The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-19
STATE CONFERENCE CONVENTION.
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
LARGE ATTENDANCE OF DELEGATES.
ORGANIZATION OF THE
CONVENTION.
&c, &C., Sc.

ry lst., assmbed yesterday morning in the Uni,
versalist Church. Long before the hour appointed
for the meeting of the Convention, large numbers
of citizens had assembled at the church, and by
the time the hour for organization arrived, the
galleries were thronged. In point of numbers the
attendance of delegates is large and in point of
talent it is of the ablest bodies which has ever
assembled in the State.
At eleven O'Clock the body was called to order by
Hon. Joshua Vansant. who moved that Hon. E. F.
Chambers, of Kent county, be selected as Temporal
ry President. The motion was unanimously car
ried. Judge Chambers escorted to the chair
by Hon. j. d. Jones, of Somerset and Hon. Robt
| N. McLane, of Baltimore city.
James NJ. Schley, Esq, of Allegheny, was select
cd as temporary Secretary.
| The different delegations handed to the Secreta-
~ i" 'i0s Of the n"n'os of tho delegates, and
| Secretary proceeded TO call the roll.
On call of the above list, G. W. p Smith of
Worcester, sail that the seats of four of the gen
tlemen whose names had been read as delegates
from Worcester county, were contested and he
submitted the credentials of the following named
gentlemen to represent that county William II.
Purnell, G. W. p. Smith, DR.. L. Hubbel, DR.. J.
+ b. McMaster, DR.. George w. Bishop, r. 4.
| Henry, George Z. Purnell, s. NJ. Whalev
John G. Bruno and II. G. Dallam, of the Balti-
more city delegation, absent at the call of the roll
dance.
Mr.. Gordon, of Allegheny moved the appoint
ment of committee, to consist of one from each
| county, on permanent organization; carried
The Chair appointed the following committee
and I. ParEin Scott, Esq, as the chairman: (The
delegates from several of the counties had not ar.
rived at the time of the appointment of this COM
| mittee.l
Alleghany-Isaiah H. Gardner. Anne Arundel
Grafton Duvall. Baltimore City-T Parkin Scott.
| Baltimore county-John Merryman Cecil-E p
| Jones Calvert-John l.. Bond. Frederick-Dor.
| sey Waters. Howard-George R. Gather, Jr.
Kent-W. I. Spy. Montgomery-S. c. Vies.
| Queen Anne-Col. j. B. Emory Somerset-Levin
s. Waters. st. Mary's-Col. Chapman Bngsley.
| Washington-Dr. Chas. McGili.
| Alter an absence of few minutes the committee
returned and reported the following gentlemen for
permanent officers of the Convention:
| President-Judge Chambers, of Kent
| Vice Presidents-Co j. c. Groom, of Cecil; Da.
| vid NJ. Perine, of Baltimore county; John G.
Bruno, of Baltimore city; Henry G. S. Key, of St.
and Andrew Rench, of Washington county.
| Secretaries-Washingto Finley, of Queen Anne's
| county; John Swami, of Baltimore county: Ezra
Whitman and Charles II. Myers, of Baltimore city;
| of Anne Arundel county.
The report was unanimously accepted. Judge
| Chambers then said:
Gentlemen of the Convention feel much embarrassed
and also highly grated at the respect which YOU have
shown me in selecting the permanent presiding C(
Of this body feel conscious that vorr aetion hos
not been dictated by any personal feelings your part
or from any merit mine; but it is the con
seIvaVe which have pursued in the roubesome
| times through which we have gone and are still going
through stand before you dvested of all party feel
ing, OF all party influence wish to impress this upon
| your minds. assure you that will not act in such
/ manner as Will tend to the advantage of any no.
| itical party-nor the disadvantage of any party
am not party man. and if was, the moment assumed
the responsible position which you have chosen me
should have divested myself of my party sympathes
is time even for the most devoted partisan when the
existence of the government is at stake to give
is mast
appeations All parties should be merged into the Mary
| land party. (Cheers)
Political parties do well to discuss and determine ppon
the policy of the measures which govern State under
an ordinary condition of things; but when questions
as now agtate patriotic heart the absorbing
matters of interest throughout the land all minor
tons all party affiliations, and all party names should
be buried have not been party for TWENTY-FIVE
years. The party with which acted, when professed
to be politician gone and since the destruction of
its organization have been voting for the best men as
thought, which were offered by the other parties with
out regarding to which they belonged must say that
am here under wide mistake if the members of
ts Dody are brought here by party feeling and would
fill this chair with deep regret if the object of this BODY
te p nm Of m the Of party
thing for the cure of the political malady which affects
out the land. '''-s''
There has been such crisis as the present and
such state Of things could scarcely have been dreamed
of few months since. The best thoughts of the hest
heads and hearts in the country are now engaged in
deayorng to cure the injuries of the past and prevent
more direu ones in the future The question with us is
what to do? There exists a wide difference Of
opinion throughout this State. There are large mum.
