USA > Maryland > Leading events of Maryland history; with topical analyses, references, and questions for original thought and research > Part 7
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54. Parliament again Taxes America. - The joy was short- lived. The very next year a bill was passed by Parliament laying a tax on tea, glass, paper, and other articles when brought into American ports. Custom-house officers were empowered to enter private houses at their pleasure in search of smuggled goods. This act aroused a fiercer opposition, if pos- sible, than had the Stamp Act. Associations were formed whose members bound themselves not to import the taxed goods. The associators were careful to allow no forbidden goods to land, and in at least one case sent an English vessel away from Annapolis with all her cargo.
The Assembly of Massachusetts sent a circular letter to the Assemblies of the other colonies, inviting them to take measures for resisting England's violation of their liberties. Governor Sharpe asked the Maryland Assembly to treat the letter "with the contempt that it deserves." The delegates replied sharply, declaring that they would not be frightened by a few " sounding , expressions " from doing what was right. They further told the governor that it was not their present business to tell him what they intended to do, and added, " Whenever we apprehend the rights of the people to be affected, we shall not fail boldly to assert, and steadily to endeavor to maintain them." The Assembly then prepared a bold and manly, but respectful
1 In commemoration of this event November 23 is now celebrated (as a bank half holi- day) in Frederick county as " Repudiation Day."
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address to the king, and returned a favorable answer to the letter of the Massachusetts Assembly.
55. Governor Eden; Death of Frederick Calvert. - Governor Sharpe was succeeded in June, 1769, by Sir Robert Eden, the last proprietary governor of Maryland. The new governor, who was a brother-in-law of the proprietary, was a man of worthy character and pleasing manners, and he succeeded in winning the respect and to some extent the affection of the people of Maryland. But the spirit of the people was thoroughly aroused, and the governor was too prudent to offer much resistance.
Frederick Calvert, the last Lord Baltimore, died in 1771. By the will of his father the province fell to his sister, Louisa Browning ; but Frederick left a will himself, by which he made an illegitimate son, Henry Harford, proprietary of Maryland. The latter is usually recognized as the sixth proprietary, but there was a suit in the English Court of Chancery, and before a decision was reached, Maryland had become an independent state.
56. The Debate between Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Daniel Dulany. - The new governor was scarcely seated before he met with opposition. There was a heated dispute between the Houses of Assembly in 1770, as a result of which the session ended without the renewal of the acts fixing the fees of officers of the government and imposing the tax for the support of the Episcopal church, these acts having expired in that year. The governor thereupon revived the old acts by proclamation, which the people regarded as an invasion of their rights, and resisted accordingly.
A prolonged debate took place through the columns of the Maryland Gazette, published at Annapolis, An article was written by Daniel Dulany, the secretary of the province and
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THE PROVINCE BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT STATE
a lawyer of great ability. The article was written in the form of a dialogue between two citizens; the First Citizen argued against the action of the governor, while the Second Citizen defended it, and was made to win the argument. But a cham- pion of the people now appeared in the person of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who proved a powerful antagonist. He was descended from Catholic gentlemen who, in spite of their religion, had long held offices under the proprietary. He had been educated in Paris and had studied law for seven years in England. Mr. Carroll published a series of articles as the First Citizen, whose arguments had not been properly stated in the first article, and in the popular opinion he won a complete victory.
57. The Burning of the Peggy Stewart, October 19, 1774. - In 1770 Parliament took off the tax from all the articles except tea, which was left in order to assert its right to impose a tax. But the Americans were contending for a principle, too, and although it was ingeniously arranged that the tea on which a duty had been paid should cost less than smuggled tea, yet the people stood firm. When tea was sent to Boston, the people, after other means had failed, sent on board a party disguised as Indians, who threw the cargo into the sea.
On the 14th of October, 1774, the Peggy Stewart arrived at Annapolis with about two thousand pounds of tea. The owner of the vessel, Anthony Stewart, paid the duty on the tea in order to land the rest of the cargo. Stewart was a member of the non-importation society, and his act aroused the most violent indignation. On the 19th of October a large meeting was held at Annapolis to decide what should be done in the case. Stewart was thoroughly frightened, and signed an abject apology, further agreeing to land and burn the tea. This satisfied the majority, but to many persons it did not seem suf-
Burning of the Peggy Stewart
From a painting by Frank B. Mayer, in the State House at Annapolis
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THE PROVINCE BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT STATE
ficient punishment, and the latter threatened that the vessel would be burned also. This minority assumed so threatening an attitude that Stewart, on the advice of Charles Carroll, ran the vessel aground, and with his own hands set her on fire. The crowd looked on while she burned to the water's edge. All this was done openly and publicly in broad daylight, by men who were not ashamed of what they did, and who had no fear of the consequences. The leader of the minority party that forced this extreme measure was Dr. Charles Alexander War- field, of upper Anne Arundel, now Howard county.
