Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-09
Gox uicaa, address.

BALTIMORE, Jan. G.--Gov. Hicks published an ad-
dress to this citizens of Maryland giving his reasons
for refusing to convene the Legislature. 1t fills two
columns of the American. and abounds with most
emphatic Union sentiments. The following are ex-
tracts
l firmly believe that division of this Govern
ment would inevitably produce civil war. The Sc
cession leaders of South Carolina. and the fanatical
demagogues Of the North have alike proclaimed that
such will be the result; and no man of sense, in nv
opinion, can question it. What could the Legisla-
ture do in this crisis, if convened, 20 remove the
present trouble which besets the Union? We are
told by the leading spirits of South Carolina, that
neither the election of Mr.. Lincoln nor the nOnexe
cution of the fugitive slave law nor both combined
constitute their grievances; they declare that the
real cause of their discomfort dates as far back
1888. Maryland and every other State in the Union
with united voice then declared that cause insult
fcient to justify the of South Carolina Can
it be that the people who then unanimously sup
ported the course of Gen. jackson. will now yield
their opinions at the bidding of modern secession
lists? have been told that the position of Maryland
should be defined so that both sections could under
stand it DO any really misunderstood her position?
Who that wishes TO understand it fail to do so!
If the action of the Legislature would be simply
declare that Maryland was with the South in sym
pathy and feeling that she denandedffOm the North
the repeal of offensive, unconstitutional statutes,
and appeals to it for Few guarantees, and that she
will wait reasonable time for the North to purge
her statute books so as to do justice to her Southern
brethren, and if her appeals are vain she will make
common cause with her sister border States in re-
sistanee to tyranny, need be, it would only be say
ing what the whole country well knows, and what
may be said much more efectualy by her people
themselves than by the Legislature chosen eigh-
teen months since, when none of these questions
were before them. That Maryland is a South
ern conservative State all know who know
her people or her history. The business and agrI-
cultural classes planters merchants. mechanics, and
IaIc MOI vvh IN ha IN nav
the taxes and do the fightng-are the persons who
should be heard in preference to excited politicians
many of whom having nothing to lose from the de-
structiOn of the Government may hope to derive
some gain from the ruin CT the State. Such men
would naturally urge you TO pull down the pillars Of
this . accUrsed Union which their allies at the
North have deuOminatcd covenant with hell"
The people of Maryland, If left to themselves,
would decide with scarcely an exception that there
is nothing in the present of complaint 70 jus
tify immediate secession and yet, against Judg
ment and solemn conviction of duty We are to be
precipitated into civil because South Carolina
thinks differently. ere not equals, shall her
opinion contro oil our actions after have sOlemny
declared for ourselves as every man must do?
Are we to be forced to yield opinions to
those of another State, and thus. in effect. obey
her mandates? She refuses to wait for couasels
are we bound to obey her commands The men
who have embarked in this scheme to convene the
Legislature will spare no pains to carry their point
The whole plan Of operation, in the event of the
assembage Of the Legislature, is. as | have been
informed. already marked out. The list Of embas-
sailors who are to visit the other States already
agreed on. The resolutions which they hope will
be passed by the Legislature, fully Committing this
State to secession are said to be already prepared
In the course of nature. cannot have long to live.
and fervently trust to be allowed to end my days
a citizen Of this glorious Union but should | be
compelled to witness the downfall Of that Govern
ment inherited from our fathers, established as it
was BY the special favor of God 1 will, at least
have the consolation at my dying hour that Meth
er by word nor deed assisted in fastening is disrup-
ton Thomas H. Hicks.