored, and de- tached groups were to be seen conversing in the streets near the square, though generally at a sufficient dis- tance from the line of guards. An opportunity was now seized to reconnoitre the position of affairs in Charles street, when it was found that a small party of belligerents kept undisputed pos- session of tlie house and were regaling themselves joy- ously, after their gratuitous exertions, with the excel- lent wines stored in the capacious cellar. Upon being informed of this, a small body of the volunteer guards hastened to the spot, and, securing the unlawful occu- pants of the building, marched off with half a score of prisoners to the district watch-house; but before they reached it, an assault was made upon them with sticks and stones to affect a rescue. Under this the guard suffered some time with all manly forbearance, until forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and at length a sharp COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 105 volley of musketry, which did more serious and pain- ful execution than the combined contests of the whole evening, scattered the assailants in every direction. It was from this discharge that Lewis H. Wolfe (brother of Aicaeus B. Wolfe, Esq., attorney-at-law,) received a mortal wound, of which he died on the 14th. He was said to have been merely a spectator, and was repre- sented as having been a very unassuming man, highly respected and deeply lamented by all who knew him. A lad, named Francis Clee, was also shot at the same time and severely wounded in the thigh ; died a few days after. A man named Powell was shot through the heart, dying instantly. In short, a great many were wounded, proving, in several cases, mortal. In- deed, it never could be ascertained how many were killed, friends having hurried them off the ground and suppressing names. It was said to be as high as twenty-two. A short time after the party taken at Mr. Glenn's were lodged in the watch-house, (which had been the scene of incessant commotion during the whole of the night,) a general fight commenced in the crowd which surrounded the building, when a pistol was fired by one of the combatants, the ball lodging in the breast of a youth named Ellis. This incident put an end to the quarrel, the wounded having been borne away to the office of a neighboring surgeon. Ellis re- covered. Tranquility was, shortly after, comparatively re- stored, and, by the dawn of day, the rioters had dis- persed, when a strong escort was formed, under guard 106 MEMOIES OF of which the prisoners, numbering fifty-five, were con- ducted to the jail. Never, to the writer, had the Sabbath bell usliered in the hallowed morn under circumstances so gloomy and inauspicious, and most sincerely does he hope never to witness here, in his own native city or else- where, such shameful scenes again. But strange as it may appear, after such incontestible evidence of that turbulent spirit of lawless atrocity which characterized the proceedings of the previous night, the wand of authority seemed to have paralyzed the hand that held it; the nerves of action might be supposed to have withered at once under the influence of a necromantic torpor, while those, from whom the unoffending and insecure expected protection, seemed to find a lullaby in the portentous murmurs of the rallying throng. Depredations, for which the offenders, a few hours before, would have been arrested or shot down, were committed in broad light of day, and in the presence of thousands, without resistance or rebuke ! By ten o'clock on Sunday morning, the few planks, which had been temporarily nailed across the entrance to Mr. Glenn's house, were torn down, and a rush was directly made for the cellar, where a scene of dissipa- tion ensued which beggars description. Having drank to satiety within, individuals were seen issuing from the house and hastening along the streets under the burthen of some half dozen bottles of wine, v/hile others, more inordinate, were fortunate in retaining the ability to carry the vacillating mass of soaken clay to some contiguous nook, where it might sleep off the fumes of wine. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 107 The cause of this total absence of all civil authority is, to this time, 1874, a moot point vi'ith thousands; indeed, many have not the slightest clue to the mys- tery, which, by a consociation of incident, is simply explained. It will be remembered by many, that on Sunday morning, through the medium of a placard, an appeal was made by the Mayor to the disturbers of the peace, in which they were earnestly entreated to desist from further violence, and to the people generally to absent themselves from these places which had been denounced by the " mob," in which Mr. Hunt unfortunately re- marked, with a view to propitiate or appease the sedi- tious : '^ I have deeply deplored the disregard with which my earnest appeals have been met, and the resort to deadly weapons, which, against my judgment and advice, has unfortunately been taken." But the knowledge of this fact, if it was intended to pacify the people and check further proceedings, com- pletely defeated its object, as it had a decided tendency to turn the full tide of resentment upon those who left peaceful homes and generously risked their lives and property in defending the interests of others. It was well known, too, that many of them as it was had been recognized in their brief capacity and threatened with a visit from the mob. And consequently, when orders were issued on Sunday morning for a general parade of the volunteer corps, none of them responded, because several of those who held a commanding rank had been actively employed on the preceding night, and on the appearance of the placard mentioned above, had left 108 MEMOIKS OP the city, as there was no alternative for personal safety. Those who remained saw no police on the alert ; the firemen found the military had not regarded the orders they had receiv^ed ; the citizens could not venture with- out some organization as a partial security, and the regular officers knew their force by far too insignificant to array against that opposed to them, therefore, the city was left to the undisputed sway of the aggressors. This is the only reasonable conclusion which we can draw for the strangest lapse of law of which we have ever heard. 1 We now come to the events of Sunday night, and our task brings with it recollections of the most pain- ful character. Long before sunset, a large crowd had collected in Monument Square, before the house of Reverdy John- son, consisting partly of ladies who had allowed their curiosity to overrule their prudence; we must, how- ever, admit there were twenty to one of the vSterner sex who could not deny a similar charge. At dusk the attack was made without the least opposition; the door soon yielded to the efforts of the assailants, and in a few minutes the house and its effects were at their mercy. It was a splendid edifice and an ornament to the square. A fire was kindled in the street, which they swore to keep alive with the furniture of the apartQients, and they kept their oath. Something over the door which reflected the light more powerfully than surrounding objects, attracted attention before the work began. It proved to be the figure of an Ameri- COLOXEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 109 (!AX Eagle, highly gilded, which was removed with the greatest possible care, carried to the Battle Monu- ment and placed over the door, where it remained a conspicuous emblem of that trait of national character and Americcn feeling which could preponderate at such a moment. This done, as it were a propitiatory rite, the labor of demolition was rigorously pursued, and, from the unremitting toil of some, we might well sup- pose at the instigation of a deep revenge. As a por- tion of the most valuable furniture had been removed the preceding day, there was some disappointment manifested, for which they were evidently inclined to have an equivalent, in their subsequent assiduity to impair the structure. An extensive library was hurled, book after book, into the flames, and, to expedite mat- ters, the largest and most valuable law books were opened under a neighboring pump and water brought into requisition, which effectually did its damaging work, rendering the volumes totally worthless. All along the sidewalks, and in the middle of the streets, could be seen mutilated volumes of rare finish. Ele- gant carpets were torn up and consigned to the flames ; trunks, with their contents, parchments and valuable papers all went to the common pile, while notes for thousands of dollars went spinning in the air above the heads of the sympathizing multitude. The Me- chanics' Bank building and Barnum's Hotel, as well as the mansion of John Hollins, adjoining Johnson's, were threatened with destruction from the falling flakes of fire sailing in the air ; but squads of the very men engaged in destroying offered their services, and 6 ^ 110 MEMOIRS OF aided by buckets of water in saving the property re- ferred to. At length a cannister was pitched from an upper window into the flames, and a cry of *^ gun- powder^^ was raised by a mischievous fellow who was more for fun than wit; and in confusion worse con- founded, flew the crowd. Bonnets were crushed, dresses torn and knees broken, while hats with heads in them were more than once trod under foot, and the number of mashed empty ones was legion. In a short time the panic subsided, and again the assemblage filled the Square, though several times in the course of the evening, some mischievous fellow successfully set his wits to work to get up a " rush/^ as he said a rush would clear the Square, being more effectual than the sword! No sooner was each apartment cleared of its furniture, than the party set to work to remove the window frames which were at intervals precipitated into the flames. Several persons now made them- selves very conspicuous; and one especially so, a sailor dressed character, who was generally called "i?ec? Jacket '' by the spectators, because he wore a red flan- nel shirt. This was Samuel M * * * a cooper from Franklin street. He worked without intermission, (as if bound by contract,) at a large arched window, which extended from the ceiling to the floor, and appeared marvellously interested in the job, and the amount of ruin which might be accomplished with his own hands. Another, a middle-aged man, (said to be a sufferer in the Bank failure,) who was assisting others in removing the copper roof from the splendid marble portico, frequently stopped to harangue the multitude COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. Ill on the subject of his supposed laudable exploits until he became the jest of his companions and a target for the clods of mortar which were hurled at him from above. Between eleven and twelve oVlock, a cry of "Fire'' was raised, and many persons started off in the direc- tion of South street, where a portion of the mob had forced an entrance to the dwelling of John B. Morris, a trustee of the Bank, and a fire had been already pre- pared in the street, into which the contents of the house were to be hurled. Johnson's now became generally deserted — not, however, until the front had been much dilapidated and the apertures for two windows in either apartment of the second story made into one ; the brick work of the others, looking towards the Square, had also received considerable injury, and the handsome portico, which cost $2,000, was totally destroyed, the beautiful columns hurled from their base and thun- dered down amidst the cheers and laughter of the assembled thousands, who seemed to be in sympathy with this modern Vandalism ! As business is busi- ness, the firemen were detailed, by these master spirits of destruction, to carefully and safely extinguish the flames lest the property of the honest should suffer, while they, and the crowd of spectators, proceeded in quick time to IMorris's. This scene was merely a repetition of the doings in the Square, except that there was a much larger quantity of furniture destroyed and more choice wines and brandies imbibed. ' It would be use- less and uninteresting, even if it were possible, to par- ticularize the various articles destroyed, but whatever 112 MEMOIRS OF contributed to comfort, ease and elegance in the domes- tic circle, was there in rich profusion and beautiful pro- portion, manifesting in its owner a refined and culti- vated taste. Two trees which skirted the pavement were covered with snowy down that was liberated from the beds and pillows ripped open and thrown from above ; and ever and anon, as something of peculiar beauty, splendor or utility, came lumbering into the burning pile, a sup- pressed exclamation of regret involuntarily issued from the lips of some, who were perhaps aching with want — who knows but it might have been some widow, rendered destitute by the failure of the Bank of Mary- land ! There is no doubt, too, but much of the prop- erty found its way, little injured, into the apartments of others standing in greater need than the original possessor. Referring once more to the drinking — wine was found and drank in abundance, and quibbling toasts went round in most admired disorder. Inebria- tion became general, and riot found a double zest in every growing hour. Ruin was soon completed within those walls, and once more the unwearied firemen were left alone to perform their voluntary and unenviable duties. Shortly after, an attack was contemplated on the newly erected dwelling of Hugh McElderry, in Cal- vert street, also a Director of the Bank ; but upon the representation, that the property was yet in the hands of the contractor, and at his risk until the delivery of the keys, the party went off to the residence of Jesse Hunt, Mayor of the city, in Fayette street, where the COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 113 furniture was thrown into the street and burnt while, as Mr. Hunt has since asserted, the rude jeers and jokes of the multitude were ringing in his ears. The house of Captain Bentzinger, who had been active on the preceding night in protecting the prop- erty of Mr. Johnson, underwent a similar visitation, while the firemen -were ever close in the rear of the destroyers. Captain Bentzinger not being at home, the ladies of the house prevailed on the mob to retire without inflicting damage to the property. The store of Captain Joseph Willey, in Franklin street, was next assailed, but Mr. Lynch, promptly on the spot, informed the populace that the property was his, and not Captain Willey's ; upon which they pro- ceeded to the house of Dr. Hintze, south Gay street, but his lady appearing and assuring them that the property was her own, having devolved to her from the paternal estate, that she was alone in the house and without help ; but from those feelings of honor which should ever characterize the man, they regarded her appeal, and departed without doing any injury. Dr. Hintze and Captain AVilley had also been actively engaged in supporting the civil authorities on Saturday evening. Between three and four o'clock on Monday morning, the house of Evan T. Ellicott, one of the Directors, Avas attacked, and the furniture burnt in the street. The house was not injured, as it was understood to belong to a widow. From one of the windows a trunk was thrown, out of Avhich a man leaped upon its descent, and was about to make off; but as his 114 MEMOIRS OF design was supposed to have been theft, he was hor- ribly frightened with the threat of a coat of tar and feathers, and after some sport, he was permitted to depart. In passing the liouse of Evan Poultney, the Presi- dent of the Bank, he appeared at the door and assured the rioters that no resistance would be made if it was their wish to enter. No ! No ! we have nought to do with honest men ! cried one, to which a cheer re- sjionded, and the mass moved on. Early on Monday morning, the steps at Poultney^s house were washed, and some panes of glass which had been broken in the house adjoining that of Evan T. Ellicott, repaired at the expense of the mob. The excitement had now subsided, and the people were glutted with, revenge. A meeting of the citizens convened at the Exchange on Monday, at ten A. M., beneath the folds of the American standard. A reaction had taken place, and an army of thousands, with the venerable General Samuel Smith at their head, proceeded to Howard's Park, where measures w^re adopted, by which tran- quility was restored. At four P. M., the stores were generally closed, and a general paraJe succeeded ; after which detachments were inarched to various quarters of the city, which remained under arms during the night. This precau- tion was observed during the whole of the week. In the meantime, numbers had been arrested, tiie law once more prevailed, and peace and good order were secured to our beloved citv. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 115 Thus terminated the memorable riot in Baltimore, August, 1835. The preceding brief, though faithful sketch, is given here as one of the remarkable events in the history of Baltimore, a city of which Colonel Stansbury was subsequently the Mayor. In this con- nection, the author assumes to say, as his earnest con- viction, that had Elijah Stansbury been the Mayor at that time, the calamity would have been averted. The failure of Mr. Hunt may be ascribed to a lack of moral courage alone, for as a good and useful citizen he had few superiors. 116 MEMOIES OF CHAPTEE XII. TiiE Disastrous Floods of n86, 181t and 183T — Colonel Stansbuky^s Election to the Legisla- tures OP 1843, 1844. AND J845 — Elected Mayor 1848. On the 16th of June, 1837, occurred the destructive flood, a brief account of which is here appended. TiiE Floop of Wednesday Night. From the Baltimore Daily Jovrnals. It is somewhat singular that the heavj' rains which fell on "Wednesday night to the north of this city, and were productive of the vast damage detailed yesterday and further noticed below, should have been confined mainly, we might say almost exclu- sively to the valley of Jones's Falls. Gentlemen who have mills on Gwynn's Falls, a parallel and adjacent stream, inform vis that although the bed of the latter was filled b}' the rains, there was no extraordinary flow of water, and no damage was sustained along its course. Again, on the other side, the neighboring streams of the Great Gunpowder and Herring Run indicated no remarkable height of water, and we have not heard that any injury was sustained on either of them. The rain seems to have concentrated itself in Jones's Falls, and the quantity which fell in the space of a few hours, is shown by the extent of the damage done to property on its borders. We find on inquiry that eight of the flour mills on this stream have ceased operations in consequence of the damage sustained, either by the partial or total destruction of dams, races and head gates, or other injury. They are severally carried on by Messrs. m Note.— The first flood was in 178G; the second flood 1817—31 years inter- vening. The lliird flood 1837 — 20 years intervening. The fourth flood 18G8 — 31 } ears intervening between 1837 and 18G8, being a striking coincidence regarding ]apse of time between the first two and last two floods. