Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-02-02

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believe, the unanimous sentiment of
Georgia and the South, and of the pat
riotic men of all sections"
REMARKS OF HON. WILLIAM ID.
RIERRICK.
Ii, the House Of Delegates, IN regard to
Investigations By tie Committee dp-
pointed to consider that part Of tie
Gorernors Message rejaing to Secret
Political associations, dciircred on
Thwsclay, In mt., upon presenting
the .foitocjag onlcr:
"Or}e,cd, That the select committee
heretofore appointed to consider and re-
port upon all that part of the Governors
Message which relates to secret political
societies, be authorized and directed in
their investigations to examine witnesses
on oath. And that all witnesses attend
ing and testifying before said committee
be allowed and paid the same mileage
and per diem as is usually allowed to wit
nesses in attendance upon the Circuit
Court for Anne Arundel county"
Which being read Mr.. Merrick re-
marked, that since the presiding officer
had done him the honor to appoint him
member of the select committee men
toned in the order, his attention had
been more closely directed to the word
ing of the resolutions under which the
committee was raised, and he had OBJ
served a very material defect in their
provisions, which it was the object of the
order he had offered to supply This
defect he presumed was the mere result
Of inadvertcnce on the part Of the hon
orable gentleman (Mr Kennedy who
drafted and was the original mover Of
these resolutions from whatever
cause the omission sprung, it was now
material and important that the defect
should be supplied.
foresaw, Mr.. Speaker, said he, when
these resolutions were under considera-
ton some days ago, that the movement
would lead to some trouble | doomed it
unwise, and was disposed to pour oil on
the troubled waters, and had been for
tunate enough to have obtained hear
ing by the House, might have suggested
a mode of avoiding it; but that 0ppor-
tunity was denied me by the honorable
gentleman from Washington county.
(Mr Fiery,) who raised = question Of
order, out Of order, and |, therefore,
took my scat, with the simple remark
that it was measure which / would not
have advised and for the consequences Of
which would be in no way responsible.
But now matters have assumed differ
ont aspect. On that occasion gentlemen
seemed boiling over with zeal, and in
every quarter of the House threw from
them with indignant scorn the supposed
imputation that they, or any Of them,
were connected with secret political so
cietios, or could countonance doctrincs at
variance with the letter and spirit Of the
Constitution. 1t was refreshing to hear
the bursts of patriotic indignation with
which all doctrines or societies which
might tend to the abridgement of civil
and religious liberty, were denounced
and repudated, and gontlcmon pro-
claimed aloud in trumpet tones, (and
particularly the gentleman from Wash
iugton county, Mr. Fiery, that they in
sisted upon and deDtdRicd a full inycsti-
CATION Of the whole matter by an efficient
committee None were found TO resist
that demand, and / confess, sir, ] was
delighted to hear 50 much Of the true
spirit, so long characteristic of our glo-
rious old State Of Maryland, breathed
forth in such eloquent strains; and that
there was none, not one, to contradict or
gansay them. Sir, | felt proud, proud
indeed Of the lofty bearing Of my peers
and associates here, and still prouder to
feel assured and authorized to say that,
notwithstanding the many outside re-
ports and statements 10 the contrary, the
fair character Of my native State is still
untarnished and is free from the blcmisL
Of having in these halls, any one who
will countenancc religious Intolerance
and prescription, or is Bound in secret
political societies Of evil or unconstitu-
tional tendencies Proud Of this, and
anxious that these gratifying facts should
be made conspicuous and manifest 10 tho
world, in such a manner rs 10 command
full crodence from all, and completely
yindicate from such imputatious, all and
every one Of the honorable members
around me- ! have prepared and oleI
the order before you, that the facts
elected by the investigation Of this com.
mittee may go forth with all the mos
solemn sanctions known 10 Christian 30
cicty.
This course is due to the honorable
gentlemen Of the majority here; nay, i
becomes indispensably necessary, when w
reflect upon the position in which the,
are now placed II is due to The homo
and dignity Of the whole Legislature
that this investigation should now b.
made in the most thorough and parfoc
manner. myself, sir, humble as
am, and one, as | am, Of small mi