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with our interests, and less power to protect us against the ravage of the frequent wars which must inevitably arise between the two sections,
The Southern Confederacy is essentially weak in the basis of its construction.
It is founded on a principle which must lead to the ever-recurring dangers of new secessions, and the exhibition of a worse than Mexican anarchy.
It may witness pronunciamientoes upon every discontent, and the strife of parties ending in further disintegration.
If the Border States go into that Confederacy, the opposition of material interests will soon develop the utter want of capacity in the new Government to secure its cohesion.
Maryland, under any circumstances of peace or war, must soon become a free State, and she will then be found to be wholly ungenial to the principle upon which the Southern Confederacy is established.
It would, therefore, not be long before she would be compelled to retire from the alliance, and become a suppliant for shelter under the wing of that old Union which in a rash moment she had abandoned.
If she remain where she is, her example may influence the course of the other Border States which now are drawn to the verge of secession, and with them may happily bring about a restoration of the whole Union.
Four years hence, this Administration will give place to another.
A popular, conservative President then elected will restore confidence to the whole country.
The Union sentiment of the South will make itself heard in the remotest sections of the secession, and disenthralled from the domination that now forbids it to speak, it will once more assert its attachment to the Stars and Stripes.
Let the true voice of our State now be heard on these questions.
The Legislature now in session has one solemn duty to perform.
It is to give the State an opportunity to declare its wish.
Much has been said about the desire of Maryland to fall into the ranks of the Seceding States.
There has been a great clamor for a Convention by those who have been anxious for secession.
Let the Legislature now put the question to the people — Do you want a Convention, with power to declare Maryland out of the Union?
Put that question, and we shall then know what part Maryland will take in the Great Drama.
Baltimore, May 9, 1861.
Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.
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