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 117 Davies, Bradford, White <& Sons, N. Tyson, B. Ellicott, L. J. Cox and E Beatty. It appears that the bridge of the Susquehanna Eailroad, over the Falls above the Kockland Print Works, was washed away and lodged against the bridge at Rockland, and turned the whole force of the stream against the latter edifice. By cutting away the mill race in several places, the current was diverted, 'and al- though the water inundated the mill, the damage was not very great. The dam at Rockland was partially carried away. In order that our readers may be enabled to form a correct idea of the character of Jones's Falls, from the sudden rise of which this city has sustained such frequent and enormous damage, we have obtained from a source entitled to credit the following facts. The stream takes its rise at what is called the Green Spring, near the twelfth mile stone on the Reisterstown turnpike road, and has a course of fourteen miles before it unites with the river Patapsco at Baltimore. About ten miles from the city it is joined by Row- land's run, the source of which is near the York turnpike road about eleven miles from the city. The margins of these tvro streams are composed of high hills which, to a given point, rise abruptly, and afterwards become flattened, with an inclination towards the two streams on either side. From this circumstance it happens that all the drainage of the triangle formed by the line of the Reisterstown turnpike, that of the York turnpike, and that between the two sources, which are about ten* miles apart, including an area of not less than fifty square miles, runs into Jones's Falls, and disembogues itself into the basin of Baltimore. The source of the stream at the Green Spring is 350 feet above tide, making an average fall in approach- ing Baltimore of thirty-two feet per mile, on which are situated the following water powers at the distances stated from the city. A glance will show the immense value of the stream, at the same time that its liability to flooding will also be made evident : City Mill in the city. Keller & Foreman's, now Water Go's do. Lanvale Cotton Factory .- do. Bradford's Flour Mill, ^ mile from the city. White's Flour Mill 1 do. do. 6* I ' 118 MEMOIRS OF ^ N. Tyson's Flour Mill 1} mile from the city. Benj. Ellicott's Flour Mill 1^ do. do. Chas. Ellicott's Flour Mill If do. do. Woodberry (Cox's) Flour Mill 2 do. do. Rural (Beatty's) Flour Mill 3 do. do. ■Washington Factory 5 do. do. Peden's Factory 5J do. do. Belluna (Gunpowder Mill) 6 do. do. Eockland (Mellier's Printwork) 8 do. do. Caton's Mill 9 do. do. The above distances are taken from the present limits of the city. On Western run, a tributary pf Jones's Falls, are the Pimlico and Little Pimlico Factories, with a fall of fifty feet in two and a half miles. It has been suggested to us by a highly intelligent friend, that application should be made to the Legislature at their next ses- sion for a law conferring upon the Corporation such police juris- diction' over the bed of the Falls and its tributaries up to their respective sources as will enable it to employ competent engineers, under whose direction dams and other structures affecting the stream should be erected. The amount of property in Baltimore affected by the destruction of dams and bridges^ is such as to give us a claim to the authority here referred to, the exercise of which can alone secure us against casualties similar to that of Wednes- day night last. Of course, the power sought for would be only in the tnanner of construction^ and would not infringe upon private right further than might be necessary to secure pviblic safety. Our fellow citizens of the county could have no valid objection, we should think, to an arrangement which would have a tendency to prevent injury to their crops on the low lands, as any thing that could be done to prevent damage here, would necessarily have the same effect higher up the stream. The Scene Within the City. It is impossible for words to convey any adequate idea of the scene of ruin and devastation, some of the details of which were hastily given in our paper yesterday. Hundreds of families COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 119 stripped of their all, and deprived rf comforts, to replace which is out of their power, are thrown upon the charity of their fellow citizens, to whose kind feelings many of them must look for wherewithal to subsist. "Wednesday evening beheld them con- tented and surrounded by the earnings of their toil — the morning sun of Thursday found them destitute and penniless, and many who the night previous had thought themselves above the reach of sudden calamity, on the following day felt the certainty that they were homeless. It is impossible to imagine a scene more distressing than that presented along the Tails, from below Pratt up as high as Madison street. On every side were seen strewed the wrecks which the deluge had deposited in its desolating course. Here a bridge, half demolished and almost tottering to its fall, whilst huge piles of timber and remnants of houses raised themselves and appeared still to threaten destruction. There the entire sides of houses thrown down, and wherever any obstacle had prevented the onward course of the torrent, deep chasms excavated by the counter-current created by their resistance. Of this a most striking instance is furnished at the Centre or Marsh Market, where the fountain with its strong masonry and iron balustrade arrested the headlong rush of masses of timber, which must otherwise have swept before them in their way the pillars that support the roof of the market house. On either side of the fountain deep holes had been dug by the waters extending some distance under the covering, which a longer dura- tion'of the flood must have leveled with the ground. In passing along Harrison street, the spectacle was absolutely appalling, there being not a single building, the lower story of which had not been almost entirely under water, and the contents of which had not been, in a greater or less degree, destroyed. Along the Space, on each side of the market, the stock of goods in the shops had been wetted and soiled, and if not rendered perfectly useless, were so damaged as to be of almost of no value to their owners, many of whom must be entirely ruined. At the distillery belong- ing to Messrs. J. C. White & Sons, the havoc and desolation were very great, the apraratus being torn up and scattered in wild confusion. In the place where an extensive piggery, furnished with sheds, had stood, scarcely a vestige remained, and at a little 120 MEMOIRS OP distance below were seen piles of the carcases of horses and cows that had perished beneath the flood. A bridge which had con- nected the eastern and western portion at Centre street, had been lifted from its abutments and served to increase the mass of ruins at the bridge on Gay street, a long distance down the stream. In the course of our walk, we entered a room where father and mother and three children were lying dead — they had been caught asleep, and must have died almost without a struggle, as when found they were in the attitude of rest and displayed no marks of suffering. As we entered the house in which they were lying, a poor little girl passed us weeping bitterlj'^ ; she was the only survivor of the family, and had escaped owing to the circum- stance of her having been out at service. "We trust that she will find friends to suppl}^ the place of father and mother, brothers and sisters. On a small rising ground at the corner of North and Centre streets, an aged couple had erected to themselves a hut and earned a support by selling cakes. The site of their little dwelling showed scarcely a A'estige of there ever having been a building upon it; the house and its inmates had been swept away! Of the extent of destruction to human life it is believed that even now no correct estimate can be formed, as many are missing w^hose fates remain unknown. Up to the last accounts the num- ber of bodies over which inquests had been held was nineteen. "We have conversed with several who were present, and beheld as well as the overwhelming darkness vfould permit, the scenes of horror. They describe it as surpassing any thing of vehich they could have formed any conception. With the roar of the waters as they bore every thing before them and threatened uni- versal destruction, were mingled the cries of the drowning vic- tims, that shrieked for aid where no help could be afforded. We never joined with more heartfelt good will in an appeal to our fellow citizens in behalf of charity than at present. Now it is that benevolence may be exercised to the utmost, not in favor of idleness or sloth but of suffering worth and industry. Hun- dreds of our citizens have been deprived of their all, and are thrown upon the good will of their fellow beings not for in- dulgences but for the means of subsistence. Those who may have any doubts, if doubt be possible at such a time, have only to COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 121 visit the devastated district, and there they will find mute advo- cates of the wretched sufterers that speak in terms stronger than any we can adduce. Through the eye they address themselves to the heart, and cold indeed must he the sensibilities which cannot be aroused by their appeal. The young and the aged, the strong and the decrepit, may be seen submitting without a murmur to a dispensation of Providence by which they have been bereaved of their property, and bending in humble gratefulness to the power by which their lives have been preserved. There should be one universal movement on the part of those whose property has remained unscathed — they should unite heart and hand, and from their comparative abundance give to the needy and the destitute. Let every one, however small his means, contribute his mite. Lives Lost by the Preshet. "We are indebted to J. I. Gross, Esq. Coroner, for a list of in- quests held by him over the bodies of persons drowned in the freshet of Wednesday night : — Christopher Wiest, wife an three children, Saratoga street. Doughert}', corner of Concord and "Water streets. Catharine Donnelly, Pratt street. James Doyle, Long wharf. Jacob Ockley, Falls road. A woman and daughter, name unknown. The following persons have been drowned, but the bodies are yet unrecovered : James Kelly, Henry Linehan, Mr. Donnelly, and five persons on the Falls road, names unknown. LEGISLATIVE ELECTION. After an intermission of eleven years, during which period Colonel Stansbury applied himself most sedu- lously to his business, but by no means relaxing his interest in military, masonic and other associations, as well as in public enterprises — he was called upon by 122 MEMOIRS OF his fellow citizens to serve them once more. Yielding to the summons, he was nominated for the Legislature and elected October 4th, 1843, by the following vote, he being the only successful Democratic nominee on the city ticket. We give the vote in full. Democrats. Whigs. Stansbury 6,484 Liirman 6,399 Cox 6,410 Watson 6,554 Kamsay 6,444 Curley 6,564 Bender 6,383 Levering 6,557 Friese 6,396 Carey 6,529 In 1844, Colonel Stansbury was again the nominee of the Democratic party, with Messrs. Springer, Gal- lagher, Williams and Graves, all the former nominees on the Democratic ticket of 1843 having been dropped except the Colonel ; while the Whigs nominated all their successful candidates on their ticket of 1843. All this only goes to show the great personal popularity of Colonel Stansbury. It will be seen, he leads his ticket. Stansbury 9,134 Curley 8,096 Springer 9,110 Watson 8,040 Gallagher 9,063 Carej- 8,073 Williams 9,116 Jenkins 8,026 Graves 9,123 Keese 8,057 In 1845, the Colonel was again nominated, and all his colleagues on the city ticket of 1844 were dropped, thus giving stronger evidence of his growing popu- larity ; and it will be again noticed that he still leads COLONS EL ELIJAH STANSBUHY. 123 his ticket, notwithstanding the names of Joshua Yan- sant and Robert McLane, who were two of the most popular gentlemen in Baltimore. Stansbury 7,704 Keiiley ...3,898 Cox ■ 7,627 Harris 3,774 McLane 7,G22 Purviance 3,761 Vansant 7,655 Reese 3,837 Baughnian 7,695 Wood 3,788 Colonel Stansbury's majority over the highest Whig candidate being 3806 ! Majority over the lowest, (Purviance,) 3943. In the spring of 1846, he again retired from public life, carrying with him the most kindly feelings of his fellow citizens, irrespective of party. While in the Legislature, Colonel Stansbury proved himself to be a useful and efficient member, always holding himself in readiness to cheerfully advise with and aid those younger in years and experience by the Avholesome fruits of his more mature judgment. But scarcely had two more years elapsed, before his valuable public ser- vices were once more required by his fellow citizens. In this campaign the Democrats knew that they had a formidable adversary to contend with in consequence of the remarkable fluctuations in the two parties from the agitation of the Native American Question. The election for Mayor was approaching, and both parties were actively marshalling their hosts for the coming contest. The Democrats felt at once the great necessity of bringing into the field their strongest and best man. So likewise with the Whigs. The Democratic Conven- tion met, and with great unanimity nominated Elijah 124 MEMOIRS OF Staiisbiiry, Jr., as their standard bearer. The election came of on the IJth of October, 1848, resulting as follows: MUNICIPAL ELECTION. From the Baltimore American, October 12th. The election yesterday for a Maj-or and members of the City Council of Baltimore passed off quietly, and with a degree of good order at the polls highly creditable to all parties. The result is as follows : For Mayor. Wh ig. Dem. Wards. , Griffin. Stansbury. 1st 429 673 2d 314 602 3d 569 592 4th 626 468 5th 325 369 6th 475 597 7th 364 546 8th 326 644 9th 391 503 10th 516 276 11th 480 427 12Lh 637 540 13th 471 287 14th 583 347 15th 662 608 16th 373 847 17th 274 494 18th 582 805 19th 403 498 20th 264 427 9,064 9,950 Colonel Stansbury being elected by a handsome majority of 886. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUEY. 125 City Council. — Elect. Ist ward — Edward Horney. 2d ward — John E. Stansbury. 3d ward— Richard C. Wells. 4th ward— William H. Steiiart.* 5th ward — Charles B. Green, 6th ward — Evan M. Foreman. 7th ward — Benjamin German. 8th ward — Thos. J. Spilman. 9th ward — Charles Soran. 10th ward — Charles Earquharson.* 11th ward — J. I. Cohen, Jr. 12th ward— G. Clinton Frailey.- 13th ward — Frederick Pinkney.^ R 14th ward — George A. Davis. ^ 15th ward — Moses G. Hindes.* 16th ward — John Disney, Sr. 17th ward — Charles A. Leloup. 18th ward- J. J. Grindall. 19th w^ard— J. S. Shipley. 20th w^ard— N. T. Dushane. The First Branch will consist of six Whigs and fourteen Demo- crats. Last year it stood five Whigs to fifteen Democrats. Second Branch. 1st and 2d wards — John T. Farlow. 3d and 4th wards— Fred. Littig Shaffer.* 5th and 6th wards — Jos. J. Stewart. 7th and 8th wards — John W. Wilson. 9th and 10th wards— A. E. Warner, Sr.* 11th and 12th Avards— David Taylor.* 13th and 14th wards— John R. Kelso.* 15th and 16th wards — John Dukehart. 17th and 18th wards— Elias Ware, Jr. 19th and 20th wards— Wm. A. Hack. The Second Branch will consist of four Whigs and six Demo- crats. Last year it stood five to five. *Those marked thus * are Whigs. 126 MEMOIRS OF City Council. F'irst Branch. FIRST AYARD. Whigs. Dem. Robert A. McAilister 431 Edward Horney 561 SECOND WARD. Lewis Audoun 310 John E. Stansbury 599; THIRD WARD. David Evans 568 Kicbard C. "Wells 585 rOUUTU WARD. Wm. H. Steuart G24 Wm. H. Hiss 449 FIFTH WARD. Wm. Bayley 326 Charles B. Green 354 SIXTH AVARD. Chas. Gr. Ridgely 492 Evan M. Foreman 556 SEVENTH WARD. James McNabb 364 Benjamin German 534 EIGHTH WARD. Adam Denmead 290 Thomes J. Spilman 602 NINTH WARD. Charles McComas 374 Charles Soran 500 TENTH WARD. Charles Earquharson 518 J. W. Bloomer 257 ELEVENTH WARD, T. Hanson Belt 433 J. I. Cohen, Jr 468 TWELFTH WARD. Geo. C. Frailey 588 L. G. Quinlan 587 THIRTEENTH WARD. Frederick Pinckney 461 Joseph G. Johnson 284 FOURTEENTH WARD. George A. Davis 566 Francis Dawes, Sr 356 Note.— We append this list to remind tlie rea icr of many worthy citizens numbered in it, wl o now rest in the silent tomb. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 127 FIFTEENTH WARD. Moses G. Hindcs 647 Levi Taylor 605 SIXTEENTH WARD. Philip A. Kigby 310 John Disney, Sr 409 SEVENTEENTH AVARD. Wm. Addison, (Ind.,) 286 Chas. A. Leloup 468 EIGHTEENTH WARD. Matthew Clark, (Ind.,) 616 J. J. Grindall 731 NINETEENTH WARD. Joshua Dryden 398 J. S. Shipley 492 TWENTIETH WARD. Thomas Symington 387 Nat. T. Dushane. 387 Second Branch. FIRST AND SECOND WARDS. Whigs. Dcm. John Wells, 1st ward 397 J. T. Farlow, 1st ward... 002 2d 324 2d ... 589 721 1,191 K THIRD AND FOURTH WARDS. I F. Littig Shaffer, 3d 544 Samuel Boyd, Sr., 3d 602 4th 626 4th.... 459 1,170 1,061 FIFTH AND SIXTH WARDS. Dr. J. L Yeates, 5th 337 Joseph J. Stewart, 5th... 353 6th 467 6th... 595 804 948 SEVENTH AND EIGHTH WARDS. Sterl. Thomas, 7th 358 John W.Wilson 7th 541 8th 321 8th 638 679 1,179 128 MEMOIRS OF NINTH AND TENTH WARDS. A. E. Warner, Sr., 9th.. 388 John H. Ing, 9th 486 1 10th.. 508 10th 2711 896 757 ; ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH WARDS. David Taylor, 11th 446 John McColgan, 11th 441 12th 645 12th 522 1,091 963 THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH WARDS. John R. Kelso, 13th 465 Dr. J. Essender, 13th 281 14th 564 14th 352 1,029 633 FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH WARDS. John L. Kcese, 15th 638 John Dukehart, 15th 607 16th 322 16th 384 960 991 SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH AVARDS. James Murray, 17th 272 Elias Ware, Jr., 17th 485 18th 581 18th 788 853 1,273 NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH WARDS. James Keyser, 19th 316 Wm. A. Hack, 19th 500 20th 304 20th , 439 620 939 The majority obtained for Colonel Stansbury was greater than had been expected by his most sanguine friends. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 129 CHAPTER XIII. \ Colonel Stansbury's Installation into Office — His First Message, &c. After he was installed into office, his friends in- dulged in many conjectures as to who would be nomi- nated for the various offices within his gift as Chief Magistrate of the city. He kept his own counsels, and no human power could make him swerve from what he considered and conscientiously believed to be his line of duty. Perfectly independent in spirit, he con- sulted no one concerning his preferences. In this respect Elijah Stansbury resembled Andrew Jackson. Firm to his purpose he would make no disclosures as to his intention whatever devices may have been resor.ted to in order to gratify curiosity, and it was not known to any one but himself, who were to be recommended till the list was actually submitted to the Councils for confirmation. MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. Yesterday being the day appointed by the city charter for the meeting of tlie City Council, the members assembled at 3 P. M. in their respective chambers. Proceedings of the Fibst Branch. Mr. Geo. A. Davis was called to the chair for the purpose of organization, when the following, members answered to their names and being duly qualified took seats ; viz : EdAvard Horney, John E. Stansbury, Richard C. "Wells, Wm. H. Steuart, Chas B. Green, Evan M. Foreman, Benj. German, Thos. J. Spillman, Charles Soran, Chas. Farquaharson, J. I. 130 MEMOIKS OF Cohen, Jr., D. H. Quinlan, Fred. Pinkney, Geo. A. Davis, Mose« Hindes, John Disney, Sen., C. A. Leloup, J. J. Grindall, J. S. Shipley, and Nathan T. Dushane. The Branch then proceeded to the election of a President, when^ Mr. Dushane nominated Jacob I. Cohex, Jr.," and moved that the balllot be dispensed with. The motion prevailed and Mr.