Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-01-04
The County Mass Meeting.

We puoilsh, to day, the proceedings of the
meeting of the people of this county, held in
this place, on Tuesday, the lstinstant, called
to consider the perilous condition of the
country, and adopt such measures as might
be deemed necessary.
We are free to confess, that it affords us no
pleasure to send forth these proceedings. as
expressive of the sentiments of the people of
Montgomery county in the present crisis; and
with all due Difference to the action of the
meeting, we declare thatwe believe the people
of this county desire an extra session of the
Legislature at the earliest day possible, and
are opposed to the supineness and non-action
of Gov. Hicks, and are in favor, in the event
of dissolution of this Confederacy, of unit
ing themselves with the Southern or Slave
holding States, where all their sympathies
interests and every valuable consideration is
connected; and we moreover believe that
such would have been their declaration, on
the 1st instant, could vote been obtained be-
fore so many had left for their homes, tired
of the unnecessary and protracted debate
When we, on the l4th ultmo, published the
call, inviting the people of the county to as
semble in Mass Meeting, on the LIST instant, we
did not suppose, for moment, that there was
one among us so welded to party politics. or
SO insensible to the dangers that surround US,
who would desire to make this meeting sub
servient to party purposes; but we regret to
record that, in so supposing, we were sadly
disappointed.
A few days after the call appeared, private
circulars were dispatched from this place to a
select few of the Know-nothing party, to meet
in this place. on Saturday, the 22d ultimo;
for what purpose, we arc not sufficiently in
formed to speak positively; but we believe to
rally their party for united action in the pro-
ceedings of the Mass Meeting on the LIST inst,
and current events confirm us in that belief.
The meeting was a large one, doubtless ow-
ing, in great measure, to the efforts made by
the Know-nothings to have their men in at
tendance. Those gathered in here who were
never known to attend meeting before; in
deed, almost the grave was called upon TO
give up its dead, in order TO swell the num-
bers Of this meeting. They were here from
every section of the county; but not, as we
could observe, for confereneeand consultation,
but only to vote upon propositions, which we
have every reason to believe had been preyi-
ously agreed upon in caucus of the Know
nothing leaders, and right truly and faithfully
did they, in that respect, perform their duty.
tits not our custom, andit is far from being
agreeable TO us at this time to take exceptions
to, or find fault with, the actions of any class
OF our citizens but the attendance upon this
meeting ofso large a number of Quaker Friends,
is significant, and excites in our mind appre-
Tensions that there is more in their anti-slavery
doctrines than has ever yet developed itself in
our county; for we now see the voice of the
county--of the pro.slavery people Of Mont
, oprnarw unap the ia-.--e ss~srsss
slavery question, controlled and silenced by
class Of men whose very religion is opposed to
negro slavery. Comment is unnecessary.
ttill be seen from the proceedings, that
the proposition TO request the Governor to con-
vene the Legislature Immediately was defeated
by majority Of two eotes We regret the re-
suit, yeti we regret more that it was accom-
plished by strict party vote, the Know-noth-
ings voting almost TO a man againstit. After
this clear aud unmistakeable evidence Of party
drill, the Democrats nearly all left the meeting,
when the Know-nothings rejected several reso-
lutions, which we publish with the proceed
ings Of vital Importance to the people Of the
county