The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-04-06
politifol.
The Voice of a Patriot
On Reconstruction" and the true policv of
the Border Siaue STATES.


the Border SLAVE States.
We make the following extracts from the
recent eloquent appeal o: the patriotic Crit
tenden 10 the people Of Kentucky, delivered,
by special request, before the Legislature of
that State, on the Goth ult., and phonographi.
cally reported for the Louisville Journal. We
regret that it is out of our power to lay the
whole of the address before our readers
Our true policy is to stand by that Union
whose blessings We have SO long experienced
so long enjoyed-to stand fast BY it until
some great political necessity shall drive us
from it. In the Union we know that we have
found safety--there our fathers found safety
and these fathers constructed it for our safety.
a II experience has taught US that we have the
best Government in the world. Abused ard
ma'adsnnlstered as it frequently is, is it not at
last the hest Government in the world? Is
there any better! Where else docs liberty
appear as she does here? She appears some.
where in the little Republics of the old world.
but so insignificant in their numbers as not to
he noticed, and of course to be spared by the
great despots and the great Empersrs of Chris
tendcm. There she may be said to exist in
her rustic Simphcitv--ln tatters and rags.
Here she exists in all her spendor. with d
helmet on her hc,d. Here is a great Repub
lie that has avowed allegiance to her. She as
queen bcCkons to all the world, and signal.
ICES people that know how to govern them.
selves-a people that have entitled themselves
to this liberty.
This has been the fruit of this Constitution
and this Union by which advise you to stand
firm Stand true to it, say. until some great
political necessity drives you from that post.
What are we now to do? A portion Of our
countrymen are specializing on distant conse.
qnences They are resolving that we will
quit our place Of safety and 60 into an expert
ment-join the new revolutionary Govern.
ment-and they soy that Virginia and other
States will follow. Then they say there will
be no war. ard then we will be IN a better con.
diion TO reconstruct. This is all falacy.
from beginning 10 end. Can we trust our
speculation upon causes that are 50 dependent
one upon another-upon contingencies that
lie in the future? Can we come to distant
conclusions Of that sort? No. The safe way
is TO do that duty which is nearest to YOU.
Do that first. You can see that. We have
not the gift Of prediction. This argument Of
speculation, founded upon distant contingcn.
cies, founded upon differences and differences
from differences as to what may follow from
the complication Of causes, that is least of all
to lie relied upon. There is no safe logic in it.
Every man can see and understand the duty
that is next to him, and should not attempt
to con!cund his conviction by end,avorinr to
comprehend objects beyond his reach.
What is our nearest duty? You have been
to.dSo maintain the Constitution Of the United
States. II has never done you wrong nevc,
despciled you Of your property, never taken
away minute Of your freedom or your lib.
erly during your life time. Are you to aban-
don that upon contingency are YOU to 90
abroad for an experiment: is that the next
and wisest step to be taken? Is not the mos,
immediate duty to stand fast in your fidelity
TO that tried Government until some necessity
shall force you from it When that necessity
comes 1t will need no argument. Necessity
requires no speculation no argument. When
that great political necessity comes which
alone would justify us in sunderlng this glo-
rions Union, 1t will speak for itself. 1t will
speak for itself in language not to be msun-
defstood. We need not wrange or debate or
quarrel about it 1t will tell all with its i'm.
pcllous tongue 1t will wave lis to obedience
Conform to it we must. Is that the case now
No. Why then be in hurry to abandon
this good Government which has sheltered us
so long! Why commit ourselves to the cold
and nclement skies of an untricd country, an
nntried winter! Is that wise? Is that the
prudence OF great nation Excitement, AM
nation and impctuosity may prompt US. and
some may be lurcd by the very danger of the
experiment, but that is not the part of wis
dom-that is not tlie part o! that wisdom that
ought to govern YOU and to govern a com
munlty that wisdom which is of deliberate
rejecting mind You are to divest yourselves
Of these passions when you come to decide
such question. Let me ask YOU was ever
such question submitted TO people. before
Here are thirty millions ofpeoplc, constituting
the greatest, the frcsst and the most powerful
nation on the face of the earth Is she to fall
down in day! Are we hastily to 90 off
to lily from all the greatness we have inhcr-
tied and acquired, and madly, wildly seek i'll
the wilderness an experimental government
and substitute it for the better one we now
enjoy?
Let us strive then to bring the scceders hack
and reform them. Here is Government
formed all its laws and institutions perfect
The house is complete and furnished Those
who have left US have but to step in and take
possession of the mansion of their fathers By
standing fast by the Union and showing the
scceders that there is no probability that we
will unite with them and If the other loyal
slaveholdlng States will show the same dsap.
probation of their course, will that not have
the effect of checking the career of this reyo-
luton! Won't its tendency be to make them
think Of returning to their brethren who are
endeavoring to persuade them back BY tokens
of love and affection? When they see we will
not follow, won't they return to US?
That is our best policy. if we want to effect
the reunion of the seeded States. 1t is not
our policy to increase the evil by joining them.
Win it be more difficult for them to come
back alone than If six others joined them
Won't that put farther from US all hopes of
reunion 1t seems to me that every view,
every argument, is capable of demonstration
that the course Of wisdom and policy for us
is to stand by the Union. Ii is better for us
for the future-better for the future of the
country. BY showing to our erring brethren
of the South that we will not 60 with them
by showing them our fixed opinion that their
experiment must prove failure. and that they
can expect nothing like encouragement from
US, will not that have a tendency to bring
them back think 1t will.
Upon ar occasion not unlike the present,
ten years ago, Mr.. Clay stood near the spot
which now occupy. The circumstances of
the times were then not altogether unlike what
they are now. He stood here in 1850. In
1913 the storm was gathering as it has now