The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-08

of Alleganv. His people were anxious to see them;
they shed light upon agriculture and were benefi-
cial in every way. That the agricultural and mine
raj resources of the State have been greatly de-
veloped through the Chemists exertons, one |
will deny. In future it will be greater.
Other gentlemen argued against the office, on |
the ground that it did no good, and that their |
counties were not visited by the State Chemist.
Mr.. DENNIS, of Somerset, knew something of ag |
riculture, and he thought that the Chemist had |
done it no good. A good industrious farmer in a
neighborhood was more benefit, by his example, |
than q dozen chemists.
Mr.. WoRTHGNGToN withdrew his motion, to allow |
Mr.. Freaner to speak to privileged question.
RESIGNATION OF MR.. FREANER.
Mr.. FREANER rose in his seat, and announced to |
the House that he desired to resign his seat as |
member of this Legislature. 1t is needless to state
the announcement created quite stir amongst |
ry one and that the attention of all at once
riveted upon the speaker. He said that his atten-
ton had just been called to the fact that there was
constitutional disqualification preventing him |
from longer retaining his seat.
He a native of Hagerstown, Washington |
county, but left that place in April 1854 and went
70 Ealltorna, where he remained until the winter |
od lo2o' when he again returned to Washington |
county. The Constitution provides that he and
al sa99d reside in the State at least three
When he left Maryland, he had no definite inten-
| ton OF staying any length of time He went out
to seek his fortune lik many others and returned
under
for about one month before his election He as
sured the House of the fact that he was iqnorant
of any constitutional disqualification until 6is col
league, Mr.. Stake, called his attention to it this
morning. Had he known it he certainly never
would have suffered nomination, election, or re-
turn. He believed it duty to resign. He owed it
to himself, to his constituents and to the House.
The greatest regret he had was in not knowing of
the disqualification sooner, and the necessity which
compels him to give up the fellowship of the men,
bers of the House.
He then sent up to the Speaker the following
letter, which was ordered to beput on the Journal
ANNAPOLIS, March 7. 1860
To the Hon. Speaker of the House Of Delegates:
My attention has been called this morning to the fact
that do not hold my seat constitutionaly as member
of this House returned to Maryland after short
sidence in California, in the month of December, 1856
elected member of this House in November, 1859,
so that am short by few weeks of such residence in
this State of Maryland the Constitution requires The
Constitution, article 8, section 9, says:
'No person shall be eligible Senator or Delegate
who at the term of his election is not citizen of the
United States and who has not resided at least three
years preceding the day his election in this Sate &C.
was not of this disqualification at the time of
my nomination election, aware of it until
this morning One of my colleagues Mr. Stake) did
the favor to call attention to it, Being satisfied that
labor under this disqualification, and having desire
| to- hold seat to which not entitled herewith
| tender my resignation as member Of this House.
| GEORGE FRRANER.
| Mr.. GORDON, of Allegany, then arose and said he
! regretted this unlooked-for occurrence very much.
1t was entirely unexpected. He regretted to loose
/
the Constitution must be abided by. 1t is impera-
tive and we must be satisfied. He could only hope
that the gentleman would go away with the good
| feelings of all the members.
In concluding Mr.. GORDON moved order to
allow Mr.. Freaner his full pay a member of the
House for the time he had served, and that the re-
signaton be accepted.
| The order was unanimously adopted-previous
| to which, however, Mr.. STAKE stated that he
thoroughly satisfied with the explanation of his col
| league. He was certain that he never would have
suffered an election have taken his seat knowing
| that he was disqualified. When the disqualified
| tion was pointed out to him he promptly signifed
| his intention of resignng. From the character of
the man-knowing him intimately-he was well
| assured that he would under no circumstances
cept official position with the knowledge of his
| disqualification constitutional any other
grounds
| THE BROCK BILL.
Mr.. GoLDsBoRoUGH, chairman of the Committee
| on Corporatons-the hour of II having arrived
called up the Brock Passenger Railway bill as the
| special order of the day.
Mr. JACOBS contended that the unfinished bust
ness-being the Free Negro bills,took precedence.
| Mr.. MORGAN, of st. Mary's called for the order
of the day, which he contended was the adoption
or rejection of the reports OF the Committee on
Elections. He insisted upon the order, which in
| itself was imperative. He wanted gentlemen to
show their hands. His record was clear. He stood
up with clean hands, and asked to know whether
the Democrats of this House intended to frtter
away the time of the House ''nggers'' and the
| II, putting
the day, which most imperative, the gentlemen
| desired to take up the Brock BILL that they
could put it through before the Baltimore delegates
were turned out He said that if this so, he
would like gentlemen to show it by their acts. He
| let all know how he stood. His record was clear,
and he would let all it, from the coal mines of
old Allegany to the frog ponds of old Worcester.
