Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-01-26

Having concluded the recital Of bis acts,
not one of which indicates any other; desire on
his part that We can perceive, than to rstard
the operations of the United States Govern
nsnt to the advantage of the Rebels. Gov
srnor Hicks thinks it bis duty to advise the
Legislature of bis " convictions Of the proper
course 70 bs pursued by Maryland in tho
emergency which Is upon u.s." Read those
convictions and renew your faith in g his firm
and steadfast adherence to the cause Of the
Union" He says in his Message. page 6:
II honestly and most earnestly esier'ain the
conuiction that the only safety Of Maryland
"hes in preserui~s neutral position betioeen
our brethren of the North and South" And
on the same page:
Entertaining these views. cannot coun-
"sel Maryland to take sides against the Gen
"eral Government until It shall commit out
"rages upon us. whteh could justify us IN
resisting its authority"
lnas WIS the pest nc COuiu w. Ao Paui'
otto appeal to support the Union-no effort to
secure aid for the threatened Capital of the
Nation-simply compulsory neutrality until
the General Government should commit out
RACES greater than passing troops over our
soil, the right to do which be had previously
stated had been admitted by 'our most learned
and intelligent citizens, after the commits
sion of such outrages then hiscounsel appears
to be " take rides against the General Govern
ment."
Such is the historic record which Thomas
Holiday Hicks has written for himself. 1t
is part of his autobiography. 1t may be
found amongst the archives Of the State 10
that for once interesting volume, labelled.
" House and Senate Documents. 1861" No
c1punging resolution can wipe it out. 1t is
part of the staple material which every his
torian of the Great Rebellion must handle,
and it has already been handled BY several of
them in manner no wise complimentary to
the Ex Governor 1t exhibits siding with
the South and fear of the North, well ealcu-
lated to encourage outbreaks like that Of
April 10, 1861. Who can doubt that if we
had had decided and courageous Unionist in
the Guberna,orial chair at that time, that the
rebellious riots which disgraced our State,
never would have occurred.
To come to the next claim of the petitioner
as set forth in his petition, let US see how far
his course as Senator justi6es the assumption
of g his unwavering support of the Admins
tration" What were the distinguishing acts
of the Administration during his first session ?
The Compensated Emancipation Bill, and the
Finance Bill. establishing the National Bank
ing system. lie opposed both. True, he
voted u,en for the army and appropriations to
sustain them. So did the Democrats.
He is claimed to have been an earnest ad-
vocate of the Free Constitution of the State
and that its success is due mainly to the eI-
ertions of his friends. When and where did
this advocacy take place And what friends
of his carried through the great work? 1t
was done by the people under the active agi-
tation and leadership of somebody. Who
ever did it can show record-a recent and
public one Where is Hicks speech in favor
of Emancipation ? What vote did he inhu-
ence in its favor? We have known him only
as part of the rear guard Of the retardation
party-allied always with tho so-called Con-
servatives, who threw every difficulty in the
way Of achieving our State, freedom. When
the people had gone so far ahead that he Saw
it was impossible to stop it. he gave in his
slow adhesion $50 it is said by his friends) but
he made no public effort in behalf of Emauci-
patton either in the Senate or on the busting,
although his colleague, McClellanitc, did.
We hate shams. sham representatives as
we'll as other shams. We are not disposed to
see the real leaders ofthe Emancipation move
ment, whose names are too well known to
need mention here, stripped of their laures,
we'll earned in two years Of energetic labor,
and noble sacrifice, by a pretentious dema-
gogue aud egregious political humbus
We clip the following from late Chicago
paper which shows the Northwestern estimate
of our great Marylander. 1t is the voice oil
postsrity and he will do well to ponder over
it.
HTbis paragraph is afoat:
The Baltimore Clipper advocates the choice Of
| Thomas Holiday Hicks as of those 10 be hOlOred
| by placing statue--two of which are 10 be con-
tributed by each State-n the Senate Hail OF the
Capitol at Washington, and furthermore urges tina
the statue should be Of gold.
Now that may be the very sincere opinion
of the Baltimore Clipper, but when We re,
member the vascilating and point no7point
conduct of Governor Hicks at the outstf>p!
the war, when the Capitol was imperilled md
Maryland filled with treason We are rather Of
the opinion that his statue, ifhc deserves auy
should be constructed of putty For further