The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-12-01
Letter from Sow. Hicks.-IIis Reasons
for Declining to Call an Extra Ses-
zion OF the Legislat ure.

j. Pmkney. ESq'rs.
GsNTl.EMEN:- Oh the Dist instant one of
your rnmtcr placed in my hand a memorial
s1gnri by yorr. Suggesting to me that the
legislature Slsonid be- forthwith convened ..to
consider the present uiu,Irntuns crisis, and
provide if pract cable. some remedy for the
thr,a,cnotr danger" Thnrsir the memorial
presented no points which had not b., en- care
fully conSitc'ed by HE before its ,receip., vet
the respectable character Of the sign - Sc
cured for II my most respectful attention
and so far us my powers Of thought and the
ener"Ssing nature of my official les hare
enabled me, have devoted myself anew to a
fair aud " ank. rational examination. of the
subject npon which have the honor to be
thus addressed. This renewed consideration
has not lad the effect to alter ray first impress.
sons Of the question. and have TO consider
myself still unable to discover the necessity
or the prorriety of converting the Legislature
Of Maryland at this time.
That the times nrc big with peril, know
and ircl. That the crisis drvolves uron me
lca'ini responsibilities, and delicate and inn
portnnt duties. am fully aware. That am
bound To meet those duties and responsible.
ties, | also know. and that | owe It to
the good people Of Maryland to decide with
view their interests aud safety. feel srnsibly.
1t IS with full view OF all these consider.
atoms that have arrived at my conclusions
in this matter.
One of the prominent causes Of the excite
mcnt now pcIvading the Suuthern States is
the unfortunate result Of the r, cent election,
which has raised MI. Lincoln to the Prcsi.
Denial Chair. Personally | was as much on.
81.
the country, and AS far as my influence did
cxtcnd, | did all in my power to defeat him.
but he has been constituliunaily chosen at
an election where we all presented our favor
tie candidates aud the South is boun,l in hon
OF to recognize and respect the result, as we
would have required the North to do,
had either Of the other candidates been elect.
cd, So far, then, nS thr cause Of exciten,cu.
is concerned, Cannot but think il withou,
just foundation
Identified, as am. by birth and tyerv
other tic with the South. a slave. holder, and
feeling as walmly for my native State as any
man can do. am We, compelled by my sense
Of fair dealing. and my respect for the Cons,i.
tuition OF our country, to declare, that I see
nothing in the bare election of Mr.. Lincoln
which would justify the South in taking any
steps tending toward separation OF these
States. Mr. Lincoln being elected, am W ill.,
ing to await further results. If he will adj.
minister the Government in n proper and IA.
triotic manner, We are all bound to submit to
his administration much as we have opposed
his election.
As an individual will very chcrrullv sus
tain him in well dung, hecnuse my suffering
country will be benefited by a constitutional
administration of the Government. II, on
the contrary, he shall abuse the trust cor f,lct,
to him, shall be- found as ready and deter
mined as will ANY, other man to arrest him in
| his wrong courses, and to seek redress If on,
| grievances by any and n II rropcr means
! The other chief cause of tn. excitement re.
| fcrrcd To in your memorial is the uncons,;,p
| lionai and dsgrac, full acts of somr Northern
cgi>latures in passing laws virtually nu)lifv.
| my the positive provisions of the Cnns,;,,.
ion in reference To fugitive slaves. There
can he no two opinions in MARYLAND rs to the
outrac couS character of these nets for Mary.
| land has lost more of this drsc,ip,jon of
property, than all the extreme Southern States
combined Strongly insul,,nr to the South.
crn s. atcS, they are in the plaincsl opposi,ion
to the decision of the highest Court and IN.
letter Of the Constitution which these I,.pisla.
tors have sworn to support Blu. gentlemen.
these laws do not IN my judgement, cxp,css
the opinions Of the great conservative masses
of the North We know that there are very
many sound Unionlovirg men at the North.
who are utterly opposed to these fanatical
measures. passed by demagngnes who hav G
been temporarily placed in power by the agi.
ta'ion Of the slavery question.
But the sober second thought ofthe masses.
which rarely fails to arrive at right conclu
Sions. will. firmly trust, secure the repeal of
these laws. now that their attention has been
so distinctly drawn to their evil effects. -
Already we sec that propositions for their re-
peal nave been made in the Legislatures now
in session. and We a,e informed that PROPOSE
tnns will be introduced into all of them when
they meet. let us be careful not to weaken
the hands of these conservatives by adopting
ultra measures at the South, which always
aid the Northern fanatics who car only exist
by the agitation of the slavery ct,estiOn. -
Sha II NOT that conservative class have some
kindly consideration at oLr hands: or shall
we regard only the nlrais'S North and
South, unit; they shall crush ont all hone of
perpctuating our glorious onion?
[ cannot believe that the Converting of
the Legislature in rxt-a-srssion at this time
would only have the elect Of increasing and
lrvving the exct,ment now pcrvadlng the
country, and now apparently on the decline.
1t would at once be heraded by the sensitive
new spnpcrs and alurmists throughout the
country as evidence that MARYLAND had