10

unambiguous phrases, meaning precisely what they say, incapable
of being construed in one sense in the North, and in another sense
in the South; they flatter no party's prejudices, nor compromise
with any party's power, but simply and truly speak the deep con-
victions of the Native Republican sentiment, in which our free in-
stitutions had their birth, and by which alone they are to be pre-
served. These principles have been discussed and determined
upon in a thousand open meetings of the people of Maryland.
Their advocates have been confronted with opponents in free lati-
tude of debate, and judgment has been pronounced by overwhelm-
ing majorities, which are now visibly represented in the Legist
lature.

When, therefore, the Governor has uttered his complaint to this
General Assembly, he not only arraigns the loyalty of the people's
representatives, but he arraigns the people themselves, and charges
upon them a moral treason in harboring thoughts and purposes
hostile to their own freedom, and his opinion of blacker guilt than
the deadly designs of abolitionism.

The authority of the Governor to communicate with the Legis-
lature by an official message, is derived from the 18th section of
the 2d Article of the Constitution, which makes it his duty "from
time to time to inform the Legislature of the condition of the
State, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he
may judge necessary and expedient." The Committee, in view
of this constitutional duty, are compelled to infer that the Gover-
nor's purpose in bringing the subject of their present inquiry to
the notice of the Legislature, was to invoke their deliberations to
the necessity of adopting some measure for the suppression of the
Societies to which he refers. It is, besides, but respectful to the
high station which he occupies, to suppose that he was not ac-
tuated by an idle desire to indulge in mere partisan declamation
against political opponents, nor to use the privilege of his office
to excite the popular odium against those with whom it is his mis-
fortune to differ in reference to great questions touching the ad-
ministration of the public affairs.

Giving the Governor, therefore, credit for a sincere and earnest
purpose to call for the intervention of the Legislature through its
power to investigate these alleged abuses, and correct them, by
proper and efficient laws, the Committee are forced to conclude