Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-01
Mr.. Bowie's Card of Acceptance


Rockville, October, 1851
Ny Dcqr Sir: am much obliged by the
kind terms in whieh you have announced me
as an independent Union candidate for the
office of Judge Of the Court Of Appeals.
Although | neither aspire to or seek such
distinction, yet, if those Of my fellow-citzens
who think with me that the Constitution of
the United States and the Laws made in pur-
suance thereof are the supreme law Of the
land, and the judges land people, in every
State are bound thereby, any thing in the Con-
stitution or Laws Of State to the contrary
notwthstanding--tha our primary allegiance
is due 20 the Federal Government aud our
secondary, to the state in which we live
believe these principles should be personiiied
on, the Bench, shall not decline representing
them as their candidate.
In doing so, ! DO not apprchend that as
sumo a partisan character, but only comply
with, what it appears to me- is very essen
tial prerequisite in every candidate in times
of civil CONFUSION, avow allegiance to the
Government, Of which this State is part,
and which it is the duty Of every citizen to
maintain.
Political parties in State, in my Judgment,
are divisions between men acknowledging al
Iegiance to the same sovereign powers but
when either Of these deny the authority of
the Government under which they live and
compass its dissolution By force, they cease
to be partisans. and become reyolutionists.
Very respectfully, yours,
RICHARD j. BOWIE
The above card of Mr.. Bowie, we find in
the Annapolis Gazette, Of the goth ult. and
as the office of Judge of the Court Of Appeals
is most important 10 all, we think it right to
make some remarks on the principles protested
by the candidates. No one will doubt that
the Constitution Of the United States, and
the laws made in pursuance thereof are the
supreme law of the land J." But that csnsti-
tuition and those laws are to be interpreted
by the Supreme Court and not by the Presi-
dent and those under his command. And vet,
we should infer that Mr.. Bowie, if on the
Bench would justify the setting aside of The
opinion of Chief Justice fancy, in the Merri-
man case the late arrest of Judge Mcrrick Of
the Circuit Court Of Washington city, for
issuing the writ Of habeas corpus, in Young
Murphy's case: the denial of the right Of trial
By jury IN numerous eases Of citizens sent as
PRISONERS TO Foua Griieury Gad Lafayette
The Imprisonment of members of ouf Legislt-
ture; the dcprivug Of Gao people Of arms
and many other acts directly in opposition Go
the Constitution Of the United States and oil
the State Of Maryland, on the ground of ale.
glance to the Governments that is at present
obedience to Abraham Lincoln, William Il
Seward, and others.
Suppose Seward Chase and Blair should
carry their main abolition scheme, and get m
act passed, declaring the negroes free ant
/ equal citizens, would not Mr. Bowie as
/ loyal and unconditional Union man, b
bound to declare it superior to the laws Of ou
State? We apprchend that a Judge holding
! these opinions would have no stopping place
/ in carrying out the behests Of thosein power
even to inficting capital punishment on thos
/ who might think That their first duty was t,
/ their State, and their second to the Genera
/ Government, which is the opinion Of all thu
true followers Of Jefferson, Madison, and al
/ that host of Democratic WORTHLESS, who aideC
in forming the Constitution. There is par
/ ty-a monarchy party--in the country, who
wish to oblitcrate State Rights, and appoin
/ Governors 10y the central power at Wash
ington, just as it was with King George anC
the Colonies. This plan was proposed by th
monarchy party, when the constitution wa
/ under consideration, and refused.
There is, as it seems to us, strange motion
running through Mr.. Bowie card, and which
we hear expressed by many others, that op
/ posing the arbitrary and assumed powers 0
/ the administration, is destroying the govern
ment; when the truth is that the only way
/ to preserve the government, is TO keep the ad
ADMINISTRATION strictly within the powers gran
( ted for the constitution was made rs well 70
I war as for peace and its powers defined ia al
cases, and all the evils we now suffer under
arise from a determination by the Northern
fanatics to disregard its provisions.
We have nothing to say against Mr.. Bowie
! qualifications as lawyer; bat when we recol
j lect principle announced by him from th,
stand, five years ago, that 'hew would rather 20
wrong with his friends, than right with Dbl
foes, we think hispTejudices might lead him
f however innoceutly, 10 do great wrong {,
those who do not agree with him in. thcii
views Of government