- Cohen was unanimously elected President of the Branch. On taking his seat, Mr. Cohen returned his acknowledgments to the Branch, assuring them of the high appreciation in which he held this evidence of their confidence in him, and pledging himself to discharge the duties they had imposed upon him im- partially and to the best of his abilit}'. The compensation of the reading and of the recording clerks was then fixed at $5 per day, and that of the door-keeper at $1.50. The Branch then proceeded to the election of its officers, when Wm. A. Stewart was elected Recording Clerk ; Joseph Barling, Reading Clerk ; and John Lingenfelter, Door-keeper. After the usual formality of informing the Mayor of the organi- zation of the two Branches, the following communication was received from the Mayor, by the hands of his private Secrecary, V. H. Kalkman, Esq., and read: Mayor's Commuxication^. Mayor's Office, } Baltimore, January' 15th, 1849. To the Members of the First and Second Branches of the City Council: Gentlemen : You have assembled together, at the call of your fellow-ciiizens, for the purpose of framing such laws as may be necessary to their common welfare ; and in thus assembling, it cannot be inappropriate to mingle our congratulations, thankful- ness and gratitude, for the health, prosperity and manifold bless- ings which have been granted to the people of this city by a beneficent Providence. In one respect my duty anticipates yours ; and in laying before you the corporate aflfairs of the city, I practice no deception upon you, nor upon mj'self, when I assure you that I feel no less embarrassment from the brief period I have been in office, than COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 131 from an unaffected distrustfulness in my own capacity to dis- charge the task. I shall, however, present to you such infor- mation as I possess, and make such suggestions as 1 may deem necessary, in a plain, straight-forward way. It is most gratifying to find, as will be seen by the accompany- ing report of the City Collector, that the promptitude which has heretofore distinguished our citizens in the payment of their taxes, has even been exceeded the present year. The entire amount collected and paid to the Kegister, embracing the arrear- ages of 1844, 1845, 1846 and 1847, and including the discounts made for prompt payment, is $620,201.71, being the largest amount ever collected in one year. This affords the best testi- mony of the industry and energy with which this important department has been conducted. The report of the City Commissioners, herev/itli submitted, so fully details the operations of the Board, that a reference to the report itself would give more information than any commentaries of mine. The various ordinances and resolutions of the Council, under which they were required to act, are specified, and satisfac- torily carried into effect. The bridge at Fayette street, pursuant to a resolution passed at the extra session of the Council, has been completed, and the experiment presents every promise of entire success. The erec- tion of this bridge, whilst it opens an important thoroughfare to our citizens, reflects great credit alike upon the contractors, Messrs. Murray & Hazlehurst, and the skill and workmanship of our practical mechanics. The Board of City Commissioners have at times found it neces- sary to exceed the appropriations of the Council. I trust that ample provision will be made for the future, so as to prevent such expenditure ; for at this time, I can conceive no exigency except the absolute protection of the lives and property of our citizens, the property of the city, or the necessary administration of the public business, when unauthorized expenditure of the public money could be sanctioned by me. If the power ex^ts, I deem it one liable to abuse ; and it should be checked. The duties of the Board of Commissioners are arduous and responsible, involving the deepest interest to the public, and I 132 MEMOIRS OF would therefore earnesth^ recommend that their saUiries be itt creased, so as to secure and require their whole time and atten- tion. It is important that some provision should be made for a place of deposit for the sediment removed from the harbor by the mud machines; it is greatly needed, and should have prompt atten-c tion. The report of the Visitors of the Jail of Balimore city anc^ county, refers to their opinions and suggestions heretofore ex** pressed, in reference to the reconstruction of the buildings of thisi institution. Their plans at large and most ably advanced, can be found in former communications, and I believe them of suffi-i cient importance to ask your reference to them. Their adoption was strongly urged by my predecessor in his last annual message, and after a careful examination of his views, I heartily concur in their force and propriety. This institution, with all its disadvan- tages, has been conducted with an order, system and ability, which reflects the highest credit upon all connected with the ad- ministration of its government. The Board of Health give in their report an interesting and satisfactory detail of their actions the past year. Upon examina- tion, you will rejoice to find that our city has maintained its preeminence as one of the most healthy in the world. The beneficial results anticipated from the erection of the Small Pox Hospital have been fully realized, and in the event, at any future period, of this disease appearing in an aggravated or epi- demic form, it would be difiieult to calculate its value. It has been well managed, and so free has the city been from this pesti- lence, that there have been but few cases during the present season. For general detail, I refer joii to the report of the resi- dent physician on that subject, submitted by the Board of Health. I personally examinsd the land attached to the Small Pox Hos- pital, and am induced to believe that it is very susceptible of improvement, and think the outlay of from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars judiciously expended in the improvement of the soil, would in a short time produce a revenue suflicient to reduce very considerably the expense of the institution. I do not think it necessary, at this time, to present my views in detail, but COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 133 believe the suggestions deserving of consideration. Some modi- fication may be necessary in the ordinance for the government of the institution. The various matters submitted to your consideration in the report of the City Eegister require no comment. It may be relied ujjon with confidence, and speaks the acknowledged ability with which this important department has been conducted by the present able incumbent. By reference to the report of the Appeal Tax Court, herewith presented, it will be seen that the assessed value of the property in the city, liable to taxation for citj^ purposes, for the year 1849, is $78,831,965, shov/ing an increase of the corrected assessment for 1848, of the sum of $2,332,354. Assuming the abatements on the assessment to be equal to the sum of $1,331,965, the basis of assessment for the year 1849 will be $77,500,000. The report of the Commissioners of Public Schools, which I herewith submit, is one full of interest. Our school sj'^stem has so entirely won the approbation of the public that it scarcely needs comment. Its early advocates have lived to witness the realization of more tfiian their most sanguine expectations. In my opinion, its extension and perfection should be kept steadily in view. Education diffused as far as practicable among all, is our surest guarantee that the virtue of the people will continue to increase; and upon that virtue and intelligence mainly rest the preservation and perpetuity of our political institutions. The gentlemen who compose the Board appear, by their devotion to its welfare, to have justly appreciated not only the magnitude of their charge, but the deep interest with which the public mind watches its developments. The annual report of the Trustees of the Alms House exhibits the condition of that institution. From a decrease from one of the principal sources of revenue applicable to the support of the poor, (commutation on foreign passengers,) the sum of $16,777.40 ' will be required for the Alms House for 1849, in addition to an unpaid balance of $2,325.40 appropriated for 1848. The report exhibits the gratifying intelligence that the inmates classed as resident paupers have been gradually diminishing in numbers for several years. There arc, at this time, fewer inmates 7 134 MEMOIRS OF of the character indicated, then there were seventeen years since, when the population of Baltimore was but little more than half that of the present period. This fact speaks volumes for the prosperity, as well as for the morals of our citizens. The condi- tion of the institution in general evidences faithful management. The annual report of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Com- pany is herewith submitted. The report from the Baltimore and Susquehanna Eailroad Company has not been received in time for this communication. In the several companies of internal im- provements, the city has a deep interest, not only in a pecuniary point of view, but in the result which must flow from their com- pletion. Each large commercial point is struggling to direct the increasing and already immense trade of the west, to their own particular advantage ; our favorable position, therefore, at an early day induced the proper authorities to grant a most generous aid to all these works. No city in the union has manifested a larger share of liberality ; and while the people were paying a heavy rate of tax, thus incurred, and the city her interest in cash, upon bonds issued for these companies, she w^as the first to receive her dividends in bonus, and in that way, not less than by her example, gave additional and invaluable aid to the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Company. The city having done so mnch, it may well be hoped that the enterprise of our citizens in their individual capacity, will rival those of a sister citj', and meet nature half way by a speedy union of the Chesapeake and Ohio river ; an alliance so natural that it would seem to defy competition. The authenticated accounts which we daily receive of the prog- ress of the Asiatic Cholera, and its sudden and uncertain appear- ance, should admonish us to prepare for its approach. I would, therefore, earnestly call your attention to the subject, as one of vital importance. The existing healthy condition of our city may not, and I hope will not, be disturbed by this dreaded pesti- lence ; but it might overtake us as it has others, with fearful surprise, while a timely prudence may disarm it of much of its fatal power. Opposed as I am to all unnecessary expenditures, and favorable to the most rigid retrenchment, compatible with the public good, yet in a rapidly growing city like ours, matters involving expense COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 135 will present themselves, and which a just protection to the com- munity seems to make imperative. Of these, the tunnelling of Harford and Schrocder's runs, and the erection of a House of Refuge, I think of great public necessit}-. I incline to the opinion that the city might ultimately find all these measures as economical as I conceive them to be requisite. In reference to Harford run, an opinion prevails that the cit\" is liable in law for the consequence of any accident which might occur in its present condition, which is one full of danger. Accidents of a serious nature have occurred, and this equally involves a very high con- sideration of the protection which the public pay for, and have a right to demand. Independent of this, the improvement of this run would greatly increase the value of the city property, and by removing the railroad upon the middle of the tunnel, it would niake not only a great public thoroughfare, but a very handsome street. I would recommend this improvement as a progressive one, tind an investigation, I think, would show the cost to be much less than generally supposed. Schroeder's run is perhaps not so dangerous, but a much greater nuisance, and by all means should be tunnelled. Its present condition greatly impairs the value of property, and prevents improvement. I earnestlj^ invite the attention of the Council to it. In reference to a House of Refuge, I doubt whether a single citizen can be found who will not cheerfully admit its great and increasing necessity. I believe most, if not all, of our sister cities have been driven to it by necessity, or, influenced by more disinterested motives, have pre- pared an asjdum for the friendless, or those who have no protec- tion against the temptations of early vice. The City Jail in its present condition, is but a- school to the uninitiated in more matured crime ; and while it and the Alms House are both neces- sary, yet I doubt not, but that a well regulated system of eaiJy training would lessen the expenses of both. AVhat the want of such an institution co?ts the community, no one can tell. If the various fires, which occur from no account- able cause, could be traced to their true source, and which large rewards have failed to penetrate, then, indeed, mfght we properly appreciate its value. To erect an institution, such as other cities have at this time perfected, would present a startling cost. Such 136 MEMOIRS OF is not my view, which onl}- contemplates a commencement ade- quate to our means, and upon such principles of industry as would go for to defray the expenses. Experience would then show its importance, and the public mind as in our school system, would justify increased expenditures, Tor many years past, the peace of the city has been dis- turbed. Ordinances have been passed, and the Council anxiously concerned, to devise some means to stay the violence and outrage attendant upon actual fires, and false alarms, too often got up for such purpose. The police of the city have, with great fidelity, discharged their duty, yet the evil, instead of abating, seems to increase. Life itself has paid the penalty of these riots, an inno- cent victim has been slain at mid-day in the public streets, fire arms freely used, and the peace of various parts of the city en- tirely destroyed by scenes of the most disgraceful kind ; the only wonder is, that more extensive injury has not been done. All experience shows, that these outbreaks have their origin outside of the tire companies proper. No class of the community more deplores these excesses than the generous and patriotic men, who freely risk their lives and impair their health to protect the property of their fellow citizens. To no class is a general debt of gratitude more eminently due ; but there are various and dan- gerous combinations throughout the city of idle and evil disposed boys and persons, who stimulated by sectional hatred, watch every alarm of fire, and seize the opportunity of rallying under difi'erent names for a general fight. The arrests that are made, and the convictions and punishment of those so arrested, prove this to be true. It has struck me forcibly that some appropriate mark of public approbration, medals or otherwise, and classified as first, second, and third, presented to those three companies most distinguished for their good conduct and order, and for the preservation of both, would have a most beneficial eflfect — these awards to be based upon monthly or quarterly reports to this office, b}^ the president and directors of each company, and to be submitted to an annual investigating committee appointed by the Council. Those" who have no connection with fire companies, other than by mere preference and location, might thus be made sensible of COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 137 the discredit which their misconduct brought upon their favorite company, — or on the other hand, how much honor they had in their power to confer upon it. The lawless, who are often reck- less to penalties and consequences, may be stimulated to generous emulation; and with certain punishment upon one side, and the high reward of public distinction upon the other, both means would be applied which are known to influence human conduct, as well the bad as the good. It is scarcely necessary to add that all the power and authority invested in me by the ordinances, shall be vigorously enforced to prevent these disgraceful out- breaks of violence ; for the peace of the city must and shall be preserved, and that, too, without fear, favor or affection. The wharf on the south side of the city dock has entirely fallen in, and the earth is rapidly filling it up. The interest of the city would be much promoted by the immediate re-construction of the wharf. In its present condition, every day adds to future labor and expense. If the wharf were re-built it would yield a good revenue to the city, as well as aff'ord a convenient deposit for the sediment removed from the dock, which is an important con- sideration. I would recommend a revision of the ordinances and supple- mentary acts, fn relation to the opening and paving of streets. They are complicated, and, in passing ordinances upon these sub- jects, are liable to lead the city into obligations, which at the time are not anticipated, and for which no appropriations are of course made. If I am not in error, my judgment is that an investiga- tion will show that such revision demands the consideration of the Council. I think it advisable that the Port Warden's line, at the south side of the basin, should be properly designated by driving piles, or in such other way that it may be easily known. I invite your attention to the expediency of making some improvements, much needed, at the Hanover market. At pres- ent, the west end of the market house is used as a fish market. From an examination of the premises I am leatl to believe that there is ample room in the square formed by the market house to erect a fish market house, which would afiford considerably more room for the butchers, which seems to be much required. The 138 MEMOIRS OF eaves of the roof of the north side and west end of the market house do not extend over the foot pavement to the curb stones, which ought to be done, and, when done, it would afford a row of benches the length and width of the market, that would yield a considerable revenue to the city. The Centre market requires new roofing or much repairing. I respectfully invite your atten- tion to them. I have a communication in reference to the building of an Ice Boat, for the purpose of keeping the harbor open during the winter. I invite your attention to it — I do not doubt its great importance. A proposition has been submitted, exhibiting the economy with which it might be effected ; but as I do not feel myself qualified to express a decided opinion on the plan pro- posed, I herewith transmit the communication on the subject for your consideration. I have received and herewith present a communication from John "VYilson, Esq., a highly respectable citizen, in relation to the condition of Jones' Falls, to which I ask j^our attention. Within the past year, one thousand nine hundred and twenty new buildings have been erected in the city. During the administration of my predecessor, whose zeal I shall endeavor to emulate, whose ability I cannot — an appropriation of $30,000 was made by Congress for the erection of a fortification upon SoUers' point flats. I am happy to understand that an addi- tional appropriation of $4:0,000 is contemplated the present year, and the Government having become sensible of its necessity, will, it is hoped, prosecute the work in a manner commensurate with its great importance to the defence of the city and country. Alexandre Yattemare, a citizen of France, well and favorably known by reputation to the people of this country, has presented, upon his principles of national interchange, in the name of the city of Paris, a variety of valuable books to the corporation of Baltimore, which are in my office. The Council may deem some action, upon a subject so honorable and praiseworthy, as respect- ful and proper. The following statement, for which I am indebted to General "William H. Marriott, Collector of the Port of Baltimore, exhibits the foreign commerce of our city during the year 1848 : COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 139 Stateynoit of the Foreign Commerce of the Port of Balt'unore, for the. year IS48. Merchandise imported in Araericnn vessels $4,988,175 '' " Foreign '' 574,742 Total imports $5,562,917 Exports of Domestic produce in American vessels $5,435,450 " " " Foreign " 1,079,242 Exports of Foreign merchandise in American " 83,311 " " " Foreign '' 24,330 Total exports $6,622,363 No. Ves. Tons. Men. Entries of American vessels from Foreign ports 346 74,801 3,226 Eutries of Foreign vessels from Foreign ports 114 22,99G 1,102 Total entries 460 97,797 4,328 Clearances of American vessels to Foreign ports 412 90,544 3,868 Clearances of Foreign vessels to Foreign ports 124 28,058 1,302 Total clearances 536 118,602 5,170 I desire to call your attention to the propriety of re-construct- ing the old draAvbridge, at the lower end of the citj^ property on the west side of Jones Falls, to Block street, on Fell's Point. It would be a great accommodation as a thoroughfare in that part of the city, and I think it is worthy of your consideration. All of which is respectfully submitted, ELIJAH STAIS^SBUKY, Mayor. The communication of the Mayor, with the documents accom- panying it, was referred to the usual committee for distribution. 