1861.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 155

iously desires the restoration of peace between the belliger-
ent sections of the country ; and the President, authorities
and people of the Confederate States having over and over, of
ficially and unofficially, declared, that they seek only peace
and self-defence and to be let alone, and that they are willing
to throw down the sword, the instant that the sword now
drawn against them shall be sheathed:

The Senators and Delegates of Maryland do fervently be-
seech and implore the President of the United States, to ac-
cept the olive branch which is thus held out to him, and in
the name of God and of humanity, to cease this unholy and
most wretched and unprofitable strife, at least until the as-
sembling of the Congress at Washington shall have given
time for the prevalence of cooler and better counsels.

Resolved, That the State of Maryland desires the peaceful
and immediate recognition of the independence of the Con-
federate States, and hereby gives her cordial consent there-
unto, as a member of the Union, entertaining the profound
conviction that the willing return of the Southern people to
their former federal relations is a thing beyond hope, and
that the attempt to coerce them will only add slaughter and
hate to impossibility.

Resolved, That the present military occupation of Mary-
land, being for purposes which, in the opinion of this Legis-
lature, are in flagrant violation of the Constitution, the Gen-
ral Assembly of the State, in the name of her people, does
hereby protest against the same, against the arbitrary re-
strictions and illegalities with which it is attended, calling
upon all good citizens at the same time, in the most earnest
and authoritative manner, to abstain from all violent and
unlawful interference of every sort, with the troops in transit
through our territory or quartered among us, and patiently
and peacefelly to leave to time and reason the ultimate and
certain re-establishment and vindication of the right.

Resolved, That under existing circumstances it is inexpe-
dient to call a Sovereign Convention of the State at this time,
or to take any measures for the immediate organization for
arming of the militia.

With amendments.

Amendments peoposed:

"And be it further Resolved. That a committee be appoint-
ed to consist of four members of the Senate and four mem-
bers of the House of Delegates, four of which committee (to
be selected bv themselves,) shall, as early as possible, wait
on the President of the United States, at Washington, and
the other four of said committee shall wait on the President
of the Southern Confederacy, for the purpose of lay ing the
foregoing resolutions before them, and that said committee