1775. Refolutions of the Freeholders of Baltimore County. 17. proceedings be immediately printed At a General Meeting of the Freeholders, Gentlemen, Merchants, Tradef men, and other Inhabitants of BALTIMORE COUNTY, held at the Court Heufe of the faid County on Tuesday the 31 May, 1774. Capt. CHARLES RIDGLEY, Chairman. I. RESOLVED, that it is the opi. nion this meeting that the town of Bofton is now fuffering in the common caufe of America, and that it is the duty of every colony in Ame rica to unite in the most effectual means to obtain a repeal of the late act of parliament for "blocking up the harbour of Boston." -Diffentient three. agreed on, in order to fettle and eftablifh a general plan of conduct for the important purposes above mentioned, V. Unanimously. That the inhabitants of this county will, and it is the opinion of this meeting, that this province ought, to break off all trade and dealings with that colony, province, or town, which fhall decline or refufe to come into fimilar refolutions with a majority of the colonies. VI. That Captain Charles Ridgley, Charles Ridgley, fon of John, Walter Tolley, jun. Thomas Cockey Deye, William Lux, Robert Alexander, Samuel Purviance, jun. John Moale, Andrew Buchanan, and George Rifteau, be a committee to attend a general meeting at Annapolis: and that the fame gentlemen, together with John Smith, Thomas Harrifon, WilII. That it is the opinion of this liam Buchanan, Benjamin Nicholson, Thomas Sollars, William Smith, James meeting, that if the colonies come into a joint refolution to ftop impor- Plowman, and William Spear, be a Gettings, Richard Moale, Jonathan tations from, and exportations to, Great Britain and the West Indies, ceive and anfwer all letters, and on committee of correspondence to reuntil the act for blocking up the harbour of Botton be repealed the fame any emergency to call a general meetmay be the means of preferving Northing; and that any fix of the number America in her liberties. — Dissentient three. III. That therefore the inhabitants of this county will join in an affociation with the feveral counties in this province and the principal colonies in America, to put a stop to exports to Great Britain and the West Indies, after the ft day of October next, or fuch other day as may be agreed on, and to put a stop to the imports from Great Britain, after the first day of December next, or fuch other day as may be agreed upon, until the faid at thall be repealed, and that fuch affociation shall be upon oath. - Diffentient nine. IV. Unanimously. That it is the opinion of this meeting, that as the moft effectual means of uniting all parts of this province in fuch affociation, as propofed, a General Congress of deputies from each county be held at Annapolis, at fuch time as may be agreed upon, and that if agreeable to the fenfe of our fifter colonies, delegates fhall be appointed from this, province to attend a general congrefs of delegates from the other colonies, at fuch time and place as shall be Jan. 1775. have power to act. VII. That a copy of the proceedings be tranfmitted to the feveral counties of this province, directed to and be alfo published in the Maryland their committee of correfpondence, Gazette, to evince to all the world the fenfe they entertain of the invafion of their conftitutional rights and liberties. 18 Refolutions of the Committees by the several counties of the province of Maryland, met at the city of Annapolis, and continued by adjournment till the 25th-prefent For St. Mary's County. Col. Abraham Barnes, H. Greenfield Sotherton, Jeremiah Jordan. For Kent County. William Ringgold, Thomas Ringgold, Jofeph Nicholson, jun. Thomas Smyth, Jofeph Earle. For Queen Anne County. Turbut Wright, Richard Tilghman Earle, SoLomon Wright, John Brown, Thomas Wright. For Prince George County. Robert Tyler, Jofeph Sim, Joshua Beall, John Rogers, Addifon Murdock, William Bowle, B. Hall, (fon of Francis) of born Sprigg. For Anne Arundell County, and city of Annapolis. Charles Carroll, Esq. Barrifter, B. T. B. Worthington, Thomas Johnfon, jun. Samuel Chafe, John Hall, William Paca, Matthias Hammond, Sam. Chew, John Weems, Thomas Dorfey, Rezin Hammond. For Baltimore County and Town. Charles Ridgley, Tho. Cockey Deye, Walter Tolley, jun. Robert Alexander, William Lux, Samuel Purviance, George Rifteau. For Talbot County. Matthew Tilghman, Edward Lloyd, Nicholas Thomas, Robert Goldborough. For Dorchester County. Robert Goldborough, Will. Ennalls, Henry Steele, John Ennalls, Robert Hancock, John Henry, Matthew Brown. For Somerfet County. Peter Waters, John Waters, George Dashiell, For Charles County. William Smallwood, Francis Ware, Jofias Hawkins, Joseph Hanfon Harriton, Dániel Jenefir, John Dent, Thomas Stone, For Calvert County. John Weems, Edward Reynolds, Benj. Mackall, attorney. For Cecil County. John Venzy, jun. For Frederick County. Thomas Price, Adex. Contee Hanfon, Baker Johnfon, Andrew Scott, Philip Thomas, Thomas