Year: 1861

there as an imperative power, but the basil
of the insertion is the time when it should
be called or invited, in obedience to no.
ton of Jefferson, that every ten years OF
thereabouts the Constitution should be
changed, that the current of the progress Of
popular opinion and improvement might be
conformed But, sir, even on this point the
Convention thought the Legislature the lie.
gitimate tribunal to make the call or ask the
will of the people. This very Sovereign
Convention thought the Legislature the pro,
per depository of the power Or trust.


But was it necessary to say in the Con-
stitution that the Legislature should call a
Convention? The Legislature is the en-
bodiment of the sovereignty of the people
and that embodiment of sovereignty was de-
posted there by the Convention, to be ex-
ercised in wise and judicious manner for the
protection of life, liberty and property, until,
according to the mode prescribed in the in
strument, another Convention should ordain
another mode of organic action. The Con-
stitution does not point the specific mode
in which life, liberty and property shall be
protected; yet laws are passed for this pur-
pose-as crime is punished by law, although
it is not said any one even shall be punished
in a particular manner. Can you find the
punishment for murder in the Constitution;
or do you find it in the law enacted by the
Legislature? Where do you get the speci-
fic power to enact the police bill of Balti-
more? The power to do whatever is neces-
sary for the protection of life, liberty and
property is implied from the guarantee OF
protection, or follows the grant Of unquali-


fed legislation for protection and all this
is in the hands Of the Legislative department.
to be exercised in mode, manner and at a
time judgment, discretion and the exigency
of the case may demand and that tribunal
is to be the judg ge, in its exercise of sound
discretion, when a Convention should be
called, based upon reasons declared to the
people. The Governor by the act of the
Convention, in framing the Constitution
which has been put in operation by direct
vote of the people, occupies the same posi-
ton, in the exercise of sworn judgment
and discretion, as to when the occasion is
such as to demand call of the Legislature


But cannot elaborate


II, sir, your organization had been as
jealous and as earnest, from the first. Ia the
maintenance and execution of the suprema-
cy of the law, as they have been in enfsfc-
ing this disnrganizing dz&>rine af inherent
and inalienable fights. the condition of our
once loved and glorious Union would be
very different from what we now find it 1t
is true that sovereign conventions, in near
ly all the States, under the force Of the in
organic action of your party. has overturned
nearly every State government against the
palpable provisions of the organic law. In
this State it was done against the convic-
tions and warnings of some Of our wisesi
and most conservative citizens; and it has
been this mob law and disorganizing action
which we have warred against, and which
has brought all this trouble upon our once
beloved and happy country. Religious ia.
naticism at the North and tire-eating treason
at the South, have seized upon your exam,
pie as a precedent, and have used it te
achieve its hellish purpose at the North by
assaults upon the civil authority and by
raids upon the South; while in the exccu.
ton of the same disorganizing action the
South has overturned our once glorious and
free overnment-contrary to the express
provisions of the Constitution of the United
States Disorder begeteth disorder; disre.
gard of law and order bcgeteth disregard Of


law and order: one evil example becomes the
prolific parent of many similar examples.


You say you have heard of illegal elec.
tions of Representatives to Congress, to VIC


late the wishes of the people of Maryland
of temples burned down-of religious associ


ations of females broken up, their property
destroyed and they turned out helpless upor
made them. You see you will bray; but


fear reynard will be too shrewd for you.-


Have you not heard and read how the navy


yards and government works have been usct


to control elections? Have you not heare


and read how your organization has from
it's foundation practiced prescription upon


and denounced all who differed from it, an(
has acted throughout its whole career upon
the rule that to the victor belong the spoils
Have you not heard and read how, in tn
exercise of a most lawless and wanton tyran
ny, peaceful and inohensive citizens wer
shot down in cold blood in the streets o
Washington? Have you not heard AM
read how your organization has sunk t.
the bottomless depths of corruption, bribery
peculation and plunder? and how election
| have been controlled by direct bribery ant
votes have been bought? Have you no
heard and read how thousands of native
, born citizens have been turned out of ofic
and out of employment to give place to


pack of worthless Dutch and Irish? AN
lastly, and high over all, have you not hear
and read how your organization, having los
it's power under our once blessed Union, ha


effected secession and disruption of tina


Union in the execution of the grandes
scheme of treason ever enacted on this earth
and which finds no parallel except in tina
rebellion which assaulted the Omnipotent o
heaven and dethroned this portion of Cod
. creation? But even if the allegations yo1