The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-02-16
The Breckenridge Mass Convention
Resolutions.

The following resolutions were adopted by
the Convention of Wednesday last. Two
delegates from each election district were
appointed to the State Convention Of the 18th
inst. Rev. JAS McIntirc, one Of the APP.
pointccs from the third district declined in
| strong Union speech on, the spot. Geo. r.
Howard, Esq, another Of the appointees,
publishes letter to day, it will be seen,
declining to participate in this revolutionary
assemblage. Others Of the delegates, it is
said, will also refuse to act.
Assembled in County meeting. we the
people of Cecil county, who are favorable TO
The Constitutional Union of the States re
ga,ding the present distracted CONDITION of
the country as the natural, though bitter
fruit OF the triumph Of sectional party,
which despite the warning Of the " Father OF
his Country " in his Farewell Addre ss against
| geographical DETERMINATIONS Mort hern and
| Southern, and against all attemps TO manu-.
!ncture political capital by misreprcscnta-
| ton Of local interests and views" has
| araycd the faraticISm and bigotry Of the
| NCrlh against the domestic institutions OF
the South, thereby alarming the people, and
inducing the belief that their lives and prop
erty are seriously inperiled and believing
| that the dangers now threatening the stabi-
ity of the Union Of these States, demand the
explicit and decided expression Of the popu-
| lar will, do hereby declare and resolve
lst That we consider the amended Cons!-
tuition Of the United States as the most per-
! feet instrument ever yet devised by the mind
| OF man for the government of an enlightened
| people, and that we :" cherish o cordial
| habitual and immovabe attachment for
| the Union formed Hereunder, and accept
that Union as the palladium Of our political
safety and prosperity and that for the main
tenance OF that Constitution according to its
true Interpretation, and for the preservation
of that Union in the spirit of our fathers, we
pledge ouI most Jealous and untiring eXer-
tons.
2ndly, That nasmuch as the Consi-
tuition Of the United States, can under the
Fifth Article thereof, Re 50 further amended
from time to time as our national growth,
augmented wealth, extended territory anC
increased population may rcqnile, and mas
much as it has been already amended by the
addition oil twelve separate articles thereto
under the political necessities of the past
Therefore. we recommend to the people Of the
several States 10 gaEt such further guaran-
tees and securities one to the other as may be
fair and just.
3rdly, That the so called personal liberty
Bills, passed by many OF the Northern States
with the intention of controverting and nuhfy-
ing an Act Of Congress, known as the Fugi-
tive Slave Law. are most inauitous. and
should be forthwith repealed AS being utterly
subsc:svc of the Constitution, and calculated
to engender hostile feelings between the peo-
pie of the North and the Southland give
provocation to some of the Southern States in
carrying out their doctrine Of secession which
if persisted in, W i'll inevitably lead to the dis
solution of the Union,
Ably, That the geographical position of
Maryland, as well as her relations, past and
present, to the Northern and Southern sec
tions OF the country, emnentlv fit her to act
the character % mediator in the adjustment
of all our dihiculties and we pledge ourselves
to aid by every means in oar power in bring
ing about happy settlement of all vexed
questions, and in eliecting reunion of all
lpe States Of the Confederacy.
Z 5lhly, That we still haze confidence in the
people Of the Northern States and believe
that at the first opportunity given them, they
will grant to the Southern States, all that
they ask for their security and protection
6Ihly, That we hereby send greetings to
noble little Rhode Island, and express our
satisfaction, that she has SO promptly, and
with such triumphant unanimity, swept from
her Statute Book her offensive personal hber-
ty laws, which were regarded by the people
fthe South as lnimcal to their Constitutional
rights, and IN viola ton of her pighted faith.
IDLY, That we heartily IecIprocate the
Union loving sentiments of the people of Vir-