Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-10-15
Maryland---Her Sympathies and Stu
ations
WINCHESTER. September rs.

|
To the Editor of the Richmond Dispatch:
Reluctant as feel to appear as an apol-
ogist, | am, nevertheless, constrained to
correct grave and dangerous misappre-
hension in regard to the public sentiment
of my State, resulting from the passage of
the Confederate army over its western Dor,
der. As our Government, through the
proclamation Of the Commander.in.C Chief of
the army, addressed to the people Of Mary,
land, has formally announced its determi-
nation to afford them an opportunity of de.
Gliding their political destiny, it is essen
TALLY necessary that there should be no
misunderstanding or prejudgment If the
present occasion be lost, it may never again
be recovered 1t becomes wise people
and the statesmen who control their inter.
ests TO avoid hasty conclusions. In my
letter to the Legislature of Virginia, Mst
winter, l gave the solemn assurance that
the people of Maryland would, by an over
whelming majority, unite with their breth-
rem of the South in establishing the inde
pendeuce of the Confederate. States if the
chains were stricken from their limbs and
arms placed in their hands The expert.
ence of every day since has only confirmed
this opinion / am, therefore, distressed
and troubled by the manifestation of dis
satisfaction at the supposed unfavorable re
ception Of the army by our people. | think
l shall be able to show that such com.
plant is unfounded and unreasonable 1t
is we'll known in Richmond (outside, at
least, of official circles) that the advance
Of the army into Maryland took every one
by surprise. All supposed that such an
advance would be made, but none autici.
pated 80 early realization of their hopes.
AS soon as notified of the fact, l left Rich
mond and pressed forward towards the
army with all the speed which the most
ford. On my arrival here, ascertained
that General Lee had left Fr. derrick with
the army on his march to Hagerstown. l
had the pleasure of meeting him for o. few
hours only CD my native soil For wise
reasons, apparent to all, this able comman,
der Immediately afterwards recrossed his
army to the south bank Of the Potomac,
after having spent but few days in two
Of the extreme western counties of Mary.
land, during which be captured a large
and splendidly equipped army at Harpers
Ferry, and gained a brilliant victory over
the main body Of the enemy at Sharpsbarg.
| ouly participate the universal hope and
belief of the people that the genius of the
commander and The unbroken spirit of his
troops will soon fulfil the promise of his
proclamation to the people Of Maryland.
The people of Maryland had no notice
of the advance Of the Southern troops
When Gen Lee was in Frederick he was
forty FIVE miles from the city of Baltimore
"a city surrounded by Federal bayonets,
jealousy guarded by an armed Federal po
lice, and lying in the shadow of Fort Nc
Henry and of the two powerful forti6cations
located within the limits of the corporation
The advance of the army reached Freder
ick on Saturday, and ou the Wednesday
following the army moved off towards Ha.
gerstowu. and became engaged iu the in
vestment of Ilarper's Ferry and the battles
of Boonesboro' and Sharpsburg, after which
it Immediately returned to Virginia, where
it now iz Thus the fact simply is, that
the army made hasty passage throag b t1o
of the remote counties of this State, name.
| ly Frederick and Washington, which, to.
scther with Carol aud Alieghany, are well
known to contain nearly the whole Of the
Union or Black Republican population to
be found in Maryland. And yet | will say
here, that even in the two counties first
above mentioned there will be decided
majority cast in favor Of the South when
ever reasonable time for organization aud a
free ballot box shall be secured to the peo-
pie. | was born and have lived the great
er part of my life in Frederick county, aud
can speak advisedly on this subject
Now, sir, please look at the map of Mary.
land, consider well the circumstances above
briefly alluded to, and say if it was posi-
BILE for Baltimore city to respond to the
proclamation of General Lee, or the eight
counties of the Eastern Shore, divided from
the Western throughout their entire length
by the Chesapeake Bay; or the counties of
St. Mary's, Charles, Prince Georges, CAL
vert, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Mont
gomery, all within striking distance of
Washington city, with McClellau's army
advanced to Poolsvillc; or Baltimore or
Hartford counties, within the Federal lines,
and beyond the reach of support Cousid.
er that the people of Maryland never had
arms or ammunition-that for fifteen
mouths their houses have been searched,
and their private arms taken from them
that they have not been permitted to hold
meetings, public or private-that they have
been completely isolated, and constantly
subjected to the most vigiiant espionage
that no effort at organization could possibly
be made-that in this condition of things
our army suddenly appears in a remote
portion of the State and as quickly disap,
pears. Surely, sir, no reasonable man
could expect an uprising Of the people of
Maryland under such circup!stances.-
Shall we apply to Maryland less lcnient
test of loyalty than TO New Orleans or Nor
folk, or the many towns aud districts Of the
South which have fallen under Federal do.
minion? Shall we Judge Frederick and
Washington counties more severely than We
do the mahy disatTectcd counties Of Virgin.
ia, Kentucky, Tennessee. and other States