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all look again with fond delight upon the same gorgeous
emblem of our nationality still floating over us, affording
equal protection to the rights of all, at home and abroad, not
a star erased, nor a stripe obscured.

Representatives of Maryland—Freemen of a central State.
of a once proud galaxy of States—citizens of a National
Government, unequalled in its fostering protection by any
other upon earth, your hearts and mine I know beat re-
sponsive to a wish for the restoration of our Federal Govern-
ment, and a return of that period when we shall all, irre-
spective of geographical lines or sectional parties, recognize
"the Constitution and the laws and treaties made in pursu-
ance thereof, as the supreme law of the land. " Is there a
man so indifferent to the blessings of republican liberty, as
not to cherish a hope of a speedy realization of such a result?
Who does not desire a peace—permanent substantial peace—a
peace commanding the obedience of all men, in all parts of
our common country, to those who have been or may be cho-
sen to administer the Government ? Who will not hail with
pleasure the end of scenes of blood and desolation, it it can
be obtained by an unconditional submission of those proud
domestic foes, wherever located, who have been and are now
engaged in plotting our destruction, and whose treasonable
schemes, I hope, in the providence of God, may be defeated,
whether sought to be accomplished by the sword or by a sur-
reptitious use of the ballot ? "The union of the States, the
majority must govern, it is treason to secede, " is as truthful
now as in the earlier days of the Republic, or even in the
Madisonian era of unsuspected State Rights Republicanism.
The will of the people must be respected. It must be en-
forced, and although we may cry "peace, peace, " there will
be no peace until every armed foe shall be made to acknow-
ledge the paramount authority of our Federal Government.

In the momentous struggle which has for the past three
years agitated this State, your President has not been an
inactive participant. He has witnessed the rapid change of
public sentiment in relation to a domestic institution here-
tofore protected by law to such an extent as almost to sup-
press all freedom of speech and freedom of action. In an
evil hour, initiated by the loss of place and in the full-blown
pride of power, its supporters sought to extend and perpetu-
ate its rule, even though it involved the destruction of the
best Government on earth. Scarcely awaiting the announce-
ment cf the result of the Presidential canvas, they openly
proclaimed their fixed determination to disregard the popular
will as expressed in the choice of a Chief Magistrate, and
mocking all the ordinary restraints of law, proceeded in