St. Mary's gazette., 1867-08-01
IlfnAMrNIrAIED
To the Editor ofhe st. Mary's Gazette

ter inserted in your last issue. ludulSod
in imagining which of our newspapers
would likely give it favorable criticism
if they remarked on it at all. Among the
number, of course, included our Old friead
the Baltimore Gazette Its editorials, dur
ing the past year. from which | had re-
ceiyed sympathizing impressions, had in
part encouraged me to keep up the ''man-
hood and consistency for which the Gazette
expresses SO much respect, and | could Dot
bat ,hiak it would view my letter as an
effort in the right direction. | am disap-
pointed. Ir.stcad Of kind and favorable
reception of my letter, as | bad from the
past course Of that Journal reason to ex-
pect, am for the expressions contained
10 it, severely slashed at, and strongly
marked as one simply carried away by
passions and influences which unfit him to
act as an adviser, and which give to hls
utterances only power for evil.
When | refused in Congress to vote sup
plies to the L. State. Government to carry
on the late war-when | uttered most SID
cerely the prayer "that the United States
might never suhjugate the South, the ed :
i,or of the Gazette coufesses he was rebel
enough to commend aud respect my imam
hood and consistency :" but now when |
say that She Maryland Convention should
let the negro alone-should not by their
course endorse and confirm the course OF
the Radicals in deprlving our people OF
their property in their slaves--should not
admit the negro 10 testify against the white
race, at least in the present condihon OF
the State and coantry-that we should not
do anv thing OF these subjects which might
look like Welding to the imperious de-
mands and haughty threats of those whom
the Gazette itself considers the worst enc
mics of the country, am to be condcmn-
ed, by mere flourish of an editors pen,
as an "unsafe counsellor.
| If the editor had advanced any argu-
ments or reasons in support of the opposite
side of these questions, which | now, for
the first time, know be advocates, I-should
have been pleased to have read them. and
indeed, possibly, he might have convinced
me of my erroneous opinions 1t might
have been well to have done so, because, |
may truly tell the editor, that there are a
me, and as he knows, very considerable
and intelligent minority Of the Convention
itself think as do on these questions.
But without undertaking to prove him
self eft adviser on these subjects, he
endeayors to change the only issue which
the people take any interest in, or give
any Importance to, into one of a mere
personal character. | am, in his opln-
ion, carried away by passions and in-
huences which unfit me to act as an ad-
wiser" If the advice is in itself good,
sensible people will hardly reject it be-
cause it is delivered in an ardent and enl
phatie manner. The opinions themselves
NAV be most deliberately formed and
convictions may be so strong as, in connec-
nection with circumstances to justify the
most decided language III giving them
expression.
But. Mr.. Editor, is it not a rarity for
the Baltimore Gagete to rebuke lmpas-
stoned language, especially when used to-
wards the Radicals ? Does its present
position indicate that we are to expect
from it hereafter only the most acqui-
cscing course and the most ''dtspdsston-
ate" lanruage when the Radicals are the
subject Are we to have from it no
more
"Thoushts that breathe and words that burn -
trust its perversion is only temporary.
Since I read the criticism of the Bal
timore Gu2ete, | have re-read my letter
to YOU, and | am now able coolly and
dispassionately to say, that | am still of
the same opinions on the subjects on
which it treats, and | am so thoroughly
convinced they are correct and that the
people ought to act in accordance with
them, that | regret the Gazette did not,
give them the benefit of its circulation,
even though it had been attended with
still stronger personal invectlvc or his
keenest satire | have had my share OF
/ that from other sources and L expect L
might survive it even when coming from
the Baltimore GuSetie.
But in regard to the subjects treated of
in my letter, let me ask the editor OF the
Baltimore Gazette, if he can discover eth
er necessity CT propriety in throwing these
ulScOruant tlCutittS uAO ttit N'uo'i' i'iOp.
when, to say the least, it would be Just as
palatablc, TO those, who think as the edl-
tor ooes, without these provisions Is he
''safe or wise counsellor" who will pro
woke opposition to the Constitution by IN
scrting in it clauses that CRATE upon the
feelings. passions aud convictions of those
who would, otherwise. be active in its sup
port, and this to be done too without the
least possible necessity Are such cx-
periments to be made, and is it expected
that opposition to them is to be overcome,
by charging their opponents with being
controlled by bad passions ana improper
influences? Why, | may ask. should the
Convention subject their work nnnecessa-
rly and dchantly to the opposition OF that
large class of their own political friends
who are 50 meek as to be unable in the es-
timation Of the Baltimore Gd>ett, to treat
these subjects, d.spassionotcly? g.?
The fact is. sir. on these subjects pas
sion aud reason work together. Reason
tells us clearly that the acts perpetrated
by radicalism are expressions, and passion