Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-18
Organize for the Coming ELECTION.

1t IS matter OF the highest importance,
(says the st. Mary's Beacon, that the Peace
Party in this State, especially in the counties,
should proceed at once to organize, in order
that working majority opposed to the con
tin nance OF the present ruinous and uncon-
stitutional war may be returned to the next
House of Delegates. Little is to be hoped
from Baltimore city in the way of assistance
to the Peace movement in the State. Indeed
it is even doubtful whether the peace men
there will vote at ALL the suspension of the
Board of Police rendering any election null
and void in that city under the existing laws
of the State. But the counties are differently
and more fortunately situated in this respect
andsit will be for them to decide at the No.
yember election, whether Maryland shall be
actively committed by her Legislature TO the
further prosecution of war which was con-
ceiyed in outrage and brought forth in iniqui-
ty and which is in. direct opposition to her
dearestinterests and her lifelong sympathies.
If the ballot box is not abolished or the peo-
pie prevented from voting by test oaths--a
favoriteS scheme with the "loyar' press and
loyalists generally-we have not the slightest
fear for the result Prescription and perse-
cution have had the same effect in Maryland
which they have had in other countries and
in other ages. They have made few hypo-
critics who will desert the Government the
very moment it is their interest to do so, or as
CIR thaxr 4 - NIT e.
selves. One thing is patent TO all honest and
intelligent minds, and that is, that Lincoln
has neither strengthened his friends nor weak
ened his opponents by his Strafford-like course
of action in this State. On the contrary, he
has alienated from the Union party many men
who were honestly favorable to the Govern
ment in the beginning of the war, but who
have now become, in consequence of his OPP
pressive and illegal conduct towards their
peace friends and neighbors, aud particularly
for his Cromwellian outrage upon the Legis-
lature of Maryland and the freedom of the
Independent Press, the most bitter and daring
of his enemies. But whilst accessions to the
great Peace movement in Maryland from the
war or Union party are to be enumerated by
hundreds, it has lost little or nothing of its
original strength by assertions to the enemy
Since the war began, it would be difficult to
name single man of distinction or influence
in the State that was in favor of peace, who is
now in favor of war. Indeed, the friends of
peace and constitutional Government in Ma
ryland have every incentive and encourage
ment to labor for the success Of their ticket in
the coming election. They have cause to
labor for which is we'll worthy their best ex-
ertioEs. Its success depends upon themselves
Let them then organize at once in the different
counties of the State. 0ne-half the energy,
which is exerted to carry an ordinary parti-
Fan election, will now be sufficient to place
Maryland permanently ON the side of peace.
viii it be withheld? We are confident that
it will not. On the contrary, we believe that
it will be redoubled, and that no honorable
effort will be spared to make the victory which
awaits the Peace Party in November next de-
cisive Of the true position of Maryland on the
war question for all time to come. ST. Mary 4
sends greeting to her sister counties-l20 200
majority for Peace and the Constitution