New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-26
coy. HICKS TO THE ALABAMA CUM
MISSIONER.

land to the Alabama Comthissonc', "D"'' ''
not, will be read with interest," breatoing' @ does,
the true Union sentiment Of the State;
SrAry OF MARYLAND, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
ASEAPOLIs jan. 8, 1861.
SIR: / regret that my absence from Annapolis, a.
the time Of your visit, deprived me Of the pleasure OF
an intere lew with you III relation TO the matter which
YOU have laid before me III your letter oil the 18th OF
| December.
| You inform me that you come as a Commissioner
from tie sovereign State Of Alabama, TO consult and
sdyise with the Governor and Legislature OF
"a to what il bert TO be done To promote the honOr,
rights, and int of the Ssvehrlding States, NEIL
| need aud endangered by recent political events"
You cav that Alabama has called State Convention
because Of the result Of the recent election for Pre-
dent of the United Staes has affirmed her reserved
and nndelegaied right of secession from The Confeder
acv: ptim4ted that continued and increasingly violent
assaults upon her rights and equality might constain
er 10 reluctant but early exercise Of that invaluable
,ipb; and that the object OF your mission Is TO secure
| concert ard effective cooperat between Maryla
| and Alabama"
The people Of Marylan in my opinion, regard any
fuch measures Of cooperation among any States OF this
Union esl eci-ly with any view TO accession there
FROM M violation OF the very terms OF that C0nstu'
ton under which this Union formed and preserved
| You have reminded me that within the Union land
Tn,onl "tbe States have absolutely prohibited them
selves by the terms Of the Copstitnlo from erierng
| ito treaties alliances, or cobfedrratiODs; and have
made tie assent of the Congress of the United States
condition precedent TO their entering into any compacs
or sgr, emtnt with other Sfaies.'
Toener into any such compact agreement, Thought
should take the shape of ony an ini rmal Outstanding
for Pr 81 tive snd federation without such
Indispensable assent, would, in nv Judgment, be ande-
Iiably violation oi That CoD<dluiion which on Az
suiuiI their dues the Governor and Legislature of
| Maryland solemlly swOre 70 observe and support.
agree entirely with yog that it especially becomes
Southern STATES whish have in no Regulation or action
violated their constitutional obligations and which
now askirg from sister States of the North an a.
knowledgnent Of these, correction Of Mistakes and
protection for Their own equG, RIGHTS not 10 part with
their own dlsnRrishiDs glory Of having never even
under ageraya'ing Yrov0cations, departed irem the
| 81 lcieet requirements Of the Federal Covenant"
| cannot see COW, While the eons,t ltond prohibit
IN n ta.ds .gaiDs compacts or agreements between
any Oi the Stuces any mutual league can be had
even larwtel hose whose hopes and hazards are alke
Apd il t, prohibition has been Iudlciay declared 70
include every agreement written verbal form 81
l or inio.tr al posye or implied by the mutual UNDER
sfaud,ng OF the parties" then am unable 70 Imagine
how any league eovenBft or understanding what
ever, unauthorized or unsPproved ey Congress, even
tbooeh II should be in ftLerance Of the laws and for
strengthening the Confederiey can be otherwise than
in lain violation of the eleafest provisions OF the gu
| pr. me law Of the land.
II This be So then Maryland is invited 10 take
par in such league, covenant, agreement, or Ter
,tAuoi A. not authorized by the CoGgfess of the United
Sitea ~ub a view, Of maintaining the INV or up
boloi the Constitution, but OF driegardng he Que
b,eHkii down The otberi OF denying ueT OOlga-
tour OF giving up her rights under the Consultation,
ad IL de- citing the Union Of the Statfs. Her people
will never conrcnt such step. Their devotion 20
| ttat Union aud Conslitutin s gnal!erable aud II
If ere NUT b., .ecersion deertion from this Union,
n, people Of Mary land thmk that those alone who re.
iue to comply wh ts dutie should be deprived Of Id
ben efts The people Of this State, who acknowledge
ID. r obga,iunr and comply with them, are disposed
TO remain in the Union, and there, and by its power
10 exact such complains the part OF others, rather
TIA n by dererting their pHoes, surnnder those gh's
and privileges They have, therefore seen with NOR
III, aIi a. regret the action OF Of theee s,ies
with whose socul institutions and people they have the
| eo,oat eymIsjly, tending they think, not TO the
reenrty u nights, but 70 their injury and TO the
finn aud SPEEDY destruction of tbore very interests In
| wi ose behalf such precipitaie action was begnn
The action of South Carolina already taken and the
action which lie supposed and feared other States Dor
demg on The Gulf will take In declaring themselves
| 10 longer members Of he Union is in my judgment,
ite possible means of remedying the evils Of
sheh they complain, OF preventing the injury they
| cay n imninen'.
| Now perfect political equality Of The States among
tlenAeiv,s IL scared by the Constitution. IL ia By
force # the u ion alone, and because Of the Consru
| ton, that the citizens Of each State entitled u
ecu ity with the citizens Of every other State. IL il
betau,t Of the Constitution and the I'M that de-
nad equal rights in the Territories, aud respect for
to tiyhis reserved 10 the State. respectively We
have secured 10 Us by the same Constitution, and
through tie Union, the power 10 make laws for
their DLiueDsnce 10 interpret and execute them. The
| auloIity Of th,se powers extends over this whole
Uni into each and every State If they violated,
| lave right 70 claim that the powers, not Of any
,eparae State great or small, powerful weak bat
4 the chDis In0H, shll be exerted In their behalf,
and If this be temporarily prevented, or obstucttd in
| any one State to our INJURY shall We be nghted by
breaking up that Union when alone imposes the oOi-
gon or Las the power enforce II t better for
our rights 10 The power OF the Union for their
frctn, nt 10 bnak up the Union because apprc-
| hend they will be diHregardedl
While the constitutional obligation of non-interfcr-
L nv al DR. Congress-
nlis OF ANY OF the States, remains the law of the
| laid the refusal TO return fugtiyes from labor the
wrongful legislation protecting thoe who harbor them,
al pm isliIg those whocomply with their sworn duty
to surrender III, II is injury by oilers against their
.uty to us in violation Of their obligations under the
| Constitution, OF witch We have right to complain
| md 10 redress, But ii those obligations shall be
pulled by a dissolution of this Union, rightfu COM
| plaint againht the violation Of agreement il taken
away, and we, IN q Is State especially, are left with
lore hostile asylum 10 fngives, upon our Immediate
borlers with foreign hostile population, restrained
by no Union Constitution, or laws, compact from
hostile incurons into Territory TO ince insnrrec
| ton; 20 capture and carry away negroes, and
big on, Ia very homes, the worst of all possible
laUiIies. Surly the ises and Interests and feel
~ Of the people of Maryland, occupying this position,
and identified in feelings, habits and institutions with
all the Southern States are entitled 70 some considenl-
ton and they cannot but regard the rarh and pIecpi
tale act of Secession already undertaken before injury
IL committed Justice finally denied rights actually
iuvaoed, evincing disregard OF the interests of
tboe border States deeply and vitality concerned in
| tlis matter.
alone have sut red injury from non-comp liance with
constitutional Obligations concerning Slavery. From
there the lugiiyes escape. From them to States fur
tier South the migration of slaves takes place. Mary
hand and virginia. but Maryland especially, is
rntd in any question relating to the District of Co
lumtia. The boroer States primarily aud indeed 81
most alone in iact will be affected by any attempt by
citizens Of uon-say ehoding States TO interfere with
| N nj