into French and the inhabitants were exasperated at their con"Oh the perfidious, double-faced Congress. Let us bless and obey our Benevolent Prince, whose humanity is consistent, and extends to all religions; let us abhor all who would seduce us from our loyalty and whose addresses like their resolves, are destructive of their own objects." The bishop and clergy were loyal to the home government and threatened those who broke the oath of allegiance with spiritual punishments. The troops had neither money nor stores and foraged on the country people. The continental money was worthless. Disease broke out and decimated the army. The Commission recommended that additional troops be sent with ample stores and a supply of hard money. Congress was unable to carry out the recommendations and the committee was discharged. Yet the embassy bore some fruit. The Canadians remained neutral and two battalions known as the Congress' Own Regiments were recruited from the natives and served bravely until the conclusion of the war.

On his return from Canada, Carroll found that the Maryland convention during his absence had instructed its delegates to Congress: "That a reunion 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 of its session of December last in the same manner as if said instructions were herein repeated." Carroll and Chase were astonished and chagrined at hearing the news, as both were champions of the cause of independence. A new convention met during the following month and through the efforts of the two sterling patriots the previous resolutions were rescinded and the delegates instructed: "To concur with the other united colonies or a majority of them, in declaring the united colonies free and independent states, provided the sole and exclusive right of the regulation of the internal government and policy of this colony be reserved to the people thereof."

When new delegates to Congress were chosen, Carroll was selected to represent his native state. He took his seat on July 18, and was immediately assigned to a committee of three to examine and report on the interrupted correspondence between Lord Howe and the governors of Maryland and Virginia. The next

day he was appointed to the War Board with such other sterling patriots as John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Harrison, James Wilson and Edward Rutledge. "The member chosen is Mr. Carroll, an excellent member whose education, manners and application to business and to study, did honor to his fortune, the first in America." (Diary of John Adams.) Carroll was also named as a member of the Committee on Foreign Applications to examine the qualifications of foreign officers seeking commissions in the Continental Army. The Declaration of Independence had been adopted on July 4, 1776 and signed by President John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson. On July 19, it was voted that a copy be made on parchment and signed by the members of Congress. On August 2, the document was signed by fifty-two delegates, Charles Carroll of Carrollton being the first signer. The defeat at Brandywine and seizure of Philadelphia caused Congress to flee for safety and Carroll accompanied it to Lancaster and thence to York. The surrender of Burgoyne brought encouragement to the patriotic cause, and Carroll wrote a letter of congratulation to the Secretary of the War Board.

The winters of 1777 and 1778 were periods of gloom for the struggling colonists. The army at Valley Forge and White Marsh suffered from cold and hunger. Supplies were abundant but the hostility of the loyalists and the failure of the commissary department made delivery difficult. Thousands were naked and shoeless, and only the indomitable spirit of Washington kept the army intact. Congress appointed a committee to visit the camps and report on the conditions. Charles Carroll was added to this committee. A sub-committee was appointed to visit Valley Forge. Carroll remained for three months at the camp, consulting with the Commander-in-Chief, and made a long and comprehensive report to his committee and Congress. As a result of this report, the extraordinary powers conferred on Washington at the beginning of hostilities were renewed.

Although Washington had displayed wonderful skill in opposing a veteran army with his small and ill-equipped forces, there were some who ridiculed his "Fabian Policy" and others who longed to supersede him with a more aggressive general. The loss of New York, the retreat through the Jerseys, the capture of Philadelphia, were adduced as evidence of his incompetency and

the necessity of choosing a new leader. The War Board was enlarged by the addition of Gates and Mifflin, the former becoming chairman and thus outranking Washington. Even loyal and true men like John Adams criticised his policy and lack of initiative. Gates, the pseudo hero of Saratoga, was an active candidate to succeed him. A sluggish and incompetent soldier, he had seized all the honors of the northern campaign although the victory was won through the headlong valor and cool determination of Arnold and Morgan. Carroll and Franklin were the staunchest friends of Washington during these dark days. Carroll on the floor of Congress opposed the promotion of Conway— a general after whom the scheme was called "The Conway Cabal," and proposed to commission none but competent men from the hordes of foreign soldiers seeking commissions in the army. Baron Steuben was named Inspector General and under his careful training the raw levies developed into sturdy soldiers. The entire conspiracy was revealed to Washington by Carroll, and steps taken to thwart the efforts of the malcontents. The cabal completely collapsed. Conway resigned from the army and the northern laurels of the hero of Saratoga were changed into southern willows on the sanguinary field of Camden. "It was resisted and ultimately defeated by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Morris and Duer." (Scharf, History of Maryland.)

