The national Republican., 1861-08-26
MARYLAND.

IL the frenzy Of secession was disease TO be
reached and cured by reason, one would imag
ine that the course Of events since April would
have eytinguishcd whatever tendencies to dis
rniou existed in Baltimore at that period.
II was then thought by many to be probable
that all the slave States, including Missouri
and Kentucky, would join the Southern Con-
iederacy; but II Is now certain that those two
States and Western Virginia will remain In
the old Union. In other words, II Is now Ger.
tain that the whole West, above aud below the
slave line, with which Baltimore has made
railroad connection for the purposes Of trade,
at a cost Of thirty millions Of dollars, is deter
mined to abide in the old political association,
aud that it Baltimore makes a new one with
tho cotton States, 1t must be ct the expense Of
her entire Western as we'll as Northern trade.
The Ohio valley, in its whole course, and upou
both sides of it, is fixed to the Union BY the
turn of events and by the will Of the people
who inhabitit, and if Maryland had the option
(Which she has not) OF going out Of the Union
1t would be at the cost of Q commercial con
ncctlon which has been darling object of pur.
suit, ever since the revolutionary war Il was
with the active aid Of Maryland that General
Washington commenced those undertaking.
Tor the Improvement Of the navigation of the
upper Potomac, Of which magnificent monu.
ments sill remain on the south sde of the
Great Falls, to inspire respect for the vigor
and the largcncss Of conception Of the men who
founded this Republic. When the form of the
enterprise Was changed into what Is now known
as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Maryland
was still its munifcent patron, investing seven
millions Of money in i, a prodigious sum- con.
sldering the comparative poverty Of that early
day. and the slnallness of the population which
assumed the charge. 1t was with the same
view that Maryland supported with so much
readiness that national road, (once famous, but
now overlooked amid greater improvements, }
which took its popular name from Cumber.
land, its point OF commencement. And fually. IL
was with the same view that Maryland, never
changing The object which she had pursued
through two generations, but seeking it by the
new methods Of a new art, has invested thirty
millions in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The thing sought for so long was the trade of
the West. existing only in anticipation In Gen.
Washngton's time, but now realized beyond
all anticipations. That any party can now
exist in Maryland ready to throw 1t all away
icr the qualification Of political passions, is. in-
decd, a striking illustration of the extent of
frenzy which is temporarily possible in even
intelligent communities.
In Senator Kennedy's printed address Of last
winter, to the people of Maryland, urging them
10 sccedc if Virginia seeded, there was nothing
upon which he ruug his changes with more tri.
"mrbant pertinacity than the fact that the
great railroad of Maryland run, for the greater
part OF its course, through Virginia, and would
he lost If Maryland separated from Virginia.
As it turns out, that part of Virginia which
holds this road as hostage is obstinately and
nnconqucrably for the Union, and can neither be
coaHed out of it or fought out Of it, The people
ol Maryland will not fail TO see that, 90 far a.
Mr.. k@nncdys argument goes, it is now an ar.
SumcAt against secession, and rot for II, If
Maryland desires a political connection with
the Virginia which holds SO much of the course
aud both the Western lern.iat of her iavorite
road, she has it by remaining in the Union,
and loses it by going out Of the Union.