The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-08-23
gJe Cecil lpble.
ELKTON. AUGUST 90. 1862.
Ol.<lS 1Ol. the Hour.

The Hon. D. S. Dickinson being COM
PEELED by prior engagements to decline
attending War Meeting At Erie, Pa,
few days ago, wrote letter to the
committee of invitation, in which he
speaks some wholesome language that
should be read and pondercd. Hear
him:
"My views are, to-day. what they
were when this hell-born rebellion as
saultcd the glorious flag of our country's
pride and hope, at Sumtcr-that it must
be put down without regard to cost of
blood or treasure put down by the
strong arm of Government sus aimed by
the material power and chcered by the
moral energy of great, free people
put down upon the theltcr it selec ed for
the Inauguration of its own diabolica
treason, the field of blood and put
down, too, by severing the head of the
loathsome serpent from its body. 1t is
not mere rebellion or outbreak. Il is
the result of a dark and malign conspi
racy, conceived and prosecuted by worse
combination of evil spirits than assem-
bled at Mllton's Internal Conference
1t will never relax nor yield until it has
overthrow the Government or been
crushed into the earth beyond hope Or
prospect of resurrection and not only
to lis orerthrop, but its anaihilation,
should We, as people, address ourselves.
There can be, there should be, but
two parties to this contest in the loyal
States. The first, embracing those who,
regardless of all other considerations or
consequences, will prosecute the war
and sustain the Admins raticn for the
purpose of Furnishing treason and vindi
eating the supremacy of the Constiiu-
ton and the other, those who sympa-
thise with rebellion, and eli her justify it
by open advocacy or lend it aid and
comfort and encouragement, by mods and
winks and stolen glances of appreciation;
by ill.corccaled apologies for its course,
and by assaults upon the Government
for prosecuting the war against it. And
in the second division should be classed
all of any and every political party, sect
or faction, who cannot at such time
rise above President making or Office
hunting machinery of every description
abstain from partaking of the unclcan
drippings of the contract department, or
withstand the odor of the suffers stew
pans.
The rebellion has only had greater
power of endurance than was expected,
because it has received moral and
material aid from abroad, which we did
not believe would be extended it. This
has enabled it to keep upon its feet
longer, and to staggcr little further
than we supposed it could but the
satisfaction Of terminating it's miserable
existence will be all the greater when it
is done, and the means of our people to
s.rangle it are as ample as their will is
resolute. The war Is not and should not
be waged to advance any cause on earth
but that of the Constitution and the
Laws. 1t is not and should not be pros
ecuted to destroy any interests but those
OF conspiracy and treason. Its aim and
end and chief avowal should be the pro-
lection of loyalty and the destruction of
rebellion.
But in the pursuit of its purpose the
Government must rise to the dignity of
the responsibility, and while it extends
the protection Of the Constitution to
those who acknowledge its obligation,
should, in dealing with revolt, lays its
hand with iron rigor upon every interest
which will give it strength or weaken it's
Iawless adversary, aud should strike
hardest where it will be felt most should
for the purpose OF couqucrlng an early
peace, in obedience 20 The first instincts