1874.] OF THE SENATE. 231

Mr. Earle, from the Joint Committee of the two Houses to
whom had been referred the Resolutions relative to the Taney
Statue submitted the following

REPORT:

The Joint Special Committee to arrange for formal recep-
tion by the State of Statue of late Chief Justice Taney, now
upon the Capital Grounds and invite some distinguished
citizen of Maryland to deliver an oration upon the life and
public service of the late Chief Justice, respectfully report.

That they have endeavored, but they regret to say without
success to carry out the wishes of both branches of the
General Assembly as embodied in the Joint Resolution under
which they were appointed.

The life of the late Chief Justice Taney was dedicated for
so many years and in such lofty stations to the service of his
country that it froms no small part, in itself, of the public
history of his time, his Judicial connexion especially with
the Constitutional questions which arose, while he presided
over the tribunal of ultimate resort, was of extent and im-
portance, which it would not be easy to exagerate, those
questions involved, as we all know, not only the relative
promises and powers of the State and Federal Government
as between themselves, but the Constitutional relation of
Federal authority and its representatives to public freedom
and the liberty of the citizens.

How noble a part Chief Justice Taney bore in those con-
troversies and how largely his necessary official influence
upon them was increased by his exalted character and illus-
trious qualities, the people of Maryland, and their Repre-
sentatives do not need to be reminded, to develop in connex-
ion with all this and in a fitting way the morals of a great
and stainless life, devolved alike to priviate and public duty
and virtue, is a task well worthy of the highest faculties and
literary culture which no one fit to discharge it would will-
ingly assume, without ample opportunity for that thorough
study and analysis, which it demands.

The Committee have, therefore, not been surprised to find
that the shortness of the period within which the prepara-
tion of the contemplated address would be circumscribed by
the brief session of the General Assembly, will render it im-
possible for them to fulfil the wishes of your Honorable
Bodies by the selection of a competent person willing to un-
dertake the duty.

Believing it due, as well to the State and its Representatives
as to the memory of the illustrious dead, the tribute proposed
by the Joint Resolutions, should rather be forgone altogether