140 MEMOIES OF Second Branch. The Branch met at the appointed hour and was temporarily organized hy calling David Taylor, Esq., to the chair. The following members were then sworn in and took their seats, viz : John T. Farlow, Fred. L. Shafi'er, Joseph J. Stewart, John W. Willson, A. E. Warner, Sr., David Taylor, J. R. Kelso, John Dukehart, Elias Ware, Jr., Wm. A. Hack. On motion of Mr. Ware, Wm. A. Hack, Esq., was unani- mously elected President of the Branch. The per diem of the Clerk of the Branch was fixed at $5, and that of the Door-keeper at $2. Mr. John A. Thompson was then elected Clerk, and Mr. E. E. Sinners, Door-keeper. The annual communication of the Mayor was received at the hands of his Secretary, V. H. Kalkman, Esq., and ordered to be read. The communication of the Mayor, with the accompanying documents, was referred to joint special committee for distribu- tion, to the appropriate committees. Adjourned. We feel it our duty here to say, that we have seldom seen a document of the kind, the tone of which has pleased us more than the above Message of his Honor, Mayor Stansbury. It combines detail with concise- ness, and sets forth the condition of the concerns of the body politic with lucidness and force. In the first place he finds causes of thankfulness and gratitude to a Beneficent Providence, and then in a plain straight- forward way makes known the prosperous condition of the municipal affairs of the community and proceeds at once to make such suggestions as the necessity of the times requires. Indeed the writer does know that the Baltimore Ameriean, the leading Whig Journal at that time, spoke of the Message in the highest terms of COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 141 praise, and in a like strain of the Register's statement, which we also subjoin. Register's Statement. The following statement of the financial concerns of the city of Baltimore for the past j^ear, was submitted to the City Council 3'esterday afternoon : Registers Statement of the condition of the City Treasury on the 31st day of December, IS4S, — and of the estimated receipts and payments for the year 1S49. CiTT Register's Office, \ Baltimore, Jaauary 19th, 18i9. J Gentlemen of the First ayid Second Branches of the City Council. In compliance with his duty, the City Eegister herewith pre- sents his annual statement. The receipts into the Treasury during the past year were $925,997.20. The payments amounted to $963,862.72, including in this sura the balance of $84,902.14 against the Treasury on the 31st of December, 1847. The balance to the debit of the Treasury on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1848, it will be thus seen, was $37,865.52. The liabilities with which the present year commences, are these : For one quarter's interest on Stock Debt for Inter- nal Improvements, due 31st of December, 1848.... $72,823 23 For one quarter's interest on Stock Debt for other than Court House and Internal Improvements 5,845 24 For amount due to Trustees of the Poor, and to the German and Hiberniati Societies 10,579 59 For amount due to owners of property sold for city taxes 4,194 G4 For amount due to owners of property sold for pay- ing taxes 1,124 28 Amount forwarded $ 94,066 93 7* 142 MEMOIRS OF Amount brought forward $ 94,066 98 For amount due to owners of property taken for paying taxes 6,781 30 $100,848 28 Add deficit, as above 37,865 52 $138,713 80 The foregoing exhibit shows a condition of the city finances a little improved, in comparison with the last annual statement, and this will be the more notable, when the deficiency in the actual receipts from the levy of 1848 is taken into consideration, arising from the unusual amount of discount allowed b}'- the City Collector for prompt payment, (say $22,331.66,) as well as the abatements made by the Appeal Tax Court on the basis of that levy, (say $1,102,769.) The demands upon the Treasury for the current year are shown by the annexed tables to be as follows : Balance against the Treasury, existing claims, and requisitions of the several departments, &c $917,493 63 Estimated receipts 416,203 11 To be provided for by taxes $501,290 52 I have received from the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad Com- pany $122,500, in a certificate for twelve hundred and twenty-five shares of the stock of said company, being the amount of divi- dend declared, and thus paid on the stock held by the city. Of course, this is considered as inappreciable as a part of the reve- nues for the year. In making an estimate for the levy of taxes to be provided, it will be seen that it is calculated upon the collection of six-tenths, on a basis of $77,500,000 of assessable property. It was thought better to take this calculation, for the reason that seven-tenths are seldom if ever collected within the year, and any amount over the smaller proportion is more than lost in the discrepancy betw^een the arrearages of old taxes estimated as collectable and the sum which is actually' collected, to say nothing of the many expenditures authorized by ordinances during the session of the Council, and which can never be anticipted by the Eegister. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 143 lo 5) o o o o o o o t- C<1 t^ O l^ o o CO r-. CC I- CO o t— ^ r- 't O QO "* rj^ t- O I- >o -* ^ o rl r^ r- CS 00 CO c^ (N ^ ¥k .0 -M CO 00 :r ;^^ o G^ C^ ci,rt of the MilitarTj Major-General Smith and Staff, Brigadier-General Leakin, Brigadier-General Dutton, Colonel Hickman, Colonel Maguire, Colonel Anderson, Colonel Pickell, Colonel Davies, Colonel Bouldin, Colonel Ninde, Colonel Thompson, Colonel Kopes, Lieut.-Col. Miles, U. S. A. Lieutenant-Colonel Sanderson, Lieutenant-Colonel Gill, Lieutenant-Colonel Spurrier, Lieutenant-Colonel Kane, Lieutenant-Colonel Benzinger, Lieutenant-Colonel Peters, Major McPhail, U. S. A. Major Elterman, Major Gover, Major Gittings, Major J. J. Turner. Major J. R. Kenly, Major Watkins, Major Gilmor, Major Sweeney, Major Archer, Captain Hall, Captain Harris, Captain Kalkman, Captain Lilly, Captain Marshall, Captain Shutt, Captain Bouldin, Captain McAllister, Captain Emmart, Captain Thompson, Captain Suter, Captain Krien, Captain Swain, Captain Grundy, Lieutenant Gross, Lieutenant Laws, Lieutenant Egerton, Lieutenant Hunt, Lieutenant Spilman, Lieutenant Saunders, Lieutenant Davis, Lieutenant Holland, Lieutenant Brown, Lieutenant Bowers, Lieutenant Hamilton, Lieutenant Street. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 157 f}jo?i the part of the Citizens. FIRST ■WARD. J. Mayberry Turner, Geo. W. Pappler, John Slater, 'John Muckelroy, Wm. Costigan, John Milholland, David Grieves, Jr. E. C. Lupton, C. C. Phillips, Peter Mowell. SECOXD WARD. John W. Williams, Jas. E. Collins, Robert M. Spedden, A. H. Wood, Thomas Hamilton, James Beach am. D. W. Hudson, Mitchell B. Fields, T. J. Warrington, H. D. McCullough, James McNeal, Charles F. Maloy, James Flaherty, Hugh A. Cooper, John E. Stansbury, James Mullen, Sr. THIRD WARD. Chas. Gardiner, Thomas Donahue, John W. Hall, Dr. Wm. T. Leonard, Henry C. Sultzer. FOURTH WARD. Edward Petherbridge, Alfred Perry, Dr. J. Cockey, Dr. J. Keene, J. Carter, J. Higginbotham, Wm. Claggett, Wm. E. Hanson, Thomas Sullivan, Colonel Wm. Chesnut. FIFTH AVARD. Hon. Sorn Hillen, Jr. D. L. Maulsby, James Lucas, Dr. Jno. L. Yeates, Hugh Bolton, 8 Wm. L. McCauley, Jesse Dashields, Patrick Dunn, Wm. Bailey, David Street. 158 Evan M. Foreman, Wm. H. Bolton, Kobert Betts, John Ijams, John Bolgiano, MEMOIRS OF SIXTH WARD. Emanuel Stansbury, H. B. Horton, Wm. D. Boberts, Jacob Taylor, Wm. A. Stuart. SETENTH WAKD. George A. Levering, William A. Devere, Thomas GifFord, David Parr, Alex. Tracey, James McNabb, John R. Blake, Wm. Cunningham, AVm. E. Beale, George Swearer. EIGHTH WARD. Isaac M. Denson, Isaac G. Roberts, Pv. S. Bowie, Stephen Fell, Wm. H. H. Turner, W. A. A. J. Grubb, Theophilus Dobler, Adam Denmead, Lawrence E. Bradj-, Marcus Wolf. KINTH WARD. George Reiley, Wm. Prescott Smith, Chas. F. Cloud, Robert Boyd, Robert Wylie, Wm. Boyd, Baltimore st. Wm. Yernetson, Dr. Morris, Gaston Lecompte, J. C. Ninde. TENTH WARD. John Neilson, I. ;^evitt Steele, Joseph B. Williams Luther Manship, Zenos Barnum, T. Parkin Scott, George H. Hickman, Wm. N. Brice, Hon. John P. Kennedy, Joseph Simpson. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. ELEVENTH WARD 159 Hon. Robert M. McLane, Thomas Swann, Lambert S. Norwood, R. C. Barry, Wm. A. Poor, Colonel Mendez 1. Cohen, Wesley Cowles, Edward V. Ward, Lemuel W. Gosnell, John Gregg. TWELFTH WARD. Richard BarroU, Edmund Bull, George C. Frailey, Daniel McCann, James Scarf, Wm. Mann, Hon. Charles M. Kcyser, Arthur McGreevy, W^m. O. Welsh, Joshua Parker. THIRTEENTH WARD. Wm. P. Pouder, Wm. H. Smith, • H. Ray Bowie, E. O'D. Poor, Wm. Pinkney Whyte, Edward Boyle, James Y. Wagner, Robert Close, Thomas E. Hamilton, Wm. E. Johnson. FOURTEENTH WARD. Thomas M. Locke, Nicholas King, Dr. Moreau Eorrest, Thomas Carroll, Charles McDonald, Randolph B. Latimer James Dunn, Charles Dougherty, James Essender, J. L. Walsch. FIFTEENTH WARD. R. T. Pennington, Jno. Fitzpatrick, Jr. of Jno, Barney Kinsley, Wm. Heckrotte, Hugh Humphries, Captain J. K. Swain, Levi Taylor, Jr. George Dutton, Moses Hindcs, George Spies. 160 MEMOIRS OF SIXTEENTH AVARD. Charles Hentz, "William Keese, Jr. Eicharcl C. Green, N. Pamphillion, Samuel Mass, Robert Mills, James R. Jackson, Samuel Burns, Thomas C. "Wilson, John Disnev, SEYEXTEEXTIl WAKD. L. B. Curley, Henry Barton, Alex. Gould, Jr, Joseph Evans, Isaiah Gardner, Charles A. Leloup, Frederick Cook, George Rose, Dr. WHiittaker, Amos Reeder. EIGHTEENTH WARD. James J). Marr, Charles Coyle, Alexander Paul, Thomas Lockington, Francis Hoover, Edward Moon, Levi Hoge, John Hopkins, J. Rodgers, Jr. K. Bullock. NINETEENTH AVARD. Colonel Charles Myers, George Suter, Wm.^A. Hack, David Stewart, Frederick W^ood worth, George Courtes, Wm. Power, Richard C. Murray, Dr. E. J. Chaisty, Louis Servar3^ TWENTIETH WARD. James Lawson, Wm. Edon, James J. Lawn, Dr. Charles Frick, Joseph Krcager, Thomas Carson, Boudinot Loney, Bazil Root, Thomas Symington, John Cook. CHDLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 161 Executive Committee. Col. D. S. Miles, John McPherson, Wm. H. Ferguson, Henry K. Reynolds, Wm. H. Cole, Jr. Wm. Henry Steuart, Colonel Geo. P. Kane, Wm. A. Boyd, Sidnor S. Donaldson, Cbas. C Egerton, Captain Richard Lilly, Moses Griest, Isaac M. Denson, Samuel Harris. JOSHUA YANSAXT, Treasurer. The Managers arc requested to call on Joshua Yaxsant, Esq., the Treasurer, and procure tickets. Liberal Donations to the Poor. We have been furnished by the Mayor with the following let- ters. Such acts of liberality carry with them their own reward, and cannot fail of inciting others to "go and do likewise." Office Dai.timoke Steam Packet Co , Baltimore, January 12lh, 1S49. To Elijah Stansbury, Esq., Mayor, Sir: I am requested by the Directors of the Baltimore Steam Packet Company to present, through you, sixty cords of wood for the benefit of the poor of this city, with the request that it be distributed by the city missionaries. The wood is now on the Company's wharf, subject to your order. Very respectfully, M. :N'. FALLS, President B. S. P. Co. Baltimore, Janu.iry 7tl), 1849. Elijah Stansbury, Mayor: Sir : I am directed, on the part of the Philadelphia, Wilming- ton and Baltimore Railroad Company, to ask your acceptance of twenty-five cords of wood for the use of the poor of the city. Your order upon John Timmons, at the Depot in President street, will be duly honored for that quantity. Yery respectfully, ALFRED CRAWFORD, Agent. 162 MEMOIRS OF This humane undertaking on the part of the Mayor was followed by the immediate organization of ^'The Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor/' which still exists, proving a blessing to thousands of the indigent. Mr. Stansbury, ever forward in doing good works, published the following notice: Keform IX THE United States Navy. The undersigned would call the attention of the citizens of Baltimore to a meeting to be held at Brown's Buildings on the Gih of Mai^cJi, 1849, at 7 o'clock, to take such measures as may in their opinion tend to elevate the character of that long neglected class of citizens, the American Seamen. It is expected that many of our prominent citizens will address the meeting. Watson G. Haynes and other seamen will make a statement of facts interesting to the American people. Ladies are respectfully invited to attend. ELIJAH STANSBUEY, Mayor. Moses J. Hinds, "Wm. H. Hope, George A. Davis, Samuel Kramer, Edward Hirney, Kramer, Mantz & Co. E. C. Wells, Kirkland, Chase & Co. Charles Soran, Jas. Corner & Sons, F. Littig Shaifer, B. Buck & Sons, Henry Y. D. Johns, D. D. E. W. Brune & Sons, Wm. Graham & Son, Butts, Pickrell & Co. John C. Backus, D. D, Charles E. Mayer, E. W. Brune, Jr. A B. Wolfe, Alex. Brown & Sons, Wm. Wilson & Sons, J. Harman Brown, Wm. E. Mahew, D. H. Lawrence, Martin & Yalette, S. S. Donaldson, Wm. S. Plumer. Ship masters, foremast men, and all who feel interested in ele- vating the character of American Seamen, are invited. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 163 Kev. Dr. Johns, Kector of Christ's Church ; Rev. Dr. Backus, Rev. Dr. Plumer, Charles F. Mayer, Esq., and other distin- guished gentlemen will address the meeting. Hon. John P. Hale, United States Senator, is expected to be present and par- ticipate in the proceedings. Admission free. The following is an account of the meeting held in accordance to the above call : Meeting ix Favor or Seamen in the United States Navy. A large and interesting meeting of persons favorable to the elevation of the character of seamen in the United States Navy, by the abolishment of corporeal punishment and of the liquor rations, was held in the saloon of Brown's Lyre Building, on Tuesday night. The meeting was organized by the appointment of the following officers : President: Mayor Stansbury. Vice-Presidents: Geo. Brown, Captain Cotrell, G. Broadbent, "Wm. Kraft, C. Keener, Charles Soran and S. Kramer. Secretary : Wm. H. Hope. A letter, signed by a number of the seamen on board the United States ship Ontario, advocating the objects of the meet- ing was read by the Secretary. Mr. W. G. Haynes, a seamen, who is devoting his time and energies in the endeavor to obtain the abolishment of flogging in the Navy, then addressed the meeting. Mr. Haynes, who has himself served in the Navy, spoke forcible and warmly of the great crueltj' which is sometimes practised towards seamen on board the Government vessels, principally by the junior and petty officers, and of the bad results which grow out of this tyrannical treatment. He had yet to hear of the first seamen who had been reformed by flogging ; on the contrary, the degra- dation which the infliction of the lash entailed, generally stirred up the worst passions of the man, and made him lost to all the controlling influences of manliness and self-respect. The seaman who had been punished with the " colt " or the " cat " for intem- perance, would in many cases resort to the stimulating influence 164 MEMOIRS OF of drink, as a means of drowning the recollecti(>n of his deep degradation. The advocates of the system of flogging first treated the sailor as if he were less than a man and only to be ruled by those influ- ences of fear and chastisement by which the brute creation are governed, and then argued the necessity of the continuance of the degrading system of corporeal punishment from the very state of affairs which they had been active in producing. As a general rule the vessel in which the most flogging took place was in the worst state of discipline. The speaker also forcibly contended that intemperance, among both officers and men, was the cause of a large majority of the cases of flogging which occurred. Per- sons would send their sons or relatives who had been wild, or trangressed the bounds of morals or law, into the Navy, as a school of reform, but he thought it the most unlikely place where any reform could be effected. He had seen few men who had been in the Navy any length of time who had not been made confirmed drunkards. This was the almost inevitable effect of the daily liquor rations which were served out to them. Mr. Haynes supported his positions by reading various letters and affidavits from seamen on board different naval vessels. The meeting was afterwards addressed by the Kev. Dr. Plum- mer, who spoke eloquently in behalf of the rights of the sailor, and against the present system of flogging ; and also by C. Keener, Esq , the latter confining his remarks almost exclu- sively to the temperance view of the case, and to the propriety of abolishing the liquor rations. The Rev. Mr. Preeman, the tract distributor, then addressed the meeting, giving the result of his experience and observation whilst serving, in his youth, as a "pressed " seaman in the British Navy. His remarks were deeply interesting, and received much attention. Mr. S. Kramer presented a series of resolutions approving of the efforts making to elevate the character of the seamen in the Navy, and authorizing the appointment of a committee to take the subject into consideration, and to report at another meeting, to be called by them, the most advisable plan of action for the furtherance of the objects in view. