Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-03

then will peace and harmony once more find
favor in Columbia's happy land. Kind Provi-
dence, hasten the day.
TO THE PEOPLE
OF
CHARLES COUNTY.
The present day only is ours We cannot
recall the past or foresee the future. We can
act now, but who can say what will be done
or can be done tomorrow. Our lot has been
cast in troubled times. Our Union is already
broken, whether rightfully or wrongfully, the
deed is now done. With its causes now is not
the time to deal. 1t is time to deal with the
facts as they exist These facts are ominous
enough. The Federal troops in the South are
abandoning weak forts, and spiking the cannon
and arming and manning the stronger. From
all parts Of the South comes the sound of mill
tary organization. Every Southern steamer is
freghted with the implements of war. The
sound comes not alone from the South. The
Black Republican clubs of the North are arm
ing and drilling.
The Federal Government issues an order to
remove cannon from Pittsburg and the order is
met by mob protesting against their removal.
The Secretary of State, Treasury, and War have
PROSTATE. Every Southern State, except one,
has spoken, or is preparing to speak and to act.
Maryland alone is as voiceless as the grave
She, who is to bear the brunt and burden of
the battle, if the battle comes, is unprepared,
unarmed and unorganized. She, whose voice
might even now avert this drest of all calami-
ties, is dumb. Do the people of Charles county
wish in these days of dread and danger to in
augurate, for the first time in their history, the
policy of "masterly inactivity?" Do they in
tend to wait until the great struggle is over and
then to the victor put in the eraven's plea,
Lord deal gently with thy servant, for l have
done thee no evil?" Do they expect by neu-
trality, which is not even armed, to obtain mer
|cy from Massachusetts and Ohio, or respect and
aid from Virginia and Alabama As we'll
might a frail ship, lying between two masses Of
ice, which resistless tide drives together, ex
pect to escape being ground to powder. But
it is believed that the people have no such wish
or intention. They desire to be heard on this
fhs aid fsspaeefdS- requested Il,
Governor to convene the Legislature aud he ha.
refused. While we are satisfied that the Gov.
Iernor is actuated in his refusal by good motives
yet to his refusal we cannot consent. Some o.
| the best and wisest of the political party to
which the Governor belongs have been the fore
|
His refusal is his own individual act and moi
that of his party Before the momentous ques-
ton now agitating this country mere party
questions have sunk into the dust There let
them remain
There is remedy full and ample in itself,
and warranted both by the example of our fore.
fathers and the exegencies of the times. In the
days Immediately preceding the Revolution a
Convention sat again and again in Maryland
without any authority from any power, except
directly from the people themselves This Con-
vention at one time discharged legislative func-
tons. 1t took all precautions against the i'm
pending storm and so when it burst it found the
State prepared. Governor Houston of Texas
obstinately refused to convene the people of
Texas. They look the matter in their own
hands and the Sovereign Convention of Texas
meets this month. But it is not necessary to
refer to examples. A Sovereign Convention of
| the people can be called and held by the people
at any time they please, without regard either
to Governor or Legislature. 1t is an inherent
and unalienabie right of which 20 power can
deprive them. Its their great safeguard against
| misrule and oppression and the great reserved
power which no free people can ever part with
Great emergencies alone justify the use of this
great reserved power. We believe that this
great emergency has now arisen and that the
delay Of even a day is fraught with danger, and
so believing, it is recommended that the people
| of Charles COUNTY assemble in the several cleo
ton districts of Charles county, in Primary
! Meetings, on WEDNESDAY, 10Th of January,
between the hours of 10 A. M. and T. NJ,
and elect twenty Delegates from each district,
to meet in County Convention on the following
MONDAY, which County Convention shall
elect three Delegates to a State Sovereign Con-
! 1eution, to meet in the City of Annapolis, or
Baltimore and also open correspondence with
the other Counties and City Of Baltimore on that
subject And that there nay be full and fair
expression of the will of the people, whether or
not they desire to be heard in Sovereign Con-
vention, it is further recommended, that tho
people in Primary Meetings appoint Judges Of
Election, and vote by ballot for the delegates to
the County Convention, and shall endorse on
their ballots For a Sovereign Convention or
against Sovereign Convention" Gan equal
number of each ticket will be printed at Port
Tobacco.) For the convenience of the people
the Judges of the last election are requested to
act as Judges of the Election, and attend from
10 A. NJ, to P. NJ.
Every man in the County is most earnestly
requested to attend the Primary Meetings and
vote. Lerthe voice Of the people be fully and
fairly heard Now is the time for old Maryland
to speak-to speak calmly, wisely and firmly
She may yet reunite the broken band, or failing
in that, she may still avert the horrors of civil
war by just mediation, and failing in all, she
will still have the proud consciousness that she
has done her duty. -;
Signed by SAML. Cox,
r. STONE.
W. MITCHELL. and others.
---->~>---
NJ The United States stean,-frigate Niagara
reached Hong Kong, China; October %, with
the Japanese embassy on board She was to
leave on the aotb for Yeddo, and was to return