The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-24

President elect supposed to represent Mr. Lincons opn
ions. That journal announces that peaceable Sio
cannot take place. and that he the Ad
mlnstraton of the Government, the seeding State
States will be coerced.
into the Union This is startling announcement, an
carries with it dangers of the imminent character
should such course be pursued who the end 0
| il? Union in fact dissolved civil impending
Such is the state of affairs at present Who tell hov
soon this question of civil will he practical ques
tlon? How soon may we all be called to rise
man to drive back the Wide Awake cohorts Abraham
Lincoln who may descend from the North todesoate th
Mr.. Y elliott continued for some time in eloquent
| appeal for Southern amity ard Southern action
| He was frequently interrupted by applause.
At the close OF his speech, Judge Lpgrand stepped
! forward, when a Young named Brooks, who
| took prominent part in the ''Southern Volunteer
! Movement" rose, and with much vehemeuce Of
action sad-"In the name of the Southern Voun-
teer Association, move the adoption of the reso-
! lutiOns."
The audience paid but little attention to him,
and there were loud cries for 'Norrs.''
Judge Legrand demanded order, and as soon as
1T was restored, said that he wantedMehe audience
to distinctly understand what the meeting had been
called for. 1t was not called to endorse the action
of any Southern State, nor to give aid to any
Southern Volunteer Association 1t was called
for the purpose of taking steps to secure call OF
the Legislature of the State of Maryland. 1t was
called for the purpose of placing own State in
position which will enable us, should the emer-
gency arise, to defend the committee against out
rage. For il the abolition fanatics of the North
should dare to stain the soil ofa Southern State with
the blood OF its citizens, the people would
rise to ayenge the deed. TCheers
The cries for Wm. II. Norris, ESQ., were then
renewed, and in respone that gentleman stepped
forward He commenced his remarks by request.
ing that the audience would not give any manifesto
ton, either OF approval or dsapprobaton, of any
OF ms remarks. lie then referred to the purpose
for which the meeting had been convened-that of
securing call of the Legislature. He referred to
the statement of the intention which Mr. Yelott
and tn tIn noF fl,nt
his ExcelIency had expressed desire that the
people should speak in their primary capacity and
II public sentiment demanded a call of the Legsla-
ture he would comply with it. He (Mr. Norris }
had read the Goyernors letters, and they total
ly at variance with such idea. He was not an
adversary Of tie Governors, bat was a Re
publican citizen, and such would speak
ms mind plainly. He prnfessed to understand the
Constitution of the State Mr. Norris then sus
entity defined the different branches OF government
ana their powers under the Constitution and then
referred to the clause in the Constitution, which
says that on extraordinary occasions the Governor
may convene the Legislature. He said the word
may, in some instances, was discretionary, and in
others mandatory. 1t was his opinion that in this
case 1t was mandatory. 1t as much the duty
OF the Governor to call the Legislature together as
1t would be his duty to call out the military in case
the State was invaded by foreign foe, or in case
OF insurrection. The clause giving power to the
Governor to call out the militia was c0uched in the
same terms as that empowering him to convene the
i4SSls'dtulc' Aht NOTQ may was used DOtn
instances.
Mr. Norris went on to prove that the state Of aE
fairs now prevailing was such as were indicated by
the Constitution. They were extraordinary. lie
then condemned the policy which the Governor
was pursuing in corresponding with Governors of
other States. He thought that Governor Hicks
should act the Governors of the other States
have acted and call the Legislature of the State to-
gether lie knew Governor Hicks personally, but
slightly; he was, however, acquainted with many
OF the Governors friends. He believed him to be
patriotic and honest, but he w0ad say. and with
no bated breath, that it was his opinion that the
Governor is now exhibiting the effects of lifelong
training in politics. His Exceency is afraid that
there is political trick in this movement for call
OF the Legislature. He was afraid of being "head-
ed OH '-Tylerized. He was not acting the part of
statesman, but that Of a politician.
Mr.. Norris then referred to the necessity for
Convention. Organic law about to be chadged
and it was not within the power of Legislature to
change it, The people alone could do this, by
means OF Convention composed of men fresh from
their midst Mr.: Norris then referred to the causes
which have brought about this extraordinary con-
dition of affairs. The slavery question was the
cause of all the difficulty. A labored effort was
continually going on in the North, on the part of
the politicians, to convince the people that the pol
icy which they advocate on the slavery question is
the same as that of the founders of the republic
This was entirely false. Mr.. Norris read a letter
written by Mr.. jefferson. while in Paris to Mr.
Madison, to prove that such his policy.
