vation, to whom it belonged to inquire into and report the facts of every case of alleged or suspected breach of the association; and others, Committees of Correspondence, who were empowered to convene county meetings, and were charged with the duty of keeping up a correspondence with the other counties. These regulations were attended with the happiest results. Public feeling, which may sometimes run to riot under the impulse of the best causes, was constantly checked and purified by its operation through these channels; and its dispensations were attended with order and harmony. In this mode the association was sustained in this province until July, 1775; and the relations with the other colonies were kept up, during this interval, by a Provincial Committee of Correspondence, and by the continued appointment of delegates to the General Congress. (30) In the latter, the most implicit confidence was reposed. It has been seen that the instructions to the delegates appointed by the first convention, contemplated only a system of opposition operating upon the commercial connexion of the colonies with the mother country; but those given by the ensuing conventions of December, 1774, and April, 1775, left them free from all restrictions. The former clothed the delegates with general authority "to agree to all such measures as Congress might deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances:" which was accompanied, in those of April, with the express declaration of the confidence of the convention "in the wisdom and prudence of the delegates, that they would not proceed to the last ex

(30) Messrs. Tilghman, Johnson, Goldsborough, Paca, and Chase, the delegates to Congress appointed by the first convention in June, 1774, appear to have been charged with conducting the correspondence with other colonies. But at the session of the Convention in December following, the latter duty was confided to a distinct committee, styled "The Provincial Committee of Correspondence." The persons then appointed to constitute this new committee were, Matthew Tilghman, (who seems to have been the patriarch of the colony, at this eventful period,) John Hall, Samuel Cbase, Thomas Johnson, Junr., Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Charles Carroll, barrister, and William Paca. The delegates to Congress were appointed for one congress next succeeding the convention at which they were appointed. The gentlemen appointed by the first Convention were continued as such during this period, and to them were added in December, 1774, John Hall and Thomas Stone.

tremity, unless in their judgments they should be convinced that such a measure was indispensably necessary for the safety of their common liberties and privileges." The instructions were accompanied with the solemn pledge, that the province would carry into execution, to the utmost of its power, all measures recommended by the General Congress.

hostilities.

Yet even at this early period, when the nation was resting, with hopes of success, upon this mode of resistance, we discoPreparations for ver, in the proceedings of the convention, that they were already contemplating the probable necessity of one more serious, and were preparing the public mind, and organizing the power of the province, in anticipation of its coming. In one of their resolves, at December session, 1774, they announced the determination "that if the late act of parliament relative to the Massachusetts-Bay, shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force in that colony; or if the assumed power of parliament to tax the colonies shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force in that or any other colony, in in such case this province would support such colony to the utmost of their power." The preparatives to meet this engagement were not neglected. The planters generally were requested to devote themselves to the culture of flax, hemp, and cotton, and to the preservation of their flocks for the manufacture of woollens. All persons between the ages of 15 and 60 were recommended to form themselves into companies, to equip themselves with arms, and to engage in military exercises. It was also enjoined upon the committees of the several counties, to raise, by subscription, or in some other voluntary mode, a specified sum of money for their respective counties, to be expended in the purchase of arms and ammunition, which were to be preserved under the direction of the committees. From the proceedings in the counties, which have been preserved, these injunctions appear to have been obeyed with promptness and alacrity. Military associations were every where formed; arms and ammunition were collected; liberty was the watchword; and citizen soldiers were arming for the defence. All gave dreadful note of preparation for the crisis which soon arrived. (31)

(31) Eddis, writing from Maryland in March, 1775, has given us a lively picture of the transactions of this period. "From one extremity of this

