20 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [April W,

Mr. Dennis, of Somerset, moved to take up the Senate reso-
lation B, being an address to the people of Maryland.

Mr, Briscoe moved to refer it to the committee on Federal
Relations.

Which was concurred in.

On motion of Mr. Scott,

The bill, entitled, An Act to provide for the calling of a
Sovereign Convention of the people of Maryland, was referred
to the committee on Federal Relations.

Mr. Pitts proposed the following :

WHEREAS, owing to the extraordinary condition of
things which existed in the city of Baltimore, on and since
Friday, the 19th day of April, 1861, it became absolutely
necessary lor the protection of the peace of the city of Balti-
more, and for the preservation and security of the lives and
property of the inhabitants thereof, to adopt immediately ex-
traordinary measures suited to the crisis and calculated to
prevent the then threatened dangers ;

AND WHEREAS, owing to the fact that the Legislature of
this State was not then in session, and that if action had been
postponed until the Legislature could meet it would then have
oeen too late to provide for the actual state of things;

AND WHEREAS, by the direction, and with the consent of
the Governor of this State, the Mayor of the city of Balti-
more, and the Police Commissioners of said city, steps were
immediately taken, not in an aggressive spirit, but for the
sole purpose of placing the city of Baltimore in a condition,
as far as possible, of security and safety ;

AND WHEREAS, the measures thus adopted and pursued
meet with the approbation and concurrence of the General
Assembly of this State, they having been adopted for the
general good and the protection and advancement of the great
and material interests of the people of this State. Therefore,
belt

Resolved, By the General Assembly of the State of Mary-
land, That the measures adopted and conduct pursued by the
authorities of the city of Baltimore, on Friday, the 19th of
April, 1861, and since that time, intended and designed as
tliey were to preserve the peace, quiet and tranquility of the
city of Baltimore, and to place that city in a condition of
security and safety, be and the same are hereby ratified, ap-
proved of and made valid by this General Assembly, and de-
clared to have been necessary for the public good and the
protection of the lives and property of the people of Baltimore.

Which was read the first time.