Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-02-21
Peace Resolutions of the Maryland
Legislature.
JUNE SESSION, 1861.

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-
stitulional in its origin, purposes and conduct;
repugnant TO civilization and sound policy
subversye 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-
cognizng the obligation Of their State, MS
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 selfgovernment, and
sympathize deeply with their Southern breth-
ren 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
families Of civil war, but for the blessed sake
of humanity, and to avoid the wanton she'd
ding Of fraternal blood, in a 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
Resolged By the General assembly If Nary
land, That the State of Maryland owes il to
her own self-respect and her respect for the
constitution, not less than to her deepest and
most honorable sympathies, TO register this her
solemn protest against the war which the Fee
deral Government has declared upon the Con-
lederate States Of the South, and our sister
and neighb0r, Virginia, and 10 announce her
resolute determination TO have no part or lot,
directly OR indirectly, in its prosecution
Resolced, That the State Of Maryland earn
esty and anxiously desires the restoration Of
Peace between the belgerent sections Of the
country, and the President, authorities and
people Of the Confederate States, having, over
and over again, officially and unollcialy, 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 beseech
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 unholy 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.
Rcs0lred, That the State of Maryland desires
the peaceful and immediate recognition Of the
independence of the Confederate States, and
hereby gives her cordial assent thereunto, as a
member Of the Union-enieraiuing 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
Resolrea That the present military oecupa-
ton Of Maryland, being for purposes, in the
opinion Of this Legislature, IN tlagrant 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 ii is attended; calling upon all good
citizens, at the same time, and in the most
earnest and authoritative manner, 10 abstain
from all violent and unlawful interference, OF
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-establishment
and vindication of the right
Resotped, That, under existing circuustan-
ces, it is inexpedient to call Sovereign Con-
vention of the State at this time, or to take any
measure FOR the immediate organization or
arming Of the militia.