The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-10

| the Union, and caunseling that nothing should be
! d"ne antagonistic to the Government, or suscepti
| Die OF being properly so regarded. The resou
lions embrace all the conclusions to which the rea-
| sonln2 nt the report led.
| Mr.. WoGTHGNGToY proposed the following reso-
| lutions:
Whercos, 1t is right and proper that this General As
semhlY OF Maryland should give suci expression OF
opinion will call forth the united voice OF the whole
people OF Maryland in the present emergency; and the
Border States, with the exception of Maryland have al
ready through their Legislatures Conventions. de
hntd their position and Of action; Therefore be it
ReSotred BY the General Assembly of Marylau the
present position of Maryland in the Union is strict
neutrality, and will remain unchanged 50 long as Wash
lng"n continues tn" seat of Government provided the
United States affords ample protection to slaves and 9TH
! property.
Resclrd That when The seat of the United States CO.
verment ceases to be at Washington. and division
the country takes place the people shall have the free
| right and choice of deciding which section they
w'l be attached to. by free expression and deci-
! sion of the popular will at the ballot box.
Which were read the first time and referred to
| the Committee on Federal Relations.
The bill to pay certain expenses for summOnin q
| the Legislature ordered to a third reading
| without amendment
The Senate bill TO authorize the Commissioners
| OF Frederick county to make levy to defray the
cost OF rebuilding the county Court House, was
| passed.
The bill to prohibit free negroes, leaving the
| State, from returning to it under penalty, was
amended and laid the table.
The joint resolutions Of Mr. Lynch, appointing a
committee OF four from each House to visit Presi-
dent Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and the Governors of
| Pennsylvania and Virginia, was passed.
SENATE.
| SENATOR M'KAiG DEFINING MS POSITION.
Mr.. MCkAIG said be wished t. make an exulana-
ti0n which affected his own position as we'll as that
OF the Senate The Senate are not only aware that
last week we held a secret session, but Senators are
also aware what transpired in that secret session
! find it charged in the AUcqnnian of the 5rh inst
! q IN pbrrla m ha
cratic paper that though that secret session in
volved treason to the State, the AHcymian charges
that the Senate in secret session. and that the
Senate was forced into that reasonable cham
per condition by the casting vote OF the Senator
| from Alegany"
! The Senate, doubt not, will be somewhat sur
| prised to learn that ever had or was ever in the
position to have ga cnsiiug r0te" Charges of this
! kind against Senators are the direct consequences
! OF the denunciation of Senator'S who all know
were perfectly cogniZant of all that took place in
the Senate during the secret session. The public
would have at least some reason to suspect that
| there must have been attempt at treason
against this State, when they heard honorable
Senators violently denounce that act of the Sen
ate AS an act as dangerous to liberty the Star
Chamber of Eugland in the worst days of the Eng
ish monarchy.
Now demand of the Justice of every Senator on
this floor to whether the Senate did not 60 into
secret session By HnnHmOUs cOmScnf! Whether there
was vote of anv kind taken? There was no vote
secret
vote taken lii secret session save vote to adjourn.
There was attempt at legislation in that secret
session. 1t was my understanding, and believe
the understanding OF every member of the Senate
that we went into secret session for consultation
IN. The committee of five, of which was a mem
Der, could not agree The S'natOr from Talbot and
myself were opposed to the bill-the remaining
three were in favor Of reporting it it was after
wards reported. 1t was by the Senate lHanimousIy
oyreed to go into secret session to
see whether could unite the ,rho,e Senate on any
measure Tor the peace and safety of the State. As
soon as was ascertained that could not agree,
the doors were thrown opeR. The Senate has a
clear constitutional right to hold secret sessions.
whenever in the Judgment of the Senate, it is pro-
per to do so.
1t NAV be that it is TO hold such sessions
but the danger in the present instance only 10
H1Sc 'cho 'rc" INTO HGt session. | would also call
the attention of the Senate to reports in the news
papers which mention iae as speaking in favor Of
the con&fifufionnIify Of the bill reported by the Sen
ator from Baltimore, and also that referred to
the decisions of the Court of Appeals. did nei-
ther-my objections to the bill even in committee
were constitutional bjectiOns, we'll objections
Of policy.
| stated in secret session, as well as in the public
debate, that reserved nv right to vote against the
bill on its FINAL passage though voted to put the
bill on its second reading, that the friends of the
bill might have an opportunity of perJeciHg the bill,
and its opponents might have the power to offer
some other bill as substitute When found that
this bill would not be relieved of its objectionable
features, and that | could not vote for it, so in
formed the Senator from Baltimore CITY and left for
Cumberland. When, on the second reading, ! voted
for or against amendments that were offered, Just
as thought they improved the bill made it
more objectionable | acted with perfect frankncSs
towards the Senator from Baltimore city, who had
the bill in charge, have not the slightest doubt
he will state to the Senate.
Believing as | do that it is but Justice to the ma
iority of the Senate that the proceedings of the Sc
cret session should be published, move you, MIR.
PRESIDENT that the proceedings Of the session
be published and that two hundred extra copies be
printed for the use of the Senate. The motion was
aAonted.
resolutions of Mr.. Lynch, reported on Tuesday at
the evening esSon.
THE MARYLAND EXEMPTION LAW.
The following is p true copy of the Exemption
Law just passed, which goes into effect the first
of June:
An Act to amend the Eghtythird Article of the Code Of
Public General Laws by cXempting a certain amount
of property from execution
Be it ea1cted, By the General Assenab'y Of Hary'1nd
That hundred dollars worth property Of each de
iendant therein shall he exempt from execution issued
and udgem in any civil proceeding whatever, except
on judgments 70: breach Of promise to marry or seduc
tiO1.
Section . Aud be it enqc'ea That each defendant in
any such execution select property real personal,
to the value of hundred dollars I've asceraiued by
three dsntcrese appraisers to be summoned anl sworn
by the officer at the time Of ghe execution and the
appraement signed by the appraisers shall bereturned
with the writ.
Section D. ana DC teHTcted, Iat Ifany property OF any
defendant, whether real personal cannot be divided
to apart portion of it, of the value of one hun
dred dollars, without loss and injury to all parties
cerncd, then the whole shall he sold. and the endan
whose property is sold shall have hundred dollars
Of the eds in money: and whether the property
he divided without loss shall be determined by the ap
prascrS this section only to apply to where
single parcel Of land single article of personal proper
ty is levied on aud in all such cases the officer shall not
sell unless tie property offered shall bring than
hundred dollars.
section 4 And he Henactcd, That III wearing apparel
hooks. and tools of mechanics shall be exempt from
ecuon. in addition to the property herenbeore exempt
ed but this shall not apply to books tools kept
for sale.
Section ;. And be it enacted That the preceding
tions relating to exemption shall not impair the lien Of
any vender for the purchase money Of land of
mortgage Of any mechanic other persons for any
debt contracted for in aid Of the erection of build
ing, from any lien thereon for taxes
Section AMI be III enGcied That the exemption here
in shall not apply any execution judgment
dered any contract or to any liability which
lists may exist when this act shall take effect