The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-19

presented tue distinguished speaker WIN btduti
full bouquet on behalf Of the ladies present, whict
compliment Mr.. Bell appropriately acknowledged
.ssz.--.---1-z<.---.~zsz--
Reply of Herman Stump. Jr., to Hon. Edwin
H. Webster.
BEL-AIR, 18th June 1861
To the Hon. Fduyt,e IL Webster:
SIR In your anxiety TO give aid and comfort to Gov
ernor Hicks to exricate him from his Perpexities
his enemies with confusion, in haste aver
possible suspicion that you had contributed the cir
culaon, through the press of his jocular remarks
you have gone beyond the necessities of the
inadvertently iadvsedly done injustice to En-
deavoring do too much overzealous advocates offer
ipjure their cause. their clients and themselves.
The following paragraph has undue prominence in you
letter to the Governor dated June 9th published
the of Thursday last 1T is proper remarl
that Capt Stump, at the time handed him the letter
strong political friend of yours and jealous Unor
man and continued until the 18th of last April How
he has thought it consistent with honor if he has don't
it, furnish copies of this private letter. written to
to your enemies, without asking my consent can
not imagne.n
Is this pertinent reply to simple request to furnish
the original letter a copy
To what you have said in your vindication, ado
that you had no knowledge of such ntehtiou,
consulted about it. and had little agency the publ
cation myself nay had probably forgotten the exist
of the document You shall be free from the respon
sibility, and all that properly belongs to me
have fear that my personal honor politica
consistency will be damaged by the facts, your un
friendly interpretations
To impcate you would be poor exculpation of my
conduct if wrong but, that H. Winter Davis, thu
pledged coercionst, has failed in his election and Mr.
Webster, unpledged to civil has not does it
you that you of all persons, least all emit
tied to indulge in harsh judgment administer re
buke.
The letter ITSELF the attendant circumstances and his
tory of Union men, will show you that f1r every
imputed to me have your example and YOUR sanction
If the letter of Gov Hicks to you CONFIDENTIAL how
can You be justified in handing to to be read tho
Hartford Ries How it consistent with honor so t
transfer private letter. 'without even asking the
consent of the writer? This sir as preposteros
yOHr inSinuaiOnS.
The letter was an official letter from the Governor
bearing the coat Of arms Of the State (omted in You
published copy,) dated State of Maryland, Executive
Chamber, and official business; addressed to YOU.
meant for, and properly transferred those whom only
it concerned, answer to their application through Won
to the Governor. on it in good faith me- as
Union man. but captain of the company; and witt
your appreciation, and ittO idea that either Of n
ototdte6 the most rigid irlCS Of Tropriey, read AZ to
company composed Of Of all parties, bit all trae
hearted Nd1yt0nders. It caused much satisfaction
among them because of the promise to furnish the guns
itsshowed and the Governors desire ratify
us and especially new assurance that Gov. Hicks
who with his party had been charged with Republican
atation as he and they prolessed opposed still
"Lincoln and his men,, and true TO the Union and the
South When read it thrown aside and accidentally
found some weeks ago, when the Governor has shown
singular anxiety that Lincoln and his men ;" should be
the sportsmen and Of Maryland the game its con
tents talked Of and lest they should misrepre
sented the letter shown.
Though doubling the official character Irefused
to publish it, not caring to be made prominent in connec
ton with it, bat lUen existence acdS denied did give
and think for Legitimate purpose copy, but express
~ stipulated that should not be printed first know
ledge that it would be, had been, derived
your letter in the American
But why is the publication to be complained of? If
obfcidi 'johe, it shows for itself you wisely
recommend "a full expose once If a serious PROPOSE
ton and it be fiat treason, say it would surely
be natsprision Of treason to conceaLd.
We did not suppose it invitation to treason and
since you suggest do kiIl Lincoln and his
men" on the 9th November, would have been treason.
The Government has proclaimed piracy unknown to
the law has it made treason and do you sir recog
nize it, unknown to the Constitution
When you gave me that letter | jealous Union
man. the 10Th of April. and G
have not changed my faith recanted principle,
pulse of mine ever beat untrue to the Union of our faith
ers-the Union OF free and equal sovereign Statesthe
Union born of the COnst tuition and existing only in its
fostering bosom. But, sir galvanized corpse mouth
it you may, is not the living body with an immortal
soul As mourners, when the spark of life goes
cling with passionate grief to the senseless clay but
it is still only senseless clay.
