Britain had been kept too busy with France to pay much attention to them.

Mr. Carroll was able to talk to the people not only of their special grievances but he was able to instruct them also in the deeper and more subtle science of government on which they were to build a new structure of liberty, equality and justice. He showed that as they had no part in selecting the English Parliament, the English Parliament should have no part in governing and taxing them. This was a proposition so simple that the most illiterate could understand it, and cheer for it; and Mr. Carroll with his great learning had the power to a remarkable degree of using simple language and making himself clear to the plain people.

Meetings of indignation and meetings for defense and protection were now of frequent occurrence. The Non-Importation Association was permanently organized and received the support of nearly all citizens; and this association was broadened in its scope and became the nucleus of the general organization in behalf of the patriot cause. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was now a constant worker, and in all things had the hearty endorsement and coöperation of his father. His advice was sought, given and followed on many occasions. He became the warm friend, and trusted confident of Samuel Chase, William Paca, John Hall and other leaders.

In November, Charles Carroll of Carrollton was named as one of a committee of forty-four to see that the resolution of Congress against imports was carried out. He was also named as one of a committee of four on correspondence for the city and county, his associates in this work being Samuel Chase, Wm. Paca and Thos. Johnson who with the representatives of the other counties were to take charge of the affairs of the Province. It was resolved that the

264627B

members of the previous assembly together with Charles Carroll of Carrollton should attend the next provincial meeting and have full power to represent the city and county. Mr. Carroll attended this convention thus starting on that brilliant career that has had few if any equals, in our politics.

In the tangled state of affairs of the Province, growing out of the complex question of whether or not there was a Lord Proprietor and if so who he was, this convention became the authoritative body of the colony.

Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Chas. Carroll, barrister, Thomas Johnson and Samuel Chase, represented Anne Arundel County in the Council of Safety composed of ten leading citizens of the Province which met in 1775 in Chestertown on the eastern shore. This Council of Safety was the most important body that had been constituted in the Province and all looked to it for protection and guidance. The spirit of revolt was strengthened by every communication from the other colonies. The news of the Boston resistance to the landing of the taxed tea had met a cordial indorsement here but in spite of this and of the fact that Maryland had driven from her shores three cargoes of taxed tea as early as 1769 the brig Peggy Stewart arrived Oct. 15, 1774, with 2,320 pounds of tea. Mr. Anthony Stewart, a resident of Annapolis, a highly respected and wealthy citizen, and a member of the Non-Importers Association owned the brig. Mr. Stewart had paid the duty on this small amount of the "detested weed " to prevent detention of the vessel. The people were disgusted and felt insulted at this act of submission to the will of the English Parliament. A public meeting was called, resolutions passed denunciatory of Mr. Stewart and Williams the consignee. Both Mr. Stewart and the two Williams brothers apologized and agreed to burn the tea.

But the indignation was so great that upon the matter being referred to Charles Carroll of Carrollton he decided that vessel and tea be burned, and with his own hand Mr. Stewart set fire to the brig and she burned to the water's edge in presence of the infuriated crowd.

Another serious grievance of the colonies was the navigation laws. Great Britain had so managed things that the colonies had to do their trading with the mother country. Why should her colonies enrich the merchants of Spain, Holland or Portugal? She had goods to sell and money to spend, so trade with England. All the laws were framed with this idea in mind. The laws provided that no sugar, tobacco, cotton, indigo, ginger or dye woods should be carried to any ports but those of England. These became known as the "enumerated articles." They must be sold only to English merchants who in turn would sell to the merchants of other countries. In this way England was building up her trade with the whole world and the colonists felt that she was doing much of it at their expense. Articles from Holland, Spain, France or other countries than England must not be brought into the colonies. Such as were brought had to be smuggled in. Smuggling was a very respectable and highly profitable line of work as long as it was possible to escape the authorities. Charles Carroll of Carrollton had studied the odious Navigation Laws and was familiar with every phase of their oppressive provisions. He could explain all their intricacies and injustices, and could do it in a way that every merchant and every laborer would understand.

CHAPTER X

MEETING AND WORK OF THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

In the Spring of 1774 the correspondence among the various committees of the colonies resulted in an arrangement for holding a Continental Congress. Each colony was to send representatives; just how many were to be sent and how they were to be selected was left to the colony itself. Connecticut being a wholly patriot colony took the lead and on the 13th of June authorized its Committee of Correspondence to select suitable persons.

Others followed quickly and by the middle of August all the colonies except Georgia, Florida and Canada had selected delegates.

The Connecticut delegates being the first named, suggested to the others that Philadelphia be the place of meeting and the word was passed around in the correspondence that the Congress meet in Philadelphia on the 5th of September.

Charles Carroll of Carrollton was on the committee that selected the delegates from Maryland, but did not permit himself to be made a delegate, promising to go there any way and assist by his advice and presence. He was already occupying so many places of public trust that he doubtless felt that he could not satisfactorily fill these, and at the same time serve as a 'member of Congress.

Philadelphia was the metropolis of the continent; a populous and beautiful city scattered along the Delaware River for the distance of a mile; its white houses with green shutters presenting a pretty and impressive sight.