be of persons who thought that the imminent
dition of affairs demanded that Legislature shond
have been convened These persons no doubt act-
ated by high and patriotic considerations WbiIe o tb
other hand there those actuated by equally natrt
feelings who opposed to the conyening of the
islature. Again there were those who were earnat :
their efforts to the call of convention of the
pie of the State which might shape her course and d
rect her destiny There others who were utterly
doubt differed honestly, and the opinions of each should
be respected Each party has been actuaed by equal in
tegrty and of the fundamental pr ncples Of in
sttutions tha each man shall have the right Of hon
| est expression OF opinion
This Convention has been called to ascertain bv get
ting the expression of sentiment of every county in the
State what is best the people of MARYLAND
10 pursue Is convened for the honest, patriotic pur
pose OF doing that which will promote the best interests
of the nation and the State (Cheers) Those who hay
supposed that convened for any other purpose
greatly mistaken II other objects are attributed
it, they are incorrect In times of high excitement ex
pressons used towards each other by parties who
dner which are uncharitable in the extreme But in
temperate times questions discussed with earnestness
| but always with courtesy. Owing to the excitement
which exists the motives of men have been soreIv
impugned In this spirit large meetings of patriotic and
good citizens have been announced abolition gather
ings while the other hand meetings held by tbosa
differing in opinion have been charged secession gather
| ings This body has been denounced as a Secession
Convention and bad aims have been attributed to its
| members This is a great mistake. If any man here
entertaining secession views, has assisted place me in
this position, / assure him that do consider his
go for the Union regard secession as the greatest
curse winch can oeiail my country for the Union
SO long as there prospect of maintaining true Union
go the Union so long as the dignity rfrbts ad
honor of people can be secured in it. fImmsnsa
cheers.l viii any man go farther? What inducement
could be offered to State remain in Union when
her honor demanded her withdrawa2 Would any man
or nation be willing to accept condition of admitted
degration merely to pecuniary profit? + there
State in the Union willing make sacrifice of in
tegry and honor to secure profit thereby Would any
man who was nsuled in the grossest manper-wbo was
rodden into the dust by fellow man-continue business
relations with the party and suffer all the ingnities
which could be offered merely to wealth. II an
individual would not do this who will believe that State
wo1ia taus sacTihc9 her honor Secession-deporable
and fearful as it will beis preferable to dishonor-
And when submission and degradation offered on the
one hand and secession on the other the must b.
embraced. tremendous appausel There are none sc
base as to accept of the other alternative
believe that there are no union -loving-consti sti
tuona loving citizens in the State than those assembled
here AS one of the Oldest members of the body allow m,
to counsel you to exercise charity those who differ
you in opinion this grand subject have been ona .
those who believe that Convention of the States
sed Of moderate men, who really desired settle amcabl,
the vexed questions dividing the sections woult
have been the best mode of reaching the issue Such
body could have adopted measures which would hay,
tended to reunion of the States failing in that cou
have given such constitutional guarantees as would hav
preserved thatporon of the Union which remains cou
have taken such action would have satisfactory
differed with me in my opinion in this regard, but NJ
arguments offered to change it. I still believe tha
II such convention had assembled and the border States
had demanded their rights in fearless and respectful
manner all that was just would have Welded Th
course was not pursued but on the contrary the
Convention the State of Virginia suggested
viii,
: is now in session.
| In a conversation, within the last two days with a,
intimate acquaintance of Governor Hicks was inform
ed that his Exceency is inclined to change his views in
regard to taking direct expression of the sentiments
Maryland He thinks that the time rapidly approach
ing when he will be compelled to lay aside the polio,
which he has been pursuing adopt a directly onno
site one. 1t is desirable that Convention should
sembe which truly represents all the different shades
f opinion in the State The action of such BODY wou
be authoritative in its character and if the Executive
the State does manifest this disp sition to compy will
the wishes OF the people in this matter would be wei
for this body to act moderatey-partcuarly in regard
time-so ii possible, get a complete and full pv
: preston of the people of the State.
The Governor thinks that result of the Peace Con
ference should be waited for That body now in ses
SION What the result of their labor will be Heaven on
knows. must confess want of faith in their delhi
eratons see nothing as yet, which gives promise of
settlement of the distracting questions The men /,
Congress do not represent the views feeling
of the people They elected heated political
when the issues which they called upon to deter
mine did not exist The sentiments their
have changed and the members of Congress must be i'm
pregnated with the feelings of the people before any goo
can result from their abors have defined nv view
and endeavored to define for you to pursue
am however ready to abandon my proposed line of ac
tlon when better one is offered. ] win be happy Il
participate in the execution plan of operations su
gested by wiser counels and judgments than M
-
!, George W. Freaner asked the Convention to h.
e permitted to substitute the name of j. Thompso,
Mason for that of one OF the delegates from Wash
e ington county, who was absent. Granted.
r Col. WafoTd, OF Somerset, moved the appoint
ment of committee of one from each county on
credentials. Carried
The Chair appointed the same committee which
acted on permanent organization.