| The Elkton Debating Society |
| by Dorothy D. Robinson |
| The minutes of the Elkton Debating Society are one of the treasures of the Historical Society of Cecil County. This valuable document came from the estate of the late Miss Anna Denney. Miss Denney was a long-time member of The Society and always had its interest at heart. |
| All of these minutes are hand written and, in many cases, difficult to read. The first entry states: "At a meeting of the citizens of Elkton, assembled in the Court House for the purpose of establishing a debating society --" and then follows a list of ten items called the "Constitution." The officers were to consist of a President or, in his absence, the Vice President, was to keep order and appoint the leaders in the debate. No one was to be admitted as a members unless approved by two-thirds vote of the members and upon payment of a 25 cent initiation fee. Other items concerned the order of the debate. No date is shown, but the first Secretary was John L. Low. Although no date is shown, it is believed it must have been in 1828, for on the next page, a list of amendments is dated 27th of March 1829. |
| The second amendment changed the cost of admission from 25 cents to 12-1/2 cents. The meetings opened at 6:30 p.m. when the President would read the question for the evening. Each member was to deliver a speech in his turn under the penalty of 12-1/2 cents for each refusal or neglect. Each speech was to be no longer then 10 minutes. Meetings were to be held on Tuesday and Friday evenings. However, an amendment was made at the end of the Minutes, stating that is had been resolved that the meetings would take place on Friday evenings only. |
| The members who paid their dues for the year 1829 were: |
| Enoch Cloud |
| Edward Wilson |
| Levi Davis |
| Lambert Wilmer |
| Francis Ellis |
| Charles F. Cloud |
| Henry Hollingsworth |
| William Egley |
| George Howard |
| Henry Cazier |
| Zebulon Rudulph |
| Henry R. Gilpin |
| William C. Scott |
| W. McIntire |
| Basie Sewell |
| Cornelius McLean |
| The subjects discussed were really an education in themselves. The first was; "Is the tariff of the United States beneficial?". There were six men on each side, but it was finally decided that the affirmative side had won. It is evident that they were going to consider big questions. |
| The next meeting dealt with an entirely different subject: - "Which is most conductive to happiness - matrimony or celibacy?". The opinion arrived at was in favor of matrimony. They also debated as to whether or not a military character was a qualification for the Presidency, and the answer was "no". |
| Another question was whether conscience was a sufficient guide for the moral government of mankind, and the gentlemen voted "no". Another question was whether the miser or the spendthrift was most injurious to society? The miser was voted as most injurious. Another interesting point was whether it would be proper to tax bachelors? The debaters here voted in the affirmative;. Another question that was very much in vogue at that time was whether or not lotteries were beneficial? The decision was in the affirmative. (As you may know, many of our buildings were accomplished as a result of a lottery.) |
| Another question concerned placing property of habitual drunkards in the hands of trustees, and the vote was "yes" in this case. They went on to grave questions, for on November 28, 1828, they asked whether there is sufficient reason to believe in the immortality of the soul? Such a question for small town men! The question of whether a man who pays nothing for the support of our Government should be allowed to vote? This question was decided in the affirmative. A more personal question was whether or not lying was justifiable? These gentlemen voted "yes." In February of 1829 they voted on whether capital punishment should be abolished and the decision was "yes". |
| The following topic apparently was most in the news of 1829, for they debated whether the Allied Powers were justified in occupying Greece? They voted "yes". Another question was whether Canals or rail roads were more important? Their decision was in the negative. Another burning question of the times was whether a law should be made for the abolition of slavery, and their opinion was that the time had not arrived for that. |
| In 1830 the name of this august body was changed to the ELKTON POLEMIC SOCIETY, and their debates were to be held on Thursday evenings. One of their first questions was whether or not is was wrong to prevent females from holding civil offices. The gentlemen voted that is was not wrong. |
| There must have been dissension in the ranks of these debating groups, for on December 2, 1833 a number of interested persons met at the school house for the purpose of reviving the Society. The first question before this new group was whether interest on money should be regulated by law. The voted "no". |
| The next debate of this group was; "Should Catholics from Great Britain and Scotland be allowed the same privileges and equal rights as Protestants?". The decision was negative. This group really went to broad questions. In 1834 they debated whether Queen Elizabeth I of Great Britain was justified in ordering the death of Mary, Queen of Scots. These gentlemen voted "yes", she was justified. From that debate they went on at the next meeting to decide whether Brutus was justified in putting Caesar to death. However, on this question they voted in the negative. |
| They must have been a fluctuating group, for on March 3, 1834 they again debated the question of whether Queen Elizabeth was justified in ordering the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, and this time they voted "no". |
| The records of 1834 show that the treasurer collected 25 cents a year from each member, thus doubling their dues. |
| There is some lapse in the records of the Society, for the next entry is on November 6, 1837 when at a meeting of gentlemen at Elkton Academy, a constitution was proposed for the "ELKTON DEBATING SOCIETY." This charter read almost exactly the same as those former charters with the exception of raising the dues. |
| This newly-organized group had, as one of its first questions, whether the Indian or the African has the most cause to complain of tyranny of white people. This question was decided in favor of the Africans. At the next meeting the question was; Should seduction be subject to criminal punishment? Their opinion was "yes". |
| Another burning question: Should the right of suffrage be extended to the females of our Country? It was voted "yes" by these most advanced men. In January of 1838 the question was: Are laws placing property of married females under the control of their husbands proper? Regrettably these gentlemen voted "yes, it is proper". |
| The last entry is for January 29th, 1838, when the meeting was adjourned, assumably to meet in February. The rest of the pages are blank, so apparently there was nothing to report. However, on the very last page of the Minutes Book, there is written in pencil the following: "At a meeting of the Elkton Debating Society, with five persons present and Dr. A.A. Evans in the chair, the following resolution was adopted: "Whereas fruitless efforts have been made, from time to time, to establish such a society, it is RESOLVED; that this Society adjourn and that we recommend to the citizens of Elkton never again to attempt the organization of any society of this kind." |
| One last page state that the Society has $1.35 in cash. |
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| (Editor's Note: It should be remembered that the debate was a form of communication, education and entertainment before the advent of movies, radio, and television.) |
