The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-20
From The Baltimore Clipper Of Thursday.
Gu~~ch NJ H. CaIIina Lee Igsu

The following is an outline of the remarks of u
Collins Lee, esq, in opening the meeting ceied at
Monument Square, on Monday night, 10 deliberate
upon the recent outrage and plrder of citizens of
Maryland in Pennsylvanis:
After stating the Objects of the assemblage Mr..
Lee SAID IL was "a occasion full of melancholy in
terest' ana Taught withimportant consequences to
the pea'S and permanency of the Union
Fey were here tonight not to utter praises
Censure OF public men and measures, nor to rally
under the banner of partisan leaders, but to
press, in tones of solemn emphasis, the indignant
feeling of Maryland at the outrage and massacre
perpetrated in the adjoining State of Pennsylva
MIA upon the lives and persons OF respected and
unoffending citizens of Maryland, who, in assert
ing their constitutional rights, and seeking, under
the supreme la,o of the land, to recover and bring
back their property had been in open day assailed
and butchered by ruthless band ofnegroes, head
ed and led by brutal abolitioniss and fanatics.
Ii was now time for Maryland, through the Uoice
of her people, to declare that unless the constitu
tiona rights Of her citizens secured protected,
and defended in Pennsylvania and the other free
States, by the laws and authorities of these States
she must and would assume the attitude OF retalia
ton and self defence, and recognise no longer the
Ties which had bound them together
Standing, Maryland does, on the frontier of
the saveholding States, her position delicate
and responsible one; but that would not deter her
from insisting her rights of person and property
guaranteed by the Constitution and laws OF the
United States.
The Union itself would indeed be mere mock
cry, lifts shield ofprotection extended not over the
whole country; and this meeting should regard it
as worthless, whenever law OF Congress be
openly resisted and disobeyed, anywhere, with inn
punity and bloodshed, and the authorities Of that
State pause temporize in pursuing Instantly.
and bringing to condign punishment, before her
otcn tribunals, the foul violate of the law.
A very large portion of the considerable and well
disposed people of Pennsy vania and her last Lgis
lature, were doubtless in favor of such. course;
but if indications of public opinion, since the pas
| aIftl ,a Il,np ha
taken, from the views of persons in high places,
and the columns OF part of the press, there had,
indeed, been some encouragement given to doc
trines calculated impair the force of those great
peace and Union measures on the minds OF the
| people Of Pennsylvania.
A reward has been, it ia said, offered for the
rest of the murderers, by the executive of that
State; he should, in opinion, have called out
instantly the civil and military power under his
command and by proclamation urged on the pur-
suit, arrest and punishment of all concerned.
In his view that duty has been discharged. but
to his active agency it Is not left; the thanks of
Maryland and the South are due To OFF energetic
National Executive. Upon the fret tidinEs of this
cruel murder and foul treason reaching him, mil
itary and civil force Immediately ordered from
Philadelphia to the scene of blood, and arrests have
thus been made ofthe supposed criminals Initiating,
in this respect, his great predecessor Washington,
who suppressed, with promptitude, the whisky in
surrection in the same State by military power,
President Fillmore has acted in this instance, in
all his efforts enforce the Compromise measures,
in way TO command the confidence and applause
of the South And, come what may, he DiH per
form ,cithout fear his duty TO The ,ohoie Union
What is Union worth where equal rights OF
property and person not secured and enforced?
What is it but rope of sand which the foul breath
OF fanaticism may blow away!
Maryland (said Mr.. Leg stood side by side with
Pennsylvania TO form this more perfect Union,
and upon recent battle fields the blood of Mary
land and Pennsylvania has comminged to main
tain and indicate its honor-our eympathics and
as our fathers left it. And whenever it shall not
answer the great purposes of it's creation. We yes,
Maryland, who mnstercd at its birth, and has
participated in the valor and strength Of its majes
tic manhood, will cast il off-but we fondly hope
that day may never come; for this blessed Union
is haowcd and endeared to US by the memories of
the past and the bright hopes of the future. And
until shorn of these, and marrcd by traitors hands,
shall cling TO it, and live under it, as "man's
best gift to man."
Should, however, repeated aggressions and vic
lated rights find redress, warn our ianatical
brethren of the North, that while refrain from
an interference in their domestic and State nstiu
tons, we require the same their part; and II
compelled by their madness and folly, Maryland
will plant herself on the frontier entrenchment of
southern rights-the right to hold, enjoy, and re-
claim their property and the right to demand the
punishment of the robbers of that property ucher-
eper found; and fighting there in the van of tie
southern States Tor these great principles che will
find in that last enforcement her grave rather
than surrender 10 northern abotonists one inch of
ground.
Mr. Lee apoogized for OBTAINING the meeting
he having risen, quite unwell, merely to propose
organization by submitting the list of oriicers.
During the remarks of Mr. Lee he was warmly
applauied.
r.. -s.