1870.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 715

to serve them in official capacities, are "public servants," and
not "rulers," and that when such public servants- betray
their sworn trust, they are guilty of unpardonable crime and
ought to be hurled from the offices of the people and con-
signed to everlasting shame; and be it

Resolved, That majorities, however powerful, have no
right to do an unconstitutional act; that such acts when com-
mitted by majorities are as revolutionary as when committed
by a few, and far more injurious to the general welfare; that
no party, however powerful, should ever be allowed to make
its will paramount to written constitutional law; that the
Constitution is the palladium of our liberty; that those who
would usurp it are tyrants, and that it ought to be defended,
maintained and preserved at every cost; and be it

Resolved, That while secession is a heresy not to be tolera-
ted, consolidation and despotism are evils even more mon-
strous; that while we should "cling to the Union and the
Constitution as the mariner clings to the last plank when the
night and the tempest close around him," we should never
step on board of that ship, however strong and powerful,
whose name is "Monarch," and whose destiny is the grave of
liberty, and be it

Resolved, That Maryland, through her General Assembly,
sends greeting to the good people of all the States, and in-
vokes them, in the name of "God and liberty," to stand by
the Constitution of the United States of America, and to see
to it that it suffers no violence.

Which were read a first time.
On motion of Mr. Colton,

The resolutions were referred to the Committee on Federal
Relations, and

On motion of Mr. Biddle,
Ordered to be printed.

The hour having arrived for taking up the order of the day,
being the bills relating to Wild Fowl,

The House proceeded to the consideration of the bill en-
titled an Act to repeal sections 6, 7 and 8, of Article 98, of
Public General Laws, entitled "Wild Fowl," and to re-
enact the same with amendments.

Said bill being upon a second reading.

Mr. Brattan submitted the following amendment:

But none of the provisions of this Act shall apply to
Somerset county.

Which was rejected.