The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-13

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fine all that distinguished her from NyI Ny freedom in
nce' before Naples was liberated is under tSa i
heel OF the Government That such a fate :; alineu
upon her without constitutional authority. tht imposed
no respect to the Constitution is even pre.pdad -
regard the frank admission of the Federal authorities
70 te commissioners recently accredited them bv b
legislature renders mortifyng and almost intoerable
certainty.
The State of Maryland is under military rule Partly
ior military convenience and partly for chassemen
her Tree institutions have been susnandad Nv
the War Department and her name botted out for the
sme' from tht list OF free governments 1t is the
desire of the Committee aggravae by comment the hu
peSt statt men 1t is not their disposition provoke
review OF the unhappy policy. in her own councils
whG mas contributed to plunge the State so hopeless
ai anu helpless condition They wish deal only with
the practical questions it suggest for present determine
Hons s anu M ' prnss them to consider the recommenda
tiumS n Oh the message transmitted by the Governor
me committee understand his Excelency as recon-
menulus IN general terms, policy peace So far as
@ naked proposition they give it their warmest
" tles concurrence, bat they sure that they
exactly apprehend the mode in which the Governor nro
ui VIC. the pollcy he so avors should be carried out
- ud9e is as follows Il honestly and most earnestly
entertain the conviction that the onlv safety Of WI
s III preserving neutral position between our brethren
~ VI I'll anu south" He then enters into consider
alton Of the part which Maryland has taken in the ti
a. contest tha has been waged and adds: Entertaning
cse views; cannot counsel Maryland to take sides
against the Federal Government until it shall commit
RACES upon US which would justify us in resisting its an
'npi.y . nat class of outrages would furnish such
Justification for resistance he not announce bn nro
ceeds to say: As consequence, can give no other
counsel than that shall ourselves for union and
peace, and thus preserve our soil from benc noIIJ
with the blood of brethren. Thus if war must he he.
tive the North and the South we NAV force tho con
tending parties to transfer field of battle from our
soil bs SO !a our lives and property be
how consistently with a policy purely nacifc tbss
Gounseis can possibly be made available. No matter
how decidedly and enthusiastically We ARA, orI
Tor union and peace is altogether mpossbIe for ne 1
preserve our soil from the pollution of fraernal blood
unless possess the means and assert the noUar f
PACK the tide of if it surgipg across our nor
ders And that we should consolidate and a-o,, sob
power, to the extent which the exgencv NAV dam9p ~
he TO-
tell u.s. that by the action advises we NAV be abIe if
war must 6e to force the conendng parties to transfer
tae teid ot battle from soil so that our lives and
property may be secure" Surely we cannot force,
| eehgerent armies from midst, without employing
rorce Oh our own 1t is out of the question can
prevent them from making homes their battle field
unless we have the strength repel them and are will
ing and prepared to use it
No peaceful array whaever-no legislative roto+
no executive remonstrance-from Maryland can stay the
Ppaca " c4n.enang sqnadrons deputation from
deace society would have been eectua in arresng
oa se AT ooerino IT, then, the neutrality of the Gov
. 49, MEANS anything tsp'aking with all respect J it
usl mean neutrality armed and resolue-prepared to
assert Its policy, and able vindcate it on the field
utherWse It would be nothing and would come to moth.
of neither, F"'''e' anu ''"s ''e arm
And yet although this is the result and the only prac
ca result OF the recommendation of the Message il il
umcuit TO reconcile such conclusion with the other
views which the Governor announces Ipon the autbor
lty of our most learned and intelligent citizens ba
mS the right of the Government its troons
across soil He recognizes the unbrolen rsation od
| 5@he @ continuing loyalty Of Maryland to the Union He
does not mpeach the conStitutionay of the action of the
Federal authority His protest against the landing of the
troops ana The seizure OF the railroad Annapolis are
based upon denial of the right Thev amonnt N ra
monstrance and advice, but to nothing more
His theory is, and he has always seadfastv maintained
" hat nothing has occurred to alter the reciprocal rights
anu ool,EHHhS OF TINS state and the General Govern
ment The Constitution, he believes is still over both
an. .le 0u ponds s unite them together. If all this
ne true then the State of Maryland hold neutral
y when the Union is at She is part of the Union:
at at war when it wars at peace when it is peaceful She
takes sides against it the instant that She fails to take
sides with It, Neutrality, in such case, notification
pure and simple and an armed neutrality merely re-
Deon and not union peace The position of his Ex
ceency in the premises is therefore, in the Judgment Of
the Committee wholly unite lable ard is not surprising
that should have placed him at obvious dsadvan.
