Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-02-01
ROCKVILLE, January %, 1861.
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communication " is SO framed as to place him
aud those with whom he acted, but especially
himself, in false position, ''by statement
and insinuation, that he was then bound by
party caucus, and gives what he POLITICALLY |
calls, his plain tale" to put me down. / !
asked him the question, if he was not then
bound by party caucus2 He failed to an
swer it.
After he has made I" his tale plain,n visibly |
so, by stating the part he took in the meeting |
which admit TO be substantially correct, | |
ask what Jact does he state that alters the |
facts related by me2 Not one | said when |
opportunity was offered by the chairman of
the committee, read resolutions prepared by
DR.. HARDLKG-that they were not seconded, |
and were not pressed to a vote. Mr.. Davis
admits this was so but he now lays the
blame on me and the Democrats, and remarks,
. that both from the intrinsic merit of the re-
solutions, and the source whence they came,
they were entitled to better fate, at least
from the hands Of professed personal and po-
Htical friends" Indeed This is very com
plmentary, my dear no-party friend and pa
triouc coadjut lie admits the meeting
was called without distinction of party, and
that he attended it with feelings soaring into
The regions OF pure patriotism, far above all
wish to secure mere party advantages. Then,
in this meeting, if there were no hypocrites,
there were no Democrats and no Americans
but all were Mary landers, Union men, in the
patriotic significance of the word. Mr.. Davis
was professedly, for the purposes of that meet
ing, as much the party, as | know he WAS the
personal, friend Dr.. Harding as myself, or
any other Democrat. Why then did he not
support resolutions coming from his personal
and proicssed political friend-"a source en-
titled TO respect" which he admits to have
had "great merit ~ He did not do it. and
1t is pure sophistry for him to try to escape
the responsibility, by throwing it on me and
other Democrats. The fact is, those resolu-
tons looked to such declarations of princi-
pies, and ESPECIALLY of immediate State action,
rs would put this State in condition to take
sides and position with her Southern sisters,
II all proper efforts to save the existing Union
should fail, and did not press them, when
found they received no response, because |
considered them less pointed than my own,
looking to the same object. He did not sup
port them, because be prefers a know-nothing,
do-notbing policy, which will permit the
State to lie sleeping in iancied safety until she
falls helples5ly under the dominion of the in
soient Republican party, and ultimately to
become abolitionized by the united policy of
the Federal Government, and its allies in this
State. And risk nothing in expressing the
prediction, that there will be men enough in
this State from those who are cooperating
with Mr.. Davis, mean enough to seek and re-
eesoe from Lincoln, the Republican President
the Federal Offices in this State, as well as
some out of the State; for truly there have
been Esaus in every age, who are willing to
sell their birthright for mess of pottage
stated, | moved an amendment of Mr.
Bowie's preamble, (perhaps ought to say the
american caucus preamble, offered by Mr.
Bowie;) that Mr. Davis and Mr.. Miller OPP
posed the amendment, but that Mr. Bowie ac-
cepted it without taking formal vote. Mr.
Davis now says, 'the amendment was a slight
one, )" and being accepted by Mr. Bowie,
lot course no vote was taken, - True il was
short, but, il 'slight," why did he oppose il
The fact is, il was n radical blow aimed at the
theory of those who controyert the reserved
rights of the several States, which is the only
centrifugal force in our political system to
prevent the Federal Government from be-
coming what many desire it to be, a great
consolidated Central power, tending con-
stantly TO drown the complaints of minorities,
in the triumphant shouts of majorities-to
break down all separate State action opposed
TO its policy and edicts, and to reduce the
States 10 the secondary condition of subju-
gated provinces, and to compel their citizens
at the peril of their lives and estates, to act
wholly subservient to the purposes of an
over powering and irresistible despotism, first
created hy unjust laws Of unrestrained major
ities and then of some fearless and base ind-
vidual usurper. did not say that he voted
against the amendment, or that any vote was
taken on it as an amendment; | said he and
Mr. Miller opposed the amendment, and he
does not and cannot deny that fact.
If Mr. Bowie's (alias the 4mericaa caueus)
preamble and resolutions covered the whole
ground in controversy, exposing the danger,
and pointing out clearly the remedy as Mr.
Davis now says, why did he perform the lost
labor of love, to vote for my resolutions num-
bered as published, 8, Z, and s? Why did he
vote against another one in the committee
ana few moments afterwards vote for it in
the meeting Pa fact which | did not know
until he informed the public in his commune
col Fnis mental transition was much
raPs oal wonderful, than the one
EST CD he 3llred 10 hts speech g. the meeting
g. mind had undergone on the necessitJ ~
.-s convention Of he Legislature
it IA resolution requesting the Governor 90
cal. together the Legislature at once, and also
my other resolutions as well those he voted
for, as those he voted against, are "partY
dogmls unsuited to the occasion" now call
upon him to state what party has enunclated
them rs its dogmas, when and where it
was done, and upon what evidence he so as
serts2 lie cannot say any secret Democratic
caucus, or Democratic party, has done so,
unless he intends to say nearly all of the State
Senators, elected by his party, including J.
MORTIMER KiLGOuR Esq, and host of other
private conservative gentlemen, belonging to
the American party, have become Democrats
Ii Mr.. BoWie's Sd resolution, leaving the
convOcaton OF the Legislature to provide for
u State Convention, 10 the discretion of the
Governor, provided clearly for our protection
against existing dangers, why did Mr. Davis,
few days only after its adoption, with his
vote, go as delegate from convention held
in Baltimore To urge the Governor to call a
convention of the people2 fla convention was
not necessary, why did he go ON this fools err
randi When the Governor refused TO call a
convention, and gave him the ,eoHderfm piece
OF startling Information, that he had MS much
legal authority TO convolIe a convention as he
(the Goyernor) had, why did be not return
home, and in connection with friends, appeal
to the people TO assemble in convention MS n
necessary means of protection? If he felt he
had no1egal authority to do so, why did he
not tarn advocate for the meeting of the Le-
gislature, which has the undispuied right to
call convention of the people, and, by throw
ing his influence in this direction, assist in
forcing the Governor TO CRAFTY the publie
wish to take some decided and immediate
State action for our common safety? The an
swer to these questions will be interesting to
he public, coming froma - source entitled to
gseat respect, and will no doubt meet with q
flie more in accordance with their "merit, -
than did his friends (Dr. Harding s) resolu-
tons at his hands in the county meeting
must confess that J. as Marylander, do
NO understand the political course or policy
\ofMr Davis, and OF Governor Hicks. Bat
&c Mpublicans seem to 10 so fully, and not
oily highly 10 appreciate il NJ home, but in
theexuberance OF their gratitude, they sent
speNl embassy from Pennsy vania to Co
vernS Hicks, TO MAKE known 10 him their
thankNand Kind svmlnthieS and to tender 10