Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-01-18
Conntp 1aloss Mlertilrq.
Proceedings of the Committee ap-
pointed Go Report Resolutions for
the action of the Meeting of the
People of Montgomery County, on
the LIST instant, &C.
TO the Editor Of the .Sentine1:

TO the Editor Of the Sentinel;
In view of the course pursued, in re-
lation to the proceedings of the late Mass
Meeting in this county, by persons who
seem to possess more party rancor, than
either true patriotism or wisdom, | feel
it due to myself, and to my associates on
the committee appointed to prepare and
report business to the meeting, to give
fair account of the part | took in it. l
will endeavor to do SO fairly and kindly,
and if | fall into error, to the prejudice
of any one, | shall be most happy to be
corrected.
When / entered the Court House, the
President, Vice Presidents, and Secreta-
ries, had been elected, except three who
were added afterwards. | then moved
that the chair appoint committee of two
from each election district, to report bust
ness to the convention; which being car
ried, the chair appointed Richard j.
Bowie, w. Veirs Bouic, Samuel Riggs,
of r., Allen b. Davis, Francis Miller,
Benjamin Duvall, Zachariah Waters,
Robert Scllman, Howard Griffith, and
Benjamin G. Cot.
OF these, r. j. Bowie, A. B. Davis,
Francis Miller, Zachariah Waters and
Benjamin G. Colt, (fve,) belong to the
American party, or coincide with it w.
Veirs Bouic, Samuel Riggs, of R., Ben
amin Duvall, Robert Sellman, and How
ard Griffith, Give, are Democrats.
Thus it will be perceived, that the chair
man j BREWER, Esq ) bad purposely APP
pointed an equal number from each party
on this committee, with the distinction
of chairman to r. j Bowie, Of the Ameri-
can party. ] was personally gratifed at
this, although it was strictly due to my
self, as the mover Of the resolution, be-
cause the appointment came from Demo-
GRAFT presiding over meeting, called
without distinction Of party, and seeking,
by united counsel, to protect themselves
from a common danger; and, in doing
which, those principles of federal politics,
by which our people arc divided into par
ties, could not be involved, and because
of the public confidence which the age
and experience of Mr.. Bowie command
When the committee assembled, Mr.
Bowie requested any member who had
any suggestion to make, to do so. ] ther
read series of resolutions drafted BY
DR.. Charles A. Harding, as be informed
me, without previous consultation witt
any one else, and which he had handed
to me, at my request. These resolutions
met with no second, and were not pressed
to any vote / also read series of reso-
lutions drawn by myself, without consult
alton with any one else, and never sub
mitted to the judgment Of any party, OF
personal friend, for approval or disap-
proval, and for which, up to that moment,
no human being was responsible but my
self, and which had been prepared more
as suggestive sketches than perfected re-
solutions.
Mr. Bowie then asked if any one else
had anything further to offer. Nothing
being offered, Mr.. Miller remarked, that
he (Mr Bowie) had something which
he (Mr. Miller) desired him to present
Mr.. Bowie then produced preamble anC
resolutions, which were read. Iobjeclet
to the paragraph next to the last, in thu
preamble. which begins thus: " No per
version or abuse of its (the Federal Go
vernment's) authority is alleged to justi
fly its dissolution" &c. But finding m,
objections were likely to lead to discus
! sion. and a loss Of time, which we haC
, not to spare, | withdrew them to tina
paragraph; but insisted upon an obiec
ton to the last paragraph, beg ling
"0ur allegiance to the United States,
&C., and moved to amend it by insertin,
the words, "but the people in solemn
convention, for just cause, may throw Of
its (thc Federal Govcrnment's) authori
ty." This amendment was spoken agains
by Messrs Davis and Miller; but it wa
accepted by Mr.. Bowie, and adopted
The preamble thus amended, was, upol
my motion, adopted and reported as pub
lished.
The resolutions, as published, mum
bered |, 2, 4, were presented by Mr.
Bowie, and after being read, were seye
rally, upon my motion, unanimousl,
adopted and reported. The resolution
numbered 3, in the published proceedings
requiring the Governor to convene th
Legislature as soon as a convention Of tn
Central Slavc-holding States shall be de
termined on, and, until then, leaving th,
calling Of the Legislature together en-
tirely to the discretion Of the Governor
was also one Of the series offered by Mr.
Bowie.
! opposed this resolution, because
thought convention Of the Slave State
! ought to be held as soon as possible; an,
: l wanted Maryland to have the prouc
distinction Of inviting her sister Southern
States TO meet her in convention, to dc
/ wise means Of common defence agains
t their common abolition foe, instead 0
waiting for the others to invite her 4
meet them in convention, which invita-
ton might not be extended to Der at all
or not in time to save her from the desc
lation in store for her by Northern abo
c litionism.
] therefore offered, as n substitute
! 4" That the Governor be respectfully re
qucstcd to convene the Legislature with
out delay, to consult with him and de-
; termine upon the course the State ough
to take to protect herself in the present