Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-06-27
the South, sit still while he is battering
INV house about nv ears?

I certainly deprecated the choice of a
President exclusively by the electoral
votes of one section of the country,
though consenting with the greatest re-
uctapce to be myself upon one of the
opposing tickets. 1t was, however. fully
in the power of the opposing South to
have produced a different result But
the Disunionists were determined to have
their own candidate, though mistaken, |
trust, in the belief that he shared their
disloyal views. I make this charge
against them without scruple, justified
by subsequent events, as well as by the
language Of the entire Union press at the
South during the canvass.
After the election was decided, the
Disunionists would not wait for ooert
acts, because they knew none could or
would be committed. They knew that
there was an anti Republican majority in
the Senate, and that there would be one
in the present House. They "precipi-
tated' the rupture of the Union, because
they knew that if they waited, even the
pretext for it would fail.
After the Cotton States had seeded,
and although that circumstance greatly
increased the difficulty Of compromise,
measures were nevertheless adopted or
proposed in Congress which must have
removed ali sincere alarm Oh the part OF
the South that their constitutional rights
we're threatened. The accredited leaders
of the Republican party. including the
President elect, uniformly pledged them
selves to that effect The two Houses,
by constitutional majority, pledged
themselves in like manner against any
future amendment of the Constitution,
violating the rights of the South. A
member from Massachusetts,, (Mr. Ad-
ans, } possessing the entire confidence of
the incoming admins tration, proposed
to admit New Mexico as a State, and
three new Territories were organized
without any anti-savery restriction.-
While this was done in Congress the
States repealed or modified the laws
throwing obstacles in the way of recover
ing fugitive slaves-laws which have
never been of any practical injury to the
Cotton States These conciiatory de-
monstrations had no effect in staying the
progress of secession, because the leaders
of that revolution we're determined not
to be satisfied and to maintain their
policy. which in the light of the Consti-
tuition is simple rebellion and treason,
thev have appealed to the sword.
You say that the South desires moth
ing but peace, and ask whether the
North will not "let you aloneY" But,
my good friend, the South demands a
reat deal more than '"peace." She
claims the Capitol of the country, al
though she has but third of its popula-
ton. She claims the control of the out
let of Chesapeake Bay and its tributa-
ries: the right to command the most
direct route to the Atlantic from Ohio,
Indiana, and Illinois, States whose
popnlation amounts to five and half
millions-(the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road); the right to dragoon the State of
Maryland and the western part of your
own State, with Kentucky, Missouri and
Tennessee into joining the Southern Con-
fcderacy, the right to occupy the fort
.esses which protect the trade of the
Gulf of Mexico; the right to shut up
the outlet of the Ohio, Mississippi and
the Missouri; and finally, she claims the
right for any State, that chooses to pass
law to that effect, to break up the
Union. In enforcing these unconstitu-
tional, monstrous and unheard- of usur-
patlons, she asks to be let alone" and
when the government of the United
States, in obedience to the solemn oaths
of its members, (from which the leaders
of the revolt dispense themselves. takes
measures to defend itself. the Capitol of
the Union, the public establishments,
and the rights of the whole people against
this invasion, long premeditated by am
bilious and disappointed politicians, (for
Mr.. a. II. Stephens truly declares that
to be " the source of a great part of our
troubles, r. she exclaims that the North
seeks "to subiugatc the South"
cannot describe to you, my dear
friend, the sorrow caused me by this
state of things Circumstances, as you
we'll know, has led me to form personal
friendly relations at the South more ex
tenslvely .han most Northern men. and
the support given, especially in the Bor-
der States. to the ticket on which my
name was borne at the late election,
filled me with gratitude If the sacrifice
of all | have could have averted the pre-
sent disastrous struggle, | could have
made it willingly, joyfully. But | pray
you believe me, that speak not only my
own conviction, but that of the entire
North, when | say that we feel that the
conflict has been forced upon US to gra.
tify the aspirations of ambitious men
that it is our duty to ourselves, to our
children, and to the whole people to sus-
tain the government and that it is, pos
sibly, more the interest of the South than
of the North, that this attempt to break
up the Union should fail.
remain, my deor Mr.. -,
Sorrowfully and sincerely yours,