The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-04
What Shall Maryland DO ?


And what is that dntya. What it has always
been: to stand by the flag, the honor, the
integrity Of our coihtf,on government and
country, us i! has existed since the days VI
Washington. She must do this. OF perish
ignobiy. There is no other future for her
but loyalty and integrity to the nation.
There should lie 10 other future for her.
Millions Of the loyal hearts of our country
arc rising in aims 10 h3ld her to her legan
if she should refuse. She is not asked to
submit to a single ,ndynity. or abandon
single right; but left free to enjoy every
privilege she has ever enjoyed, to the full
extent, IN common with her sister States of
the Union. Bat she will not he permitted,
with imrunity, to tear in pieces or assist
the Cotton States in doing so-the bands Of
our common Union, which are the ouly
guarantees and safe guards against anarchy
and dcspotiSm, in the wide domain over
which floats so proudly the Stars and Stripes
She is asked, and justly eskcd, not to
become an apostate to Truth, to Justice, to
Liberty, and Progress, and EN- ace False.
hood, Tyranny, and Usurpalion. The Ilagcrs.
town Herald and Torchlght says" Our
position is for the Union: and there we shall
remain until it is declared treason BY the
constituted authorities uftha State to reverence
the flag Of our fnIhers.''
Wo go further, and deny both the RICH,
and policy Of secession because secession is
a death blow to republican form Of govern.
ment, and must inevitably produce anarchy.
followed 10y dcspo,ism and military govern
mcnt. 1t is the duty of the people, in fact
their only hope, to take up arms in main.
talnance Of their rights and liberty. which
can only be preserved by arraying themselves
under the banner of the Union which has
always protected, and vii. continue to pro-
lect them i'll every j,t and title of their
rights: civil political, and religious.
But if Maryland. on the other hand in
imitation oflhe Cotton States, attempts the
Quixotic project of secession, her punshmen,
is certain and speedy. She is already
cnvironed by armies Of the United States,
which she could not, if her citizens We're even
disoyal enough to the flag Of their country
and SO recrcant to their own interests, resist
Then, we say, let every Marylander, who
loves his country and her glory; her high and
proud position among the nations of the
earth her free, intelligent, and popular
form Of government. that stands a beacon
Of hope to the struggling and up-heavine
millions Of the old world, take up aims
on the side Of Justice, of Liberty, of
Safety, of Progress, which is on the side of
the Union, and fight, If need be, for her
maintenance and integrity while there is
one star left OH Freedoms flag to shed ray
of our counsry's renown over a soldier
grave!
But let those Mary FLANDERS bcware-lel
them ponder-who hug Treason to heart
from which every spark Of patriotism has
fled, and who have, or arc wiling to apos
tatzc and cast their lot with traitors for the
returning sword of Justice must ere long
overtake them, and their property and lives
may both be required to atone for their
inexcuSablc and unprovokcd Treason.
II is seIf-evident, ana must ere long be
manifest to the most obscure mental vision,
that no power on this continent can withstand
the present government Of the United States {:
tnt must succum5 to its powerful, though
mild. and not unjust, but protecting author
ity. The Cotton States are somewhat
removed from the sword Of Justice; but
Maryland is within reach Of its sharp edge.
lleI Traitors who stalk in darkness and hold
their orgies in secret, ready with tiger S
spring, when opportunity presents itself
like that in Baltimore two weeks since-to
pounce upon and usurp the government of
the people, will be cut down, and the State
shorn Of these, her disturbers and dcstroyers,
will again assume her onward march in peace
and prosperity.