American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-10

AssArolls, Jan. 2s, 1854.


MEssRs. ED1roRs This has been a
most beautiful and pleasant day. The sun
shone remarkably bright for this time of
year. and it was indeed bright day for
:. Nv Maryland" The sun of Liberty
rose anew in the hearts of this people
The Bill to call Convention to consider
the Emancipation question, was passed by
both houses Of the Legislature by large
maiority-45 to II in the House of Del
egates, and, understand, only 2 opposing
its passage in the Senate. | was not able
to be present to-day to hear the close Of
the discussion, but last night | heard Mr..
CLARK, of the House, deliver speech two
hours long, opposed to the bill. Claiming
as he did to represent the strongest slave
holding county in the State he made as
strong a disunion speech as a man possi-
bly, could, occupying a seat as representa-
tive of loyal State. 1t was the fine eff
fort of lawyer in bad cause, before a
jury that have already passed judgement ;
his words fell like the dying words Of the
thrice convicted culprit from the scaffold,
pitteous but unheeded. Maryland rejoices
tonight as she has not done since the in
vader that sought to tie her to the car of
degeneration, was defeated on the battle
field of Antietam. Mr.. Clark arraigned
the State of Maryland on the plea of con
sisteney lie implored the spirit of
Washington, who resigned his commission
in the hall in which he spoke, saying
q he was a STAKEHOLDER" but the spirit of
Washington did not come to his aid. My
cheek bhshed for shame when he men
toned his name, for he emancipated all
his slaves ON his death-bed; | could see
the noble form of the father of our coun-
try, as he spoke, point to his last will and
testament and say to Maryland, "Do thou
likewise"
He referred to the clause in the Con
stitution of Maryland, passed unanimous
w. "That the legislature should have no
power to interfere with the relation be-
tween master and slave;' but all this was
of no avail This Statute the boastful
STAKEHOLDER has thought unchangable; but
The world moves on, and he has been
taught that what isnot right must change.
Maryland has worn the wooden shoes long
enough at last she is bound to throw
them off. and join in the march Of prog
ress the present generation are deter
mined not to depart without leaving be-
hind them, footprints in the sands Of time
to cheer posterity..
Mr.. Clark exhorted the people of Mary
land to hold on to their slaves, they might
yet be valuable, that the Union would be
reorganizod and Southern and Nationa
men would hold the reigns of government
Oh Mr. Clark, Maryland could not heal
that. she knows that no national organiza.
tion viii ever again exist in this country
in which slavery will rule, on in which
her miserable parasites can prostitute the
strong arm of the government, to insult
high heaven by bringing back the fugi.
tiye--thcsc days have passed away, and
should southern brother soon hold the
reins of government they will be the rens
Of freedom and the best thing you could
do, Mr.. Clark, would be to go to work and
learn to earn the bread you eat, for you
have lived on the sweat of unpaid toi
ltng enough.
Mr.. Clark appealed to the people O
Maryland to save their laborers, that to
| baeco, corn, and wheat never were dearer
but they say, therefore let us have nj
slaves for free labor will produce three
times as much of these staples as slave la
Dor, and increase the value of the soil OF
which it grows fve-fold. Maryland woulc
indeed be foolish to listen to your foolish
song, and Mr. Clark youi would do well t.
note that the time is soon coming when to
speak of the high price of tobacco anC
wheat in Maryland, will be an item o
news to the producer, as it is now to thc
master.
And now let me tell the good people o
| Pennsylvania, what was Mr. Clark's las
hope and last argument upon this grea
question He says if the Union is re
stored the South will come to your aid il
maintaining slavery, and to top the eli
max, raising himself up as if to look owe
the Allegheny mountains, he exclaimel
with great hope and earnestness, eth
Democracy of the North will come to you
/ and. Here let me congratulate, tn
friends of our country who labored so hare
in the North last fall at our State elections
you did not lexpect to see such fruit from
your labor so soon; what weight thos
words of Mr. Clark would have had il
this hour of trial for Maryland, if the de
mocracy had carried the elections last fall
but as it was, in this struggle Marylan'
saw inscribed on your banners onward,
and now she will throw off her chains an
join you in the march of human progres
and national greatness.
And my dear Democratic friends of tn
North l love you, for | know that man
of you would love to do good but | coul,
not help but blush for you when l sat her
and heard your very name used to obscur
the rising sun of liberty in Maryland
let me entreat of you as you love God, +
make yourselves no more stumbling
block to his wise and holy purposes.
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER.
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