The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-08-27
A Peace Mans Pla form.


secession, State Rights, &c. &C., party of
Maryland. He has passed many years in
public life, he has ability personal integrity,
and, what is much more rare in his party.
political honesty. Mr.. Dent is member of
the Constitutional Convention. He made a
speech last week of which we find the fol-
lowing in the report cf the proceedings:
Mr.. Dent, of St Mary's opposed the
oath. aS it was in violation Of the Constilu-
ton Of the United States. We are on the
brink of ruin now, and the only hope of
saving the country is the election of Novem-
Der next. The election of Peace Pres
ident is the only salvation of the nation
and not the election of the present incum
bent of the Presidential chair. He did not
favor peace which would destroy our ma
tionality, but at the same time he did not
believe that American nationality consisted
in States lines, for freedom and good gov
ernment could exist il, five or six States as
well as in greater number.
On the conclusion Of Mr.. Dents remarks.
Mr.. Ridgcly, of Baltimore county. asked
him if he would be in favor of a peace re-
cognizing the Southern Coniederacy as an
independent Government
MI. iJcnl Sdlu WONlu.
Mr.. Sands desired to know if he was in
favor of including Maryland in the Southern
Coniedcracy?
Mr.. Dent said if the majority of her peo-
pie so decided, he was.
Mr.. NegIy asked Mr. Dent if the question
whether Maryland should ally her fortunes
with the South was submitted To the people
if he would vote for it?
MIR. Dent answer frankly would pre-
fer an association with the people Of the
South.
Here we have from a man only little
more rash because q great deal more hon
est, than his fellow Narty men, the distinct
announcement, that his political creed. the
one for which he means to contend in the
'elcction in November next is first the
recognition of the Southern Confcderacv.
and second the going in thereto of Maryland
and such other States as by ''majorty of
the people" shall SO decide That such is,
and for two years has been, the plan laying
at Tic bottom of all the schemes of the OPP
position party in the loyal States. no man
can doubt. Whatever names they may have
pretended differences. they may, from mo-
tives of policy have persisted in, this is. and
has been, the only solution of their diff
culty-namely, the restoration of the Dem
ocratic party to power. They know that a
torcible suppression of the rebellion drives
to the galows or exile their fellow Democrats
of the South, by whose aid alone they have
retained power for thirty years past. They
want the Union restored, not that that the
blessings of its free institutions may. in the
words of Andrew jackson. descend alike on
rich and poor, but that they may have jeff
Davis, and Cobb, and Tombs and Wigful
back again in a National Convention, to
nominate Democratic candidate for the
Presidency. SO that its territorial limits
are restored and Lees and Hoods armies
have a chance to vote for the Democratic
candidate, they will throw away the Dccla-
ration of Independence, and the Constitu-
ton; and everything else dear to a true
American, everything for which jefferson
contended and Washington fought. They pre-
fer the Constitution the Confederate States
because they know that ii is destined to grow
into monarchy us naturally as the catterpil-
lar grows into the butterfly, and they are too
tenacious of power to trust it day longer
than possible i'll the hands of vascillatine
majoritcs.
Viewed in this light the action of the Chi
cago Convention becomes plain. McClel
Ian, or some other nominally war man,
will be nominated to ease the consciences
of some Democrats who still adhere to the
party, and who are not quite ready to be
called traitors, but he will by means o. an
vigorously drawn and doubly worded plat
form be made entrel! acceptable to Mr..
Dent and all men like him. We ask every
honest Democrat in this State to take notice
that these men who openly declare their pre-
ference for dissolution Of the Union, and
who want Maryland to crawl into the back
door Of the Southern Confederacy will
heartily support the nominee of the Chicago
Convention, although he will be what is
called war Democrat. We ask them to
notice that the Woods and Vallandighaim.
and Long and Ben. Norris, and Mr.. Dent.
to say nothing of the lesser lights here in
our own county, who have damned McClel-
Ian and swore they would see him n--
before they would vote for him,--will two
weeks hence be throwing up their hats for
him. aud cheering him to the skies, because
the Chicago Convention will develop this
great fact that the war is to cease, and the
Union be restored by an acceptance of Jef
Davis Constitution.