58. The Convention and the Coun- cil of Safety. - The proprietary government gradually lost power, and ceased to rule except in name, as the people assumed control of their own affairs. A temporary gov- ernment was formed. The supreme authority was in the hands of a Convention, composed of delegates from all the counties; the execu- Charles Alexander Warfield From a print in possession of the Maryland Historical Society tive power was vested in a Council of Safety ; and county affairs were controlled by Committees of Observation. In July, 1775, the Convention formally assumed the control of affairs. A declara- tion was drawn up in which the wrongs committed by the British government were recited, and it was declared that the choice now lay between " base submission or manly opposition to un- controllable tyranny," and that the framers were " firmly per- suaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force."
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LEADING EVENTS OF MARYLAND HISTORY
The authority of the Convention was supreme, yet its exercise was always characterized by moderation and a respect for the forms of law. Its management of affairs was just and admirable, and we have a right to be proud of the dignified self-control which the people showed at this trying time, even in the very act of resorting to forceful extremes in the defense of their rights.
59. War with England Begins ; Ideas of Independence. - In June, 1776, Governor Eden was required to leave the province, and even the semblance of the proprietary government was at an end.
When it became necessary for the colonies to act in concert for the defense of their liberties, delegates were sent to represent all the colonies in a Congress which met at Philadelphia. Addresses were sent to the king, only to be treated with scorn. Soldiers were sent over to keep the Americans in awe, and hos- tilities soon broke out. The British general sent a body of troops to seize some military stores that had been collected at Concord, Massachusetts, and there occurred as a result the skirmish known as the battle of Lexington, -the first battle of the Revolutionary War .. The battle of Bunker Hill soon followed.
Up to this time few persons entertained the idea of a separa- tion from England. They were determined to fight, if neces- sary, for their rights, and to win them ; but for "old England " they still felt a warm affection, as the land of those very liberties for which they were contending. But as time went on, men came to see very plainly that there was no hope of coming to any under- standing with George III, and that if the colonies were not willing to submit to tyranny, there was no hope for them but in independence. When this became apparent, there was no longer any hesitation. It was moved in the Congress that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states," and on July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the immortal
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Declaration of the Association of Freemen From a print in the State House at Annapolis
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LEADING EVENTS OF MARYLAND HISTORY
Declaration of Independence. A new nation was born into the sisterhood of the world, destined to become the greatest of them all.
60. Maryland Becomes a Sovereign State. - After the whole people of Maryland had expressed their desire for indepen- dence, the delegates from Maryland in the Congress were in- structed to unite in the Declaration of Independence which the other colonies were now ready to make in Congress assembled. The signers for Maryland were Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton. But Maryland desired to speak independently for herself, and on the 6th of July declared her own independence through the Convention. In their Declaration the people pointed out the many oppressive acts of Great Britain ; they declared that a war had been unjustly commenced, and then prosecuted with cruelty and outrageous violence, and that the king had even hired foreign soldiers to fight them, while rejecting their humble and dutiful petitions with scorn. They further declared : " Compelled by dire neces- sity, either to surrender our properties, liberties, and lives into the hands of a British king and Parliament, or to use such means as will most probably secure to us and our posterity those invalu- able blessings, -
"We, the Delegates of Maryland, in Convention assembled, do declare that the King of Great Britain has violated his compact with this people, and they owe no allegiance to him."
Thus by the united action of the colonies, and by the voice of her own citizens in convention assembled, did Maryland cast off her allegiance to Great Britain. The province became a thing of the past - Maryland a free and sovereign state.
