The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-08

The grounds on which Gov. Hicks, in his late
address TO the people Of Maryland, seeks to justify
his refusal to call the Legislature together, have
been so frequently referred to in this journal, that
it is not now necessary to review them further
He still assumes that the Legislature would mis-
represent the State and instantly adopt some revo-
lutionary measure, and he still appears to regard
all who are in favor Of an extra session, as advo-
Gates of disunion, or at best as the inseparable
allies of disunionists. If we agreed with the Gov
ernor's premises, we could readily assent to his
conclusions, but as it is, we believe them to be
equally unfounded and unenable Though this
State is not disposed to stand by and passvely see
the South forced to accept the aggressive and I'M
constitutional doctrines of the Republican party, it
is on the other hand as unwilling, as the most
conservative patriot could wish, to seek redress
through secession. The people here of all parties
and classes, unanimously regard the preservation
of the Union as the primary object of every move
ment which has been suggested, and cannot
doubt that nine tenths Of the members of the Le-
gislature would be animated by the same senti-
ment that prevails so generally among their con-
stiuents. Gov. Hicks are satisfied, does the
grossest possible injustice to that body, and we
know that his allegation concerning the motives
of the vast majority of those who have requested
him to assemble it, are altogether unfounded. As
we are included in the number of those upon
whom Gov. Hicks has sought to cast odious
imputation again repel the accusation
which challenges alike our sincerity and loyal
ty to the Union. We go even further
and insist that our political principles are more
above suspicion on this point than those of the
Governor himself; for though we may have
contemplated the disruption of the Repub.
lie as among the possible contingencies
of the future, we have never thought or con-
tended that secession ought to be anywhere recog
nized as Constitutional right, nor have we ever
endeavored to pave the way for a separation be-
tween the people of any State or section. But the
Governors record is not so clear AS member
of the Convention which formed The present Con-
sttution only ten years ago, he offered, as an
amendment to pending resolution, the following
proposition:
Tbat any portion of the people of this State shall have
the hit to secede and unite themselves and the
tory occupied by them, to such adjoining State as they
elect"
On a subsequent day Gov. Hicks earnestly sup.
ported his motion, urging that
bis object was to provide for crisis such might
cur In the history of those who were 10 come after usby
asserting the right the Eastern Shore to withdrawnot
by revolution but peaceably and to unite her
self with Delaware Virginia. whenever the interests
and happiness of the people might require it."
But although Gov Hicks desired that provision
might be made in the Constitution for case Of
secession, he does not seem 10 have doubted that
the people had the right to secede whether the
Constitution recognized it or not. He was afraid,
however, that such movement might be stigma
tzed as revolutionary, and he therefore wanted the
Convention to approve his proposition. He said he
s.beIieyed that without the provision contained In
his amendment it would In the power OF part OF the
shore Maryland to unite herself with the state
AZ Virginia and of the Eastern shore to unite herself TO
delaware by agreement With the States, and with the
eonssnt Of Congress- but he desired to have such priv