Why, sir did we oppose the Republican partvY Were
we honest in proclaimng that its would strike
death. blow at the Union That its principles
gressve and to maintain its platform must sacrifice the
Constitution? The events have justified the prediction
When disnegration began. and star after star faded
Constitution hoping against hope, we looked
for help. Governor Hicks assured that he in
muncation with the Governor OF Virginia, devsing
ways the Onion and to protect the South
Maryland was indissoubly connected with the Old Do
mnon, and should act, when and she acted; that he
was southern man. and would be the first to shonder
his musket in defence Southern rights and as he told
me, if Maryland adhered to the North he would live
in the state. Then We were all Union men, all for
promise, all against coercion
On the 18th of January last at meeting of the
people of Hartford after asserting that We ere,
maze eCsT Oeea tTue 20 pe American EflOn' 1t
solved that Maryland mil dcqueSce in the proposed
stutiondt and Legislative guarantees kno0 the Crit
tenden Compromise as settlement ef the fatal cotrOver
toich IS diSrdcting the country; but that nothing
less efficient than tiS acH ought to satisfy the people Of
this State; and that if the North shall crSistenty refuse
70 grant us Sch guarantee Of manifest rights due
regard to security aOH compel to dissolve all
connection tVi then and unite cith ViTgipia and the
other border SlaUe StdteS.o
This resolution drawn by personal AND PoLITIcALn
friend of ours, of the ablest and eloquent
tenders of Hicks in this county approved
by you and the G0rernor
After H. Winter Davis made his speeches. the
Union men" here, especial friends of yours and Gov
ernor Hicks at meeting the 18th Of February re-
solved that I'VE would rather counsel forbearance and
on all sides and if be found that
i've together in harmony under the Constitution our
fathers framed let brethren agree part in peace
Resolved That deny the right Henry Winter Davis
speak for this portion of the State of Maryland
disclam all sympathy with his sentiments
Is expressed in his recent speech in Congress"
In Congress you voted against solution conceited
n phrases, UNANIMOUSLY lched from Washington's fare
we'll address, because it implied that the Union
adhered to under all circumstances.
In your speech delivered 18th February, speaking of
coercion you Now, what will be the effect of this
policy? In my humble judgment, it will certainly lead
o boodshed and civil war, and probably to a further
lsmemberment of this Republic In all human probable
it will drive from beneath the shield Republic
,ther States that true to their feay If does
lo do this, it will dig, between Republican States and
he States that seeded ditch so wide that never
gain they get together 1t will seeds Of such
harvest of hate will forever prevent the coming
ogether of the States that have seeded and the stats
hat true This in brief will be the effect of the policy
Now, after have carried policy of coercion
without compromise, of without concession, of
orcement of laws without conciliaon; when you have
brought these results the country when you have
he Southern cities laid in ashes her lair fields blackened
md destroyed and her given the sword when you
ave ssen her women and children wandering homeless
nd riendess and when recurring to your section,
on find that your people burdened with ntoler
bic taNation that skeleton stands beside each OF your
doors; that you oppressed under the weight
Military despotsm; when you find that the country is
.retrevably broken upwhat consolation will it be to
in tn a these
brought the country in the of the Union
the enforcement of the laws and the protection of pub
C property?'
IN YOUR LETTER TO 4 "DRAR FRIEND in Cecil speak
of the recall of the seeded States you say this
done, by force which anerringLy will lead civil
ar with all attendant horrors and final separation"
Now, sir, l thought you right, and approved your
ords and acts followed lead and here furnish
by you with unerrng test of the fate of the Union
hen compromise was spurned when coercion the de
are6 policy of the Administration, when civil war was
aged, when the unpassable chasm yawned and final
paraton,n by your own showing was inevitable and
is accomplished by fragrant nracons of the Constitu
IN is it kind or becoming in you to insinuate that
nounced my principles because I adhere to faith
~ ayowed, and recognize the fulflment of your
ophecy?
principles Whilst thought him honest, patriotic and
acknowledged leader of the party with which in
humble sphere acted could honestly support him
d his mea ,nres. But when my faith in his veracity,
tegrity and patriotism destroyed by his reckless
sregard oftruth and right, is il my duty as Union
an and consistent with honor to adhere to him lon
r? can go no further North. stand where was
you sir, have you changed with the changing sea-
n? No man Of all who have just voted for you know
lether or how far you have modified your views.
It is true that the great triumvirate Messrs. Davis,
rridge and Sterling have pledged YOU to the Tribune
1t the gentlemen who nominated you vouched your
ing as true TO the platform of the 'uncondtionaln
thout letter. Messrs Johnson and Evans your
npetitors under their sign manual that the Cecil dele
ton pledged to vote for man who would not aid
, war of Lincoln satisfied, and your nomination
,ared unanimous that you corepresent the party who
ociate with YOU as their champions Winter Davis and
9ry Dat it is also true that your friends here declared
It YOU have avowed that you not pledged to that
tform that you stand your records" and still
My oppose Lincoln, coercion and civil war
Not mine to settle such differences As understand
lr position, could not easily reconcile it with that
icate Of honor that springs from giving copy OF
official letter, the original Of which could be inno-
tIy proma gated. But not disposed TO Judge. For
self trust that the convictions held are the i'm
SEES of your heart which believe to be generous and
riotic have not veered from their old bearings, and
t you will oppose to the utmost coercive policy,
sad consequences of which you have so forclby por
yed.
indeed, should personally have no doubt OF your
rise, but for impromptu approval OF the GoVern
determination to support the Government wnlch
know to be in harmony with his course IN all THESE
ublous times -
not TINS commentator ill.considered as your as
&c vi me DO you really think his Excellency's
nnaas ise SO harmonious and praseworthy? Will n
nmissn S 70 enumerate all his sins of omission and
- put as stagnation business and ruin of all
~ ~ SO closely, You foretod the ad-
20 donhtIasa Iesident, and coercve policy YOU
by the wayside Is II saeo.s io re
IN the tone OF his high place-Goyernar |
he sole Governor of Maryland-to rival u or
nnedy In getting up that melodrama the cantnr s
Ah ITO hurE