61. Formation of the State Government. - The proprietary government having been abolished, it was of course necessary to form another in its place. A convention for this purpose
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Maryland Signers of the Declaration of Independence From paintings in the State House at Annapolis
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LEADING EVENTS OF MARYLAND HISTORY
met in August, 1776. A Bill of Rights and a Constitution were prepared : the former set forth in a general way the rights of the people, such as freedom of worship, the right to make their own laws, and to alter the form of their own government; the latter replaced the charter, fixing the form of government. There
The State House, Annapolis From a photograph, showing recent improvements
were three departments of the government: the legislative, or law-making ; the executive, or law-enforcing ; and the judicial, which explains the laws and by applying them directly to men's actions dispenses justice. The legislative power was vested in a General Assembly, composed of two branches, the Senate and the House of Delegates. The chief executive power was vested
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THE PROVINCE BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT STATE
in a governor. The judicial power was vested in the judges of the various courts. The delegates were elected by the people, while the senators were elected by a college of electors who were chosen by the people, nine senators to be chosen from the Western Shore and six from the Eastern. The governor was elected annually by the legislature, and had no veto power ; he had an executive council to assist him, and he could not serve for more than three years at a time. The judges were ap- pointed by the governor with the advice of the Senate. A man must be worth a certain amount in order to vote, in order to be a delegate he must be worth more, in order to be a senator he must be worth still Thomas Johnson From a painting in the State House at Annapolis more, while to be governor he must be yet richer. These restrictions have long since been removed. Under this Constitution Thomas Johnson was elected first governor of Maryland. He was pro- claimed as such at Annapolis on March 21, 1777, amid the re- joicings of the people.
TOPICS AND QUESTIONS
46. Effects of the Royal Government.
Permanence of the changes wrought by the royal government. Revision of the laws of the province.
47. Demanding the Privileges of Englishmen; the Founding of Baltimore City ; Coming of the Germans.
The Lower House claims the privileges of Englishmen for the citizens of Maryland ; significance of the claim.
Slow growth of towns in the early history of the province.
Founding of the city of Baltimore ; its growth and present importance.
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LEADING EVENTS OF MARYLAND HISTORY
German settlers ; towns founded by them; their character and impor- tance.
48. Mason and Dixon's Line ; Further Loss of Territory.
The sons of William Penn dupe Lord Baltimore.
Border warfare ; the adventure of Thomas Cresap.
The boundary line run by Mason and Dixon. Mason and Dixon's Line the boundary between the North and the South. Loss of territory on the south and west.
49. Frederick Calvert Becomes Fifth Proprietary.
Character of Frederick Calvert.
50. Wars with the French ; the English Gain Control of North America.
Conflicting claims of the English and French.
Four wars waged for the control of the continent.
Formation of the Ohio Company.
Fort Duquesne and the appearance of George Washington. Braddock's march on Fort Duquesne and his defeat.
Results of Braddock's defeat ; the erection of Fort Frederick. The wars end in the complete triumph of England.
51. Governor Sharpe and the Assemblies.
The proprietary's estates taxed.
Attitude of the delegates ; its merits and its faults.
52. England's Oppressions, and Growth of the Spirit of Freedom.
British restrictions on American commerce and manufactures. Feeling of the mother country toward the colonies.
Character of the colonists.
Parliament attempts to tax the colonies without their consent. What great privilege of Englishmen did this violate?
What gave the position of Maryland peculiar strength?
53. The Stamp Act ; Maryland Asserts Her Rights.
What was required by the Stamp Act?
How was it received by the colonies? Describe the treatment of the stamp distributor in Maryland. What resolutions were passed by the Maryland Assembly? How did the courts of Maryland treat the Stamp Act? Who were the Sons of Liberty?
54. Parliament again Taxes America.
A tax on tea, glass, paper, and other articles. The Non-importation Association. Reply of the Assembly to Governor Sharpe. The Assembly's address to the king.
55. Governor Eden ; Death of Frederick Calvert. Character of Robert Eden.
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Death of Frederick, the last Lord Baltimore ; he wills the province of Maryland to Henry Harford.
56. The Debate between Charles Carroll of Carrollton and Daniel Dulany. What laws expired in 1770?
How did the governor restore them?
Describe the article by Daniel Dulany.
Who replied to Dulany, and under what name did he write?
Whom did the people regard as victorious ?
57. The Burning of the Peggy Stewart, October 19, 1774.
How tea was received in Boston.
The Peggy Stewart arrives at Annapolis, and her owner pays the duty on some tea which she carries.
Stewart's submission.
He is compelled to burn the Peggy Stewart.
58. The Convention and the Council of Safety.
The people assume control of their affairs.
How the government was administered.
The admirable conduct of the convention.
59. War with England Begins ; Ideas of Independence.
Departure of Governor Eden. The colonies act through a Congress.
First battles of the war.
Development of the idea of independence.
Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence.
60. Maryland Becomes a Sovereign State.
The Maryland Declaration of Independence.
61. Formation of the State Government.
What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights? Of the Constitution? Name and define the three departments of the government.
In whom was the chief power vested in each of these three departments ? What restriction was placed on the right to vote and hold office?
