Richmond Enquirer
April 20, 1861
The Governor of the State of Maryland and the Mayor of Baltimore have united in proclamations to the people of that State and City, urging upon them the duties peculiar to the crisis and responsibilities it imposes upon them. Both the Governor and the Mayor refer to the fact that an opportunity will be soon afforded to the people of the State to express at the ballot box their wishes as to the position which Maryland shall assume. Gov. Hicks says:
I assure the people that no troops will be sent from Maryland, unless it may be for the defence of the National Capital.
It is my intention in the future, as it has been my endeavor in the past, to preserve the people of Maryland from civil war, and I invoke the assistance of every true and loyal citizen to aid me to this end.
The people of this State will in a short time have the opportunity afforded them in a special election for members of Congress of the United States to express their devotion to the Union, or their desire to see it broken up.