Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-01-10
Thursday Morning, Jan. 10. 1861.
These DisunIon Documents.

IlOSc UlSHHiUU DVCuisChes'
A gentleman has placed In our hands
half slee., issued in this city on last Satur-
say, and directed our attention to n eommu-
picst!on signed Thomas J. McKas.
Mr.. McKaig is the gentleman who was
selected more than twelve months ago TO re-
presea. Alesany County in the Senate Of
Maryland, ard whom we charged, two weeks
ago, on the ground of rumor, with the circu-
lntirs Of disunion documents. In that article
wo used grca. forbearance, stating simply the
rumor, when We could have given corrooo-
rating facts; but Ms the article seems TO have
given grave offence, though couched in un-
exceptiouablc language, aud refers to the
General as political man engaged in Pc
Etical work, and OF which, If honorable and
praissworthy he should not have been asham-
ed, and to a publication Of which he should
have taken no exception, we now propose,
In justification of ourselves, to give the case
a. we understand it. Our attention was
called 10 the disunion documents in the pos
session Of Gen. McKaig, by q well known
Democrat Of this city, who deplored the cir
culstion of such papers among our citizens,
and expressed his regret that they should be
found in our community. The General, in
Ills communication 70 which We have re-
ferred, says he has no knowledge Of the per-
500 who sent these documents to him. But
Is II to be supposed that large number Of
documents, with the freight pnid, would be
aent to any gentleman unless the party send
ing had some good ground on which to be-
Eeve that their circulation would be not only
considered a work Of duty, but also one that
would afford pleasure, and I've in accord
ance with the views and sentiments Of the
individual engaged in their circulation. II
not tho thing would be contrary to oil pre-
.codent.
But these documents tho General Gays he
has not circulated. What are tho facts ?
They are as follows: Gen. McKaig called
upon Mr.. Cunning, the conductor on the
Eckhar. Mine Railroad, an lrshman and a
Breckiur,dge Democrat, and Informed him
that he had Some Documents that he wanted
him TO circulate among his friends and neigh
Lcrs. Mr.. Cunning wanted to kunw what
kind Of documents they wsre--where they
came fro,n---wero they from South Carolina
Mr.. NicK.ig said he did not know, they were
sent to him through Adams & Go, : Express,
but he expected thoy were from South Caro-
lima. Mr.. Cunning then informed the Gene
raj that as naturalized foreigner lie had
taken an oath of allegiance to tho United
States,-to support the Constitution. and he
would not purjcr himself by circulating docu-
ments the tendency of which was to destroy
the governmeut-that he was nothing but a
poor Irishman, yet he had too much honor
for that. To this prompt and manly refusal
the General replied, you are prejudiced' MIR.
Cunning inquired, how7 Why. remarked
tue General, | cannot plead case unless
have both sides. Mr.. Cummings response
was, I am no lawyer, but have read enough
of South Carolina to know that she IL a dis
union State. The General then called the
Agent of the Company aud informed him
that he had solicited Nr Cunning 70 take
somc documents to tho Eckhart Mines and
tina, he had refused. Dir Cunning being
excited at the determined purpose Of the
General to force him to do that at which
svery feeling of his manhood revolted-said
there was not man living that could force
him to take the documcnts-if James Buch-
ausn was there no wsuld refuse to do it
that he valued his oath more than South
Caroius, and he preferred death to dish"nor
Tho foregoing statement has been made to
as by Nr. Cunning, aud we have his author.
ity for the use OF his name. II, then, the
General has uu. circulated the documents
referred to, it is not for the want Of dsp'-
alton to do 81, but owing To the patriotism
of A naturulizrd citizen. and the timely warr-
lnq which We we're enabled to give tho people
OF what WAS goiug On.
The General declares he Is not disuninn
man. Ii not what are We to understand by
the reports which are SO current in this COM
muuity, that TIE General has declared. that
if Maryland will secede with the South, she
will hccome the Massachusetts Of the new
Copfederacy, Baltimore will 10 the New
York. aud Cumberland will he great manu-
featuring metropolis with population o!
twenty thousand inhabitants. Are there nc
indications Of disposition to favor disunion
In all thlsf
We have no disposition to animadvert
upon the style of the Generals communira-
ton. nor do we question his right to circulate
whatever kind of documents he pleases
neither have we ever quest ioued the privilege
Of the people to read whatever may suit
them, but at the same time We 90 not intend
70 he abridged of our privilege to utter OIL
warning voice whenever :here is being circu-
lated ic our midst documents which we con-
seive to be sub, crsivs Of our liberties and
destructive of the glorious government estab'
lishsd for us by our noble ancestry.
Tie Generals declaration of our abolition
proeiivities, and his reference to our adver'
tisement of the New York Tribune, are too
paer,le IN merit attention we may say. how
ever, IL he viii! obiigat. himsel! to psy u.s. w
will advertise eeen the productions Of his pen
--.~~'e---
~ We publish in another column cal
for meeting Of the citizens o: this county