swallowed up in its gulf-like vortex. Am I told
no further aggression is sought? My answer is
prompt and plain—I trust not the assurance. The
scenes of 1836 are stamped upon my memory,
Then the same seductive promises were given
only to be broken. Ten years did not elapse be-
fore the pledges were all forgotten. The clamor
for power was again raised—first in the densely
populated city—and then spreading out. 'twas
echoed from valley to plain—from plain to hill—
from hill to the very mountain top. Yield now,
and ten years hence the same scene will again
be re-enacted—and again and again repeated,
until we are humbled to the footstool of those
whom our labors have fattened and exalted.
Call not then this scheme a compromise. Like
the fitful glare of the will-of-the-whisp as chron-
icled in legendary lore, if followed, 'twill lead on
to certain destruction. Compromise once did
mean a mutual yielding or a mutual taking—a
mutual releasing or a mutual giving. Try this
project by such a definition, and if I have interpreted
its features aright, how will it bear the
test?
We of the small counties stand in this hall
with a majority of the political power—by this
we yield it. We now have the entire control
over the institution of slavery—under this 'tis
surrendered in others. We have the ability to
guard the public treasury from further appro-
priation for works of internal improvement—'tis
given up to those who may be solely interested
in their prosecution. The territorial "basis"
is released where 'tis alone important—and the
initiative step for a purely popular one substitu-
ted in its place. Our delegations have in every
instance been reduced, whilst those of the large
counties and the city of Baltimore have been
permitted to retain all their power, and strength
or been largely increased? Who in all this wise
assembly can tell me what has been given to us?
What for all this have we gained? The answer
is upon every tongue, or at least in every heart,
nothing—absolutely nothing. Insult, then, our
intelligence no longer with the vain effort of at-
tempting to induce us to regard it as a compro-
mise. Away with it, we can touch it not, nor
handle it not.
Sir, there is but one course for us who are
struggling for self-protection to pursue. 'Tis
plain before us, we must rally as one man, and
"stand our ground" be the hazards what they
may. Should that popular avalanche so often
predicted in our hearing, come in its might, let
us not by ruinous compromise cringe betore it—
but as men meet it, with our "back to the wall
and our face to the foe "
Mr. President, in a crisis of such deep solem-
nity, and in an hour like this, there should be no
misunderstanding of our relative positions. We
should speak in the language of kindness and
courtesy, but we should speak earnestly and
plainly one to another. I believe that on this
day the small counties of southern and eastern
Maryland are doomed to be tried by a fiery
ordeal, and abandoned perhaps by those whom
they have cherished, and from whom they might |
have hoped for gratitude; it may be the day of
their political humiliation. But if now is "the
winter of our discontent," when the cup brimful
of bitters is to be drained to its very dregs,
let me say to the honorable gentlemen from the
larger counties who are so zealously waging this
uncompromising war, the time is fast approach-
ing when you too will be compelled to humble
your proud crests before the very power which
you are now hugging as an ally to your bosom.
Look to the city of Baltimore—her shadow will
soon be cast upon your mountains. During the
past ten years her population has swollen more
than sixty per cent. Ten, or at furthest twenty
years hence, and she will hold you as a play thing
in the hollow of her hand. Then numbering
more than all the State beside, she will again
meet you in Convention, organised it may be,
exclusively upon the principle which you are
seeking to establish in a fettered form. Then
will you have reached the position upon which
we now stand for trial—you may realize our
feelings—perchance be compelled to drink from
the same cup—and if tossed upon the troubled
waters, you are forced to cry out ' help, I per-
ish," do not complain if the "dark memory" still
remains with those who have this day, through
their representatives, so solemnly—yet so vainly
appealed to you. Remember 'tis yon who have
scorned the alliance that might have given to
both security, and when a mightier hand shall
make you as powerless as ourselves, you and you
alone will be responsible for "the judgement."
But, sir if surprised and annoyed by the con-
duct of those from whom we are separated by
the Chesapeake's broad and eternal barrier, what
language can portray the painful astonishment
and regret with which I have matched the course
of those who as Eastern-shoremen are bound to
us by "the mystic tie." Coming like us from
that land which is consecrated in our hearts by
the presence of the living, and hallowed to our
memories by the graves of the dead—with the.
same associations and attachment"—the same
hopes and aspirations—the same interests and
objects—I did not believe there was any demon
power that could have severed us in this the mo-
ment of our mutual peril and mutual danger.
What a spectacle do we exhibit to our own community
and to the world ? Now when our seried
ranks should be found standing in solid columns,
shoulder to shoulder, we are torn and disuni-
ted; absolutely battling in hostile array the one
against the other. Tell me Eastern-shoremen—
in God's name I invoke yon—why this unnatu-
ral warfare? Is that ancient maxim, "those
whom the gods would destroy they first made
mad," indeed true? And are we about to realize
its awful force? Are we mad? Shall we join
the shout which even now methinks I here from
the distinguished gentleman from Carroll—" Ho
die—Ho die— Carthago, detenda est, "which may
beinterpreted—"this day, this day the Eastern
shore is to be destroyed." No, no, no. If it
must be so, let other hands do the unholy deed.
In us 'twould seem a sacrilege that would wake
from one end of that beautiful shore to the other,
an indignant and outraged people and make the |
