Year: 1861

And lUhereaS, such authority can be conferred sole
by convention OF the people of the State;


"And ctereas, In the opinion of the meeting, the Leg


isature not being in session. full and fair expression


the popular will is likely be heard by Conven
| ton called by the recommendation of the Executive


And UheredS 1t is alleged that the Governor ha


it in contemplation to recommend by proclamation sue


movement in the event of failure by the Peace Con


ference and Congress to effect any satisfactory solution
| the vexed question now agitating the country Be
therefore


| 'ReSOred, That we shall approve such proceeding o


the part of the Governor and add the voice of this Con


venon to urge the voters of this State to regard suc


proclamation. And with view to allow time for the


ton of the Governor in the matter, the Convention vii


adjourn until the tenth day of March next unless inter


mediatey the State of Virginia should by her Sovereign


Convention secede from the Union, in which event


in the Governor of the State shall not have the


called Sovereign Convention of the people of thi


State, this Convention shall at assemble at the cal


of the President, with view of recommending to the
people of this State the election of delegates to such
Sovereign Convention


''ReSoired further as the sense of this Convention
That the secession of the several savehodng States from
the Federal Union induced by the aggression Of thu
nonslavehOldng States in violation Of the ConStitu oI
| of the United States


"Resolred further That the moral and material inter
est and the geographical position OF this State, demand
that should act with Virginia in this crisis operating
with that State in all honorable efforts to maintain and
defend constitutional rights of its citizens in the
Unon and failing in that, to associate with her in
federation with our sister States of the Union.


"Resorsd, further That the honor of this State re
quires that it should not permit its soil to be made high
way for Federal troops sent to make upon
States of the South; and it is the opinion OF this Conven





ment to the States which have seeded would
cessary result in civil and the destruction of the
government itSelf.n


And tvheYe1S this Convention desires to rearm their
conviction of the truth of these principles declared in
said preamble and resolutions, and that they abide by
them declaatory of the true construction of the Con-
suon of the United States, and believe that the
stutonal rights of this State will not be from
revolution upon any other theory the Government
and whereas this Convention did, in pursuance the
first resolution adjourn meet in Baltimore this day
hoping that sufficient time would have ntervened to
the
what action that body would pursue in the present crisis
and whereas the which impelled this body to
adjourn still exist; therefore,


ReSOlrsd That this Convention adjourn to meet in the
city of Baltimore day next to await the action of
the Virginia Convention


Lambert Cuttings, Esq, moved to adjourn until
tomorrow, at 10 o'clock. By that time the pro-
liabilities that larger number of delegates
would be present There was nothing to be lost by
taking plenty of time.


DR.. Hanson l.. Thomas opposed an adjournment
In place of gaining delegates, the number might be
reduced by persons leaving, who had not the time
to spare in attending the Convention.


Hon. R. NJ. McLane said that he did not think the
resolution of the gentleman went far enough. He
was in favor of stating distinctly and unequivocay
what position we, the people of Maryland, should
sumo. He in favor of full discussion of the re-
solution in the Convention, and if the gentleman's re-
solution pending he would embrace the op-
portunity to express his views. He asked the gen
tleman if he had offered his resolution.


Judge Presstman-The condition of the question
is Just this. If the President decides the motion
reconstructng the committee as carried, then
offer my resolution.


Hon. j. Il. Mason-Mr. President, if the gentle


Judge Presstman-But l will not allow you. l
cannot yield the floor.


Mr.. Mason-I explain the condition of the
question now pending.


Judge Presstman-No, you will only confuse
matters. Does the Chair decide that the motion to
reconstruct the committee has been adopted


The President-Certainly, sir.


Judge Presstman-That being the case


Mr.. Mason-Mr. President, | call the gentleman
to order.


Mr. McLane-I still retain the floor, Mr.. Pres-
dent. l only yielded it for explanation, to the
gentleman from Baltimore city, (Judge Presst-
many


Mr.. Mason--I will state nv point of order. At
the former Sc ssion of this Convention a rule was
adopted to refer all resolutions to the Committee
Business, without debate. To discuss this reso-
luton is therefore out Of order.


The President decided that the rule was adopted
merely for the government of the Convention at
that time, and was not in operation now. The
question before the Convention was the resolution
offered by the gentleman from Baltimore, Judge
Presstman.)


