February 12, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
BALTIMORE, February 6. 1861.
The crisis in Maryland is rapidly approaching. Last evening delegates were elected in all the wards to attend a City Convention, for the purpose of selecting delegates to represent the city in a State Convention to consider the present state of affairs, to meet on the 18th inst. Several of the counties have already selected delegates to the Convention, and by the day fixed for meeting the entire State will be represented. So you will see that the people have at length taken the matter in their own hands. The huckstering politicians at the head of affairs may howl as much as they please, but it will be of no avail, for the handwriting is already upon the wall, their days are numbered, and their ill used power is rapidly passing from them.