Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-04
Peace Resolutions of the MARYLAND
T.aubaEa fy,na


WHEREAS, III the judgment Of the General
Assembly Of Maryland, the war now waged
by the Government Of the United Slates upon
the people Of the Confederate States, is uucon-
stituuonalin its origin, purposes and conduct;
repugnant 10 civilization and sound policy
subyersive Of the free principles upon which
Federal Union was founded, and certain to re-
suit in tho hopeless and bloody overthrow Of
our existing institutions; and
WHEREAS, the people Of Maryland, while re-
cognizng the obligation of their State, rs a
member Of the Union, to submit in good faith
to the exercise Of all the legal and constitu-
tionsl powers Of the General Government. and
10 join as one man in fighting its authorized
battles, do reverence, nevertheless, the great
American principle Of selGgovernment, and
sympathize deeply with their Southern breth-
rem IN their noble and manly determination TO
uphold and defend the same and
WHEREAS, not merely on their own account
and to turn away from their own soil the ca
lamites OF civil war, but for the blessed sake
OF humanity, aud to avoid The wanton she'd
ding OF fraternal blood, in miserable contest
winch can bring nothing with it but sorrow,
shame aud desolation, the people Of Maryland
are enlisted, with their whole hearts, on the
sldo OF reconciliation and peace; now, there.
fore, il is hereby
ResolDea Jy the General Assca,Jiy of Brry-
tand, That the State Of Maryland owes IL ia
her own self-respeet and her respect for the
constitution, not less than to her deepest and
most honorable sympathes, to register this her
solemn protest against the war which the Fe-
deral Government has declared upon the Con-
tederate States of the South, and our sister
and neighbor Virginia, and to announce her
resolute determination TO have no part or lot,
directly or indirectly, in its prosecution.
ResoIred, That the State OF Maryland earn
estly and anxiously desires the restoration OF
Peace between the belligerent sections Of the
country, and the President, authorities, and
people Of the Confederate States having over
and over again, officially and unofficially, de-
clared that they are willing to throw down
the sword, the instant that the sword now
drawn against them shall be sheathed, the Sc
majors ana Delegates Of Maryland do beseech
ana implore the President Of the United States
10 accept the olive branch which is thus held
out to him and, in the name Of God md hui
manity, to cease this unholy and most wretch
ed and Improbable strife, al least until the
assembling Of Congress in Washington shall
have given time for the prevalence Of cooler
ana better counsels.
HesofDed, That the State of MARYLAND desires
the peaceful and immediate recognition Of the
Independence Of the Confederate States, and
hNiNNs ElNVo HUI Sblulil assent tnpreNntO, as a
member of the MISUNDERSTANDING the pro-
found conviction that the willing return Of the
Southern people to their former Federal rela-
TONS Is thing beyond hope, and that the at
tempt to coerce them will only add slaughter
and hate to impossibiity
heoLped, That the present military occupa-
ton OF Maryland, being for purposes, in the
opinion Of this Legislature, in fragrant viola
ton of the Constitution, the General Assembly
Of the State, in the name Of her people, does
hereby protest against the same, and against
the oppressive restrictions and illegalities with
which IT is attended; calling upon all good
citizens, at the same time, and in the most
earnest and authoritative manner, to abstain
from all violent and unlawful interference. Of
svery sort with the troops in transit through
eur territory or quartered among us, and pa
uently and peacefully to leave to time and rca-
son the ultimate and certain re-establishment
and vlndieation of the right.
Reso1tcd, That, under existing eircumstan-
cess il is inexpedient to call Sovereign Com
vention OF the State at this time, or to take any
measure FOR tho immediate organization or
Hrming Of the militia