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History of Maryland - 3
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MEETING  OF THE FREDERICK LEGISLATURE. 425
During its brief session it passed several useful laws, and it kept faithful
watch and ward over the interests and honor of Maryland. More than this
it could not do. It was powerless to relieve the State of the presence of
strange troops within her borders, and unable to devise any sufficient measures for her protection against the dangers which threatened her. But it
honestly exposed the lawless and aggressive character of the policy of which
she was the victim; it sternly protested against the unconstitutional acts of
the administration and its agents; and it showed itself ready, at all times, to
discharge, fairly and courageously, the duties which the laws and the Constitution of Maryland devolved upon her representatives.
The Legislature having spent a day in organizing, Governor Hicks, on the
27th, sent in his message, communicating his correspondence with General
Butler and the Secretary of War, relative to the sending of troops to Annapolis. On the same day an Act Avas passed authorizing the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore " to raise and appropriate at their discretion, and in
the modes and at the times which they may judge best, all moneys whatsoever, which they may deem necessary and proper for the defence and protection
of the said city." On the same day it also ratified the previously mentioned
appropriation of $500,000 for the defence of the city. On the 8th of
May, in consequence of threatened prosecution from the Criminal Court
of Baltimore City, it passed " an Act to relieve the Mayor and members
of the Board of Police of the City of Baltimore and all persons who
acted under their orders, in their efforts to maintain peace and good
order, and prevent further strife on and after the occurrences of the 19th of
April, 1861, in said city, from prosecution for, or in consequence of their acts
of obedience to said orders."
Upon the opening of this session, intense interest was felt as to what
would be its course in relation to secession. On the 27th, the second day of
the session, the Senate settled this question in an " address to the people of
Maryland," in which it said, " we cannot but know that a large proportion
of the citizens of Maryland have been induced to believe that there is a probability that our deliberations may result in the passage of some measure
committing this State to secession. It is, therefore, our duty to declare that
all such fears are without just foundation. We know that we have no constitutional authority to take such action. You need not fear that there is a
possibility that we will do so." This address was unanimously adopted.
The House of Delegates, two days afterwards, on the 29th, by a ballot of
fifty-three to twelve, declared that they did not possess the power to pass an
ordinance of secession.
This resolution of the Legislature greatly disappointed the wishes of a
large number of ardent secessionists, especially in some of the Southern counties, where public meetings had been held, and resolutions recommending
secession adopted. There was also dissatisfaction in some quarters because
the Legislature had neither reorganized and armed the militia, nor put the
Title History of Maryland - 3
Creator Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas)
Publisher J. B. Piet
Place of Publication Baltimore
Type Books/Pamphlets
Transcript MEETING OF THE FREDERICK LEGISLATURE. 425 During its brief session it passed several useful laws, and it kept faithful watch and ward over the interests and honor of Maryland. More than this it could not do. It was powerless to relieve the State of the presence of strange troops within her borders, and unable to devise any sufficient measures for her protection against the dangers which threatened her. But it honestly exposed the lawless and aggressive character of the policy of which she was the victim; it sternly protested against the unconstitutional acts of the administration and its agents; and it showed itself ready, at all times, to discharge, fairly and courageously, the duties which the laws and the Constitution of Maryland devolved upon her representatives. The Legislature having spent a day in organizing, Governor Hicks, on the 27th, sent in his message, communicating his correspondence with General Butler and the Secretary of War, relative to the sending of troops to Annapolis. On the same day an Act Avas passed authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore " to raise and appropriate at their discretion, and in the modes and at the times which they may judge best, all moneys whatsoever, which they may deem necessary and proper for the defence and protection of the said city." On the same day it also ratified the previously mentioned appropriation of $500,000 for the defence of the city. On the 8th of May, in consequence of threatened prosecution from the Criminal Court of Baltimore City, it passed " an Act to relieve the Mayor and members of the Board of Police of the City of Baltimore and all persons who acted under their orders, in their efforts to maintain peace and good order, and prevent further strife on and after the occurrences of the 19th of April, 1861, in said city, from prosecution for, or in consequence of their acts of obedience to said orders." Upon the opening of this session, intense interest was felt as to what would be its course in relation to secession. On the 27th, the second day of the session, the Senate settled this question in an " address to the people of Maryland," in which it said, " we cannot but know that a large proportion of the citizens of Maryland have been induced to believe that there is a probability that our deliberations may result in the passage of some measure committing this State to secession. It is, therefore, our duty to declare that all such fears are without just foundation. We know that we have no constitutional authority to take such action. You need not fear that there is a possibility that we will do so." This address was unanimously adopted. The House of Delegates, two days afterwards, on the 29th, by a ballot of fifty-three to twelve, declared that they did not possess the power to pass an ordinance of secession. This resolution of the Legislature greatly disappointed the wishes of a large number of ardent secessionists, especially in some of the Southern counties, where public meetings had been held, and resolutions recommending secession adopted. There was also dissatisfaction in some quarters because the Legislature had neither reorganized and armed the militia, nor put the