1861.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 271

these States in their determined vindication of the right of
self-government, and that the people of Maryland "are en-
listed with their whole hearts on the side of reconciliation
and peace." The people of these Confederate States, not-
withstanding their separation from their late sister, have not
ceased to feel a deep solicitude in her welfare, and to hope
that at no distant clay, a State whose people, habits and in-
stitutions are so closely related and assimilated with theirs,
will seek to unite her fate and fortunes with those of this
Confederacy.

The Government of the Confederate States receive with
respect the suggestion of the State of Maryland that there
should be "a general cessation of hostilities now impending,
until the meeting of Congress, in July next, in order that
said body may, if possible, arrange for an adjustment of ex-
isting troubles, by means of negotiation rather than the
sword," "but is at a loss how to reply, without a repetition of
the language it has used on every possible occasion that 1ms
presented itself, since the establishment of its independence.
In deference to the State of Maryland, however, it again as-
serts, in the most emphatic terms, that its sincere and earn-
est desire is for peace: that whilst the government would
readily entertain any proposition from the government of the
United States tending to a peaceful solution of the pending
difficulties, the recent attempt of this government to enter
into negotiations with that of the United States, were attend-
ed with results which forbid any renewal of proposals from
it to that government.

If any further assurance of the desire of this government
for peace were necessary, it would be sufficient to observe,
that being formed of a confederation of sovereign States, each
acting and deciding for itself the right of every other sover-
eign State to the same self-action and self-government is
necessarily acknowledged. Hence, conquests of oilier States
are wholly inconsistent with the fundamental principles, and
subversive of the very organization of this government. Its
policy cannot be but peace—peace with all nations ami people.
Very Respectfully,

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Messrs. McKaig, Yellott, and Harding, committee of Mary-
land Legislature.

Which was read and adopted.

Mr. Brining submitted the following: