Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-31

factory intelligence we have this week is til
apparently entirely reliable statement that let
tiers have been received in Washington fro,
MIR. Lincoln, the President elect urging hi
friends to Cancellation and compromise and in
, dlcatlng the Border State agreement a reason
able basis of adjustment. 1t is also said tina
after the formal counting of the electoral vot
on the second Wednesday in next month, MI
Lincoln will consider himself in position t.
make the public formally acquainted with hi
| views in relation to the National crisis TIL
response that has already been made to Virgin
las call for National Convention is also regard
ed as an encouraging sign.
i --->o>-
i rThe South Carolina Legislature on non
day unanimously rejected the mediation of Vir
gnia as proffered through her Commissioner
Judge Robertson, declaring that the State doe
not desire any new Constitutional guarantees
that the separation from the Federal Union il
final, and that the only negotiations she cal
hold with the Federal Government are as t.
their mutual relations as foreign States The
Legislature further declared its want of confidence
in the Federal Government, &c. She therefore
with high considerations of respect for Virginia
declines entering into the negotiation proposed
HI Governor Hicks has appointed the Hons
Reverdy johnson, Augustus w. Bradford, Will
liam Il. Goldsborough John w. Crisfeld and
J. Dixon Roman, Commissioners on the part of
Maryland to meet the Commissioners appointed
by the Legislature of Virginia. in Washington,
on the 4th day of February, :to consider aud
cooperate in the adoption and recommendation
of efficient measures to ADJUST the present I'M
happy controversies in the spirit in which the
Constitution was originally formed"
-->~>-----
Hns-The members of the Chicago and Mil
waukee Boards of Trade, on visit to Wash
ington, on Monday paid their respects to the
President, Senators Douglas and Seward, and
Gen. Scott. In the course of his conversation
with them, Senator Seward said chat the ques-
ton Of slavery is not now to be taken into con-
sideration. We are to save the Union, and then
we will save all the rest that is worth saving"
the Ordinance of Secession on Saturday. The
intelligence was received at New Orleans with
the display Of ''Pelican" flags and the firing Of
cannon.
EH- The desire for holding State Conven-
ton, to take in consideration the national crisis
and define the position of Maryland, is becoming
uh of Int hat
a response will be had from the whole State
before long. The election for delegates in our
own county takes place on next Tuesday, while
St. Mary's and other counties have appointed
their day Of election. The Convention then is
a fact, we presume and it becomes lis as citi-
zens interested, to look we'll to the matter, and
select such men to represent US in that Conven-
tion as will best represent our true interests and
reflect our real sentiments. This is no frolic,
90 49, (iax.-.,a menry-nsaking. and season
for jolifcatien, as some would seem to suppose
but the fate Of a nation, the veal or woe o
thirty Millions of people, the liberty and happ
ness of Maryland, the prosperity of one of Tho
mightiest and certainly the most prosperous ma.
ton under the sun, hang upon a thread which
is to be strengthened or snapped in twain, by
| the act of Maryland at this particular juncture
Never in all her history, say men who ought t.
know, did Maryland occupy so responsible {
position as now. We are told that if the Unior
is to be reconstructed, saved, perpetuated, Mary
land must do it. If civil war is to be ayerted
if peace and plenty is to bless our land again
it must depend upon the action of Maryland ii
this crisis. How responsible then is her posi-
ton, how bright her glory when the heaven
born work is done.
| But one of the important questions, which, il
the train Of common reason, presents itself. is
what shall Maryland do? That's the question
Shall she secede at once and thus sever the las
tie which binds US together as one people? Shal
she disown the law and the government which
she has heretofore held so sacred, and identif,
herself with that which recognizes it not? Or
shall she firmly plant herself upon her rights
and, if necessary her sons to die in their Defence
Demand of the North and of the South an OBJ
servance of that law, than which there is none
higher, and which is meet alike for all sections:
And when neither will listen to her remon-
STRANGE or demand, say to each go thy way,
am determined to deal justly with all though l
perish. In fine what must or will Maryland
Edo? What will the Convention do? This
Convention when assembled will not be sover-
eign, in fact cannot be, except by usurpation
| therefore an act of the Convention is of no i'm
port until referred back to the people and en-
dorsed by their sovereign cote. Should the ques-
ton of Maryland's position come up, this Con-
vention will have precisely the same authority
to declare it as we have. Their power and our
power in this matter are equal, save in numbers
The question then comes back to the people,
and at the ballot-box they make sovereig,,
decision from which there is no appeal. A