The southern aegis., 1861-08-24
Letter from Col. Mercer, Of Anne Arur
del County.

the Convention in that respect. as INV
political antecedents would, perhaps have
justified this selection of me for that posi-.
ZION, as l have always entertained, and still
hold, the opinion that no unconstitutional right
OF secession on the part of State exists.
But at the same time, it must be admitted
that, during period of change and revolu-
tlon, when political parties exhibit some new
phase of principle in almost every hour,
the Union man of yesterday is not necessal
rily the Union man of to-day.
Since the meeting of Congress in extra
session, new issues, have been presented
to the country, andb evehts of momentous
importance have occurred, completely
changing the relations of things and Of
political organizations as they existed a
few months, ago, especially in the State of
Maryland. l have not been insensible to
to this influence, and while renouncing
none OF my former principles, have en-
deavored to conform my opinions and ac-
ton to existing circumstances and to nv
sense of patriotism and duty to my native
State.
The question few months since was
the preservation of the Union, by conced-
ing to the South the rights to which they
were entitled under the Constitution. This
could have been effected by the adoption
of the Crittenden resolutions, but they
were rejected by the North.
And even then, exerted my humble
influence in sustaining Governor Hicks in
his acquiescence in measures the avowed
purpose of which, as proclaimed by the
Federal Government, was the protection
OF the national capital, and the mainten-
ance in its integrity of the Constitution as
we received it from the Fathers of the Re-
public. 10 accomplish this great and
patriotic end, 1 would willingly have
borne any Misrepresentation or defamation
that might have been heaped upon me, and
would cheerfully have risked life and pro-
perty in vindication of what was recent
ly convinced to be a noble effort of right
and justice to sustain itself.
But my zeal in supporting the Govern
ment has abated when [ am called upon
to sustain the Chicago platform; to substi-
tute it for the Constitution, and to help
to force it upon an unwilling people, who
are successfully resisting that purpose,
with arms in their hands; to endorse the
lrrepressible conflict of Seward, the Black
hepublicanism of Chase and Blair, backed
up as they are by the detestible Abolition
lists, who unfortunately constitute large
majority OF both Houses of Congress.
The acts of oppression and outrage per-
petrated by Federal authority for the last
three months in Maryland, ought, in my
Judgment, to be as offensive to the Union
men as to the so-callod Secessionists, and
should be equally denounced byall classes
OF our citizens. The Constitution and laws
have been disregarded and trodden under
foot; our individual rights and private
properties have been infringed and violat-
ed; our negroes have in numerous instan-
ces been abducted. Colonel Pinkney, of a
New York regiment, stationed in Annapo-
lis, torcaby took with him a slave belong.
ing to one of my neighbors, after repeated
cSS1ranSes ownrr f,e to Governor Hicks and to the
though application hRRssyr BE- returned; and al
once made to Gen. Dix for his ress965si rreess96s a. than
all remoustrance has been in vain.
The history of modern warfare can fur
nish no parallel to the atrocities commit
ted by Lincoln's army in their short and
disgraceful campaign in Virginia, State
to which / feel closely allied, by the tics
of blood, and glorious Revolutionary asso-
Citations. Houses sacked and burned, wo-
men violated, churches desecrated, and the
last resting-places of the honored dead
polluted by his Northern hordes of barba-
rianinyaders, whilst the peaceful and Union
citizens have been outraged and insulted.
can no longer give my assent to war
waged on such savage and disgraceful prin-
ciples. ,t
But, sir, the question has now assumed
a new and different aspect; it is peace, or
the continuance of aruthless soar, disgrace
full to q nation calling itself civilized
war Of conquest, of subjugation and Of
desolation-a war which, if successful on
the part Of the abolitionists, will carry
q back the civilization of this continent for
three hundred years!
The issue which Abraham Lincoln and
his Black Republican supporters seem de-
termined to force upon us, is whether,
from sentiments of moral fear and dread
Of bis usurped power, the people of Mary
land can be compelled to assume an atti-1
tude Of determined hostility towards peo-
pie with whom they are identified In blood,
in sympathy, in interest and in isopolity Of
institutions, regardless of all right and
Justice, as the humiliating price Of exemps
ton from the horrors Of civil war. ~ ~
u AS, q Marylander, /, for one, reject the
terms thus offered, with scorn and indig-
nation and although, as a matter Of high
principle, / may remain passive under. the
operation Of these monstrous wrongs, while
Maryland retains her position in the Union,|
should be unjust to myself, inconsistent
J withmy sense Of duty to my native State,
and Indifferent to self-respect, il / were toI
ltot Of