Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-05-29

nary topic, but they have rallied to see wha'
can be done in u grave crisis-.for grea'
trust i0,perilled
And yet, with twenty millions of dollars
worth of property demanding through its
immediate representatives better protection,
with these men in the most public manner
possible recognizing its insecurity, there are
yet in the same State set Of old fogy poll
ticians who cry themselves hoarsc with
peace peace when there is no peace -
Like the hunted ostrich who thrusts its head
| into the desert sands, and thus vauly sup
poses that it has escaped the eye Of its pur-
suer, 10 slavery, hunted, would seek to de-
ceive itself. Are not press and people bound
by every consideration of public safety, Of
public interest, to recognize facts which chal-
!enge the attention of the whole world ?
In view of what is now occurring in Ma
rylaud, we propose this morning to enlighten
certain class Of politicians here-men VINO
detcrminately shut their eyes to the signs Of
TIE times. and who still cling to the deluslon
that the policy indicatad by South Carolina
and the Cotton States, was just the policy
for slavery. Most of these gentlemen are
well known in Maryland as staunch believ-
ers in one John c. Brechinr;dgc men who
did their best to make him President, and
would consider him to-day doubtless-if
comfortably located in the White Hcuse-as
all that was orthodox on the subject of slav
( cry.
In February, l849, meeting was held in
/ the city of Louisville, Kentucky, by the
{" friends of gradual Emancipation" l." \
committee reported resolutions declaring
" that they tisclaim all sympathy with po-
litical abolitionisn, regarding cmancipa-
"tior rs of purely local character. That
"thcy were in favor Of inserting a clause in
"thc new Constitution, fixing period at
which slavery shall ceasc--to take effect
at period and in manner that shall
al best suhserve the interests of both master
" and slave. That posiponcment of the
"question will occasion increased difficult
ties
, "Mr. Brcckinridgc offered n substitute, in
which are the following declarations on
"this subject
"That it is our deliberate and solemn con-
eviction that the Msting prosperity and true
"glory Of this Commonwealth will be pro-
"moted by such changes in the Constitution
Gas will gradually ABOLISH SLAVERY and
tend 10 remorc The co'orcd population.
"1hat primary meetings and free, open
and manly discussion be held and had in
"cvcry part of the commonwealth. That
" delegate Convention be held at future
day, to consider the best means of conccn-
"trating public opinion upon the subject of
" Emancipation
THAT the subject belongs exclusively to
rthe citizens Of their own State, and they
"dcprccate the interference Of al other per-
sons whatsoever.
Now, we should be glad If any devotce
Of John G. Breckirridgc would tell the pco-
plc wherein his position thus defined OIL the
subject Of slavery is one whit better than
that Of another Kentuckian-Abraham Lin
coin. Nay, the President takes occasion, by
the power of his high position, to deal more
literally by it than the late head and front
Of Sccesaion-proro'ing, as the President
docs, with 80 gradual emancipation, to pay
the owners OF slaves for .hnir property,
measure which it seemed that Mr. Breckin-
ridge rc".r dreamed Of in putting the ques
tion to his people.
Aud il we come to tlc position occupied
by Mr.. Brccl;inridge on that other great
bone Of contention, tho "rights of slavery in
I" the Territories" he was the next year af-
ter this demonstration of his at Louisville
for anything else than purpose to make
slavery aggressive, since he offered in the
Legislature of Kentucky, in January, 1850,
the following amongst other " Ecso'"ttons: :"
"Resolred, By the General Assembiy IF tic
"IStoi, Of Kentucky. That The question Of
"slavcry in the Territories, being wholly To-
cal and domestic, properly belongs alone
"to the people wl.o inhabt them"
This resolution we see, is quite in accord
ance with the position taken at the Louis
vile meeting the year previous, ard who can
doubt but that if his followers could have
elevated him to the Presidency that lie would
have been considered everything that is
sound on the slavery question
But here comes another kentuckian. oc-
cupying essentially the same position-es-
pecaly in relation to TIE matter most vital
to uE--proposing, better still, to pay the
people of Maryland twenty millions OF dol
lars if they choose to adopt the plan of "sra-
dual emancipation" and the devotecs of
John c. Brccknridgc cannot find words to
express their horror Of the proposal. We
leave the people Of Maryland to pronounce
upon the case at their leisure, from the facts
that we have laid before .hcm. Our busi-
ness now is merely 10 present the f'ro cases
for comparison.