He next referred to the condition of the States
at the adoption of the Constitution Twelve of
them were slaveholding and one free. Massachu-
setts had abolished the institution, actuated to
such a course by the influences of French Infdels
As an evidence that at that period slaves were
Looked upon as property he cited the fact that Mr.
Jay when negotiating the treaty with England, de-
manded remuneration for so 600 slaves stolen dur
ing the war. lie next referred to the early acita-
tion of the slavery question by the Quakers of
Philadelphia in 1890, and the fear then entertained
by the Southern members of Congress that the
mt d.
Life OF Washington letter from DR.. Stewart to
&6qcn Gd5fmGPPfainngG 1h39 tie R5rR
was united on the question, the South was divided
lie also read Washington's reply to this letter, in
which the South is censured for not being unit on
all matters affecting her interest.
lie then continued. Had the States remained as
they have at the formation OF the Confederacy-
twelve slave holding ard one free-wouId there ever
been question to the right of carving slave
property into the territories No sane man can be-
lieve that such question could have arisen. Those
States have changed their local laws and would
now change the organic law of the land. They
pgofessed that the South was endeavoring to per-
vert the Constitution when, in fact, they were
making the assault on that instrument. Mr.. Nor
rs then referred to the agitation of the question
in 1920 and in 1885 and Sc, and proved that it
was done Tor party effect In 1886, Gen Jackson
found 1t necessary to suggest to Congress the ne
cessity OF passing laws restricting the circulation
OF incendiary documents fearing that servile insur
rection would be the consequence.
lie then referred to the dogmas of the Abolition
party, Tree speech, free press and free soil, and
most graphically portrayed the meaning and effect
of each-the dire results which would inevitably
follow their successful introduction as intended Dy
the Northern fanatics The free press was to be
made more potent by the use of free mail Their
lncendiary documents were to be disseminated by
the mail--every post-ofic6 to be made a depot
for the distribution Of their fqnatical ideas This
part Of the subject was treated most ably by Mr.
Norris, and to give additional force to his own
strong argument, be read from the works of Judge
Story an opinion of that able iurist in which he
states that if the liberties of the people were de.
stroyed the post-oilce would be made the principal
engine in bringing it about
Free Speech, and Free Press, as entertained by
the North, were but another name for robbery
murder and outrage. They will commit these
crimes by the Grace Of God. They will commit
them the French revOutionists committed their
epormities. He then compared the leading French
ReT0iutionists and the leading Black Republican
lists. They were the same class of men, visiona-
| ries, idealists and infdels, but the French were
much ADLER, intellectually, than the present Re
publican leaders. Both were destitute of common
sense.
Want of time prevented Mr. Norris from elabo-
rating the different points he made. He said that
he had not given an opinion the constitutional
ty OF the issues involved lie had no design to
hide his views. The decision in the Dred Scott
case met bis unqualified approval He then read
the following extract from the New York Tribune
| of Saturday:
that Mr. Lincoln is utterly opposed any concession or
compromise that shall yield ota of the position &C
cuped by the Republican party the subec: slavery
in the Territories, and that he stands he stood in
May last, when he accepted the nomination for the Pre-
sidency, square upon the Chicago PLATFORM
II this was the intention Of the President elect
the consequences which would follow were of the
drest character He closed his remarks in a strong
argument for immediate call of the Lee islature
Mr.. Norris, nOtwiths landing his express desire
| that there should be manifestation of approba
inn
| BY tumultuous cheering.
Judge Legrand then put the preamble and resG
| lutions to the meeting, and they adopted with
| out a dissenting voice
| While Mr.. Norris was speaking, a man in tht
| gallery made offensive remark, and there wer,
immediate cries OF 'put him out" when the in
the trouble of kicking him out.
DEsTEUcrGvE FmE-S3O, 600 ,corth of Propert,
! Destroyed.-I esterday afternoon, about O'Clock
an alarm Of fire was given from box No. l6, occa
| stoned by the burning of the barrel manufactory
within the enclosure of the Penitentiary. A re
port put in circulation, soon as the localit,
| of the fire was discovered, that it was one of tn
main buildings of the Penitentiary which was OF
fire, and thousands OF our citizens focked to tn
scene. All the streets adjacent to the Insttutio,
were thronged with people of all ages and boil
sexes. The manutac Tory was carried on by j. II
Duval and Sons, and is situated on the north en
of the grounds in the Of the other buildings
When first discovered the fire had gained consid
cradle headway. 1t originated in the extrer
east end of the building used for manufacturing
the barrels, and spread with great rapidity. Al
though the Fire Department was promptly on tn
ground, before a drop of water was thrown, th
was envelOped in flames, and the fire had communi
Gated with the BUILDINGS usad for the dryinp n.