Sprigg Wootton, Henry Griffith, Evan Thomas, Rich. Brooke, Thosaas Crampin, jun. Allen Bowie, jun. For Harford County. Richard Dallum, John Love, Thomas Bond, John Paca, Benedict Ed, Hall, Jacob Bond. Jan. For Caroline County. Thomas White, William Richardfon, Ifaac Bradley, Nathaniel Potter, Thomas Goldborough. I MATTHEW TILGHMAN, Esq. in the Chair. JOHN DUCKETT, chofen Clerk. T being moved from the chair to afcertain the manner of dividing upon questions, it was agreed, that on any divifion each county have one vote; and that all queftions be determined by a majority of counties. The letter and vote of the town of Boston, several letters and papers from Philadelphia and Virginia, the act of parliament for blocking up the port and harbour of Boston, the bill depending in parliament fubverfive of the Charter of the Maffachusetts Bay, and that enabling the governor to send fuppofed offenders from thence to another colony, or England, for trial, were read, and after mature deliberation thereon, Refolved, That the faid act of parliament and bills, if paffed into acts, are cruel and oppreffive invasions of the natural rights of the people of the Massachusetts Bay as men, and of their conftitutional rights as English fubjects; and that the faid act, if not repealed, and the faid bills, if paffed into acts, will lay a foundation for the utter deftruction of British America; and therefore that the town of Bofton and province of Massachusetts are now fuffering in the common cause of America. 2. Refolved, That it is the duty of every colony in America to unite in the most speedy and effectual means to obtain a repeal of the faid act, and alfo of the faid bills if passed into acts. 3. Refolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that if the colonies come into a joint resolution to ftop all importation from, and exportation to, Great Britain, until the faid act or bills, if paffed into acts, be repealed, the fame will be the moft speedy and effectual means to obtain a repeal of the faid act or acts, and preserve North America and her liberties. 4. Refolved, Notwithstanding the people of this province will have many inconveniences and difficulties to 1775 Of the feveral Counties in Maryland. to encounter by breaking off their commercial intercourfe with the mother country, and are deeply affected at the distress which will be thereby neceffarily brought on many of their fellow-fubjects in Great Britain; yet their affection and regard to an injured and oppreffed fifter colony, their duty to themselves, their po fterity, and their country, demand the facrifice, and therefore that this province will join in an affociation with the other principal and neighbouring colonies, to ftop all exportation to, and importation from Great Britain, until the faid acts and bills, if paffed into acts, be repealed-the non-importation and non-exportation to take place on fuch future days as may be agreed on by a general congrefs of deputies from the colonies; the as-export of tobacco to depend and take place only on a fimilar agreement by Virginia and North Carolina; and to commence at fuch time as may be agreed on by the deputies for this province and the faid colonies of Virginia and North Carolina. 5. Refolved, That the deputies from this province are authorised to agree to any restrictions upon exports to the Weft Indies, which may be deemed neceffary by a majority of the colonies in the general congrefs. 6. Refolved, that the deputies from this province are authorized, in cafe the majority of the colonies fhould think the importation of particular articles from Great Britain to be indif penfably neceffary for their refpective colonies, to admit and provide for this province fuch articles as our circumstances fhall neceffarily require. 7. Refolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that the merchants and others, venders of goods and merchandizes within this province, ought not to take advantage of the above refolves for non-importation, but that they ought to fell their goods and merchandizes that they now have, or may hereafter import, at the fame rates they have been accustomed to do within one year laft paft; and that if any perfon fhall fell any goods which he now has, or hereafter may have, or may import on any other terms than above expreffed, no inhabitant of this province ought at any 19 time hereafter to deal with any such perfon, his agent, manager, factor, or fhopkeeper, for any commodity whatever. 3. Refolved unanimoufy, that a fubfcription be opened in the feverad counties of this province, for an immediate collection for the relief of the diftreffed inhabitants of Bofton, now cruelly deprived of the means of procuring fubfiftence for themselves and families, by the operation of the faid act for blocking up their harbour: and that the fame be collected by the committees of the respective counties, and fhipped by them in fuch provifions as may be thought moft ufseful. 