USA > Maryland > The origin and growth of civil liberty in Maryland : a discourse > Part 4
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The last meeting of the Committee, elected on the 23d of September, 1775, so far as appears from the minutes, was held on the 12th of Oct., 1776.
The Bill of Rights and Constitution of the State of Maryland were completed and adopted by the Provincial Convention on the 3d of November, 1776, but as some time must necessarily elapse before the Government thus organized could go into full operation, the Convention, on the 11th of November, 1776, directed that new Committees of Observation should be elected for the different counties, with the same powers which they previously possessed, and that they should continue to act until the 10th of March next ensuing.
The records to which I have had access, contain no reference to the election of a Committee under this resolution, or of their proceedings.
NOTE 2 TO PAGE 26.
A more striking instance than the one referred to, could hardly be found, of the influence which, in a time of danger, may be exerted by an individual of strong will and of known conduct and courage. The Bank of Maryland had failed disgracefully, inflicting heavy and widely diffused losses on the people of Baltimore. A deep and just indignation was felt throughout the community, which was artfully directed against certain individuals who had been connected with the bank as directors or otherwise, and who were wrong- fully suspected of a participation in the fraudulent conduct by which it had been ruined. Encouraged and sustained by this feeling, a mob threatened to destroy the houses of the obnoxious individuals. The city authorities had ample notice, but they made the fatal mistake of attempting to quell the out- break by a show of force, without the reality. Citizens who were called on to defend the threatened houses, had wooden batons placed in their hands, and the use of arms was strictly forbidden. But the rioters were not to be thus overawed, and the defenders, of course, had the worst of the conflict which ensued. Bricks and stones were showered upon them and many were seri-
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ously injured, until, at last, recourse was had to fire-arms, by which a number was killed and wounded, and the mob was subdued for a single night. But, on the next day, the use which had been made of weapons was denounced by those who should have sustained it, and the rioters became bolder and intent on greater mischief. Various houses were destroyed, the lives of many individuals were threatened, and for twenty-four hours civil authority was completely at an end in Baltimore. No one could tell what acts of violence would next be perpetrated, but the city was filled with rumors of meditated outrage. At this crisis, a few individuals called a meeting of the citizens at the Exchange, but when they came together they had no leader, and were uncertain how to act. A proposition was made and adopted to send for Gen. Smith, who was then at his country seat, two miles from the city, and the meeting waited with anxiety for his arrival. He came with alacrity, and his presence wrought an instantaneous change in the state of affairs. There was no longer any doubt, fear or uncertainty. He would allow no time to be lost in framing resolutions, and making speeches, and would hear of no tem- porizing with those who were setting all law at defiance. A leader had been found, who, aged as he was, at once took the direction into his own hands. In a few energetic words he insisted that an armed force should at once be organized, and that the rioters should be put down by force if necessary ; but, he maintained, that they would not dare to attempt resistance. His plan was adopted by acclamation, and the meeting marched at once in a column with him at its head, to the neighborhood of the Washington monument, where it was organized into companies, who chose their own leaders. Arms were brought out from every receptacle where they could be found, and were in many instances placed in hands which had never used them before. Hun- dreds flocked to the rescue, and in a few hours, and for many nights after- wards, the whole city was patrolled by armed defenders ready to put down the mob, and anxious to find one. But none appeared. It vanished out of exis- tence the moment that a competent force with a courageous leader was pre- pared to oppose it.
NOTE 3 TO PAGE 27.
The following extracts from the Minutes are given to illustrate more fully the manner in which the committee performed some of the various duties as- signed to them.
The committee were watchful to protect the morals of the people, so far as lay in their power.
At a meeting on the 10th of April, 1775, the following resolution was passed :
" Resolved, As the fairs usually held at Baltimore town are hurtful to the morals of the people and are a species of extravagance and dissipation which are forbid by the Continental Congress, that the committee of correspondence be directed to give public notice to the inhabitants of the town and county, that the committee advise them not to erect any booths, or be in any manner
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concerned in countenancing the holding said fair during the continuance of our public distractions."
Complaint having been made to the committee, that a certain John Burns kept a billiard table, and that shuffle-boards are kept at John Smith's and at Abraham Gorman's, at all of which houses encouragement was given to gaming, and great disorders committed to the injury of the militia and the sailors and mariners employed in the public service as well as others, and the same being contrary to the regulations and resolves of the honorable, the Conti- nental Congress, it was on the 17th of June, 1776,
" Resolved, That the chairman issue his summons for the said persons to at- tend the committee on the following day to answer the complaints alleged against them."
