ion of the Crittenden resolutions by Congress.

On the 19th of January, 1861, he urged Miss Carroll to exert whatever
influence she was able to induce Congress to adopt some measure of
pacification; but she was soon satisfied that no compromise that
Congress would adopt would be accepted by the cotton States, and,
perceiving the danger should the Governor commit himself to any
impossible condition, informed him on the 24th of January that the
Crittenden proposition would by no possibility receive the sanction of
Congress.

All efforts to move the steadfastness of the Governor having failed,
the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Delegates
issued their call to the people to act independently of him and elect
delegates to a convention. This was a most daring and dangerous
proceeding, and had the plan succeeded and a convention assembled they
would immediately have deposed the Governor and passed an ordinance of
secession. The Governor was powerless in such an emergency to defend
the State against the revolutionary body, as the State militia were on
their side and Mr. Buchanan had declared that the National Government
could not coerce a sovereign State.

The gravity of the situation was appreciated by the Governor and the
friends of the Union. Miss Carroll addressed articles through the
press and wrote many letters to prepare the public mind in Maryland
for the struggle. Fortunately the people (thus warned) failed to
endorse this call; consequently the leading statesmen of the disunion
party abandoned their cherished expectation of inaugurating their
Government in the National Capitol.

Many of the conspirators, however, still sought to seize Washington
and forcibly prevent the inauguration of the President elect on the
4th of March. The military organizations of the South were deemed
sufficient for the enterprise, and a leader trained in the wars of
Texas was solicited to lead them. The more sagacious of their party,
however, discountenanced the mad scheme. They assured Miss Carroll
that no attempt would be made to seize the Capitol and prevent the
inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, so long as Maryland remained in the
Union.

The ruthless assault upon the Massachusetts troops in Baltimore, as
they were passing through on their way to Washington, on the 19th of
April, with the antecedent and attendant circumstances, roused to the
highest degree the passions of all who sympathized with the secession
moveme