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 165 The resolutions were adopted, and the Chair appointed the following gentlemen on the Committee: Messrs. S. Kramer, G. Broadbent, C. Keener, A. G. Cole, Captain Cotrell. The meeting then adjourned. Mr. Stansbury, though elected as a Democrat, proved himself essentially the Mayor for the people, always cooperating with them in every noble enter- prise, as the following indicates : York and Cumberland Kailroad. A meeting of the citizens of Baltimore favorable to the exten- sion of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Bailroad to Harrisburg, by the immediate construction of the York and Cumberland Kail- road, was held last evening in the large saloon of Brown's Build- ings, Baltimore street. The room was filled before the hour announced for the commencement of the meeting, and the pro- ceedings and spirit manifested throughout evinced a determina- tion to consummate an undertaking fraught with vitality to the interests and trade of Baltimore. The meeting was called to order by General C. O'Donnell, who moved that his Honor, the Mayor, be called to the Chair, which motion prevailed, and Elijah Stansbury,, Esq., accordingly presided. George M. Gill, Esq., then proposed the following gentlemen as Vice-Presidents, who were unanimously elected : Gen. C. O'Donnell, John Q. Hewlett, Johns Hopkins, David S. Wilson, Wm. A. Hack, Israel Griffith, William Bose, John S. Gittings, William Heald, O. C. Tiffany, Robert Wylie, W^m. H. Collins, C. Brooks, Samuel G. Wymau, D. B. Banks, Thos. Wilson, James Beatty, Henry Tiffany, S. Owings Hofl:man, Samuel Barnes, Wm. E. Mavhew, J. Hanson Thomas, 166 MEMOIRS OF John M, Gordon, Wm. G. Harrison, James H. Wilson, Wm. D. Miller, Josias Pennington, Thos. C. Jenkins, Henry Eiemen, Isaac Munroe, J. I. Cohen, David Stuart, Henry Shirk, Thomas Kelso, Thomas J. Carson, Samuel Keady, On motion of JSTeilson Poe, Esq. appointed Secretaries : J, H. Carter, Enoch Pratt, Patrick H. Sullivan, James Erazier, E. W. Brune, Thomas "Whitridge, G. K. Gaither, John P. Kennedy, Samuel Riggs, G. Av. Spreckelsen,' Jos. W. Patterson, Hugh Jenkins, Gilbert Cassard, Hugh McElderry, Harry E. Turner, John Eitzpatrick, James "Williams. the following gentlemen were Benj. C. Presstman, Joseph C. Manning, Charles Soran. The meeting being fully organized, the Chairman, with some appropriate remarks, introduced General Thomas C. Hambly, of Pennsylvania, the President of the York and Cumberland Rail- road Company, who addressed the meeting at some length, advo- cating in the most forcible manner, and with the most convincing arguments, the necessity, for the prosperity and trade of Balti- more, of the connection of the two roads, sought to be accom- plished by the present movement. After General Hambly had concluded, James H. Carter, Esq., offered the following resolution, which he supported in an elo- quent manner : Resolved, That the extension of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad to Harrisburg, by the immediate construction of the York and Cumberland Railroad, is an enterprise of pressing and impera- tive necessity, demanded as a measure of self defence and prompted by every just consideration of individual and private interest, as well as by the most obvious motives of enlightened public policy. ThG resolution was unanimously adopted. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. J 67 Christian Keener, Esq , then introduced the following resolu- tion, which was unanimously adopted, and to which he spoke in his peculiar forcible and emphatic manner : Besohcd, That the amount of money necessary to construct the York and Cumberland Railroad, being a sum much less than the present city tax for a single year, can easily be raised — must be raised —and roilL be raised; and that, in the opinion of every considerate men who has given the subject the least attention, the investment in the stock of the Company must pay a good interest to the holder, whilst the city will derive an incalculable benefit from the invest- ment, in the security and extension of Ler trade, and the consequent enhancement in the value of her property. Johns Hopkins, Esq., made a motion that the meeting pass from speaking to aci'mg, and that the books for subscription to stock in the proposed Eoad be opened and presented to every man in the room ; which was accordingly done, and resulted in an additional subscription to the amount already subscribed of one thousand three hundred and seventy-four shares. Whilst the subscription books were being circulated, Thomas Wilson, Esq., rose, and after some remarks on the necessity of immediate action, stated his willingness to head a list of one hundred subscribers for one hundred shares each, on condition that the proposed number could be obtained. Five other gentle- men promptly announced their readiness to join in this subscrip- tion, making the total amount, positive and conditional, sub- scribed at the meeting about two thousand shares. On motion of J. H. Carter, Esq., the following resolution was unanimously adopted : Resolved, That an Executive Committee of Twenty gentlemen be appointed by this meeting, to act in conjunction with General Thomas C. Hambly, the President of the York and Cumberland Railroad Cora- pany, and George M. Gill, Adam Denmead and Wm. B. DuvalJ, Esqs., Directors in said Company : That said Committee, in connection with the gentlemen named, be charged with the duty of procuring the necessary subscriptions to the Stock of the Company, and that they have full power to adopt such measures, and employ such agencies and means as they may deem best calculated to insure the success of the enterprise, and report the result of their proceedings to a meeting 168 MEMOIRS OF of the Stockholders, to be convened by them for that purpose : And that said Committee consist of the following gentlemen : Gen. C. O'Donnell, J. H. Carter, Johns Hopkins, George Bartlett, Henry Tiflany, John Glenn, Thomas "Wilson, George W. Cox, Benj. Deford, John M. Orem, Aug. J. Albert, Wm. D. Miller, Joseph W. Jenkins, Henry Shirk, Enoch Pratt, G. Av. Spreckelsen, P. H. Sullivan, James Tyson, Zenos Barnum, Geo. W. N orris, ■with power to fill vacancies, add to their number, and appoint sub- committees to act under their direction. George W. Norris, Esq., submitted the following resolution, which was also unanimously adopted. Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting., and of the citizens of Baltimore generally, are eminently due to General TiiomAs C. HAir- BLV, for the energy, zeal and perseverance which he has exhibited, under the most depressing and discouraging circumstances, in bring- ing to the notice of the citizens, keeping before them, and pressing on their attention, the important subject of the York and Cumberland Railroad. The following resolution, oftered by G-eorge M. Gill, Esq., was adopted ; Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the several daily papers of the city. The meeting then adjourned. [The gentlemen named above as composing the Executive Committee are requested to meet at Barnum 's Hotel, this even- ing, at half past seven o clock.] From the Baltimore American. Municipal CouPwTesies. Monsieur Yattemare, the originator and zealous advocate of the system of national interchanges, was in our city a few days since, and in company with several gentlemen called on Mayor COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 169 IStansbur}', at the City Hall, and on behalf of the city of Paris presented to the city of Baltimore a collection of volumes and pamphlets ; the most of which contain the laws by which the internal government of Paris is regulated ; together with some valuable statistics and reports of its municipal officers. M. Yatte- mare, in making the presentation, indulged in a few appropriate remarks in which he stated that to Baltimore must be accorded the honor of having been the first city which responded to his system of national interchanges, two of her former Mayors, Law and Davies, having on diiferent occasions had jirepared and for- warded to the city of Paris, copies of the ordinances of the city with the laws of the State relating thereto. The books presented by M. Yattemare are many of them quite large and valuable, and have beautifully stamped with wax on the outer cover the corpo- rate seal of the city of Paris. They will be placed in the city library for reference and preservation. 170 MEMOIRS OF CHAPTER XY. The Approval of his AYise Administration by the Press — His Second Message. During the administration of Colonel Stansbury, the municipal affairs were conducted with such exact economy and prudence as to win the unqualified ap- proval of all parties. On the 22d of January, 1850, the Baltimore American remarked : The citizens of Baltimore have met the taxation of the past year with commendable promptitude and universality. During the year the City Collector received for taxes, |690,017 67, being $61,452 80 more than during any preceding year. The total value of assessed property at the end of the year was $80,237,960, being an increase during the year of $1,985,272. Regarding a healthy condition of the finances of a city as all important to the success of its Chief Magis- trate's administration, the remarks of the American (Whig) are but a deserv^ed compliment. Progressive improvement of the city is the next consideration, and in reference to which the same paper remarks : From the Baltimore American. TuNXELLixG or Harford Eun. The ordinance providing for the tunnelling of Harford run, from Fayette to Lombard streets, has passed both Branches of the City Council, and will, no doubt, receive the approval of the Mayor. The bill appropriates $2,700 for defraying the ex- pense of the proposed tunnelling. It is intended to tunnel two squares of the run each year, until the whole is completed. The cost of the whole \% estimated at $14,000. COI.ONEI. ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 171 Health of Baltimore. The peculiar exemption of this city from the visitation of the Cholera during the past year, whilst its ravages were felt in all the other large cities and in almost every State in the Union, is appropriately dwelt upon by the Mayor in his communication. It appears that the total number of deaths in Baltimore, during the year 1849, was 4,576; and of these 3,248 were still-born, or under ten years, or over fifty years — reducing the mortality of tho>?e between the ages of ten and fifty years to the comparatively small number of 1,328. New HorsEs. The total number of new brick houses of all classes, erected in this city during the past year, is oflicially stated to be one thou- sand eight hundred and ninety-four. The march of improvement is not confined to any particular section of Baltimore ; its pres- ence is visible in every quarter, i^either is it the result of specu- lative operations, but the fruit of healthful, substantial progress in the development of our admirable natural resources and posi- tion. Compared with JS'ew^ York and Philadelphia, the account of new houses in 1849 stands as follows : New York, new^ buildings 1,495 Philadelphia city and liberties 3,000 Baltimore 1,894 In speaking of the Register's Summary, the same paper adds : Register's Summary. We lay before our readers this morning the annual exhibit of the Finances of the City, submitted to the City Council yester- day afternoon by the Register. It is a document that cannot fail to command attention. It is a remarkable flict that every important measure suggested by Mayor Stansbury was, after due delibera- tion, adopted by the Council, except one, and the 172 MEMOIRS OF failure to cany it out by that body, continues to this day to be a subject of regret. We refer to the propo- sition to buy Colonel Howard's property, to be laid out as a public park. As an evidence of this, we would state that as late as 1871, twenty-two years having elapsed, a proposition has appeared in the dif- ferent newspapers to buy the mere remnant now left for a like purpose. This fact shows the forethought and wisdom of Mayor Stansbury. CITY AFFAIRS— MA TORS MESS A GE. We publish, in another part of this morning's American, the Annual Communication of the Mayor to the City Council, which body assembled yesterdaj-^ afternoon in regular annual session. It is a paper which comes home to the interests of all classes, and will therefore command a very general and attentive perusal. — Baltimore American. Mayor's Communicatiox. Mayor's Office, 1 BALTiiiORE, Jaauary 2)st, 1850./ To the Members of the First and Second Branches of the City Council. Gentlemen : Perhaps the representatives of no people on earth who ever assembled together, had more real or just cause for gratitude and thankfulness to Almighty God, not only for blessings which have been received, but for calamities withheld, than have you, and the constituency whom you represent. In uniting with you in this reverential acknowledgment, I feel that it is not with the formality customary upon occasions like the present, but with the most solemn recognition and appreciation of the divine graciousness and mercy. The year which has just passed will be remembered throughout many portions of the world, as one of pestilence and terror. The Asiatic Cholera, alike dreadful and mysterious, did not exempt COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUIIY. 173 our country from the tribute of death, which it lias so rigidly, and with fearful fatality, exacted from mankind. That our con- stituents, although surrounded by the epidemic, should have escaped a doom which almost seemed inevitable, and which con- vulsed whole communities, is cause of no ordinary thankfulness and reflection. How far, under divine Providence, the prepara- tions made by authority of the Council, to avert the calamity, had the effect of doing so, is of course beyond the reach of human knowledge. In carrying out the provisions of the Council with untiring promptness and energy, it should not be forgotten, that many of our citizens aided the public authorities with zeal, liberality and efficiency. From Avhatever cause, however, this mercy was vouchsafed to us as a people, it ought at least to ad- monish us for the future that no investment pays a more enlarged interest than a judicious application of means for the sanatory protection of the city. I respectfully invite your attention to the details of the various reports herewith submitted. "Without exception, they all exhibit great care, attention and watchful regard for the public interest. A close examination of them \\\\\ not only repay for the time expended, but give a critical knowledge of the condition and prospects of the city, which cannot be found elsew^here. Such investigation, I am quite sure, you will make ; and if united with a comparison of similar documents, submitted within the last quarter of a century, no stronger or more infallible evidence can be had of the increasing responsibilities we mutually incur, in consideration of the immensely increasing interests Ave have to guard. From the number of houses annually built in Baltimore, dating from the last year or two, it is a fair inference, that there is added to our population yearly double the number of souls that any inland town in the State contains at this time. Such ex- tended interests are not more sacred than lesser ones, but their various ramifications demand a more cautious S3^stem of legis- lative action. In submitting to your consideration the report of the Board of Health, I cannot withhold an expression of approbation it so eminently merits. At all times, the duty of this Board is one of great responsibility, but during the past year made more so, by 174 MEMOIRS OF com- con- con- the apprehension of impending peril. The gentlemen who pose the Board met the crisis not only with promptness and ability, but with great economy. There is still remaining a siderable sum of the first appropriation of $5,000, and the tingent for an equal amount still remains in the Treasury of the city. During the past year there have been 4,576 deaths in the city, of which 3,248 were either still-born, under ten years of age, or over fifty. The remarks of the Board, in reference to the large number of children, who die in parturition, deserve particular attention. Prom the returns of the Vaccine Physicians to the Board, you v.'ill observe that there have been 1,923 primary vaccinations, 206 who have been re-vaccinated, making a total of 2,129, and the very incredible number of 9,072, who have refused their services. If this loathsome disease (the Small Pox) should ever get a fast hold in our city, the refusal to comply with the humane pro- visions of the authorities would be most terribly and disastrously felt by those who not only neglect, but refuse to accept the pro- tection which seeks them without price. Upon a subject so deeply importflut to all, this inditfereuce is a public calamity. I cannot otherwise than press upon your consideration, the suggestion of the Board to make such provisions, as may be necessar}^, to meet the pestilence, should we be threatened with its presence again. All experience shows how sudden and capri- cious are its assaults, passing harmlessly over one section of the country, only to revisit it again with increased violence and fatality. In mj former message, I respectfully called your attention to the land attached to the Marine Hospital. The subject is again alluded to by the Board of Health. Further reflection has con- firmed my former opinion, that a very moderate outlay for agri- cultural purposes would very considerably lessen the expenses of the institution, and leave the quarantine fund a revenue to the cit^^ A defect in the ordinance for cleaning the streets by contract, appears to have given tlie Board a great deal of annoyance and COLONEL ELIJAH STAXSBURY. 175 trouble. I would respectfully suggest an alteration in conformity ■with the recommendation of the Board. A circular from the Board of Health of Philadelphia, to the Board of this cit}'-, is herewith presented. It relates to the policy of a joint committee, for the purpose of pressing upon Congress the passage of a law, imposing a tax upon foreigners. I submit the subject to your judgment and action. In taking leave of this report of the Board of Health, I cannot but feel that the corpo- ration and the public owe a deep obligation to the gentlemen composing the Board, for the efficient and faithful manner with which they discharged their most responsible duties, at a season of general alarm and fearful apprehension. The accompanying report of the Commissioners of Public Schools is full of deep interest, and exhibits the continued pros- perity of this noble institution. So much has been said, and so well said upon this subject, that to add more would almost seem a matter of supererogation, but the success which has distin- guished the advocates of a general and comprehensive system of education, in our city should not be concealed. Other portions of our State should know and feel the result of our experience and example. In our community this general system, oflTering light to all, has triumphed over ever}^ opposition. It is now without an avowed enemy, and acknowledged as our proudest achievement. No mind can appreciate its blessings ; conduct may be destiny, but how much does education influence conduct ; it is the vitality of our free institutions, and the unseen but deeply felt power which will perpetuate this Union forever ; as it politically enlightens and strengthens, so does it individually add to the happiness and usefulness of every member of society. Education exalts the humble, and dignifies the exalted. It stimulates the poor man to honorable ambition, protects the property of the rich, and the rights of all ; it promotes morals, purifies society, and in the advancement of civilization, is only subordinate to religion. A brief time ago, this system was in its infancy, now it is strong in our midst, and gains strength with each day's experience. To an institution bearing such fruit, I hardly deem it necessary to ask your continued fostering care and protection. The services of the gentlemen who compose the Board, are entirely gratuitous, they have no reward but the conviction of 176 MEMOIRS OF doing great public good. Their charge is one of profound mag- nitude and labor, but to them it appears to be a labor of love. It is, however, the duty of the Council lo carefully weigh their suggestions, but above all, to make ample provisions for the sup- port of the schools, and thereby protect them against the pecu- niary embarrassments with which, I regret to say, they have had: at times to contend. 