Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-16
The Patriotism Of ReTerdy john
son.

BALTIMORE, Tuesday, May I, 1861,
The Union demonstration at Freder.
lex to-day was a grand affair. Hon.
Revcrdy johnson in behalf Of the ladies,
presented aag to tho Home Guard, who
had 100 members present, besides large
and enthusiastic gathering of the people.
Mr.. Johnsons speech was a most for
chile and effective one. He said: In
the original causes which have produ-
ced the present emergency, Maryland
ia, had no share. Her people ever were
NOW are Jealous in support OF Con-
stitutiun and a Government which they
were foremost in forming and adopting.
No threat Of treason has ever been whis-
pered within her limits, while the bless
ings and advantages of the Union have
ever been fully estimated and approcia-
ted. The loss OF these advantages, it is
felt, would be utter aud irremediaLIe ru-
in. In this ruin all the States would,
more or less, share; but our geographic
cal position would make it to us immedi-
ate and total. Peaceable separation is,
as our wisest statesmen have predicted,
impossible; and the truth of those pre-
dictions is about to be manifested. But
for the resistance to its just and legal au-
thority, the Government had given no
cause, and had the friends of constitu-
t:oua rights remained at their posts in
Congress, the power Of the Government
to transgress its authority could have
been ctfectually thwarted. The Secess-
ionists had desecrated the name of Cal
houn in support of their heresy; but that
great statesman had pronounced the doc
trine both novel and in violation of com
mon sense The leaders of the rebellion
were, in fact, actuated by an unholy
thirst of official power. I he fact is evil
denccd in the elevation to place oil
who had desecrated official positions plot
ting treason, but the reeiforts to iishou-
or the Government from which many of
these leaders had borrowed their renown
would fail They may as well strike at
the heavens with their arms as against
the American Union. Defeat was GER
tain to rebellion. The Free States, ac-
cording to the last census, have 3,77S,
600 males between the ages of IS and
IS; the Slave States had 1, Cos, 600, the
seeded States, exclusive of Virginia,
had only 53l 900, and the difference in
wealth is proportonate to that of men.
With such vast disparity, the end of
the struggle IS beyond doubt. For Ma
ryland to encounter such odds would be-
to doom herself to desolation and des-
truction. Even should the South sue
coed at first, they would ultimately be
driven back, and our State left to mourn
over her calamity and crime. 1t was
the aim of the South to confne the war
to the Border States. Mr.. .obb was
even now congratulating them on the
removal of it from their midst, but Ma
ryland should illustrate this cowardIy
policy. Let those who have provoked the
war bear its entire brunt. Maryland's
proper position is to remain firm in her
loyalty to the Government. The rebel
lious leaders had done all they could to
achieve Mr.. Lincoln's election as the
means of precipitating revolution in the
South. They relied for the success of
their plans upon the Intervention of the
Border States, land divisions in the North;
but they were short-sighted men. The
first gun fired at noble and starving
was blow at nations heart,
and united North had sprung to arms
in vindicatiop Of the flag and for the