Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-01-25


Of Boston in l774. A ministry bloatcd
with pride and arrogance of power, turned
deaf ear to his counsel of wisdom and
| much fear, unless persons of influence
like yourself endcavor to prevent it, our
Federal authorities will follow the bad
example set them by that headstrong aud
unwise government Nothing but the
stern reality convinced the British minis
try that the feeble, and as they foolishly
supposed, cowardly people of the colonies,
could successfully resist the colossal pow
er England Indeed, even among the
colonists we're to be found those, whose
fears subducd their judgments and cooled
the ardor of their patriotism. 1t was
asked with an air of confidence by some
of them" Are We ready for war? Are
we military people? Where are our
stores, our soldiers, our generals, our
money? We are defenseless; yet we
talk of war against one of the most formi-
dable nations in the world. 1t will be
time enough to resort to measures of de-
spair when every well-foundod hope has
vanished"
1t was for that king among men, Pa
trick Henry, to answer questions like
these, and he did answer them as became
the perils of the occasion, and the inspi-
ration of his own great nature. They
tell us, said he, "'that we are weak
but shall we gather strength by irresolu-
ton ? We are not weak Three mil
lions of people, armcd in the holy cause
of liberty, and in such country, are in
vincible by any force which our enemy
can send against us. We shall not fight
alone. A just God presides over the
dostlnies of nations; and will raise up
friends for us. The battle is not to the
strong alone; it is to the yigilant, the
active, the brave" What was the re-
suit! a just God did raise up armies
for them. Then but three millions were
in the whole country, while now, more
than three times that number are in the
Southern States, and among them hun
dreds and thousands Of tested and APP
proved proficiency in military science,
Think you, sir, that such people can be
subjugated AS in the revolution, their
fields may be devastated, their houses
given to the dcvouring flames, and them
selves driven TO the swamps for shelter,
but mistake it not, for rs sure as there is
God in heaven, they will roappcar in
triumph under other Marion's, Sunter's
and Piekens', to whom their sufferines
will give rise. Whole hccatombs of
lives may be sacrificed in the mad and
wicked attempt to crush the South; but
never will that gallant people bow their
uecks to receive the badge Of serfdom.
The only harvest to be reapcd from a
ruthless war on our brethren will be one
of death, ill-will, discontinue, and ever
lasting shame and dishonor. Unless all
history be dclusivo in its teachings, this
will be So
If we are to judge by tho doings at
Washington, the CONSTITUTION, which
ought to be the supreme laie of the land,
seems to have been rudcly pushed aside,
and in its stead, has been erected an ir-
responsible MILITARY DEspoTIsM claiming
the right to declare and wage war. If
the people North, South, East or West
tamely submit to such an overthrow Of
the constitution, they will no longer be
worthy Of the name Of freemen.
And how is Maryland behaving under
this accumulation Of evils? We are told
to wait and watch ; to do nothing at pre-
sent. For long time we were urged to
follow the tcad Of Virginia. Well, Vir-
ginia is speaking, and with an uaanimi-
" and force that shows the fires Of patri-
otism have not died out in the Old Do
minion. But how was it in the times Of
the Revolution Did Maryland wait on
Virginia No sir, not at all In regard
to the proposed Congress Of TIA we are
told by history, that so universal was
the zeal other people, 50 rapid their or
ganization, that their provincial conven-
ton met in Annapolis on the twenty
second Of June, aud before any message
had been received from Salem, they
elected delegates to the Congress With
modosty worthy Of their courage, they
apologized to Virginia for ntoriag IN ad-
gqacc pleading us their excuse the in
feriority of their province in extent and
numbers, so that less time was needed 70
ascertain its sentiments" And when,
as is the case now, the then Governor re-
fused to cooperate with the people, "they
invited voluntary offering TO the amount
Z Of ton thousand pounds for the purchase
Of arms and ammunition: and taking the
sword out Of the bands Of the Governor,
they elected their own officers to defend
Massachusetts, and themselves" Letthe
conduct Of Marylauders Of that day be
conirasted with that ofthosc oflhis Look
upon that picture and then upon this.
Hyperion 70 a Satyr IL Maryland is to
ozeBeise any iuhuenco whatever, in re-
storing the Union, or in determining its
destiny, she must speak aud act and She
can do neither effectively, unless, her
people be organized under tie forms Of
law, either 10 the Legislature or in So
ycreign convention Although the task
would be very easy one, | have not
thought it worth while to show by refer
once to the history Of the formation and
adoption Of the federal constitution, how
utterly opposed your expressed views are
10 those Of its trainers and ablest adyo-
cites. But, in my opinion, any further
discussion, NJ Fhts tatc day, Of the mere
abstract right Of secession would be just
about as productive Of any useful pur-
pose as would DO the discussion Of The
right Of tho American colonies in l776
70 secode, as they did, from union With
the mother country. Tho undeniaLle
f1ct is, that several States hdre seeded,