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ciliation with Great Britain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these colonies-and whereas it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience, for the people of these colonies NOW to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any government under the crown of Great Britain; and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said crown should be totally suppressed, and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the people of the colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies-Therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies, and conventions, of the united colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs has been heretofore established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general. "Extract from the minutes, CHA. THOMSON, sec'y. Which was read and thereupon, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take the same into consideration, and report thereon; and Mr. T. Johnson, Mr. Paca, Mr. Goldsborough, Mr. Hollyday, and Mr. Tilghman, were elected by ballot a committee for that purpose.

The proceedings of the committee of observation for Prince George's county on the 16th inst. were read and ordered to lie on

the table.

A petition from the merchants of Dorchester county; a letter from John Hanson, jr. of Frederick county; and a petition from the minute company lately commanded by captain William Henry, praying to be established a company of militia, under their late officers, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table. Adjourned till 3 o'clock.

POST MERIDIEM.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That the muskets made and sent hither by Henry Yost and John Unsold of Frederick county, in consequence of their respective contracts with the council of safety on the 28th day of November and 14th of December last, be returned to them as unfit for service, and that they pay the expense of sending them here.

Mr. T. Johnson brings in and delivers to Mr. President a report

from the committee appointed to consider of the resolution of congress of the 15th instant, and report thereon; which was read and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That the committee of claims estimate and report to the convention a proper allowance to the surgeons and adjutant, who attended the minute companies commanded by the captains James Kent and William Henry, when ordered on duty to the assistance of Northampton and Accomack counties in Virginia.

Ordered, That the petition of the lieutenants Uriah Forrest, William Sprigg Bowie, and Benjamin Brooks, against captain John Gunby, be postponed for consideration till to-morrow.

On reading a second time the petition of the freemen belonging to the 29th battalion, and considering the same, Resolved, that it be dismissed.

On motion, Resolved, That the council of safety be empowered immediately to contract with proper persons to raise the vessels lately sunk in Patapsco river for the preservation of Baltimore town; and to rig and put those vessels in the same state that they were before they were sunk. And the said council of safety for the time being be also empowered to appoint proper persons, not less than three, who on oath shall ascertain and return the dif ference of value, if any, of the same vessels, occasioned by the sinking thereof. And that the same council of safety pay the expenses of raising the said vessels and putting them in order as aforesaid, out of the public money, as well as any actual expenses incurred by the owners for wages and maintenance of the crews of the said vessels, and a reasonable monthly allowance for the time the vessels have been and shall be out of the possession and power of their owners.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and the council of safety of this province, thereupon, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till to-morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

TUESDAY, May 21, 1776.

The

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday. proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Tyler appeared in the house.

Ordered, That the treasurer of the western shore pay to captain William Henry five hundred and forty-four pounds fifteen shillings and six pence, to discharge the pay and subsistence of his minute company.

The convention took into their consideration the report from the committee appointed to report on the resolution of congress of the 15th instant, and thereupon came to the following resolutions.

Resolved unanimously, That the people of this province have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police of this province.

Resolved unanimously, That it is the opinion of this convention, that this convention hath ample power to draw the whole force of this province into action against the armed force that is, or may be employed to carry into execution the several unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British parliament for laying taxes in America, to enforce the collection of those taxes, and for altering and changing the constitution and internal police of some of the united colonies.

Resolved unanimously, That this province has hitherto exerted itself, and will upon all occasions continue to exert itself, with cheerfulness and alacrity, in the common cause, agreeable to the faith pledged in the union of the colonies and if it shall appear to this province necessary to enter into a further compact with the other colonies for the preservation of the constitutional rights of America, this province will enter into such further engagement for that purpose.

Resolved unanimously, That this convention, by a resolution of the 15th day of this instant, hath made sufficient provision to prevent a necessity for any person within this province now taking the oaths for the support of government under the crown of Great Britain, and that it is the opinion of this convention, that it is not necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said crown should be now totally suppressd in this province, and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the people.

