Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-01-15
ICoMMUSIcArEp.

MeSss. Edif0rs The communication
Of Mr.. Montgomery Blair inserted in your
issue before the last attracted my atten-
ton. and / should have noticed it through
your last BEACON but for indisposition.
Mr.. Blair had right of course to defend
himself if he thought it advisable against
the charge of your correspondent X. that
..he and others of Lincoln's Cabinet pro-
posed the hanging ofevery officer and SOL
dier in Confederate uniform without trial. ''
think X must be mistaken. and the state.
ment appears improbable when We con-
slider the well known disposition of our
Yankee brethren to avoid that trifling pro-
ceeding called retaliation. Y. however,
can speak for himself. But as horrible as
;Lc proposal might be. there would have
been more fairness in it than in many Of
the outrages Of the Republicans. because
it would have been a game at which two
could play; whereas they had it all their
own dcvilish way in numbering, robbing
and incarcerating their helpless fellow
citizens in palpable violation of the Con-
sti'ution. the oath to support which was
treated by Republican Administrations as
a farce. Witness the hanging of Mary
Surratt and the imprisoning of DR.. Mudd
and others BY Court Martial, and also the
condemnation Of Benin. G.. Harris. rep
resentative Of the then Fifth District Of
Md. (of course = civilian) by q similar
tribunal.
think Mr.. Blair is himself mistaken
when he says "he will never be forgiven
by many persons (Democrats) for the part
he took when in Lincoln's Cabinet in sup
port of the Union" Our people have
certainly displayed no unforgiving spirit
on account of any Legitimate action to save
the Union. but have in frequent iustan-
ccs advanced to the highest positions Of
trust and confidence some of the strongest
advocates for the Union--among other
names. the name Of that distinguished ex-
Senator. the Honorable George Vickers,
than whom Maryland has never had in
Congress a representative who combined
more excellent qualifications occurs to me
in this connection. 1t is true, he was
''ringed' out Of the place by our last Leg
isla,ure. but the disiuterested aud intel
ligent citizens Of our State will not quick
ly forget his Efforts and his services in
their behalf. 1t is q matter Of great re-
gret to one who would have our public
men rewarded according to the weight of
their merits to see the high Offices Of our
State the victims Of contcnding rings
The attention Of the people ought to be
drawn to this outrage upon propriesy and
honor.
When, therefore, Mr.. Blair is unfavoy-
ably recollected By any Of our people, j.
is because Of bis course before he entered
Lincoln's Cabinet. when he acted 50 inim-
ically to their interests and feelings and
stsblished rights-when he was an ab-
olitionis. and frce-soiler. and that. too, in
defiance Of the decision in the bred Scott
case and the unansweraLle argument Of
Chief Justice fancy in the opinion he de-
livcred-whcn he acted with those who
declared tina; by the war power of the
Constitution slavery could be abolished in
tine Of war. and then. to use his own
phrase, hoaRded on the slave holding
States to resist BY arms the invasion Of
their rights. when the. said war power
might be used for the overthrow Of those
rights under preteuce Of saving the Un-
ion. They refer to the period when be
acted in such manner and avowcd such
principles as entitled him to the bad
eminence" of q seat in Lincoln's Cabinet.
Also for remaining in that Cabinet Of
scoundrels. rs he calls them. for over three
years. apparently. At least. giving his coun-
,enancc to the most outrageous violations
Of the Constitution. which they all we're
sworn TO support Also for preventing.
while Post Master General. the transmits
sion By mail of . number Of democratic
newspapers. tecauss they condemned the
course aud policy Of THAI long to be re-
membersd Administration. showing . de-
termination to bring the freedom of speech
and Of the press in subsection to their ty-
ranny. His pasri.sis efforts to save the
Cuioa viii not readily e6ase the resolice-
ton OF these Transactions.
l shalt say nothing in regard 10 the
services aud benefits eauaerated By M.
Blair. and which be claims TO have ren-
dered to the people Of,hs South. far whom
be Expresses such ardent Affection: bus