Year: 1861




ons would depend altogether for their force, upon
wisdom and character of the body ITSELF and the extent
and weight OF public sentiment it represented 1t had
been suggested in the committee that the proposition
such alternative upon the Governors refusal might
be regarded by him offensive, and might prevent his
adopting the suggestions which it proposed.


The Committee would not believe that Governor Hicks
would be deferred from doing what right if he be


eVed 1t to be right. merely because he knew that in
case OF his refusal this meeting would pursue what
deemed right also The alternative for ourselves
not for him. 1t responsibility his 1t con.
tanned no threat and involved disrespect 1t was
meant with perfect respect to him, though the
time it guarded own self respect likewise In deal
ing with public unctonary was our duty of course
to be wanting, in to proper courtesy and consd
eration was our right as citizens to
own opinions, respectfully and take lawful ac-
where '
he trusted would be found unexceptionabe and
vative in tone and spirit They had been prepared in
good faith to cover, far practicable ground
on whlch the whole people might unite, and he did not
see how they could be objected to, except upon the
ground that it not safe trust the people the
State with the determination of questions which so fear
iuily involved their interests and honor Further than
TINS explanation, Mr.. Wallis added that iawas ne
ceSSary for him. on behalf of the Committee, go


A. b. lIagner said that he had been deputed to
express to the Conference the views of the minority
of the committee. There was not time to prepare
a minority report, and consequently the views Of
| the minority would have to be presented to the
Conference verbally. lie endorsed the remarks of
Mr.. Wallis in regard to the good feeling which pre-
vailed in the committee in the discussion of the diff
.eteuCes O opinion Wnlcn existed between the men,
| pers There were eight OF the committee who dis
sented from the views expressed in the majority re-
port. No question of politics influenced this differ
ence vi the minority but two voted for the pre-.
sent Governor, of which he not one. C0nse-
quently the difference of opinion existed honestly
and sincerely. The minority were in favor of pre-
sentlng as a report the fourth resolution, and
nothing more of the series of resolutions presented
by the ority. They were of opinion that that
resolution embodied all that was necessary for the
present. In the passage of that resolution by this
Conference they Of opinion that a good thing
would be done. This is self-cOnstituted body
with no power to speak for any but themselves and
yet the resolutions of the committee propose a
course of action for the State. We are overstep-
ping our authority in the adoption of the resolu
tlons. The fourth resolution was what the people
demanded.


Mr. Norris-Were You unanimous in the support
of the fourth resolution2


Mr.. Hagner-The entire committee sustained
that resolution. We have no evidence that the
Governor will not call the Legislature together
On the contrary he desires to know the sentiments
OF the people on the subject, and says he will com
ply with that sentiment if the people desire the call
OF a Convention. In the several counties there
were large number Of persons who sustained the
Governor in his present course This conference
may assert that the members thereof represented
the sentiment of their different sections This may
be mistake. In the last Legislature members of
that body supported law in regard to the free ne
gro population, and stated that they represented
the views of their constituencies and yet when the





1t. If the adoption of the Attn resolution did not
answer the purposes of this conference, it could
meet again, and adopt such course of policy as
might be deemed expedient.


DR.. Joseph Duvall offered the following res
outions as substitute for the report of the C, M
mittee:


l. ReSo'red, the of this neetia7 That the true
course OF Maryland in the present crisis of country
70 adopt what has been apty called mastery
ty to watch the signs of the times and await the further
development OF events before committing herself rrevoca
h n tip1 nf nh
times are pregnant with momentous events no one
can tell what day may bring orth-t would therefore,
be unWse to tramme her future action, which should
adapted to the existing condition circumstances of the
country BY promises aud pledges previously made.


Iha at present she is opposed to secession which
regards as nothing less than revolution,
and dangerous remedy for any existing greYances.-
mat s does not believe secession to be right arising
unuer tue Constitution OF the United States, it
contains express grant of such right whilst in theo
ry at least no government can be presumed to
to its own dismemberment and destruction.


j. That the constitution OF the Union contains ample
powers for the redress of all existing grievances and
wrongs properly exercised and applied and not until
these powers have been appealed to and fully tested
all laws passed in pursuance thereof fully and faithfully
executed should the people of the United States abandon
the Union and their present form of government with
their great and valuable interests therein.


That the true of difficulties not be found
in the acts of those who violate the laws and resist the
authority of the federal government and to so consider
is to conf0und cause and effect for bad and evil minded
citizens may be found in every country ready to diSre
gard the public authority whenever they do with
impunity but it is rather be found an





enforce fully and faithfully all laws; and true
remedy for grievances reform te aministra
ton of the government in this respect insure the
complete execution of such and every law, which
only be done by bringing the public opinion to
bear upon the executive department


). That it, upon full and complete trial. however the
powers of the general Government should be found mad
equate to the complete enforcement of all its laws the
Constitution should be SO amended to give it the
cessary power and the fanatca and rebeous views and
acts of individuals should he allowed to defeat
their execution for under every form of government the





enforcement of the laws.