Resolved, That the honorable Matthew Tilghman, Esq., and Thomas Johnson, jun., Robert Alexander, Samuel Chase, Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, Thomas Stone, and John Rogers, Esquires, deputies now re-elected by ballot to represent this province in congress, be, and they or any three or more of them are, empowered to represent this province in congress until the end of the next session of convention, as fully as they might, until the end of this session of convention have done the same, under their former appointment.

Resolved unanimously, That as this convention is firmly persuaded that a re-union with Great Britain on constitutional principles would most effectually secure the rights and liberties, and increase

the strength and promote the happiness of the whole empire, objects which this province hath ever had in view, the said deputies are bound and directed to govern themselves by the instructions given to them by this convention in its session of December last, in the same manner as if the said instructions were particularly repeated.

Agreeable to the order of the day the convention proceeded to take into consideration the petition of lieutenant Uriah Forrest, preferred on behalf of himself and lieutenants William Sprigg Bowie, and Benjamin Brooks, setting forth, that from the conduct of their captain, John Gunby, of the second independent company of regular troops, they had cause to suspect his zeal for the rights and liberties of America, and praying to be removed from said company; and on hearing and considering the proofs and allegations offered, as well by the petitioners as the said John Gunby, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this convention that the said captain John Gunby, far from having given any just cause to suspect his zeal for the rights and liberties of America, hath by his conduct manifested a laudable zeal in defence of the rights and liberties of America in general, and this province in particular.

Resolved, therefore, that the said petition be rejected.
Mr. Bond has leave of absence for a few days.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the late intercepted letters to governor Eden, the proceedings of the continental congress, and of the council of safety of this province, being read, Ordered, That the same be referred for further consideration till to-morrow.

The order of the day for taking into consideration the proceeding of the committee of Calvert county, on the complaint of Joseph Wilkinson against James Weems, was referred for consideration till to-morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Potter. The proceedings of yesterday were read.

The committee for that purpose appointed, bring in and deliver to Mr. President, a report on the proposals of Henry Hollingsworth, to manufacture gun barrels; also a report on the terms offered by Elisha Winters of Chestertown, in Kent county, to manufacture fire arms, which were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

The proceedings of the committee of Baltimore county, on the

conduct of Alexander M'Gee, a petition from Joseph Renshaw of Baltimore county, and a petition from the freeholders and associators of Sassafras neck, Cecil county, were severally read and ordered to lie on the table.

The convention taking into consideration the resolutions of Saturday last on the charge against Samuel Purviance, jun., of Baltimore town,

Resolved, That Samuel Purviance, jun., be called before this convention, and be informed by Mr. President of the resolutions had on Saturday last on the articles of charge against him, and further, that this convention highly disapprove and condemn his conduct in usurping the power to direct the operations of the military force of this province, and in using his character of chairman, and engaging the countenance and promising the protection and indemnity of the committee, without the orders of the committee, assembled as such. That it appears to this convention, that the said Samuel Purviance in his usurpation of the power to direct the military force of this province, was considerably influenced by a person not residing in this province, nor having any interest or property therein, and that it would be of the most dangerous tendency to the peace of this province, and to the safety and security of the good people thereof, to suffer any person or persons, other than those entrusted with the proper authority by this province, and more especially such as do not reside nor have any interest therein, to interfere in the direction of the internal affairs, civil or military, of the said province. That this convention hath no intention or desire to prevent any person from freely examining into the conduct of the convention, or any other public body within this province, or into the conduct of any individuals thereof, or to exercise his judgment, or to communicate his sentiments as to the abilities or fitness of any man to fill the office to which he is appointed. That it is necessary for the purpose of filling the places of highest trust with the best and most approved characters in the community, and for the preservation of public liberty, that there should be such free investigations. But that it is equally necessary for maintaing order, that the public bodies should not be wantonly and licentiously traduced by misrepresentations of them and their conduct, to those especially who stand high in the present system of authority or command in America. That if the representations of the said Samuel Purviance concerning the convention and council of safety to the president of the congress and general Lee were true, such representations could not be serviceable to the public, because neither the president of the congress nor general Lee could

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