New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-30
LETTER From COY. HICKS.
REFUSAL TO CONVENE THE MARYLAND
LEGlSLATURE-HIS VIEWS ON SECES-

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Annapolis, Nov. q, 1869.
H. GREEs, LIEwRLLIx BorLs, and J. PIsxsEr esqs
GENTLEMEN: On the list instant, one of your num-
Der placed in my hand memorial signed by you, sug
costing TO that the Legislature should be forthwith
convened TO cOnsider OF the present momentOus crisis,
and provide if practicable, some remedy for the threat
ened danger" Though the memorial presented no
u ints which had not been carefully considered by me
before it, receipt yet the respectable character Of the
signers secured for II my most respectful attentions
and so far a. pOwers of thought and the engrOssng
nature Of my official duties have enabled me, have
devoted myself anew to a fair, frank rational recxam-
inaiion of the subject upon which have the honor to
be- thus addressed This renewed consideration has not
had tie effect alter my first impressions of the qnes
ton and have TO consider myself still unable to d
the necessity the proprey of converting the
Legislature Of Maryland al the present time.
That the times are big with peril, know and feel
That the crisis devolves upon fearful responsibilities
and delicate and important duties, fully aware.
That am bound to meet those duties and responsible
ties also know, and that owe II to the good people
of Maryland to decide with caution, and act with pru
denee keeping in view their efests and safety feel
;, nsbly II Il with full view Of all these cOnsideri-
ons that have arrived al my conclusions on this mat
ter.
Ore of the prominent causes Of the excitement now
pervadng the Southern States is the unfortunate result
of the recent election which has raised Mr. Lincoln to
tie Presidential Chair. Personally was ar much OPP
posed to lis election as was any other man III the co-
rv and 80 far az my influence could extend did all in
nv rover 10 defeat him. But he has been constltu-
ti0nsly chosen at an election where all presented
our favoe candidates and the South Is bound IN honor
recognize and respect the result, IA we would have
required the North to do had either OF the other cand
dates been elected. 30 far then a. the cause OF ex-
citement is concerned, cannot but think 1t without
Just foundation
Identified as am by birth, and every other tie,
with the South stakeholder, and feeling warmly
for nv native State any man can do am yet com
PEELED by of fair dealing and my respect Tor
the Constitution Of country TO declare that see
nothing in the bare election of Mr. Lincoln which
a.. g. tnly, ufarl fn0
toward separation of these States. Mr.. Lincoln be
ing elected am willing 10 await further results lf
he will administer the Government in proper and
patriotic manner, we are all bound 70 submit TO ne
Admin stration mncb We may nave opposed Ills
election.
As an individual will very cheerfully sustain him
in well doing, because my suffering country Will be
benefited by constitutional administration OF the GOv-
ernment If on the contrary, he shall abnHe the trust
corided to him, shall be found as ready and deter
mined as any other man 10 arrest him III Ills wrong
courses and seek redress Of grievances by any
and all proper means.
TIE other chief cause Of the excitement referred TO
In your memorial the and dsgracefu
acts Of some Northern Legislatures IN passing laws VIZ
tually multiplying the positive provisions OF the Constr
tuition in reference TO fugitive slaves There can be no
two oIinions in Maryland 10 the outrageous ehrac-
ter Of these acts fol Maryland has been constant SUI
ferer from them, and has lost more OF this Description
of property than all the extreme Southern States com
bped Strongly insulting 70 the Southern States, they
are in the planes opposition 10 the decisions OF the
highest Court and the letter OF the Constitution whicn
these Legislatures have sworn to support but, gen.
tlemen these laws do not IN my Judgment ex pres the
OF Iions Of tie great conservative masses of the North
We know that theresre very maj SOUND, UniO-oVlhg
men at the North who utterly opposed TO these IA
natical measures, passed by denaguguee VINO nave
been temporarily placed IN power py the aS'aiVn VI
But the sober second thought of the masses, which
rarely fails To arrive at right conclusions, WILL hrny
tras secure tie repeal OF these laws, now that Their
h. haap dls.I
efects Already that propositions Tor their re-
De- have been made in the Legislatures now IN ses-
sion and we are informed that similar propositions VIII
be introduced into all Of them when they meet. Let
m be careful not to weaken the hands Of these Conser
yayes by adopting ultra measures at the South winch
ALWAYS aid the Northern fanatics, who can only exist
bv the agitation of the Slavery question Shail not
that conservative cass have some kindly confederation
al our hands or shall We regard only the urdlsts,
North and South until they shall crush out all nope oil
perpetuatng our glorious Union
cannot but believe that the convenng Of the Legls-
lsture in extra session al this time would only have
n effect of increasing and reviving the excitement
now pervading the country, and now apparently on
the decline Ii would al once be heralded by the
.en.itiye newspapers and alarmists throughout the
country az evidence that Marylan had abandoned all
hcre of the Union, and was preparing TO JON the
4 aitOIs 10 destroy II. -
IL sncb the true position or wish of Maryland l
II ink have had very full opportunities OF learning
tie wishes Of the people upon this question, and have
no hesitation in declaring 1t a. my opinion tnal al n
n ense maiorivt Of all PARTIES decidedly opposed 10
The assembling Of the Legl- latuTe at us tlIhe'
Memorials similar to that which you present, nave
been in circulation for some time, but nave thus lar
received but one, and that signed only by sx names
although learn II has been presented 10 tne people
of the ty generally for their signatures The wishes
of the peote should certainly be respected III tins mat
fer ard their rence under the circumstances, shows
thai they zee no such necessity for immediate acton
To nv mind difficulties multiply ~ we proceed Win
tie confederation Of this subject
Tie Constitution of the State prescrbes biennial ses
oua Of the Legislature of limited length ana author
H., i oyen to the Governor 20 convene the Legislature
DIV On extraordinary occasions. If were 10 do 80
now il would be necessary 10 hiirrass the people IN
some parts Of the State lust relieved IRON an exclng
.,y.ss with elections 70 fill vacancies at an unusual
and inceuent seasOn Any session OF the Legislature
n od he very extensive but extra session, OF IN
J,,tJ IeUofI would be especially 70, unless the eX
ANNIE of the last session Of ths body, which almost
emf tied die State Treasury, would serve az some
RESTRAINT ,
of the Importance of the present crisis; but q are
others who think Of their own interests rlihe Than
tbo.e of the State who would be found seeking 10
,ncpOle IL valuable time Of the body m inrthelng
gbee. Of personal advantage, which can well aiiJrd
| 70 ,t,yait the meeting Of the regular scssi)n.
You ,peak gentlemen Of Maryland peculiar posi-
tion a. a border Slave State. That position between
Inc extremes of North and South seems, thus lar 10
how Won't setjonalisIn from her councils and o. have
inclined her people % moderate measures But there
afe other border Slave Siaes az nuch interested III
,bsse questions IA Mary land can be- which ought 20 be
opsulted before we take the initiative IN this natter
| Ib lieve that neither Kentucky Tennessee nor Mis,
| ,m,i a. taken any such action. The Legislature OF
H. oue, state of Virginia. which haa beon called To-
petber Tor action an 20 her works OF mteh improve