Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-12-27

c ~ By the Governor, JOHN J. PErrUs
: ~ Secretary of State.
. Reply Of Gorcrnor Hicks.
e STATE OF MARYLAND
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
ANNAPOLIS, Dec. 10, 1860.
, S1R-Your letter of the 18th instant inform
me that you have been appointed by the Gov
ernor of Mississippi, in pursuance of a resolution
of her Legislature. a Commissioner to the STATE
of Maryland, and that the occasion of your mis-
sion is 'the present crisis in the National affair."
the safety and rights of the Southern States by
reason of the election of sectional candidate t,
the office of President of the United States, ant
upon a platform Of principles destructive Of oul
Constitutional rights, and which, in the opinion
of the State of Mississippi, calls for prompt anc
decisive action for the purpose of our protection
and future security"
You also inform me that Mississippi desires
the cooperation of her sister States of the South
in measures necessary to defend our rights, anc
to this end, you desire to know whether | viii
convene the Legislature Of Maryland, for the
purpose Of counsclling with the constituted au-
thorites Of the State of Mississippi, and at what
time it may be expected our General Assembly
will be called for that purpose.
In the conversation had with you, this morn
ing, you were good enough to explain more fully
the views and intentions of Mississippi in this
matter-her desire that our Legislature should
also appoint Commissioners to meet those oil
other Southern States and that action at once
be had by all the Southern States for the forma-
ton of a new government among themselves.
The position of Maryland as small Southern
Border State, renders the exercise of any power
l may possess, for the purposes indicated by
you matter of very grave importance.
Our State is unquestionably identified with
the Southern States, in feeling and by tie in ri
buttons and habits which prevail amor ;, rs
But she is also conservative, and, above al
things devoted to the Union of t,,uese States I'm
der the Constitution. Ter ,,eople will use al
honorable means to Reserve and perpetual
tnese. tn'nS l F.how the sentiments of he
cltzens IN thls matter, and that am not mis-
taken when 1 say that, almost unanimously
they lnter.d to uphold that Union and to main
tam tr,er rights under it-that they believe thes
l"-st will yet be admitted and secured and tina
not until it is certain they will be respected NJ
longer-not until every honorable, Constitution
al and lawful effort to secure them is exhausted
will they consent to any effort for it's dissolu
ton.
The people of Maryland are anxious that time
be given and an opportunity afforded for fail
and honorable adjustment of the difficulties ant
grievances of which they, more than the people
of any other Southern State, have right tt
complain. And, in my opinion, if the people
of this Union really desire it's continuance ant
perpetuity such adjustment may be effected
bo,, bo1; no
ly. And until the effort is found to be in vair
cannot consent, by any precipitate or revolu
tionary action, to aid in the dismemberment O
this Union z
4 When shall see clearly that there is no hope
of such adjustment, and am convinced that tht
power of the Federal Government is to be per-
verted to the destruction, instead Of being uset
for the protection, of our rights-then, and no
till then, can | consent so to exercise any powe
with which I am invested as to afford even thu
opportunity for such proceeding.
Whatever powers | may have shall use onl
after full consultation and in fraternal concer
with the other Border States since we, and they
in the event of any dismemberment of the Unto,
will suffer more than all others combined.
| am now 10 correspondence with the Cover
nors of those States, and I await with socitud
5 for the indications of the course to be pursued
: Ny IDeln. w men sltiiS is uldue huOWu 10 me
f shall be ready AXE such steps as our dut,
! and interest shall demand, and l do not floub
s the people of Maryland are ready to 60 with tn
people of those States for veal or Woe
t fully agree with all that you have said a
4 to the necessity for protection to the rights O
$ the South I; and my sympathies are entirely witt
the gallant people of Mississippi who stan,
ready to resent any Infringement Of those lights
I But earnestly hope they will act with prudenc
f as well as with courage.
Let us show moderation as well as frmness
and be unwilling to resort to extreme measure
until necessity shall leave us no choice.
l am unable to inform you when the Legsla
ture of this State will be called together 70
until can perceive the necessity for such ste]
| am not willing to awake the apprehension ant
f excite the alarm which such call at the presen
time could not fail to create.
/ have the honor TO be, with great respect
r your obedient servant, THos. H. HICKS.
$ Hon. A. H. Handy, Commissioner of Misss
sippi.