The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-05-18
Our Legislature.

State. For refusing to calf an. Extra Session
of the Legislature, they exhausted d" Billings
gate in abusing Gov. Hicks, and when at
last they succeed in accomplishing this grand
object of their desires, by a coup d. eiat, in
Baltimore, they meet at Frederick City and
de-what! Pass an act calling a Sovereign
Convention t?O No! But they pass Home.
stead and Stay Laws, (both of which acts
will be found in the present number Of The
Wing and make an appropriation to pay
themselves. In the House. they endorse, by
an overwhelming vote, the false, and Treason
able Resolutions. reported by the Committee
on Federal Relations. Ia synopsis of which
appeared among the Legislative proceedings
in last weeks Wing, since then adopted by
both Houses J justifying Secession. and all
the aggressive acts of the Seeded States; at
the same time condemnng and protesting
against the Administration for taking
measures to uphold the Government and Con.
s'itution Another infamous law is also
pushed through oar Legislature, appointing
Commissioners to visit the President of the
United States, ard Jefferson Davis. These
Commissioners. who can do nothing, and
have nothing to do, that is likely to benefit
the public, are we'll salaricd, to be paid out
Of the peoples pockets. Allofthese measures
our Cecil members voted for. But when Col.
Kimmel moved suspension Of the rules for
the final passage Of resolution to hoist the
American flag over the Court House in which
the Legislature held its meetings, it was voted
down BY the Senate, our worthy member,
Col Hackart, voting in tic negative.
is written that BY the fruit We shall
know the tree; and trying our present Lccis-
lature by this test, with few honorable
exceptions, it is Secession concern root
and branch. All its acts and manovres have
been attempts to commit the State to Secs.
sion. and get up reign of terror, revolution
and violence, such as now exists in the
Seeded States: and these proceedings in
direct violation Of the knorn mishes of sercn
c'shths Of the people of Mmyhnd.
These men, who have been all along so anx-
lous for call ofthe Legislature, with their vile
mercenary organ, the Baltimore San, as
trumpeter, declared their sole object in desi-
ring the call Of an Extra SESSION. TO be, to
provide means by which the people of the
State could make known their wishes. But
when at length their pet scheme is accom-
pllshed, and the members assembled, in place
OF carrying out their published programme,
they forthwith attempt TO usurp all power.
and create Military Tribunal, composed
entirely of Revolutionlsts and Sccessionists.
(e'thcr openly avowed, or secret friends of
that new theory which has been invented to
conceal crime and falschood.) with one
exception Gov. Hicks. whose name they
propose to add, doubtless for appearance
sake, and in some measure to cover I'm the
nnconstitutionaity Of the act. This Tribunal
they designate Committee of Public
safety!!' and to give it full powers TOR eriiy
they propose to pass Tuo M,iioa Bill d"
10 arm The Stale. Nothing prevented these
'nlqultous measures from becoming laws, but
the universal burst of Indignation that was
raised against them from all parts of the
State, and the rapid accumulation Of large
Federal army within our borders. Our
Senator showed where he stood on this
measure, by his votes. but its having been
stranged in that branch Of the Legislature,
oy outside pressure, our Delegates had not an
opportunity of showing where they stood {:
but pretty correct idea may be formed from
the votes they cast on other kindred questions.
The disposition of our Legislature to justify
the atrocious acts of The 10Th of April, in the
city of Baltimore, and screen the leaders and
lnstigators of that brutal mob, is another
black page of its history. which will be
handed down to posterity, and registered in
the book OF shame against Maryland
Being prevented, however, by causes here
totorc stated, from carrying Maryland into
the whirlpool of Secession by any means,
for it matters not what means are used, so
the grand object is accomplished. y our Legis-
lature resolves to adjournment SINE die as it
should, and as Mr.. Fiery moved, but till the
4th OF June, thinking, perhaps, that by
o'dlng its time, some favorable opportunity
may occur. when. by cooperating with their
brother Scccssi onists of the revolted States,
Maryland may be dragged into rebellion
against the United States government, con-
trary to the wishes of the vast majority of
her citizens. lfany further proc: be required
to confirm this charge. it exists in the course
parsued BY our Legislature toward the V,r-
ginians who have invaded the soil of Mary
land, and robbed her citizens, burned lhous-
ands of acres Of wood, and who are, at the
writing ofthis article, encamped within the
bounds of the State. When this informa ton
was laid before the Legislature by the Gov
crnor. phrases mild and soft enough could
not be found to discuss it in. After hutling
the harshest invectives against the Federal
Government, charging it with invading the
SOIL of Maryland by daring to march troops
over the public highways Of the State, with.
out interfering with private property in any
way. we find this sa,ne Legislature conniving
at. in place Of repellins, an actual INVASION Of
the State. in which armed bands take rorcible
possession Of and carry away, burn and DIES.
! troy private property.