1 The accompanying report of the City Commissioner gives? detailed information of the action of that important branch of! the public service. The various resolutions of the Council are specified, noted where carried into effect, and when prevented by uncontrollable impediments, the causes are stated Among the latter is Resolution No. 19, relating to the tunnelling of Harford run. It appears from the report that proposals were invited and received, but none came within the limits of the appropriation made by the Council for that purpose. This is deeply to be re- greted, and I hope will be corrected by ample provision at the present session. The necessity for deepening the bed of the run at certain points, set forth in the report, will add something to the cost. The tunnelling of this run, in my judgment, is a case of public necessit3\ Our cit}^ is disgraced by no similar nuisance, and its completion, it would seem to me, is demanded as an act of public justice. It is equally as dangerous as offensive to our citi- z;ens, and the accidents which have occurred are trifling in num- ber to the miraculous escapes which have been made, from its central and open exposure. This view would be ample to require your favorable action, but when we contemplate it as an improve- ment, the value it will add to the property at the City Block, as well as the surrounding property, and thereby the increase of assessment, sound policy urges its completion. You will find in the report various suggestions which I conceive wise, and to which I most respectfully refer and ask your consideration. Among the most important, is the revision of the ordinance relating to paving and re-paving of streets, — the necessity of a new bridge at Centre street, and also one over Harris' creek at Canton, both of which are in a dilapidated state, and not worth repairing. I would recommend iron bridges. You will observe that new roofing is required over a portion of Centre and Lexington markets. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 177 By reference to the report of the Port "Wardens at the late extra session of the Council, you will find that from the indebt- edness unpaid in 1848, there was only remaining on the 1st of April $6,623.54, in consequence of which the Board were com- pelled to discontinue their operations in the harbor for the balance of the year, except what was done for private indi- viduals, which amounted to $7,363.49. From this circumstance, the city dock and many of the public wharves are, by no means, in the condition they should be ; but as the whole of the appro- priation, which I would recommend to be liberal, will be appli- cable to the operations in the harbor, by the expiration of the year, I have no doubt, it will be found in a very improved con- dition. I have for many j^ears labored under the impression that the duties of the City Commissioners and Port Wardens should not be blended together, and attended to by the same officers. It seems to me there is no similarity between the duties of the two. I would, therefore, respectfully recommend the appointment of one Port Warden, whose duty it shall be to take charge of the entire operations of the harbor ; and of two City Commissioners, to attend to all the duties belonging to that department. The city might be divided into two districts, the Eastern and Western, making the dividing line Calvert or Charles streets. Such a plan would, in my opinion, very nearly equalize the duties of these officers, and separate two modes of operations, which should never have been united without an increase of offi- cers or salaries. I feel well assured, the alteration referred to would work well. I respectfully invite your attention to the subject. I herewith transmit the intelligent report of the Visitors of the Jail. The testimony they bear to the capable and efficient services of the Warden, his clerk and deputies, is fully confirmed by public opinion. The report again, in a very elaborate argu- ment and statement of facts, renews the appeal heretofore made to the Council, for an improvement in the present condition of the Jail. I earnestly pressed the subject in my former communi- cation, but so fully have the Visitors covered the whole ground, that I cannot now do better than earnestly refer you to their 178 MEMOIRS OF report, and strongly recommend your prompt and favorable action. You will be surprised to find, that of the number of commitments, two thousand four hundred and twenty-six, , during the past year, five hundred and ninety, or nearly one-] fourth, have been for debt. It would be a curious, an interesting ; investigation, social and political, to ascertain what amount oft money was saved to the creditors by these various incarcerations, or what extent of heart-rending misery and calamity they en- tailed. You have not the power to say, whether this legal con- trol of the liberty of the citizen from such a cause, is consistent or not with our boasted progress of civilization, whether it is absolutely necessary to the public good, or how acceptably this community could dispense with the law of imprisonment for debt ; but you have the power to meliorate the condition of the victim during his confinement, and I recommend you to exercise that power. The report informs you that the existing condition of the Jail is unfit for the felon, how much more so then for the man, whose only crime in nine cases out of ten, is misadventure or misfortune. I am in favor of the most rigid economy ; it has been the practice of my life, but there are reformations called for at times, which to neglect, is public discredit, and the present condition of the Jail, as set forth in the report, is one of them. The report of the City Collector, which you herewith receive, aftbrds reasons for just pride and congratulation. In my former message, I took great pleasure in expressing satisfaction at the promptness Avith which our citizens and the late Collector had mutually discharged their dut}'". It is again my privilege and gratification to announce, that during the past year the sum of $690,017.87 has been collected and paid to the Kegister of the city, being an excess of $61,452.80 over the past or any previous year. When we take into consideration the fact that the levy of 1849 was seven cents in the $100 less than in the year 1848, it speaks trumpet-tongued in favor, not only of the patriotism of our citizens, but the zeal, capacity and efiiciency Avith which the present incumbent and the gentlemen connected with this depart- ment have discharged their onerous and important duties. The existing laws regulating various fire companies have exer- cised a most salutary inflnenoe. It is to be hoped, also, that a COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 179 returning sense of propriety upon the part of those refractory elements, which more or less surround every company, may have to some extent, influenced a more proper and peaceful course. The ordinances relating to districting the fire companies, I have and shall continue most rigidly to enforce upon every necessary occasion. All other considerations must yield to the security of puhlic peace and quiet ; nor do I feel more gratified at any other result, than the general good order which has prevailed through- out the city for the last six months, equal, all things considered, to any period of our corporate history. Of the firemen proper of Baltimore, no eulogium would be high praise. Their disinterestedness, sacrifices and exposure, at all times and in all weather, for the protection of our citizens, may have a parallel, but if so, is rarely found. The propriety of their conduct and their enthusiasm, stimulate them to acts of devotion and courage, which has never been surpassed in the defence of home and fireside. A class of men who have thus, by their conduct, illustrated and adorned the noblest deeds of chiv- alry and philanthropy, will, I am sure, always be cherished and appreciated by the people and their representatives. But these very men are equally embarrassed with the public authorities, by another class who seek the excitement and exposure of an alarm of fire, to redress private grievances, or satisf}^ some revenge of local animosity. They identify themselves with some particular company, hover around it, as the outlaw does the camp of the patriot, and when the glory of the battle is won, tarnish it with some outbreak of violence, discreditable to the city, and disgrace- ful to themselves. The records of our tribunals show that these riotous scenes arc instigated, to a great extent, by youths who have not reached the age of manhood — a terrible prospect for the future of their lives. Independent of the wrong to themselves and their treason to the public peace, they greatly restrict the incalculable benefit of this most important and indisjicnsable organization for the public good. By compelling the impartial enforcement of every power invested in me, with the potential administration of the law, these transgressors may be induced to cultivate a better feeling by not interrupting the general harmony. 180 MEMOIRS OF The report of the physician of the Marine Hospital contains the gratifying information, that this valuable institution has sup- ported itself without any expense to the citizens. Since it has been under the charge of the present incumbent, the total num- ber of patients admitted to the institution were two hundred and sixty-three, of which one hundred and forty were cases of Ship Fever, eighty-three of Small Pox, and two of Yellow Fever. Of these most malignant and other diseases, two hundred and fifty- one were cured, and only twelve died, an evidence of successful practice, which perhaps cannot be found in any similar institu- tion in the country. The Resident Physician in the discharge of his quarantine duty, has boarded five hundred and twenty schoo- ners, two hundred and forty-one brigs, one hundred and ninety- five barques and ships, making the whole number nine hundred and fifty-six, besides collecting and paying over to the Register $1,207, making the whole revenue $4,316. A simple enumera- tion of the duties performed, is the best commentary upon the faithfulness with which this ofiicer has acquitted himself of the obligations he owes to the public. The annual report of the Trustees of the Alms House exhibits fully and satisfactorily^ the condition of that institution. Not- withstanding a fatal disease, Asiatic Cholera, prevailed at the same a portion of the summer of 1849, and as a consequence, involving much extra expense, the cost of supporting the insti- tution appears to be less than the average sum required for that purpose. The levy for the Alms House for the current year must be increased beyond the sum generally required, in consequence of the inoperation of the Act of Maryland in relation to the arrival of foreign passengers at the port of Baltimore, for the better understanding of which, I respectfully refer you to the annual report of the trustees. The report of the Trustees shows that the gentlemen who com- pose the Board are fully equal, in every respect, to the very high and responsible duties with which they are entrusted. The insti- tution has never been under more successful management, and the devotion of all connected with it, deserves public commen- dation. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 181 The report of the Appeal Tax Court shows a corrected assess- ment for city purposes, for the years 1847, 1848, 1849 and 1850, the present year, being $80,237,960, and an increase of $1,985,372 over the last, as an additional basis of taxation. It also exhibits the continued prosperity of the city in the erection of one thou- sand eight hundred and ninety-four brick buildings, three hun- dred and forty-six of which are exempt from direct taxation. Real and per- Real property Personal pro- souiil proiierty exempt from perty exempt Total liable to direct direct tas. from direct xota . tax. tax. 1847 $67,832,077 $3,820,195 $427,050 $72,079,322 1848 69,813,922 4,002,035 412,319 74,228,276 1849 73,609,596 4,235,038 407,954 78,252,588 1850 75j310,808 4,507,038 420,114 80,237,960 The Eegister of the city will make his report to the Council, in which you will find the financial condition of the city fully and satisfactorily exhibited. If we except prevailing opinions in reference to dividends from works of internal improvements, in which the city has an interest, our monetary affairs, though oppressive now, are far from being discouraging for the future. At this time, however, we have only to look at the rate of taxa- tion, to show the necessity of economy and retrenchment, wher- ever it can be exercised compatible with the public interest. The following comparison between the years 1848, 1849 and 1850 will be gratifying in the particulars they represent, and in nothing more than the surplus on the 31st of December, 1849, viz: $36,535.28, against a deficit of the previous year of $37,865.52— to which may be added the reduced estimate of 50,324.21 for the wants of 1850, below that of 1840. Amount of receipts from all sources, from January 1st to December 81st, 1849, inclusive $819,622 89 Amount of expenditures on all accounts, from Janu- ary 1st to December 31st, 1849, inclusive 783,087 61 Balance in Treasurer December 3 let, 1849..... $36,535 28 182 MEMOIRS OF Estimated wants for 1850 $887,717 88 " receipts for 1850 436,75157 Leaving this amount to be provided for by taxation $450,966 31 Amount required 1849 $501,290 52 " 1850 450,966 31 Less this amount than for 1849 $50,824 21 Income from tonnage and wharfage, 1848 $23,885 24 " " " " " 1849 26,002 77 Increase $2,117 58 Income from market rents, 1848 $18,132 45 " " " " 1849 18,887 13 Increase $754 68 It is not generally known that on Poppleton's plat, the city reserved and is entitled to one hundred feet of ground directly on the line of the city boundary, for the purpose of making an avenue of that width, to surround or encircle the city from water to water. Indeed, I believe the wharves were located in lines of one hundred feet to correspond with this magnificent plan. Charles street is now being paved up to the line of the city boun- dary, and York avenue is under contract to the same terminus. I have deemed it prudent to call your attention to this subject, as one of some interest to the future at least. "Would it not be pru- dent to have these lines reestablished, and thus admonish those who otherwise might erect improvements upon the ground held for the avenue, that if hereafter opened, they would have no redress for any loss sustained? The project contemplated three public avenues — east, north and west. Broadway street would run direct into the eastern portion of the north avenue, and if ever successfully carried out, it would be an ornament to our city, unrivalled in this country — and why should it not be carried out? -Improvements in every direction are rapidly approxima- ting to the lines of the city boundary, and all experience has COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 183 demonstrated, that sucli an undertaking, even if at the cost of the property holders themselves, would, in the additional value of their property, most amply repay them. At some future, per- haps distant period, such an avenue and for miles in extent, would be directly through the heart of the city ; whilst in our ov/n days its intrinsic claims to command and invite improve- ment would attract general attention. If we made but the beginning of such an enterprise, which was originated at a very considerable cost, posterity would owe us a debt of no ordinary gratitude. There are perhaps but few cities in the world, of equal size and population, that have so few public squares or open avenues, as our own, where the toiling masses can refresh or enjoy themselves. With these views, I submit the subject to your deliberations, in connection with another that seems to me as worthy of your consideration. Our city is not only rapidly extending its bounds, but the older parts are becoming more densely populated by the occupation of every spare space with buildings, chiefly as tenements for the laboring classes. As this increases, so must increase the liabili- ties to disease in a certain degree. Free circulation of air is as necessary to neighborhoods as to individuals, and to both it is also just as requisite as wholesome food for securing good health. It is then in reference to the future, that I would ask your atten- tion to the securing now, while it may be done, some portion of the unoccupied ground, remaining of the estate of the late Colonel Howard, to be laid out as a public park, for the benefit of the thousands of our most useful citizens, whose means and employments do not allow them those recreations in the country, which may be indulged in by those blessed with better circum- stances. It was one of the greatest errors of those, who in the earlier age of our city preceded you in municipal legislation, that provision was not then made for open public grounds, which then might have been procured at moderate rates, and which now would have been not only among the highest ornaments of our city, but also among the most useful means conducive to the health of its population. It is not my intention, gentlemen, to do more than to press the subject upon your attention. If it only lead to the appointment 181: MEMOIRS OF of a committee, to examine the subject and to make such a report as shall provoke the consideration of the matter by our citizens generally, it will perhaps be as much as may be asked at the present time. Under the present auspicious circumstances, which seem to indicate an earlj'- completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad, I may, in common with my fellow-citizens, look for- ward with hopes that hitherto none scarceh'^ dared to indulge in, but which now seem well authorized, that within five or six years at the furthest, we shall be relieved of a large portion of our taxes by the certain income from that noble work. Looking for- ward to so desirable an event, may we not now be casting about for those improvements in our city, which our over-burdened condition as to taxes has heretofore repressed ? I think we may do so safely, and it is under this feeling that your attention is , asked to the subject. If I mistake not, the Council passed several resolutions at the last session, relative to paving Tort avenue leading to Fort McHenry. This avenue was retained by the government in its sale of the confiscated lands through which it passes, and now at times is almost impassable. It is in constant use by the military stationed at the fort ; and it would not only be equitable but sound policy for the government to unite with the city and the property holders in the expense of making so judicious an improvement. I would respectfully suggest the propriety