Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-01-10
The Border States,
TuElu PowEg AND DuTY IN THE PREsESr
DlsoBpEREp CoHDITIoN OF THE COUNTRY.

.itizen, John p. Kennedy, Esq.
1t is mn earnest and rational discussion OF
The theme which it proposes, and in the
main. we think, will commend itself to the
Judgment of the intelligent and patriotic
.ilzens of Maryland. He does not indulge
"a defamation or actions, but deals with
sober facts and looks them manfully in the
face. His language is courteous, kind ana
iisuifed But few extracts from our au-
thor may convey = better idea OF bis pro-
duction ana views than a nero statement.
Speaking Of the Border States, lie says
EVERY substantial hope Of sue, essiul
issue out of the Affections Of the country.
produced equally Iy tho wickedneSs oil
Northern fanaticiSIn, and the Incorporate
zenl of secession, depends upon the calm and
earnest wisdom Of the Border States That
they will he true to the duties of the crisis,
no one who has studied their character can
for moment doubt.
"Howeyer the luwaud States may now
slight their couusels aud disparage their
patriotism, it is most welghty and sgnlil-
cant truth, for the consideration OF the lead
ers Of the projected revolution, that the Bor-
der States are at this time the most authentic
representatives Of the conservative power oil
the Union Their various ana equal relations
to the North, the South and the West; their
social organization for the support of every
interest connected with good government and
permanent peace; their internal strength;
and, above all, their healthlul tone of opinion
towards the preservation of constitutional
right and resistance against wrong, point
them out rs the safest and best arbltels in the
present difficulties of the country. What
ever there is Of real vigor in the savshoding
communities, exists in them and is derived in
greatest degree, by others, from their sympa-
thy and alliance. Without them, We may
affirm, that no confederacy Of Slave States,
at all worthy Of respect and consideration as
an independent power, can possibly be
formed. The attempt, Whenever made, will
speedily prove itself to be most unhappy
failure
He regards the Border States as the bull
wark and hope of the Union, and regarding
the Union itself as the prime cause Of secss-
sion, lie says:--
They certainly cannot he expected now,
with the painful conviction which passing
events nre creating in their minds-that the
Union itself is the chief grievance which stirs
the hostility Of those who are most active in
raising n banner of revolt. and that the
assaults upon the property Of shareholders, Of
which they, the Border States, have 80 much
cause to complain, are but the pretext to
cover concealed design Of portcntous mis-
chief-thcy cannot be expected now, with
such conviction, to rerounce the wisdom Of
their accustomed trust in the law, and allow
themselves to be persuaded or beguied into
descrtion at once Of the Constitution which
they have always respected, or Of the Union
which they have always revcrel. Their
course is too plainly marked out to them by
the incidents Of the day to admit Of any such
fatal alteration as that. They nre not blind
to the fact that the present crisis hes been
forced upon the country with a haste that
allowed no halt, chiefly because its contrivers
feared the sound Of that voice from the Bor
der States, which they knew would speak
peace to the troubled waves OF strife, and
would reach the heart Of hosts Of loyal citi-
Gems in the very bosom of the connection
citizens, alas, now bereft Of their loyalty by
the force Of tho tempest OF revolution that
has swept over them.
After exposing the designs 0! the dsunion
lists, from their own declarations lie proceeds
to set forth what he considers the duty Of the
Border States. His programme Of action is
about this: First. An informal Convention Of
citizens appointed BY the Governors Of the
different Southern States opposed to access
sion, to consider:
Il. Tie propriety Of making an earnest
appeal to the seeding States to retrace their
steps ard await the result IF the measures
proposed for the establishment of general
harmony; with declaration that il this
appeal be unsuccessful, they, the Border
States, will be compelled to decline entering
into Southern Couiedcracy rs now proposed
by South Carolina and her allies in secession.
80 That if the secession # South Caro-
lima be followed by that of Alabama, or any
other State, and serious breach Of the Union
be thus established, it will then DO incumbent
nn the Border States and the other Southern
States CO curing with them, TO take mea-
sures for their own security, by demanding
from the Free States reyisal OF all topics ol
comp aint between them and the Slave States,
and the adoption oi such stipulations on beth
sides AZ shall TO satisfactory to each for the
determination aud protection of Southern
ri hts and for .he restoration OF harmony.
"These stipulatious would, Of course, be-
come the subject OF u negotiation with the
Free States negotiate II which shunld be
Conducted in frank and conclatory spirit,
through such agencies rs the parties may
arrange"
g. If these Stipulstions can be obtained
Then the Border States and concurrinG
States of the South, which have not seeded,
shall retain tier present position III the
Union.
But in tie adverse event Of these stipu-
latiuus, or satisfactory equivalents for them
being refused, the Border States and their
allies Of the South who may be disposed to
act with them. will DO forced to consider the
Union impractcable, and to organize Il sepa-
rate Conlederacy Of the Border States with
tho association Of such Of tho Southern and
Free States as may be willing to acceds to
the proposed conditions"
lie is hopeful Of al adjus.men. by the
people, such as will be satisfactory. Speak
ing Of tho North, he says:--
"They are quite ready speak now Of
the people, and not Of the politicians; the
latter have already proved themselves to be
Incapables, and the matter will have to be
taken out Of their hands-these masses are
now quite ready to make any arrangements,
constitutional or conventional, which may be
! found necessary for peace. They will come
to any reasonable agreement upon interven-
ton or non-intervention, squatter or non
saua.ter sovereignty, protection or non-prc-
lection of slavery in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
the attempt to unriddle these jarsons--that
NAV he found requisite for the restoration OF
pood temper aud good will amongst the
States. They rM do any thing 10 saoe The
- -. .....uc,-lee nlnlten 10 1,lnke u mr.