The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-07-20

ually whining about peace ; and explodes in
this style the falacy so frequently advanced
that the Rebels are fghing for their rights, and
DEFENDING THEIR FIREsIDEs, ETC.
You rcbuke those who stood with you.
through good aud evil report, in defense of
the Constitution, and all its guarantees, in
IT'S dark days of trial when menaced only by
opinion, for sustaining it, now. when it is
asSalled by armed forces, and insist that
alter having defended that sacred instrument
so long and 50 faithfully. they are bound now
to assist IN its overthrow IA system IF law
logic and morality, peculiar to diSunion ethics
alone. You repudiate the Constitution with
no sufficient cause Of revolution for al the
alleged causes OF grievance AS stated were
insufficient to justify it. and proclaimed a
dissolution OF the Union, detied and dShonored
Its flag, and menaccd the Government by
denouhcinS actual war. You seized by vio-
fence It's tortresses, armorics, ships, min;S,
custum'houSes, navy-yardS, and other pro-
perty, to which you had not even prctense
OF right aud threatened to take possession of
the National Capital. You bombardcd Fort
Sumter, fortress of the United States gar.
rlsohtd as peace establishment only. aud
IN state OF starvation, from batteries, which
the Government of the United States, in its
extreme desire Tor peace permitted you to
erect Tor That purpose, under the guns of the
same tor!lhcatIon, proceeding unheard Of
oelore. and never to be repeated hereafter, =.
oosl"aidtd 1t too. because the flag of the
Union which your fathers and yourselves had
fought with us under the battles of TIE Con.
stltutlcn,-.a flag which few days previously,
you had hailed with PRIDE because the stars
and stripes, the joy of every american heart,
full Of glowing histories and lofty rccollec-
tons, was floating over it according to the
custom OF every nation and people under
Heaven, was hateful in your sight The
AthenianS were tired OF hearing their great
leader called the Just, and consigned him to
Punishment. You were annoyed at the sight
OF the noblest national emblem which floats
under the sun. when unfurled here bv our
consent and for consideration too, the Gov.
eminent Of the United States held exclusive
jurisdiction, and where 1t properly belonged.
and lo this you commenced war promising to
be more ferociouS and eXterminating through
out the Republic, than was the atrocous decree
of llerod in single village. Sumter was
not erected for the exclusive defence of the
harbor at Charleston, but for the purpose Of
preventing foreign enemy from making a
Judgement there. and from that poin, lcvying
successful maratime war upon New York
Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans
and other towns and cities. And the I'M
friendly relations which sprung np between
the Southern States and The Government Of
the unlon made its Ietertlon ana occupation
more necessary than before
You will not consent that the General Gov
ernmcnt, the Government ofthe whole people,
should march forces over the sacred soil of
aStatc " Of the confcdcracy, to maintain its
own dignity and authority, to check rebellion
and save the capital from conAagration and
its archives from destruction but you shon'd
stand adnonShed that there is no soil sutIi-
clent.y sacred under the broad agis of the
Constitution, to shelter armed rebellion or
secret treason, and that the Government Of
the United States has not only full right and
lawful authority to march its forces over
every inch of territory between the ST. Law
renee and tie Pacific to stop the progress Of
enemies, foreign or domestic: to put down
rebellion or to arrest those who drspoil its
property or resist the execution of it's laws ::
but that it is its first and most solemn duty
TO do so. Should the General Government
enter State for the purpose of interfering
with its domestic policy, it would be usurpa
lect to employ its power to enforce its consti-
tutional prerogative would be a culpable dis.
regard Of Official obligation You propose to
defend your home hearths, Your fresldcs.
your porches your affairs, your wives and
your children, your household gods. and these
resolves sound well indeed, even in the alb.
s,ract ALPHABETICALLY the defense will be in
time, when they are assail,d, or at least
| threatened. Aud you may rest with the as
| Snrance, that either Of these sacred aud cher
ishcd interests Shall he desecratrd or placed
III danger or in jeopardy from any vandal
spirit upon the globe, you shall not defend
them alone for IN army from the Free States
mghuer than that which rose up to crush
your rebellion, AYE great multitude,
which no man can mum. er. will defend them
For you. But the issue must not be changed
nor FILTERED away. Sumter was not your
ome.hearth, Plckens your tircside, Harper 5
Ferry your porch, the Navy Yards your affairs,
the Custom Houses and Post Offices and
revenue Cutters your wives and children,
nor the MINIS your household gods. The
Government has no right to Gesecrate your
homes, nor have you the right to seze upon
and appropriate to yourselves under any
name however specious, what is not your
own, out the property of the whole people of
| the United States: not of those in array
against it as enemies defying its laws, but
those who acknowledge and defer 10 its
authority.
You desire pcace Then lay down your
arms and you will have it. 1t was peace
when YOU took them up, il will be peace when
you lay them down. 1t Will he peace wn,n
You abandon war and return to your accus-
toned pursuits Honorable, enduring, pacific
relation Will be found in complete obedience
! 10 the provisions of the Constitution, and not
in its violation or destruction. The Govern.
meat Is sustained by the people, not for the
purpose of coercing States in their domestic
policy, not for the purpose of crushing mem
Ocrs OF the Confrderacy because they fail to
conform to a Federal standard, not for the
purpose of despoiling their people. and least
OF all not for the purpose OF disturbing, or in
any degree interfering with the system OF
Southern Servtude; but for the sole and only
purpose Of putting down an unholly armed
rebellion, which has dcfied the authority OF
the Government, and seeks It's destruction
and i'll this their determination is taken with
resolution, compared with which the edicts
Of the Meads and Persians were yielding and
temporary. When the Government of our
fathers Shall be again recognized when the
Constitution and the laws to which every
citizen owes allegiance shall be observed and
obeyed; then will the armies of the Consti
tuition and the Union disbanG, by a common
impulse, in obedience 20 a unanimous popular