The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-06-15
The Legislature of MARYLAND.


The Legislature has transacted so little
business OF any interest or Importance what
ever since it has been in session, that We
give no detailed account Of its rroce, dngs
this week. Some local and unihportant bills
are passed from day to day, and a constant
fire is kept up on the General Government. in
the shape of dennnciatory resolutions and
protests against what the majority Of the
members are pleased to term arbitrary power,
usurpalons, etc, etc. Amongst this brood
of unhedged Secession. ordinances is one
instrLc,ing or rather earnestly requesting the
the Maryland Senators to vote for the recog-
milton Of the Independence Of ,bs rcvolted
States. This bold step toward Secession was
taken by the House on Monday last. The
resolution referred to, is as follows Resolred
&C., That the Representatives Of the State of
Maryland in the Congress Of the United
States, at the approaching Extra Session of
that legislative body, be. and they are hereby
earnestly desired and requested to urge and
vote for an immediate recognition of the in.
dependence Of the government of the Con
federate States Of America" This first vote
taken on this Secession ordinance resulted in
its rejection by tho House all of the Cecil
members voting against it. 1t was, however,
rcconsidered, and slightly amend by inserting
Senator's" in place of " Representatives"
and passed by vote of 90 to "a, and strange
to say, Mr.. Maxwell, of this county, voting.
this tine, in the affirmative; this, too, in
direct violation Of the know wishes, almost
unanimously, of the citizens of Cecil county.
What excuse Mr.. Maxwell can give for this
monstrous abandonment! Of duty, We can't
imagine. The only one we can conceive Of
and as personal friend we would be glad to
find some palliaton in Mr.. Maxwell $ case that
would in measure appease an outraged
public,-is the excuse which John Bells
friends recently offered for the cx. Presidential
candidates making Secession speech, when
he supposed he was max ing Union one.
The majority of our Legislature is nothing
less than hot bed of traitors, doub! less
keeping up communication secretly with the
rebels in arms against the Government. This
they have done openly to some extent, for
their Commissioners who were formerly
accredited to the court OF jeff. Davis have
! returned with jeff S warmest thanks for the
kind assurances they sent him Of the deep
interest Maryland feels in his and his fellow.
tln , L., .l, -
citizens generally, and her Legislature par
ticularly. for their fipal success in overthrow
ing the Government OF the United States.
There could not be more cutting sarcasm
written against them thar their own remon-
stranccs and protests against the Govern
ment: or clearer and stronger proof Of the
ncfarious lie which the whole ba tch of their
resolves and protests constitute. The proof
of the enity of that much abused Govern
ment, which has assisted the nation and poo.
pie whom it blesses, TO expand, in less than a
century. into one Of the first powers of the
world, is clearly established by the fact that
it suffers gang of conSpiratoIs, like the
Maryland Legislature, to plot against its
existence, both openly and secretly, beneath
the very shadow Of its batteries, undistui bed.
This is, indeed, forbearing till forbcarance
ceases to be virtue, and showing entirely
too much partality. The Government has
arrested individuals for conspirins with its
open enemies, while it allows band to WELD
the usurped power Of the State Of Maryland,
and lie in wait, watching for an opportunity
to use that power in striking fatal blow to
the liberties of the people.