Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-17

upon them and for any kind Of despotism by
, which their masters may think proper to govern
: them. mistake the people Of Charles county
if they are prepared for this. But be says that
the Executive of the State has been called upon
to convene the Legislature, that a Sovereign
Convention might be called; and the Executive
having refused to do so. these private persons
have assumed to themselves, the pre1oyatice of
doing ST.. 1t is only neccss ,rv, Mr.. Editor, for
any person to look at that publication to see the
utter reckcssness of this charge. These private
persons exercised the right of inviting the cti-
zens of this county in primary meetings, to ex
press through the ballot-box their wish not,
to invite the citizens of this State, to hold
Sovereign Convention, in view of the exigencies
of the times. This writer when he read that
address, to the people either did not understand
the letter or the spirit of it or has been guilty
of wilful and deliberate misrepresentation of
it's contents. The signers of that paper neither
}, assume to themselves any Prerog0hre OF the
Executive or the Legislature nor do they coun
sci the usurpaton of any constitutional or of any
other power belonging to the Executive or Lcgs-
lature. They advise the exercise of an inalien-
able right on the part Of the people; right
''inestimable to Them and formidable to tyrants
only" But this writer says the Legislature has
wards denies that the Legislature can do SO,
save, in the mode pointed out by the Consttu-
ton, for amendment to that instrument. Now
where does he get the right Or power of the
Legislature when convened by the Governor to
call Convention Does he get it from the
Constitution That instrument gives no direct
power to call a Convention for any purpose
whatsoever it provides, that upon the return
of every census, ft,) the Legislature shall pass
law, for ascertaining the sense of the people,
in regard to the calling Convention for alter
ing the Constitution, &C., &c. Thus conceding
to the people, and recognizing in the people, alone
the right to alter or abolish their form of govern
ment. So when the Legislature is convened in
extra session by the Governor, it has no power
or right to command the people to elect delegates
to Convention for any purpose; but merely to
inclte the people to do so and this is a right and
power derived from the people irrespective Of the
Constitution and if they the people have the
power to delegate this right to others it follows
as corolIary, that they have the power, to ex-
: ercise it themselves. Were the forms of law,
observed, or the Constitution regarded in the
formation of our last Constitution The old
Constitution positively prohibited any change
in the organic law of the land, unless, by the
action of two consecutive Legislatures. Did the
people regard this, when they desired to change
primary meetings, and with voice not to be
misunderstood directed their Legislature to call
a Convention and had that call been disregard
ed, they then would themselves, have done
through the ballot-box, what their Legislature
had refused to do. Why this is strange doc
trine, which if successfully taught would soon
make the people, fit to become subjects of any
despot who might choose to deny them the ex-
preston of their opinions in pcaceable and
legitimate way, whether that despot was called
Governor, President or King. He knows but
little about the genius and spirit of our govern
ment the rights and privileges of the people
; or the prerogdtires las he has termed them) of
those in power who would counsel the obsti-
t nate, and perverse determination of any public
functionary, to muzze the people who DESTROYS
: of expressing their feelings, or opinions upon
: any subject, at any time; and more especially
in times like these, threatening the direst calami
) ties, to the whole country nay the entire de-
struction of the Constitution and the Union.
ss powerful, constitutional.
and logical address to the people by S; the
terms mob and mob law, disorganizers, revou-
tionsts, riots, treason, hanging, &C., &c., | will
not say dance about, sin metaphorical confu-
; sion;" but certainly in wordy tumble and non
! sence; all of which, has just about as much to
do with the subject attempted to be discussed ;
~.
to do, with the creation of Tristan Shandy-
Let me advise this ardent friend Of order as soon
: as Lincoln shall be inaugurated, to go and in hum
bic suppliance to his most royal highness, say
: treason made its appearance in the county m
: which live; mobs riots, tlisorganization, revo-
: luton, and the upturning OF judicial proceed
ngs; and | know not what besides against leg-
), innate authority, and brerogatioe; were coun-
: seed, and advised in an address to the people
: But I have the honor of informing your most
, sublime excellency that had the good fortune
3 in most powerful essay; to head off these
|, plotters of treason wherein plainly told them
! that they should hang, for their nefarious at
+ tempt to infringe upon your and your friend
, Hicks prerosatives; and upturn your legitimate
q governments; and now come to offer my SER
vices to you in the capacity of 'Jack Ketch y
whenever in your wisdom, you shall think pro-
per to hang these lawless traitors and all ask
I for these important services u.s. that you would
: place between my hungry lips, one of your best
1 filled treasury paps, that may suck at my will.
Take my advice do not doubt Mr. S that you
: will be gratifed in your ardent readings after
treasury pap. But, Mr.. Editor, think l have
: heard something about mobs and riots. think
7 | have understood, that the present Executive
of Maryland owes his present official position,
/ to the exercise of mob-law, by which the blood
of some of the citizens of Baltimore was shed, in
: attempting to exercise the constitutional privi-
lege of the elective franchise! | think have
/, heard that the power to misrepresent, and out
rage the wishes of the legal voters Of Baltimore;
Z was given to the present Representative in
! Congress from Baltimore, by mob-law and riot.
! think have heard that mob-law applied the
! fagot to, and burnt down churches, in the city
Of Philadelphia, dedicated to the service of
: Almighty God and l think that have under
! stood that those temples dedicated to the service
: of the great Am, SO sacreigously and impi-
ously burned to the ground; had never yet been
paid for, by the city of Philadelphia or the State
: of Pennsylvania. Nor have ever heard that
those lawless rioters had been made to pay the
! penalties of the violated law. l think have
I heard, that building inhabited by inofensve,
| and defenceess females, near the town of Bos-
: ton, was rudey assailed by fanatical mob, and
! burned to the earth; and its innocent, and I'M
IL r. L e