What Is The Future Of The State Song 'Maryland, My Maryland?'

[Igel]

4. It was written at a strange time.

Before secession. It was penned in the course of a day or two *before* the war. But just before the war.

When federal troops, using Maryland as a route against the wishes of many, had suppressed rather strong dissent with rather strong bullets, had arrested numerous members of the state legislature, imprisoned many without trial, suspended habeas corpus, and placed Baltimore under martial law not in times of war. No war had been declared. This was on suspicion of secession--I haven't heard anybody argue that Maryland was certainly going to secede--and was heavy handed. Maryland was an important state and had to be maintained pro-Union, whatever the cost, because the merest idea that Md. might go secessionist would leave the federal capital surrounded by the south and deprive the north of an important port close to the capital and close to what was looking to be enemy lines. While Baltimore might be susceptible to blockade near the mouth of the Chesapeake, that would pale to the blockade of Philly were Md. to be rebel.

So the "Northern scum" wasn't those who invaded the South--although the writer and his supporters were certainly pro-slavery--but those who de facto occupied Baltimore with no more provocation but not letting US troops pass and killed Baltimoreans.

Unless your politics are purely power politics, crush those who disagree with you and meet opposition with force and bloodshed, this was extreme and heavy handed.

A week later states seceded. It was clear by the events in Baltimore that Lincoln was willing to suspend essential parts of the Constitution to preserve the Union and that discussion was not going to work.

The last stanza should go; however, much of it reflects a very real historical reality, one that we prefer to recast given what happened in the following weeks and months. We're all for dissent unless it gores our ox. Then it's simply evil and must be suppressed with bloodshed.

The adoption as state anthem was later, and had a variety of motivations (not just one, even though we like to only see the one that suits us). We play the same kind of game with intent. Now intent is all that matters; but when it suits us, screw intent, all that matters is what's on the surface, intent is a ruse and listener interpretation is key.