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

nority, feel that have a share and am
in u measure responsible for anything
that reflects upon this body, and though
my share, in the character and estimation
in which this House is held by the great
public, may not quite so great as the
share of the members in the majority,
yet ! feel that it is Of great importance
to me that that character should be fully
vindicated. But, sir, where are we, and
in what position do we stand {? BY the
excited discussions here few days ago,
and the indignant donunciation of gen
tlemen on the other side, followed by the
adoption of the propositions of the hon
orablc gentleman from Baltimore, (NIr.
kenncdy,l you have attracted to this
subject and upon the majority here, tho
eyes of the people of the whole State,
and rendered orr further action in the
matter the theme Of universal CONVERSE
ton and speculation The Governor,
very properly, as it seems to me, COM
mented in his regular communication to
us upon the existence amongst us of po-
litieal associations holding certain doc
trines and having certain tendencies
which he considered pregnant with evil
OF the fact of their existence every ono
knows; and the press of the country
was, is, and had long been full of dis
cushions relative to them. There was
nothing in the language Of the message
which pointed at any one or which should
have given offence to any one.
The Governor merely stated a fact
universally believed and talked about,
and warned us of the evils likely to flow
from it. Gentlemen here took fire at it,
and you have ordered the Governor to
be Intercepted and deDiandeR full in
vestigation into the facts This has
startled the public; and though, as ]
have already said, | thought the move
unwise, it is now too late to go back,
and every consideration requires that the
work should be done thoroughly and
completely What you have done has
gone forth to the world on the wings of
the wind, and the novelty of the proceed
ing has attracted the attention not only
Of the people of Maryland, but probably
Of all this entire Republic; and the anx-
ious, close, scrutinizing gaze Of the
whole American people is concentrated
upon the majority of this House. This
investigation must go on then--and it
must go on with all the solemn sanctions
we can throw around it. Let the testi-
mony be taken under OATH in due form
and by due authority administered and
the witnesses know, when they testify
before us, that they do so TN fact and in
truth, under the most awful responsible
ty. We must not blink orcvade it now
1t will not do to stop with the Governor
the resolutions must 60 much further
we must 60 to their full extent-tbis is
due to a majority here 1t is due to all
and though it viii cost Us both time and
trouble, and may impede other business,
yet we must 60 through with il; and
promise to those who have sought this
investigation, my fullest and most cor
dial corporation AMI assistance in all
their efforts to oyiscoratc the truth.
After some remarks from Mr.. Ken
ncdy in reply, and short response from
Mr. Mcrrick, all opposition to the order
was withdrawn, and il was accepted by
the first named gentleman, the mover Of
the original resolutions.