The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-03-06

restore and secure these blessings to the
people of the United States, even though
a number of their former associates have
organization, in the name of heaven let
us raise our voice for it. Shall this earn
est cry for peace be stiited at the bidding
of host of fanatical and cowar,ily edi-
tors, aided by an army Of greedy COLI
tractors and public leeches, stimulating
an ignorant mob to denounce and attack
us as traitors and secessionists? We
know it shall not, and this day do We
proclaim our duty to our country and
intention to perform it.
The Cabinet of Abraham Lincoln have
affected to treat all the seeded States as
still members OF the Union. If So
surely they are entitled to ali those priyi
lagos which the Constitution gives them,
while they are also subject TO its penal
ties. Yet war i'll all its forms, by land
and sea, with all its seventies, has
been levied against these States, and the
forms and most positive limits Of the
Constitution, which is the supreme law
of. this land, to the President and Cabinet
as to the humblest private citizen, have
been steadily and contemptuously disrc-
garded in its prosecution. The act Of
war is solemn act at any time; in q war
against our brethren of the South it is
surely tehfold SO. BY the express terms
of the Constitution. the right to declare
war is delegated to Congress. The Pre>i-
dent has no such power. But he has,
without even the forms of submission to
Congress. in palpable violation of the
charter of government, which is his
guide as it is ours, summoned gigantic
army, and that, too, for an extended
time. exceeding the term limited by the
Constitution for the appropriation to SUP
port armed forces. The question ui
peace or war, | say, was never reposcd in
any President or Cabinet. Congress
alone possesses the power to declare war.
and in the present case l protest that our
people have never been allowed any ol,-
portunity to vote and express their
wishes on this momentous and terrible
issue. Had it been given them last
Winter, believe our beloved Union
would this day have been firmly knit by
the bonds of good will and good faith
which originally formed it and alone can
preserve it.
But the infractions of the Constitution
by those officials into whose hands the
reins of government have passed have
not ended here. The invasions Of per
sonal liberty in our sister State of Mary
land have been such as to Justly alarm
and almost dishearten those who believed
our free institutions were not mere forms
to be blotted out at the caprice or tyr
amy of our temporary rulers.
The seizure of Geographic messages.
the invasion Of the privacy of the mails,
the arrest and imprisonment without
judicial process of citizens have follow
ed each other in startling succession.
SUCH ACTS UsURPATIoSs.
These acts are simple usurpations hot
only without color of law, but against
express rights.
You and | are citizens of Delaware.
To her laws and government we owe ale
glance. Through our State we owe ale
glance to the Federal government. of
which she is member. But as State
officials can command us to no duty IN
known to State laws, neither can a Fed
eral officer claim any authority over Us
in matters not within his constitutional
and legal control. A palpable infraction
of our written charter of government by
our rulers ,iustifies disobedience upon the
part of a citizen as much as lawful OF
ders are entitled to loyal compliance.
And. fellow citizens, never in our IA
tinn's history were her citizens called
upon more strictly to call their agents to
account than now. The So-callcd mill
tary necessities are beguiling and dan
gerous in the extreme. The conquest of
the South will be a poor recompen>e to
the North, if our system of government
he the price We are to pay for it. Obedi-
ence and good faith toward 4 govern
ment which protects him is the primary
duty of good citizen: but where that
government is one of limited powers.
preservation of individual liberty against
the aggressions of rulers or majoritic>.
let us take heed lest in seeking to place
yoke upon others We awake to lind one
upon our own necks.
Who can say with the present war
measures of the administration and the
spectacle of Maryland before us. how
long Il trace of constitutional liberty will
remain for the other States in the Cniou.
and how soon stern military de>poti>m
may usurp the place of the Constitution
and the laws. Let us as freemen stand
prepared in all lawful ways to resist the
inauguration of such degrading con,i-
ton of affairs, 10 matter how plausible
or specious may be the plea under which
it is urged.
Let no man believe that he may ever
safely violate a great principle. The
poisoned chahce will some day be com
mended to his own lips. And if We to-
day pass lightly over the outrage upon
the rights Of John Merryman, We may
tomorrow mourn in our own persons Of
similar wrongs to his. If he has trans
crossed the laws, let them be fully vn,ii-
Gated. But it has been our boast that
the humblest person, nay the mearest
feon. has civil rights preceding his pun
ishment which no ruler can justly de
prive him Of Let us stand by the laws.
PLEA FOR PEACE.
The matter. i'll conclusion, | ask you
to hear and consider carefully.
4 gentleman from New Castle county,
who has been your United States Senator
for more than ten years past, | have the
honor to call my father. If there he one
thing he has tried fully and fairly to Ito.
it has been to represent the people Of
this State. And YOU will do him the JUS
tice to say he never deceived You, nor
ever will. His worst foe will agree IT,
that. The present issues which distract
our country were not in existence when
he was chosen as your representative.
and of late. as you are aware, havin.
taken decided ground upon them. he has
been called upon by voices many and
loud to resign his seat in the Senate.
The motives of those who have been
most prominent in such requests arc of
little moment. although their disguise is
in many cases but fimsy. To 4 just man
however, 4 sense of good faith and self
respect would prevent his remaining at
any time in a false position. If therefore,
he processes IL represent people, il must
be i'll fact not i'll name only. The Legs
lature now i'll existence were not elected
with reference to present issues. nor can
they claim to represent public sentiment
in regard to them. The proposito ion of
Mr.. Bayard then is that the Legislature
shall resign their seats, and he will then
resign his seat in the Senate. The Gov
ernor under proyiSiorS of the CnOSt i'm,