Maryland Convention

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At a meeting of the Deputies appointed by the several Counties of the Province of Maryland, at the City of Annapolis, by adjournment, on the 8th day of December, 1774, and continued till the 12th day of the same month, were present eighty-five Members, viz:

For St˙ Mary' s County, 4
For Cecil, 2
Charles, 3
Kent, 2
Calvert, 5
Queen Anne' s, 4
Prince George' s, 8
Caroline, 4
Frederick, 8
Talbot, 1
Anne Arundel & Annapolis City, 10
Dorchester, 5
Somerset, 7
Baltimore County, 8
Worcester, 5
Harford, 9

Mr˙ JOHN HALL, in the Chair, and

Mr˙ JOHN DUCKETT, Clerk.

The Proceedings of the Continental Congress were read, considered, and unanimously approved.

Resolved, That every Member of this Convention will, and every person in the Province ought, strictly and inviolably observe and carry into execution the Association agreed on by the said Continental Congress.

On motion,

Resolved unanimously, That the Thanks of this Convention be given, by the Chairman, to the gentlemen who represented this Province as Deputies in the late Continental Congress, for their faithful discharge of that important trust: And the same was done accordingly.

To increase our flocks of Sheep, and thereby promote the Woollen Manufacture in this Province,

Resolved, That no person ought to kill any Lamb, dropped before the first day of May, yearly, or other Sheep, after the first day of January next, under four years of age.

To increase the manufacture of Linen and Cotton,

Resolved, That every Planter and Farmer ought to raise as much Flax, Hemp, and Cotton, as he conveniently can; and the cultivation thereof is particularly recommended to such inhabitants of this Province, whose lands are best adapted to that purpose; and Resolved, that no Flaxseed, of the growth of the present year, ought to be purchased for exportation, after the 12th day of this month.

It being represented to this Convention that many Merchants and Traders of this Province, from a scarcity of cash to make their remittances, and other causes, had sold their Goods, within twelve month next, before the twentieth day of October last, at, and sometimes even below, the prime cost; and that, in many different parts of this Province, Merchants had vended their Goods at a very different advance on the prime cost, and it appearing to this Convention to be unjust to compel such Merchants to sell their Goods at prime cost, and that one general rule, allowing a reasonable profit to the Trader, and preventing him from taking advantage of the scarcity of Goods which may be occasioned by the Non-Importation, would give great satisfaction to the Merchants and People of this Province,

Resolved unanimously, That no Merchant ought to sell his Goods, at wholesale, for more than 112 one-half per cent, — at retail, for cash, for more than 130 per cent, — on credit, for more than 150 per cent, — advance on the prime cost; and that no Merchant or other person, ought to

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As a further regulation to enforce an observance of the late Continental Association, Resolved unanimously, That in all cases where breaches of the Continental Association, or the Resolves of this Convention, shall happen and be declared such by any Committee of a County, no Gentleman of the Law ought to bring or prosecute any suit whatever for such offender; and if any Factor shall commit any breach of the said Association or Resolves, that no Gentleman of the Law ought to bring or prosecute any suit for any debt due to the store of which the said Factor has the management, after notice as aforesaid.

Resolved, That it is earnestly recommended by this Convention to the people of this Province, that the determinations of the several County Committees be observed and acquiesced in; that no persons except members of the Committees undertake to meddle with or determine any question respecting the construction of the Association entered into by the Continental Congress; and that peace and good order be inviolably maintained throughout this Province.

Resolved unanimously. That if the late Acts of Parliament relative to the Massachusetts Bay, shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force in that Colony; or if the assumed power of Parliament to tax the Colonies, shall be attempted to be carried into execution by force, in that or any other Colony, that in such case this Province will support such Colony to the utmost of their power.

Resolved unanimously, That a well-regulated Militia, composed of the gentlemen, freeholders, and other freemen, is the natural strength and only stable security of a free Government; and that such Militia will relieve our mother country from any expense in our protection and defence; will obviate the pretence of a necessity for taxing us on that account, and render it unnecessary to keep any Standing Army, (ever dangerous to liberty,) in this Province; and therefore it is recommended to such of the said inhabitants of this Province as are from sixteen to fifty years of age, to form themselves into Companies of sixty-eight men; to choose a Captain, two Lieutenants, an Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, and one Drummer, for each Company, and use their utmost endeavours to make themselves masters of the military exercise; that each man be provided with a good Firelock, and Bayonet fitted thereon, half a pound of Powder, two pounds of Lead, and a Cartouch-Box or Powder-Horn, and Bag for Ball, and be in readiness to act on any emergency.

Resolved unanimously, That it is recommended to the Committee of each County to raise by subscription, or in such other voluntary manner as they may think proper, and will be most agreeable to their respective Counties, such sums of money as, with any moneys already raised, will amount to the following sums in the respective Counties, to wit: In —

And that the Committees of the respective Counties lay out the same in the purchase of Arms and Ammunition for the use of such County, to be secured and kept in proper and convenient places, under the direction of the said Committees.

Resolved unanimously, That it will be necessary that a Provincial Meeting of Deputies, chosen by the several Counties of this Province, should be held in the City of Annapolis, on Monday, the 24th day of April next, unless American grievances be redressed before that time; and therefore we recommend that the several Counties of this Province choose Deputies as soon as conveniently may be,

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Resolved unanimously, That contributions from the several Counties of this Province, for supplying the necessities and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at Boston, ought to be continued in such manner and so long as their occasions may require; and that it is the duty of the Committees of each County to collect and transmit the same as soon as possible.

Resolved unanimously, That the Honourable Matthew Tilghman and John Hall, Samuel Chase, Thomas Johnson, Junior, Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Charles Carroll, Barrister, and William Paca, Esquires, or any three or more of them, be a Committee of Correspondence for this Province.

Resolved unanimously, That the Honourable Matthew Tilghman and Thomas Johnson, Junior, Robert Goldsborough, William Paca, Samuel Chase, John Hall, and Thomas Stone, Esquires, or any three or more of them, be Delegates to represent this Province in the next Continental Congress; and that they or any three or more of them, have full and ample power to consent and agree to all measures which such Congress shall deem necessary and effectual to obtain a redress of American grievances; and this Province bind themselves to execute, to the utmost of their power, all Resolutions which the said Congress may adopt; and further, if the said Congress shall think necessary to adjourn, we do authorize our said Delegates to represent and act for this Province in any one Congress to be held by virtue of such adjournment.

Resolved unanimously, That it is recommended to the several Colonies and Provinces, to enter into such or the like Resolutions, for mutual defence and protection, as are entered into by this Province.

As our opposition to the settled plan of the British Administration to enslave America, will be strengthened by an union of all ranks of men in this Province, we do most earnestly recommend that all former differences about Religion or Politicks, and all private animosities and quarrels of every kind, from henceforth cease and be forever buried in oblivion; and we entreat, we conjure every man, by his duty to God, his country, and his posterity, cordially to unite in defence of our common Rights and Liberties.

Ordered, That copies of these Resolutions be transmitted by the Committee of Correspondence for this Province, to the Committees of Correspondence of the several Colonies, and be also published in the Maryland Gazette.

By order,

JOHN DUCKETT, Clerk.