In 1778 Carroll resigned his seat in the Continental Congress. For years he had been a member of the Maryland Assembly and found difficulty in attending the sessions of the national body without neglecting his duty towards his native state. Washington learned the news with dismay, and many of the leading patriots deplored his loss from the councils of Congress. Carroll, however, felt that he owed this allegiance to his own colony to aid in recruiting and equipping the soldiers of the famous Maryland Line. He was a delegate to the Convention which framed the Constitution for the newly created state of Maryland and a member of the Committee to draw up a Bill of Rights and a Constitution. "In the former, the Anglican establishment and all church supremacy were swept away, and all holders of the Christian faith placed on an equal footing." (Brown, Maryland the History of a Palatinate.) The latter provided for a governor, and legislative body, consisting of a senate and a house of delegates. Thus the old Catholic system of toleration founded

by Calvert was restored, every man worshipping God according to the dictates of conscience, and every sect supporting its own churches.

Carroll was the originator of the idea of creating an upper house or senate and was chosen a member of that body. His father, Charles of Annapolis, was nominated by Governor Johnson as one of his councilors, but declined the honor on account of ill health and advancing years. In the senate, Carroll was placed on several important committees. To provide for destitute soldiers; to augment the funds of the national treasury; to arm and equip additional soldiers. He opposed and defeated bills for increasing the pay of members and confiscating the property of British subjects. Maryland refused to sign the Articles of Confederation on account of a dispute with Virginia concerning her claims to western lands. In 1781 her delegates accepted a compromise and entered the confederacy. Carroll, although opposed to the claims of Virginia and New York, urged the adoption of the articles, lest dissension between the states might injure the common cause.

The French Alliance was the turning point of the great struggle. Four French fleets and two armies came to our aid, and ammunition, arms, money and supplies were sent in abundance. Carroll had been educated in France and had spent some time in Paris. He was acquainted with Vergennes and other diplomats, and understood the Gallic character and customs. His long sojourn in London had given him a clear insight into British politics. He knew the strength of the mother country and the bitterness of the Tory leaders and he realized the necessity for an alliance with a country as sympathetic as France. "The friendship or alliance was planned, promoted and consummated by three men, Washington, Franklin and Carroll." (Leonard, Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton.) There is a well-authenticated story that both Washington and Franklin favored the appointment of Carroll as Commissioner to France, but he declined saying it would be neither politic nor advantageous; "I am the one man that must be kept entirely in the background. It must not be known to a single soul that I am personally active in this matter." (Leonard, Life of Charles Carroll of Carrollton.)

The old time prejudice against Catholics was not entirely eradicated and the idea of an alliance with a Catholic country

excited feelings of alarm. John Adams, able, and loyal, John Jay, patriot and jurist, were not immune from the old intolerant spirit, and harmed the cause by blundering and bigoted acts and utterances. Under such circumstances Carroll thought it prudent to decline the appointment. The loyalists endeavored to make political capital from the alliance maintaining that there must be some secret clause in the treaty guaranteeing advantages to the Catholic Church. Rivington's Gazette, the Tory organ of New York, announced that Dominican and Franciscan friars were coming in shiploads provided with all the dreadful instruments of the detested inquisition to overawe and convert the Protestant establishment. Even Arnold attempted to justify his dastardly treason by denouncing, "your mean and profligate Congress, for attending the requiem Mass for Don Juan de Miralles, the Spanish agent who died at Washington's camp at Morristown.

During the early years of the struggle, England cajoled and flattered the Catholics of the kingdom and the colonies to secure their loyalty, yet when the alliance was cemented, politicians and scholars united in denouncing the American patriots as tools of Rome. Under such conditions, Carroll acted with prudence and sagacity. Future events revealed the fallacy of the enemies' claims, and the patriots' foresight. France desired neither territorial expansion nor religious propaganda. When independence was achieved, her task was finished and her armies and fleets were recalled. The closing years of the war were fraught with danger. The paper money had so depreciated in value as to be almost worthless. The army was unpaid, and poorly fed and clothed. The suffering troops mutinied on several occasions and only strict measures restored discipline. English statesmen had predicted this crisis and hoped to end the war through the financial ruin of the colonies.

Washington, although discouraged, had not lost hope. He appealed to Robert Morris, a member of Congress and a successful merchant of Philadelphia, to undertake the monetary redemption of the nation. Carroll, Chase and Morris were the leading figures in the new movement. The Bank of North America was organized and soon financial conditions improved. Laurens obtained a fresh loan from France, wealthy men like Carroll, Chase, Hancock, Jefferson and Wash