Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-01-18

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Mr.. EDIToR: Being fully convinced
that Maryland should take stand in the
present disastrous state of affairs, and be-
licving this can be affected only by an
extra session of the Legislature, we hail
ed with joy a call, published in your issue
of the 18th ultimo, for meeting of citi-
zens Of Montgomery county to express
their sense of the best means to avert or
meet the difficulties of the times. We
accordingly attended that meeting, and
beg to offer some comments upon the
speeches made in favor Of the third re-
solution and its substitute:
g. Resolyed, That the Governor of this
State be requested when, in his Judgment
il 81 I'll become necessary, or, as soon as such
Convention in the Central Slayeholding States
shall be determined on, to convene the Lcgis-
lature for The sole purpose Of providing foI
the call Of State convention, and of the
election Of delegates thereto to take nj ne
cessary constitutional steps, TO avert the dan
gers By which we are cnyironed.
Resoipcd, That the Governor be respectfully
requested TO convene the Legislature without
delay, TO consult with him and determine
upon the course the State ought to take to
protect herself and the Union in the present
alarming condition OF the country.
The subatitute was defended by its au-
thor, WM. VIEBs BouIo, Esq 10 fer
vid, eloquent and forciblc speech, such a
one as we would expect from n son of
Maryland in her present perilous condi-
ton. He contended that the Governor,
in refusing to convene the Legislature,
for the purpose Of asking her people,
through convention, what position the
State should now occupy, was sitting the
voice Of her citizens; that he was either
ignorant wholly Of existing dangers, or
fatally indifferent to her interests. The
gentleman defended, at some length, his
belief that an extra session was demand
ed impcratiyely by the cxegencies Of the
times, and the wish Of majority Of the
people throughout the State.
These views were ably seconded and
sustained by GEORGE PETER. Esq.
RICHARD j. BOWIE, ESD, then came
forward for the purpose, as he said, Of
showing to the meeting that there was
not the slightest necessity for converting
the Legislature. From his wide spread
reputation, we expected to hear sound
reasons for the position he has been pleas
ed to take in the present juncture Of af-
fairs. We were sadly disappointed, he
must allow us to tell him. What struck
us as most singular and unaecountable
was his remark, that no danger threat
ened the Union Of the Subscribing Of
evil to Maryland could be feared so far
as to justify an immediate call Of the Lee
gislature." How could Mr.. Bowie, in
tie presence of hundreds of his cnlight-
ened fellow-ctizens, dare assert that the
Union was not in danger Of disruption,
when every compromise, up to the hour
be spoke, had proved yain--when every
concession has been refused by trium-
plant sectional party, whose ayowed
principles aim at the destruction Of a
Southern domestic institution-when the
wisest Of the country have scarcely u
faint hope Of longer Union--when the
President bad called upon the people to
offer up to God their united prayers as
the expiring hope Of safety TO the Union ?
How could Mr.. Bowie venture tho as
sertion, that mo dark cloud, charged