and electors "was finally to establish the political character of the citizens of Baltimore; and therefore both parties exerted their utmost power to carry the characters they set up. A very respectable committee of this place addressed the Federals and called on them to support the Federal ticket, in which Mr. William Smith, Esq., of this town—a genuine Federal, a merchant of the first reputation, of an independent fortune and considerable family connextions, was named for this district, and against whom the Anti-Federalists opposed Mr. Samuel Sterett, a young gentleman of fair character and respectable connexion. The contest lasted four days (almost the whole time allowed by law), and the Federals were crowned by conquest—Mr. Smith having, at the close of the polls, a majority of seven votes. Thus our beloved Constitution was triumphant over its base enemies, and the trump of Federalism drowned the expiring cries of the Anti-Federalists in this town."[1] The tide of Federalism in Baltimore, as elsewhere, was running high. But as was true here, the party often won by a small majority. The political control which the Federalist leaders in Baltimore exercised over the rank and file may be seen in the words: "A very respectable committee of this place addressed the Federals and called on them to support the Federal ticket."
A graphic picture of the election days is contained in a letter written by a German farmer in Western Maryland to a gentleman in Baltimore. He says: "We had pain when we heard of the people in your district, that they were wrong, and we thought it right to call the friends of the
- ↑ Scharf, History of Maryland, II, 548.
