Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-02
The turn OF the Tide.

Mr.. EDITOR. Any man who has read
the Baltimore American must have la
mented to see how it was obliged for a
few days to lower the flag, for which it
has battled 80 nobly. This circumstan-
&C, was not to be ascribed to any change
of opinion, but like Andersons surren-
der of Sumter, military necessity for
the time being. 1t was mournful how
ever to think that Baltimore was for
moment under such mob law as to be I'M
able to preserve liberty of speech and
opinion to her own most respectable cit
itizens. And that it was under this do
minion of lawless violence, is shown by
the fact, that that great city could only
command 5000 votes, when there were
81, 900 entitled to the privilege, but da-
red not claim it.
But of course this sort of rule could
not continue-Reason and right must
soon resume their place. The bitter but
deserved taunts of Secretary Seward
and Governor Andrew, could not long
have Just cause. The American itself
already begins to hoist the old flag
again at least so far as to record more
fully and fairly the transactions of the
day-But whatever may be its present
attitude or future course, let not its bold
and candid testimony, uttered not many
days before the outbreak, be forgotten
1t was as follows:
The Proclamation of the President
calling for troops was an inevitable re-
suit of the fall of Sumter nay, it was
inevitable after the first shot that was
aimed at its walls. No sane man, what
ever his party, could expect the Gov
ernment to submit quietly to the defeat,
and to wait for the rejoicing over the
victory to subsidc in the Confederate
States. Secondly: Peace is not possible
SO long as the States talk of their flag
floating from the dome of the National
Capitol This is threat, not TO the
Republican party, but to the nation to
Virginia and North Carolina, still in the
Union. through whose territory the Sou
thern invading army must pass-and to
Maryland, upon whose soil the Capitol
stands. Whatever sympathies these
States may have with their erring coun-
trymcn, they are still portion of tho
Union, and are just as much bound to
protect the National Capitol as if they
were on the other side Of the line.
Our hope is that time may develop
plan of settlement. There is no use fer
strife just at present, unlass we wish to
fight among ourselves, and the voice of
the people may be heard through their
Representatives, unless madness rules
the hour. In the meantime the duty oil
all peace-loving citizens is to keep aoof
from violent discussions. and to add no
spark to confagratiou whose probable
devastations cannot be measured. We
implore our countrymen to reflect upon
this subject. 1t is not merely or mainly
whether or not seven States shall be ar
rayed against rwenty-seveu, but whether
each State in twenty seven shall be di-
vded against itself. 1t will not do to
wait for the issue, and to meet it when
it arrives. We have to prepare for the
inevitable fact of strife between opposing
f,otionc in tho CANA Cannon, Ith
We have seen only the beginning of
horrors, and in the possible future--ur-
less Almighty God shall mercifully in
terpose--t there are calamit:es in store for
all of us, in the progress of civil war,
from the bare contemplation of which
the heart recoils with unspcakable dread.
The quarrel is not with foreign foe
it is with our brothers. In the name of
God, ,let there be no strife betwixt us -