Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-08-09

meek expressions of gratitude and sub
mission to the hand that smites us.
The war policy Of the administration,
as means of preserving the Union and
promoting the general welfare and pros
perity of the country, is in my opinion
both wicked and unwise. It's first and
immediate effect was to drive out four
States which were known to DO devoted
to the Union, and determined to remain
in itwhilever they could do SO with safe
ty. Its more recent consequences arc
the spectacle of a country drcnched in
fraternal blood, and the demonstration of
the fact that if by such means the Union
eau be preserved, it will only be at the
sacrifice of all that rendered it valuable
and dear to us. 1t is policy which will
probably destroy all hope of recoustruc-
ton, and its prosecution will engendor
such feelings Of bitter hatred as will make
our once happy Union condition Of per-
petpal hostility or Of hopeless tyranny
However much the seeded States may
be to blame for rosorting to revolution
before their constitutional remedies were
all exhausted, no intelligent man can
doubt that it was in the power Of Lin
coins administration to have arrested this
civil war, and preserved the Union, at
no greater sacrifice than the displcasure
Of the ultra abolition wing of his party,
to crafty whom he abandoned the peaceful
policy which he had first adopted and
instead Of giving him our support, we
should hold him respohsible forthe sad re,
suits which have followed.
When the Union party, with which
you aud have been acting together, was
formed, our object was to endeayor to
avert the ruin we predicted would result
from the sectional conflict which was
then commenced Our warnings and
appeals were made, not only against the
ultra Southern party, and their policy Of
recession as the proper remedy for wrongs
done apd threatened, but more csn ally
against the republicans, who, being or
ganized as sectional party living a.
combine and array the North in Gaao
and fanalical hostility to tho cousdtu.
tional rights Of the South, were justly ro
gardcd by Us as the arch enemies of the
Union; subsequent events which have
developed their plans and purposes, aud
.uumasked their reckless disregard of
both consultation and law have tended to
confirm our worst fears, and increase say
adherence Of the republican PARTY -
/ With constitutional Union mon-men
who regard the Union as valuable only
so far as tue rights guaranteed by the
constitution which created it are recog.
uized and secured, aud who are wilIine
to make all reasonable sacrifices for it.
I peacgai preservation-I am ready to act
cordially and zealously; but never hay,
been, and cannot be, can unconditional
/ Union man." ] can give no aid Or sup.
port to those who have deliberately
( chosen o resort to civil war, when Hour
national troubles might have been peace.
ably settled by Cancellation aud compro-
misc; and who BOW, undor the pretext Oh
maintaining the Union, are urging wan
of subjugation and conquest, and are
openly violating tho constitution they
have sworn to support, and all the great
fuudamental principles Of liberty which
I freemeu hold TO be invaluable.
There is, / am convinced, no other
course for Union men OF MARYLAND 10
4 pursue but chat which / have indicated.
would have our State occupy the posi-
ton of poaeo-maker in this sad strife Of
brothers position which she cannot
occupy successfully if sho becomes par
ticipant in the war and the time may
come when the efforts Of even single
State may avail to restore harmony in
our ruined and bleeding country. j
would have her citizens forget for the
time all their old party divisions and
act together with unanimity, looking to
a peaceful restoration Of cur broken
Union, if that be possible, and to the
fearless assertion Of our own State rights.
But If the action Of the Executive, and
tho republican Congress, now in session,
has unhappi.y destroyed all rational hopes
Of n reconstruction Of The Union, let us
at least MT aid them in their bloody
WORK, nor help to forge the manacles for
our own hands"