The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-04

neutral position between our bre,hren of I'll.
| North and Of III, South. We have violated
no rights oi either section: we have been
| loyal to the Union. The unhappy contest
between the two sections has not been com.
menced or encouraged 3v us. although we
have suffered from it in the past. The I'M
p,ndlng war has not come by any act or any
wish Of oLrs. We have done all we could
t"avert it; We have hoped that Mar land
and the Other Border Slave States. 10y their
Conservative position and love ioI the Union
might have acted as mediators between the
extreme OF both sections. and thus have pre-
vented The terrible evils Of n prolong civil
war.
Entertaining these views. | cannot counsel
Maryland TO take sides against the General
| Government until II shall commit outiageS
, upon us which would Justify us in resisting
lis authori'y. As consequence, | can give
! NO Other counsel than that we shall array
ourselves for the Union and peace, and thus
preserve our soil from being paluicd with
I ne blood of our brethren. Thus il the wal
riust be hciwcen the North and the Sru,h,
we may force the con'ending parties to trans
itre The field of battle from our soil, SO that
our lives and property may be secured.
Ii seems TO me that. independently Of all
! othe: consoles a'ion>. our geographical position
foIceS Us to tins. unless We are wiling to
see our State The theatre If long and bloody
civil war and the consequent uttcr drStruc-
tlui vi every mater lal interest of our people
To ray nothing Of The blood Of brave men and
| Innocent women and children. which viii
cry Ont from our sell for vrr gcunrc upon rs If
We Ian to do ali that in us lies to avert the
Impending calamity. The course | suggest
| has all ihc " hi, been the sole groundwork uf
my policy sud but for Me excitement pre-
vaiing among our people during the past
few days, believe the Object ! have KEEP,
stead ~ III view during my Administration
would has. been con>u,nualtd. If it has
| tail,d. | have the fnil consciousness thai
| Throughout the whole Of INV hairas>ing and
painful intunh,nry of the Gubeli,ainriul
Chair. have labnr,d honestly aud faithfully
tor the peace. til, safety, and the interests Of
; Mary land and IT our common couutry.-
| his CONSCIOUSNESS has fully SUSTAINED me ~
all my Troubles. and has enabled ne tn
endure patiently all the cruel, unmesitcd. and
| nItltsS attacks that have been made upon
my lnt.Snly. ! have also comfort in the
conviction that my policy has been sustained
ny large majority Of the people. aud that
nothing has tranSprcd since the IT Cent
lamentablc uccurances within our State, to
| SHAKEN Mat convection.
a m"mentary frantic excitement took Ilr
place OF reason and good Judgment, and men
for the time threw aside all prud, mt thoughts
ct the future III the burning desire to avcnsr
what they considered wrongs >uhmi, my
Suggestions to your wisdom. and appeal to
! YOU. not only AS d"vo'ed citizens Of Mary
land but aS husbands and talhrrS, TO allow
that lrndeicc aud ChriStlan-like temper 50
honorable to all mtn to guide your coun>ciS:
and !lnplole you not to he sWavcd by the
| passions which seem to be So fully aroused
| III onr midst, to do what the generations to
come after Us shall ov,I deplorc, In conclu.
sion gentlemen, ask your indulgence if |
have omitted to present to you any other
nIatter of interest in CONNECTION with the
mpoItan, suhjcc. which you are Summoned
| to consider. The short time have had III
which to prepare tins communication, and
| The turmoil ard excitement around me may
have caused OMISSIONS; If Sn they Will be
promptly supplied hen Indicated Nv YOU.
Signed, T. HOLIDAY HICKS.