The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-17
BALTIMORE.
FRIDAY, MAY II, 1851.

sachusetts may be free 10 invade Virginia
Although there is no conceivable act of duplicity
or bsseness that this community would think it at
all unnatural in Governor Hicks to perpetrate,
there is nevertheless something about this present
proceeding that may well startle the public and
deepen the disgust and detestaton with which
that functonary is now so universally regarded
If Governor HICKS had responded, when first
called upon, to the Presidents requisition, it is
not improbable that many of his felow-citizens
would have approved his conduct, or would, at
all events, have respected his motives. Though
the vast majority of the people of Maryland would
have regarded any alliance between the Governor
and the President Cor the prosecution Of this IN
holy and unconstitutional war with feelings of
modification and indignation, they would have
made some allowance even for the neyplicable
opinions which the Governor was known to en-
terrain. They would have taken into considera-
ton the fact that he believed the UNION was to be
preserved and the Constitution maintained by the
sword; and though they would have repudiated
his views, they would not have been much sur
prised that lie should act upon them. Under such
circumstances there would have been many who
would have justified his course, on the ground
that he was actuated by honest though mistaken
convictions, and who would have supposed that
he was at least seeking honorable and patriotic
ends. But there is little chance now that any
portion of the community will be influenced by
any such charitable delusons for, instead Of ACT
ing with the candor and mannes5 which usually
characterize men who are conscious of the purity
of their intentions ard OF the fairness Of their
purposes, his whole course has been marked by
cowardice, treachery and falsehool. As Governor
Of the State Of Maryland, he has for the last six
months played part TO which none but the mean
est and most INSCRIPTIONS partisan could have
been induced TO stoop. His manifold tereiversations
and his piatle vacillations in regard to the policy
which it became this State to pursue are already
so familiar to all that it would be an ir1s0me as
well as unnecessary task to recapittate them
The contradictory pledges and intmations which
he gave from time to time to the commissioners
and Governors of other States and TO the peope
of Maryland have been sufficiently exposed al
ready. But the crowning act Of this long series
of official perfdes is the proclamation calling into
the field the troops asked for by Mr.. LINCOLN 1t
will be remembered that when this demand of the
President was first made, so far from respond
ing to it with the courage and decision of a man
who thought he was discharging a simple even
though painful duty, Governor Hicks declined
for the time to accede TO it, on the ground that it
was not "prudent' at that moment to take the
steps required of him. He cautiously waited to
see how The tide Of popular feeling was running
here and to calculate the strength of the respcc-
tive parties to this momentous contest. On the
one side was the Federal Government rich, pow
erlul and cosc at hand and on the other was the
great body Of the people OF Maryland who re-
garded the war with intense repugnance, who saw
that the UNION was about to be inevitably de-
stroyed, and who felt that in such event the in
teres's and sympathies Of this State would lead it
into the Southern Coufederacy Governor Hicks as
he watched the fluctuations of the struggle inclined
as the chances seemed respectively to favor them,
first towards the one side and then towards the
other. He did not break with the Administration
for he only declined to aid it while it was imprudent
to do so. He did not turn away altogether from
those who approved Of resistance TO the aggressive
and arbitrary course OF the Government for when
the current set strongly in that direction he an
nounced in Monument Square that if the UNION
was to be broken he would Chow in submission to
the mandate of the people," and he added, ''if
Separate we must, in Gods name let US separate
Sin peace for would rather this right arm should
"be separated from this body than raised against
"a brother" But when it was found that the
Government had temporarily cut us off from the
South, and that under such circumstances it
had through its vast resources the power to subju-
gale us, then Governor Hicks made haste to
show his devotion TO the side which was upper
most. He could not venture to act so LONG as
the representatives, Of the people were in session.
but he sought 10 convince the Administration of
his good will by what we know was as deliber-
ate fasehood as ever fell from the lips of mortal
man. He assured the public not only that he did
not authorize the burning of the bridges but that.
as IA lover of law and order" he had positively
refused TO consent to the measure Having en-
deavored thus far to propitiate the Government,
he waited quietly until the Legislature adjourned;
aud then, having given it no word of warning
about his intentions, and in the very teeth of its
refusal to respond to Mr.. LNCoLNs call, he orders
the citizens and military officers of Maryland TO
obey it. He ends it prudent now to urge this
State to take part in the war against the South,
for the troops of New England swarm over our
territory; the regiments of New York and Penn
syvanla are in possession of our towns and roads:
the black-mouthed cannon threaten our once free
homes and the fleets OF Mr.. LINCOLN are cruising
in our waters. 1t is no longer imprudent for
Governor Hicks to follow the bent of his inclina-
TONS and, in defiance Of the protest of the people
of Maryland to participate in the crusade against
our brethren of the slave States. But the simple
question OF prudence was not, as he will one dav
find, the only one which the Governor Of this
State should have considered. The Legislature
had the right, and the sole right, TO determine
what should be the policy of Maryland in this
fearful crisis; and it is but three days since that
body deliberately decided, by large majority.
that it was her duty to take no part in this war,
The resolution in which her purpose was an
nounced, admits of no misunderstanding:
Resoired by the General Assembly of MARYLAND that
the State of Maryland to her own selfresnec and
her respect for the Constitution. not less than to her
deepest and most honorable sympahes TO register this
her solemn protest against The which the Federal
has declared upon the Confederate of
the South and sister and neghbor Virginia and to
her resolute determination to have no part or
lot, directly or indirectly, in its prosecution.
In the face ofsuch resolution, solemnly passed
by the Legislature of the State, the Governor has
ordered four regiments to prepare to take service
under the officers of the Federal Government. He
neanly endeavors to disguise the object for which
they are to be virtually employed by the wretched
apology that they are not to leave this State ey-
,ept for the District Of Columbia. But he must
suppose the public TO be absolutely devoid of COM
non sense if he hopes thus TO impose upon it.
Every child knows that, if our militia holds the
Relay House, and Federal Hill, Annapolis and
Washington, for the Government while the
the troops at present stationed-there march South
ward, then does Maryland take part, not indi-
-ectly, but directly in the war upon the Southern
States. There can be, under the circumstances.
no two opinions about the conduct of Governor
Hicks. He has perpetrated an outrage which is
in the annals of our State government;
ne has by his contemptuous disregard of the act
IF their representatives, offered an insult to its
citizens more gross and insolent than was ever |
lung in the face of freemen. He has BETRAYED the |
honor of Maryland and the rights of her people by
calling on her own soldiers to aid the Northern
roops in holding her in subsection. The con-
empt and scorn with which honorable men will
egard him is likely for little while to be his
,nly punishment; but there is future before him
md out of its fathomless depths there is LOOMING
Up even now the shadowy figure of Retribution
Everybody who is conversant with the tone of
he Northern papers during the past ten DAYS, can