Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-02
MARYLAND LEGIsLArURE

WsdHesday.-A petition from the citizens Of
Washington county not to pass an ordinance Of
secession nor to Ike any action which might lead
to "; was referred to the committee on federal
A series Of resolutions adopted by states ri hts
meeting In Harrison county, Virginia, Affirming
Southern rights, was also referred to the same
After some minor business, Mr.. Holland re-
ported bill to amend the 18th, 10Th, Goth, 27th
and 29th sections OF article 81 Of the code Of pub
lie general laws, relating to taking up vacant
lands. This bill repeals the law known as the
bill affecting the oyster beds Of Maryland, ard
restores the law precisely IL before the pas
sage Of said law at the last 8 ssion The bill was
passed unanimously. The same bill also passed
the Senate. and Is now law.
A communication from The Mayor Of Baltimore
relstine to the injury done the trade and indus
trial pursuits Of that CITY. referred to the Com
mittee on Federal r Relations.
bill 10 amend the 4th article Of the code Of
public local laws relative t. free negroes and mu
lattoes was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
dietary.
Mr.. Wallis, from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, reported bill TO ratify an amendment Of
the constitution Of the United States
Mr.. Coudv reported bill TO exempt from ex-
ecution the property Of debtor to the amount OF
$500
| The Speaker presented a message from the Ex.
ecutive, In response TO an inquiry OF the House,
stating that on the 10th ut there at the bar
racks in Frederick fifteen hundred muskets and a
| small number Of swords and accoutrements and
| rides Since the Goth ult, 900 Of the arms there
on hand have been ordered TO be furnished to the
Home Guard of Frederick; 800 L, companies or
ganized In Middletown, Frederick county; and
| lOO to a COMPANY In Montgomery county-eav ng
i on hand about 200 muskets. All the arms have
| flint locks. and have none Of the recent improve
ments. Witain the past two or three davs the Home
| Guard has beea added. He cannot state the exact
| number OF troops In actual service, but believes
the number to be from 800 to 400. OF the number
| lcomprisng live companiesl one company Ia
daily detailed Tor duty. Whether these troops
are to be paid or not. IL matter be determined
by the General Assembly.
Mr.. Stake said that the order for the Virginia
trOops to search for arms in that State had been
countermanded bv thu Virginia authorities.
Mr.. Chaplain offered au order providing for the
sending Of special messenger to the Governor Of
Virginia to Oh ain information the whole SUBJ
ject, and that the committee on federal relations
inquire and report whether not, at the time of
tain citizens of Marylan nd went over to Virginia
and appropriated and broug to this Slate certain
arms at Harper's Ferry. Laid on the table.
Mr. Jacobs reported bill to prohibit sipsy en-:
campments and travelling fortune telles referred
10 the committee on the judiciary. Also, a bill
prohibiting free negroes from returning to this
state after leaving 1t. Also, bill to authorize
the county commissioners Of the State to levy an
amount not exceeding the annual levy for other
county purposes to purchase arms for defense
build armories, etc. Referred.
SENATE.
The bill to authorize the banks of the State 10
issue small notes-reporied in the House proceed
ings OF fTuesday-was passed, and Is now law
The bill to empower the Mayor and city coun-
Gil Of Baltimore to raise and appropriate money
for the defense of the city was passed, and is now
law.
The message from the House proposing the ap-
pointing Of joint committee Oh mileage was
concurred in; and the president appointed Messrs
Bradley and Franklin
Mr.. Stone offered the following resolutions,
which were referred TO a select committee
| Whereas the late deplorable events that oc-
m no acft NJ Ralt
Misrepresentation Of the object Of the passage Of the
/ troops over the soil Of Maryland; and
w heress that object was for the protection Of
our national capital, In the preservation of w hic
our State Is more deeply interest than any other
and not, as many supposed. for the purpose of at
,cking any of our sister States; therefore be it
| Resoiusd by the Senate of Maryland, That the
passage OF troops over the soil Of Maryland for the
protection Of the national capital should not be
considered an act OF aggression on the part Of the
Il general government.
/ R.solUed, That II any more troops than those
now within the borders Of the State should be me-
cessary Tor the protection Of our capital that we
L recommend they be transported by the different
i railroad companies over their roads
Resolved. That the Governor be requested To do
what In bis judgment may seem best calculated
l to produce harmony and restore the travel on the
different railroads to and from Baltimore
The bill from the House to repeal the present
II law relating TO taking out land warrants FOR va.
can't land PASSED last session, affecting the oyste.
beds Of the Stats. was passed.
Mr. Lynch offered the following, which YVES
| adopted
| w hereas, the condition of our country Is sue b
that civil war, with all is impending horrors is
| about to break upon us, and from eur geograph-
ica position, the lives and property, both pu bIic
and private, OF our citizens, will be more enGan-
ssred than that OF anv other portion of the oun-
try, 1t becomes our duty we'll as our Interest to
l exhaust all means Of conciliation and compro-
mise without relinquishing our constitutional
i rig hts; therefore, be ii
RssOIrsd, That a joint committee Of the two
Houses be requested to take into consideration
| the ProPrietv Of recommending the sppointm
/ OF committee to wait on the President of the
United States, th9 President OF the Southern Con-
/ federacy, and the Governor OF Virginia with a
/ view Of bringing about some understanding
i whereby the danger may be averted, and civil
war, the destruction Of the lives and property of
| our citizens, be prevented, and that they report
by resolution or otherwise
The Senate went into executive session and
afterwards adjourned to meet In executive session
/ at four O'Clock.