Replies

August 7th, 1861 according to Maryland,s State Archives

I've seen other accounts that it was in September. But regardless of the difference in dates, the fact was that the Maryland legislature was not arrested, much as Paige would have us believe. Some 35 members were arrested and held for about two months before being released in November. And I would point out that at the time the U.S. was engaged in combating armed rebellion initiated by the southern states. Battles had been fought and were being fought in the east and the west. And now you had a minority of the members of the Maryland legislature advocating joining that armed rebellion against the central government. In all honesty what the heck did you expect the government to do? At best the members were advocating rebellion. And if you accept the fact that the confederacy was an independent nation, as you and Paige do, then at worst the members of the Maryland legislature were advocating treason. Did you expect no response at all? Had 35 members of the Alabama legislature advocated taking the state out of the confederacy and back into the Union do you think that the actions of the Davis regime would have been any different? Be honest now.

I've seen other accounts that it was in September.

I was just curios to see how you were parsing. I wondered whether it would be that Lincoln did not actually arrest them himself or that it was not the entire Assembly.

Had 35 members of the Alabama legislature advocated taking the state out of the confederacy and back into the Union do you think that the actions of the Davis regime would have been any different? Be honest now.

I honestly don't know for sure, but being it was during war they probably would have done the same thing. Then again Davis always wished he had the same powers that Lincoln did - to act unilaterally -- so that he could direct the ship of state. He felt that during this war if he could do so it would make sure the Confederacy victory. I am well aware of the argument that Davis indeed had the same powers. But the Confederacy tombstone was to read "Died of a Theory". What ever was the facts, Davis did not believe he had them.