Year: 1863

lished laws for their discipline and govern
ment; they may occasionally come in conflict
with the rights of the citizen; such, as / have
already said, is necessary consequence of all
war: but no ore doubts that when that war is
ended, and the authority of the nation COM
pletely re-established, like other sufferers ID
similar cases, all who would have faithfully
stood by their country will be fully indemni-
fed for any losses they may have sustained.


Whether. however, the prospect of such
settlement in future is satisfactory or not, the
suggestion you propose, of calling out the mir
ita of the State to resist the forces of the Gov
ernment who may hafbor fugitive slave, can
scarcely, should think, command the sup
port of your own judgment, upon sober second
thought.


Nor can I regard these national forces as
you seem to do, as employed only "to rob US
for, however we may occasionally suffer in
dividual losses at their hands, it is chiefly
through their inBtru.nentali.y that our State
under the Providence of God, has been spared
the spectacle so plainly visible to you from the
other side of the Potomac-of being made the
great battle field of this rebellion They drive
back the invaders of our soil after a sojourn
just long enough to give them a wholesome
lesson on the loyalty of Maryland.


Besides, sir, if our State militia were ready
for effective service. the scenes we are daily
called upoh TO witness--the country shedding
its best blood in preservation-to say moth
ing of the Rebel outrages continually commit
ted on our own State-its property plundered
and is peaceful citizens captured and abduc-
ted, would all indicate very clearly a far more
appropriate field for their employment than
the one that you suggest.


trust, sir, that shall never be wanting in
q proper appreciation of the position of our
State, her power or her dignity, nor in the
purpose to advance her prosperity and execute
her laws by all available means; and, without
entering into discussion of the doings of other
States, or of how far Federal usurpation" de-
ponds upon the ''weak nerve" of the Cover
nors Of the States 1 hope | shall always have
fully nerve enough to do precisely what be-
lieve to be my duty. That duty at present,
paramount TO AL Others and dictated by a
strict regard for the best interests and dearest
wishes of the people of the State, is to aid the
Government in bringing this war to an end,
in the only way in which it ever can be per-
manently ended, by putting down the rebel
lion.


Whether always approve or not the policy
which the Administration may adopt, SO long
as believe it honestly in pursuit of this as its
principal object--though it might be the only
one we may have in common-it shall have
my support, as believe it will Of all our loyal
people. If that support is worth anything,
am not willing, with such an object in view
to subtract from its value by raising an outcry
or joining in denunGiatiUns over subordinate
issues, calculated, if not -contrved to divide
the friends of the Union and promote the hopes
of the rebellion by weakening the duty of sup
pressing it.


Still less am I inclined to % course that tt
many might appear not less ridiculous thar
impracticable, of calling upon the militia O
the State to compel the army of the nation
engaged in this war for national salvation, tc
disregard the laws established for its govern
mcnt, and abide by those prescribed by oul
Code. Yours, &C.,


A. W. BRADFoEh