Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-08
THE RICHMOND WING.
NORTHERN CONGRESS.
WAsHIsGros, Aui
SENATE.

w AshihSros, August g.
Mr.. Kennedy submitted tho following preamble and
resolutions from the State Legislature OF Maryland.
Whereas, Ross Wnans, member Of the House of Del
egates Of Maryland from tho city OF Baltimore. on his
way to his home from the discharge oil bis official dutes
the l4th Of May las', was arbitrarily and illegally ar
rested pubic Highway, in the pr.seBce of the Gov
OF the State by armed force under the orders
Of the Federal government AID orciby IMPRISONED
aud held in custody thereafter, ut Annapol aud Fort
McHeury, without color OF lawful pccess or right by
command and at the arbitrary will and pleasure Of the
President OF the United States and
Whereas sundry othtr ciz,us OF Maryland have been
unla~fuy dealt WITH in the despotic aud oppres-
sNe manner by the usurPed authority and some
of III have, in TACT been removed by force beyond tho
limits OF the Safe OF Maryland aud the jurisdiction of
her tribunals in utter yoItiou Of their rights as citizens
and Of the ights OF the State member Of the fede
Ia Union ard,
Whereas the unconstitutional and arb rary proceed
ngs Of the Federal Er euiiye lave been osnined
the violation Of the personal rights and liberties Of the
citizens Of Maryland but have been extended into every
department OF oppressive iegey, that the property
Of 10 is safe, the sancy Of Dwelling respect
3D. ard the sacreduess Of private correspon dence
longer exists; and
Whereas the Senate and House Of Delegates of Mary
land recognizing the obi CATION Of the STATE, far
her lies protect and defend her people against usurp
ed and arbitrary powers-ho~eser ;ut the iuhlmtnt
OF that high obligation may be rendered by disastrous
Circuns,aDces-feeli t due 10 her dignity and indepen
depce that history should not record the overthrow Of
lublc ieedom, tor all Instant within her torder1 with
out recording likewise, the indignation expressed Ut
her nen aud remonstrance uos, Their, fore la
Rsso!Vtd, That the Senate and House Of Delegates Of
Maryland Ia The name and on behalf Of the good peo-
pie oil the State, do accordingly register this their
and unqualified protest sgaust the oppressive and
tyranncs assertion and exercise OF military jurisdiction,
within the limits Of Maryland over the persons aud
AZ h.rr Inv nfI
ted Sates aud do sOemnly declare the TO be sub
veIsve o The most sacred guarantees Of the constitution
und in ilgrant violation OF the fundamental and most
cherished principles of American ice government.
hesoOtd fsrihsr, That these resolutions be communi
Gated TO the Hon. Jas Alfred Pearce aud tbs Hon. An
thony Kennedy Senators OF MAR land in the Senate OF
the United States with the request that they present the
same the Senate, TO b. recorded among lis proceed
ngs in yndicaton OF the right and perpetual memory
OF toe solemn remonsrance Of this State against the
manifold usurpatons and expressions Of the Federal gov
eminent.
Mr. wilkinson Of Minnesota, objected to the reception
of the memorial and bopsd il would be returned TO the
Legislature OF Maryland, the ground that IL Was dis
respectful 70 the SeLate.
Mr. Kennedy hoped the Senate would pursue no such
course. He stated that Maryland was yet loyal to the
constitution aud the government that the protest was
eouched Ia respectful tums and intended as re-
sgairst the unjust and undue exercise OF fed
eral power in the State OF Maryland
M. Morrill,, Of Me-, Oh ected 10 the printing OF the
document as its illusions the Federal Executive
not respectful neither they to the Senate He aid
the document did not contain the signature Of the Gov
eTnor and contained authority than did he pro-
ceednss OF any body Of MN or OF AL ordinary conven-
ton.
Mr. Wilkinson said was not respectful either to the
President the Government aud false In eveIS par
tcular and that il II hlsehood well known 10
the Senator from Maryland (Nr Kennedy who present.
Cd il; that tho rights aud property Of the people were
safe.
