Maryland free press., 1866-07-05


I saS-we :ise place wild, pleasure To the iollow-
log reply ofHr. j. o. Brining of Boonsbors' to
70 a'fierce assault made on him by the Boonsbero
Odd Feiiop short time since. 1t will be noticed
that it was originally Intended for Insertion in
the Odd Fellow, the editor of which promised,
''without qualification, " to publish il, but after
wards under ihe lash pf.his masters, refused to
comply with his promise. This is nothing more
than Mr.. D. might have expected at the hands Of
Radical, as deception ana deceit Is ont. Of the
cardinal principles Of the party. This Editors
protestations Of opposition to negro suffrage are
worth about a. much as his promises to do justice
to an opponent. Mr.. BIS defence speaks for it.
self, though are think it was entirely unnecessary
as his character and political standing in this
county is such as is not likely to be furnished by
anything emai,ating from the Odd Fellow, or any
Of the jay yhiiwing fraternity !; ..,. a.a..
Iy1,.ls, - .2i t'+.F6rMe odd Fator.
| Mr. EDIToR In yourlast issue you undertake
to ''show up my political record, and express
your regret if you unjustly Mound the feelings OF
any one. believing that, you would not be un-
willing TO lend me small space in your paper,
to set myself right, ! send you a few, remarks in
ton that managed 10 dodge ''ihe issue ON sew
eral OcYsions wlien in the Legislature, allow me
to say Wat there is not a man in the community
who knows me, wke'does not know that this is
ia!se. Whatever do is .elways done, ,fearlessly
and above board, and being always responsible
for my acts while IL member of the House Of Del
egates voted, when possible, upon every mea-
sure. Your main dependence To prove that
have cen, or am ''disloyal, I" consists in my vo-
ting for u resolution Introduced by Mr.. Wallis,
chairman of the committee of Federal relations,
declaring that the State of Maryland as II meni-
Der of the Union, would 'yice ber consent to n
'.pcdcgM and immediate recognition of the indie
pcndcnce Of the Confederate States" believing
tlat the attempt to 'coercc them will only add
slaughter and hate to impossibility." am per-
iectly willing 10 stand up to this record and take
your o'ra standards as n test of loyalty. When
that resolution was passed we were apparently
just entering on IA long, bloody, and doubtful
war, the end of which no man could see. From
The position of Maryland nothing could be cxpec-
ted but ruin and devastation, and under such
circumstances rs choice of cells, voted thatthe
State, in her sovereign capacity, as she had n
legal and moral right to do Sc, o,sh0uld Consent
to those Southern States going in peace; no vio-
lence was recommended contrary TO law no for
chile rendering oftlle ties Which bound the South
to the general Government was advised; but
only in case apyority of the other States would
lumber. ltwas simply choice between hor-
ribie and interminnble war apparently, and a
peaceful separation, the necessity of which no man
dept' red more ;han myself Thousands Of men
who have always been regarded as good and
loyfil citizens haze entertained the same opinions
II this he treason, with Patrick Henry l say,
make the most Of it." But let us test this Y0u
are u great admirer of Senator Creswell, who has
just sent you six Congressional Globes; oflloracc
Grcely, Governor Hicks, and you follow impli-
city the lead of the Baltimore 1R,ericdn What
have fhey said and done? =? Let us see.
At Elkton (Md., in 1861, after five States had
seeded, Hon. j. A. Creswell, at large meeting,
us chairman of the Committee on resolutions,
brought in Il series (Which he had framed, the
repeal her obnoxious bills, impeding the opera
lion OF the Fugitive Slave BILL, and, moreover,
satisfy the Just demands of the South, giving heu
guarantees, that Maryland should take sides wih
die Bordr States and join tie Souih."' lie a'sJ
introduced another resolution bitterly denouncing
the lion. Henry Winter Davis for his ''coercve
policy which was withdrawn at the suggestion
Of Judge 4. Chambers. The other resolutions
unanimously passed. II am disloyal, Senator
Creswell was ten times more SO and YET you en-
dorse him. Horace Grcelt, the notorious aboi-
tionist, but TO his honor be II said from principle
1t is well known, for months after the war beg,,il
openly advocated the peaceful separation of the
Southern States, and declared they had the right
10 go sp Ke OF our nag as the 'fdahting ne, and
yel you su'hu by sm' ana recommend his paper to
your readers; why would you condemn me for
uoinS ..a what ne did IL am disloyai, so Is the
pnhosopner
COY. HICKS declared 1, a speech in Baltimore
city, before thousands Of persons that he would
rather his fright arm should be plucked from its
socket IMAM that the North should invade the
Sou'ii, ana her troops pass through Maryland" !"
oEli no one doubts the honesty and patriotism
Vi llla' uerired statesman, 10 spite OF his declar-
auon. '. bu. tiie most giaring specimen Of incon-
sls!ency Is IN the Bpltimore american. AT the
opehih2 ci ,he war IL was strongly in favor OF
States rights; For months and even after the