The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-09-19

STATE OF MARYLAND. }
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ANNAPOLIS,
September >, 1868. }
Hon. Francis Thomas:
DEAR SIR.-In the conversation had
with you few days since upon the sub
iects al present agitating the people of
the STATE you were pleased TO express
the opinion that the views | then pre-
scented on these subjects might, If brought
to public attention, lead to Il more accu-
rate understanding of our position and
purposes by the members Of the Admin
lstratiGn, and tend to harmonic the diff
ferences at present SO unhappily existing
among the Union men of the State.
Whilst l have no reason to expect
such results from such means, and have
no inclination to obtrude my opinions
upon any one, yet US have never hest
tateh to express them, and should be de-
lighted to think that by any means these
differences which, as it seems to
me, there is SO little cause-could DC re-
-concied, | have concluded to recur to
the subject in the shape Of this commu-
Mica ton.
From the commencement Of the war to
the present moment the loyal people of
our State, constituting, as we both know,
a vast majority of its population, have
been absorbed with the thought Of so
prosecuting that war that the rebellion
against which it is waged should be sub.
,dued in the spcediest and most efcctual
manner. When they have thought at
all on other issues, or turned their atten-
ton to subjects of State policy or local
institutions, it has been always with the
determination to make them all subordi-
nate to the great purpose which engross-
ed their most anxious thoughts, and to
the accomplishment Of which thcy ever
have been, and sill are, ready to make
all else subserrient.
The question of slavery and the best
method of disposng of that institution
has, of course, engaged much of their
attention. The abstract consideration
of the questlon-li,tle as they were dis
posed to embarrass more important is
sues by Its agitation-was, to some ex-
tent, unavoidable.
1t was the mighty subject Of the
South's pretended wrongs, and out OF
which they constructed the pretext for
their rebellion. 1t was, also, continual
ly brought to their attention by the re-
peated messages Of the President recon-
mending it to their consideration but,
more than all, the effects Of the war up
on that Species Of property forced the
subject upon their notice, and compelled
them to consider some plan of disposing
of it whilst anything valuable in it re-
manned to be disposed of. The discus
sions which have ensued have developed
various phases of opinion.
The greater part, if not all, Of the Sc
-cessionlsts among us, still strangely
cling to the hope that the rebellion would
succeed, the Southern Confederacy be
established, and Maryland be made a
part of it, have been, as a matter OF
course, opposed to every mode of cman-
cpation, and determined to cling to sla-
very as the great pillar of their new Re-
public. Bitterly, however, as they may
have hitherto been bent on that purpose,
the stubborn facts of their situation the
""n'pS P'oSPSSlo VI thc IcOclllOu. anu
the steady depreciation Of slave proper
ty, are fast opening their eyes to the ne
cessties of the ease and of providing by
prudent Legislation for such of it as is
left. Besides the class above mention.
ed, there ara doubtless some-in my
opinion, however, u small proportion Of
the true Union men of the State-whe
from carly associations or other inAuen,
GF-4"'