Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-12-20

&we~egrA tharwe are compelled to la,
oven datil next weak some matter from cores
p"ndentsS-also, the proceedings of meeting a
Aliddletown,-which came to hand too late.
Before another issue of our paper thu
time-honored festival, CHRISTMAS, with all it.
train of merry-making, sports and frolics, vii
Re upon us. Old Kriss Kringle will have de.
scended the chimney of many house for the
purpose Of filing the stockings of the little ones
with sweetmeats, and crowding upon the tiny
bows of their Christmas tree the jumping-Jacks
and other toys pertaining to childhood. The
older folks Will have dissected their fat turkeys
and quafed the steaming eggnog to their hearts
content. Mnce pies will have appeared in
abundance and general merry-making enliven
the long cold nights.
We wish our readers a merry Christmas !; but
really the state Of national affairs is SUCH that
we are almost ready to say with certain high
parsonage, "There is nothing to be merry over. "
Let us, however, hope for the better and be
merry while we may. Therefore, merry and
happy Christmas to you ALL kind readers, and
may we all live to see many more, much mer-
rier than this is likely to be.
MA meeting was held at MiddIetown on
Che 18th instant, for the purpose of consulta-
ton and agreeing upon some plan of action to
be pursued in reference to those who voted for
Lincoln and Hamlin in that district. Resolu-
lions, censuriug those who thus voted, were
passed, and committee was appointed to car
ny out one of the resolutions, giving notice to
one of the parties, who is regarded "as Black
Republican .emissary," to leave the county by
the LIST of January next
~ Judging from ths present appearance OF
National affairs one is very naturally led to the
conclusion that the day for reasoning is past,
and thata new era, in which prejudice, passion,
and madness, are the chief attributes, is about
to be inaugurated. Misnomer has truly asserted
her sway and selfishness regns with her jointly
supreme Calmness is construed into fear, and
counting the cost into cowardice: Reflection is
miscalled apathy, and deliberation dssaaection.
Bravado is courage, and denunciation statesman
ship. Obstinacy is frmness. and egotism is
patriotism.
Nothing in the present state Of affairs ca1
possibly be worse for us than this habit OF call
ing things out of their true names. By this
course fatal mistakes are made, and mistaken
notions of right and wrong find currency in the
popular mind, the people themselves are deceiv-
ed, and what is more the discovery of the error
and the consequent regrets come too late, when
the deed is done and past all cure. Almost as
fatal and close of kin to the last is the habit of
judging sentiments by their author, instead Of
authors by their sentiments Of Judging of the
system of teaching from the reputation Of the
teacher, rather than the qualifications ola teach
er from the qualities of the system.
"iMarcus dirit; ita est" seems to be the ruling
spirit of the times, and no man scarcely dares
doubt its correctness.
Equally with individuals, is this applicable to
great political parties. A proposition is set on
foot or plan for the adjustment of our nation
al difficulties started, one man reads it and an
other listens, they endorse every sentiment, con-
cur in every opinion, support every argument,
and adopt every proposition: are ready to de-
f.nd it on the whole with their voices, honors,
and even their lives. But, alas they make a
discovery-the author of the sentiment, which
a moment since was worthy the gifted and no
BILE mind of Washington, happens to belong
to a political school differing from theirs and
straightway all its good, all its truth, all its
wisdom, all its patriotism tumbles into atoms
and all their blessings and appropriations arc
tlrned into curses and denials, because, forsooth
nothing good can come out Of Nazareth" Re
verse this picture, and place their strongest dis
approval upon proposition, which is afterward:
f,cnl to enlanate from one of their own politi-
cal complexion, yet 10 time to merit their strong.
est approval when the discovery is made, and
you have one equally true to nature.
In drawing these pictures, in making these pen
ciugs of the present times, we allude to no party
or parties in particular, we make the broad as
sertion, as applicable to all alike, and simply
have to regret that they are SO true to the origi
nal Again, when the subject Of our difficult
lies and troubles is to be discussed or conferred
upon, instead of that calm, determined, deliber-
ate manner which characterized our fathers in
days agone, wild excitement and bitter denuncia-
ton takes the place of cool conferences and clear
arguments Without the widest excitement it
would seem as though nothing could be done.
Half dozen plans are suggested, and the party
offering each, with determined perseverance and
unyeilding tenacity adheres to his own, nor
Yields for moment the right to another even to
utter patriotic sentiments, much less to propose
a reasonable course to preserve our once happy
nation from destruction. With as much mlrtfl
and frivolity do they talk and act with reference
to the fate of our nation as children play with
Al Il