The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-01-12

|
ton at once Of the Union and the happiness
of our State. can hardly be the proper means
of preserving both.
have hitherto foreborne to dwell particu-
larly upon an objection to this measure which
deserves to be maturely weighed in crisis
| like this when the people are il-prcpared to
bear inc reased burdens 1t is nevertheless
proper that you should be informed that on
the first Of October there was deficit in the
State Treasury of at least fifty thousand dollars
and that the Treasury officers have repeat
edly been without the means Of paying drafts
upon it, in consequence of the appropriations
made by the last Legislature. Nothing but the
most rigid economy and careful management
can enable the Treasury to pay the April inter
rest upon the State debt. Maryland knows
something of heavy taxation, for she has borne
1t heroically, unit. she is just teeinnng to re.
lleve herself from its crushing weight. That
her people would bear it again without a
murmur, if they were convinced of Its ncces-
slty, | well know but should not our past
experience warn us against mourning further
burthens, unless. they are positively required
10y our honor. Especially, would we not avoid
1t, ii 1t be probable that the consequence OF
| this renewed taxation should be to secure
woes and sutlcrings for the people of the
Statel
What could the Legislature do in this
crisis. If convened, to remove the present
troubles which beset the Uuion? We are
told by the leading spirits in the South Caro-
lima Convention that neither the election of
MIR. Lincoln nor the non.cxccution of the
Fugitive Slave Law, nor both combined, con-
stitute their grievance. They declare that
the real cause Of their discomfort dates as far
back as eighteen hundred and thirty-throe.
Maryland, and every other State in the
union with united voice then declared that
cause insufficient to justify the course of
South Carolina. Can it be expected that this
people, who then unanimously supported the
course Ct General jackson, will now yield
their opinions at the bidding Of modern Seces-
sionists!
| have been tod that the position of Mary
land should be defined, so tina, both sections
can understand it. Do any really mIsunder.
stand her position Who that wishes to
understand it can fail to do so? If the &C.
ton of the Legislature would be simply to
declare that Maryland is with the South in
sympathy and feeng-that she demands
from the North repeal of offensive and un.
constitutional satutes--that she will wait
reasonable time for the North to purge her
statute. book s. and do justice to her Southern
brethren, and. if her appeals are vain, will
make common cause with her sister Border
States in resistance to tyranny, if need be
they would only be saying what the whole
country we'll knows, and what may be said
much more ,ilec tualy by her people them
selves, in their meetings, than by Legsla-
ture chosen eighteen months ago. when none
of these questions were raised before them.-
That Maryland is a conservative Southern
State all know who know anything of her
people or her history.
But, my fellow citizens, it is my duty to
tell you that the re. assembling of the Lcgis-
lature is wished for by many who urge it
with view 10 no such specification. | have
been repeatedly warned, by persons having
the opportunity to know, and who are enti-
tied TO the highcs: confidence, that the seccs-
sion leaders in Washington have resolved that
the Border States, and especially Maryland
Shall be prccipilatcd into secession with the
Cotton States, before the fourth of March
They have resolved to scze the Federal
Capital, and the public archives, so that
they may he in aposition to be acknowledged
by foreign governments as the United
States" and the assent of Maryland is neces.
sary, as the District of Columbia would
revert to her in case of dissolution Of the
Union. 1t is only contemplated to retain it
for few years, as the wants of Southern
Military Conlc9cracy will cause its removal
further South. The plan contemplatcs forc-
BILE opposition to MIR. Lincoln S Inauguration,
and consequently civil war upon Maryland
soil, aud transfer of its horrors from the
States which are to provoke it.
The voices OF those who favor this scheme
are unanimously for a special session, and
every effort has been made, and will be made
heneeforth, to manufacture public opinion in
this State, to force me to convene that body.
Injurious reports have been disseminated
among you by these men, to try to destroy
whatever influence may be supposed to pos
sess. 1t has been falsely reported that |
would be an applicant for Office under Mr..
Lincoln and this rumor had been long in
circulation before it reached my ears, and |
thus had the opportunity to denounce it as an
infamous, unfoundcd SANDER. 1t has been
publicly reported that | had written a very
objectionable letter to Mr.. Crittenden upon
the present condition of affairs. AS soon as
heard it ! read a copy Of the letter to the
gentleman who repeated the rumor, and he at
once signiicd his approval of its contents !;
but | have since directed it to be published,
and You can read it for yourselves. This
| spirit of defamation has gone so far that anon
ymous letters have been circulated in Anne
| Arundel county, stating that had invited the
slaves to public dinner, on Christmas day,
near this city. You VIII doubtless hear many
similar falsehoods, circu lated with this same
design Of weakening your confidence in the
Executive of the State by attempting to work
upon your fears.
| For myself, l have lived long enough to
know how to dcspsr alse reports. A man
need only fear untavorable reports when they
are true.
The men who have embarked in this scheme
will spare no pains to carry their point. The
whole plan of operations in the event of the
assembling of the Legislature, is, as l have
been informed, already marked out-the list
of ambassadors who are to visit other States
agreed on--and the Resolutions, which they
hope will be passed by the Legislature, fully
committing this State to secession, are said
to be already prepared.
Is it your will, my countrymcn, that the
State should be exposed to the peril of
adopting such course? Are you.-who are
to bear the brunt of this fearful contest-who
are to be forced to abandon your plUws and
iorges and looms, to fight the battles of the
Cotton States-who must leave behind your
families, unprovidcd with the daily support
which is only afforded them by your daily
labors--are you DESTROYS to be enguled in
this Whirlpool of strife, before You have had
time to breathe, and before every honorable
plan has been tried to avert the necessity of
war? If the people of the North were
foreign nation. we would first resort to nego-
ta,ion, and, in the failure of that, to reprisals,
before openly declaring war against them,-