Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-07-04
TIHEE1TMEs.
PORT ToBAcCoaMD.
Thursday Morning, July q 1861.
a@ Can therspossibly boa more fitting time

than this, the fonrth day. July, for American
to recall from the various scenes of agitation an
strife their narrowed minds, and reflect serious
ly for short period rpon the state Of thei
country? Can there be more fitting time 70
prayer, for supplication to the Great Jehovah
for an exhibit Of his power and protecting car
of our once,-oh how the term saddens us as w
write.-yes, for our once happy, but now divid
ed and distracted land year, yes, a shor
year ago, we, the American people, assembled
together in groups, larger or smaller, through
out the whole country-North. South East ant
West-and our praises went up in glad accents
to Him who rules on high, and our thanks fol
the LIBERAL free and independent government
which he had deigned to give us. With tears
of joy Oh our cheeks and the dews of pure de-
Eight upon eyelids, we rehearsed the various
deeds Of our fathers upon the battlefield, and
more than AFT, the wisdom of those same fathers
in framing and handing down to us this free,
this independent, this peoples government
With proud spirits our countrymen, soourning
in distant lands, announced themselves as Anne
ricans. No name so potent as that; no govern
ment so likely to secure cordial welcome for
its subjects as prond and free America The
starspangled banner was honored and revered
on all waters and by all men, Should mobs
assail should wild, ungovernable passion sway
the masses in any civilized country it was suffi-
cient for any American citizen to envelope him
oil IN cfo
from all harm. But, alas, the scene changes ;
that dear protection, the Constitution, has been
trampled under foot by ruthless foemen on the
one hand, and by those who should support,
defend and protect it on the other The free
and peoples government left us as rich hertz
age by our fathers has been changed into a
military despotism and petty tyranny, by those
who have sworn to support and protect invio-
late that sacred trust placed in their keeping
Free Americans are no longer free, but slaves to
irresponsible military. Martial law is proclaim
ed in Union Cities and ALL irrespective of party,
sect or creed, placed under the surveillance of
military despotism. Men no longer dare enter
tain thought or express sentiment without
first obtaining the permission from the ruling
power. Look but short distance further and
the same reign of terror is beheld, though with
different masters. A man must not even respect,
much less venerate, the stars and stripes. M
look of compassion, no shade of pleasure must
fit across his brow as the pleasing memory of
"aud lang syne" fills his mind. To be plain,
dreadful civil war pervades the land and the
freedom and liberty left us by our fathers, as
rich heritage, are trampled in the dust. The
household gods we once venerated are broken
and our sacred places are laid waste our harps
go ron lie a.illassa ard qsE
ones are sad with mourning. And shall this
long continue? Is the boasted freedom Of a
merica to be numbered with the things which
were, or can it be that God will yet override all
this trouble and vexation for our good in his
own good timer Can it be that light will yet
break upon the minds and hearts of those in
power that prejudice, folly and madness may
be dispelled, and peace, equality and liberty
again assert their sway in Columbia's favored
soil? May God in his wisdom and mercy grant
it. But, alas, for the evil already done, years
of toll, of prayer and humility will be required
to restore us to our once happy state.
R@Our neighbor of the Beacon copies por-
ton of our remarks on the position of Mr.. Call
vert, and hopes that we were not of the few
who supposed Mr.. Calvert to be conditional
Union man, and hence cast our vote for him.
We are happy to inform our neighbor that his
hopes are realized: Mr.. Calvert dill not receive
our vote, but the contrary. We, however, still
assert our former declaration, that "there were
many good and true Southern-rights men with
Union. proclivities who cast their vote for Mr..
c., not for "a moment imagining him to be a
coercionist. This we re-assert, from the fact
that we know it to be so, if men who have
heretofore enjoyed an undoubted reputation for
veracity are to be believed. 1t is much to be
regretted that any should be deceived in their
man on SO important a subject as this, and
should Mr.. Calvert vote men and money for the
prosecution Of this unholy war and for the sup
port of this unheard-of and unparalleled usur-
patton of power, many who unwittingly cast
their votes for him will not be represented in
Congress. Differences of opinion may and will
often arise among men, but on the subject Of
coercion there is no difference Of opinion in
Charles county, and while we should be sorry
to see Mr.. c. disappoint those who supported
him, we are unwilling to condemn them for it,
We may condemn the act, but the motives
which actuated many we cannot condemn.
Adverse to the lincoln policy, yet favorable to
a peaceful Union, if such can be had, these men,
or most of them, we doubt not would lay aside
their prejudice to war and shoulder arms for the
resistance of coercion and usurpation. And
should Congress vote supplies to carry on this
dreadful and unholy state of warfare, and call
upon these men to support them in their efforts,
it will need no ghost to rise from the grave to
tell us where they will be found.
Let the Administration, let Congress, let all
in power pondpr On t1iG -s,hiect and raf}oot hn