The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-20

INEETING At THE MARYLAND LNSTE-
TE-ENTHUSLASTTC GRO FD-AD-
DRESS or JUDGE HANDY COMNIS-
SONER FROM THE STATE or MIS-
SLSSLPPL, TO TIE CITIZENS or BAL
TIHORE
AS previously announced in the public papers,
the Hall of the Maryland Institute was thrown open
last night to the public, who had been invited to
assemble there, to hear an address to be delivered
by Judge Handy, Commissioner from the State
of Mississippi upon the condition of affairs in that
State in relation to the present crisis, and also to
hear what course that State intended to pursue,
and what stand her people intended to take in the
present disturbed affairs of the Republic. Long be-
fore the hour az o'cock) at which the meeting
was called, a very large crowd had collected in the
hall and galleries of the Insttute-at least from
fifteen hundred to two thousand persons. PrOfes-
sor Nolandt's band stationed in the south gal
lery, and at intervals discoursed eloquent music.
A few minutes before eight O'clock the crowd in
the meantime becoming impatient, Judge Handy
appeared in the hail. accompanied by Coleman
Iellott Esq, and number of prominent citizens
They were received with loud cheers by the crowd.
As the Judge and Mr.. elliott assembled to the plat
form three vocerous cheers were given, the band
playing a lively air. The platform was soon well
filed with citizens when Mr.. Yellott came forward
and said:
Ny Fello,C citizens For the purpose of organ
izing this meeting, move as chairman well
known and respected townsman, VIM. g. Harrison,
ESQ. Loud cheers
Upon the question being put, Mr.. Harrison was
nominated by acclamaton.
Mr.. Harrison then said:
Our sister State Mississippi accredited the Hon A.
H. Handy Commissioner, to explain to her sister Mary
land the action and position taken by her in view the
political condition of the general Government. He is
now on his return from Annapolis but at the request
many OF your fellow-ctzenS has consented to explain
to the people of this city the sentiments decision of
the people Of Mississippi in regard to the value of the
violated compact of the general Government, under the
shadow of which majority OF the States may and do
threaten the liberties Of the minority The selection of
this gentleman from among her wOrthieSt citizens be-
cause he is native Marylander expresses strongly the
Importance of his mission and the depth of sympathy
with and for which dictated it. And although from
adverse circumstances the people of Maryland are yet
debarred from formal legal expression of their determi
nation the matter surely he will return from his kin
dred to his adopted home, convinced that MARYLAND of
1860 is heir to its old line of l776 for veal or woe
is one with her sisters of the South. introduce Mr.
Handy.
Judge Handy then came forward, amid loud
cheering, and spoke as follows:
Fe0,y Citizens Il appear before you as arommisoner
from mississippi to bear you the story the mission
which Mississippi is engaged in and take counsel
with you In regard to the present emergency in state of
affairs. am not here to excite discord-no here to ere
ate in your hearts an aversion for country but
here to endeavor to within you those feelings
patriotism which is necessary all should exhibit in the
present important condition Of our national affairs.
come to as bone your bone and flesh of your flesh
In this State was born, but since my manhood have
been living in Mississippi, to which State indebted
for whatever honorable position have filed NV heart
yearns toward Maryland the place of nv birth and
early associations, and to these than any 9TH
er. am indebted for the position which now occunv
As said before, came not to create discord but to
feeling fof the preservation of the liberties
which fathers fought and died for and bequeahed
BY the election of Abraham Lincoln in the opinion of
many persons, the government is in revo-
luton. By his election rights have been inringed
and the spirit of the Constitution of the country sub
verted am here to state to you the position which Mis-
sissipp occupies and the she intends pursue
the present struggle 1t has been asserted that the
ent efforts of the people of the State of Mississippi
destruction of the Union and the Constitution. This
is base caumny, and stand here tonight to pronounce
it such. Mississippi is not dslOya but the contrary
is seeking the preservation of the government its
purity, and am here proclaim to you the principles
by the adoption of which the Constitution be preerv-
ed and without the Constitution there be liberty
Union. With the election of Lincoln the principles
of the Constitution have been subverted the govern
ment is in state of revolution. The placing the
hands of these RedRepubicans the regns of
will enable them to perfect the details Of their policy
and bring ruin and disaster the South This the lead
ers of that party assert they will do and they will keep
The difference between the North and South can be
briefly stated We of the South believe that the nstu
ton of slavery is ordained by God and sanctioned by
humanity. We believe that must control and act as
guardian to the slave We believe that the negro i:
benefited ag the condition in which he is placed. 1t il
useless for me here to enter into argument demon
srate the correctness of this belief 1t enough know
that the South asserts that the institution is ordained by
God and that the owner of the slave is morally bound
protect and provide for him To this view of the ques
tion the North dssents entirely. They say it is con
demned by Godthat it ourages humanity and that there
is right and be right to hold negro in slave
ry. 1t is this difference which has brought about
present state of affairs This Northern sentiment ha
to be fixed fact with large majority of the peo
Pile They look upon the institution Of slavery Will
hatredbelieye it to be sim and boldly
condemned by God. We cherish it. look upon it as
blessing and believe receives the sanction Of God
The country throughout its length and breadth is en-
veloped in gloom Trade commerce. the arts and fac
everything is in a suffering condition. feeling of des
pondency pervades the entire social structure What ha
IIlta haar ,F +lo
dca changes which occasionally paralyze trade? Nc
All this suffering has been brought about by tn
announcement that there is "irrepresSible conflict
going on between sections and opinions, in which on
party must sink-i1 which one party must yield and b
swallowed up by the other. 1t asserted that the gov
ernment as it now exists part of the States being free
and part slave cannot continne. The States must b
either all free, all slave. This is the irrepressbl
conflict You of Maryland and we of the other South
ern States, must give up our institution of slavery. W
usf destroy our own property Are you ready for hi
sacrince5 lCres OF No! MOL If we of the Southern
States do, we must at the time surrender cotton
and with it our commerce. and with our commerce ou
prosperity as people We must give up raising ou
great staple and allow fields to 90 to waste
The Red Republican party propose to abolish SLAYER
by several methods They assert that they will not in
tefere with the institution where it exists and tina
therefore they cannot be truhfuy charged with seekn
its destruction They, however propose to adopt pol
icy which will certainly end in the total abolition
slavery. The first method they propose is to prohib
the existence of the institution in the Territories held
the General Government by means of Congressional lee
islation Also by the means to prohibit it in th
arsenas, navy yards, District of Columbia, and prof.
ery over which the Federal Government has jurisdiction
This policy has double object. Slavery is evil
sin in their belief and should be confined to the State
where it now exists By confning it its present lin
its-hemmed in by free States-it will certainly die on
In short time all the Territories will be admitted int
the Confederacy free States This accomplished an
the Federal Government would be so strong that
could treat the institution it might see proper nm
enact any legislation injurious to it. The moment av
nv declared to be sin by law that it is doom
ed.
Another proposition is the abolition of the slave trad
between the States At present the States have the rig
to sell slaves from to the other This right is abs
utey necessary the preservation of the institution
and the prosperity of those States in which it exists
is proposed by the platform issued by the Republic;
party prohibit this trade and thus pen it its pre-
ent limits, and compel the old States to abolish it, as th
certainly must do if they prevented from selling the
slaves South. 1t is not necessary for to ent
any argument to show you the enormity of this pro
oson to convince you that it is outrage Slave
in the South just much property and
horses and mules in the North and the disposal
them from party to another just as necessary. Yet
proposed take this right from you. Are you read
to submit to thisf mo, mol 1t is also proposed by