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THE PATRIOTISM OF MARYLAND. 343
Carrollton, the four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence,
together with Benjamin Rumsey1 and William Smith,2 two of the most prominent men in the State. At the succeeding legislature, on the 17th of January,
1778, Messrs. Chase, Carroll and Stone were returned, with George Plater,
James Forbes and John Henry, Jr.
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, in a letter to Governor Johnson, dated
York, April 21st, 1778, says:
"I wish you would employ some ingenious writer to combat and explore the perfidi-
ousness of our enemies; they stop at nothing—the whole British nation seems rising
against us ; they will unite art and force to conquer us. I am persuaded they will send
over, during the course of the summer and fall, at least 14,000 men, principally British.
" Is it not strange that the lust of domination should force the British nation to greater
exertions than the desire of liberty can produce among us ? ... If our people would
but exert themselves this campaign, we might secure our liberties forever. General
Washington is [illegible']. Reinforcements come in slow; try, for God's sake, and the
sake of human nature, to rouse our country from their lethargy. Gates will command a
body of men in the Highlands on Hudson's River, for the security of its navigation. The
congress do worse than ever ; we murder time and chat it away on idle and impertinent
talk; however, I hope the urgency of affairs will teach even that body a little discretion."3
While Washington was contending against the enemy in the field and
factions in the council of the new nation, Maryland was doing all in her
power to strengthen the force under his command and furnishing him with
1 Benjamin Rumsey died at Joppa, in Ralti- left in Philadelphia by order of the Congress,
more County, March 7th, 1808. and of the rest very few came back to Mary-
2 William Smith was a delegate to the Conti- land; and that, last fall, the loss of arms by the
nental Congress from 1777 to 1778; a repre- militia was very considerable—not less, we judge,
sentative under the Constitution from 1789 to than 1,000, of all which the Congress has never
1791, when he was appointed, by President paid us but 1,100."
Washington, Auditor of the Treasury. In 1792 In another, of the 17th of September, they
he was a presidential elector. He died in Balti- remark: " It is high time that those who were
more, March 27,1814, aged eighty-four years. clad here in linen, had cloth, and that they all
3 While Congress was sitting at York, John had blankets. We, yesterday, purchased two
Henry, Jr., in a letter dated February 14,1778, hundred blankets, and have about four hundred
to Governor Johnson, remarks, that "The state suits of clothes nearly made up, which we shall
of our army is critical. Four months' pay, if send to the Maryland troops, unless you can get
not more, are due them; and no money in the them immediately furnished, and shall pur-
treasury to satisfy their just and reasonable chase, at any time, what further may be neces-
demands. The press is at work, and attended sary; for policy and humanity bid us not to rely
with all vigilance and care, and has been for longer on the clothier-general."
some time past. Near a million a week is now In the same letter, they speak of a resolution
made, and yet our demands are greater than we of Congress giving permission to the Eastern
can answer. They come in from all parts of the States to export grain, etc., from Maryland, and
continent. The avarice of our people, and the ask " We do not know the reason wherefore the
extravagant prices of all commodities, joined exportation is entirely confined to the Eastern
with the imperfect management of our affairs, bottoms, and should be glad the Congress would
would expend the millions Of Chili and Peru." revise the resolution and permit our own people,
The Council, in a letter to the delegates, dated if they please, to export to the Eastern States,
7th of April, 1778, say: "This State sent, in on the like securities for landing their cargoes.
1776, with its battalion and independent com- We cannot imagine that the Assembly will
panies, about 1,400 very good arms, not one of approve the carriage of our produce being ex-
which was ever returned to the State. With the clusively thrown into the hands of the inhabi-
flying camp, the same year, full 3,000, not gen- tants of any of the othsr States."
erally so good, of which upwards of 2,200 were
Object Description
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
Description
| Title | 00000378 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | THE PATRIOTISM OF MARYLAND. 343 Carrollton, the four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence, together with Benjamin Rumsey1 and William Smith,2 two of the most prominent men in the State. At the succeeding legislature, on the 17th of January, 1778, Messrs. Chase, Carroll and Stone were returned, with George Plater, James Forbes and John Henry, Jr. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, in a letter to Governor Johnson, dated York, April 21st, 1778, says: "I wish you would employ some ingenious writer to combat and explore the perfidi- ousness of our enemies; they stop at nothing—the whole British nation seems rising against us ; they will unite art and force to conquer us. I am persuaded they will send over, during the course of the summer and fall, at least 14,000 men, principally British. " Is it not strange that the lust of domination should force the British nation to greater exertions than the desire of liberty can produce among us ? ... If our people would but exert themselves this campaign, we might secure our liberties forever. General Washington is [illegible']. Reinforcements come in slow; try, for God's sake, and the sake of human nature, to rouse our country from their lethargy. Gates will command a body of men in the Highlands on Hudson's River, for the security of its navigation. The congress do worse than ever ; we murder time and chat it away on idle and impertinent talk; however, I hope the urgency of affairs will teach even that body a little discretion."3 While Washington was contending against the enemy in the field and factions in the council of the new nation, Maryland was doing all in her power to strengthen the force under his command and furnishing him with 1 Benjamin Rumsey died at Joppa, in Ralti- left in Philadelphia by order of the Congress, more County, March 7th, 1808. and of the rest very few came back to Mary- 2 William Smith was a delegate to the Conti- land; and that, last fall, the loss of arms by the nental Congress from 1777 to 1778; a repre- militia was very considerable—not less, we judge, sentative under the Constitution from 1789 to than 1,000, of all which the Congress has never 1791, when he was appointed, by President paid us but 1,100." Washington, Auditor of the Treasury. In 1792 In another, of the 17th of September, they he was a presidential elector. He died in Balti- remark: " It is high time that those who were more, March 27,1814, aged eighty-four years. clad here in linen, had cloth, and that they all 3 While Congress was sitting at York, John had blankets. We, yesterday, purchased two Henry, Jr., in a letter dated February 14,1778, hundred blankets, and have about four hundred to Governor Johnson, remarks, that "The state suits of clothes nearly made up, which we shall of our army is critical. Four months' pay, if send to the Maryland troops, unless you can get not more, are due them; and no money in the them immediately furnished, and shall pur- treasury to satisfy their just and reasonable chase, at any time, what further may be neces- demands. The press is at work, and attended sary; for policy and humanity bid us not to rely with all vigilance and care, and has been for longer on the clothier-general." some time past. Near a million a week is now In the same letter, they speak of a resolution made, and yet our demands are greater than we of Congress giving permission to the Eastern can answer. They come in from all parts of the States to export grain, etc., from Maryland, and continent. The avarice of our people, and the ask " We do not know the reason wherefore the extravagant prices of all commodities, joined exportation is entirely confined to the Eastern with the imperfect management of our affairs, bottoms, and should be glad the Congress would would expend the millions Of Chili and Peru." revise the resolution and permit our own people, The Council, in a letter to the delegates, dated if they please, to export to the Eastern States, 7th of April, 1778, say: "This State sent, in on the like securities for landing their cargoes. 1776, with its battalion and independent com- We cannot imagine that the Assembly will panies, about 1,400 very good arms, not one of approve the carriage of our produce being ex- which was ever returned to the State. With the clusively thrown into the hands of the inhabi- flying camp, the same year, full 3,000, not gen- tants of any of the othsr States." erally so good, of which upwards of 2,200 were |
