President Davis to the Marvland Commissioners.
--The subjoined admirable reply of
President Davis to the
Maryland Commissioners, is published in the
Baltimore papers:
Monthomert, 25 May, 1861.
Gentlemen — I receive with sincere pleasure the assurance that the
State of Maryland sympathizes with the people of these States in their determined vindication of the right of self government, and that the people of
Maryland ‘"are culisted 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 day, a State whose people, habits and institutions 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 existing 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 has presented itself since the establishment of its independence.
In deference to the
State of Maryland, however, I again assert, in the most emphaticterms, that its sincere and earnest desire is 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 attempts of this Government to enter into negotiations with that of the
United States were attended 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 sovereign State to the same self-action and self-government is necessarily acknowledged.
Hence conquests of other States are wholly inconsistent with the fundamental principles, and subversive of the very origination of this Government.
Its policy cannot but be peace — peace with all nations and people.
Very respectfully,
Jeff. Davis.
Messrs. McLaig,
Yellott and
Harding, Committee of Maryland Legislature.
