The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-30
Maryland LIE Le2isIature-Messagee & of Governor
Hicks.

In the General Assembly of Maryland, on
Saturday, the Governors Message was re-
ceived, and the Senate adopted an address TO
the people of Mary land stnting that the Leg
islature will not pass an act of secession; but
If they believe the people desire it, they will
give them an opportunity of declaring for
themselves their future destiny. The House
had not, at l O'Clock on Saturday, acted on
the address, but had appoin ted a committee
to report act for the call of Il Convention
of the people.
In his message, Gov. Hicks briefly details
the startling events which inc uced him to as
semble the Legislature. He said he iabored
earnestly 10 induce the Presiden to forego
his purpose of passing troops through Mary
land, but the reply was thata military neces-
sity rendered it unavoidable.
He says he refused Gen Butle his consen t
to land his forces. He protested against his
taking possession of the Annapolis Railroad
and in this connection says:
mot SlthStandiDg that our most learned
and intelligent citizens admit the right of the
Government 10 transport its troops over the
railroad, II is evident that portion of the
people of Maryland are opposed to the exer-
else of the right
He says IL honestly and most earnestly
entertain the conviction that the only safety
of Maryland lies in preserving Il neutral
position between our brethren of the North
and OF the South. We have violated no
rights OF either section. We have been
loyal to the Union. The unhappy con-
test between the two sections has not been
iamented or encouraged by us, although
we have suffered from it in the past
The impending war has not come by any act
or any wish OF ours. We have done ali we
could to avertit. We have hoped that Mary.
land, and the other Border Slave States by
their conser ryatlye position and love for the
l MON, might have acted as media tors be-
tween the extremes of both sections, and thus
have prevented the terrible evils of a pro
longed civil war. Entertaining these views
L cannot counsel Maryland to take sides
against the General Government, until it
shall commit outrages upon us which would
justify ms in resisting its authority. As a
consequence, l can give no other counsel than
that We shall array ourselves for Union and
Peace, and thus preserve our soil from, being
polluted with the blood of brethren Thus
If war must be between the North and the
South, we may force the contending parties to
transfer the field OF battle from our soil SO
that our lives and property may be secure -
II seems TO me that, indie pc ndently of all other
considerations our geogra phical position forces
us TO this, unless We ...e willing TO see onr
State the theater of long and bloody civil
war. and the conseq uent utter destruction of
every material interest of our people, to say
nothing of the blood of brave men and inno-
cent women and children which will cry out
from our soil for vengeance upon US if we
fail TO do all that in us lies TO avert the i'm
pending calamity
He appeals to the Legislature not to be
swayed by passion, but to act with prudence
and Christian like temper.
All the Governors CORES pondence with the
Administration and Government officers ac.
companies the message.