Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-10
Maryland for the Union.

Gov. Hicks has published an address to the cit-
zens of NJ yland, from which we make the follow
ing extract:
81 firmly believe that division of this govern
ment would inevitably produce civil war; The Sc
ceSSion leaders in South Carolina and the fanatca
demagogues of the North have alike proclaimed that
such would be the result, and no man of sense in
my opinion, question it. What could the Leg
slature do in this crisis if convened to remove the
present troubles which beset the Union? We are
told by the leading spirits of the South Carolina
Convention that neither the election of Mr. Lincoln
nor the non-executon of the Fugitive Slave law
nor both combined, constitute their grievances
They declare that the real of their discomfort
dates as far back 1888. Maryland and every
other State in the Union, with a mild voice, then
declared the insufficient to justify the course of
South Carolina Can it be that this people who
then unanimously supported the cause of General
Jackson will now yield their opinions at the bidding
of modern secesSioniSts? have been told that the
position of Maryland should be defined, so that both
sections can understand it Do any really misun-
derstand her positions Who that wishes to under
stand it fail to do so? If the action of the Leg
slature would be simply to declare that Maryland
is with the South in sympathy and feeling; that she
demands from the North the repeal of offensive
constitutional statutes, and appeals to 1t for new
guarantees that she will wait reasonable time for
the North to purge her statute books to do JUS
tce to her Southern brethren and if her appeals
vain, will make common cause with her sister bor-
der States in resistance to tyranny if need be, it
would only be saying what the whole country well
knows, and what may be said much more effectualy
by her people themselves in their meetings than by
the Legislature chosen eighteen months since, when
none of these questions were raised before them
That Maryland is 4 conservative Southern State
all know who know anything OF her or her people
The business and agricultural classes, planters
merchants, mechanics and laboring men, those who
have real stake in the community, who would be
forced to pay the taxes and do the fighting, the
persons who should be heard in preference to excited
politicians many Of whom, having nothing to lose
from the destruction of the government, may hope
to derive some gain from the rum of the State
Such men will naturally urge you to pull down the
pillars of this accused Union" which their allies
at the North have denominated covenant with
hell" The people of Maryland if left to themselves
would decide with scarcely an exception that there
Is nothing in the present causes Of complaint to
Justify immediate secession; and yet, against our
judgments and solemn convictions Of duty, we are
to be precpitated into this revolution because South
Carolina thinks differently. Are we not equals p
Or shall her opinions control our actions After we
have solemny declared for ourselves as every man
must do are we to be forced to yield our opinions
to those of another State and thus in effect obey her
mandates? She refuses to wait for our counselS.-
Are we bound to obey her commands? The men
who have embarked in this scheme to convene the
Legislature will spare no pains to carry their point
The whole plan Of operations in the event of the
sembling of the Legislature is, as have been in
formed already marked out the list Of ambassadors
who visit the other States is agreed on, and
the resolutions which they hope will be passed by
the Legislature fully committing this State to
sion, said to be already prepared In the
of nature cannot have long to live, and ferventy
trust to be allowed to end my days citizen of this
glorious Union. But should be compelled to wit
the downfall of that government inherited from
our fathers, established as it were by the special
favor of God, will at least have the consolation at
my dying hour that neither, by word or deed, as
sisted in fastening its disruption"