The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-04
s p z z G Il
s. TEACKLE WALLIS, ESQ,
rs DELIVERED at THE
MARYLAND INSTITUTE,
ON FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY lsr.

=.
and prolonged applause, said
has just taken his tMr McIane has apologized to
you with great injustice to himself for the desuory
manner, he called it, in which he has discussed the
questions presented to by the resolutions confess
that in rising succeed him, greatly embarrassed
by the eloquent uness with which he has addressed these
questions your consideration feel too, fellow citi-
that the reasoning involved in the issues before you
is almost exhausted by the simple statement Of the pro-
positions which the resolutions themselves, announce
The unanimity with which these resolutions have been
greeted demonstrates that both they and their reasoning
have gone home already to your hearts and judgments,
(applausel there therefore, little left for any
who speaks you, but echo with feeble vose, the
sentiments which you have already spoken with loud
/ one (Applause)
But my fellowctizens have a feeling in addressing
you this evening, which all consciousness of
embarrassment and that is the feeling of intense, per-
indignation the position in which am compell
ed stand before and in which are here listen
ing what of may have to (Applause
The Governor Of the State of Maryland who would have
been at best servant if he had been chosen by
| suiFrages-t;That's So" and applause)-but who
not chosen by your sufrages and yet insists on being
your masterhas given to be understood that those
who do not agree with him in thinking it the bounden
duty Maryland be voiceess and motionless in this
great crisis OF the Repubcyou and and every henor
able and patriotic gentleman around meare but horde
of disorganzers and disunionistsnot fit to be heard
upon the question of saving your country and Ene Zap
| pause.)
Not merely by his illegal and unconstitutional
has he condemned to silence and hepessness not only
has he held up public and private denuncation as
foes to the Union-weakening the confidence OF brother
in brother and poisoning with suspicion the relations OF
friendship and good citizenship among us-but he has
letter. unrebued citizens of Maryland by
charging that those OF us who the calling OF the
Legislature seeking to swerve' him-the Governor
of Maryand-"from the path of duty (Applause.)
Speaking for myself and for the friends whose sentiments
know and in whose action have shared pronounce
the imputaton falsewhether it be cicia or unofficial
whether it from the Governor of Pennsylvania or
from the Governor of Maryland, the clique behind
! him. I say it is imputaon which the people of this
meeting of this city, and of this State if they respect
| themselves should resist and denounce. (Great ap-
Not lore this Union! In the of the God who
gave it to what higher stake has the Governor of
Maryland in it than you or I? (Applause.) Who kin
died heart in his bosom, to beat in truer or more fer
! vent and grateful sympathy, than yours or mine,
with all the glories which this Union has brought US
with countless blessings and its magnificent hopes Is
IL that the GoseIiot % ~ suu W ~ ~ tie 80 o .II ~
like the friends of holy Job, hey are people,
and wisdom shall die with them?" daughter and ap-
plause) ~
to love and cherish the Union and there is not reec
ton conviction of my manhood that has not warmed
and strengthened my devotion to it, and heightened
zeal for its perpeuation. When was called upon dur
ing the last Presidential canvass o choose between Mr.
Brecknrdge and Mr. Bell-notwithstanding the prefer
ence which entertained for the former gentleman, be-
of his peculiar position in regard to the consttu
tonal questions of the day. chiefly and especially
led to his support by the conviction las more than
publicly stateG) that the electoral vote of Maryland
dered in his behalf would place her side by side with her
Southern sisters in position to counsel peace and mod
our fathers bound US together. (Appause)
1t suggested here during that canvass we all
know in public speeches, by gentlemen who claim to
represent in Congress, that there reasonable
apprehension of dsunionthat the threats of the South
all hluster and would amount to nothing when the
time 1t was manifest nevertheless to those who
looked the past and the future with the calmer and
juster eyes of staemanshp that issue had for long
time been approaching which might at any moment be
preciptated upon the country ana tiat unless the Ia
natcsm of the North should its aggression and
demagogues not of the North should to play into
its hands the point Of resistance must soon be reached
and the question Of Union Dunion be met and settled
forever 10 suppose that 1t could be eVaded or ignored
simple folly To hope for the maintenance of the
Union without removing the causes which were daily
converting into hatred and alienation the brohery feel
ing on which the Union is based-and without which
it stand, and will not be worth preserving
was equally futile.
As one of the humblest of those to whom the future
presented this threatening aspect, could not resist the
conviction that there but hope Of relief before
us-in good feeling should be rowerlesS and the
point conflict should be reached-and that was all
the States whose institutions and rights in peril
and who desired maintain the Union and the Consti
tuition unite in phalanx and with voice say
to the is the RubiconyOu shall not
passiun Arplause AMI my fellow citizensas surely
live live if the border States alone of this
Union months ago-with Maryland in their midst,
speaking for herself and her stake in the Republic
without threats and without insult but with fixed and
| immovabe resolRtion-the point would have been
gained the appeal would have been responded to, the
wrongs would have been rghted, the agitators would
have been enced the crisis of the Republic would have
been over, with all its and dangers, and the
places of industry and labor and happiness desolae,
would be blossoming like the rose. Great applause
Over the ofraernai dscord the people of these
central commonwealth had only to stretch forth their
hands, and the divided waters would have been wall
to them their right hand and on their left and they
could have walked shod through the midst with the
Union and the Constitution Applause 1t the high
destiny of working this and glorious good that for
one would have had Maryland win for herself 1t was
@ a m wc RSfa ne fys a aa @ sF and Nv s s
the border States have too far shared with her But Mr.
