The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-03-23
The State Conference Committee In
Virginia.

virginia.
Five of the six gentlemen sent off to alag
gard Virginia by the sixty or seventy
Secessionl>ts Of Maryland, who assembled il,
Baltimore OIL the 18th inst, arrived at Rich.
mond on Friday week. Their frs! procedure
OF public character was very fitting one
indeed. and was no doubt considered by hem
essentla! to a proper discharge of their
important duties. They attended Secession
meeting on the night of their arrival; were
received as Commissioners appointed by
Maryland;" escorted TO seats on the stand,
and listened to treason from the mouth OF
Roger A.. Pryor, than whom TO more unmit-
gated secessionist breathes. After sitting
at the feet Of this Virginia, Secession Gamalicl
the Commissioners appointed by Mary
land $50 the Richmond Enquirer calls them J
subsidized until last Monday, when they
offered the Virginia Convention the following
bit OF advice, the object Of which appears to
be to prevent Gov. Hicks, whom they seem,
for the first time, to have recognized as one
of the proper authorities" Of this State,
from appointing Delegates to Border State
Convention, should such body be convened.
The " Commissioners evidently fear that
the Governor might make selections adverse
to their designs, as he did in the case of the
Peace Conference Commissioners hence this
precautionary suggestion. Gov. Hicks is a
thorn in the flesh of the Secessionists of
Maryland, undoubtedly; bat if these gentle
men fall into the hands Of the people of the
State, they will find themselves impalcd upon
many thousand such thorns, we opne We
think, therefore, they might as well content
themselves with the Virginia resolution as it
Is. 1t is better, gentlemen, to suffer the
ills you 81 have, than fly to others that "
you seem 10 g know not Of.
The following is the CON munica,ion, which
after some objections, was referred 20 tile
Virginia Committee on Federal Relations:
10 the Honorable the President of The
Conrention Of the people of Tuemia ::
The undersigned citizens of MARYLAND
have been appointed committee on behalf
OF conference convention, representing a
portion of the citizens Of the city of Balt-
more, and Of nearly all the counties of Mary
land, to communicate with the convention
over which you preside in reference to a mat
in which they deem themselves deeply con-
cerned and which is now occupying the at
tention OF your body. 1t is upon the subject
Of the proposed conference with the southern
border States.
1t is especially to be understood that in
anything We may say there must be no in
ference that this particular measure, or any
other is, in our judgment, or in the opinion
of those persons whom we represent, to be
preferred. We entirely disclaim every pur-
pose even to suggest what would be the iudg.
men. of our constituents, did the occasion
make it proper to express it. Our design is
solely to invite the attention of the conyen.
ton to the Importance Of one particular con-
sideration, if and " hen the proposed confer
ence shall be found acceptable to your con.
vention. In that event, believing las those
whom we represent have instructed US to say
they do belleve) that the people Of Maryland
will accept snch an invitation, 1t becomes.
as we respectfully suggest, matter of equal
interest to each and all Of the Southern boz.
der States 10 secure, as far as it may be done,
full. fair and accurate expression of the
popular will in such form as 10 leave no doubt
either Of its character, or of the authority Of
those who may be selected as its agents and
representatives.
The proposition before your body requires
the delegates to The Conference to be selected
by the proper authorities of those States"
lfany existing organized department OF
the government of Maryland should attempt
the selection of delegates to such convention,
as is proposed, it would undoubtedly be res is.
ted by the people, and in that event conflict
ing claimants would present themselves as
llshtful opponents of the popular sentiments,
duly entitled to be receivable as such.
Our sole object is to avoid by the to, ms OF
the invitation, all occasion for such collision
and with this view VIC respectfully suggest
such an alteration in the language of your
resolution as will express its object to be
" that delegates to the proposed convention
shall oe elected either directly by the people
or through the agency Of sovereign State
convention"
In the hope and expectation that this re.
quest will be favoraLly considered by your
convention, we have the honor to be, very
| respectfully. your obedient servants,
w. MITCHELL,
f, +. CHAMBERS.
VIM. HENRY Norris,
ISAAC d JONES,
j. HANSON 1uOMAs