The southern press., 1851-09-24

perpetrators of tn. recent murders and treason
in Pennsylvania, and that measures will be
taken to prevent similar occurrences in the fu-
ture. Respectfully, your obedent servant
THos Fl. O'NEAL, Secretary of State.
| STATE DEPARTMENT,
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, Sept. l5,sl851. {.
His Ercellency the President Of The U. s.
SIR On my return to the executive depart
ment of this State, to day, after a temporary abb
sence, received semi-ofiicial statements Of the
recent outrage committed in the State of Penn
sylvania, by mob of outlaws, upon the persons
of citizens of Maryland, who were peaceably en-.
gagged in the assertion of their rights, under the
federal Constitution and the laws of Congress.
Although | have the most entire confidence in
the resolution of your excellency TO enforce the
laws of the land at all hazards, and to the fullest
extent, it nevertheless becomes my duty to adj
dress you this comm unication. Great as is the
crime committed, when considered solely in re-
ference to the individual victims themselves, its
enormity and danger can only be properly esti
mated when viewed in connexion with the state
of the country.
| From the very beginning, Maryland has, with
one voice, sustained the compromise measures
| No man has dared to raise the flag of disunon
within her borders. All parties have united in
defence of the Constitution. All classes of our
citizens have renewed their vows of fealty to the
institutions of their fathers. Maryland has,
therefore, a moral weight with the South which
armies and navies cannot give. 1t would be
terrible, indeed, it she should, under any combi-
nation Of circumstances, be driven to place her.
self at the head ofthe column of secession. Her
declaration of di,union would be fatal Where
would Virginia be? Where, in fact, every
Southern State? The result is too terrible for
contemplation. And yet sir, we must look this
contingency right in the f ce. Do not under
stand me as intimating that such disaster is upon
us. Far from it. Heaven forfend it, But it is
necessary that should tell you that our people
are deeply and justly exasperated. 1T proper
that you should be frankly assured that nothing
can, or will, or ought to satisfy them but the
most prompt, thorough, and severe retrlbution
upon the perpetrators of the murderous treason
recently committed in Pennsylvania. am re-
joiced to be informed that those worthy and
patriotic judges, Grier and Kane, have expressed
the opinion that the crime amounted to treason
against the federal government, cognizabe,
therefore, by the federal courts, and punishable
under the federal laws. This gives me conf
dence that justice will be done, speedily and
fully. Our people will wait with all reasonable
patience and confidence to see the issue. Their
faith in the po,oer of the federal government
as well as in its good intentions, will necessa.
rily be governed by the result.
Nor is this all Ifpasson and prejudice should
control the verdict of Pennsylvania iuries in the
trial of this issue, tremble for the Union. One
thing is very clear, and it is this, that Maryland
would not remain one day in the confederacy
if finally assured either that the powers of the
federal government were inadequate, or that the
public opinion of the non-slaveholding States
was adverse to the protection Of the rights,
liberties and lives of her citizens. IL the Union
| is TO be merely a union of minority slaves TO
| jority tyrants, then, indeed, our government
| has failed in the end Of its creation, and the
sooner it is dissolved the better. This, assure
YOU, sir, is the sentiment of the patriotic South,
| the conservative South, the Union ioring South
| am not obtuding upon your excellency my
views and opinions. ! am plainly unfolding the
views and sentiments of people with whom
am well acquainted. II is important that |
should do so-it is necessary that should do
so. ! fear the latent causes Of dissolution more
than those which have heretofore agitated the
surface of the waters | fear that the North
does not believe in the possibility Of disunion
Fatal Incredibly If they could only be made
10 believe it possible it would then indeed be
impossible. But their disbelief renders il even
probable. Believing it to be afar of, and even
receding, they act In n manner which will pre-
cipitate the crisis, as surely as il will be to them
Unexpectedly. ! do not know Of q single Incl
| dent that has oecu red since the passage Of the
compromise measures which tends more TO
weaken the bonds Of Union, and arouse dark
thoughts in the minds Of men, than this late
tragedy. Nor will its influence and effects be
limited within the narrow borders Of our State.
They will penetrate the soul of the South.
They will silence the confident promises Of the
Union men, and give force to the appeals Of the
Secessionists. They will enter into the sgi,a-
tons OF the next Congress, and weaken the
public hope everywhere. For all these evils
there is but a single corrective, and that is, the
most complete ,indication Of the law, and the
fullest re,ribution upon the criminals
had intended TO prepare and forward 10 your
excellency a statement of the facts Of the case.
made out from the communications sent TO this
department, but ] find from this mornings pa
/ pers Just received. that the officers Of the fed
eral government have already been engaged in
making the proper Investigations upon the spot,
the result OF which has been, or will be. placed
before you. hope that your excellency will
regard this letter as by no means indicating any
lack OF confidence in tie federal authorities on
my part, but as a proper and necessary exposi.
ton Of the views entertained by the citizens Of
this State (for which ! feel justified in youch.
ing) in regard 10 the character Of this atrocious
occurrence, as we'll as the general attitude of the
country in connection Herewith. II, under any
circumstances, your excellency should deem il
advisable to require my official services in any
way connected with the pending inquiries, il will
give me great Pleasure TO place my time atyour
disposal,
Il Ibave the honor 10 be, very respec fully, your
excellency's obedient servant,
i T.. LOUIS LOWE.
Il DEPARTMENT OF STATE,