Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-03-01

VIC NVuh'ig Nhdb tlc Ilinc loT rGcunCllla-
ton has passed, and all hope of recon-
struction of the government gone.
1t was precisely to prevent this calami-
tous result that the Southern Rights
men of Maryland, as early as last No
vember, most earnestly recommended the
early election of Convention by the
people of Maryland. They believed
then, and believe now, that if Maryland
had taken decided stand, her example
would have been followed by the other
border slave States, not one of which, in
fact, has so deep an interest in this crisis
as herself. Her geographical position
making her the seat Of war in the event
Of a collision, and her relation to the Dis
trict of Columbia combine to render her
position in this crisis one of paramount
difficulty. We we're satisfied that the
border slave States, that is, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, acting in concert with North Caro-
lima and Tennessee, by calling Conven-
ton of all the Southern States last No
vember or December, could have con-
troled the action of the cotton States
by the adoption of manly policy. If
they had adopted such basis of settle
ment as the CrittcDden resolutions, and
presented it to the North as the ultima
tum of the South, we believe that it
would have been adopted that pub
lie opinion at the North would have driy-
en- the leaders Of the Republican party
into submission to demand so clearly
right aud moderate--and that the Union
would have been saved The co-opera-
tionists of the cotton States who were
then really in the majority, would have
been enabled to stem the torrent of Sc
cession, which they were powerless to do
in the absence of aid and encouragement
from the border slave States. At all
events, if it be possible to suppose that
the Northern States would have dclibe-
rately rejected so reasonable an offer of
peace and fraternity rendered by unit
ed South, it cannot be considered proba-
BILE that fanat;cism would have ventured
to draw the sword of civil war against
fifteen States and eight millions of brave
and warlike people, Civil war would
have become impossible.
1t is untrue, therefore, that the South
ern rights men Of Maryland desired the
election Of a sovereign convention, in or
der that they might carry Maryland out
Of the Union. Their earnest purpose, on
the contrary, was to prevent secession
and disunion by formidable movement
to obtain such settlement as could alone
preserve the Union and falling in that i,
then to avert the calamities of Il fratri-
cidal war by peaceful separation, Ma
ryland has not performed that great du-
ty. We do not design to cast reflections
on any who differ from us in opinion.
They may be honest; but that they have
pursued fatal policy, events are rapid
ly demonstrating.
The inaction of the border slave States
has resulted in the secession Of seven
States, and the establishment of a South
ern Confederacy, and, what is infinitely
more disastrous to the hopes Of the friends
of the Union, it has given time and OPP
portuuity to the incorporating leaders
of the republican party to arouse the war
spirit Of their people, under the plausible
pretext of enforcing the laws and pro-
tectng the public property" and to con-
soidatc the masses Of the Northern States
in a determination to coerce the South,
as indicated in the recent speech es of
Mr.. Lincoln; and we all understand that
coercion means civil war
1t is useless to argue the right or pro-
prieties of coercion There stands the
fact, that the seeded States have official
ly declared that any attempt to rctake
the forts or to collect revenue within their
limits will be resisted by force of arms,
aud we know that such a war commenced
in any one State will necessarily become
general. Thus il happens that the peace,
honor and safety Of the border slave
States are involved in events which they
have not iDaugurated and cannot master
Instead of being arbitcrs Of Southern
destiny, they are now driven TO accept
consequences which they might have con
trolled.
1t is now, we fear, too late to remedy
this great error 10 is too late we fear,
to accomplish reconstruction by the in
strumentaliiy which we solemnly believe
would have prevented disunion never
theloss, whilst there is life, there is hope, /
and we regard it as the most sacred duty,
as it il the highest interest Of the border
slave States, to make this last effort to
re-establish the noble government which
was constructed by the genius and bap-
tized 10 the heroic blood Of our fathers.
In any event it is now left for them TO
decide their future destiny, If dissolution
is final. 10 that case we suppose there
can be no doubt that the sentiment Of an
overwhelming majority Of the people Of
Maryland is loyalty and thoroughly with
the South.
Maryland would never subordinate her
action 10 that Of any other State yet she
cannot forget that the power, conserva-
tive principles and geographical posi-
ton Of Virginia make it eminenily pro-
per, If not absolutely necessary, that she
should unite her fortunes 10 those Of that
State. Virginia will not leave the Union
unless it becomes impossible for her to
adhere to il consistently with her honor.
her constitutional rights, her independent
sovereignty and her domestic peace and
safety. Maryland stands precisely upon
that ground. If Virginia is compelled to
60, Maryland will certainly be unable to
bccauge the interest and Tho