Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-03-01
Gbr National Crisis.
THE STATE CONFERENCE CON-
VENTION.

We PubiiSu bCiuW tuO TeSulullOuS anu
address adopted by the State Conference
Convention, held in the city of Baltimore,
on the 18th ultimo. They are worthy
of a crreful perusal. Being temperate,
calm and firm, they fully vindicate the
"conventionists " of Maryland from the
charge of disunion, so frequently made
against them by those who recommend
and sustain the non-action policy of Co
vernon Hicks:
RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS it is the opinion of this
meeting that in the present alarming
crisis in the history of our country, it
is desirable that the State of Maryland
should be represented by judicious, in
telliGent and patriotic agents, fully au-
thorized to confer and act with our sister
States of the South, and particularly
with the State of Virginia
And whereas such authority can be
conferred solely by convention of the
people of the State.
And whereas, in the opinion of this
meeting, the Legislature not being in
session, full and fair expression of the
popular will is most likely to be heard
by a convention called by the recon-
mendation of the executive.
And whereas it is alleged that the Co
vernon now has it il contemplation to re-
commend, by proclamation such move
ment in the event of failure by the
Peace Conference and Congress to effect
any satisfactory solution of the vexed
questions now agitating the country:
BE 1t therefore resulted, Tha. we shall
approve such proceeding on the part of
the Governor, and add the voice of this
convention to urge the voters of this
State to regard such proclamation. And
with view to allow time for the action
OF the Governor in the matter, this con-
vention will adjourn until the twelfth day
of March next, unless intormedatcly the
State Of Virginia should, by her Sover-
eign Convention, secode from the Union /:
in which event, and in case the Govern
or of the State shall not have then called
a Sovereign Convention of the people Of
this State, this convention shall at once
rcassemble at the call of the president,
with view Of recommending to the poo
pie Of the State, the election Of dele
gates to such Sovereign Convention
Rcsolced further, as the sense of this
convention, That the secession of the
seven slaveholding States from the Fedo.
raj Union was induced by the aggression
of the non-slavcholding States, in viola
ton Of the constitution of the United
! States.
Resolred further, That the moral and
material interests and the geographical
position of the State demand that it
should act with Virginia in this crisis,
cooperating with that State in all honor
able efforts to maintain and defend the
constitutional rights Of its citizens in the
Union, and failing in that, to associate
with her 10 confederation with our sister
States of the South.
Resolrcd further, That the honor Of
this State requires that it should not per-
nit its soil to be made highway for
federal troops, sent to make war upon
our sister States Of the South and it is
the opinion Of this convention that an at
tempt on the part of the federal govern
ment to coerce the Suites which have Sc
coded would necessarily result in civil
war and the destruction of the govern
ment itself
ADDRESS.
70 ME People Of Mayland:- This
Convention has been convened under ex-
traordinary circumstances, and we there
fore deem it proper to state briefly The
causes Of lbs conyocation, and the posi-
ton which the Southern rights men Of
MorylanG have held from the beginning
of our unhappy national difficulties, and
which they now hold
The Southern rights men Of Maryland
have been most Professionally charged with
being socessionists aud disunionists. -
This accusation is most unjust and mex
cusable, inasmucb as their policy has cv-
er been clearly and frankly defined and
proclaimed.
Immediately after the election of Mr..
Lincoln to the Presidency of the United
States by a sectional party, which avow-
cd principles and purposes in violation of
the federal constitution aud hostile 10 the
honor, peace and sovereign equality Of
fifteen States Of the Union, il became
apparent to many wise and patriotic men
in this and other border slayc-holdiDg
States that an effort would be immediate
ly made by the secessonists Of the Cot
ton States to effect disruption Of the
confederaey There was good reason,
however, to believe, that ia Georgia,
Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, NIississip-
pi and Texas a majority Of The people
were sincerely in favor Of the Union,
provided that The non. slayeholding States
would Immediately, by some constitu
tional amendments, give to the South
reliable assurances of protection in their
rights Of property and a complete recog-
milton and guaranty Of their political
equality. II was evident that those
States desired only the cooperation Of
the border slave States. That such CO.
operation was not obtained Is, therefore.
greatly to be regretted. Hence il was
that the secessionists Of the cotton States
were left in absolute control Of public
sentiment, and succeeded in inaugural
ing the policy Of separate State action,
which resulted in separate State scccs-
sion, and has eliminated in tho oata-
blishmcnt Of Southern Confedcracy,
the leading spirits Of which now inform