The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-27


ty of Gov. Hicks action in refusing to convene the
Legislature, there cannot we suppose, be much
difference of opinion about the insutiicency Of the
reasons which have induced him to come to such
a conclusion. His motives may be the best that
ever influenced the official conduct Of any man,
but the arguments by which he has sought to con-
vince the public of the wisdom of his decision, are
of the weakest and most unsatisfactory character
The Constitution of this State empowers the Gov
ERyoR TO call a special session Of the Legislature,
ston extraordinary OCCASIONS" and that this pre-
sent crisis falls within that category will not, it
NAV be assumed, be denied in any quarter. Sew
eral States of the Union threaten to dissolve their
connection with the rest, and are proceeding de-
liberately, but rapidly, to carry out their design
and ii is difficult to imagine how any graver ques-
ton can ever be submitted to the various members
Of the Conlederacy than the they are now in
vited to consider. revolution is progressing,
which, if successful, will dismember the Republic,
and be productive Of serious connections, and
perhaps of civil strife in different sections of the
country, and it would certainly seem that at such
time, of all others, whatever there is of govern
ment in the land be it loca. general, should be
prepared to speak and act. But Governor Hicks
thinks otherwise Fearful as he deems the elner-
gency to be, he considers it njudcious TO convoke
the General Assembly, and thus place the whole
government Of the State in position to advise or
protect the people as the exigency of the case may
demand. He holds that the moment has not ar
rived at which any action of the part of Maryland
is expedient, and he fears that all the other de-
partments of the government, except the Execu-
tive, would be precipitate and foolish. In answer
to the first of these objections it may be remarked
that the Governor appears to have lost sight
altogether of the object for which a meeting of the
Legislature was originally suggested. The pre-
servation of the Union was the end towards which
we, in common, we suppose, with nine men out of
every ten in this community, were looking. This
the grand result for which every heart was
syearning and towards which all hopes were tend
ing, and it in order that the influence and the
efforts of Maryland might be most effectively d.
rected to its accomplishment, that some concerted
action by her constituted authorities was thought
desirable But Governor Hicks would have the lat
ter to be silent until the issue TO which the people
attach most Importance has been settled without
their agency. After the Union has been dissolved
he will, he intmates, summon the Legislature to
to meet. When he can no longer indulge in any
expectation of an adjustment of the pending diff
cultes, he will take the step which was primarily
urged upon him, solely in the hope that
it would prevent the very contingency
to which he looks forward as JUS
tifcation for the exertion of his prerogative 1t
was because the citizens of Maryland were anxious
representatives to be called together, in council, and
not because they thought it absolutely necessary
at once to provide merely for their own defence or
prepare for the formation of new Confederacy
After the Union is destroyed there will be little
need of the Legislature. The Republic being over
thrown, the destiny of this State must be decided
only by Convention ofits people, When, there
fore, the period has arrived at which, in Governor
Hicks Judgment, q special session will be advisa
ble we will probably have TO settle questions with
which the Legislature would not venture to deal
Governor Hicks fears, too are as unjust towards
the Legislature as his manner of expressing them
is offensive. He has, on several occasions: init
mated very clearly that a session of the Legsla-
ture is likely to result in some extreme or incen-
diary proceedings, which would place the State in
a false position. ~ cannot consent he said, in
his letter to Judge HANDY, ''by any precipitate or
Revolutionary action, to aid in the dismember-
"ment of this Union" What authority the Gov
ernor has for assuming that the Legislature is dis
posed to dismember the Union, we are at loss to
know. The unanimity with which it refused, a
year ago, to consider the South Carolina PROPOSE
ton for Southern Convention, is evidence of its
loyalty to the Union then, and coming afresh, as
its members would now, from all parts of the
State, there is little likelihood that they would
misrepresent their constituents. It seems most
reasonable to suppose that, in exgency like the
present. the representatives of the people elected
twelve months since would be more apt to ex-
press the sentiment of the State than Governor
Illegally elected three years ago.