Judge Handy, a distinguished citizen of Mississippi, who was born in
Maryland, had, in December, 1860, been sent as a commissioner from the
State of his adoption to that of his birth, and presented his views and
the object of his mission to Governor Hicks, who, in his response
(December 19, 1860), declared his purpose to act in full concert with
the other border States, adding, "I do not doubt the people of Maryland
are ready to go with the people of those States for weal or woe."[175]
Subsequently, in answer to appeals for and against a proclamation
assembling the Legislature, in order to have a call for a State
convention, Governor Hicks issued an address, in which, arguing that
there was no necessity to define the position of Maryland, he wrote: "If
the action of the Legislature would be simply to declare that Maryland
was with the South in sympathy and feeling; that she demands from the
North the repeal of offensive, unconstitutional statutes, and appeals to
it for new guarantees; that she will wait a reasonable time for the
North to purge her statute-books, to do justice to her Southern
brethren; and, if her appeals are vain, will make common cause with her
sister border States in resistance to tyranny, if need be, it would only
be saying what the whole country well knows," etc.
On the 18th of April, 1861, Governor Hicks issued a proclamation
invoking them to preserve the peace, and said, "I assure the people that
no troops will be sent from Maryland, unless it may be for the defense
of the national capital.
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