My English Hat Is, I Am Well Aware,
Less Graceful, And I Believe Less Comfortable, Than A Turkish Fez
And Turban; Nevertheless I Prefer My English Hat.
New York I regard
as the most thoroughly American of all American cities.
It is by no
means the one in which I should find myself the happiest; but I do
not on that account condemn it.
I have said that in returning to Baltimore I found myself among
secessionists. In so saying I intend to speak of a certain set
whose influence depends perhaps more on their wealth, position, and
education than on their numbers. I do not think that the population
of the city was then in favor of secession, even if it had ever been
so. I believe that the mob of Baltimore is probably the roughest
mob in the States - is more akin to a Paris mob, and I may perhaps
also say to a Manchester mob, than that of any other American city.
There are more roughs in Baltimore than elsewhere, and the roughs
there are rougher. In those early days of secession, when the
troops were being first hurried down from New England for the
protection of Washington, this mob was vehemently opposed to its
progress. Men had been taught to think that the rights of the State
of Maryland were being invaded by the passage of the soldiers, and
they also were undoubtedly imbued with a strong prepossession for
the Southern cause. The two ideas had then gone together. But the
mob of Baltimore had ceased to be secessionists within twelve months
of their first exploit. In April, 1861, they had refused to allow
Massachusetts soldiers to pass through the town on their way to
Washington; and in February, 1862, they were nailing Union flags on
the door-posts of those who refused to display such banners as signs
of triumph at the Northern victories!
That Maryland can ever go with the South, even in the event of the
South succeeding in secession, no Marylander can believe. It is not
pretended that there is any struggle now going on with such an
object. No such result has been expected, certainly since the
possession of Washington was secured to the North by the army of the
Potomac. By few, I believe, was such a result expected even when
Washington was insecure. And yet the feeling for secession among a
certain class in Baltimore is as strong now as ever it was. And it
is equally strong in certain districts of the State - in those
districts which are most akin to Virginia in their habits, modes of
thought, and ties of friendship. These men, and these women also,
pray for the South if they be pious, give their money to the South
if they be generous, work for the South if they be industrious,
fight for the South if they be young, and talk for the South
morning, noon, and night, in spite of General Dix and his columbiads
on Federal Hill.
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