Year: 1863

I ] y
in reply to an interrogatory from the lat
ter; and written upon subject of such
vast consequence to the interests of the
State, it will command public attention
as well from its distinguished origin as
from the ground it SO decidedly assumes
at crisis in State and National affairs
like the present


Lcorv.


"iNr Richard Chambers,


" GreensborOugA Caroline County, I'D, Z,


"Dear Sri have yours of the 23d
instant, asking whether it would be bet
ter for us not to make the question of
Emancipation in our approaching cleo
tiOn.


If, as you assume, it was in our DOW
er to make or not to make the question,
it might be profitable to debate with our
selves whether we would or would not
make it. But, when in point Of fact, it
is not for us to say whether the question
shall or shall not be made, it seems to me
to be idle to discuss the policy of making
1t. The question is upon us, and all that
we can do is to say on which side we
shall range ourselves. To bo debating
whether it is better or worse for us to
have it, is like debating whether the rain
that is falling is needed.


81 know, indeed, that too many of our
friends are as afraid ofthe slayerrv cues
ton, or rather so terrified ut the Seces-
sion howl of ...Abolitionists,' that they
persuade themselves that they can dodge
the issue, and can even join in the howl,
without helping the Sccessionists; but
the war now drenching the land in blood,
which is due to this timidity, should ut
least teach us that to cover before trait
ors and adopt their slang is alike incon-
sistent with patriotism and self respect.


No one can doubt that if tine men at
the South who dissented from Mr.. Cal
houn's mOnstrous doctrines had stood up
boldly against them we should have ex-
tinguishcd them without violence But
instead of making common cause against
the nullifer they Joined in his war-cry
against the North, which utterly drowned
the feeble notes they attemted to utter for
the Union.'


Such have been the disastrous results
of attempting to dodge the slavery oues-
tion, which Mr.. Calhoun, MS we find by
his printed letters, since published,
forced on the country. Force the issue.
he wrote to Mr.. Percy Walker, and accor-
dinghy it was and is forced upon us Let
US meet it like men.


"Yours truly, NJ. BLAIR.


Washington, March 9th, 1863"


We do not intend to let a production
that contains SO much in such brief com.
pass, as does this letter go forth to the
people of Maryland through the columns
of the american without expressing our
sense of the important position.is assumes.
Recognizing the soundness of Judge
Blair's conclusions, and With a right
conception of the responsibility which de,
wolves upon Maryland of assuming her
share in the conflict slavery has provoked,
considering, furthcr, that our State
should not leave to others the brunt Of
the contest which is to keeplt-slavery-
from being aggressive in the future, we,
too, say with Judge Blair, in relation tc
the question thus forced upon the coun
try by Mr.. Calhoun and his disciples, Lee
us meet ulike men"


Judge Blair has in this rather briefepis
tie to a citizen of the eastern shore, tolc
almost the whole story of the able figh
slavery has waged with the Government
and the loyal States and if there wa.
nothing whatever besides on the part o
the special champions of slavery to com
mand modicum of respect, the untiinch
ing manner in which they have stood ~
to fight for the most advanced position
they have assumed is worthy of some
thing like admiration, certainly Ofimita
ton, IN some regard. oy those they hay,
thus yentured to assail.


Aud now let US go back little to Sc
where slavery in Marylaud-for it is Wit
the institution here we have to do at pre-
sent-stands in relation to this terrible an
critical struggle the nation is making 70
its very life; let US determine whether th
loyal men of Maryland, hoyalue free gov
ernment, our Government State and Na
tional-more than they do slavery, o.se ii
latter single concession, from anything
, has done toward OF those onequaIIed ho.
: | mrs which have steeped a preat nation 4