- Maryland Delegation
The Peace Conference of 1861
In February 1861, following the inauguration of Lincoln and the secession of seven states from the Union, a convention of 131 politicians from the remaining states met in Washington, D. C., at the Willard Hotel. They aimed to prevent civil war, and the secession of further states, by proposing an amendment to the Constitution that would protect the existence and practice of slavery, within certain parameters, by enshrining them in constitutional law. An amendment was eventually agreed and recommended to Congress, where it was not passed.
Maryland Delegation
This is one of the 22 delegations in the convention, accounting for 7 of 138 people who took part.
Members (7):
| Name | Visualize | Details | Delegations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augustus W. Bradford | Visualize | None | Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |
| John W. Crisfield | Visualize | (November 8, 1806 — January 12, 1897) John Woodland Crisfield, a Representative from Maryland; born near Chestertown, Kent County, Md., November 8, 1806; was educated at Washington College, Chestertown; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Princess Anne, Somerset County; member of the State house of representatives in 1836; elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1850; member of the peace conference of 1861 held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war; elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861-March 3, 1863); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the Thirty-eighth Congress; resumed the practice of law; delegate to the Union National Convention at Philadelphia in 1866; located and founded the town of Crisfield, Somerset County, Md., in 1866; instrumental in building the Eastern Shore Railroad and served as president; died in Princess Anne, Md., on January 12, 1897; interment in Manokin Presbyterian Cemetery. [Source: “Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774 - Present,” available at https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C000907] | Maryland Delegation (The Road to Civil War) , Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |
| John F. Dent | Visualize | None | Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |
| William T. Goldsborough | Visualize | None | Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |
| Benjamin C. Howard | Visualize | None | Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |
| Reverdy Johnson | Visualize | (21 May, 1796 -- 10 February, 1876) Johnson was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Annapolis, Md., Johnson studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1815. While practicing in Baltimore, Johnson was a member of the State senate from 1821 to 1829. Johnson was elected to the United States Senate as a Whig and served from March 4th, 1845 to March 7th, 1849 when he accepted an appointment as Attorney General. Afterwards, Johnson was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4th, 1863 to July 10th, 1868. [Source: 'Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774- Present', available at http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp] | Maryland Delegation (United States Fifteenth Amendment) , Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) , Maryland Delegation (United States Fourteenth Amendment & The Civil Rights Act of 1866) , Maryland Delegation (United States Thirteenth Amendment 1863-65) |
| J. Dixon Roman | Visualize | None | Maryland Delegation (This negotiation) |