EESOLUTIONS. 125

which are now making for the abolition of Slavery in the District of
Columbia. The agitation of the subject is calculated to disturb the
relation of master and slave within this State; and the success of the.
agitators in this scheme would strike a serious blow at the interest of
the people of Maryland, and impress them with the belief that the Con-
gress of the United States have not a due regard for their rights, insti-
tutions and feelings.

Resolved, That the Governor of this State, be requested to send

copies of these resolutions to the President of the United States, and
to the Senators and Representatives from this State, with the request,
that they shall lay them before the Honorable Bodies of which they are

members.

NUMBER 14.

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That all com-
mittees whose duties require their absence from the seat of Government,
shall be allowed by the committee on Claims the amount of their actual
expenses, and no extra per diem nor mileage as heretofore.

NUMBER 15.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Delegates of Maryland,
That the Constitution of the United States, so admirably framed by the
wisdom of our forefathers, is recognized by the people of Maryland, as
the charter of their liberties, the foundation, support and protection of
their rights, and the main source of all their prosperity; that they are
at all times ready cordially to renew the expression of their devotion to
its principles, that they unreservedly acknowledge the supremacy of all
laws made in pursuance thereof, and repudiate every construction of
that instrument which would destroy its efficiency, its very existence,
indeed, by the assertion of any right, expressed, implied, or reserved in
the .States, to secede from the Union ; and although they consider the
.right of revolution, for justifiable cause, inherent in every people, they
unhesitatingly declare that they know no existing cause to justify
the people of the United States, in attempting the overthrow of their
Government.

2. Resolved, That the duty and interest of the people of Maryland,
alike forbid that they should take part in the infatuated and suicidal
rebellion which now seeks to separate the States of this Union, and to
destroy that great Nationality which has made us prosperous at home
and respected abroad; which separation, if accomplished, must result
in the most serious disasters to all the States, but, from the peculiarity
of our geographical position, can bring to our own State nothing but
irretrievable ruin.

3. Resolved, That the present unhappy and fratricidal war has been
forced upon the Government of the United States, by the seditious and
unlawful acts of those who have attempted its overthrow by violence,
and the State of Maryland will cheerfully contribute her proportion of
men and means to sustain the Nation in its struggle for existence, so