230 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [June 20,

Assembly to adjourn sine die; but your Committee think that the
prayer of said petitioners ought not to be granted. The charac-
ter of the petitions show many of the persons signing them are
actuated by party influence, rather than a desire to serve the true
interest of their State; and, indeed, some of the signatures appear
to be manufactured for the occasion, for they are all in the same
handwriting, and made with the same ink and pen. The petitioners
have shown no such strength of numbers, either, as would justify
your Committee in saying that there were any expression of a
popular desire, by any number approaching to a majority of the
people of the State, for an adjournment sine die, as would justify
your Committee in recommending this body to surrender its own
judgment on that important subject, especially when we regard
the alarming state of the country, and the increasing c'angers to
the lives and social welfare of the people of the State, which
require such protection from the Legislature as it may be able to
give, against the unconstitutional exercise of power by the mili-
tary forces now quartered amongst us, in the occupation of our
soil.

Your Committee, however, think that this General Assembly
might adjourn, to meet at an early day after the assembling of
the Congress of the United States, so as to be able to co-operate
with that body in bringing about a peaceable settlement of our
National difficulties, if so desirable a result can be accomplished.

Your Committee therefore recommend the adoption of the fol-
lowing resolution:

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That when the
Senate and House of Delegates adjourn on Friday, the 21st of
June, they adjourn to meet in the city of Annapolis, on Tuesday,
the 30th day of July next, at 12 o'clock, M.

THOS. FRANKLIN,

F. WHITAKER,

D. C. BLACKSTONE,

On the part of the Senate.

J. H. GORDON,
T. PARKIN SCOTT,
JAMES U. DENNIS,

On the part of the House.

Which was read.

Mr. Smith moved to lay the Report on the table.