The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-02
MARYLAND LEGISLATURE, SPECIAL SESSION


FREDERICK, July 81, 1861.
4 The non appearance in either chamber of Il
General Assembly yesterday of the members of Il
opposition-who were known to have then been
the city-seemed to confirm the current repo
that they had determined to take no part in II
proceedings of that body until an organizatio
: should have been first effected without their ait
and as it was apparent that persistence in ths
determination might delay an organization for Sc,
erai days at least, some anxiety was felt as TO tn
course they would pursue to-day and the probs
bliitles OF the arrival of sufficient number to plac
the majority in an independent position.
The oarance of Messrs Smith of Carroll an
Stone of Washington, in the Senate, prior to tn
hour of meeting, indicated the attendance of tn
| remaining opposition members, and the uppe
| chamber organized at 10 o'clock.
As the missing Senators did not make their an.
pearance the Doorkeeper was dispatched to an
| n0unce to Messrs. G0ldsborough of Talbot anC
kimmel OF Frederick, that the Senate in ses
sion. and their presence required for the
| OF business. Upon the return of that official and
after sufficient time had elapsed to enable tn,
absGnees to reach the Hall, Mr.. McKaig moved
that the rules of the Senate be enforced against thu
absent Senators, tn the oxaction of the heavy
! fine imposed upon acts of wful delinquency
! Pending this motion, and before any action haC
! been taken upon it, Messrs. Godsborough and Kim
| mel entered the Senate and took their seats.
The attention of this Chamber du ing its forenoon
session was almost exclusively claimed by number
of resolutions, and orders submitted by Mr. Kim.
mel, locking severally TO the displaying of the ma
tional flag over the Capitol, pro tenn, during the
session; to speedy actin upon the amendment OF
the Constitution of the United States proposed by
Congress at its last session and to an adj lurnment
sine die on the lst of August, of which prOpo-
sitions commanded the favor of the Senate. The
Senator from Frederick then presented pream-
bic and resolution, referring to the Crittenden
resolution adopted by Congress and insisting on
the necessity of supporting the Government.
Speaker BROOKE (Senator Stone in the chair)
thought the preamble was not as the Senator from
Frederick had said it was, echo of Mr.. Critteu-
den's resolutions. If he remembered Alright, those
resolutions charged the responsibility Of this war
upon the disuniansts of the South.
Mr.. KENNEL replied that be had purposeIy avoid
ed embodyiHg that view of Mr.. Crittenden he
desired to avoid offending any party, and left the
country to fix the responsibility for this fratricidal
STRIFE where it properly belouged-to the fanatics
OF the North aud the hotspurs of the South.
until Wednesday,
Leave granted the Committee on Federal
Relations to introduce bill to ratify the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House met pursuant to ad 0urnment shortly
after II o'clock, the Union men appearing in their
seats, with the exception of two or three of them
who are yet absent fron the city. The following
members answered to their names:
Messrs. kilburn, Speaker; Durant, Raisin Med
ders, WecE, Mackubn, Brlscoe, Ford Denison, |
Quinlan, Renshaw, Jones of Talbot, Chaplain Den |
mis- OF Somerset, Holland McIntire, Maxwell Miller
Legg, Restless, Claggett, Roulzahn, johnson, Sal
mon, Nall, Godsborough, Warfield, Brane Winans |
Harrison, Thomas, Wallis, Sangstou. Morfit Scott,
Wilson, Bayless, Mccoy. Coudy, Eake, Brinipg,
Fiery, Griffith, Gordon, Barnard, MCleary, Cor
such, Mills, Turner-i9.
Absent %.
Mr. BRIsCOE of Calvert, offered a message to The
Senate proposing the appointment, by joint resou-
ton, of three members from each House to arrange
the time and place of adjournment.
The message was then adopted, and Messrs
Scott, BFiscoe and Holland appointed on the com
mttee.
be general, and it is very probable that the COM
nittee will report in favor of an adjournment on
next, to meet again at the close of the
ensuing September, and that the report will be |
adopted with little if any dissent.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
The Special Committee of Three-Messrs Sang
ton, Pitts and Ford--appointed to Investigate the
financial affairs, general management and discip-
inc, and the manufacturing tces, &C., of the
larylard Penitentiary, reported that in addition
o those subjects Of inquiry they have had under
nvestig alton:
l. The memorial of John H. Duvall and William
Toward asking relief for losses growing out of the
estruction OF their property by fire IN the peni-
entary, which originated in careessness
=: Th1 memorial of Charles Murdoch, asking re-
iet by modification of his contract with the
ettem5nt OF claims 10 dispute between them,
The investigation into the memorial of the
lessrs. Duva aud Howard was conducted. the
eport says, by eminent counsel both sides,
Who examined numerous witnesses. Yet the
Committee were unable to recognize in the case
ny 10. grounds for claim against the State
The differences between MIR. Murdoch and the
'irectars of the Penitentary were adjusted prior
, the iaking of any evidence in the case. The
arms 1f adjustment being, the part of Mr.
