Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-02-22

Executive of my State with wilfull de-
ception. | therefore retrieve his honor :;
but it is at the expense of his understand
ing. He has represented our State Trea-
sury as being bankrupt, which the Trea-
surer reports to be in a fourishing con-
dition and he gave this fruit of his ig-
norance as an excuse for not converting
the Legislature, although it is laid down
in our constitution "to be the duty of
the Governor semi-annually to examine
the Bank book, Account books, and Off
cial proceedings of the Treasurer and
Comptroller of the State" He has re-
presented the people of Maryland, to the
country, as being organized to the num-
Der of eight thousand armed men, for the
purpose of selling ON the Capitol of the
United States, and when brought before
the committee Of investigation at Wash
ington, he states his only authority to be,
anonymous letters and newspaper reports
The sixth article of our declaration of
rights, declares that the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial powers of the govern
ment ought to be forever separate and
distinct from each other, and no person
exercising the function of one Of said de-
partments, shall assume or discharge the
duties of any other" In the face of this
declaration, he has usurped the power of
legislating for the people, or, what is
equivalent, he has denied them the privi-
lege granted them by the constitution of
legislating for themselves. Ifignorance,
misrepresentation, usurpation, and ne
glect of duty, be patriotism, then Govern
or Hicks may be said to be truly pa
triotic. Under the Influence of pseudo
purltanical principles, he seems willing
to barter away the dignity, domestic in
stitutions, and sovereign independence of
bis State, rather than assert and defend
them, in order, as he expresses it, that
he g might end his days in peace"
There is now existing in our land two
separate and distinct confederacies -
Seven sovereign States being deprived of
the blessings and privileges secured them
by the constitution, which was formed
to establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquility, provide for common defence,
promote tue general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posteriiy," being deprived of these
rights by the misinterpretation of that
document, by their northern oppressors,
they have been compelled to sever thera-
selves from the Union, and in their indie
pendent. sovereign capacity, they have
organized separate and independent 60
vernment
1t will be for our State Convention to
decide whether it will be best for Mary
land to unite herself with the Southern
or Northern confederacy; if they decide
upon the latter course, then the prosperi-
ty of Maryland is at an end Deprived
in the halls Of Congress of their southern
allies, the Border Slave States will be but
petty minority, subject to the will and
caprice of the Republican party Invest
ed with full power, they will carry out
their avowed intention of Establishing Slave
ry. The Maryland farmers, deprived of
slave labor, to which they have been ac-
customed, will soon become bankrupt,
and compelled to sell their farms for a
mere nominal sum, which will be pur-
chased by northerners, who have been
accustomed to free labor, and the rising
generation Of our State, being reduced to
poverty, will become hirelings to north
ern spectators
The best course for Maryland to pur-
sue has been ably canvassed by the
prominent men of our State; | will not
dwell upon it. But whatever course the
people of Maryland may take, whether
it be with a Northern, Southern or Cen
trail Confederacy, it is an imperative du-
ty we owe to the memory of our ances-
tors, a duty We owe to future generations,
and TO the universal cause of freedom, to
stand boldly up in defence oS our liber-
ties and domestic MISUNDERSTANDING
purchased by the blood of our fore
fathers.
What constitutes n State?
Not high raised battlements, nor labored
mound,
Thick wall nor moated gate;
Nor cities proud, with spires and turrets
crowned,
But men high-minded men,
Who their duties know, but know their
rights,
And knowing, dare maintain them" W.