He willing to let the people see how he stood.
He was tired of the eternal ''nigger" and 'fBrock
bi'' He called upon the Democrats to stand out,
and insist the order of the day. He called
| for it.
The SPEAKER decided that in accordance with the
Journal, the Election Committees report the
| imperative order of the day.
Mr.. GoLDsBoRoUH thought that the decision of
the House could be made upon the election reports
in yery few minutes; it could be put off without
any evil result; oil could be acted upon. Tue Brock
| bill has precedence, because is was the unfinished
business of Yesterday. thought tobe acted upon be-
fore anything else He did not look to the popular
preudices or anything else to govern him; he en-
deavored to do what was right; his record was
made up; he would vote and act as he saw fit, re-
| gardless of the opinion Of any one.
| Mr.. DENNIS was amused at the debate about De-
mocracy. What is Democracy? In one portion
of the country it is the tarif-here it is Brock
and Democracy is to be brought to the test on the
Brock bill It's tariff in one part of the country,
and anti-tariff in another. The gentleman from
Washington county, who has just left us, thought
| few DAYS since that Democracy a railroad to
the Pacific. He did really hope that some apostle
| of Democracy would arise that could define what
Democracy really does consist of that its advocates
| shall no longer be boxing the compass. We have
an entire new phase of Democracy this morning.
| Mr.. MILLER moved that the contested election
question be postponed until Saturday. He was
ready to stand on the record with the approval of
| his constituents.
! Mr.. GORDON proceeded to define his position on
| the subject of Democracy. He asked Mr.. Dennis,
as he had questioned the consistency of Democracy
if he would define his own political position. Where
is the gentleman now? What are his principles?
Mr.. DENNIs-I have always been an Old Line
Wing
Mr. GoRDoN-What is the gentleman now?
Mr.. DENNIs-I am a member of the American
party, and opposed to Democracy in every shape
and will unite with any party to oppose Demo-
cracy except the Republican party. Applause. !
Mr. GoRDoN then proceeded to analyze the prin-
| ciples of the American party, charging them with
DISTINGUISHING foreigners and Catholicism one Sec
ton, and in another section, with even nominating
them for office. He concluded by declaring his IN
willingness to press this election matter means
of preventing the members from the city from vot-
ing on any local bill. We had moved along harmo-
niously in this matter, and he hoped we would con-
tinue to do so to the end. His views with regard
to the Brock bill were well known, no one doubted
that he was opposed TO it, and would vote against
it, but he could not consent to be party staving
off action this bill for the purpose of obtaining
party end, as means to assist in its defeat. He
would therefore move that the election cases be
made the order of the day for Friday next.
Mr.. STAKE, of Washington county, thought there
would be no opposition to the consideration of the
election case, and no concerted effort to prevent
the Democracy from doing everything they might
desire on this and all other questions. As to the
position of the Democracy, he found them so thick
here that he had no desire to his head against
them-he wanted them to have their way in
everything.
Mr.. MORGAN stated that he had no desire to
throw the Baltimore delegation out as a means of
defeating the Brock bill. He wanted them to
have the election matter disposed Of Besides,
their absence would not injure the prospect of that
BILL as the delegation divided, and the major
ity of them against the bill. With the absence of
the nine delegates. and Mr.. Freaner, it would re-
uuire but 80 instead of SO votes to pass BILL
The SPEAKER said that such would be the result
Mr.. GoLDsBoRoUGH denied this construction of
the Constitution. If one-thrd of the members OF
the House were disqualified and should retire, it
would still require 3S votes topass a bill, and by
vacating these seats, every bill before the House
will be jeopardised.
The question was then called, and long dispute
arose to what was the question before the House.
The Speaker finally decided that the question was
on the motion of Mr.. Jacobs to suspend the rules to
take up the Negro bill instead of the Passenger
Railway or Election Reports.
The ayes and nays being called resulted as fol-
lows:-Ayes, 49; nays, 10.
| THE NEGRO QUESTION.
The rules were suspended, and the Negro bill
called up.
Mr. GoLDsBoRoUGH asked for a call of the House
The absent members were ascertained, and the
Doorkeeper sent after them.
| During the interim Mr.. GoLDSBoRoUGH read a
ries of resolutions on behalf of the Joint Committee
of the Senate and House upon Federal Affairs in
reply to the resolutions of the Legislature of South