1861.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 267

san spirit could so far pervade the Legislalative halls of Mary-
land as to cause the gentlemen assembled there to forget the
respect due to the Executive office, in a fanatical desire to
prop up, by such support, the unholy cause of treason against
the General Government.

I have patiently forborne to remonstrate against the bitterly
malignant spirit evinced against rne, personally, by the ma-
jority of your body. It is a matter of no consequence what-
ever to me what your opinion of me may be. But when your
official acts reflect upon the dignity of the office which I
hold, I feel it to be my duty to protest against them. In such
case, forbearance on my part is not only not a virtue, but it
is a tacit dereliction of my duty.

I cannot find in the constitution any warrant for the action
proposed by your order. You have the power "to call for
public or official papers and records," and it will always af-
ford me pleasure to comply with any such call from you.
Without being requested by you, I furnished you with all the
correspondence I have had with officers of the General Gov-
ernment. I have omitted nothing having the slighest public
importance; and I am thoroughly convinced that your body
is fully aware of the fact that I have kept back nothing hav-
ing the least bearing upon the relations between the General
Government and the Executive of Maryland. I am compelled,
therefore, to look upon your order for an examination of the
Executive Records as a feeble effort to offer an indignity to
me.

But, as this is a thing of no consequence to me, I hereby
tender to your committee every facility in my power in fur-
therance of the task imposed upon it. Indeed, had the exami-
nation been proposed in a proper manner, I should have been
highly gratified at the opportunity of showing to the people
of Maryland that an official examination, by my enemies, of
the Executive Records, proves the utter falsity of the many
malignant charges brought against me by partisans.

In thus tendering facilities to your committee, however, I
respectfully but firmly demand that the committee shall fully
and effectually discharge the duty imposed upon it. Thereby
the people of the State will become convinced that, al-
though originating in partisan feeling, and in an effort to
offer an indignity to me, your order could elicit nothing in
the premises not already fully laid before the public.

THOS. H. HICKS.

Which was read and referred to the select committee ap-
pointed to examine the records in the office of the Secretary
of State.