1861.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 229

Mr. Griffith moved that two thousand copies be printed;
Which was adopted.
Also offered the following:

Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed by the
Speaker, with instructions to examine the Executive Record
and call for such persons and papers as they may deem
proper, to enable them to ascertain and report to this House,
without delay, the precise character of the relations estab-
lished by the Executive of this State with the Federal Govern-
ment since the commencement of our existing national
troubles.

Also, proposed the following resolutions:

WHEREAS, Ross Winans, a member of the House of Dele-
gates of Maryland, from the city of Baltimore, on his way
to his home from the discharge of his official duties, on the
14th of May last, was arbitrarily and illegally arrested, on a
public highway, in the presence of the Governor of this State,
Ly an armed force under the orders of the Federal Govern-
ment, and was forcibly imprisoned and held in custody there-
after at Annapolis and Fort McHenry, without color of law-
ful process or right, by the command and at the arbitrary
will and pleasure of the President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, sundry other citizens of Maryland have been
unlawfully dealt with, in the same despotic and oppressive
manner, by the same usurped authority, and some of them
have in fact been removed by force beyond the limits of the
State of Maryland and the jurisdiction of her tribunals, in
utter violation of their rights, as citizens, and of the rights
of the State, as a member of the Federal Union; and

WHEREAS, the unconstitutional and arbitrary proceedings
of the Federal Executive., have not been confined to the
violation of the personal rights and liberties of the citizens
of Maryland, but have been extended into every department
of oppressive illegality, so that the property of no man is safe;
the sanctity of no dwelling is respected; and the sacredness
of private correspondence no longer exists; and

WHEREAS, the Senate and House of Delegates of Maryland,
recognizing the obligation of the State, as far as in her lies,
to protect and defend her people against usurped and arbi-
trary power—however difficult the fulfillment of that high
obligation may be rendered by disastrous circumstances—feel
it due to her dignity and independence, that history should