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eral Government, for the purpose of erecting neces-
sary public buildings in the City of Washington, for
the accommodation of the Federal Government,
Resolved, That when it is remembered that this ad-
vance was made at a time .when the Government of
the United States was embarrassed by heavy in-
debtedness and deeply depressed credit, so much
so that her best securities were worth in the
market but little more than one fifth of their nominal
value, and that consequently it was next to impossi-
ble for them to obtain the requisite pecuniary means
for the accomplishment of the purpose contemplated,
it becomes apparent that the advance was made by
Maryland in a spirit of patriotic devotion to the Un-
ion and to the general welfare, and that she was ma-
king, and did make, a large sacrifice of pecuniary
interest, which will be very far from being fully re-
imbursed to her by the repayment now of the princi-
pal sum with the interest.
Resolved, That having made this advance originally
in the generous spirit evinced by the circumstances
under which it was made, the State of Maryland felt,
though after needing its return, that it did not become
her to demand it until the Federal Government had
been freed from the indebtedness which had made the
advance necessary, however graceful and becoming
it might have been in that Government to have made
an earlier tender of reimbursement.
Resolved, That no such voluntary tender on the
the part of the obliged parly being made, and
the United States having been for several years re-
lieved from all indebtedness, and possessed of over-
flowing abundance in their Treasury, the State of
Maryland felt herself constrained to make the call
she did by the resolutions of her Legislature which
were passed in 1842, as before mentioned, and which
call, not having been properly responded to, is
now renewed by this Legislature, as it has been
several times before, but ineffectually, by the special
agents of the State, but which this Legislature hopes
the Honorable Congress will not leave any further oc-
casion for them or their successors to renew.
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to trans-
mit to each of the representatives from this State in
the two houses of the Congress of the United States
a copy of these resolutions, in order that they may
in due form, and with all becoming respect, be laid
before those honorable bodies.
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