Mr.. McLane-Mr President, desire to express
my views in regard to the resolution. | think that
much good will be accomplished by an open dis
cussion of all propositions referred TO the commit
tee. You, sir, are aware OF the difficulty expert



vious occasion BY great care they were enabled
to present report which met the appreciation of
the Convention, and received its sanction. But
the committee would have been greatly assisted if
they could have had thorough understanding of |
the views entertained by the members of the Con- |
vention. And, sir, the committee will be great |
y assisted by expression of views. AS for me,
sir, in view of the action taken BY Tennessee,
kentucky, Missouri, and North Carolina, it is |
useless to expect the cooper alton of the Governor
IN the furherance of the objects of the Convention.
1t would, therefore be njudicious for this body to
4 kf SnXX XXta{ef decided steps toY ards paeipg MARYLAND
occupies. 1t would be inudicious political
grounds alone, to say nothing OF themoral aspect
IF the question, of the geographical position of
he State.


1t will be well for US, Mr.. President, to look at
this question in the true light, and realize the
truth, that we are still one of the United States-a |
member of the American UniOn-subject to all its
laws; and to act in opposition to them, We must
revolt. Under the present condition of things, is
it wise or judicious that we should institute
revolution? Is it wise or judiciOus that we should
revolt? | think not, sir. We charged with
being disunionsts Let so act to give the lie
to those who make the charge. Let no step be
taken looking to violation of the laws, either
State or Federal. l think we should give express
sion to views in regard to the inaugural OF Mr.
Lincoln and the administration which he has inau-
gurated, and also do anything else which can be
done under the Constitution. As the border States
have resolved to fight the battle in the Union, let
stand at their side until they convinced that
their safety is alone in Southern Contederacy; |
and when they go, let us 60 with them.


Let our sentiments be conveyed to the Conven-
ton in Virginia, in such manner as to assure |
them that our apparent tardlness is owing to want
of action on her part-that we are ready to couple
our destiny with hers and only wait her move |
ments. These are my views, and think they meet |
the changes which have taken place since we last
met. Then | was of opinion that Virginia would |
secede; but she has not, and it is evident that she
tatn he mar 6nnS
in US to act without her cooperation. l believe
to-day, as | did weeks ago, in the Institute Hall,
that it is duty, as patriots, to declare that our
interest and our happiness lead us to the South.
But for the present, other States with whom we
have to act, think otherwise, and we should yield
to their desires. At no distant day we will have
an opportunity of appealing to the people at the
ballot box, and feel confident that men will be
selected to represent the people in the Legislature
who will uphold the honor and dignity of the
State.


Il. c. Dallam, Esq, said that he did not coincide
with the views just expressed. He was ready for
practical action. He in favor of going before
the people now and giving them opportunity to
say whether they would or would not act, untram-
meleed by the border States. He would ignore
both the Governor and the President in this crisis
and 60 to the great seat of power, the people, to
have the matter determined He read the following
preamble and resolutions


WHEREAS it is abundantly evident from the present
condition of national affairs that it is not the purpose of
the Republican party to make honorable aduS
of present difficulties or to recognize the constitution
rights of the savehoding States coequa members
of the present confederacy; and whereas Abraham Lin
coin, in his inaugural address, has proclaimed in arul
and specious phrases his determination the hand
to make the seeding States and the other to
repudate the authority of the Supreme Court which is
itself the mouth piece of the Constitution and of the
most valuable guarantees for the protection of the rights
of minority aad has declared that its solemn decisions
made subordinate the utteranceS
the Chicago platform:


Now therefore be it resolved the of this body


Frst-That the time has fully for the sovereign
people of the State of Maryland of right belongs
them do, to take action and declare by Sovereign
Convention to be by them elected which said Conven
tion shall be composed of many members there
members of the Legislature of this State and in the
proportion for each county and the city of Baltimore
what course State Maryland shall take in the pers
that surround her sovereign member of the Con-
fedeacy Of the United States and make known by del
egaes to be by them elected to said Convention whether
is their wish and purpose to become the slaves and
vassa of the demoraized politicians and natca hordes
of the North their will and determination freemen
in the exercise of the sovereign rights that belong
them, that the State of Mary land shall its inde
pendence and dissolve its connection with Government
which has ceased to afford its citizens any adequate
antee of the preservation of their liberties and the quiet
and permanent enjoyment Of their vested rights of prop
erty.


be requested to issue proclamation for election in
the State at large for delegates Sovereign Conven
tion which election shall be held on the - day of F.,
and take into consideration present national troubles
and what action it becomes the State of Maryland to take
in view of them.


3D. And be it further resolred That, with view to
fully carry out the object aforesaid committee which
shall be composed of person from each county of the
State and the city of Baltimore, shall be appointed by the
Chair who shall devise such plans and measures will
best promote and full expression of the opinions
of the qualified voters of the State said election
and propose and forth address to the people of the
State at large touching the object and purpose of said
convention.


Mr.. Griswold said that he thought the gentleman
from Baltimore (Mr. McLane) was mistaken in
regard to his estimate of what was the state Of
feeling in Virginia. Does he suppose that when it
becomes evident that the Gulf States will never
r. this TTnion that Viruinia