9. Unanimously refolved, that this committee embrace this public opportunity to testify their gratitude and moft cordial thanks to the patrons and friends of liberty in Great Britain, for their patriotic efforts, to prevent the prefent calamity of Ame. rica. 10. Refolved, That Matthias Tilghman, Thomas Johnson, jun. Robert Goldborough, William Pace, and Samuel Chafe, Efqrs; or any two or more of them, be deputies for this province, to attend a general congrefs of deputies from the colonies, at fuch time and place as may be agreed on, to effect one general plan of conduct operating on the commercial connections of the colonies with the mother country, for the relief of Bofton and prefervation of American liberty; and that the deputies for this province immediately correfpond with Virginia and Pennsylvania, and thro' them with the other colonies, to obtain a meeting or general congrefs, and to communicate, as the opinion of this committee, that the twentieth day of September next will be the most convenient time, and the city of Philadelphia the most convenient place, which time and place, to prevent delay, they are directed to propose. 11. Refolved unanimously, that this province will break off all trade and dealing with that colony, province, or town, which fhall decline, or refuse to come into, the general plan which may be adopted by the colonies. 12. Refolved, that the deputies for this province, upon their return, call C 2 together 2.0 Addrefs of the American General Congress together the committees of the feveral counties, and lay before them the measures agreed to by the general congrefs. Ordered, That copies of thefe refolutions be tranfmitted to the committees of correspondence for the feveral colonies, and be alfo published in the Maryland Gazette. By order, JOHN DUCKETT, Cler. Com. Address of the General Congress to the Inhabitants of the Province of QUEBEC. Friends, and Fellow-Subje&s, WE, the delegates of the colonies of New Hampshire, Maffachufetts-Bay, Rhode-ifland, and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennfylvania, the counties of Newcastle, Kent and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South Carolina, deputed by the inhabitants of the fid colonies, to represent them in a general congrefs at Philadelphia, in the province of Pennfylvania, to confult together of the best methods to obtain redrefs of our afflicting grievances, having accordingly affembled, and taken into our moit ferious confideration the state of public affairs on this continent, have thought proper to addre's your province, as a inember therein deeply interested. When the fortune of war, after a gallant and glorious refiftance, had incorporated you with the body of English fubjects, we rejoiced in the truly valuable addition, both on our own and your account; expecting, as courage and generofity are naturally united, our brave enemies would become our hearty friends, and that the Divine Being would blefs to you the difpenfations of his over ruling providence, by fecuring to you and your lateft pofterity the inefinable advantages of a free English conftitution of government, which is the privi. lege of all English fubjects to enjoy. Thefe hopes were confirmed by the King's proclamation, iffued in the year 1763, plighting the public faith for your full enjoyment of thofe advantages. Little did we imagine that any fuc ceeding minifters would fo audaciously and cruelly abufe the royal authority, as to with-hold from you the Jan. fruition of the irrevocable rights, to which you were thus justly entitled. But fince we have lived to fee the unexpected time, when minifters of this flagitious temper have dared to violate the moft facred compacts and obligations, and as you, educated under another form of government, have artfully been kept from difcovering the unspeakable worth of that form you are now undoubtedly entitled to, we esteem it our duty, for the weighty reafons herein after mentioned, to explain to you fome of its most important branches. "In every human fociety, (fays the celebrated Marquis Beccaria) there is an effort continually tending to confer on one part the height of power and happinefs, and to reduce the other to the extreme of weakuefs and mifery. The intent of good laws is to Oppofe this effort, and to diffufe their influence univerfally and equally." Rules ftimulated by this pernicious "effort," and fubjects, animated by the just "intent of oppofing good laws against it," have occafioned that vaft variety of events, that fill the hiftories of to many nations. All these hiftories demonftiate the truth of this fimple pofition, that to live by the will of one man, or fet of men, is the production of mifery to all men. On the folid foundation of this prin ciple, Englishmen reared up the fabri of their conftitution with fuch a ftrength, as for ages to defy time, ty ranny, treachery, internal and fo reign wars and as an illuftrious au ther of your nation, hereafter