Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-04-19
THE SENTINEL.


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CITIZENS OF MoETGoSEnY Great and mo-
mentous issues have arisen for your decision
Never since the first blow was struck for
American liberty, on the plains Of Lexington,
have yourlberties been 50 imperilei, or your
personal security so endangered Your State
stands, to-day, like a. ship surrounded by the
mist and fog Of Polar sea, ready to be ami
hilatcd between coliiding mountains of ice,
with no man at the helm to guide her--no
preparation made to avort the impending dan
ger. Events Of the utmost Importance and
magnitude have been evolved with such ra-
pidity lately, that it is almost impossible for
you to appreciate your condition in its true
aspect. Can YOU realize the fact that Abra-
ham Lincoln is waging war on three millions
Of your fellow -countrymenY That he has
practically made a declaration Of war against
men who dare, in the strength Of their sovc-
reignty assert and maintain their constitu-
tional rights2 Never before, since the days
of Georgethe Third, has it been told American
citizens, that they have not the rightto change
the form of their government when they see
fit. Butwill you believe that in these DAYS
o: King Abraham the First that right is not
only denied, but the denial is backed up by
the whole military and naval force which he
called on, in the name Of your allegiance to
the United States, to Cooperate with and lend
helping hand to this unhallowed crusade
against your fellow-countrym Your aid is
demanded 10 crush out the liberties Of those
who are allied to You by the strongest ties oil
affection and interest. II avails You nothing
that our sympathies are with them it avails
Won nothing that your dolrest interests art
indissolubly interviewer with theirs; it avails
you nothing that those in power who make
this demand arc your most inyeterate, most
deadly enemies. The insulting mandate has
gone forth, and your response is awaited You
have appealed in vain to the Chief Executive
Of this State TO recognize your rights and to
furnish some tangible and authorized means
TO put them on safe and secure footing. A
most talented and able portion OF your State
Senators have recommended and urged call
Of your State Legislature. A Convention,
composed of your most respectable and infu-
entiai citzens--mon Of practical minds and
profound judgment, have petitioned, again
and again, for the privilege TO the people of
giving full scope and utterance TO their sent-
ments. And what has been the resut2 Your
petitions, your recommendations, have been
either systematically rejected or practically
ignored. Such an instance Of palpable usur-
patton Of arbitrary despotism has never been
known 10 free country. 1t is needless to
speak OF Governor Hicks avowed reasons for
thus refusing your most reasonable demands.
They are SO shnmecssly inefficient, so utterly
untenable, that they bear on their face marks,
either OF a deplorabe mental imbecility, or,
what is worse, determination to usurp your
rights, and deprive you Of your privileges, as
American citizens VIVA: then ask you, as
frcemen, is to be done2 The danger is iinmi-
Dent. II is impossible for you TO be wholly
insensibe TO it. Already has your course.
under the circumstances, been one of unpre-
redented apathy already have you listened,
too long, to the syren tones Of those who cry,
peace peace when there Is anythin else but
peace; already, have those WHO would buy.
sell and barter away your dearest interests,
agreed on the terms Of your degradation
VIII you hesitate longer2 See the risk to
which your homes and iresides are exposed
see the absolute certainty Of this being made
the theatre of an endless warfare; see the al
most inevitable destruction which your leth-
argy will entail upon you. Then declare
ioF, and place yourselves on the side of truth,
justice and liberty. Free yourselves from the
thraldom Of abolition rule-from the CALLING
reproach Of living under the same government
with those who deny you the right of an
equal participation in its blessings with them
selves. They, themselves, avow that our sys-
tom OF labor is incompatible with theirs We
grant il. What then? eparation---peaoea-
Bile II we can, forcible if we must.
PUBLIUS