This summons probably had the desired effect of abating the nuisances in question, as no further action appears to have been taken by the committee in the matter.
A night watch for the town of Baltimore being found necessary, it was sup- plied by the public spirit of the inhabitants and the organization thereof was made by the committee, as appears by the following extract from their minutes.
" At a meeting of the cominittee on the 26th June, 1775, present Mr. SAM- UEL PURVIANCE, Chairman, and forty-two members. WILLIAM Lux, Sec'y. " The inhabitants of Baltimore town having found it absolutely necessary to establish a nightly watch in the said town, for the preservation of their pro- perty from robbery or fire, as well as to prevent any hostile attempts in this time of public confusion, and having had several meetings to digest a proper plan for the purpose, they unanimously agreed to recommend the same to the committee for their approbation and superintendence, which being done the committee higlily approved of the measure. And a subscription being signed by every inhabitant, wherein he obliges himself to conform to the regulations adopted, and to attend personally, or provide a sufficient man in his room, which said man, so provided, to be a subscriber, or to pay seven shillings and six pence. The committee received the said subscription, and divided the sub- seribers into six companies for the Town, and one company for the Point, and then directed a general meeting of the subscribers to elect a captain for each company, which being done, the following gentlemen were returned, viz.
JAMES CALHOU"T. 1st, BARNET EICHELBERGER, 4th,
GEORGE WOOLSEY, 2nd, GEORGE LINDENBERGER, 5th,
BENJ'N GRIFFITH, 3rd, WILLIAM GOODWIN, 6th,
for Baltimore Town, and ISAAC VANDIBBER for the Point. But his district being thought rather too extensive, the committee thought it necessary to ap- point JESSE HOLLINGSWORTH and GEORGE PATTEN to assist him in the ar- rangement of the watch.
"The committee then determined that the said watch shall consist of sixteen persons under the direction of a captain, to be appointed for the night, and that they shall patrol the streets from 10 o'clock at night until day-light next morn- ing, and that the companies take it in rotation."
The following is a specimen of the manner of proceeding of the connnittce when complaint was made that goods were sold at exorbitant prices.
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" Cornelius Garritson lodged an information before the committee against Messrs. Usher & Roe, charging them with having sold to him, the said Gar- ritson, certain goods at a higher price than he had usually paid for them, and that they had sold the same kind of goods to himself and others some time ago at a much lower rate than he had now paid. Mr. Roe appeared to answer this charge, and said that Mr. Garritson had asked him for certain buttons which he confesses he had formerly sold to Mr. Garritson and others, at 2s. 6d. per dozen, but for which he now asked 3s. 6d. not being willing to sell the buttons, without, at the same time, selling some cloth to which they matched, but that he did at length agree to let Mr. Garritson have them at the price he formerly sold them. Mr. Garritson departed, and soon after returned and took the buttons from a young man who attended in Messrs. Usher & Roe's store, who insisted on having 38. 6d. for them per dozen, which said Garritson paid. But as soon as Mr. Roe understood what his clerk had done, he called after Mr. Garritson with an intention to return him his money, but Mr. Garritson refused to return. Mr. Roe afterwards sent the money to said Garritson but he declined accepting it, choosing rather to lodge a com- plaint to the committee for the imposition. From the above representation it appeared to the committee that the same kind of goods have been incau- tiously sold at Messrs. Usher & Roe's store at different prices, and, in this in- stance, above the limitations ascertained by the Provincial Congress-but as it appears to have happened by mistake of their clerk, and as Mr. Roe offered immediately to rectify the mistake, the committee thought proper to dismiss the complaint, with a caution to Messrs. Usher & Roe that they be more careful in future in giving cause for the like complaints."
The committee endeavored to sustain the paper currency issued by the Pro- vince. Information having been lodged against Mr. James Moore, of Gun- powder, for refusing to take money issued by the Provincial Convention, tel- dered to him by Mr. Nathaniel Britain, the committee on the 29th of January, 1776, "resolved, that Messrs. Moore and Britain be summoned to attend on Monday next."