Who was the first governor of the state of Maryland? When and where was he proclaimed?
QUESTIONS FOR ORIGINAL THOUGHT AND RESEARCH
1. What is a code ? Point out the advantages of a code. What is the com- mon law? The statute law? Explain the value of the English laws to the people of Maryland.
2. Explain, as fully as you can, the reason for the slow growth of towns in the early days of the colony. Point out some of the advantages of
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LEADING EVENTS OF MARYLAND HISTORY
towns. Point out some of the harmful effects of towns. Could any of these be avoided, and if so, how?
3. What is the present population of Baltimore? How many other cities in the United States are larger? Name them in order of size. What is the present population of Maryland? Compare this with the popula- tion of Baltimore. Point out the advantages of Baltimore's position.
4. Would it be possible for Maryland to regain her lost territory now? Would it be desirable?
5. Write an essay on the Lords Baltimore, showing the character and influ- ence of each on Maryland.
6. Is war the best way of settling disputes about territory? How are such disputes usually settled nowadays?
7. Was it right for the American people to resist by force the invasion of their liberties? What measures should always precede a resort to force? Judging from the events of this period, what was the character of the American people? Are there any respects in which it is not so admir- able at the present day? Are there any in which it has improved?
REFERENCES
Browne's Maryland, pp. 203-286, 290, 292-294, 296. James' revision of Mc- Sherry's History of Maryland, pp. 84-161. Fiske's Old Virginia and Her Neigh- bors, Vol. II., pp. 169-173. Mereness' Maryland as a Proprietary Province- see index for topics desired. For a more complete account of the French wars and the struggle for the control of North America, see Elson's History of the United States, pp. 171-196. For a more complete account of the beginning of the Revolution, see Elson, pp. 220-242. Any other good history of the United States may be consulted for the last two points.
CHAPTER VI
MARYLAND LIFE IN COLONIAL TIMES
62. Introduction. - In the course of our narrative we have paused occasionally to notice the manner of living of the people whose history we are studying. Now that we have reached the great turning-point in that history, -the time when the hitherto subject province had become a free and independent state, - it will be well for us to pause again for a more careful and thorough inspection of the community now about to enter upon its new career. There were some characteristics common to all sections of the country, but in very many particulars the life and cus- toms of the people of the South differed widely from those of the North. Even different parts of the two sections often differed in many respects. Maryland and her sister colony, Virginia, were very similar, but the commercial spirit was more widely diffused in Maryland, and activity and enterprise were greater ; and, as we naturally expect from the character of Maryland's early institutions, there was less bigotry, religious and political, than in Virginia.
63. Occupations. - The population of Maryland had increased with wonderful rapidity, and at the time of the Revolution the province contained about two hundred and fifty thousand people.
Maryland was still almost wholly agricultural. Tobacco con- tinued to be the chief crop, and at this time the province was exporting nearly fifty thousand hogsheads. It was still largely used as money, instead of coin or paper. Previous to the war, however, the planters learned that wheat might be grown in the
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fertile soil of western and northern Maryland, and exported with profit. They acted upon this information, and by the time the war began Maryland was exporting six hundred thousand ยท bushels of wheat, while the importance of tobacco rapidly de- clined. A good deal of corn was raised, most of which was used for private purposes on the plantations where it was grown.
" Hampton," Baltimore County, Maryland From a photograph
Cultivation of the land was generally of a very crude kind. Wooden forks and shovels were common, and the plow was usually of wood also, for plow-irons were imported from Eng- land and were very expensive. A much more important imple- ment was the hoe, but not a light, thin blade of steel such as you now see in use; the hoe of this time was a large, heavy lump of dull iron (probably the rude work of the plantation blacksmith), with a thick, clumsy handle of wood. With these
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MARYLAND LIFE IN COLONIAL TIMES
the tobacco was carefully hoed by the slaves or white servants, the weeds growing close to the plant being taken out by hand, while the overseer, perhaps on horseback, watched to see the work well done. Usually, the master of the plantation rode daily over the estate to inspect and leave orders with his over- seer.
While tobacco was the only product, and ships stopped at the private landing of the planter to lay in a cargo of that staple and
LGE
Hall, Hampton Residence
From a photograph
to give in return a supply of groceries and provisions, food and clothing, tools and implements, there were naturally few towns, with little commerce and no manufactures. There was no foreign trade carried on in the usual way by merchants, but the rich proprietors sometimes owned their own ships and styled themselves planters and merchants. There was often a store at the county seat, and very often the planter kept one for the
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