aSe IN the correspondence which he furnished the
House between himself and the atute officers Of the Gov
| ernment. "
Differing from the Governor in opinion as to the course
ana rights OF the Federal authorities the wide extent
herenbefore indicated, the Committee have M basta
ton in asserting and maintaining the right of the State
and ITS duty to protest against the unconstitutional ac
uoh ot the Administration, and refuse obedience to its
unconstitutional demands. RECOGNIZING however to
the same extent as the Governor that MARYLAND
is stu State of the Union, the Committee cannot coun-
sci this honorable body the people whom il represents
TO assume, under the guise Of neuaity hostile rea
ton to the Government or attempt by any policy what.
ever to force 1t from the position in which it is en-.
trenched. Ifno better argument existed against such
pr@ect sufficient one would be found in its hopeless
futility.
The present. the only possible present attitude of
the State towards the Federal Government is in the
judgment of the Committee attitude of submission
ana cheerful submission on the part of those
who can pursuade themselves that Constitution
unDrOkel. he
!hoh can survive the Notwithstanding and gall
ing submission the part of those think and feel
differently but still peaceful submission upon both sides
II is not for the Committee to ignore this of things
because of the humiliation which comes with it. They
feel it their duty to confess the nexorabe logic of facts
ana leave the future to be shaped by the people of Mary
land to whom, exclusively that prerogatve belongs and
who doubtless will exercise it in their own way and at
their good time
This expression of the views of your Committee at
much necessary length leaves very obvious recon
htidalons winch they ask leave to report upon twO
leading subjects submitted deliberations the call
ing of Sovereign Convention of the people and the re
organization and arming of the militia of the State
AT the time when the Legislature was called together
mere was certainly but little difference of opinion among
S members OF all parties to the propriety
adopting measures to both the objects referred TO
Since that time the rapid and extraordinary deveopment
of events and of the warke purposes of the Admira
cn; the concentration large bodies Of troons r.; U
midst and npon borders and the actual and threat
ened military occupation of the State; have natnralv
enough produced great changes of opinion and feeling
am ong our citizens.
The members of the Committee iudeinp from their
own correspondence and that of their fellow members
OF all shades of opinion, well from the memorials
and other expressions Of the public will which have
reached the House. have no hesitation in expressing their
belief that there almost unanimous feeling in the
State against calling Convention at the present time
The reasons for this conclusion doubtless various
different portions of the State and the opinions of ndi
viduas to the probable result the deliberations of
convention at this moment, are of very wide
To the Committee the single fact of the military
patton Of our SOIL by the Northern troops in the service
OF the government against the shes of people
the solemn protest of the State Executive is sufficient
for tngt,,p a.
neTiod ,rben no Eedra, ti, is III 'e suuJecI u
II does not hecn,a ~ 5;;t,s ~ on6et IPpn US
to attennt the nar,r,noraa VI t ne 'ate ol hd!yahu
solue or onaIifrd at moroart % - az VI seIeEnsS 'o
eegnty but her Federal equality is subordnated to the
and ~ ~ - VI IN leau' 40 eectloh held at such time
mr. frsa NJ Srt hG 1I c99Iu py possiolty be taii
commend tbe con sdr .Oui' le ,eacheu ny II would
Of The nso,'e tn VI eouie the wlling obedience
70 rscomrland tb therefore Ieel u ther duty
nrasant ~ f'P' Vi 'he sulJecI lor ule
For reas so,s alr,ost ;dor,;oo1 .to r,.... -,
o re,ort anainst tte - ~ St! .ake IeaVe
asals! !ne aihtnS Oh the state and the organ
inc of Soyaraio Gorron,i " @ ,s t'ute ! II 5le hoId
bnStjia n,oat ~ ~, - IN w. e hoI resatuea aS
tohiitt f ~ s ~ ue reueraI e government: the re-
,i.; w U. t.e II. mtiry iorce OF the state, IN con-
@ i.I U present elclencV' certainly would be- however
orgoniZ5.tio a, nE " say 'haC the arming and
Cnnstr.i e a. T-!., tp.lit'd are uec'ared ny the
Sannr;tr 20 e @ S. oI".es 10 oe necessary 10 the
ranteei to us as peaceful and fnndamantaf ib gu"
The Constitution is silen red bv tbe bayonats 5i ~
round u.s. aud it is not worth wbie for ne to 49, %
ourselves beneath its aris ItwouId he criminal a %
as foolish for us to shut our ewes to the fact that @
not be permitted to organize and arm onr ctizans 10, ~
rights and the Constitution be what th4y NAV The in