The National tribune., 1898-04-07

effect of yielding to their prayers would
be the destruction of the Government as
we'll as his own death or cabtivity.
The Young Christians, of course, dis
claimed any purpose to produce such q
catastrophe; to which the President re-
piled that their intent9 mattered little,
since the effect Of the course demanded
bv Baltimore could be no other than
this. To a similar but more formal
representation from Gov. Hicks, object
ing to the passage of Northern troops
across any portion of Maryland, Gov.
Seward returned the following most
moderate and conciliatory answer:
PRESIDENT WRITES TO GOVERNOR.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, April %, 1861.
His Excelency, THos. II. HICKS, Governor
of Maryland.
SIR: l have had the honor to receive your
communication of this morning in which you
inform me that you have felt it to be your
duty TO advise the President of the United
States to order elsewhere the troops then Off
Annapolis, and also that no more may be sent
through Maryland; and that you have further
suggested that Lord Lyons be requested to
act as mediator between the contending
parties in our country, to prevent the eflusion
of blood
The President directs me to acknowledge
the receipt of that communication, and TO as
sure you that he has weighed the counsels
which it contains with the respect which he
habtuaIly cherishes for the Chief Magistrates
of the several States, and especially for your
self He regrets, as deeply as any magistrate
or citizen of the country can, that demon
STATIONS against the safety OF the United
States, with very extensive preparations for
the efftlsion of blood, have made it his duty
to cal out the force to which you allude.
The force now sought to he brought through
Maryland is intended for nothing but the
defense of this Capital. The President has
necessarily conlided the choice of the national
highway which that force shall take in coming
to this city to the Acknowledgement conf
manding the Army of the United States,
who, like his only predecessor, is not less dis
tinguished for his humanity than for his 10y
atty, patriotism, and distinguished public
services.
The President instructs me TO add that the
national highway thus selected by the Lieu
tenant-General has been chosen by him, upon
and citizens of Maryland, as the one which,
while route is absolutely necessary, is fur
thest removed from the popuous cities of the
State, and with the expectation that it would,
therefore, be the least Objectionable one.
The President cannot but remember that
there has been time in the history of our
country when n General Of the American
Union, with forces designed for the defense
of its Capital, was not unwelcome anywhere
in the State of Maryland, and certainly not
at Annapolis, then, rs n0iy, tile Capital OF
that patriotic State, and then, Also one Of the
Capitals OF the Union
If 50 years could have1oblserated all the
other noble sentiments of that age III Mary
land the President would be hopeful, never
theless, that there is one that would forever
remain there and everywhere That senti-
ment is that no domestic contention what
ever that may arise among the parties OF this
Republic ought III any case to be referred to
any foreign arbitrament-leastsO f all to the
arbitament of an European monarchy.
/ have the honor to be, with distinguished
consideration, your Excellency's most obedi-
ent servant, WILLIAM II. SEWARD.
THE WAY THE NORTH FELT ABOUT IT.
The spirit in which these negotiations
were regarded throughout the loyal
States is very fairly exhibited in the
following letter:
NEW York, April %, 1861.
To the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
SIR: The people of the Free States have
now been for some time cut Off from COM
munication with the Capital of their conn
try by mob in the city of Baltimore. The
troops of the General Government have
been attacked and shot down by the mob
in their passage through that city in pursu-
ance to the orders of the Government. The
lines OF communication have been destroyed,
and the authority of the General Govern
ment has been set at defiance. This state of
things has been permitted to continue for
nearly a week; and our troops going to the
Capital have been delayed and have had to
find their way by irregular and crcuitous
routes, very much to their inconvenience.
Citizens of the Free States have eitherbee
prevented altogether from visiting the Capt.
tai or from returning thence to their homes,
or have been compelled to run the gantlet,
been subjected to all sorts of insults and dam
ger, and have had to resort to the most cir
cuitous routes by private conveyance and at
exhorbitant expense.
All facilities by mail and telegraph have
been cut off by the same unlawful assemblage
in Baltimore and other parts of Maryland, at
a time when free communication is SO much
required between the Free States and Wash
ington.
The public mind is already excited to the
highest point that this state OF things has
been so long tolerated. and the people are
determined that free and uninterrupted COM
munication with the seat of Government
shall be Immediately established, not by Cir
cuitOus routes, but by the direct lines of COM
munication that they have heretofore travelled
over.
And il is demanded of the Government
that they at once take measures to open
and establish those lines of communication
and that they protect and preserve them
from any further interruption. Unless this
is done the people will be compelled to take
it into their own hands, let the consequences
be What they may, and let them fall where
they will 1t is certainly desirable that this
be done through the regularly constituted
authorities at Washington, and the Govern
ment is earnestly desired to act without
delay.
There is entire unanimity on the part of
the people of the Free States to sustain the
Government and maintain the Union.
i trust, Mr. President that this letter will
not be received unkindly, AZ III writing it
simply do what / feel it to benny duty as &.
citizen to do in this extraordinary state of
things.