Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-10

of room, is an address to the people of the
county, by James w. Burch, Esq, setting forth
his reasons for resigning his seat at the Board
Of County Commissioners.
Gs5-We notice, with no small degree of pleasure,
that some of the Middle States north of Mason's and
Dixon's line showing that spirit of justice and
loyalty to the supreme law of the land which is
well calculated to inspire with hope that
National Union will yet be preserved from utter
ruin. New York, the Empire State and home Of
Mr.. Seward, is speaking, through her Governor,
in terms, which, if acted upon, will certainly prove
healing balm to national wounds, so far as
that State is concerned. We like the spirit Of Gov
Morgan's message to the Legislature and from it
hope for proper action on the part Of the people.
In Pennsylvania too, we sec move after move on
The part of the people, petition after petition to the
Legislature, calling upon them to repeal all the
obnoxious laws complained of SO bitterly by the
South. One single petition was handed in a few
days since to which was appended four hundr ed
and fifty-six feet of signatures. Other Northern
States, through the people, speaking in direct
opposition to the voice of those fanatical dema-
gogues who are so ndustriously string the chal-
dron now boiling over with wrath in Congress.
Thus indeed would it seem, in some degree, to
prove the truth of our convictions heretofore ex-
pressed, that if the clamorous, uproarous politi-
clans could be stopped from their mischief and the
people be allowed, in some legitimate way, to ex-
press their sentiments, assert their will and wish,
the reign of tumuIt and discord would be at an
snd-union of sentiment, or at least of policy and
peace, once more bless our disturbed country.
Al
date ability of the people, coolly and deliberately
express themselves upon this grave and vital
question. So heated have men become that the
wratlfnl spirit is almost contagious. Never in our
experience do remember time when partizans
harborcd such bitter feelings towards those who
differ from them on the issues Of the day. Crim-
nation and recrmination is INDUCED in to such a
degree that cool discussion Of the proper means
IS to Be- cool, you as instantly
char ged with disaection to Southern interests in
some quarters and Southern proclivities in others.
Thus we you must be hot at the South, or you
Black Republican ally; whilst you must be
hot at the North or you are pro- slavery man. No
middle ground is left which to stand if we lis
ten to certain teachers. But, thank Providence,
we yet have left us middle ground and one which
enough to preserve National Union-that mid
die ground is in the hearts of the people, the achole
people.
Even in our own county there is great difference
of opinion, and, we regret to say it, much bitter
ness of feeling. There is, far as we know, no
difference of opinion the institution of slavery,
yet Southern rights Our people in these
respects is unit. All our people are willing and
&C., A.
by the Constitution of the United States, even to
the death, should 1T be necessary. All are ready
to present bold front to aggression, from what
source soever it may come. Fixed upon our rights
and backed by justice, our people are prepared to
die at their posts than yield one ot or one
little of what is justly and rightfully ours. Thi:
we believe to be the sentiment of our whole people
and the only difference of opinion is to the pro
per means to be adopted, or course to be pursued
Sorae ofour people are for immediate action, and
if we rightly understand few of them, for imme
date sec ,ssion; others again, are for immediate
preparation for the worst, but will not give up the
ship until every possible means has been tried t.
obtain fair, peaceabe and honorable settlement
of our difficulties, believing that when all the meanf
have been exhausted we shall surely have Justice
in its fullest sense upon our side. This latter has
all along been our position prepare at once, allow
delay in this but do not dare to cut loose till al
hope of peaceful settlement has departed. sBut,'
says an objector, call the means have now beer
tried and found wanting This we dispute. There
is a means not yet tried. proposition has been
started to refer this whole matter back to the peo
pie, and never will we be satisfied till the voice o.
the people have been heard. If they say no Union
them no Union it is with us.
The politicians have brought this trouble upon
and we positively aver that we unwilling
longer to trust them. If we bring them down
upon US, let them come, war is wagel against
him who would destroy the sacred instrument
given us by our forefathers as chart by which to
stear, we care not fl ON what source, from what
latitude. Give us the Constitution of our country
the same under which Washington, Jefferson
Jackson, Clay, Webster and others lived and VIC
are satsfed-we content, we ask no more. Lei
the provisions of that sacred document be respected
and enfor ced in the North the South, the East and
the West, and we content. Let them be bro
ken in upon and we are at the defiler with our
pen, and, if need be, with our sword.
Why cannot this suffice for our whole people
why cannot The North accord it the due it merits
and why should the South seek for more !? Ou
word Tor 1t, the people, II LEI alone, would to-day
endorse the sacred Old document in its origina
purity. Will they be allowed to do its
We do not mean to put our trust in fanatics O.
politicians, we have had quite enough of them al
ready. We well know there are scores of boil
classes who would crush the Union to atoms, if ii
their power, and then chuckle over the ruin the,
had made There men North, and men South
(wc blush to say it, who would willingly breal
up this Union without another attempt to save it
and having involved Us in revolution and civil war
hugh at the cal &c and bloot SIZED sllting from
Their treason able act. Will the ,pe of this coun
t.y permit this? viii they for a moment coun
nance it, whether their lots be cast in the Nort
or in the South? We hope not, believe not
NV Pr violence avert the Low, and preserve us
nation, free and equal, the rights of all protecte
.ul the rights Of none infring"d.