Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-10
LCOAMU NICATED. 7
The address in the last Times. to the Peonl

The address in the last Times, to the People
of the county, calling upon them to assemble at
their respective places for voting, to elect twenty
delegates from each district, to meet in Port
Tobacco for the purpose of sending delegates to
Annapolis or Baltimore, to attend Sovereign
Convention' in order to compel Mary land to
take sides in the present Improbable and un-
necessary attempt to overthrow the best system
of national government in the word, and to
destroy the bappiest Union ever contemplated
by statesman or sage" was read by the writer
(who feels as much interest and pride in the
prosperity and dignity of his State and his
country as any one Of the sgners of that address,
with inexpressible regret.
With much respect for the signers, it is re-
garded as revolutionary in its tendency and as
containing trap to catch the unwary They
would have us believe that Governor Hicks in
his opposition to converting the Legislature only
represented himself: ellis refusal is his own
individual act" One instrument Of writing
alone, approving of his course in this particular,
contained the 81 gnatures of Hon. John 2. Kene-
dy, Hugh Davey Evans, Esq, and about fifteen
hundred others, embracing the names of many
Of the most prominent, influential, wisest and
best men in the State. Besides other petitions
of the same character have been presented to
him. He feels and knows full well that Lin
coins election is not sufficient cause for disso-
luton of the Union, or the present state of ex-
element in the country; this is generally con-
ceded He also believes, as is generally believed,
that if Breckenridge, Douglas or Bell,-Breck-
enridge especially--had been elected, those per-
sons now most active ia promoting (what they
term) peaceable secession would now be quiet
The people of the North would also have ac-
guessed. And yet, with the exception of Lin
-. a1o1 !
for secession would still be in existence Does
this not prove that party predictions and pre-
udces are at work, and that attachment for
party is stronger than love for Union? Has
the ethiopian changed his skin or the leopard
his spots" in a few days? Governor Hicks
feels the responsibility of his position deeply
He knows it is wisdom to try to alay excitement
rather than promote it. He knows that Mary
land should be the last to do anything to widen
the breach already existing: the Capital Of the
United States being within its borders. Be
cause the machinery Of government meets with
resistance from mob" in ''Pittsburg" or South
Carolina, it is no reason why we should be
drawn into expressions of sympathy for either.
Because other States err, it is no reason why We
should. Because any State, North or South
should choose to violate a compact sanctioned
by Washington, and the sages and patriots Of
his day-and is in hot haste for the destruction
of the Union, it is no reason why. we should
follow their example, or to take military step to-
wards it.
ssIn the days Immediately preceding the Rev
olution Convention sat again and again In
Maryland without any authority or any power
except directly from the people themselves .
| Who was the Governor of that time, by whom
was he appointed, and for what purpose? Then
I MARYLAND was Provence of Great Britain and
/ subject to tyrant King now she is free. Then
Maryland was oppressed in common with the
Colonies now she is a stranger to oppression
Then she was about to enter upon struggle fol
freedom; now she is reaping the blessed results
of freedom.
+ Voters of Charles County! Exercise your
great reserved power" and do not lend your
aid to this revolutionary measure. Stay away
from the polls and show your disaprr'hatlon OF
this movement by not voting to condemn Gov.