Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-01-11
An Address to the People Of Maryland
by Governor Hicks.

The Governor has replied to the ad-
dress ofthe Senators of Maryland, re-
Gently assembled at Barnum's Hotel, and
at the same time has issued an address to
the people of Maryland. Its matter and
manner are equally characteristic. and
justify only brief allusion to the docu-
ment:
The Governor thinks that in the event
of dissolution and war between the sec
tions, Maryland would be the chosen bat
tle-ground, and we should be exposed to
oppressive taxation, ruin and bankruptcy.
Iii our duty, therefore. to avoid such a
catastrophe. The Governor hopes and
believes the Union will be preserved. He
is a Marylander, and has never lived,
and never desires to live, in any but
slave State. He has been and is now in
correspondence with the Governors of
Virginia, Kentucky. Tennessee and Mis-
souri,, and will be prepared to act with
them when the time comes
He informs the people, moreover, that
in the treasury of Maryland there was a
deficit on the first of October last Of fifty
thousand dollars, and the treasury officers
have repeatedly been without the means
of paying drafts upon it, in consequence
Of the appropriations made by the last
Legislature. Nothing but the most rigid
economy and careful management can
enable the treasury to pay the April in
terest upon the State debt.
ha ~ I,
warnings also, from people who have an
opportunity to know, that the secession
leaders in Washington have designs
against the border States and npon the
Capital and that great efforts will b.
made to force him to convene the legis
lature.
He refers to o variety of reports which
T have been industriously circulated agains
him that he wants Office under Mr. Lin
coin, which he denounces as an Infamous
unfounded SANDER; that he had writer
f very Objectionable letter to Mr.. Crit
! tenden, which he has directed to be pub
5 lishcd that he had invited the slaves /,
D public dinner on Christmas day nea
: Annapolis; all Of which the Governor de
: clares false, and thinks it likely that
/ good deal more of that sort of thing viii
be put in circulation, :" with the desigl
Of weakening your confidence 10 Ii,
Executive of the State by attempting t.
work upon your fears"
The Governor thinks that the saliva
ton of the Union depends upon the Dor
4 der States. He thinks without them til,
g. cotton States will be without inAuenc'
9 and credit, and the northern half of tn
/ republic shorn of its power and influence
: He says, however,
B " If we find hereafter that the Nortl
shall, after due deliberation, refuse t,
give them, the rights of the South, W
will, in a united body, demand and re
ceivo fair division of the national do
main" To this extent, therefore, tn,
Governor is secessionist. He says ht
has extensive means of information as t.
the wishes Of the people, not possessed
by those who urge this measure upon me,
and am fully convinced that an immense
majority of these, throughout the whole
State, are firmly opposed to such action
In the course Of nature the Governor
says he has not long to live, and be
wishes to end his days citizen of this
glorious Union.
TO THE SENATOR'S.