luded to in his message, and the nature of the secrets they
preserve.                                     

"Resolved, That for the purposes of the inquiries sub-
mited to them, the Committee be empowered to send for
persons and papers, if they shall deem it necessary to their
investigation."

A few days subsequent to the passage of these resolutions,
and before any action was had by the Committee, namely, on
the 17th of January last, an order was adopted by the
House, authorizing and directing the Committee to examine
witnesses under the solemn sanction of an oath, which order
is in the words following, viz :

"Ordered, That the Select Committee heretofore appointed
to consider and report upon all that part of the Governor's
Message which relates to secret political societies be author-
ized and directed in their investigations to examine witnesses
on oath, and that all said witnesses attending and testifying
before said Committee be allowed and paid the same milage
and per diem as is usually allowed to witnesses in attendance
upon the Circuit Court of Anne Arundel County."

This minority being anxious to perform faithfully and dil-
igently the duties enjoined upon the Committee by the Hon-
orable House, and looking to these resolutions and this order
only for guidance as to the scope of their duties and mode of
performing them, believed themselves called upon, in con-
junction with the other members of the Committee, to sum-
mon such witnesses before them, for examination on oath, as
they might be advised and had good reason to believe pos-
sessed and could give information material and important to
the elucidation of the truth in regard to the subjects matter
of inquiry committed to them. They felt themselves charged
by the resolutions to inquire by such means, first, " Whether
any, and if any, what secret political societies exist in this
State?"

Secondly, "Whether any political society, secret or open,
is known to encourage or pursue purposes which tend to the
subversion of the well established and deeply cherished prin-
ciples of our Government?"

Thirdly, "Whether any, and if any, what society or por-
tion of the people of this State, or any of the United States,
have introduced religious issues into the field of political
agitation?"

Fourthly, To ascertain, as far as might be within their
power, " What is the character and import of the secrets
which are supposed to be held or maintained by such so-
cieties?"                                                                         

4