" On the 12th of February, 1776, Mr. James Moore appeared according to summons, and Messrs. Nathaniel Britain, Tunis Titus, and Jesse Bussy, ap- peared as evidences against him, all and each of whom being sworn, deposed, That Mr. Jas. Moore bad refused to take bills of credit emitted by the Provincial Convention, when tendered to him, alleging that he was afraid they would not pass, else he should have no objection, and that the said James Moore had asserted, that he would not pay any tax towards the support of American measures, and that he thought all those who had taken the oaths of allegiance and mustered, when holding a place under government, guilty of perjury and rebellion. It being represented by Mr. Gittings, that Jesse Williams was a material witness on the occasion, it was resolved, that the further examination of this affair be postponed until Monday next, Mr. William Lux being secu- rity for Mr. Moore's attendance."
" Mr. James Moore, agreeable to promise, appeared again before the com- mittee on the 19th of February, and. (after admitting the veracity of the charges exhibited against him in the depositions of Messrs. Nathaniel Britain. Jesse Bussy and Tunis Titus, taken before the committee,) voluntarily signed the following recantation :
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" Whereas, I the subscriber, have unfortunately and inadvertently been guilty of actions tending to depreciate the currency emitted by the Convention of this Province, for the express purpose of defending those inestimable privi- leges transmitted to us by our ancestors, and expressed an aversion to pay any taxes for sinking said currency, and other ways discouraged people from mus- tering, enrolling and associating, but am now satisfied and convinced that such conduct is highly unbecoming the duty of an American, and tends im- mediately to obstruct the measures calculated to preserve the liberties of this country from the cruel and unrelenting oppressions of the British ministry, do most sincerely acknowledge the heinousness of such offence, beg pardon of my countrymen, and do hereby solemnly engage and promise not to be guilty of a like offence in future, but to conform to such measures as shall be adjudged necessary by the Continental Congress, or Conventions of this Pro- vince, for the preservation of the rights of America. . As a further atonement for my misconduct, I request this acknowledgment to be published, in hopes it may deter others from committing the like offence. Witness my hand this 19th of February, 1776. JAMES MOORE."
Whereupon it was " resolved that the above is satisfactory."
The following energetic proceedings were taken against Mr. Francis San- derson, who had been elected a member of the first committee of observation, but who afterwards gave great offence by the manifestation of tory principles, and by accepting an appointment from the Proprietary government to the office of a justice of the peace, after those who had been previously in the commission had been summarily dismissed from office on account, it would seem, of their taking sides with the popular movement.
"May 8th, 1775. Mr. Francis Sanderson, once a member of this com- mittee, but who, for some time past, had neglected his duty, by refusing or declining giving attendance at their meetings and other exceptionable conduct, did this day again unexpectedly appear among them. The committee reflect- ing on his late conduct, and uncertain as to the design of his coming among them at so critical a juncture, plainly informed Mr. Sanderson of their senti- ments, that they could not but suspect a man of so variable principles and questionable conduct-that as matters of great moment frequently were agi- tated among them, they did not think it prudent or safe for them to sit in coun- cil with a person in whom they could have no confidence, and that therefore they would wish him to withdraw himself from the committee, till the sense of the county should be known concerning him at a future election.
"Mr. Sanderson declared that he was sensible of the impropriety and mistakes of his late conduct, but was now heartily disposed to concur in every mea- sure that his countrymen should adopt for the preservation of their rights- that in the meantime he acquiesced in the intimation of the committee, and would, for the future, so conduct himself as, if possible, to recover the good opinion of his countrymen, and convince them of the sincerity of his present declarations."
The voters of the town and county were assembled on the 18th of May, 1775, "when the proceedings of the committee on the Sth of May, respecting Mr. Francis Sanderson, were read to the freemen of the county now convened, and their sentiments taken on the propriety of the committee's request to Mr.
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Sanderson to decline acting as a committee man, till the sense of their con- stituents should be known on the matter ; the freemen having heard what Mr. Sanderson had to offer, unanimously approved of the committee's prudent conduct, and do further resolve that until Mr. Sanderson shall give unequivo- cal evidence of his sincere attachment to the cause of his injured country, by a steady and uniform acquiescence in every measure which has or may be generally adopted for her preservation, they cannot approve of him as a man to act for them in committee, leaving it to the committee to determine how far he is otherwise entitled to public favor. The committee accordingly, (the bu- siness of the county having been finished,) fifty-two members being present, proceeded to consider and judge of Mr. Sanderson's case ; and were of opinion, that as he had already acknowledged to the committee his error and late mis- conduct, and was sincerely sorry for the same, and was now willing to satisfy his countrymen by a public declaration of his present political opinion, as con- tained in a paper which he handed in, Mr. Sanderson be restored to the good opinion of his countrymen."
