Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-05-11
The Decision.

| give an explici. answer. 1t is sques,ion no,
to be answered in passion nor from caprice
| 1t demands the coolest Jehheruton, the
soundest judgment aud the wisest forecast
but, at the same time. the ERNEST response
Maryland calls every true son Of hcrs to give
ready answer, remembering ss he does SC
that to him is committed some portion of ber
interest which he is to promote aud some
portion OF honor which he is jealousy to
guard.
II is not question Of election between two
Governments, equally entitled to our respect
with neither Of which We are connected, and
between which we are Indifferent. |: it we're
so, the question so perssteD,ly and so disin.
genuously put "Will you go with the North.
or will you 90 with the South 2" might be
proper and pertinent. But il is not so. On
the oEe hand is OUR COUNTRY. rich in priceless
memories OF the past, which are ours because
they are our country's; rich 10 the vast ex.
tent and variety of her present resources
which enrich us as part of our country and
rich fob how rich, but for the present cloud
OF shsme,) ia the golden promises of the
future, which are ours because the country is
ours. On the other hand is league Of
States without history, with no elements of
independent empire, and arounG whose future
the tbckest darkness hangs On the one
habd is the flag round which cluster so many
patriotic recollectons, and which has waved
above the brave in so many hard fought
battles the Constitution which so many Of
us have sworn to sustain; the laws which we
have aided to enact; the alliance which wa
have contracted, and the cam nerc;ul treaties
which IRE have negotiated when ne command
respect as first class power among the
nations Of the earth. On The other hand are
those who trail that flag n the dust, ahinre
that Constitution aud repudlate the oaths TO
sustain it which they have registered in
Heaven, defy the laws which they have helped
to enact, nnd must contract alliances as best
they can when recognized as Il sixth. rate
power, whose discordaut parts are cemented
only by the whim Of demagogues.
10 observe our oatbs. to maintain the laws
to sustain the Government as legally estah.
l'shed-this is not going with the North !"
1t is doing jnst what every true man and
patriot throughout the country has been
doing Tor half century. Upon whot ground
can wo justify to posterity, or to ourselves
when time shall have Gained the passions of
The hour, reputation Of these examples Of
the wise and patriotic? ? Has our country
become our oppressor Has it's Constitution
proved tyrant? Wherein 1t is no new
thing 10 the history Of Maryland that the
vote of the country has adopted platform
and elected President distastpfu to her
Jackson, Van Bdrcn, Polk Buchanan, we're
all elected against the wish aud despite the
vote OF Maryland. She regretted it and be.
lieved-and some Of her sons estl believe
Their election was an injnry TO the State and
Calamity to the country. But they were
constitutionally elected, and she did not ,hinl;
1t right or honorable to desert the cnnntry
IN the hour of its greatest need. Is not our
country's peril equally great now, and does
she not need, as much as ever 10 the past the
unwaverlng support Of every one ef her
children?
Grant, for the sake of the argument, that
Maryland has the power and the right to
cease TO be one of the United Suites. is It
her interest to do so? SIX months ago no
sane man would have dreamed that it was
Now scrutinlze US closely as you please the
whole course OF our Government slnce-every
law enacted by the legislative department,
every decision pronounced by the judiciary,
and every uct OF the Executive, and answer
this question: Is there one law, decision, or
act, which infringes any right or inpprilS any
Interest OF our State or OF uny citlzrG Of il :
Ii not then between oar National and our
State Governments there is no occasion or
ground Tor separation, for disagreement or
quarrel then all inducement to Il change Of
the relations 50 long, 50 happily, and 80 nd.
vantbgeously subsisting between them, comes
from abroad. What can 1t be :? Certain Of
the United States asserted their right to
withdraw from the UuioD, and, so far as ;bpir
act could do it, did withdraw. The Govern
ment, notwithstanding, at au expense of
thousands upon thousands Of dollars has con.
tinued to carry their mails, has submitted to
their assaults, and has in no instance or place
taken any action but defensive. President
Buchanan, 10 his message last December, said
the Government could not do less than this,
and the officers of the Government under
President Lincoln have done no more than
they wOnld have done under President Blu.
chanau, II similarly assailed. We have, then,
and can have, no ground of resentment or
complaint against our Government for the
harshness, the preciplancy, the buste and
aggressive character OF its measures Nor
can the Southern COnfederscy offer any res.
sonable assurance of protection and prosperity
in the fold to which they WOO us like that
which we have enjoyed, do and may enjoy in
the United States. True they promise as
largely as Satan did on the mount of temp
tation, but with as little lawful claim to the
gift they proffer as he had TO the Kingdoms Of
the earth.
But one thought in many minds overrlGes
all other considerations "Vlrginia has sece.
ded and Of course Maryland Gust" Why
"MustS" When did Maryland become an
infant or a captive to be dragged at Vlrgnias
chariot wheels2 Virginia is a noble Stale
alhonor to her; but she has done things
before to-day 10 which Maryland could not
follow her. The OLD Dominion has fallen
from the 6rst rack to the seventh in our
company of States aud the counsels which
have led her that downward road are not the
safest guide that we could choose for Mary.
land. Nor does it by any means follow that
what is wisest or best or most honorable for
her is so for US. We are on different sides
of a great navgable river. No natural
boundary separates US from the great North
No other State is interpOsed between US and
them. We cannot escape the position of
being all that separates them from their
Capital, and only miracle like that which
opened the Red Sea, for Israel can save
Maryland from becoming one great grave
yard il she assumes to bear the brunt OF the
battles of Secession.
Besides, If it we're as clearly our interest.
as it is our ruin. to abandon our country for
this ignis Jdtuus, could it be other than
dshonor to do il? We granted her District
for her capital. There she has expended her
money-millions upon millioDs-Hthout stint.
10 Annapolis she has erected costly build.
ings aud established noble school, a constant
source OF revenue TO hundreds Of the citizens
of Our State In onr own city she is inyest