Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-05-06
1lnlitlral.
From the St. Mary's Beacon.
To the Democratic Voters of the Fifth
Congressional District.

Fellow- Citizens Il feel greatly graft
fed at observing and learning from vari-
Gus communications which have come to
INC that the Democrats of this Congress
sional district are becoming much exer-
cised by the condition of our State and
country, in consequence ofpolitical events
which have lately transpired. | shall be
happy to think that have in any degree
been. instrumental in arousing them from
the apathy into which they seem to have
fallen, and in directing their minds to de-
vising the best mode of making defence
and obtaining relief. In such a crisis as
the one now upon us, equivocation and
false pretence, no matter from what mo-
tive adopted, produce not only the con-
tempt of our enemies but invite still fur
ther aggressions and insults. In coun-
try like ours and with people who cherish
the fame of their ancestors, and who have
the principle of true liberty and indepen-
dence instilled into their hearts, defiance
to acts of tyranny will bring relief much
sooner than timid subserviency and sub
mission. The latter will sink the mind
and heart into the most lethargic slavery.
In becoming an Independent candidate,
with the decided avowals in my former
communication, of course l did not intend
to weaken but to nerve and strengthen
the Democratic party by preventing con-
fusion as we'll as by arousing from stagna-
ton. In such condition, when politi-
clans are caucusing and taking advice
from any but their constituents, a threat
ened independent candidacy is we'll calcu-
lated to act like charm or bomb-shell
upon their schemes and to ventilate the
opinions of the people.
[ have no further comment or criticism
to make upon the course of the Central
Committee or that Of the Legislature, nor
do deem any necessary, for I believe the
Democrats of this district, and I hope of
the whole State, now their attention has
been called to it, will in due time ignore
such timid counsels. As I now feel con-
fdent that you will take actiue parts in
your primary meetings, I have no fear
but that your conventions will. when they
meet, rescind the resolutions of the Cen
trail Committee, and in their stead will lay
down and spike down as the great distinc-
tive plank in the Democratic platform,
"that the so-called XVIII Amendment is
not LAWS unconstitutional in manner
and matter-is void and of no force, and
is not entitled to the obedience Of any ci-
tizen Of the United States" See to it,
my friends, that this or something like it,
will be the foundation of your action re-
gardless of consequences, or your condi-
tion will be the most abject. Should you
fail in this crisis, instead of addressing
you as fellow-citizens of free country,
you may with more propriety, but with a
burning blush, be addressed as fellow
subjects or slaves of more than "thirty
tyrants"-
''Must we but weep O er days more blessed,
Must ve but blush? Our fathers 6zed.''
We will all understand what such declar-
ations, above advised, mean and they
will bring to our minds (not, hope, east
ly to be forgotten) the fraud, villany and
CyEanuy ny WHICH tne mouStrouS act was
consummated.
Hoping and sincerely believing that
such will be your course, when you as
semble in your primary meetings and con-
ventions, the object had in view, when
[ addressed you and announced myself an
Independent candidate for Congress has
been fully satisfied, and [ therefore most
hopefully and cheerfully withdraw from
that position. BENZ. G. HARRIS.