The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-19

He appealed to them to strike the fetters from his
constituents, to restore to them their sacred rights
! Mr. HUTCHISs, of Ohio, to point ot order
lie contended that the gentleman obtained the Hoor
to make personal explanation, and had abused
| the privilege extended to him to denounce the
course OF the Administration.
| The SPEAKER said the House having granted Mr..
J May permission to enter into personal eXplana-
| ton, all restrictions upon his remarks had been
| thus placed bes ond the control OF the Chair.
| Mr.. May, continuing, said he had spoken only in
relation to his own position as representative OF
| the people. Had he acted upon his sense of the
true dignity of that relation, or upon bis own judg-
ment, be would have declined absolutely to take
the oath of office But his hopes of peace and the
desire to whether the House would not, out of
respect to its dignity, strike from the citizens
OF Baltimore the Calling chains which now tettered
| their rights as freemen had brought him here
| he said his attitude which merited the
klndeSt consideration from this House.
He was one who from the first had resnutely fought
against the monstruus heresy OF Secession. He had
from the first and should to the last stand by the
glorious U Union-the constitutional Government
cured to US by fathers, and recognized in his
| duty TO that Government higher obligations than
his duty to his constituents could impose; but yet,
| notwithstanding his own loyalty, and the loyalty
of the people he represented their dearest rights
had been needcssly invaded, and be was here to
complain, and to denOunce this action of the Ad-
miuistration as usurpation, and tyranny un-
paralleled in the history of a free people.
| Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsy yvaDia, rose to point Of
| order, and stated that the gentleman had abused
! the privilege extended to him BY the House.
TheCHATa decided that he had no contro! over the
remarks Of the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr.. STEVENS appealed from the decision of the
Chair; and Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM, of Ohio, moved to
Law the appeal on the table, demanding the yeas
and navs on the vote, and with the following result:
Yeas So. nays 80.
MIR. VALLLANDIGHAM thought the decision of"the
Speaker correct one, but appealed to the gentle
man from Pennsylvania ( Mr.. Stevens) to W ith
draw his appeal from the decision of the Chair, not
doubling, he said, that Mr.. May would suspend his
remarks.
Mr.. May replied that if his consent was necessary
to such an arrangement he absolutely refused to
give it. He would not accept the freedom of
speech with any limitation. Cries of "order,"
''order."1
The appeal from the Chair was then submitted to
the House, ard the decision overrued.
Mr.. DAWES, of Massachusetts,, moved that the
gentema an be permitted to proceed in order Agreed
Mr.. MAY said it was extremely difficult to know
when he was in order. If the sentiment of the
dominant party was to be the criterion how could
he Judge? He thought the position he occupied
here was one which would secure to him the larg-
est indulgence, only with regard to the expla-
nations due his own position, but with regard to
the position Of his constituents, preliminary to
that explanation. He absolutely declined now to
proceed, but would trust to his chances of his
health to come here when the field of debate shall
be wider aud vndicate himself and his constituents.
He would but ask leave now to present a memo
rial having reference to the present condition of
the city of Baltimore. 1t was couched in respect
tu terms; and its review of the facts upon which it
Is based does ample justice to both sides. Its Ian
guage, though candid, was respectful and indepen-
dent, as became treemen.
In reply to an inquiry OF Mr.. COlfax, Sir. May
said he referred to the memorial of the Police Com
mssioners of Baltimore, and which he sent to the
Clerks desk.
Mr.. CoLFax said he was for the largest liberty of
speech; and if the gentleman from MARYLAND had.
tha at o.AH ha dash rah m
the Administration, he would have stood by him.
As it was, the gentleman, uGder color of making
personal explanation, had INDUCED in an earnest
denuncaton of the military authorities of the
Government. He called the attention of Mr.. May
10 published letter be had read in the Baltimore
Sun, where it credited to the Richmond Ea-
q"trcr, i'll which it was stated upon the authority
Of the gentleman himself that Maryland was
groaning under the oppression OF the Government,
and that thirty thousand men but waited Oppor-
tunty to rise ard resist the military authority
exercised them.
member-I move they be afforded the oppOr-
tuoity.
MIR. CoLFAx, continuing. said that if he under
stood the gentIeman's explanation, the letter did
him great injustice.
Mr.. MAY rose to reply, when
MIR. STEVENS objected.
The CHAIR-DOeS the member object to the me-
mortal?
Mr.. SrEvENs-Yes, sir, do.
Mr. May-Do | understand the gentleman from
inquiry of the gentleman from Indiana?
VOces-"Oh, no; let him reply" "That's fair;
let him replv.'
