1870,] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 1125

ity, and if this law violates any contract, or affects the
plighted faith of the State to any degree, its constitutionality
and validity will in all probability be determined in the pro-
per forum.

We sincerely hope that the proposition submitted by us
may meet the favorable consideration of this House ; but if it
does not, we have discharged our duty to the State and our
constituency in presenting it totheir calm and dispassionate
consideration. The details of the proposition will fully ap-
pear by reference to the Resolutions reported by us, and the
bill accompanying the same, to carry them into effect, if
adopted.

Which was read.
Also, reported the following

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Relating to the demands of the State of Maryland against
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company for the one-fifth
of the whole amount collected and received by said Company
for the transportation of passengers on the Washington
Branch Railroad of said Company, and not hitherto paid into
the Treasury of the State of Maryland :

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That
the Governor is hereby, authorized to employ additional
counsel to-assist the Attorney General in instituting all pro-
per proceedings by suit, at Law, or by bill in Equity, to en-
force the demands of the State of Maryland against the Bal-
timore and Ohio Railroad Company, growing out of the ne-
glect and refusal, on the part of said Company, to pay into the
Treasury of the State the one-fifth of the whole amount col-
lected and received by the said.Company for the transporta-
tion of passengers on the Washington Branch Railroad of
the said Company, and not hitherto paid into the Treasury
of the State, as also to enforce any and all other claims and
demands which the said State may have against the said
Company for or on any account whatsoever.

Resolved, That in case the said Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Company shall, within ten days after the passage, by
the General Assembly, of the Act accompanying these resolu-
tions, and after the same shall have become a law, by good
and sufficient deed, release the State of Maryland from all
claims and demands for or on account of any payment by it
heretofore made of interest due by the State on the sterling
debt of the State, and shall furthermore, within, said ten days,
pay into the Treasury of the State of Maryland, for the use
thereof, so much of the one-fifth of the whole amount col-
lected and received by the said Company for the transporta-