Hicks has wiled it otherwise and it has to this in
the order Of Providence that since this crisis has been
upon us there has been State of Maryland, but Mr.
Hicks and the clique behind him. tLaughter).
And now, this present and anxious, and almost
despairng moment, when the Union is well nigh in the
throes of its dissolution and Virginia has called together
council of her sisters to it, if they may in its last
houreven now the people of Maryland have no voice
of their own, wherewh to speak in its behalf The re-
speak neither your voice. my voice, and have auho
rty torepresent nobody but Governor Hicks and them
selves. Great applause.l Nay,I am wrong. They do
represent something more than mere absence of auho
rity There yet inger in this Hall the echoes of the
speech which made here not long since, by able
and venerated friendthe Honorable Reverdy Johnson,
of the CommisSonersthe conciliaory burden OF
which legal argument to show that the people of
the seeding traitors and might be punished
for their treason In comminged echoes back to
also the suggestions of the address which eloquent
friend Mr. Bradford another of the Commissioners de-
vered the time and in which he told the friends
of the Union,' that in considering the solemn issues
which divide the nation they ought to concentrate their
efforts upon the open revouonists of the South and not
waste their strength upon the northern as the
first ongdoer With these ideas of what is demanded
for raternal the healing Of wounds and
the reesabhment of peace among brethren the basis
of believe that the distinguished gentle
men whom have named do represent positive opinions,
which utterly hostile to the rooted and solemn
victons of the good people of this Commonwealth !
]
high character and talents and with all loyalty person
al friendship. IT. by their efforts and influence, they
this union aid in saving it, it has been
heretofore and ought to be forever there will not rise TO
heaven prayer of thankfulneSs more earnest
and unqualified than mine. Be the result of their
mission, nevertheless, what may, it is due to
selves and rights to declare that the act which has
given them their places is gross official usurpation
| (Applause)
In commenting thus far upon the action OF the Cover
of Maryland, have dealt only with generalities
desire to do him injustice, and prepared to verify
|
said by distinguished friend Mr. McLaEe in regard
the of Gov Hicks by reference his pub
lshed letters and addresses. hold in my hand his
rous and progressive contributions to constitutional lit
erature and Jurisprudence - (Iaughterl -"which =
pardon mel do not to read" The starting point
in Dorset county, from which he brought the rudi-
which he has attained in his communication to the
missioner from Alabama. Let me invite your attention
for moment to the progress Of his ideas.
On the 9th Of November 1860 Gov. Hicks addressed
letter to the Hon. Thomas G. Pratt and other gentlemen,
who prayed him to exercise his and discharge his
duty, by calling extra session of the Legislature He
declined to comply with their solicitation the following
grounds:
cannot but believe that the converting of the Legis.
aure in session at this time would only have the
''efect of increasing and revvng the excitement
Cline would at once be heralded by the sensitive
newspapers and aarmsts throughout the country as
evidence that Maryland had abandoned all hope of the
Union ard was preparing to join the traitors to de
"stroyi it"
You gentlemen favor an extra session only because
of the importance of the present crisis but there
ohers who think of their interests rather than those
the State who would be found seeking monopoze
'the valuable time of the body in furthering schemes
personal advantage, which well afford to await the
meeting at the regular session.
Nevertheless, he said that "the wishes of the people
shoud certainly be respected in this matter and after
insisting the proprety OF waiting until should
hPar from the National Executive from "the other
Border Slave Staesn and from 1.-THE congregated wis
dom of Congress- he declared shall hold myself ready
s'to promptly when shall believe the honor and safe
ty Of Maryland require act in the premises" Time
The National Executive had been heard from,
and it hOut much consolation, for the Governor
U
of Decembr he addressed letter Captain John Goa
far the boundaries of what he supposes be
"treason."
If Union must be dissolved he says be done
calmly, deliberately and after jul reflection The
part Of a united South;
He then discusses the Personal Liberty Laws and pro
t ceeds to declare that
These laws should be repealed at once and the rights
'of the South guaran teed by the Constitution should be
respected and enforced after alIOuing reaSanGb
action the States If
'.shal neglect refuse to obserre the plain requirement.
'Cf The Constitution then, in my Judgment shall b.
: 'fUly aCarranted in demanding diviS0n of the
= ''try.
1--WE shall have done duty to the Constitution, tC
the memory flour fathers to ourselves and posterty
'and the So, honorobly take such steps patriot
.'iSm and honor may demand either ont of the In
: ion"
In conclusion adds; 81 shall be the last one
"ject iUiidrdU1l Of State from Confederdcy thai
s'denes TO the enjoyment of Und0ubed rights; bu
beIieuing that neither her honor interests ,g suffer
'by proper and Just delay assist in placing
'cede. When she an the matter UiS ii TO be side
'by side 1gh VirginiG-Our nearest aeighJOT-Kencky
e s'dnd Tennessee"
If all this not rank secession the Governor now