Thomas H. Hicks

Thomas Holliday Hicks (b. September 2, 1798; d. February 14, 1865) was an American politician from Maryland.

Related Topics:
September 2 - 1798 - February 14 - 1865 - American - Maryland

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Hicks began his political career as a Democrat when he was elected town constable and then, in 1824, elected Sheriff of Dorchester County. Later, he switched to the Whig Party and was elected to the House of Delegates in 1830 and re-elected in 1836.

Related Topics:
Democrat - Dorchester County - Whig Party

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In 1837, the legislature elected him a member of the Governor's Council, the last to be chosen before that body was abolished. In 1838, he was appointed Register of Wills for Dorchester County. He stayed in that job until his election as Governor.

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In 1857, he switched to the Native American Party, more commonly known as the Know-Nothing Party. As such, in 1858, he ran for Governor and defeated Democrat John C. Groome by 8,700 votes. The election, however, was notable for fraud, open intimidation of voters, and unprecedented violence. Hicks was one of the oldest men to become Governor.

Related Topics:
1857 - Know-Nothing Party - 1858 - John C. Groome

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In his gubernatorial inaugural address, he railed on the numbers of foreign immigrants coming to America and warned that they would "change the national character". He opposed abolitionists. He supported slave-owners, stating, "The attacks of fanatical and misguided persons agianst property in slaves" and went on that the property owners had a right under the "Constitution to recover their property."

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Maryland history records Hicks' governorship as the worst in Maryland history because of flagrant abuses of Constitutional rights.

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This assessment, however, is somewhat tempered by Hicks' critical role at the beginning of the Civil War. Hicks belatedly supported the Union of the states and sought to prevent Maryland from succeeding and joining the Confederacy. This would have isolated Washington, D.C. in southern territory.

Related Topics:
Civil War - Washington, D.C.

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Hicks reflected the divisions in his state. In Hicks' writings about the South and its succession, he referred to it as "we." He wrote that "they", the North (and Lincoln), were wrong in "refus to observe the plain requirements of the Constitution" to permit new states to join the Union as slave states.

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After the bloodshed in Baltimore involving the Massachusetts troops that were fired on in marching between railroad stations on April 15, 1861, Baltimore Mayor George William Brown, Marshal George P. Kane, and former Governor Enoch Louis Lowe requested that Hicks burn the railroad bridges leading to Baltimore to prevent further troops from entering the state. Hicks reportedly approved this proposal. These actions were addressed in the famous case of Ex parte Merryman.

Related Topics:
George William Brown - George P. Kane - Enoch Louis Lowe - Ex parte Merryman

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After initially denying that he had authorized such actions, he backtracked and voiced his support for the Union. But his writing to Lincoln on April 22, 1861 informed the new President that "I feel it my duty most respectfully to advise you that no more troops be ordered or allowed to pass through Maryland." He requested that Lincoln obtain a truce with the South and offerred to mediate. He stated that Maryland's position as a border state was to remain neutral.

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Subsequently many prominent men lobbied Hicks to call the General Assembly into special session, purportedly for the mixed reason of opposing secession and opposing the Northern attitude towards the South.

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Initially called into session in Annapolis, Hicks changed it to Frederick. Annapolis was a Southern Democratic town, and secessionist, and Frederick was Unionist. Additionally, many legislators and Southern sympathizers were arrested by Lincoln. The legislature convened in Frederick unanimously adopted a measure stating that they would not commit the state to secession, "even though we have the constitutional authority to take such action."

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Throughout the rest of the war, Maryland remained in the Union camp although history records it as virtually a conquered province. Much of that could be attributed to Hicks' role in refusing to lend support to seccessionist and violent factions.

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In December 1862, his successor as Governor, Augustus W. Bradford, appointed him to the U.S. Senate from Maryland following the death of his predecessor, James A. Pearce. Although ill, he campaigned for reelection, endorsing Lincoln's reelection in 1864. He died at the Metropolitan Hotel in Washington, D.C. on February 13, 1865. Abraham Lincoln attended his funeral in the U.S. Senate Chamber.

Related Topics:
1862 - Augustus W. Bradford - U.S. Senate - James A. Pearce - 1864

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He was originally buried at his family farm in Dorchester County. He was later disinterred and moved to Cambridge Cemetery. The state erected a monument over his grave in 1868.

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