650 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 1,

expressed myself on various occasions, and more recently in
an interview with the Lientenant-Governor.

Within a short time past, however, and up to the date of
my communication to that officer on the 26th ult., when my
resignation was expected to be officially announced to the
Legislature, I have been visited by such appeals from the
representative men of the State, urged with an earnestness
and unanimity which could hardly be mistaken, asking my
continuance in the Gubernatorial chair, that I did not feel at
liberty to consult any individual prelerences of my own in
making up a final judgment upon this subject. I have no
right, from any motive of personal ambition in connecion
with the Senatorial office, if such could be supposed for a
moment to influence my action, to disregard my paramount
obligation to the people of my State. It was sufficient for
them to indicate whether, in their judgment, I could best
serve them in the councils of the nation or the Gubernatorial
office, to which they had assigned me, at a period of so much
interest in our public affairs, both State and National.

With this brief explanation, I deem it proper to avail
myself of the earliest opportunity compatible with the public
interest and in deference to what I believe to be my duty to
the people of the State of Maryland, to decline the appoint-
ment of Senator of the United States for six years from the
4th of March, 1867, and to return to the General Assembly
of Maryland my grateful appreciation of the distinguished
honor they have conferred upon me.

I have the honor to be,

With great respect,

Your obedient servant,

THOS. SWANN.
Which was read.
Mr. Jones submitted the following

JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the
communication just received from his Excellency, Thomas
Swann, announcing his declination of the office of United
States Senator, to which he had been chosen by the present
Legislature with great unanimity, has, under the peculiar
circumstances which surround it, impressed the Legislature
with profound sensibility; and that, in view of the momen-
utous interests involved, and the cause of Constitutional
government in all the States, we recognize, in the determi-
nation of the Governor to remain firmly at his post in the
Executive chair, at this juncture in the affairs of the State,
an evidence of the same devotion to its welfare which has in