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

consequences, before we proceel to destroy the
Government eIucat' e to us by i Fathers
and we should wait to see if there S not sti
enough of wisdom, virtue. and patriotism in
Congress and the Country, to give the people
time for ''the sober second thought"
! If the Union must be dissolved, let it be done
calmly, deliberately and after full reflection on
the part of united South. 1t seems to me,
from the hot haste with which some Of the
Southern States are pressing dissolution, that
their leading men fear to act deliberately be-
fieving that the people would not sustain them
in their reckless course-if they had time to
weigh the consequences-nor act without one
more appeal to the people Of the North. Does
it not seem strange that we have only iaoc real
lied the great wrong done the Southern States
by the Personal Liberty Bills enacted by the
North ? We know that these laws have been
upon the Statute books of many of the States
for years, and that until now they have never
been considered sufficient cause to justify the
South in dissolving the Union.
Now. these same enactments cited as the
principal cause for the secession movement in
the extreme South
These Personal Liberty Laws are IN direct
conflict with the Constitution, yet they have
been permitted to remain unquestioned by the
South until it was ascertained that Mr. Lincoln
These laws should be repealed at once and
the rights of the South, guaranteed by the Con-
stituton, should be respected and enforced
After allowing reasonable time for action, on
the part Of the Northern States if they shall
neglect or refuse to observe the plain require
ments Of the Constitution, then in my Judgment
we shall be fully warranted in demanding d-
vision of the Country.
We shall have done Our duty to the Constitu-
ton, to the memory Of our fathers, to ourselves,
and posterity and the South can honorably take
such steps as patriotism and honor may demand
either in or out of the Union. No one will then
be more ready or willing than I to follow the
fortunes of the South but am utterly opposed
to this precipitate action by one, two, or three
States.
Maryland is border State with only an in
visible line between her territory and the free
States; and, in my opinion, ifa separation should
take place, in ten years there will not be slave
within her limits. Our State in the event of
dissolution Of the Union, must become the bat
tie ground of the hostile sections subject to all
the horrors of border warfare. This fact will
not affect the decision of our people if we can
not enjoy in Union, the rights guaranteed by
the Constitution. shall be the last one to OBJ
ject to withdrawal of our State from a Confed
eracy that denies to us the enjoyment of our
undoubted rights but believing that neither her
honor nor interests will suffer by proper and
just delay 1 cannot assist in placing her in a
position from which we may hereafter wish to
recede.
When she moves in the matter, l wish it to
be side by side with Virginia-our nearest mel IN
bor-kentucky and Tennessee.
The time has indeed come when We must look
the danger full in the face, when patriotism the
memories Of the past and tie hopes of the flu
ture imperatively dena:.,d that we should use
every exertlon cor. patible with honor, to pre-
vent the United States of America from disap-
pearlng f.om among the Nations of the world.
| Lave sent you copy of my response to
Gov. Pratt and others, containg my reasons for
declining to convene the Legislature at thattime,
and nothing has occurred since then to alter my
convictions of my duty. But assure you, that,
whenever, in my Judgment the necessity for as
sembling that body in extra session shall arise,
I shall not shrink from the responsibility.
In all my feelings andinterests+a southeruer,
1 am ready to stand by the interests and honor
of the South. again thank you for your Kind
and friendly letter and shall be much pleased to
hear from you often.
l have t 9 no lor to be. with greet respect,
Your obi serv't,
THos H. Hicks.