St. Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1845-1863, 1861-01-31

Eli. Ks. notwithstanding he had kesn re
pe.,ediy petitiol,ed. had rrfuseI to con
,ene the Legislature. .hat the psorle .
this Sl.se were thereby dspsivel Of III
means Of expressing their sau,ineus'
through convention provided f,r BY :b'
forms Of law. and. in this emergency. b.
knew Of no better or other ,usihui VI let
ting the North anu the South see in wha
light Maryland viewed the aggressive
policy Of the North or what position Sd.
would take hereafter.
Mr.. Thomas replied. and briefly defined
the position he occupied a. = citizen u
Maryland. He stated that he was attach
ed. both By conviction and interest, to 'i'e
South, but his loyalty to the South and hi.
sense of the wrongs done her. had net, al
yet. obliterated his devotion TO the Union
lie wss opposed to the Border States at
,aehing themselves to Southern Confrl-
erscy. because he believed that all hopes
for q reconstruction of the Union depended
upon their occupying a middle ground and
by their Influence aud geographical posi-
ton being the sneans OF bringing about an
an,icable adjustment Of the questions that
have unfortunately produced the existing
division.
Col Blackstone rcjoined and argued that
the South had always acted on the dsfen-
sire upon all questions of Disagreement. be-
tween the txs sections Of the country. lie
Expressed his deep devoSA lathe Union
and his willingness to stand BY j, so long
al he could preserve his equality as citi-
zen of it. He was attached TO Maryland
8 il aud had high veneration for the bis
torical renown Of his native state. but if The
citizens Of Maryland desired that she should
remain longer in state ~ inrrtncss and
apathy. if it was their with aud intention
that she should be tRcke,l On to North rh
Cohfcderacy. there WAS but one course left
for him to pursue sho that Mas {" leave
her. lie .hvighi shs tine for action hsd
arrived and it was folly TO talk longer
.b"us Q -promise.
+. Leo Spnl4ing stated lhs: he thought
,hr pass"gs OF Mr. Thomas r. volu'ions uu-
accessory. tu, h. he'd ,o objection to.hrm.
The vote was then taken upon Mr..
Thomas resolutions aud they were adopted
George Thomas moved thu, the del-ga-
tons from the several districts be called
and each non,insis q candidate for the
Convention.
Mr.. Goddard moved that each di.tr.e.
be entitled to delegate 10 the State Con-
rrs.icn.
Mr.. Medley stated that he was opposed
to the melton, tia, he cane there 10 take
par. IL the selection Of six delegates 10
represent st. Mary's County and no. for
the plrpose Of selecting delegates t" repre-
.>nt separate districts. II the gentleman s
motion prevailed. it would have been as
well for each delegation to haze assembled
in its own district ard selected its dele
gate. lie wanted good n.sn to represent
the County and he cared not if they all
came FROM one district. He thought it no
time TO squsbb:s over trivial matters, and
he hoped the convention would mske its
selection wi,hous regard to party or
locality.
Mr.. Goddard said he thought each dis.
.riet could furnish one good msn
l'r Edelsn mex, sddlc.ad thu C"nven.
ton and sTsn the con. lu,ion Vi his re.
marks, Mr. Torres. raised point Of ord-,
uron the decision Of which it was agreed
nv the Convention that nominations shoulc
be msde Without regarI to Districts Oh
locality.
On motion Of Col. Blackstone. it wa.
agreed that majority Of the whole v".
should lie necessary 20 constitute ali clectie n
The names Of several gentlemen were
then placed in nomination.
Col Billingslcy responded to his nosai
nation by stating that he had heretofore
refused all public positions rendered his
by the people Of st. Msry's County for rca.
sons Of private character, pertaining te
his health &C.. but when called upon t.
serve them in the position how assigned
him b. did not feel at liberty to decline
The Convention then proceeded to vote
and upon the first ballot the following &c u
,lcmcn we're elected III. G. 6. Key,
Col. &. Billingsley. Col. VIM. Coad, r.
Ford, Dr. James Waring and DR.. Thomas
A. Lynch.
On cotton Of Col Blackstone the elee.
ton Vt all the delegates was declared
unanimous.
0,S N.~x.ns;o- enxr:nta1 fh> f,,t1auino