men tioned, oblerves, "They gave the per ple of their colonies the form of the own government, and this gover ment carrying profperity along wi it, they have grown great natio in the forefts they were fent to i habit." In this form the first grand right that of the people having a fhare their own government, by their 1 prefentatives, chofen by themselv and in confequence of being ruled laws which they themselves appro not by edicts of men over whom t have no controul. This is a bulw. furrounding and defending their p perty, which by their honeft. ca and labours they have acquired, that no portions of it can Tegaliy • Montesquieu. ta 1775 To the Inhabitants of Canada. taken from them, but with their own full and free confent, when they in their judgment deem it juft and neceffary to give them for public fervices; and precifely direct the eafieft, cheapest, aud moit equal methods, in which they fhall be collected. The influence of this right extends ftill farther. If money is wanted by rulers, who have in any manner oppreffed the people, they may retain it, until their grievances are redrefl ed; and thus peaceably procure relief, without trusting to defpifed petitions, or disturbing the public tranquillity. The next great right is that of trial by jury. This provides, that neither life, liberty nor property can be taken from the poffeffor, until twelve of his unexceptionable countrymen and peers, of his vicinage, who from that neighbourhood may reasonably be fuppofed to be acquainted with his character, and the characters of the witneffes, upon a fair trial, and full enquiry, face to face, in open court, before as many of the people as choose to attend, fhall pass their fentence upon oath against him; a sentence that cannot injure him, without injuring their own reputation, and probably their intereft alfo; as the queftion may turn on points that, in fome degree, concern the general welfare: and if it does not, their verdict may form a precedent, that, on a fimilar trial of their own, may militate against them. Another right relates merely to the liberty of the perfon. If a fubject is feized and imprisoned, though by order of government, he may, by virtue of this right, immediately obtain a writ, termed a Habeas Corpus, from a judge, whofe fworn duty it is to grant it, and thereupon procure any illegal restraint, to be quickly enquired into and redressed. A fourth right is, that of holding lands by the tenure of eafy rents, and not by rigorous and oppreffive fervices, frequently forcing the poffeffors from their families and their bufinefs, to perform what ought to be done, in all well regulated ftates, by men hired for the purpose. The laft right we shall mention, regards the freedom of the prefs. The importance of this confifts, befides the advancement of truth, fcfence and 21 morality, and arts in general, in its diffufion of liberal fentiments on the administration of government, its ready communication of thoughts between fubjects, and its confequential promotion of union among them, whereby oppreffive officers are shamed or intimidated into more honourable and juft modes of conducting affairs. Thefe are the invaluable rights that form a confiderable part of our mild fyftem of government: that fending its equitable energy through all ranks and claffes of men, defends the poor from the rich, the weak from the powerful, the induftrious from the rapacious, the peaceable from the violent, the tenants from the lords, and all from their fuperiors. Thefe are the rights, without which a people cannot be free and happy, and under the protecting and encouraging influence of which, these colonies have hitherto fo amazingly flourished and encreased. These are the rights a profligate ministry are now ftriving, by force of arms, to ravish from us, and which we are, with one mind, refolved never to refign but with our lives. These are the rights you are entitled to, and ought at this moment in perfection to exercife. And what is offered to you by the late act of parliament in their place? Liberty of confcience in your religion? No. God gave it to you; and the temporal powers with which you have been and are connected, firmly ftipulated for your enjoyment of it. If laws, divine and human, could fecure it against the defpotic capacities of wicked men, it was fecured before. Are the French laws in civil cafes reftored? It seems fo. But obferve the cautious kindnefs of the minifters who pretend to be your benefactors. The words of the ftatute are, that thofe "laws (hall be the rule, until they shall be varied or altered by any ordinances of the governor and council." Is the "certainty and lenity of the criminal law of England, and its benefits and advantages," commended in the said ftatute, and faid to "have been fenfibly felt by you," fecured to you and your defcendants? No. They too are fubject to arbitrary "alterations" by the governor and council; and a power is expressly reserved of "ap pointing |