urdo-F, to pay in full the amount of the claim in
I>Pufs: and to retain the labor of fifty convicts at
i6T cssTE1F per day each, until January LIST, 1861
is,I0OD'S 'dcturing department of the Penisen-
.FENN'S : deTbted, the Committee repnrte. to
'aiu SOP, with few li8so V and coarse carpets
1ey found In very embarrassed condition. At
o time has 1t proved source of much revenue
wing to the inability of hand loom labor to com. |
etc with power looms, but the blockade of the
outhern ports, in cutting off at once source of
S supply ofyarns and its chief markets. has, for
ne time at least, almost entirely destroyed it.
The stock of manufactured goods on haud, the
ommIttee estimate at $4,000, and of material
900, which, when made up, will increase the
,rmer stock to SIS, 900.
The entire system of labor in this department is
to be radically wrong by the commit
'e and unless change be effected in it the ipsti-
ltlon must ever prove a burden upon the re-
'urces OF the State. The chief defect is the credit
Istem upon which the department has hitherto
cen worked-the depressing effect of which is H.
lstrated In the statement that the amount of in
rest alone, paid during five years, reaches to
Is los.
A careful analysis OF the operations of this dss
artment during the past five years exhibited
the committee the fact that the net earnings of
II the convicts employed averaged but IL cents
er DAY, without deductng anything for cost or dE-
recitation of machinery, &C. The same number of
onvicts employed by contractors at so cents day
ach, gave a revenue of S2S 500 for labor, and $500
,r rent of shops Thus practically contrasting the
70 systems, the committee recommend the total
BOLTON otthat of manufacturing on account fthe
bn suhr+ it,tin nf tb,n
Istem.
The total expense of maintaining the institution
estimated at S57 600. The average number of
risoners is about 420, of whom 400 are males
rom the labor of these it is estimated that the
I'm of S37 les could be annually realized and the
lstitution be rendered selfsustaiuing.
The investigation OF the financial condition of the
and which was much facilitated, they
port, by the admirable system of Mr. J. J. G..
ougherty, the Financial Clerk and Bookkeeper,
lhibited the following result:
abilities over and above cash in hand, July
l. $40 Zss Il
npropriation made at the April session and not
Give debt due by contractor.
appended debt due by merchants of hitherto ;
undoubted solvency Observation-Disclosures. 54l447
goods and materials hand. IL 600 90
Total $40 $40 Al
4529s41
Nominal surplus. ,,.,.,.,,,....,,,...,.s4 $50 90
Until peace be restored and trade restored to its
binary channels, the Committee think the insti- {
tlon will be heavy burden upon the State, and 9
ev estimate that an appropriation of at least {
5000 will be absolutely necessary to carry it I
rough the next twelve months. {
The Committee compliment in the highest terms i
e Directors, together with the Warden, Deputy 7
arden, and the officers under them, for the faith
and efficient performance of their official duties.
De entlre prison, they report, presented air of
,atness and cleanliness rarely met with in public |
lildings, and the discipline and business system
the institution were found to be equally worthy I
commentator. :
One evil which the Commi tee thinks demand i'm | =
edate legislation, is the practice throug bout the
ate OF sending parties to the penitentiary for
nall offences. They illustrate the evil with the
llcwing literal transcript of record of a court I
Calvert county: C
George Norfolk, presented for feloniously en-
ring the dwelling of William Ogden and taking i
erefrom bottle of whiskey, pan of milk, and '
me bread and meat. Verdict of the jury: Guilty,
ID insane at the time Of the commiol of the act and
sane noW, and sentenced by the Court to be con- t
led in the Penitentary house OF the State of Ma
land until he shall recorer his reason, or be dis
larged by due course of law" l
This sentence, the committee argue, is virtually |
npTisonment for life for the simple offence of |
ealing something to eat.
Mr.. WALLIS was astounded at this disclosure, and
sregarding the ordinary impulses of humanity
nd the simplest promptings of Christian spirit, I
hich were equally violated in this sentence, be
it clear, open and uDmistakable viO- 7
ton of one of the statute laws of the State. The
iscloure had not been made too soon, and it was
ne to justice and to the dignity of the State that
inhuman practice should be stopped at once !
be judge who imposed the sentence had no more
ght to lmprison an insane person as felsn than
lie latter would have to imprison the Judge.