Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-02-01
,gether," and that Maryland

uaTy' IaFuOn me IOf saying lnaC tHlnA
you were right as to that policy, but
wrong as to your present one.
Ninth. There are many hundreds of
people of Maryland, and very many
thousands north of Maryland, who be-
lieve they have direct personal and pc
cuniary interest in preventing any econ
certed action" between Maryland and the
other " border slaveholding States" |
allude to those gentlemen who aided by
their votes, or otherwise, in the election
of Mr.. Lincoln, and who feel confident
that certain offices of honor and profit
will be bestowed. after the 4th of March
as reward for their patriotic services
Is it strange that there should have been
much of concerted action on the part
of these republican patriots to influence
you in changing the policy you SO dis
tinctly announced on the 3D. of January ?
If rumors be correct, that concerted
action" has not merely extended to the
passing of complimentary resolutions by
republican Legislatures, and to the firing
of salutes by republican meetings in honor
of yourself, but it has exerted itself in
slandering the present Legislature of Ma
ryland, with view of exciting popular
prejudice against its convocation With
that object, it has not merely filed column
after column of some of the leading pa,
pers of the State with deceptive letters
and essays, but, if recent rumors be true,
it has actually purchased a controlling
influence in some of these papers, and is
now daily using their editorial columns
for the purpose of dcceiving the unsus-
picious masses of their readers When
you speak of deriving your information
from sources not accessible to the peo-
pie of the State" | respectfully suggest,
that you should anxiously inquire as to
the interested motices of some of those
who have originated charges against the
Legislature, which are equally unjust and
absurd.
Ttnih.-Permit me to invite your es-
pecial attention to the following provi-
sions of our State constitution.
=" The right of the people to participate
in the Legislature is the best security of
liberty"
A long continuance in the executive
departments Of power or trust is danger
1 a-i--.-.-u
" For the redress OF Grievance, - c.
amending, strengthening aud presrr YIN nc :
the laws, the Legislature ought to be fre-
quentty conreaed."
In your recent action you seem to have
lost sight of these fundamental principles
Of our State government. These princi-
PIES proclaim that the Legislative branch
isthe best security" of the rights of the
people, and that the danger to their IL
befies is to be feared chiefly from the
"caecutire departments You have in
etie't proclaimed to the people of the
Stae that the Legislature is nuisance
andan evil, and that you only should be
trused in this terrible crisis with the de-
eisidl of their future destiny
Wien Charles the First determined TO
tramp e upon the rights Of the people Of
I Engald, he found that the Legislature
Tor P;rliamenD was the chief obstacle in
his way. lie therefore " resolved upon
a plano Of ruling without the aid Of Par
liamert He announced his purpose by
proclamation"
You by proclamation" have announced
that ym have resolved upon Il plan of
ruling without the aid Of Legislature.
The 6nal result of King Charles rash
experiment was his deposition and exc
cution y an aggrieycd and indignant
people
have heard no one attribute to you
any Of the ambitious motives which
promptd the action of King Charles, but
| have leard the inquiry made:
g Upon what meat does this oar CESAR feed,
That he hgrown so great2"
From personal knowledge, / have
very higi opinion Of your intelligence
and patritism. But you must have a
much moe exalted opinion ofthem, when
you thinkit to be your especial and ex.
elusive duy to decide the future destiny
Of over 100000 people, without allowing
them an opportunity ofspealing for them
selves / AN view your present posi-
You refue 70 convene the Legislature.
You refuse Bconyenc 1.-THE Senate alone"
You refuse 70 call a convention. And
you even re.we to permit the people an
opportunity { saying whether they de-
sire to have 1ch a convention
Please giyta few moments's conside-
ration to the .boyc suggestions, and be-
lieve nc,
Very truly, your friend,
COLEMAN YELLoTT.
p. S.-Sinee writing the above, have
read in the Baltimore American your let
ter TO tho Alabama commissioner, the
Hon. j. i. Cofie. In that letter you
assume to speak again and again for the
people Of Marynnd," not merely as to
their present options, but in regard to
the future policy hey intend to pursue.
From what clausein the State constiiu-
ton do gou derive the power Of thus
committing this State Z" If il would
have been an asa,pation on the part of
the Legislature to lave assumed to COM
nit this State as 70 her future policy, /
much fear that many thousands Of Ma
rylanders will think that you yourself
have been guilty Of the Same offence
which you have charged, on mere suspi-
eion, against tho Maryland Senate and
House Of Delegates If there is 10 be
my committing" q this State, it seems
% me that the people themselves should
have an opportunity Of taking some part