NEWS OF THE WAR: AFFAIRS IN AND ABOUT WASHINGTON; Proposals Invited for Fourteen Millions of United States Stock; Editorial-Jeff. Davis and How to Fight Him (5/2/1861)

A gentleman in the employ of the Government, for such purposes, went on Saturday into Maryland to obtain certain information and forward Government dispatches. Nothing was heard from him Monday morning, and it was thought advisable to dispatch another messenger to discover his fate. Accordingly the second messenger set out yesterday on a special engine to the Junction. The reporter of the TIMES was permitted to accompany him as far as the Junction. The messenger was then taken on some distance towards the Relay House. Here he procured a horse and rode on to Baltimore, where he discovered that the first gentleman had been locked up three times successively upon the charge that he was a spy -- though what he would spy there, and who the enemy was, especially as Maryland is not yet ready to set at defiance the United States Government, he could not find out. All his trappings, baggage, pistols, watch, &c, were taken from him, and, as he was informed, confiscated to the benefit of the State of Maryland. Marshal KANE was seen wearing his pistols -- a pair of silver-mounted, valued by the owner at $100. By the efforts of some of the citizens he was released, and finding his horse at the hotel, left for Washington. Before he reached the Relay House a band of fellows, mounted and armed, arrested him, made him dismount, and placed a rope around his neck, telling him that they intended to hang him, as he looked like "a d -- d Northern Abolitionist," although he is a native of Maryland, and has, until quite recently, always resided there.

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3955406/posts

I am absolutely struck between the parallels described in the "How to Hold Virginia" editorial and the times we live in. The government in Baltimore was dealing with a small mob and put down the mob with a show of force and no shots fired. The author correctly points out that if mobs are not put down quickly and emphatically, they have time to organize prepare for bigger actions. Unfortunately, our police today do NOT have the "majesty of the law" supporting them to put down the mob.

The full editorial below is worth reading. History is repeating.

A Government holding intercourse, and maintaining amicable relations with those seeking to destroy it, courts its own destruction.

How to Hold Virginia.
Not an instant should be lost in repeating upon the soil of Virginia the experiment to successfully tried upon Maryland -- the presence of an armed force sufficient to put down the mob, now as rampant in the former State as it was a few days ego in the latter. Reason is returning to Maryland, simply by a demonstration of force, without really menacing her metropolis. or without firing a gun. The recent election there showed how contemptible, in point of numbers, was the mob that seized upon Baltimore -- not one quarter of its male population. Yet this miserable minority would have held the city indefinitely had not the strong arm of Government been seen coming to the aid of the law and order loving citizens. In a week more reason will assume her sway in Maryland. Her public highways will he opened and safe for the unarmed traveler. Commerce and trade will resume their wonted operations. The mechanic and farmer will return to their avocations, while to all the experience of the past ten days will be a horrible dream never again to be repeated.
Secession in every State is just what it was in Maryland -- a mob. This is the emphatic statement of the Union members of the Convention at Richmond. The army stationed at Washington should immediately advance South to act as a local police. The mob at Richmond would prove to be as cowardly and contemptible as at Baltimore. We are confident that a body of troops sufficient to crush opposition, would meet with no effective resistance, and perhaps none whatever. Eastern Virginia has only 500,000 whites. A considerable portion of these are loyal. A mob, existing in open violation of the laws, is always cowardly. A dozen policemen are enough to confront and subdue one composed of thousands, because they know the majesty of the law is against them, and must subdue them at last.
In the case of Virginia, another reason for prompt action on the part of Government is the gallant stand taken by the Western portion of the State, which is loyal to the core, and only wants a proper recognition of their loyalty to take care not only of itself, but assist in a demonstration against the Eastern, which is the seditious portion of it. The majority of the people of Virginia today are not disloyal. They may be overborne for the moment, but would earnestly hail and sustain an advance of federal troops. We have evidence of this too direct and palpable to be doubted.
The saving of Virginia depends solely open prompt action at Washington. There is not the slightest doubt of this. But there are other imperative reasons for a decisive movement. In Virginia we break the back of secession in every Southern State. This can be done in the next sixty days. Let these elapse without doing anything and no effectual movement can be made by land till October or November. By that time secession will have ten-fold its present strength. The great want of the enemy is further time for preparation, and to consolidate a mob into something like order. Our lethargy has made it what it is. We must not encourage its further progress, but deal with it henceforth as treason. Every man taken in open arms against the Government should be hung. The prompt punishment of a few traitors would save the lives of thousands of innocent men. A Government that has no power, or that will not put forth any, is not a Government. A Government holding intercourse, and maintaining amicable relations with those seeking to destroy it, courts its own destruction. We trust our own will instantly wake up to a sense of the emergency, and know for the future but one duty -- the prompt and energetic enforcement of the laws irrespective of persons or consequences.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.