Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-11-29
Peace Resolutions of the Maryland

!
| WHEREAS, in the judgment Of the General
Assembly of Maryland, the war now waged
by the Government of the United States upon
the people Of the Confederate States, is uncon-
stitutional in its origin, purposes and conduct
repugnant to civilization and sound policy /:
subversive Of the free principles upon which
| Federal Union was founded, and certain TO re-
suit in the hopeless and bloody overthrow Of
our existing institutions; and
WHEREAS, the people of Maryland, while re-
cognizing the obligation of their State, us a
member Of the Union, to submit in good faith
TO the exercise of all the legal and constitu-
tional powers Of the General Government and
to join as one man in fighting its authorized
battles, do reverence nevertheless, the great
American principle of selRgovernment 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 Nc blessed sake
Of humanity, and to avoid tie wanton she'd
ding Of fraternal blood, in q miserable contest
which can bring nothing with it but sorrow,
shame and desolation, the people of Maryland
are enlisted, with their whole hearts, on the
side of reconciliation and peace; now, there
fore, it is hereby
ResolUed by The General assembly Of Nary
land, That the State of Maryland owes it to
her own selt-respoct 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 Fee
deral Government has declared upon the Con-
federate 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.
ReeoIped Tint thu Stota ~ Marv1ond aor,
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 unolficially, 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 and Delegates of Maryland do beseecl
and implore the President of the United States
to accept the olive branch which is thus held
out to.him and, in the name of God and hu.
manity, to cease this unhoy and most wretch.
ed and improbable strife, at least until the
assembling of Congress in 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 Confederate States, ant
! hereby gives her cordial assent thereunto, as
member of the Union-entertain the pro
found conviction that the willing return of tn,
Southern people to their former Federal rela
tons is a thing beyond hope, and that the at
tempt to coerce them will only add slaughter
and hate to impossibilty.
Resoloed, That the present military occupa
ton of Maryland, being for purposes in tn,
opinion of this Legislature in fragrant viola
ton of the Constitution, the General Assembly
Of the State, in the name of her people, doe
hereby protest against the same and agains
the oppressive restrictions and ilegalities Will
which it is attended calling upon all gooC
citizens, at the same time, and in the mos
earnest and authoritative manner, TO abstain
from all violent and unlawful interference, o
every sort, with the troops in transit through
our territory or quartered among us, and pa
tiently and peacefully to leave to time and rea
son the ultimate and certain re-establshmen
and vindcation of the right
Resolced, That, under existing circumstan
ces, it is inexpedient to call Sovereign Con
vention of the State at this time or to take any
measure for the immediate organization OF
arming of the militia.