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a permanent adjustment of so many critical questions, to heal the
public agitations and perpetuate the Union, they have received
our acquiescence, and have inspired us with admiration of those
eminent statesmen, who rising above the influence of party and
sectional considerations, periled their well earned reputation for the
enduring welfare of their country.

4th. That the vigorous and faithful execution by the General
Government of all Jaws made in pursuance of the Constitution, is
its primary duty, and affords the only security for the just protec
tion of the rights and property of tho citizens, and for the perma
nency of the Union; and it is equally the duty of all good citizens
to encourage and support the officers of the Government in the ex
ecution of the laws, and to discountenance and rebuke the efforts
of those who seek to subvert them, and while therefore we enter
tain every proper confidence in the ability and determination of the
Chief Magistrate of the Union, faithfully to perform his duty in the
present crisis, and take the opportunity to tender to him our assu
rances that in any emergency that should require it, he may safely
rely upon the cordial co-operation of the people of Maryland, we
cannot withhold the warmest expression of our firm and continued
reliance upon the patriotism of those of our countrymen, in all
sections of the Union, who have fearlessly asserted the constitu
tional rights of the South; and in view of the calamities which
must ensue, if those rights continue to be violated, we would ear
nestly suggest to the Governments of the non-slave holding States,
the propriety and importance of enacting such laws as will facilitate
the recovery of fugitives from labor: and upon the citizens of every
State, we would anxiously urge the absolute necessity of maintain
ing and enforcing each and all of the measures of adjustment adopt
ed at the last session of Congress.

5th. That of the aforesaid series of laws that intended to ensure
the restoration of fugitives from labor is the only one professing
to protect the peculiar rights and institutions of the Southern States,
from the mischievous hostility of a wicked fanaticism in other por
tions of the Union, is but a tardy and meagre measure of compli
ance with the clear explicit and imperative injunctions of the Con
stitution, and holds out the only hope that the protection which
the South was authorised to expect from the Union of the States,
to this species of property will be afforded to them, and being the
chief inducement to the South for its accession to the compromise,
the repeal of that law, or the failure to enforce its provisions, could
only-be regarded as evidence of a determined purpose in other
States, to violate the sacred charter of our rights or a want of abili
ty in the General Government to enforce the laws made for our
protection, and in either event there would be a failure to comply
with the solemn obligations which give to the constitution its chief