In the remonstrances of the colonies, and the preparations which ensued, any but an infatuated ministry might have learned Adoption of a the lesson of forbearance. The calm, settled, stern Provisional go. vernment. determination, which pervaded this nation, even careless observation might have distinguished, from the faction of the few, or the temporary excitement of the many. When such a spirit rouses to resistance, menaces no longer awe, and even victory does not bring submission. Yet were the English ministry either unaware of the existence of this spirit, or incapable of appreciating its character. The efforts of Chatham, of Burke, and of Fuller, were all unavailing to arrest its mad career in the course of colonial oppression: propositions for reconciliation, which offered honorable retreat from its measures, were rejected with disdain: injury was added to injury; and invective and insult were the arguments addressed to a free and gallant people. The proceedings of the English parliament, during the winter of 1774-'75, dispelled all hopes of speedy and peaceable reconciliation. It was now manifest, that force must be the arbiter: yet the colonists shrank not from this dread appeal. In the battle of Lexington, the first blow was struck; and, on the instant, started up in arms the American nation for the defence of its liberties. Under the direction of its Congress, its army was organized, Washington was their leader, and hostilities be

continent to the other, every appearance indicates approaching hostilities. The busy voice of preparation echoes through every settlement; and those who are not zealously infected with the general frenzy, are considered as enemies to the cause of liberty; and, without regard to any peculiarity of situation, are branded with opprobrious appellations, and pointed out as victims to public resentiment. Very considerable subscriptions have been made in every quarter for the relief of the Bostonians; large sums have likewise been collected for the purchase of arms and ammunition; and persons of all denominations are required to associate under military regulations, on pain of the severest censure."

In another of July, 1775, referring more particularly to the condition of this province, he remarks-"The inhabitants of this province are incorporated under military regulations, and apply the greater part of their time to the different branches of discipline. In Annapolis, there are two complete companies; in Baltimore, seven; and in every district of this province, the majority of the people are actually under arms: almost every hat is decorated with a cockade; and the churlish drum and fife are the only music of the times."

gan. The period of probation had passed away; and with it now departed all the remaining energies of the old forms of government. Tolerated in their helpless inefficiency, whilst there was yet hope of reconciliation through pacific measures, they had retained the form of power without its substance. They were now sinecures, occupying powers which were wanted by the colonies for their own defence; and the people were prepared to shake them off as incumbrances. In some of the colonies, the inhabitants cast themselves upon, and were directed by, the advice of Congress, in the adoption of new governments: that of Maryland was re-organized by its people upon their own responsibility. At the convention of July, 1775, a temporary form of government was established in this province, which endured until the adoption of the present state government; as the precursor of which, it still claims our remembrance.

The objects and obligations of that government were fully disclosed in the following Articles of Association, which formed its basis:

Provisional Go

"The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British government, to raise a revenue from the property of the coSynopsis of the lonists without their consent, on the gift, grant, and vernment. disposition of the commons of Great Britain; the arbitrary, and vindictive statutes, passed under color of punishing a riot, to subdue by military force, and by famine, the Massachusetts-Bay; the unlimited power assumed by parliament to alter the charter of that province, and the constitution of all the colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties, and properties of the colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the war against the people of the Massachusetts-Bay, followed by General Gage's proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the inhabitants of the united colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors, are sufficient causes to arm a free people in defence of their liberty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base submission or manly opposition to uncontrollable tyranny. The Congress chose the latter, and for the express purpose of securing and defending the united colonies, and preserving them in safety, against all attempts to carry the above mentioned acts

into execution by force of arms, resolved, that the said colonies be immediately put into a state of defence, and now supports, at the joint expense, an army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks, of a disappointed and exasperated

enemy.

We, therefore, inhabitants of the province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by arms to the British troops, employed to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the charter and constitution of the Massachusetts-Bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties, and properties of the subjects in the united colonies. And we do unite and associate, as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will, to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition, carrying on, as well by arms, as by the continental association restraining our commerce.

And as in these times of public danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain on constitutional principles is effected, (an event, we most ardently wish, may soon take place,) the energy of government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained may be productive of anarchy and confusion; we do in like manner unite, associate, and solemnly engage in maintenance of good order, and the public peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition; and to defend with our utmost power all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such as shall be adjudged by the civil magistrate, the continental congress, our convention, council of safety, or committees of observation."

To procure the general adoption of this Association, copies of it were to be transmitted to the counties, and to be borne about to the inhabitants for subscription by persons specially appointed in each county, for that purpose, by its committee of observaThe subscribed copies were then to be returned to the

tion.