The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-01-19

In the event of secession by Maryland, what
would Delaware do She is small State. il
is true but her course would be of the great.
est Importance to Maryland in her new asso-
Citations, as the refusal of Delaware to 90 with
US would add more Than one hundred m lies of
free border to our State. Delaware has now
less than two thousand slaves-a number
scarcely equal t., that Of single individuals
in the South. Bordering on the Delaware
river and bay for the larger and richer part
OF her State. Delaware is hound to PcnnSyl-
vania by all the ties of commercial, political
and social interests. She has no heavy stake
in slavery, and in Il few years, under any cir
cums.ances, will become free State. This
result would follow almost immediately if
she were TO 60 with the Sonth, for reasons
similar, but still stronger thar those which
would press on Maryland If she remain in
the Union under the present Constitution,
she would be protected las would Maryland
also be under similar course) by the guaran-
tees OF that Constitution as to her slave prop
crty the passing off Of which would in that
event, be scarcely accelerated in either State
Delaware was the first State to accept the
Constitution, and I doubt not that her
patriotism, her duty, as also her interests,
will keep her steady at her post. If Nary
land secedeS, she must count on two hundred
miles OF fee border separating her from
Pennsylvania, and a hundred miles Of free
border. soon to be. separating her from Della
ware.
People Of Maryand-what is this right of a
State to secede from the Union Have you
held it in former days, or your fathers before
you? Has it not been denied by a vast
majority Of the powerful intclccts of our
conntry-of her best and ablest statesmen p
Whether it assume the form of notification or
secession, is it not rebellion The noblest
orator of our country, in the finest passage he
ever uttered. said :-ss For the gentleman to
speak of notification, and yet say that he
would stop short Of secession, rebellion, dis
union, is as if he were to take the leap of
Niagara and cry out that he would stop halt
down. If secession means rebellion,
understand it. If that rebellion fail, it is
treason. If it succeeds. it is revolution
This. | also understand. Rebellion and
revolution are ancient words, and have often
been enacted under all the forms Of govern
mcnt in the world. ! deny, and the vast
majority OF you have always denied, any other
mode Of breaking up our government than by
rrsoring to these ancient modes, which, for
intolerablc oppression, have been practiscd
throughout the world.
To the extent of the powers possessed by
the Genera! Government. under the Constitu-
ton, she is unit--as much so as any govern
ment in the world. She can be destroyed
only rs othe: governments may be destroyed.
If she be guilty Of oppression and abuse we
have, under the Constitution, the courts, the
ballot box, and the system Of checks and
balances growing out OF the different con-
Strucion Of our Senate and House of Repre-
Scntatives. ftheSe fail, outside Of the Con
SNtution, il the grievance be intocrahle and
no other hope LETT, we have the universal right
ofrcbellion. These are our safeguards and
have the strong assurance that without
rcSorting to the last terrible remedy, the
former will, in the end, prove sufficient to
secure all our rights.
Maryilnd has no more right to scccdc from
the Union than Florida, or Louisiana. or CAL
iiornia. The rights Of all the States, Old aud
new are equal. This is the admitted doc
trinc. Shall Florida, or Louisiana, or Cali
tornia have the rig to secede from the Union
on the ground of State sovereignty, or of
reserved State rights! We bought the first
two with the money OF the General Govern
ment, and California we acquired by the old
fashioned process of conquest. All that these
three States have their lands and all their
rights-thcy got from the Government of the
United States. | admit they are equal to the
old States, and no more; and the old States
are equal to them, and no more. But surely
Il right Of secession cannot be claimed by any
one of the three States named and if not by
them-it cannot be claimed by any other
State, because all the States are equal.
| have heard much for some years past
about the sorcrcigH States of this Union. 1t
is the fashion Of the day to speak Of our States
AS sorreign; though it is conceded that n
State cannot have an army or navy, or
declare war or make peace, or make Il Treaty
with foreign power or with another State. or
have ambassadors, or lay duties on imports
or coin money. or pass any laws in violation
of the Constitution of the United States or the
acts of Congress passed pursuant thereto
The several States, no doubt have reserved
all rights of Legislation. &c, which have not
been granted to the General Government
But is it not an abuse of language to call the
State sorereign! | call your attention to this
view because | believe the contrary doctrine
has prevented the enforcement of the Fugitive
Slave Law by the strong hand Of the national
power. The States most deeply interested
in the execution of that law have, for many
years, had the executive of the country of
their own selection but they were unwilling
to enforce the law against the clearly void
legislation of orthcrn States, because, for
sooth, the same results might be brought
home to themselves, in regard to void legis-
lation ola different description. The truth
is, the General Government should enforce
if necessary, with the whole power of the
Union, all its laws passed in pursuance of the
provisions of the Constitution, in the North
and in the South, in the East and in the w est.
without regard to the laws ofany State passed
In contravention thereof. This is the ancient
doctrine-it Is the true doctrine
1t seems strange that hequcstion Of slavery
in the Territories should at present convulse
our country throughout its vast area when,
in truth, we have no Territories in which
slavery ever will or can exist. Why should
the North press this question, when it is Ger
tain that all the present Territories will be
free, no matter what the legislation on the
subject of slavery? And why should the
South take the Territorial question so much
to heart when we have no Territory fired for
her institutions? Climate and production
will settle this question. We have no Terri
sugar and rice. Without these, or some OF
these products, slavery will never plant itself
in q new country. With these products it
will be sure to go, no matter what the legisla-
ton. Why then these angry teudsi Is it
because we may acquire other Territory fitted
for slavery Rather than these fcuds-these
threats of rebellion-let us close the bound
aries Of the Republic and resolve to acquire
no more.
The peaceful breaking up of this great
government without a struggle to maintain it,
would be a miracle. 1t can never be- Whence
then would come snews of war-money p
II the government were to divide on Mason and