of memorializing Congress, in which, I have no doubt, the ofiicers stationed at the fort would unite, for an appropriation to com- plete an improvement so important, if not necessary, to the interest of the government itself. By resolution No 88, passed at your last session, provision was made for the sale of certain vacant grounds, known as " Bowers' lot," as also for an appropriation of $10,000, for the benefit of the " House of Kefugo." This act of your body has been most liber- ally sustained by the citizens, who, to the numj^er of about two hundred and fifty, have subscribed, as I am informed, over $20,000. This speaks in most unequivocal terms, in behalf of the benevolent object of the institution, as well as of the confi- dence placed in the managers, that they will press on in the good COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 185 he raised by the public spirit and beneficence of our city, that will place her in proud equality with her larger and wealthier neighbors, I have great pleasure in giving the assurance, that the work will be commenced in the spring, provided the General Assembly shall second the recommendation of his Excellency, the Governor, who, in the warmest terms, has pressed the subject upon the special attention of that body, and who, in return, there can be but little doubt, will do justice to the claims of so philan- thropic an institution. By the resolution referred to, it is provided that the proceeds of the sale of the lot shall be applied to the purchase of a suitable site for the proposed buildings, and tbe balance, if any, after such application, shall pass into the treasury of the city. It has been suggested to me, that as this balance can only be a comparatively small one, it can hardly be felt in defraying the ordinary expen- ditures of the city, while on the other hand, it will add materially to the amount required for the support of the institution. Judg- ing by the cost of similar institutions in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Kochester, it will require for the walling in of the premises, and the completion of the buildings, something near $50,000. When it is considered that the amount contributed hy our citizens on the first appeal in behalf of a similar institution some years since, upon the failure of the attempt, became in fact, as I am informed, the foundation almost of our present public schools, it would certainly seem as no great or unjust draft upon the treasury, if the whole amount of the proceeds of the sale be appropriated to the use of the " House of Kefuge." The income of the past year from ground rents belonging to the city, was $7,448.52. I respectfully suggest an inquiry into the policy of disposing of all the property owned by the city, by sale or permanent lease, as the several leases expire, except such as may be thought necessary for the public use. I am inclined to the opioion that it would be good policy. Prop- erty has advanced in value and will, no doubt, continue to do so, but whether to an extent that will reimburse for the loss sustained by temporary and limited leases, I conceive exceedingly doubt- ful. The disposition I have suggested, would at once make all the property available, besides under the control of individual 186 MEMOIRS OF enterpries would soon add considerably to the amount of assess- ment, and thus far reduce taxation. By the provision of an Ordinance, No. 22, passed and approved May 15th, 1847, certain property holders agreed to transfer to the city the ground known as Union Square, in the western part of the city, upon conditions therein specified. One of these was the erection of an ornamental structure over the fountain, from which the water from the spring shall be discharged, within three years from the date of said ordinance. The grant expires in 1850, if this provision of the ordinance is not complied with. It is such a subject of universal regret, that oflfers heretofore made to the city of a similar description were either refused or neglected, that I earnestly hope this one will receive your favorable action. As I have heretofore intimated, I conceive there is no better protec- tion to the health of our citizens than the ventilation of public squares, and in that result alone, an adequate remuneration would be found for the expense. The cost of such a structure as would be proper to be erected over the fountain, is estimated at $6,030. The gentlemen who were appointed at the last session of the Council to revise the ordinances of the city, have performed their duty. They placed them in my possession, and I herewith trans- mit them to you, for your consideration and action. A subject to which I would particularly invite your attention, is the intellectual and moral condition and habits of a raj^idly increasing class of persons of all ages and sexes, who in the guise of pauperism, infest our public thoroughfares, and by various nefarious practices outrage honesty, decency and humanity. A more deplorable evil, or one better calculated to disseminate the pernicious fruits of idleness and vice, cannot well be conceived of. In European cities these evils have existed for centuries, and are probably to be ascribed to ill government, or a density of popula- tion exceeding the nation's capacity to employ or support. In the United States no such cause exists, and therefore effects, so painful and disgusting, can only be attributed to fraud and base- ness. These evils, in their enormous depravity, are of very recent appearance, but have already grown to a very frightful degree. A few years ago, and scarcely a beggar was to be seen, the few soliciting alms were generally of an unmistakable character, per- CJOLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 187 sons overtaken by misfortune, and to relieve whose necessities it gave the heart pleasure. Now every steamboat landing, every railroad depot, the doors of hotels, the post office, places of amusement, and our most public streets are literally crowded with filth}' vagabonds, not unfrequently strong, healthy and able to work, but plainly too lazy even to keep their persons clean. It cannot have escaped the notice of the most common observer, that many persons of this class, in addition to those who crowd the doors of public places, have recently located themselves at particular public points throughout our city, under circumstances particularly disgusting. Women, thinly clad or wretchedly in rags, are seen on cold days exposed to the rain or snow, seated on the ground, or steps, or in corners, with one or two children, or a child at the breast, imploring relief with features of apparent agony. If suffering from disgusting disease or distressing de- formity, the deficiency is thrust upon the public view more effectually to create sympathy and win reward. These scenes ought not to be tolerated — they are not the growth of the United States or legitimate offspring of our government or institutions. A beneficent God has kindly blessed our land with abundance. All who desire to work can easily find employment, if not in the cities most certainly in the country ; and those who from disease, age, or decrepitude, are unable to work, may find a comfortable home at the institution which public beneficence has provided for them. Another portion of this class, and who, if it be possi- ble, are in a more deplorable condition than the adults, are the ragged, dirty children, boys and girls, ranging from five to fifteen years of age, who roam about the city in all directions openly begging, or under pretext of selling matches or other trifles. From information, upon which reliance may safely be placed, it is to be feared that many of these children are daily driven forth by heartless parents, who, regardless of the injury done the public and their offspring, live in dissipation upon means thus basely acquired. Shocking as it may be to contemplate, there is scarcely a doubt that many of these girls are in daily habits of prostitution, acquiring thereby means which enable their aban- doned parents to live idle and dissdlute lives — the boys under a 188 MEMOIRS OF similar influence constantly perpetrate petty thefts, and both grow up a curse to society — the one a courtezan, the other a felon. If every thing within the knowledge of the police and various magistrates in relation to these children were here stated, a fearful amount of startling depravity would have to be detailed. I merely refer you to the subject, assuring you that in no way can the peace, security and moral welfare of the community be more effectually promoted than hj the passage of an ordinance making it the imperative duty of the police to arrest and take to the Alms House all vagrants engaged in the debasing and per- nicious practices referred to — the aged and decrepid to be prop- erly nursed — the strong and healthy to be made to work — the young to be schooled or bound apprentice to suitable trades. There has been presented to the city of Baltimore, by Dr. James "VV. Wynne, the Chairman of the Committee of "The American Medical Association,'' a report upon public hygiene, which is filled with invaluable statistical information, and with able suggestions and reflections thereon, in reference to the dis- eases, their causes and preventives, in the different cities of the Union. I have never met with a more intelligent review of the sanator}' regulations of the various populous cities and towns, in which our own is embraced, than this work contains. The vast amount of practical information collected can perhaps no w^here else be found. In noticing the improvement in the quiet and good order of the city, it would be unjust not to bear testimony to the vigilant, faithful and discreet manner with which the police of the cit}-, night and day, have discharged their duties. I question if there is a city in the world of equal extent, more free from depreda- tions of burglars, thieves and similar outlaws, than Baltimore. An extensive robbery is of rare occurrance, and still more rare when the guilty are not discovered. The expense of our police system is much less than that of any other city of equal popula- tion. I have received the reports of the President and Directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad Company, which are herewith trans- mitted. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 189 It occurred to me that it would be interesting to the public to to have laid before them a condensed statement of the various branches of industrj^ and business operations within and con- tiguous to our city during the past year. I was myself surprised in many instances at their extent and increasing magnitude ; I likewise contemplated an additional statistical account of the quantity of domestic produce, which sought our market in ISiO. To accomplish this I addressed several hundred circulars to gen- tlemen who could have imparted the information, but from some cause but few answers have been returned. To those from whom I have received information, my thanks are due. I lay the same before j^ou, but very imperfectly, as some of the articles are only inspected at the will of the buyer or seller. It is beyond a doubt, that there is no better market in this countrj-, or perhaps any other, which affords a more abundant quantity or better quality of building materials than ours. From the superior quality of our brick, they are sought for from New York, Philadelphia and ISTew Orleans. 'Nor is it in this quality of the article of building materials alone, that Baltimore excels. In such facilities our city is almost without a rival ; and perhaps that cause, in part, may account for the fact, that more buildings have been put up here the past year, than in the Empire city. New York. In our quar- ries of marble and granite, from the foundation stone to the shingle, in lime, sand and all other materials, we have at hand inexhaustible resources, and to which may be justly added, in every department a class of mechanics of taste and skill, who preeminently know how to use them. The following, therefore, is the Statement I have received of the Resources and Products of oxer City and State, — and amount of Business centering in the City of Baltimore in varioics BrancJies of Trade, during the year 1849. VESSELS. Seventy-nine built in Baltimore 11,168 tons burden. TOBACCO. Amount inspected in the city of Baltimore, as re- ceived from the several State Tobacco Warehouses 45,435 hhds. Shipped in same year ■. 67,454 " 9* 190 MEMOIRS OP COTTON. The six following factories, to whom I addressed circulars, furnished the following amounts, received and turned out by them. Bales recM. t^^ned'oat Mount Yernon Cotton Duck Factories 1,981 1,034,047 United Manufacturing Company 1,000 400,000 Pocahontas Mills 2,214 810,770 Powhatan Mills 886 1,054,000 Ashland Manufacturing Company 1,400 900,000 Warren Factory ^ 738 960,000 8,219 5,158,817 I also addressed circulars to fifteen other Cotton Factories in State, but received no returns from them. GRAIN, BACON, &C. To the following merchants I am indebted for the amount of their receipts and sales in the following articles : Wheat, Corn, Eye, Oats, Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. Bushels J. M. Conkey & Co 281,000 288,700 4,100 5,000 A. L. Boggs & Son 35,000 15,000 J. & K. Graham 16,000 82,000 913 2,877 Frederick Shumaker 12,434 7,884 937 1,631 J. J. & F. Turner 7,324 12,382 5,967 45,783 Alanson Webb 881 2,339 Bacon, Lard, lbs. lbs. Carson, Edes & Co 5,491,985 1,218,375 Drakely & Fenton 1,816,633 243,329 WHEAT FLOUR. hhds. bbls. halfbbls. Amount inspected in the city 750,686 27,667 RYE FLOUR. Amount inspected in the city 8,007 9 CORN MEAL. Amount inspected in the city 428 51,772 2,051 428 810,465 29,727 COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 191 CLOVER SEED. Keceived 28,000 bushels, average price, $4.50 $120,000 TIMOTHY SEED. Eeceived 5,000 buj^hels, at $3 $15,000 ANTHRACITE COAL. Eeceived in the city 70,000 tons. BITUMINOUS COAL. Eeceived in the city by the Baltimore and Ohio Eail- road 71,699 tons. AGRICULTURAL LIME. Exported 1,000,000 bushels. WOOD BURNT LIME. Received 220,000 bushels. BRICK. Amount annually made in the city 67,000,000 bricks. MARBLE AND FREESTONE. The whole amount quarried, imported and purchased for the Baltimore market in the year 1849, may be set down as follows : Maryland fine white 18,300 cubic feet. " large crj^stal 36,700 " •" Eastern marble 5,000 " " Italian white 4,800 " '' Freestone of all kinds 11,450 " " GRANITE. Eeceived 50,000 feet. COPPER. Sales amount in 1849 to $400,000 PIG IRON. Amount produced annually in the State, and centering in the city, 55,000 tons, valued at $1,300,000— from thirty-two Blast Eurnaces in the State of Maryland. There are twenty-eight Eounderies in the city. Tons produced annually within the city and its vicinity 89,000 192 MEMOIRS OF CHROME. Exported 8,500 tons, LUMBER. Keceived in the city 80,000,000 feet. HIDES. Total imported in 1849 227,589 " " " 1848 186,416 Increase in 1849 over 1848 41,173 COFFEE. Imported in 1849 205,945 bags. ^^'^^^- hhds. bbls. Imported from the West Indies in 1849 12,590 5,654 '! " New Orleans 9,851 2,384 MOLASSES. lihds. tierces. bbls. Imported from the West Indies in 1849. ..5,833 499 112 " " :N'ew Orleans 251 11,066 SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS — DOMESTIC. Inspected in 1849 1,300 hhds. 90,000 bbls. PORK. Inspected from March 1st, 1849, to December 31st, 1849 17,139 barrels. BEEF. Inspected from March 1st, 1849, to December 31st, 1849 4,156 barrels. CHEESE. Pweceived 3,500,000 pounds, value $262,500 BUTTER. Keceived 2,969,000 pounds, valued at $405,040 HOGS. Eeceived per Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad in 1849.-195,665 Hogs. BEEF CATTLE. Weighed at the Cattle Scales 25,000 head. SALTED riBH. Inspeeted 71,041 barrels. COLONEL ELIJAH STAKSBURY. 103 I am indebted to Colonel George P. Kane, Collector of the Port, for the following statement of the foreign commerce of the Port of Baltimore, for the year 1849. It is gratifying to find that it exceeds that of 1848 upwards of two millions of dollars. Foreign merchandise imported in American vessels... $5,255,218 " " " Poreig-n " ... 505,941 Total value of imports, year 1849 $5,761,159 Exports of Domestic produce in American A'cssels $7,049,725 " " " Foreign " 1,374,401 Exports of Foreign merchandise in American " 121,470" " " " Foreign " 144,084 Total value of exports, year 1849 $8,689,080 No. Ves. Tons. Men. Entries of American vessels from Foreign ports 359 84,620 3,372 Entries of Foreign vessels from Foreign ports 137 27,882 1,24G Total entries, year 1849 496 112,502 4,618 Clearances of American vessels to Foreign ports 461 111,026 4,620 Clearances of Foreign vessels to Foreign ports 163 34,523 1,636 Total clearances, year 1849... 