The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-04-06


union of the Con(ederacy of the United States
submit to the earnest and impartial consid.
Grafton Of their fellow citizens few of the
more important reasons which impel them to
this step.
The zeal and activity with which the dogn
Of Secession has been disseminated throughout
the Southern States by interested and design.
ing politicians, and the persistent efforts al.
ready made and still making in this State
demand that its further prevalence with its
tram Of lamentable consequences, be speedily
arrested.
The cons,,utiona.ity of secession is main.
tanned by so inconsiderable number Of the
citizens Of Mary land that 1t is hardly entitled
at our hands TO serious discussion. 1t de-
rvcs 10 ccunienance or support flom the
Fathers ofthe Republic, and by nearly all the
prominent statesmen Of the day is reprobated
as fatal heresy. Nowhere indeed has it
been more ably combatted and unanswrrably
refuted than by those Southern men who,
with strange inconsistency. now defend it,
and are engaged IN carrying it into practical
effect. The r. cognition of such right would
involve us IN innunerahle difficulties, not to
say downright absurdi,ics; would utterly
destroy the public credit degrade US in the
and uncertain the pcrnanence Of our Govern.
mcnt, even from one hour to another S,rik-
ing as it does at the very root Of the Consti,u.
ton, it looks not to that sacred instrument
for its vlndicaton, but to tinespun pcrpcx.
Ing and incomprehensible theories of State
sovereignty and reserved rights.
The right of Revolution we do not contro.
vert. but its exercise is the last resort of down
trodden and oppressed humanity, and it is of
so solemn and momentouS a nature that it IS
never to he thought Of but as an extreme and
inevitable necessity The causes which mpel
us thereto must be weighty indeed, for 10 man
dare lightly incur the ignominy and penalties
oftrcason.
Whether the wrongs and grievances under
which Maryland labors are so great and in.
tolerahle as to constran us, either for the
vindlcation OF our honor or the assertion of
our self respect, the defence Of our liberties or
the security of our property to unite in over J.
throwing the nohlest form of Government
ever vouchsafed by Providence to mankind,
is nowthe question which the arts and STRAIT
agems of secession compel us to meet
Seven sister States have blottcd out from
the azure field of our country's flag as many
stars and declare that they have withdrawn
forever from the Union, and we are urged by
passionate appeals to everything bat cur
patriotism and sober judgment to follow their
| example. Fcllow-ciizens Of Mary land, shall
we do so :! The Union men of Frederick
county reply unhesiIatinsly and emphatical,
ly. "No!"
Secession, peaccable and unresistcd has
no attractions for us. 1t neither remedies
solitary grievance nor con(ers one additional
advantage. The prospect Of a Southern Con-
federacy Of fifteen States even is repulsive
while hope remains Of preserving that no
bier and more majestic Union, which has Sc
largely redounded to our prosperity and glory
The welfare and happiness of millions besides
ourselves materially depend upon the sncccs>
of this grand experiment o? popular self gov.
ernmcnt Should it. at this early day. prov.
failure, unequal to the severe trial to which
it is subjected; should our loyalty and pa.
triotism succumb to passion. prejudice OF
visionary notions of self.interest and aggran-
dizement, alas for US and our prosperity and
for the struggling nations throughout the
world, whom our example has inspired with
hope and confidence.
The time for revolution has not vet arrived
and never will arrive until we have exhausted
all proper and Constitutional modes of obtain
ing redress.
| We are not insenshle of our grievances and
shall persist i'll demanding. until we have OBJ
tanned such recognition of our rights anG
full measure Of justice as shall entirely satSf,
our honor.
Though disappointed by the meagre result.
of Congressional efsbrts. we have yet an ap.
peal from selfish POLITICIANS and demagogues
to the great body of the people and by lhi.
tribunal we have an abiding confidence our
grievances viii: be fairly redressed. But are
not many grounds of complaint already re-
moved States like Maine and Massachus
etts have responded to our demands and
repealed their obnoxious Personal Liberty
bills. Fanatical lecturers aud associat ions
have been suppressed and silelced in the
very strongholds Of Abolit ionism, and fal
hea lther tone is apparent in the Northern
press The rrepressibe conflict doctrine. SC
justly offensive to every Southern State. has
been renowned and an amendment to the
Constitution agreed to by two-lhirds vote
in both Houses, prohibiting forever any in.
reference with slavery in those States where
it now exists. Three new Territories have
been admitted, and the regulation of all their
domestic institutions left entirely to them.
| In TACT the controversy is, now narrowed
| uo"n 70 Dut one solitary point OF Importance.
This the right to emigrate to the common
Territories with our slave property, already
conceded in the admission of the new Terri.
tories, is. for all practical Purposes. to the
people Of Maryland IN empty abstraction. =
Nevertheless 1t is, we hold, our right under
the Constitution, and demands for the peace
of the country speedy settlement. Of the
various plans suggested, the propositions of
the Peace Conference meet our hearty appro.
val and we are willing to accept them as d
| final settlement Of this long agitated and per.
ilous question. We believe that when fully
understood and fairly submitted. they will
command the assent Of large majority of
the whole country. and terminate all sectional
disputes. Entertaining this opinion, We
appeal to the honest and patriotic men of
Maryland to stand by the Union. 1t is the
noblest form Of government the human race
has ever beheld, and for nearly century las
been the envy and admiration of the world.
But shall a century measure the duration of
such government No! ohr children s
children shall rejoice in it's btniicent opera
tons, and long succeeding generations shall