Year: 1861




zens of Maryland, giving his reasons for refus-
ing to convene the Legislature. 1t fills two col
umns of the American, and abounds with most
emphatic Union sentiments. The following are
81 firmly believe that division of this gov
ernment would inevitably produce civil war
The secession leaders of South Carolina, and the
ianatical demagogues of the North, have alike
proclaimed that such will be the result, and no
man of sense, in my opinion, can question it
What could the Legislature do in this crisis, If
convened, to remove the present troubles, which
beset the Union? We are told by the leading
spirits of the South Carolina Convention, that
neither the election of Mr.. Lincoln nor the non
execution of the Fugitive Slave Law, nor both
combined, constitute their grievances. They de.
clare that the real cause Of their discomfort
dates as far back as 1888. Maryland, and every
other State in the Union, with united voice
then declared the cause sufficient to justify the
course of South Carolina. Can it be the people
who then unanimously supported the course Of
Gen. jackson, will now yield their opinions at
the bidding of modern secessionists? have
been told that the position of Maryland should
be defined, so that both sections could under
stand it. Do any really misunderstood her po-
sition? Who that wishes to understand it cam
not fail to do so if the action of the Legislature
would be simply to declare that Maryland was
with the South in sympathy and feeling-that
she demands from the North the repeal of the
offensive unconstitutional Statutes, and appeals
to it for new guaranties-that she wait a reason
able time for the North to purge her statute
books, so as to do justice to her Southern breth-
rem, and if these appeals are in vain, will make
common cause with her sister border States in
resistance to tyranny if need be. 1twould only
be saying What the whole country well knew and
what may be said much more etfectually by her
people themselves than by the Legislature, cho-
sen eighteen months since, when none of these
questions were before them That Maryland is
a conservative State all know, who know her
people or her history. The business and agri
cultural classes, planters, merchants and labor
ing men-those who have the real stock in the
community, who would be forced to pay the taxes
and do the lighting, are the persons who should
be heard in preference to excited politicians
many Of whom having nothing to lose from the
destruction of the government, may hope to de-
rive some gain from the ruin OF the State. Such
ruin would naturally urge you to pull down the
pillars of this accursed Union, which their allies
at the North have denOminated q covenant with
hell. The people of Maryland, if LETT to them.
selves, would decide with scarcely an exception,
that there is nothing in the present causes of
complaint, to justify immediate secession; and
yet, against our judgements and solemn convic-
tions of duty, we are precipitated into civil war
because South Carolina thinks differently. Are
not equals, or shall her opinion control
our actions, after we have solemnly declared for
ourselves as every man must do, or are we to be
forced to yield our opinions to those of another
State, and thus in effect obey her mandate! She
refuses to wait for our counsels-are we bound
to obey her commands? The men who have EN-
barked in this scheme to convene the Legisla-
ture, will spare no pains to carry their point
The whole plan of operation, in the event of the
assemblage Of the Legislature, is, as have been
informed. already marked out The list of am
bassadors vino are to visit the other States, are
already agreedupon and the resolutions which
they hope will be passed by the Legislature, full
y committing the State to secession, are said to
be already prepared. In the course of nature,
1 cannot have long to live, and tervently trust
to be allowed to end my days citizen of this
glorious Union, bat should be compelled to
witness the downfall of this Government-in-
herited from our fathers established as it was
by the special favor of God will, at least, have
the consolation at my dying hour, to know that
neither by word or deed, assisted in fastening
its disruption. (Signed)


THOMAS H. HICKS.


Cleveland, JAN 7





Gov. Dennisons Message is long document
occupied mainly with State affairs. He RECON-
mends more effective organization of the mi
lita; the arganized militia numbering only about
1900 men; the unorganized force estimated at
2s5,O0o. No special prominence is given to this
subject.


The Governor argues at some length in de-
fence of his course in refusing the acquisitions
| of the Governors of Kentucky and Tennessee of
persons accused of aiding in the escape of fngi-
tive slaves; discusses the secession question, de-
nying the right of any State to secede at pleas
| ure, and affirming that Ohio remains loyal to
the Union and Constitution. He suggests the
repeal of the obnoxious features of the fugitive
slave law and the repeal of any personal liberty
bills subversiyc to the fugitive law would thus
be secured. At the same time Southern States
should repeal laws in contraventon to the
constitutions! rights Of the free States, who
cannot be satisfied with less, and who will in
sist upon their constitutional rights in every
State and Territory in this confederacy; these
they carefully accord to citizens of Southern
States. He is determined to do no wrong and
will not contentedly submit any wrong; unawed
by threats, he will demand the employment of
all the constitutional powers of the Federal
Government to maintain and preserve the
Union. Rejecting the whole theory of State





stitutioo, he cannot consent to exercise any
power under its sanction. The integrity of the
Union, its oneness and indivisibility must be
preserved.


Washington, Jan. 6.


The Crittenden Compromise seems to be gain
ing friends, who entertain the opinion that if it
were fairly presented to the people it would be
| accepted BY them basis of settlement. The
main difficulty, however, in the way is that par
ties are at present indsposed to offer it without
assurance that others will receive it in mutual
spirit of accommodation for both the North and
the South.


Officers from the city of New York are here
endeav oring to ferret out the completely of the
Government officers with the theft and sale of
the State bonds taken from the Interior Depart
ment. The object is to prosecute in behalf of
| the holders OF the bonds, who are threatened
with loss in case of the attempts to recover
| them.


| The enrolment of the District Of Columbia
militia will probably commence to morrow. A
| plan for it organization was matured More
than six months ago. but all the officers were not
appointed till recently. The movement now is
to concentrate the militia so to be efficient for
service should it be necessary at any time to
call them out to preserve the peace.


| Not more than one company of marines were
|
which is Oh the Potomac River, about IA miles
from Washington. The Fort has had no garri
son for several years. The object of supplying
it with one now is to avoid the possibility of its
being occupied by lawless persons as rallying
| point for mischief


The troops ordered from Leavenworth to Fort
McHenry not to be sent South, as wrongly
supposed BY many gentlemen from that sectiou


The Alabama and Mississippi delegation held
a conference last night, and afterwards tele
graphed to the Conventions of their respective
States, advising them to secede Immediately
saying theIe is no prospect of satisfactory
adjustment. They resolved to remain here
awaiting the action of their States


| Detroit Jan. I.


Hon. Robert McCleland, ex-Secretary of The
Interior, is out with letter on the present cri
SIS He reviews the causes that have led to thu
present state Of affairs, reciting the grievance
of both North and South, and recommends
solution of the difficulty the withdrawal of tn,
slavery question, both from Congress and from
local government, until the people of the Terri
tories shall form State Constitution; and als'