Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-12-12
MESSAGE OF GOV. HICKS
TO
The Legislature of Maryland.

Gentlemen Of the Senate
and of tie House Of Delegates:
have called together the General Assem-
bly, of Maryland in anticipation of the reg
ular session in January, and it is proper l
should briefly recount the events and state
the reasons which have led me to that deter
mination.
About the time at which South Carolina
passed her ordinance of secession, and during
several months thereafter, l was importuned
to convene the Legislature.
1t was urged, with great zeal, that the pco-
pie of Maryland should have an opportunity
Of saying whether they would remain loyal to
the government framed by our fathers or join
the seeded States in their mad crusade against
the continuance of the Union.
1t was alleged that if the Legislature
should be convened, it would either call a
Sovereign Convention, or submit to vote of
the people the grave question whether they
desired such convention to assemble.
The strenuous effort to induce me to call
together the Legislature having failed, was
then earnestly desired to submit to the people,
by proclamation, the question whether or not
they wished q convention to be assembled.
| declined to accede to this request because,
under tho constitution, possessed no such
power.
In thus persistently refusing to comply
with those propositions, | am we'll aware
that | assumed a grave responsibility But
| was satisfied, nevertheless, that was but
performing what, to me, seemed to be clear
and simple duty. And for the consequences
/ was then, and am now, willing to rely upon
the Justice and good sense of my fellow
citizens, to whom it is due that explain,
as briefly as | can, the reasons which induced
my course
l believed that was thoroughly acquaint-
ed with the proclivities of majority Of the
members of that Legislature. / was per-
fectly convinced that they desired Maryland
to leap, no matter how blindly, into the vor-
tex of secession. I believed the same to be
true of the most of those citizens who so
pcrsistcntly urged the assembling of the
Legislature. was, therefore, unwilling to
allow that body an opportunity so to misuse
its great power; not doubling that, in imita-
ton of the Legislatures Of then seeded
States, it would exert that power to the great
detriment of the people of Maryland.
1t is true that earnestly desired tho peo-
pie to have an opportunity of expressing
their will at the ballot box in regard to the
position of Maryland and l would most
cheerfully have afforded them such an OPP
portunity if had possessed the constitutional
power to do so in any other way than by
converting the Legislature.
But could not trust that body in so mo-
mentous crisis. did not believe the peo-
pie could possibly have fair and free ex-
preston of their will under tho provisions
of any law for that purpose which might be
enacted by that Legislature. | was sure
that through some juggle Maryland would
be forced to secede. | need not speculate
here in regard to the mode by which this
would have been accomplished-whether by
the bayonet or by some equally cogent OF
persuasive process. ! merely assert that
believe the plans of the secessionists would
have been accomplished, if they had had
the great power of the Legislature to ad
them.
was, during all that time, positively con.
WINGED that majority of the people of Ma
ryland did not wish the State to secede.-
They knew that the secession of Maryland
would attempt to carry with it the posses
sion of the national capital and knowing
also, that our Northern and Western broth
rem could not be expected to acquiesce peace
ably in such step, concluded that ou
people were not insane enough to wish THU
State to become one vast battlefield ant
: our homes made desolate. / continued, then
to refuse to convene the Legislature. hoped
that nothing but time was needed to cause
even zealots for secession to change theil
opinions; or, at least, forbear their designs
In this, it appears, did not accurately mea
sure the extent of their madness. But die
not know how much l erred in this regart
until my eyes were opened by the occurren'
) ces in Baltimore on the 10th day Of April
and the subsequent events connected will
that reasonable outbreak.
I then concluded that could not hop'
to gain much more time in which the mis-
guided mob might see its error. And, wher
: Coleman Yellott, Esq, the late Senator from
Baltimore city, after advising with the Boart
Of Police Commissioners, and instigated by
:. the more prominent of the conspirators, I'M
lawfully issued his Proclamation" for al
=, assembling Of the Legislature at Baltimore
: where large and active portion of the Sc
I cession element would 0e congregated,
, knew 1t was time for me to act. True,
might then have called upon the Presiden
of tie United States to quell the insurrec
z. ton, but this would almost certainly hav
/ caused the destruction of the city of Balti
| UlOI0. uliSut uoNS SaiiVu oup Viz
to cndeavcr to restore quiet, and. indeed,
did make an effort to that end. But l dis
Y covered that nearly all the officers were il
a league with the conspirators and the volun
o toer corps Of the city and vicinity, whicl
possessed arms, were almost entirely in tn
, same category 1t is true there was con
r siderable loyal military force in Baltimore
' but it was undiscplined and entirely un
armed. So that if | had effectively cale
: out the militia, at that time, should hav
actually assisted the conspirators in thci
designs.
concluded, therefore, after anxious delib
I Grafton, that there was but one course lei
. to me. l summoned the Legislature to as
semble at Frederick city, in the midst Of
loyal population, on the 26th day of April
: believing that even the few days thus game
It would be invaluable. By the merciful inter
r vention of Providence this step accomplishs
my full purpose. The State could not sc
: cede and bloodshed was averted from he
soil.
n The history of that Legislature is befor
O the country Not only did it fail to do il
- duty, as representing a loyal State, but
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