St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-02-14

see the ruin he could prevent 20 on unob-
structed in its desolating course
And the Governor of this State, here in
the capitol, not seven days since, and
within hearing of Mr. Lincoln, sends
forth to the country an inaugural address,
which, in the present condition of the
public mind, all good men must regard as
one OF the most dangerous, unpatriotic and
inccndiary papers that ever came from
any public funetionary in the United
States, Applause Iassesd af s4ees-
ing the emergency with propositions of
cancellation and compromise, he proposes
to reorganize the army and militia Of the
State. upon scale as grand as that upon
which the standing army of monarch
is organized and armed, and then tells the
country that 1T as due to truth tn ~,y that
the only paciiticatioa to which the 1,eolle Of
Mis State could occrcle ~oMd Le Hpon the
Prt"ciptes np0n which .Nr. Limcln wuS
,tcctc,l."
l deem it due to the patriotism of the
people of this State to say that the tribute
offered by the Governor in their behalf to
tr"th is iu fact tribute to untrMh Loud
applause
Let but the voice of the people be heard,
and they would proclaim in tones too loud
and too distinct for the most unwilling not
to hear and understand, their dctcrmina-
ton TO pacify the existing difficulties by
any terms, and consign to lasting oblivion
the men who, pretending to represent
their sentiments, outrage their honor and
their love Of country by stating to the
world that they are ready to maintain the
integrity of party platform at the ex-
pcnsc of the integrity of the Union. Long
and loud appluse.
The connection in which the recon-
mendation of the Governor with regard to
the militia appears in his inaugural is
most significant The present militia of
the State, as has been fully explained by
the distinguished gentleman who preceded
me. is entirely sufficient for all our pre-
sent and prospective State necessities. The
change indicated does not originate in any
de:ire among the people; and the people
of the State, either democrats or republi-
cans, never supposed any recommends
ti"n would be made by the Governor with
regard to the subject. The policy origi-
mates with the Governor himself aud
those Of the republicans who, claiming to
stand above and to guide the people, con-
suit with that distinguished gentleman
Why does he desire reorganization of
the militia? Are We threatened with i'll
vasion? No man dreams of such a thing.
Are VIC likely to be engaged in foreign
war! Amity and good feeling and peace
prevail between us and all foreign nations
in probably greater degree than at any
preceding period Of our history. Why.
then, organize standing army in the
Statc9 The answer is obvious, and is
given BY the Governor himself. A
standing army is required because "the
emily paci6cation to which the people of
this State could accede would be upon
the principles upon which Mr.. Lincoln
was elected"
Governor Yates knows that upon these
principles pacifcation eau never be
effected; he knows that it was those very
principles. and the prospect of their inau-
guration in the policy of the country. that
has caused the present most disastrous con-
dition of public affairs. lie knows that
the South will never agree that there is
an irrepressible conflict between freedom
and slavery-that "that this Union cannot
last Aes!f staee. and ha!f tree"-''tha all
:te States must become free, old as sreN as
ner." He does not then look to or ex-
pect protection upon the basis he has
suggested, and since his suggestion ex-
cludes the idea of paciication upon any
other basis, it is evident he docs not
expect any paci6cation whatever. Acting.
then, upon his opinion that the present dis
tracted state of the country is not to be
quieted by any peaceablc adjustment, he
proposes to put the State upon a war foot
ing, for the purpose of eoercing the Sc
ceding States to return to their allegiance
to the federal government. -:
This is the means proposed by. the re-
publican party of saving, the Union. I
i we st ated what in my.hua,Llco on NON would
save it; in that opinion. .however, I may
have been in error. and it may already be too
late for compromise and eonccssion; but I feel
that / cannot be i,l error when say that
this Union nerer can BE- sasetf by fDrce-.
coercion force. This s,var-war.upon
the Southern Statcs-not on South Caro-
lima alone-not on the cotton, States alone
but on the entire South. For be as
sumed gentlemen that. whether the border
States follsw the secession of States of the
extreme South or not, they. will certainly
regard any hostile attack upon these South
ern States as an attack upon themselves
1t will be war then upon fifteen States
Are you prepared for such war? [Shopts.
''no, no; right here" No. gentlemen.
thank God. fanaticism has not yet SO hard
ened our hearts that we arc ready to i'm
bue our hands in the blood Of our broth
ers. Applause. Such war would be
most accursed. wicked. unjust. cruel and
diabolical. aud if the republican leaders
expect that it would be war in the South
ern States-a war at a distance so far re-
moved from the North that those who had
brought it on would not even be disturbed