That the efforts of every good citizen and Of every
State, general Government should be direct
ed at present to peaceful adjustment all difficulties
between the North South that the North should i'm
mediatvly repeal all acts infringing Constitution of
the United States and designed to prevent the enforce
ment Of its laws and the South ought to allow reason
able time for this lobe done. perpetual settlement of
the slavery question in all its aspects should be effected
either by law amendment of the Constitution if ne
cessary and such other guarantees against econalism
as may be thought wise and expedient should also he
| made


Justmen shall unfortunately have taken place. and the
North shall still refuse to render unto Caesar the things
that are C9sars by complete redress of all Southern
grievances ana wrongs that the honor, and safety and
interests of Maryland will demand her separation from
the Union and cooperation with her sister slave States
IN the FORMATION OF new goVernment-in which the
great of the old and mixed basis of society should
be AVOIDED Let the North with her peculiar institg-
hers, to the left and thus let all strife in the future be
prevented.


8. That Maryland is determined to have all her rights
within the Union and peaceaby if she can-but OF
it, and forcbly if she must and whenever she decides to
secede from the Union will place her action upon the
broad ground of revolution, and upon doubtful
right Of peaceable secession and point
wrongs injuries patiently borne for series of
years. with the persistent refusal and failure
eIal Government to redress them in justifcation-for
whenever Government fails for the purposes of its in
tituton, by not protecting the citizen in his rights
person and property the right Of revolution arises and
can be justly and rightfully exercised.


Q. That when in the opinion and patrio tic
Governor, the time shall arrive for Maryland take
tion in regard to the present perous crisis of
mon country that he Immediately the Legisla
ture OF the State in extra session, and the Legislature
when thus convened, should take immediate steps
calling convention of the people of the State
tne their action to this single object unless the cond
ton of the country and the interests and safety
State at the time shall demand further legislation put
the state IN proper condition of military defence.


That Maryland could never quietly force used by
the general government to compel obedience to its
thoy by the southern seeding States, when that
ernment has failed to discharge its obligations them
not executing laws passed expressly for the purpose of
protecting their property That before United States
government ghtfully force compel their sub
mission to its authority within their limits elsewhere
it must fully and faithfully enforce all laws made for
the protection of their persons and property or failing
therein make them full compensation damages for all
the losses suffered by their violation and further
tee them in the free enjoyment all their rights under
the constitution compact broken side broken
on all sides, and the general hold the
South to the terms of the compact while the North is per-
mtted TO violate them with mpunity whenever the
| ton or the humor takes them.


He said that the resolutions embraced his views
He had offered them in the Committee but they





| the objects for which the Convention had been
| called. He did not think so. lie came here under
the impression that the Conference was to take into
| consideration the best policy and course of action
for the State of Mary land to pursue, and not
| ly for the purpose of securing call for State
| Convention. Maryland should be careful of the
position she assumed. Who will rise in his seat and
say that Maryland is ready to secede, or that she
will cling to the Union forever?


The time for this State to assume such action has
not yet arrived. 1t is our duty, it is interest
to cling to the Union and endeavor to sedST 2 0ur
rights under the Constitution. When all has.r.ti l.
ed, it will be time for the State to secede South
Carolina and the other Southern States do not feel
the dissolution of the Government as We will feel
1t. They have no IN uries such as we have suffer
ed, and will suffer in of dissolution. 1t is an
easy thing to destroy great and glorious govern
ment, but, gentlemen will find it no easy matter te
reconstruct or form government. 1t is our duty
to express our devotion TO the Union 1t is proper
that the people North and South should know
where Maryla stands. The gentlemen NAV say
that 1t Is impolitc to give expression to the views
embodied in these resolutions. On the contrary
they wanted the State to follow the precipitate ant
ineonsiderate action of South Carolina. He wal
opposed to this. After some desutory motions
the Conference adjourned until this morning at tel
o'clock.


The New PENNSYLVANIA SENAToR.-The Phia
delphia Press says that Edgar Cowan, the new
S. Senator from Pennsy ivana, is in his 46th year
His parents were poor, but managed to give him
collegiate EDUCATION at Canonsburg, and he ha
since kept up his knowledge then acquired, and in
creased the store, so that he is thorough Latin
. French, Greek and German scholar. He is grea
student, acquainting himself with nearly all tn
t modern sciences, and is possessed of one of th