The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-01-23

ell, and in the most popuous portion Of the
State.
1t has heretofore become necessary to call
out the military to Icpel invasion, and to pro-
toct the lives and the property of our citizens
against the outrage Of mob; but never be-
fore, in our history, has the humiiating
spectacle been shown of an enrolment and
calling out of the military force of the State
with a determination to use it on the day,
and at the places where her peaceful citizens
We're exercising the highest functions Of cili-
zenship.
The result of our last election has clnphat-
| ically expressed the sentiment of our people
upon this occurrence and think it my
| duty, Gentlemen, to state to YOU the rules by
which shall he governed, if unfortunately,
against our experience, and my own trust III
! the sense Of justice of the GOOD people of this
State, it should become indispensable to re-
SOFT to the military aid to enforce the law or
maintain the public peace
According to my understanding of that
| provision Of the Constitution, which directs
me to take care that the laws be faithfully
executed, the Governor is invested with no
new or unliln tied porer, but charged with a
duty. to be accomplished by those means
which the Constitution and laws strictly
define. And that clause Whereby the Cover
nor is empowered to call out the military, to
repel invasion, suppress instruction, and en-
force the OK ccuion of the law, dues not, in
my opinion, enable him to select volunteer
force unknown to the law or to assume the
duties or discharge the Office ola Mayor or
| Sher if, with military force under his com
mand. A"d ifhe call ohkthe pi'ary, and
! by his orders convert c!fze,ISs into soldiers.
| u,b tl,nra { mai l,uri
| nor forcible resistance to the execution of
the law, he in my opinion, violates the Con-
stitution. ! will, therefore, do none, Of these
| things. Above all will carefully abstain
from calling out or enrollinpa military force OH
the eve of an election, when political animos
ties are agitating the minds Of my fellow
citizens, and when adiSplay ofsuch kind near
the places voting. forbidden by the laws,
could only provoke violence and bloodshcd.
We have seen, in the metropolis of the
nation, on what was once part of Maj yland
soil. the dreadful results ola military inter-
ference at the polls: and the indignation
which that act Of blood inspired throughout
the country, is sufficient to convince me that
the hearts OF men rise up against such tyranny,
even when the letter oflhc law may DC strain.
cd to shelter the act.
1t will be for you to. consider whether there
is such omission in our statue book and
whether our laws can be so twisted as to
connivc at such proceedings, When our
people shall contemplate with Indifference a
reckless exercise of military power or a
pcrverson of what was meant for defence
against foreign aggression, into weapon
against our internal peace, they will lave
d,generated into the tools OF military despo-
tism. and deserve the fate Of the mScallcd
republics of Mexico and SOUTH America.
Tie reverence for law aud order, and for
the asccrlantd popular will, which has al
ways been the distinguishing honor Of the
American people, seems to be in danger Of
utter eXiingnishncnt by that violent spirit
of party, which can invoke suci means to
overawe the free right of suffrage, and which
may finally attempt to secure to its,lf the
possession or continuance Of power at the
expense of civil war When Vi lent faction
shall have learned than such means may be
used to secure success, their leaders will not
hesitate to seek or receive assistance from
other leaders. in other States. to contr1
elections in their own. Civil war, and not
a popular election, will then determine The
fate OF our community; ard the language of
the great address have so often quoted. best
describes the end. ~ he alternate dnlnina-
|
by the spirit of revenge. natural to party
dissension which i'll different ages and coun.
ties has pcrpetiatcd the most horlid enorni-
ties is itself figh,rul despotism. But this
leads at length ,o. mrre-torna and perma-
nGdcspoiSm. The disorder and misc,ies
VIII Hb result gradually inci1s,t the minds Of
mclp'o seek security and rcpose in the bso
Lutte power o: an individuals and sooner or
later, the chief Of some prevailing faction,
more abe or more fortunate than his compc-
titorS, turns this disposition TO the purposes
Of his own elevation, on the ruins Of the pub
| lie liberty"
From these things which have discre lifted
us abroad and mortified us at home, it is
| peaSanter to turn TO other topics. in which
| as Mary lauderS, we have no less interest and
In which we may fluid some cause for con
gra,ula ton.
The great agricultural interest, by which
we all have bread, has been prosperous
during the past year; and although we may
have to regret the paralyZaion of commercial
| and industrious pursuits, it is some conSola
ton TO remember that our State has not suf
fered so much as others by the proStratlon of
| credit and destruction Of mercantile conf.
dcnce. If this show less extent of those
interests with us. it is also proof that those
limited operations are not carried Oh upon 50
aIltlclal basis as in more active quarters
II we cannot boast of so extended a. com
merce as others, we at least, are more free
from the revcrses of wild speculation and
mercantile gambling. 1t becomes us howcv-
or, to take a lesson from our misfortunes
and while we extend the relief W hich may
fairly be asked, it will be proper to enquire
into the expectancy Of some checks upon
improper expansion of our currency, and it's
inevitable consequence, undue rise in prices,
and too extended credit
The great mass Of the community, who
live by their daily toll, have right to some
such protection. 1t is upon them and the
hard earned gains of our mechanics and small
traders, that the deplorable consequences of
such reyulsions fall with htavic" hand, than
can visit The accumulaions of the more for.
tunatc. The recurrence of these commissions
show the mutua! reliance ofcapial and labor;
and the legislation which guards the one
must benefit the other also. 1t is matter of
concern to find an occasion Of this kind which
should Gully call forth acts of fqrbearance and
charity, taken advantage of, in some parts
of our country, to accomplish political sue
cess at the expence of a war of classls.