624 145,549 6,256 In conclusion, gentlemen, our city has shared the unparalleled prosperity w^hich has distinguished the progress of our common country. If, however, we contemplate our favorable geographi- cal position, so universally conceded, we must admit that valuable time has been lost. No contest ever existed between independent nations, that was marked with more active energy or unceasing enterprise, than has influenced the action of the Atlantic cities, in their eiforts to secure the immense and increasing trade of the great west, and thereby coin a destiny which would ultimately make one or the other the commercial depot of the world. For- 194 MEMOIRS OF tunately this rivalry has been a national and a generous one, where no party could be greatly benefitted without conferring some advantage upon all. If adventitious circumstances, great ascendancy in private, and the concentration of foreign capital, has given the lead to other points, we have the comfort to know, that far behind in the start, our progress has been rapidly upward and onward, each succeeding year adding to the wealth, popula- tion, power and distinction of our city. In turning then from the past or present to the future, we may reasonably hope, with the continuation of our great works of internal improvements, the developments which they cannot fail to realize, with the shortest and most direct ronte to the west, the attention of our capitalists must be attracted to this point, thus adding all that is necessary to make Baltimore no common rival to any other city in the Union. It is scarcely necessary to add, how much pleasure it will give me to cooperate with you in any action which will promote the happiness, welfare and prosperity of our common constituency. Respectfully submitted, ELIJAH STANSBURY, Mayor. Register's Statement. Register's Statement of the condition of the City Treasury on the 31st day of December, 1849^ — and of the estimated receipts and 'payments for the year 1850. City Register's Office, ") Baltimore, Jannary 21st, 1850. | Gentlemen of the First and Second Branches of the City Council. In compliance with his duty, as prescribed by Ordinance Ko. 21 of 1840, the City Register herewith presents his annual state- ment of the condition of the Treasury. The receipts into the Treasury during the year 1849 were $819,622.89. The payments for the same term were $783,087.61, including in this amount a balance of $37,865.52 against the Treasury on the 81st of December, 1848. By the above figures it will be seen that on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1849, there appears a balance to the credit of the Treasury of $36,535,28, which sum, however, is subject to the following liabilities, payable on the first day of January, 1850, viz : COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 195 One quarter's interest on City Stock Debt for other than Court House and Internal Improvement accounts $5,845 24 One quarter's interest on City Stock Debt for Inter- nal Improvements 72,323 23 Appropriations unpaid, moneys received on special taxes, &c., as detailed in the accompanying tables 53,958 64 $132,127 11 From which take the above Credit of. 36 535 28 $95,591 83 Now, in comparison with the condition of the Treasury at the commencement of the last fiscal year, the figures will stand thus : Liabilities on the 1st of January, 1849.. $100,848 28 Add balance to debit of the Treasur\^, 3.1st of December, 2848 37,865 52 $138,713 80 Liabilities on 1st of January, 1850, as above 95,591 83 $43,121 97 Although the above sum, ($43,121.97,) is in fact a deficit, still it shows a much improved state of the finances, owing, among other causes, chiefly to the circumstance that the net amount of abatements, — (say $579,377,) as will be seen by reference to the accompanying report of the Appeal Tax Court, (D,) — is much less than during the year 1848, and of course so far maintaining the basis of the levy of 1849. The demands upon the Treasury for the year 1850 will be something less than were required for 1849 ; a result arising from a diminished estimate of many items of expenditure, while the estimated receipts from several sources of revenue are in some degree increased. By a review of the accompanying state- ment, the amount required to be levied for, will be shown to be as follows : Existing claims, estimated requisitions of the several Departments, &c $887,717 88 Estimated receipts 436,751 57 To be provided for by tax $450 966 81 196 MEMOIRS OF "VVhioli may be raised by rates as exhibited by the following table : W 8SS88 O o o o •-0 - t- o o ;m CO GC M — 1- CO GO (N rji ,-. O Ci O O CO CO Tti O CM O CI t^ i-< r^ C^l ^0 -M CD CO CI CO I— ( €a= m= cs - ^ ^ - ■• . ~" ci o o o o o (T) O O >-Q O O "-■r. O (M O O Ir^ (T) t- O CO .0 O 00 I^ '^ CO C5 GO 07l t^ CO CO Tfi CO (M (M CO 1- o\ co cs ^ ^ o Q CO CO CO t^ 10 1— ( C5 CO rH (M CI LO^CO o o i>^co'^o'co'~i>^ r-( T-l CSJ CO CM CI |g5 .ti .1^ O CJ c -OX pq § o t^ CI It- CO 05 tr- h- ee r-4 ■^ Ci T-l T— 1 t— CO Tti ¥^ ■^ Tf( €^ 3 ^ cr' ci ^ S 1-1 (11 H ;-i «t-i PU ,^ -u CI fl • s 13 • t^ n <1<1 ft COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 197 As in former years, I have based the foregoing upon the sup- position that no appropriations will be made other than those ordinarily required, or which are called for by existing ordi- nances, as well as upon what I am authorized by the formal requisitions of the several departments to designate as necessary for their service ; and secondly, on what past experience in the collection of the taxes has pretty satisfactorily established, viz., that no more than six-tenths of the tax can be safely estimated as collectable during the year for which it was levied. If this rate be exceeded, it is only by a fraction scarcely appreciable in an available calculation. As the subject is deserving of notice, I may be permitted to say a few Vv'ords in reference to one item in the foregoing table. The rate marked as required for the internal improvement tax is forty- eight cents, while the amount of the whole requisition within the limits of direct taxation, is ninety-six and three-fourth cents on the one hundred dollars. From a recent public document I learn that the rate of taxation in the following named cities is thus : :N'ew York 118.82 on the 100 dollars. Philadelphia proper 156 " 100 " Boston 65 " 100 " Baltimore, 1849 93 " ICO " In Philadelphia, it is right to state, that the taxes are assessed on real estate onl}^, for city purposes, and in New York, I think, the State tax is included in the above rate. Now, from the rate of taxation estimated to be required for all purposes, as above, (96| cents,) deduct the rate appropriated to internal improvements, (48 cents,) and it will be seen that for our municipal purposes proper, Baltimore sustains herself by a much less proportionate sum than either of the other named cities. It is with much gratification that our citizens may now look forward to a consumation which, within a very few years, must lead permanently to the abatement of this large item in our annual levy. No one, except the most skeptical, can give a due consideration to the very practical report of the President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company without arriving at the conclusion that the western terminus of this road mav be reached 193 MEMOIRS OF within from four to six years. With such an event, and the increased revenue which must necessarily he a result of the com- pletion of this great work, our citizens may anticipate an early exemption from a burden which now makes up one-half of the amount of city taxes. "With the arrival of that day, Baltimore so relieved and the present system of close restriction in her municipal expenditures continued, she will become one of the most desirable locations for the investment of capital. The reality cannot be far distant. Its foreshadows are already cast before us, and irresistahly lead to the most grateful assurances of unexampled vigor, growth and wealth for our favored city. By reference to the note of the Appeal Tax Court, D, an item is brought under notice, that seems rightfully to be a subject for taxation. To invite your attention to the matter, comes within the required duty of the Kegister, and it is done with more con- fidence from the fact, that the subject has been submitted to a legal tribunal, and the citj^'s right sustained. One million of dollars of propertj'^ in the form of State stocks would be no light addition to the basis of taxation, and proportionately would add something to the relief of the tax-payer. The State taxes the city stock, and she secures the payment by requiring the Eegister to withhold the amount from the interest payable in July. The difficulty in regard to the city in making her right available, seems to be in her inability to obtain the names of the holders. I have received from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com- pany eighteen hundred and eleven shares and scrip for one- quarter of a share of their stock, being the dividend for 1849, accruing in that form, on the stock already held by the city, making, with the amount received on same account in 1848, three thousand and thirty-six and one-quarter shares. In the first item of the annexed statement, there will be noted a very marked difference between the figures of the last and of preceding years. This difference is owing to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in regard to what is gener- ally known -as the "tax on foreign passengers." The General Assembly not being in session, the corrective for the invalidity of the existing statute could not then be applied. Measures, however, have been taken to remove the difficult}^, which will COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 199 restore this item to its former service in the support of the for- eign poor, and in aid of the charitable purposes of the German and Hibernian Societies. Respectfully submitted, JOHN J. GRAVES, Register. Recapitulation. For claims against the city and ex- penses per estimate $368,374 50 Expenses of Internal Improvements... 361,616 15 Expenses of City Court 26,359 46 Expenses of City Poor 21,435 37 Expenses of County Court 30,591 25 Expenses of Public Schools 76,841 15 Expenses of Highways and Bridges 2,500 00 $887,717 88 For estimated receipts from various sources, including balance in City Treasury, December 31st, 1849 $230,634 22 For arrears of Internal Improvement Tax 134,099 42 For arrears of City Court Tax 9,142 96 For arrears of City Poor Tax 7,838 74 For arrears of County Court Tax 9,924 46 For arrears of Public School Tax 43,223 36 For arrears of Highways and Bridges Tax 1,897 41 436,751 57 Amount of taxes required in 1850 $450,966 31 Among the established items of expense are the following : City Poor. Estimated city's proportion of expenses of Alms House, per report of Trustees $21,435 37 Amount forwarded $ 21,435 37 200 MEMOIRS OF Amount brought forward Estimated receipts from arrears of Poor Tax 7,164 80 Due from City Treasury, excess of re- ceipts over payments 673 94 7,838 74 Amount required from City Poor Tax of 1850 $13,596 63 City Court. Due on account of expenses of City Court $5,759 46 Estimated expenses of City Court in- cluding salary of Associate Judge.... 20,600 00 $26,359 46 Estimated arrears of City Court Tax... 7,816 73 Due from City Treasury, excess of re- ceipts over payments 1,326 23 9,142 96 Amount required from City Court Tax of 1850 County Court, &c. Due on account of Baltimore County Court, and Judges and Clerks of Election $7,770 00 Estimated city's proportion of expenses of Baltimore County Court for 1850.. 5,120 00 Estimated city's proportion of expenses of Orphan's Court 3,500 00 Due on account of criminal cases re- moved to Anne Arundel County Court 200 00 Due on account of case of John Price, 1,220 00 Eor Interest and Sinking Eund on Court House Stock Debt 3,281 25 $21,091 25 Amount forwarded $21,091 25 COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBUllY. 201 Amount brought forward $21,091 25 Estimated expenses of repairs of Court House, keeper's salary, fuel, «fec 1,220 00 Estimated expenses of the Jail, exclu- sive of fees, &c • 5,000 00 Estimated expenses of Coroner's In- quests 800 CO Estimated expenses of State Elections.. 420 00 For Colonization Tax 1,9G0 00 Eor Register, per ordinance 100 00 $30,591 25 Estimated receipts from arrears of County Court Tax 8,109 48 Due from City Treasury, excess of re- ceipts over payments 1,754 98 9,924 46 Amount required from County Tax of 1850 $20,066 79 Public Schools. Estimated salaries of teachers $40,000 00 Estimated rent and ground rent 3,200 00 Estimated books and stationery 8,500 00 Estimated bills outstanding 5,000 00 Estimated bills payable 7,286,17 Estimated loan for erection of School No. 10 5,954 00 Estimated general and school incidentals 6,000 00 Salaries of Treasurer and Secretary 900 00 Due City Treasury, excess of payments over receipts 98 Balance in hands of School Treasurer.. 6,417 36 Estimated fees of tuition 20,000 00 Estimated City's part of State School Fund 5,510 00 Estimated arrears of School Tax .'. 11,296 00 (6,841 15 $43,223 36 Amount required from School Tux of 1850 S33,617 79 202 MEMOIRS OP CHAPTER XYl. Colonel Stansbury's Retirement from Public Life — Flood of 1868. At the expiration of his official term, Mayor Staiis- bury for the third time retired from public to private life, being then in his fifty-ninth year. As already stated, he retired from business in his seventy-second year. And while we entertain a grateful conviction that his wise, firm and patriotic administration has been signally conducive to the present prosperity of Baltimore, we cannot forbear expressing our regret that we have not more men of the same stamp among us in public office. His obedience* to the voice of duty and his country, affi^rds proof of the devotedness of his zeal in his country's service and an earnest of the patriotism and success which have charaterized his military, civil and public life. He is now, at this time of writing, (1874,) in his eighty-third year, closing the remnant of his well-spent days in his pres- ent peaceful abode with his amiable consort, who has been his faithful companion through the journey of life for fifty-six years. Colonel Stansbury has lived through all the admin- istrations of this Government, up to the present one, the illustrious Washington having finished his first term in the third year of Colonel Stansbury's birth, 1793. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 203 Flood OF 1868. Having among the leading local events •which oc- curred in Colonel Stansbury's time, referred to the three great floods of 178G, 1817 and 1837, we think it but proper to refer briefly to the one of 1868. Friday, the 24th of July, 1868, will never be for- gotten in Baltimore and vicinity. The flood of 1837 surpassed all before it in destruction of life and prop- erty — but the flood of 1868 was still more destructive in every respect. The pen is inadequate to describe the scenes of death and destruction with which our beautiful Monumental City and parts immediately ad- jacent had been overwhelmed. There was nothing unusual to herald this untoward event. We had a rain the previous Sabbath night, but it had come almost as gentle as the evening dews. There were occasionally heavy claps of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning ; but when they passed over us, the showers descended with a calmness and beauty that fell on the thirsty earth like refreshing slumbers on weary sleepers. But, alas ! It was widely different with this terrific flood of the following Friday. It came in the noon of the day, with scarcely a dark cloud in the sky, without a single loud shock of thun- der, and scarcely a solitary blaze of lightning. The torrents that descended were heavy and prolonged, but not more so than had been common for years in this latitude. IS'othing unusual was anticipated. The writer was engaged preparing an article for a paper" which he was then editing, when one of the attaches ^04 MEMOIRS OF came in and said^ Jones's Falls was rising rapidly and flooding adjacent streets. He immediately proceeded to the scene, and found Holliday street converted into a turbulent stream some ten feet high, so sudden was the rush and overflowing of the water. An hour or two before that, the busy people on the banks of the Patapsco and Jones's Falls pursued their daily avoca- tions, or rested after their early noon-day meal. They watched the descending rain, thought it was very heavy, spoke to one another of its abundance ; that w^as all ! But after that, how changed the quiet scene ! The river and Falls both rose at once, without a mo- ment's warning, overflowed their banks, and came rushing down in mighty muddy cataracts, bearing all before them ! On, on they swept, and earth, and trees, and houses, and factories, and bridges, and stores, and churches, and public halls soon felt the tremendous shock as they had never felt it before. The resistless flood swept every thing moveable within its reach into the whirling torrent; streets were flooded, the cellars of them all overflowed, stocks of goods of almost all kinds destroyed, and thousands of dollars worth of property borne down to the basin of the Patapsco. Tens of thousands of peoj^le were at once thrown into the most appalling consternation ever known among us. The roaring of the floods, the crashing of houses, the shouts and shrieks of the aflPrighted people, the overflowing of streets, the passage to and fro of boats in unwonted places — above all, and most of all, the shocking loss of human life in the very presence of friends, who were utterly powerless to help them — COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY. 205 had united to prevSent a gloomy picture which the citi- zens of Baltimore, Howard and Frederick counties, in Maryland, who saw it, will never cease to remember. All around us the devastation was visible. The Balti- more and Ohio, and Northern Central Railroads, had suffered severely. Large embankments for miles in extent, w^ith contiguous trees and rocks, had been swept down by the raging waters on the tracks. Travel and transportation were impeded, and the 'market house under Maryland Institute, much frequented, was ren- dered desolate. O, sad indeed were these passing days and nights to many a bereaved heart. No less than fifty persons perished by this flood. The following touching incident, among many others, occurred at Ellicott City, Howard county, Maryland. The Horrors Increasing. * * * This row of houses numbered fourteen or fifteen, and with the exception of a twelve foot alley, next to Dr. Owings' house, stood close together. They were nearly all of one height, and the roofs quite flat. After the first of these buildings fell, the inmates began to appear on the roof. The house of Dr. Owings was of wood, and it soon floated off its foundation across the alley ad- joining, and against the next house, which was of stone. The family consisted of Mrs. Owings and six children, and a colored man and woman, servants. William, the colored man, was seen cutting a hole through the roof with an ax, and soon appeared with the youngest child of the Doctor in his arms. He then helped Mrs. Owings through and the other children, and con- veyed them on to the roof of the next house, and seemed to watch over their safety and comfort in this hour of peril, with a devotion that will do honor to his memory so long as those who witnessed his self-sacrificing labor shall live. Everybody is speaking of the bravery and devotion of Dr. Owings' man William, thus thrown in a moment as. the only human hand on 10 206 MEMOIES OF which a mother and children could rely in the hour of peril. His efforts were, however, altogether in vain, hut he stood man- fully by his trust to the last, and nobly jdelded up his life with- out making any effort to seek his own personal safety. With one of the younger children in his arms, he went down with mother and little ones around him in the boiling and raging current. A party of young men stationed on the Patapsco Mills bridge, with ropes, endeavoring to save those who might be able to swim, report having seen Mrs. Owings on the surface of the water, apparently swimming with one hand, and endeavoring to sustain her youngest child with the other, but she soon sank to rise no more, and was carried off in the torrent. We would here refer to a freak in political life that sometimes will occur amongst the best and most honest of men. In 1848 — same year Colonel Stansbury was elected Mayor — Mr. Charles F. Cloud was the suc- cessful Democratic nominee for Sheriif ; Mr. George P. Kane the Whig rival candidate. In 1871, Mr. George P. Kane was the successful Democratic nominee for same office, having been elected by a very large majority. This only demonstrates the liberal spirit of true Democracy. Colonel Stansbury, has by the Providence of God, been permitted to see his old and tried friend Joshua Vansant, who held office under the Colonel, elected in 1871 Mayor of Baltimore, and reelected, 1873. Note.— On the 5th of October, 1786, there was a great flood, the current of Jones" Falls being met by the tide, the water overflowed the Centre Market space and nearly all the made ground and wharves. John Boyce, E?q., lost his life in attempting to ford the Falls below what was then known as Han. son's, and aftcrwanls as Keller's milldam; all the bridges, which were wooden ones, being carried away, and much property and merchandise lost or damaged. Baltimore street bridge was afterwards rebuilt by Mr. Jacob Small, Sr., of wood, in one arch of a segment of a circle, ninety feet span— the others in the usual way. Population at this time was about 31,000. On the 91 h of August, 1817, the wooden hridges on Bath and Water streets were floated against the stone ones on Gay and Pratt streets, which were considerably injured by the obstructions to tlie passage of the water, and the Centre market was again overflowed, inflicting much damage. COLONEL ELIJAH STANSBURY 207 As a matter of reference we give the following : ^ s s ^ ssi ^ s ^p^ d d° «- d-;S - ^ o S^d|^ TO C 3 tt ►q (^ o S a C5 to ?D t^ -J CO OS C^ M IC CC rr CO OO OO CO cc QO CO CO C^ 05 o «5 ^ .O CO CO CO OJ CO -fS CC CO O CO CO CO — -i ,^ — — -- — ^ -, — — — CO — ,- ^ CC (M >0 Cv? ^ Cft. r^ h- (M CO ■ O lO •* o -^ ^ C5 QC C-1 CO 05 <=> O o g 1^ 1^ (^ t- t- t^ t^ i>. 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