subject are required by law to be communicated
to this Department. An acknowledgement of the
receipt of this communication is requested by
Your Excellency's most obedient servant,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

Certificate.

To all to whom these presents may come greeting :
I certify that annexed is a true copy of a concur-
rent resolution of Congress, entitled Joint Reso-
lution proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
tion of the United States," the original of which
resolution, received to-day, is on file in this De-
partment.
******** In testimony whereof, I, William
*SEAL. * H. Seward, Secretary of State of the

Seal.

****** United States, have hereunto subscribed
my name and caused the seal of the Department
of State to be affixed.

Report of the
Committee.

The Committee have considered the question of
ratification thus submitted to the Legislature of
Maryland with all the careful deliberation which
so important a measure demands.
The State of Maryland has the deepest interest
in the speedy and peaceful restoration of friendly
relations and intercourse between all the States
and sections of the Union.
Her geographical position, her intimate connec-
tions in trade commerce and travel, with all por-
tions of the Union, as well as her patriotic de-
sire for the prosperity and happiness of the whole
country, would induce her to make every possible
sacrifice to promote the great objects of the Federal
Constitution. These are declared to be "to estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide
for the common defence, promote the general wel-
fare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and posterity."