Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-10
GOVERNOR HICKS ADDRESS TO THE PEG
PIE OF MARYLAND

piSoOilI SIISio I'll our lFdllOIdl dlldlTS. w udNt
. not space for the whole address, but we presen
to our readers its strongest points in the Language
Of the Governor himself:
From the location of the National Capita
) within our limits, and our peculiar geographical
position, Maryland would inevitably become the
chosen battle-ground of the sections in the event
of civil war. Her long line of exposed frontier
would be open 80 attack from every quarter
and her peaceful waters would soon become the
theatre of shis horrid contest. 1t needs no ar
gumcnt to convince rejecting mind that such
a war would bring upon us more than the usua
accomplishments of war-loss of life, destruc-
ton of all domestic peace, oppressive taxation
ruinops depreciation of property, and almost
universal bankruptcy. As border slavehold-
ing State, she would especially suffer in the ut
ter destruction of a cherished domestic institution
with which all our sympathics are firmly united.
A brave people, forced into a necessary war,
would partially estimate even these great evils,
and Maryland never has been, and never will
be, found backward in such contest. But no
man, who has a real stake in the community,
would consent to embark in such a future if it
could be avoided with honor.
| firmly believe that the division Of this Gov
eminent would inevitably produce civil war
The secession leaders in South Carolina, and
| fanatical demagognes of the North, have alike
proclaimed that such would be the result, and
no man of sense, in my opinion, can question it..
| Is it not then She bolsnden duty of all of us,
and especially of those placed in authority to
endeavof to prevent the occurrence of such a
catastrophe, by opposing anything even tend
| ing to produce it?
| feryently hope and firmly believe, that the
Union may be preserved. Our forefathers
h., tEoYf 1,o q
was utterly dissolved if the Hartford Convention
had resolved the New England States out of the
! Union-nor can we agree that similar resolves,
passed by the Conventions of one, or two or
half dozen of the Cotton States, should be con-
sdered as working its dissolution at this time.
1t is yet, thank God, in full existence, recogniz-
ed by every Government on the globe, and pre-
pared and willing to redress, with the whole
power of the nation, any indignity or injury,
inflicted by the proudest power on earth upon
the humblest citizen Of South Carolina, or any
other State.
1t is unnecessary Tor me to make extravagant
professions of devotion to the South. Such pro-
testations may be necessary from imported
Northern politicians, who, by indirect abuse of
their own Northern brethren, and trucking
f1attery OF the Southern people, have worked
themselves, and are hoping still further to work
themselves, into power at the South. | am a
Marylandcr by birth, and descent, and by re-
sidcnce of more than sixty years. Every dollar
of property I own is invested in this State.
am STAKEHOLDER, not by accident but by pur-
chase, out of the hard earnings of a long life of
toll have not a conviction or prejudice which
is not in favor of my native State. | have
never lived, and should be sorry to be obliged
to live in State where slavery does not exist
and never will do so if | can avoid it. What
ever would impair the rights of shareholders in
Maryland, would equally tnjure me, and the
instinct Of self-ipterest. if no higher motive
would impel mo to stand by the South while
life shall last
Believing that the interests of Maryland were
b b9atsa, have i been engaged for months past
in full interchange of views with the Cover
nors of Virginia, kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri, with a view to concerted action upon oul
part. These consultations, which are still in
progress, feel justified in saying, have resulted
in good so that when the proper time for &C
ton arrives, these sister States, bound up in a
common destiny, WILL I trust, be prepared tt
act together.
have been forcib1y impressed with the fact
in considering this question, that every dsun-
ionist in Maryland, land to our shame be i,
spoken, there are some such among u.s. is an
earnest advocate for the immediate call of tho
Legislature. One of the papers of to-day con.
tains report Of the proceedings at meeting
which adopted resolution in favor Of immcdi-
ate secession, which was warmly advocated by
the present Speaker of the House of Delegates
and the last of the series of resolutions directs
the appointment of committee to urge npor
me to convene that House Of Delegates forth
with. 1t seems to mo that measure thus ear.
nestly advocated by those who are bent upor
the destruction, at once, of the Union, and the
happiness of our State, can hardly be the pro
; per means of preserving both.
3 | have hitherto foTborne to dwell particularly
upon an objection to this measure which deserves
to be maturely weighed in crisis like this
when the people are i'll prepared to bear increas
, ed burdens. It is nevertheless proper that 20,
should be informed that on the first of October
. there was deficit in the State Treasury of a
least fifty thousand dollars, and that the Urea
, [sury officers have repeatedly been without TIL
means of paying drafts upon it, in consequence
of the appropriations made by the last Legisla
ture Nothing but the most rigid economy ane
careful management can enable the Treasury t.
pay the April interest upon the State debt.
Maryland knows something of heavy taxation
for she has borne it heroically, until she is JUS
beginning to relieve herself from its crushing
"S'0u'' AiA''' HSA poppy "Oe'iN CSs'i ~
without murmur, if they were convinced O
| its necessity, we'll know but should not ou
past experience warn against mourning fur
Their burdens, unless they are positively required
by our honor. Especially, should we not avoi(
it, if it be probable that the consequence of th
renewed taxation should be to secure woes ant
. sufferings for the people of the State.
What could the Legislature do in this crisis
if convened, to remove the present trouble
which beset the Union? We are told by thu
leading spirits in the South Carolina Conven
ton, that neither the election of Mr. Lincoln OF
the non-execution of the Fugitive Slave Law
; nor both combined, constitute their grievance
They declare that the real cause of their discon
tent dates as far back as eighteen hundred ant
thrty-three.
| have been repeatedly warned, by person
having the opportunity to know, and who ar
entitled to the highest confidence, that the Sc
cession leaders in Washington have resolved tina
the border States, and especially Maryland, shall
, be precipitated into secession with the cotton
States, before the fourth of March.
l,o,, lo., I'd b, flo "