Washington sentinel., 1853-11-12
VERDICT OF THE PEOPLE! !---VoICE
OF MARYLAND!

We feel certain Of the popular verdict, sooner
or later, in favor of the views we have main
tanned upon the idea of general amnesty"
said to have been declared by the convention
at Baltimore, and to have been confirmed by
the inaugural of its nominee. Some evidence
of the feeling upon this subject we have pre-
sented through our columns in the sentiments
of public men and journals, especially in the
south But in the recent election in Mary
land there has been heard the voice of the peo-
pie in tones not to be misunderstood, repudia
ting a former popular favorite because of the
Buffalo heresy Of lS4s, which, despite all pro-
testations, were deemed sufficient ground for his
overwhelming defeat by the noble democracy
Of that State.
Maryland is peculiarly fitted to speak to this
issue-a frontier southern State, deeply inter
ested in the fugitive law, with sufficient stake
in slavery to make her sensitively alive to its
protection--she stands between the two sections,
better prepared than almost any other State, to
pronounce a liberal and enlighted decision. It.
was the result of her peculiar position that in
the presidential election, she left the whg ranks,
in which she had carried the southern banner
for years, and rolled up for Gen. Pierce a ma
iority by thousands, as a mark of her confidence
in man, whose detestation Of abolitionism had
been the most characteristic feature in his po-
litical career. She believed him free from the
taint Of freesoi-and therefore she could trust
him.
In district of that State, the nearest to its
northern neighbor, the Hon. VIM. L. Hamilton,
(late member,) was re-nominated for Congress.
His soundness upon the question of slavery was
undoubted-his democracy pure-and his tai
ents such as had been tested and had proved
satisfactory to his constituents.
He was not left to a victory easily won-,or
TO be gained without opposition. Ex-Governor
Frank Thomas, gentleman unrivalled as
popular orator in his State-of established rep |
utation-an ancient political leader in the dem
ocratic party of Maryland-its Governor, and
long the honored representative of the district
in which he was late the candidate, took the
field, and rallied the mass Of the wings, and all
of his personal friends, to a grand charge upon
his competitor Mr.. Hamilton, in high hopes of
his complete overthrow. "..
But all in vain. The Hon. Ex-Governor had
given in his adhesion to the cause of Van
Buren in lS48, and had sanctioned the odious
doctrines Of the Buffalo platform He endea-
vored in vain to avert the tide of popular con-
domination by all the power of his splendid
eloquence. In vain he protested las we are
intormed) Ignorance of the peculiar principles
of the Buffalo convention, at the time of writing
his letter of approval. In vain the Guthrie
plank was opportunely thrown out to save him,
and the veil Of oblivion sought to be thrown
over his professions of fidelity to the treasona-
bic doctrines of Mr.. John Van Buren, 4 Co.
In vain was it announced that Mr.. John
Van Buren, and Dix, and others of that ilk,
were received cordially into confidence, and
were protected by the general pardon Of the
Baltimore platform, as Interpreted by the ora
Gle Mt the head of the Department of the
Treasury. The people rose in their might and
pronounced the freesoiler of 1914 too danger
Gus gentleman to be the representative in
Congress Of the Frederick district Of MARYLAND
Mr.. Hamilton was elected over his veteran
opponent by more than one thousand majority!
We are constantly referred to the late elec-
lions as endorsements of Mr.. Guthrie's policy,
for inducing the Van Buren clique into the
confding embraces of the administration. II
has been said Georgia, PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio, |
and others, have recently pronounced for this
policy--so called the Presidents. 1t is true
the democracy had carried these States--and |
that was sufficient ground, we presume, as it |
certainly was the only one, for concluding that
all that the administration had done, from the
selecting Of an envoy to st. James to the an |
pontment of a crossroads postmaster. had been
maturely considered by the people of those |
States, and been decided to have been the hest |
that could have been made. The democracv
triumphed it is true; not because of Mr.. Gutb. |
rie's circular, or to evince its approval of that
fine specimen of taste and policy-but abso.
lutely in spite oft. ~
Tn truth, we have in our remembrance no
parallel to this extraordinary assumption that
every democratic triumph is hurrah' for
the Guthrie policy, and an "amen'' to the de,
capitation of Bronson, except in the following
famous dialogue
GLendotcer.-At my nativity
me front oil heaven was full Of fiery shapes,
OF burning cressets and at my birth
The frame and huge foundation OF the earth
Shaked like a coward.
HotSpur.-Why so il would have done
1.-THE same season, if yoWr n0,hers odt h03
Bm kttened MoRgA yonrscf had neer Jee1,
GorQ.
GLeR0oircr--I say, the earth did shake, when
] was born
HotPmr.--And say, the earth was not of
my mind
" yon SnJpose, as Jeaying you, IL Sbook.
GtcHdotrer,-The heavens were all on fire
the earth did iremble.
HotYpr.--O. then the earth shook 10 sec the
heavens on fire.
And not in fear Of your nativity.
F'attering parasites and fawning officials
may represent to the vanity of the Secretary |
and the administration, if it backs him, (which |