Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-25

the Governor, but to the opposition of
the people, aoho aoould not enlist for the
service, and who set their faces against
such policy. Thus, through opposite
courses, the two States have observed a
very similar neutrality. The Governor
of Kentucky did not, at first, bring out
the State levies to aid the Federals, be-
cause he ,eoald not; the Governor of Ma
ryland has not done it, because, much as
he has desired, he could not A few
ragged recruits, mixed up with similar
specimens from all quarters of the earth,
have been banded into two or three half
finished, bobtailed regiments, and these
are called of Maryland; but we oil know
that, in law and in fact, Maryland has not
officially furnished single soldier to the
war. On the contrary, through her Legis-
lature, she has protested against the hos
tilities, and has declared she will take no
part in them. And although it is mourn
fully true, that she has been subjected
to proceedings with which no free people
was ever before insulted, yet she has
done her utmost, by a series of valiant
protests, and stands to-day, so far-as her
own act goes, as a perfectly neutral State
as regards the existing hostilities.
These distinctions being observed, the
parallel is perfect Like Kentucky, Ma
ryland was for Compromise, attended the
Peace Congress, and held out the olive
branch to the last. AS in Kentucky was
done, the Governor of Maryland, at the
start, refused to furnish the troops asked
for by the Government Like her, up
to the time of her recent abandonment of
neutrality, Maryland has not, in point of
fact, sent an authorized soldier to the war.
AS in Kentucky, so here, despite the in-
dignities Maryland has received, her
protesting attitude and her practical neu-
trality have-saved the people from inter-
nal disturbances. Whatever the State
has suffered, whatever the people have
endured, we have here, as yet, through
the mercy of God, been spared that low
est depth of calamity, where citizens of
the same State, occupying the same soil
join in domestic strife aud invite the I'M
speakable horrors of fratricidal war.
The position of Maryland, then, for all
practical purposes, is the same to-day as
that of Kentucky was, up to the time Of
the recent action of her Legislature, by
which her neutrality was abandoned, and
she was ranged on the side of the Fede-
raj forces.
We have already seen what have been
the consequences of that abandonment.
The newspapers daily bring us accounts
of the preparations that Kentuckians are
making to des0late their own State with
blood. That we, iB Maryland, have hith
erto avoided such calamity, is cir
cumstance for which we NAV, under
Providence, thank our Legislature which
is now dispersed. That the same fear
full evil may be avoided in the future,
common sense should teach us to avoid
the causes which have produced il in
Kentucky. This, it is manifest, can on
ly be done by preserving the position
which Kentucky unwiscly deserted, and
by taking care no men shall be elected
who favor an active war policy on the
part of Maryland. 1t is clear that the
people of this State will never make war
if let alone, nor will they abandon the
position OF calneutrality, in which
they have been fortunately placed by the
present Legislature. 1t is equally clear
that the latter body will never reverse
its present attitude, even if it be again
allowed to assemble. The only danger
is, as was done in Kentucky, that new
Legislature may be elected this fall ia
vorable to the Administration, and which
may do for us what the present Legisla-
ture of Kentucky has done for it, Such
body would place the State actively on
the side Of the Federal Government;
would repeal the protesting resolutions of
the recent session; would call out troops
to fight against the South; would levy
taxes by millions, as in Kentucky, for
the prosecution of the war; would en-
dorse all that the Administration has
done towards the State; would assist it
in hunting down those Of our own people
who might be suspected" as "secesb, ~
and would, in word, carry affairs just to
that dangerous point whence there is no
path except through the fearful anarchy
that now engulfs Kentucky.
From such destiny, may heaven pre-
serve u.s. But if, under Providence, we
would protect ourselves, VIC can in no
otherwise do it, than by defeating those
whose policy leads to such results; and
this brings US to the point Of the argu-
ment THE so-cALLED UNToN PARTY or
MARYLAND MUST BE DEFEATED, i'll
we would escape the horrors which the
policy they advocate has brought upon a
people similarly situated. Their candi-
dates and their policy are for Var, and
against Peace they are pledged to the
Federals and against the Confederates
they are for abandoning our present atti-
tudc, and going actively into the fray
they are for furnishing one of the bel
ligerents with men and money, and are
against neutrality between the two and
their declarations evidence their inten-
tons to put their principles fully into nc.
ton. and that too in the face Of the tor
rible division Of opinion that here exists.
To say that all this can be done-that
one portion Of Marylanders can be arm
ed to repress another without plunging
the State, sooner or later, into the abyss
Of fraternal discord and destruction, is to
ignore the principles Of conduct by which
men are usually governed, to fly in the
face Of human nature itself. and to deny
the evidence Of our own senses, 10 the
painful scene Of Kentucky bloolshed, !