Smyrna times., 1861-01-24
OUR DUTY,

OUR DUTY.
There is strong fight now going on in the
Border States, as 10 whether they shall remain
in the Union or seeede with the more ultra
Southern States. Particularly is this the case
with Maryland. The Baltimore Clipper con-
tinues to battle with the swelling tide of seces.
sion, and deals il some heavy blows. 1t says: !:
IL matters not to our citizens what errors have
been committed, the fact is plain, it is within
the comprehension of The humblest of our cti-
zens that Maryland, as the border State of a
Southern Coufederacy. with free trade, direct
taxation, and the African slave trade as its po-
llcy, would soon be given over to utter desola.
ton, even if the horrors and deVastations of on
almost endless civil war could be avoided.
But there is something more than this worthy
of the consideration of our people. Fanatics
al the North have menaced the rights of the
South, and fanatics at the South have, in re-
talIatlon, menuced the integrity of the Union.
The domestic peace Of the country is at the
mercy of the border States of the South. The
question for US here to consider is, shall we me-
date between the extreme North and the ex.
treme South for the preservation of the Union
or shall we Cooperate with the extreme South
for the destruction of the Union, in other words
shall we try to save the UniOn and Southern
rights under the Constitution, or shall we in
spirit of desperate wickedness and malignancy
destroy both together.
In the words of Southern contemporary, the
time for cooperating with the Cotton States op
behalf at once ofthe maintenance of our rights
and tAe preservation of the Union has gone by
the Cotton States themselves have put such CO.
operation out of the question, by acting inde-
pendently of us and against the integrity of the
Union. They have chosen Disunion for their
remedy. and, in disregard of our earnest and
traternal protest, are carrying the remedy into |
practice. If we hereafter cooperate with the
Cotton States we must of course cooperate
with them in the line of action they have seen
fit TO adopt. Operation Mt cessariIy defines the |
end and directs the energy OF cooperation
the positive governs the relative. And the
Cotton States are positively in operation.-I
They have started off on their own line of DO.
Icy, If we cooperate with them we must follow
them. They have refused to cooperate with |
US in defending our rights and preserving the
Union, and now, if we act together at all, we
mus cooperate with them in abandoning our
rights and destroying the Union. This is the |
OHly sort of cooperation with the extreme
South that is left to the Border States.
hna aF ~; !
that is MEDIATION; ;-mediation between the |
revolving States of the South aud the aggrcs-
Give States of the North for the maintenance
OF the Constitution and the preservation Of the
Union. We canno. act NTH the Cotton States,
their unfortunate rashness has put that cat OF
our power. but we can act for them and, in
acting for them, We shall at the same time act
in tn most direct and efectual manner possible
tor ourselves and our common country. Media
tIen, not cooperation. therefore. is now the
true policy of the Border States of the South.
not merely because the Cotton States have de. |
clared in favor ofthe destruction Of the Union. |
but on account OF the geogra phical situation !
and political standing Of the Border States aud |
their deep and peculiar stake in the preserva.
tiOn of the Union. Whilst the honor and the
vital interests of the Border States demand
that they shall mediate, their position enables
them to mediate with the highest promise of
success. 1t is accordingly their bounden and
solemn duty to mediate. Mediation ia their
proper and only policy.
This mediation is already begun. 1t is full
OF promise of success. The border States Of
the South and those OF the North are diligently
cOunselling together through their Represen-
tatlVes and Senators in Washington, and there
isabundant promise of speedy and satisfac ctOry
adjustment of all our difficulties We want
nothing more. and it is our duty to ourselves,
to our State, to our families and to our country
to await patiently and calmly the result Of
these deliberations, before we attempt to act
hastily and inconsderaiely and without the
full statement Of the case before US. There is
no occasion for haste. Everything is to be lost
and nothing to be gained by it. Let Us make
haste slowly.
The Lecture OF Rev. J. Crockar White,