Mr.. STEVENS finally yielded to the numerous ap
peals addressed to him and withdrew his objection.
Mr. MAY said his first intimation of any such
statement having been made received from the
explanation, E! ,efs 9f the 1ga1, gentleman: , ~
May newspaper slip containing the letter 10 CUES.
tion, and which the latter proceeded to read in
part
ha
letter bore out the staten mt of the gentleman
from Indiana. LVoices-'Read the rest of it'll
MIR. THOMAS asked his colleague to read tn resi-
due of the letter. Laughter the Republican
side.
Mr.. MAY replied that he thought he had read all
which applied to him, but would read the whole.
Mr.. BURNETT, of Ken ucky, here rising to point
of order, moved that the Dor be cleared of all who
were not members.
At MIR. Mays request, the Jerk read the article |
referred to by Mr.. COfax, and which was alengthv
letter written by the Richmond correspondent of
the Charleston Courier. The reading was received
with dersive laughter by the Republican side and
at its conclusion, member from New York moved
that the Clerk also read General McDowel's report
to the W ar Department yesterday. Withdrawn.
Mr.. MAY, resuming the floor, repeated his de-
caration that he bad not before seen or read the
letter. 1t absolutely untrue from first to last
both in its reference to himself and in its statement
Of facts.
1t was true that there were thirty thousand free
to rise at the first opportunity to assert and to
vindicate their constitutional rights, and he here
declared himself to be of the number. But
that there existed in that State any conspiracy
against the General Government, or against its
legitimate military authority, was most preposter-
Gus. 1t never did exist, and its assertion the
original work of base and false informers. 1t was
because this military domination had teen entirely
based upon information of spies-that detestable,
corrupt class who, almost from the Commencement
of the world down to the present hour, had been
regarded with Infamous contempt and scOrn-that
the people Of a brave and loyal, yes, most loyal
State, protested against the submission of their
rights.
He had nothing to conceal from his fellow cil-
zens; he invited their closest scrutiny into his ac-
tions, and had fear of the result. He elected
by prodigiuus majority on the express grounds of
peace, compromise and cancellations; to measures
tending such ends he stood here committed; for
their attainment he should labor, if need be- at the
sacrifice of his life; would 60 anywhere.
He was for peace. The sentiment of conciliation
fixed in his heart, and not all the powers of
Government, or of party, ever root it from
thence. Consecrated tn the service of the people,
be should have fet himself derelict in duty had be
abstained from going, in their behalf, anywhere in
this country, where he would be recognized as a
countryman or a kinsman, especially had he ne
elected to 90 to that "Mother of States" which held
the ashes of those most dear to him.
He went there mission of peace. To accom-
pli-h that great aud holy end he presented himself
to the heads of that Government under which Vr-
ginia lived, and the Capital of which was es
tablished at Richmond, and though his mission
proved frutless one, it was still sacred to
him. In going thither he did not feel at liberty to
cross through the Potomac without the consent of
the President. He had wish embarrass an Ad-
mnstraton upon the favor of which he had no
claim, but he felt it his duty to obtain such per-
mission, and it granted 1t was granted after
frank exposition OF his Objects and after express
ly dscaming all intention of desiring to act under
the authority of the President. 1t was distinctly
understood betw himself and the President that
his journey undertaken without any claim
upon the sanction ot the latter The President then
not only gave his permission, but authorized him to
ask the consent of General Scott, aud to procure
from the latter the necessary passport, and in hch
it expressly stated that he went private
cirizen.
Mr.. CoLFAx said the first paragraph of the letter
to which he had called attention was in its terms
identical with the gentemans statement of the
dit0n OF affairs in Baltimore; but he had wish,
after the gentleman's explanation, press the mat
ter in that respect further But he desired to sav,
that if the gentleman's mediat0ria appeal to the
rebel Government which he SAYS is established at
Richmond but which is more established there
I han the rebel army was yesterday established at
Fairfax-if his interpostion couched in Ian |
guage or in tone similar to that of his speech here
he tine speaker) would not wonder if the gentle |
man regarded rather as sympathizer than as
a mediator.
Mr. MAY responded that so far as the letter gave |
a statement of facts it absolutely true, and |
there was nothing surprising in the similarity of
ideas that subj jact suggested by the gentleman
The staioDiug of Federal troops in that city, the
searching of private houses, the seizures of private
property and the illegal arrests of private citizens |
were all matters of history, and not to be here
troverted. ln respect to his communication with |
what the gentleman was pleased to term ''the rebel
Government" he did not recognize his right to
question him. Its object, he would say peace
the termination of this horoid war; 1t was no
novelty to him to take the oath of allegiance to the