.& gested that Lord Lyons" should be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties of our conntry." The Secretary of State replied, declining foreign mediation, and affirmed the right to send troops through to cut off the march, which was therefore directed by the railroad. The sleepers made the march terribly fatiguing, and as the road required to be explored inch by inch, exceedingly slow. But the troops finally reached Washington on the 25th, and succeeding regiments following by the same route, soon insured the safety of the capital. The position of Maryland had been from the first very critical. She had sympathized strongly with the Southern States, yet she had a large conservative element, which was manifested in her vote at the Presidential election. The total vote cast in the State was ninety-two thousand five hundred and two. Of these, forty-two thousand four hundred and eighty-two were cast for Breckenridge, forty-one thousand seven hundred and sixty for Bell, and five thousand nine hundred and sixtysix for Douglas. Of the remainder, Mr. Lincoln received two thousand two hundred and ninety-four. When the difficulties thickened, it be came evident that, in case of a conflict, Maryland, with her small resources and exposed situation, would suffer greatly. Her Governor, Hicks, strongly opposed secession in an address to the people, in January. He refused to convene the legislature, saying :— war. "I firmly believe that a division of this Government would inevitably produce civil The secession leaders in South Carolina, and the fanatical demagogues of the North, have alike proclaimed that such would be the result, and no man of sense, in my opinion, can question it. What could the legislature do in this crisis, if convened, to romove the present troubles which beset the Union? "That Maryland is a conservative Southern State, all know who know any thing of her people or her history. The business and agricultural classes, planters, merchants, mechanics, and laboring men; those who have a real stake in the community, who would be forced to pay the taxes and do the fighting, are the persons who should be heard in preference to excited politicians, many of whom, having nothing to lose from the destruction of the Government, may hope to derive some gain from the ruin of the State. Such men will naturally urge you to pull down the pillars of this accursed Union,' which their allies at the North have denominated a 'covenant with hell.' The people of Maryland, if left to themselves, would decide, with scarcely an exception, that there is nothing in the present causes of complaint to justify immediate secession." Notwithstanding that the legislature did not meet, the excitement in the State, particularly in Baltimore, continued very great. Upon the receipt of the first call for troops, the Governor wrote to the Secretary of War to be informed if the troops were to be used solely in the limits of the State, and for the protection of the National capital. He was informed that the troops were only for the defence of the capital. The Secretary of War, also, April 18th, notified him that fears were entertained that the passage of the troops through Baltimore would be obstructed, and hoped the State authorities would prevent it. The Governor on the 20th replied, that the mob had control, that the mili tary fraternized with them, therefore he declined sending troops, and insisted that no more should be sent through Maryland. The Government replied, that the troops would be sent round Baltimore. On the 22d, the Governor repeated his request in respect to troops, and suggested that Lord Lyons" should be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties of our conntry." The Secretary of State replied, declining foreign mediation, and affirmed the right to send troops through |