Lincoln wrote to General Scott:
"First, they have a clearly legal right to assemble; and we cannot know in advance that their action will not be lawful and peaceful. And if we wait until they shall have acted, their arrest or dispersion will not lessen the effect of their action. Secondly, we can not permanently prevent their action."Martial law was his course of action. This enflamed the MD leadership. Hicks had gone to Lincoln, asking for HELP! He as met with martial law and invasion.
That's right.
"[Gov. Hicks was] met with martial law and invasion.
There was no "invasion," at least until Lee came knocking in September 1862.