The paper handed in by Mr. Sanderson, was as follows :
"I hereby declare that I have resigned the office of a Justice of the Peace for Baltimore county, being now sensible that my appointment to that office, with others, in the manner, and at the time the same was done, was disagree- ble to my friends, and tended to injure the cause of my distressed country. I further declare my readiness to engage heartily in the measures now carrying on for the preservation of American liberty, and for that purpose I have con- tributed to the purchase of arms and ammunition, and also to the poor of Bos- ton and enrolled myself a soldier in a company of militia ; and I trust my future conduct will evince the sincerity of my present declarations, and restore me to the favor and esteem of my countrymen, an event most ardently wished for by FRANCIS SANDERSON."
But Mr. Sanderson, encouraged probably by the success of the British forces in New York, sometime afterwards again brought himself into trouble, as appears by the following extract from the minutes of the committee :
" At a special meeting of the committee on Saturday, 12th October, 1776- Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Vice-Chairman-W. Buchanan, B. Nicholson, T. Rutter, W. Asquith, J. Calhoun.
" Information being given to the committee, on oath, by Mr. David Evans, that Francis Sanderson had, in a conversation with him, spoken words ' tend- ing to disunite the good people of this State, in the present opposition to Great Britain,' by order of the committee, 12th October, 1776, Francis Sanderson is required to attend this committee at Mr. Purviance's immediately, to an- swer a complaint exhibited against him for several words spoken by him, and tending to disunite the people of this State in their present opposition to Great Britain, and, in case he don't attend, Captain Cox is directed to bring him by force.
Per order
W. L., V. Chr'n.
"The said Francis Sanderson appeared in consequence of the warrant, and having nothing to offer in vindication of the charge, he was committed to
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the custody of the guard for this night, in order to be sent to the Council of Safety, agreeably to the resolves of the Convention, in July, 1775.
Attested, GEO. Lux, Sec'y."
The Council of Safety appear to have referred the case to the Provincial Convention, then in session at Annapolis, by which body the following pro- ceedings were had :
" October 16, 1776. The Convention met.
"On reading a letter from Samuel Purviance, Jr., chairman of the committee of observation, from Baltimore county, respecting the conduct of Francis Sanderson, the same was taken into consideration, and the said Francis San- derson called before the Convention, and on the examination of several wit- nesses, and hearing him in his defence,
" On motion of Mr. Paca, the question was put, That the said Francis Sanderson is guilty of delivering sentiments tending to discourage the Ameri- can opposition to the hostile attempts of Great Britain ; that therefore he be reprimanded at the bar of this house by the president; that he give bond in the penalty of one thousand pounds, with good security, to be approved of by the committee of Daltimore county, to the president, conditioned, that he will not hereafter speak or do any matter or thing in prejudice or discourage- ment of the present opposition ; that he pay all the expenses incurred on ac- count of his being apprehended, guarded, and brought to this Convention, and that thereupon he be discharged. Resolved in the affirmative."
" Francis Sanderson was then called to the bar of the house, and repri- manded accordingly."
The Committee manifested great energy and judgment in all their proceed- ings, and especially in enrolling and arming troops, accumulating munitions of war, and in placing the town of Baltimore in a condition of defence when in March, 1776, it was threatened with an attack from the enemy; but a further selection from the minutes would swell this Appendix to an unreason- able size. The object of the insertion of the extracts which have been given, has been to gratify a reasonable curiosity, which has been expressed, to see in print the names of those in Baltimore who were prominent in the early revolu- tionary movement, and to exhibit the calm, determined and business-like man- ner in which a committee-chosen indiscriminately from the various walks of life, and responsible for all their proceedings to the people whose sentiments and feelings they represented-deliberated and acted in the very dangerous and difficul, emergency in which they were placed, and the moderation and ability with which they exercised the large and somewhat indefinite powers with which they were clothed.
Annual Address.
Annual Address.
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HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
SEP 93 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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