The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-01-12

solemn convictions oil duty, we are to be pre-
cipitated into this revolution because South
Carolina thinks differently. Are we not
| equals! Or shall her opinions control oul
actons1 After we have solcmnly decided
for ourselves, as every man of You must do
are we to be forced to yield our opinions to
| those of another State, and thus IN effect
obey her mandates! She refused to wait for
our counsel-are we bound to obey her com.
mands?
My countrymen, if you are the true
descendants of those who have rendered
glorious the annals of our early history. is il
not an insult to you to intimate that you can
not be trusted with time tor elaboration? or
that your courage would ooze ont and be
exhausted, unless you are forced to act in
this matter without time for reflection? Arc
you to be alarmed with the argument that
unless you join in this secession at once You
may be discarded by your Southern sisters ?
They would always be glad enough to have
with them our noble State, with its CONNER
cial agricultural and mineral wealth, with its
hardy, brave people. The language of
menace and threats is no argument to prevail
with these.
l firmly believe that the salvation of the
Union depends upon the Border Slave States.
Without their aid, the Cotton States could
never command the influence and credit and
men essential to their existence as a nation.
Without them the Northern half of the Re-
public would be shorn of its power and
! influence. Within the Union, firmly believe
we can secure guarantees for our protection
which will remove these distressing causes of
irritation.
If we find hereafter that the North shall, after
due dellberation, refuse to give them, we will,
in united body, demand and receive fair
division CT the national domain. We claim
n N N tha if,i LAT ~
abandon he.whole of them by secedng-we
claim the full execution OF the Fugitive Slave
Law, let us not annul that law entirely by
leaving the Union, and thus virtually bringing
Canada down to our borders. We claim the
protection of our institutions, as guaranteed
by the CONSTITUTIONS, let us not render this
protection impossible by tearing the Consti-
tuition to fragments.
have extensive means of information as to
the wishes of the people, not possessed by
those who urge this measure upon me and
am fully convinced that an immense ma jOrity
of these, throughout the whole State, are
firmly opposed to such action.
The business and agricultural classes, the
planters, merchants, mechanics and laboring
men-thoSe who have a real stake in the COM
munty, who would be forced to pay the taxes
and do the fghting-are 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 ruin
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
termed SO covenant with He'll"
These extremists, North and South, agree
in their hatred ofthe Constitution. which con-
dcmns the tanaticism Of both And leaders
in South Carolina and Massachusetts agree in
denouncing the Fugitive Slave Law as uncon-
stitutional, in the face Of repeated decisions
of the courts Of the country.
know that the masses Of the people are
opposed to the assembling of the Icgisla
at this time, and approve of my course and
it is a source Of qualification to me to know
thai many of the most distinguished citizens
of Maryland, and other Border Slave States
without distinction of party, have endorsed it.
l have, throughout this matter, conscicn-
tiousy and honestly endeavorcd to perform
my duty, and solcmnly protest that all other
considerations, but those of duty, have been
banishcd from my mind. The men who have
ascribcd lower motives to me have done me
great injustice, and have shown that they can
not rise to- the comprehension that an honest
man feels compelled to discard all party ties
when he is placed in a position where he must
account, at each moment, to his consc fence.
for any departure from duty. |. your fellow
citizen, necessarily injure myself by every act
or omission which can injure you, and with
out single motive of personal ambition to
lead me aside from the plain path Of my duty.
In the course of nature, cannot have long to
live, and tcrvently trust to be allowed to
end my days citizen of this glorious Union.
But should be compelled to witness 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 / never,
by word or deed, assisted in fastening its
disruption. THOMAS Ii. HICKS.