Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-24


@Seveh suns have run their course since
last we spoke with our readers and yet the old
ship OF State floats on. She still swims, though
some of her spars have been. carried away in
the gale and others totter to their fall. The
mainmast, at whose top proudly floats the stars
and stripes, still stands erect, and may the
storms beat harmless forever to her sacred old
hull. Not a rent Is yet made in her below the
the water mark. Would that we could an
nounce subsistence of the tempest, -would
that we could. accord the slightest abatement of
the tornado which sweeps around. But, alas,
bitter warfare is IN the haart Of sss.estoru-
and Che ciarions shrill notes are yet heard.
Our Southern sisters are leaving the old fami-
ly circle and building to themselves new taber-
nacles. 1t is not for us to condemn or approve
their course. 1t is not for us to pronounce as
to their right of withdrawal all we can say is, if
they must and will go, if they are SO determin
ed to tare themselves away from the old family
board and from the old altar at which our ia
theirs worshiped and were blessed in their devo-
tons; if they can and will TO longer bear with
the taunts Of the Northern ssterhood !; if they
conceive that forbearance is no longer a virtue
and remonstrance beneath their dignity; if they
honestly believe that forgiveness is humility and
repentance crime if they are convinced of the
error, in our Saviour's language, when be says
If thy brother offend thee seventy times seven,
and offer repentance, forgive him. or if they
candidly believe there will be no repentance on
the part of the North, and consequently. they
must leave the old cradle in which they have
been so long rocked, we say let them depart in
peace. Let not the rupture be attended with
deadly strife; but having departed, let them a.
lone in their new Homes; do not couple strife
and bloodshed with their disruption. 1t is bad
enough God knows, to see the family circle
broken and the seats of our dearly beloved made
vacant. 1t is heartrending to see the children
/ of some Of our good sisters drunk with the wine
of fanaticism, disregarding the teachings of rea-
son, of honor and Of truth, heaping Upon tbs
children of our other sisters and upon ourselves
that tyranny a-.a-. = Which drive them off
from us, and that perhaps forever; we say it is
bad enough to know that all this exists, without
attending it witiicut bloodshed and ruin.
The blood which courses in Southern veins
also flows in the Northern. We are one people,
descendants on the whole Of one head. Though
many nations of the earth have contributed to
the population Of the United States, yet, by in
innate connections and intercourse, the same
blood which flows in the South Corolina vein
| flows also in New Hampshire; the same which
courses its blue channels in Maryland may be
| found in Massachusetts, and so the country
over When the arm is raised in warfare, fell
low Americans of South or North, reflect before
you bring down. the poulerous battle axe that,
when it falls, it spills your own blood. Spare!
Oh, spare thy brother Let not the crime of
fratricide be brought against thee at the bar of
the Great tribunal which searches the deepest
recesses of the heart. This indeed but adds fuel
to the fire already ferceIy burning and consum-
ing us as nation.
But, turning aside for moment from the
morality of the act, let us glance at the policy
of coercion. Without for an instant expressing
an opinion as to the right or ,,ong of secession,
the right or t0rong of coercion, we would simply
ask what will the General Government do with
the seeding States should it fight and conquer
them? Will they hold them in subsection as
conquered provinces This does not accord
with the spirit Of our government VIII they
be again admitted as equals in the family circle
and IN the balls of legislation? Old Pope has