Maryland My Maryland

[LincolnMan]

Written during the Civil War and adopted as the State song in 1939 (I think)-the lyrics refer to Lincoln as the "despot?" Just thinking out loud here, folks- how it could have been made the official State song so long after the war? I suppose the animosity runs deep-but to make it the State song?

[Laurie Verge]

There have been several attempts to change it over the past fifty years - they have all failed.

About thirty years ago, I was talking with an author who made the statement that he was finding more anti-Lincoln sentiment among the old-timers in Maryland than in any state of the old Confederacy.

In our state song, however, I think the word "despot" refers more to the federal government in general (we were under federal occupation) than it does specifically to Lincoln.

[BettyO]

(08-24-2012 09:22 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  There have been several attempts to change it over the past fifty years - they have all failed.

About thirty years ago, I was talking with an author who made the statement that he was finding more anti-Lincoln sentiment among the old-timers in Maryland than in any state of the old Confederacy.

In our state song, however, I think the word "despot" refers more to the federal government in general (we were under federal occupation) than it does specifically to Lincoln.

I agree, Laurie. I think that the despot designation referred to the Union - not Lincoln himself....

[Craig Hipkins]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the percentage of Union/Confederate supporters was in Maryland during the Civil War? I have often heard that the border states ran about 50/50. If this was adopted as the state song in 1939 it would seem that there was a lot more sympathy for the Confederacy at that time by the children and grandchildren of the people that actually lived through the war.

Craig

[L Verge]

I can't give you exact percentages, but the State of Maryland was split geographically. From Baltimore south and parts of the Eastern Shore were mainly pro-Confederate because the area depended on a slave economy. The climate was ideal for large-scale production of mainly tobacco (our money plant). This was the area of the landed gentry -- and in my opinion, the area that retained a perceived notion of the valiant Lost Cause until the mid-1900s when the heavy growth of the federal government turned the area into bedroom communities for government workers who flocked to the nation's capital after WWII.

This region originally included mainly six counties west of the Chesapeake Bay. In Prince George's County (my home) only one man voted for Lincoln in 1860; in Charles County, I believe it was five; St. Mary's had one Lincoln voter, and he was actually ambushed on his way home from the polling place and had to shoot his way out. At least one Lincolnite in Charles County was ordered out of the county by a group of his neighbors!

One final thought: The KKK was active in Maryland when I was a child. I don't think we ever knew one - certainly never saw one planting a burning cross on a lawn, but I knew about them from the time I was about twelve and heard other kids talking about them.

Once you headed west, the climate was more conducive to small farms, orchards, cattle raising, etc. Not inclined to support slavery and often settled by European immigrants who did not support slavery because that system reminded them of the tyrannical regimes they had left Europe because of. This region (Frederick and west) is still the least populated in Maryland.

I am a product of Southern Maryland and the plantation era - only we owned tenant farms from 1866 on. However, I think I have grown overtime to understand what Lincoln did and why he did it. I was taught to honor my ancestors and to think like they thought IN THEIR TIME PERIOD, but to understand why things had to change.


I also view our state song in a broader perspective, one in which we proclaim that we stand against tyranny even into the future.

[LincolnMan]

Somehow I think "revisionism" has much to do with the adoption of the song in 1939. Could be way of base, I admit.

[Jim Garrett]

As usual, Laurie hit the nail on the head. In upper Montgomery County, the area called "the Medley District" which encompassed Poolesville and the immediate surrounding area gives some great statistics.
In 1860, there were 1900 white residents, 1300 slaves and 4 free black (1 family).

In the election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln got exactly 1 vote.

In Monocacy Cemetery, there are 34 Confederate Veterans buried, most with the SOuthern Cross of Honor marking their graves. There is a large bronze tablet mounted on a huger granite stone near the entrance of the cemetery with the names of those soldiers. There is 1 Union Veteran buried there with no indication of his service to his country. He's probably the 1 that voted for Lincoln.

I remember in the 1970s the Hagerstown paper would advertise cross burnings on South Mountain. Boonsboro had an active Klan.

Maryland probably felt the oppressive boot of tyranny on its neck more than any other state during the war, due to it's geographical threat to Washington. In hindsight, Lincoln really had no choice. If Jefferson Davis were in the same situation, he would have done the same.

Who knows Laurie, maybe I should get the State seal of Maryland placed strategically.......

[LincolnMan]

"He's probably the 1 who voted for Lincoln." LOL Poor fellow! Maybe his body should be moved.

[Jim Garrett]

(08-30-2012 08:02 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  "He's probably the 1 who voted for Lincoln." LOL Poor fellow! Maybe his body should be moved.

We've been working on that! LOL

[Craig Hipkins]

Jim,
Do you know the name of the Union Vet.? and his Regiment?

Craig

[Jim Garrett]

(08-30-2012 07:57 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  Jim,
Do you know the name of the Union Vet.? and his Regiment?

Craig

Not at the moment. The Monocacy Cemetery is lacking many of the older records. The only full time employee is a groundskeeper. A friend is the local funeral director and I will check with him if he has any information. One of John Surratt's grandchildren is also burued there.