Mr. Kennedy sad he did not feel disposed to vindicate
the whole Of the Legislature of his State that
the memorial had been entrusted to him the agent OF
the Legislature and he only performed his duty when
he asked that it might be received and printed. He
stated that private dwellings were every day violated,
and persons arrested without any warrant whatever-
He dd not stand here to vindcae or defend the L'gs
ature OF Maryland that body able to take care OF
itself but be did not keitao 70 state bt' belief that
gross usupatioas had bson made b. tho sde. author
rice In Maryland, -,t
He krew Of an Instance OF a conservative Union man
who had been arrested probably On tie charge OF some
person who bore malignant feeling towards him. He
said the Seua,e ough. to be careful how they acted in
such matters that before them, that those like
himself who now landing between the Union aud
the rushing tide Of Secession might not be borne down
by the tide Of popular indignation and the hope OF re-
storing the State to the Union be finally destroyed.
Mr.. Hale OF New Hampshire said III relation to the
rema ks OF the Senator from Maine, (Mr. Morrill, that
bis memorial was hot received would be the fret time
ever such thing occurred-that 1t the duty of the
Senate 10 receive the petition, although it obnoxious
On the matter Of legal FORM tie point which was raised
bv the Senator from Name lie said that perhaps the Gig
cature of the Governor OF Maryland necessary
TO render all act valid II there one thing that
identified the name Of John Y ncy Adams in the bis
tory OF the country than another il that while
IA The declining years of his lite, he stood in the Senate
chamber and earnestly for the great right OF Pc
tition.
He begged of those who sided with him in political
views TO be careful how they nfrnged this right -
lie asked when power ever was pettloned by subject
that the petition not il contained bold language,
designated as disrespectiulf IL would, he said be-
dangerous Ste refuse TO allow this right He said no
remembered Il case from the State Of Vermont which
the majority designated insulting TO the Senate but
John o. Calhoun had asserted that occasion that IL
was due to the dignity Of a sovereign State that the
mortal should be received and it received He did
not he said stand here to apologize Tor OF defend the
State OF Mar land that The Senator from Maryland was
more capable OF doing than he himself wss but be
was there to speak for the right of petition He wished
the Legislature to speak what they entertained Let
be designated as insult otherwise he admired their
spri. OF independence II they did not utter their hon.
est thoughts they would be slaves He grateful to
hear any State speak eaessy the opinion which il held
This petition, he said, more acceptable than
couched in honeyed terms aud crngngy shrinking from
responsibility.
Mr. Wilkinson said il was time for stump speaking;
that they wanted fighting, not taking men, that J.
Adams never defended the right Of petition under the
same circumstances those that now surrounded thcm
that the Confederate army achieved lie the
Federal arms by OF such remarks those ut
tered by the Senator from New Hampshire (hr Hale)
Mr. Clark Of New Hampshire, said he would not con.
sumo time In talking, but that he had examined the
document and deemed Ii unC ca as it did not contain
the seal of the State tue signature OF the governor
aid tha in,
made up Of alsehoods
Mr. Kennedy said that his colleague (Nr Pearce) was
more fully intIusted wi aud possessed more knowledge
of The petition than he himself did, and as he (Ar.
Pearce had just made his appearance the floor he
would leave him to reply to the assertions Of the Sena-
tors.
Mr.. Anthony, of Rhode Island, said that he did not
doubt that the statements Of the memorial were mainly
fa but that inasmuch had been presented oy me
Senator from Maryland the Senate ought net to question
its authenticity
Mr. Trumbu said he agreed in the remarks Of the S,n-
aor from Now Hampshire mr. Hsle,) and the petition
ought 10 be received if deemed insulting to the S,n-
ate.
Mr.. Bayard, in few pertinent remarks. defended the
right OF petition and hoped the Senate would order IL to
be printed.
mortal two days ago. and unable TO offer because
OF indisposition. The peops Of Maryland he said did
not consider the signature Of the Governor OF any mo.
mem; that bill passing both Houses became law with
out bis signature. That the Legislature intended to in.
suit the Senate misconceptor; but that the Sen.
ate, by refusing to receive the memorial, would insult
the State OF MGryand the insult entirely the other
~ay and that such insults could not be continued with
impunity they would naturally ssver tn, union which
now exists between Maryland aud the other Federal
States II immaeria to him whether the Senae &C
rep'ed the bill motif still the sentiment Of the
Legislature OF Maryland.
Mr. Howe Of WISCONSIN, objected to the memorial
being printed upon the grounds set forth by Mr. Nor
rll.
Mr. Bayard, OF Del, replied, arguing the justice Of