Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-02-21
,RT TOBAgCo, MD

IL IL - IL u 4VA Ab1o
PORT 7oBAeCo, MD.
Thursday HozniaG February 81, 1851.
The Southern Confederacy has at length
6eco ne 6xed-fact. The gulf States, or NOR,
properly speaking, the cotton States, have form
I'd themselves into confederacy and new gov
eminent, adopting the present Constitution O
the United States with some alterations, as thu
fundamental law. Hon. Jefferson Davis anc
Hon. A. II. Stevens, as has been already an.
bounced, fill the high places in the provisional
government, the first named President, and the
second Vice-President. There seems to be lit.
tie or no intention on their parts, of ever return
ing to the old family circle, but having taken
their position, they seem determined to maintain
it. This may all be right. While we entertain
our own opinion on the subject, we do not for
. moment presume to set it in opposition to the
able and wise heads of others; but there is one
thing which to US does really seem Objectionable
we allude to the fact of this new government
being based upon the right of secession. 1t
really seems to us, in our weak judgment, that
If any State in the Union has right to with
draw at any moment and for any reason which
she may suggest, there can never be any Nation
al Government in the matter. The throne will
surely be built upon a sandy foundation which
may at any moment crumble to atoms. The
government may be in the most flourishing con-
dition possible to-day, and tomorrow find a
solitary supporter. Her flag may proudly float
on the Indian Ocean, while at home the govern
ment which it represents may no longer have
an existence. A single State may claim a right
which the others are tardy in acknowledging,
or her interest may in time differ from the in
terest of another, and straightway dissolution
results, the fabric tumbles to the ground, new
government is instituted. another confederacy
formed-to last, how long? Till dissatisfaction
or misunderstanding arises between its compo-
nent members.
This, we say may be all right, but in our old
foggy opinion a more stable institution would
be much more satisfactory to the women and
children, though it might not SO well please the
young bloods and bold spirits who would delight
in conflict of arms.
MARYLAND STATE CONVENTION.
The State Convention, which met in Balti-
more on Monday last, was we'll attended by
talented and respectable gentlemen from all
parts of the State. Hon. E. F. Chambers was
selected to preside over the deliberations Of the
body The convention remained in session two
days, and throughout, its proceedings were con-
Quoted with harmony and good feeling. The
following resolutions, reported by a committee,
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas it is the opinion of this meeting that in
the present alarming crisis in the history of our
country, it is desr able that the State of Maryland
should be ep esened by judicious, intelligent and
patriotic agents, fully authorized to confer and act
with our sister States of the South, and particular
~ with the State of Virginia.
And tckereas, such authority be conferred
solely by Convention of the people of the State
And ,chsreas, in the opinion of this meeting the
Legislature not being in session, full and fair ex-
pr ession of the popular will is most likely to be
heard by Convention called by the recommenda-
zion Of the Executive.
And ,hereas, it is alleged that the Governor now
has it in contemplation to recommend, by procla-
nation, such movement in the event of a failure
by the Peace Conference and Congress to effect any
satisfactory solution of the vexed questions now
agitating the country:
Be 1t therefore resolved, That we shall approve
such proceeding on the part of the Cover nof and
add the voice of this Convention urge the voters
of the voters of this State to regard such proclama
ton. And with a view to allow time for the action
of the Governor in the matter, this Cow ention will
adjourn until the twelfth day of March next, un-
less intermedately the State of Virginia should,
by her Sovereign Convention, secede from the
Union; in which event, and in case the Governor
Convention of the people of this State, this Conven
ton shall at eassembe at the call of the Pre-
sident, with a view of recommending to the people
of the State the election of delegates to such Sow
ereign Convention.
Resolved further, as the sense of this Convention.
That the secession of the slaveholdng States
from the Federal Union was induced by the ag-
gressions of the -slaveholding States in viola
ton of the Constitution of the United States
Resolued further, That the moral and material
interests and the geographical position of the State
demand that i should act with Virginia in this
crisis, cooperating with that State in all honorable
efforts to maintain and defend the constitutional
rights Of its citizens in the Union, and falling in
that, to associate with her. in confederation with
our sister States of the South.
Resoued further, That the honor of this State re-
quires that it should not permit its soil to be made
highway for federal troops, sent to make war up
on our sister States of the South; and it is the
opinion Of this Convention that attempt on the
part of the Federal Government to coerce the
States which have seeded would necessarily re-
suit in civil and the destruction Of the govern
nscnt itself
An address to the people Of the State was also
submitted to the Convection by the committee
and concurred in. 1.-THE address will appear in
our next.] The Convention adjourned in &C
eoydance with the resolution.
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The FoBcE BILL BEFORE CoNGREss.-'The
bill reported in the House of Representatives
on Monday by the Republicans, and styled the
"force BILL" provides for the calling forth O
the militia for the execution of the laws Of thu
Union, the suppression Of instruction and re-
pelling invasion, and extends the provisions o.
an old law to the case of instruction agains
the authority Of the United States, and author
ICES the President, in cases where it may be law