The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-17
Correspondence Of the Daily Exchanged
LETTER FROM FREDERICK.

Correspondence Of the Daily Exchanged
LETTER FROM FREDERICK.
FREDERICK, June IA, 1861.
The House was in decidedly ndolent mood TO-
day, and though it voted down with energy two
successive propositions to initiate the example o
the Senate in adjourning until Monday, it neverthe
less evinced very decided inclination TO "go into
business.
Mr.. Burgess, of Charles county, submitted an or
der, instructing the Committee on the Judiciary to
report an amendment of the Stay Law, requiring
defendants seeking to avail themselves of the bene-
fits OF the law to give bond with security, for the
ultimate satisfaction of such executions. The or
der was rejected, chiefly upon the ground of the
almost lmpossibility of meeting its requirements,
a time when the depreciation of values was daily
lessening the ability of the weathiest to guarantee
their obligations. The effect of such provision
would therefore be to defeat the whole object of the
BILL That the law as it exists is very defective in
several important particulars is admitted, but the
difficulties in the way of its effectual amendment
appear to be insurmountable.
MILEAGE AND CONTRACTORS PAY.
The question of mileage, &c, which has absorbed
the thoughts of the more provident members for
some time past, and which committed to the con-
sideratiOn of the joint special committee consisting
of Messrs. McCleary, Barnard and Maxwell, of the
House, and Messrs. Townsend and Stone, of the
Senate, was definitely acted upon to-day.
MIR. McCleary, on the part of the majority,
submitted report declaring the members and Off
GERS of both Houses to be entitled to their per diem
during the recess.
Mr.. Kesser, of Frederick county, regarded the
report as outrageous, and expressed determine
ton to oppose its adoption.
Mr.. McCleary confessed to some surprise at the
economical spirit of the gentleman from Frederick
who, as member of the Committee on EperOssed
Bills, had remained at Annapolis eleven davs after
the termination of the last session, and had pock-
eted tortyour dollars, his per diem for that period
Mr.. Barnard, of Allegany county, thought the
report but Just and fair. The present sitting was
either n continuation of the session or it was not
If it was, then members who were here at much
sacrifice of private interests, engaged in legisa-
ting upon the business of the State, certainly de-
served a remuneration which barely covered their
current expenses. II the session was new one
then they were entitled to mileage, and there was
but little difference between the TWO. He was not
afraid to go upon the record, for ne knew his con.
stituency would endorse his views-at least in this
respect He inclined to believe that thew
didn't exactly agree with him politically, but that
they would ultimately do so he had no doubt,
none whatever.
Mr.. Ford, of Baltimore county, was opposed to
the report in toto, because it in violation of
express provisions OF the Constitution, and contra
rv to the facts in the case. He repudiated the
idea that he could be induced to take four dollars
day from the depleted treasury of the State for
a period during which he was at home digging
his potatoes.
Mr.. Maxwell, of Cecil, submitted in his own be-
half, minority report, which, though it conceded
the right Of the members to their per diem during
the recess, yet proposed upon the score Of ne
cessary economy, to allow only mileage, a saving
to the State in the aggregate of upwards of
S5,2O0.
Mr.. Briscoe, of Calvert, to whom was allowed a
mileage of $45, moved to strike out that sum and
insert 'actuai expenses but subsequently with
drew his motion
The question being then submitted, the minority
report was adopted UiUa uoce, without dissent.
hn prda nF tha nau - ,,,l
the report of the Committee on Federal Relations
was taken up at noon, when Mr. Fiery, of Washing
ton county, again addressed the House. in response
to Mr.. Wallis.
MIR. Fiery said in substance, that he should en-
ter at once upon his argument, and without ref
erence 70 any eXtraneous subjects. The basis of
this whole question, at least of the views which
be should present, that the Constitution of the
United States is a government proper, formed by
the people, and which power short of that by
which it was originally created could DESTROY
Upon this fundamental principle depended, he in
sisted, not only the present existence of the Union
but its future perpetuity well. These views he
supported by lengthy quotation from the decision
of Chief Justice Marshall in McCullough u.s. State
Of Maryland, and by reference to the Consttu-
tonal clause, making acts of Congress passed in
compliance with that instrument, the supreme law
of the land. He contended that if the States were
sovereign, each State Legislature would be fully
empowered to pass an ordinance of secession:
whereas, all gentleman Of the legal profession will
dumil, tuhI HI ordinance CT secession, passed bv
State Legislature, would be entirely null and void
of legal effect.
He insisted upon his first assertion, that the South
was herself the aggressOr in this conflict, Judged
even by the Law of Nations which Mr. Wallis had
quoted. The seizure of forts and arsenals belong
ing to the Federal Government, and the firing upon
a national vessel seeking to communicate with a
national fortress, were severally acts of war the
consequence OF which rested upon those who had
provoked it. The question became under these
nir0 FpSta nnn Of ainhf Al, i
States only establish by force of arms their
claims to nationality. They are vet in law and in
the eyes of the world under the jurisdiction of the
General Government. Their flag is nowhere recog-
nized among the powers of the earth-they dare
not 60 out under that infamous blood-red banner OF
rebellion, but were still compelled to avail them
selves of the protecting power of the national
cOlors.
Discussing the financial aspects of secession, he
said it was simply absurd that Louisiana and Flor
da, acquired at the cost of vast expenditure OF
national wealth and blood and Texas, which haG
sturdily begged for admission into the Union
should now setup right to dissolve that connec
tion. To Maryland secession would be utter ruin
Her geographical position would certainly insure
such result, and that Maryland was not now in
the same pitable and melancholy position as Vir
ginia was due solely to the frmness of Governor
Hicks, whose patriotic course merted the admira.
tion and gratitude of his country instead of which
even the violation of his private correspondence
bad been resorted to in order to cast odium upor
his yhn moo.vesi asetIon,,n fuoa, p.,.,. -
the attempted reinforcement of Fort Sumter as
trick, and attributed to the influence of dema
gogues the excitement which followed the assault
upon the dag of that fort, but he had seriously
erred. That assault upon small and heroic gar
rison touched hidden chord in the nations heart
and millions of true men had sprang forward to
ward of the blows vindictively aimed at nations
life The work ofdemagogues Why, as well cal
upon demag"gnes to break the ominous stiffness
which Drpce0es the Outbreak of a
The General Government was now in arms to
suppress rebellion, and this is called coercion.
1Sue! The government was driven either to CO.
erce or to be coerced-it has chosen to defend its