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MARYLAND'S BOLD DEFIANCE. 45
enemy now authorized him to attempt, the militia throughout the State were
more regularly embodied, and the governor called the attention of the more
distant militia officers to their powers and duties under the laws, but the
actual state of things would have brought into force the law of necessity, if
express provisions had not existed to authorize their proceedings. On the
Eastern Shore, which during this season seemed more particularly to attract
the notice of the enemy in his plundering expeditions, every exertion was
made by the militia officers to ward off the expected blow from every point at
which it seemed to be more particularly aimed. And it may be safely asserted,
that by their spirited resistance and bold defiance, many towns and villages
were saved from devastation and ruin, and particular districts of country
from the occupation of the enemy. In the latter part of May, Governor
Winder convened the Legislature in extra session, and laid before them all the
correspondence which had passed between him and the United States authorities. In his message to the Assembly, he says:
" It being the constitutional duty of the general government to provide for the common defence, we have represented to the Secretary of War some time since, the exposed
and defenceless situation of many parts of Maryland. . . . We had hoped that
answers from the officers of the general government to the communications which we
have had the honor to make to them, would have given some assurances of future protection and security. To provide for the common defencs was one of the important
objects for which the Federal Constitution was formed. To protect each State against invasion is made the imperative duty of the national government; and for that purpose every
necessary power is delegated to the national authorities. The means of defence reserved
in the State governments are very limited, and their powers in the conduct of a war
defined. If, however, the general government should fail to afford adequate security
against the violence of the enemy, the law of self preservation, which belongs to communities as well as to individuals, would demand that every effort which it is in our
power to make, should be made for the defence of this State. . . . We have
famished all the means in our power to repel the invasions of the enemy, and as our
resources are too limited to afford complete protection, it is for the wisdom of the
Legislature to make such further provisions as the exigencies of the State, in their
opinion may require."1
This portion of the governor's message was referred to a special committee who reported a few days after :
" That the only object of the confederation of the old thirteen United States ' was to
provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity,' and that for these purposes the Constitution of the
United States delegated to the Congress ' power to lay taxes, duties, imposts and
excises; to declare war; to raise and support armies; to provide a navy,' and
prohibit the individual States ' entering into any treaty granting letters of marque and
reprisals; or to keep troops and ships of war in time of peace' they cannot but express
their decided opinion, that the general government is not only coerced by the genius, but
by the positive language of our federal compact, to provide the individual States with ampel
and efficient means of resistance to the calamities incidental to hostilities declared by
the Congress of the United States; and that by every principle of justice, whenever the
1 Niles' Register, iv., p. 204.
| Title | History of Maryland - 3 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000070 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | MARYLAND'S BOLD DEFIANCE. 45 enemy now authorized him to attempt, the militia throughout the State were more regularly embodied, and the governor called the attention of the more distant militia officers to their powers and duties under the laws, but the actual state of things would have brought into force the law of necessity, if express provisions had not existed to authorize their proceedings. On the Eastern Shore, which during this season seemed more particularly to attract the notice of the enemy in his plundering expeditions, every exertion was made by the militia officers to ward off the expected blow from every point at which it seemed to be more particularly aimed. And it may be safely asserted, that by their spirited resistance and bold defiance, many towns and villages were saved from devastation and ruin, and particular districts of country from the occupation of the enemy. In the latter part of May, Governor Winder convened the Legislature in extra session, and laid before them all the correspondence which had passed between him and the United States authorities. In his message to the Assembly, he says: " It being the constitutional duty of the general government to provide for the common defence, we have represented to the Secretary of War some time since, the exposed and defenceless situation of many parts of Maryland. . . . We had hoped that answers from the officers of the general government to the communications which we have had the honor to make to them, would have given some assurances of future protection and security. To provide for the common defencs was one of the important objects for which the Federal Constitution was formed. To protect each State against invasion is made the imperative duty of the national government; and for that purpose every necessary power is delegated to the national authorities. The means of defence reserved in the State governments are very limited, and their powers in the conduct of a war defined. If, however, the general government should fail to afford adequate security against the violence of the enemy, the law of self preservation, which belongs to communities as well as to individuals, would demand that every effort which it is in our power to make, should be made for the defence of this State. . . . We have famished all the means in our power to repel the invasions of the enemy, and as our resources are too limited to afford complete protection, it is for the wisdom of the Legislature to make such further provisions as the exigencies of the State, in their opinion may require."1 This portion of the governor's message was referred to a special committee who reported a few days after : " That the only object of the confederation of the old thirteen United States ' was to provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,' and that for these purposes the Constitution of the United States delegated to the Congress ' power to lay taxes, duties, imposts and excises; to declare war; to raise and support armies; to provide a navy,' and prohibit the individual States ' entering into any treaty granting letters of marque and reprisals; or to keep troops and ships of war in time of peace' they cannot but express their decided opinion, that the general government is not only coerced by the genius, but by the positive language of our federal compact, to provide the individual States with ampel and efficient means of resistance to the calamities incidental to hostilities declared by the Congress of the United States; and that by every principle of justice, whenever the 1 Niles' Register, iv., p. 204. |
