St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-05-30

We clip from, the Baltimore Erchang'.
Of the 2lst instant, the following sensible
and well-timed article; and, as, in our
Judgment, it presents the true issue now
before the people Of this State, in pror-
er and practical shape, We commend its
perusal to our readers:
As candidates are now being nominated
for Congress in the several districts who
are designated as "Unionists," it is high
time that some Of them should state pre-
cisely what they hope to accomplish, and
explain the line Of policy they intend to
pursue. This is not the hour for cunning
reticence or windy rhetoric. The arts to
which politicians ordinary resort. to win
q few votes more or less will find M
federation now. The Republic is tottcr-
ing to its fall; the. country is on the
verge Of ruin; hundred dire calamities
are impending over the people. and mems
hearts are falling them for ftar Sem
timental rhapsadics cannot save the I'm.
ion, aud platitudes will net bring Us
peace. We have had enough Of these
already. While men have been glorify-
ing the Constitution, and enumerating
the blessings for which We have been in
debted to the continuance of the old Con.
fcdcracy, the Constitution sud the Con.
federacy have passed away And now.
they who have done nothing in thus
great crisis to uphold the one or main
tain the osher--who have placed Mary.
land in . situation which her friends re-
gard with contempt and her advcrsaries
with ins0lent scurp-these men now
come forward with vague promises and
pompous phrases and offer to rescue her
from humiliation. What have they done
thus far to entitle them to the conf
dencc of her people? But what is OF
more Importance still, how do they ex.
pect to restore the unity Of tho nation,
or. failing in that. where do they desire
or intend to place this State for the fu.
turc? These are vital questions to us.
and they demand uncquivocal answers.
Up TO this moment the Union ists' have
vouchsafed us ITO explicit and direct re-
plies upon these points. They continue
to cry ''peacc, peace-whcn then there
is no peace" They are defining ..allc-
glance" and discussion the nature Of
loyalty" They are demonstrating tho
illegali'y Of secession, and pointing out
the advantages of neutrality. They
grow maudlin over "reminiscences of the
past. and melancholy over the prospects
of the future. But meanwhile, whittier
are we tending The Union is already
dissolved; a new, powerful and uncon-
querable Confederacy exists south of the
Potomac; and the fate of Maryland,
which stands dubiously between the hos
tile nations, is about to be decided
With these facts we are called upon to
deal. Shall we under such circumstan-
ccs entrust our interests, our rights, and
our honor to the hands of those whs
are timidly and hesitatingIy stumbling
forward they know not whittier, or shall
we call to our aid those who have some
clear conceptions of the difficulties of our
and who have some definite
policy to propose and do not strink from,
inenrring responsibility, and If need be
danger! We are even now subjugated,
and unless We set n'anfully about the
work Of our own redemption. the tenn
pornrary domination which presses 50
heavily upon US viii fasten itself upon
us fr all coming time in utter disregard
Of ous wishes or interests. IL we are
powerlcss let las not at least be any lon
ger blind to- the character of the events
which are transTiring around us or to
the direction in which they are hurry
ing us. Let us. if We still hope 70
hare a voice in determining our own
destinies, insist apon knowing what are
the views and purposes Of those who
waslL direct our course. We ask there