Smyrna times., 1861-02-14
A Few Words about Secession in Mary
land,

Under this head a gentleman of Caroline
county, Md, in the last issue Of the American
Union, published at Denton, says
MR.. EDIroR 1T has been whispered that
secret organization lie quietly extending itself
throughout the State, the object Of which il TO
entrap the people into secession. 1t has been
successful in other States-it is now working
extensively but claDdestinely in this Common
wealth. Nay, there is reason to believe it is at
work in Caroline county! | have no idea that
it can do much in this region. But it is well
for our people to be on their guard against it.
Let US look at this insane project, then, for a
single moment Let US exemIne it in Com
merciGL Military, Political and Moral point OF
view.
| And first in a COMMERCIAL point of view
Then | will simply ask one or two practical
questions. ask our merchants where do they
but their goods! in Charleston! Mo- But in
Baltimore, Philadelphia or New York. ask
our mechanics where do they procure the ma
terials Of their trade Where do our black
smiths get their iron and c0al-the shoemaker
| his lasts and leather-the farmer his agricultu-
raj implements, lime and other ferllizers!-
To this the same answer must be given. New.
er from the South. Always from the opposite
direction. Again I ask our farmers where do
they find q market for their produce-Iheir
grain, their truck, their fruits In Baltimore
Philadelphia, or New York. Never in Charles
ton or any Southern port. | would ask the
land proprietOrs where they expect to find pur-
chasers for their lands Do they come from
the South! Never. The great want of this
section is population. We want people. To
what quarter must we look for such accessons !!
T Surely not to the sparsely inhabited regions of
, (Nnn IN mr. rulI -, 4
these different classes of our community allow
themselves to be cut off from the sources OF
their indispensable supplies! II would be
madness. Yet an "epdemc lunacy" is spread
8 ing abroad through this land. Let Caroline
county beware of it.
Now, let us look at the sub, ect from a MILL.
TARY point of view. On which side of rs has
Nature and Providence placed our strong dc.
u fences! Maryland is separated from Virgins
}. by the waters of the Potomac, while only ar
n ina ginary line divides her from Pennsy Iva MIA
But what shall we say in this respect of the
Eastern Shore! Why, sir, we are cut of
from the entire South by that inland ocean, The
j. Chesapeake. while we are separated from De
!. laware and Pennsylvania by line which no
even the Vulture's eye could see. II we have
enemies to the North, cut off as we are from Il
Southern aid, we are entirely at their mercy
WnHe W al hBBteselOnb iGOm tue opposite Of
i rection, we present water barrier that is al
' most impregnable A hint on this subject i
sufficient for any prudent and thoughtful man
any man who dues not wish to see The East
)" ern Shore, and especially Caroline county
converted into huge " slaughter house ~
No doubt South Carolina and the other seces
ID sion States, would be glad to make use {
Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, as Geners
Jackson made use of the cotton bags at Ne
40 Orleans, viz: to receive the enemys fire. b.
hardly think that 10 likely TO be done with OF
consent.
nd Again, let us look at this subject as state
nv n.en and in q POLITICAL point of view. Let m
M fellow.citizens of Caroline ask themselvt
. calmly and seriously the important question
"what right cannot be more effsclualy secure
and what wrong cannot be more certainly T
er' dressed IN the Union than OUT Of Z" A ba
m. suggestion on this point is enough tor eve
candid and conservative mind.
A werd as to the MORAL question. G.
there DO grester crime than aiding TO op
dc the food. gates Of civil war, in order that ih
may sweep away the best government that {