Washington, DC, 1998.
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To the People of Maryland,
GENTLEMEN,
You
have from the beginning of our struggles for Liberty, with unconstitutional ministerial power, seen that our success depended almost, or altogether, upon the strength of the provinces united together, as each distinctly must become an easy prey to our enemies. You were happy in the harmony and concord of councils and measures adopted by the whole. How alarming would an appearance of the contrary be to you at this advanced crisis of affairs; when we have incurred large expences, and lost much blood and treasure in the glorious contest; when we have advanced so far in obtaining the powerful means of resistance, and been so successful; when the provinces in reciprocal plighted faith and mutual confidence, have been encouraged to prosecute such measures as appeared most conducive to the defence of our Rights and Liberties as Freemen.
Immerg'd in war it is now too late to look back or shrink; it is inglorious, effeminate and dastardly, unbecoming the Sons of Freedom. The thought is debasing in an individual, much more in a body of men, and did a province discover any tendency thereto, surely it would be to the last degree so. It is not to be supposed that either of the two provinces which dissented from the rest upon an important question, lately agitated in Congress, is inclined to relinquish the general interest of the whole; yet as opposition respecting the determination of matters highly interesting and of the utmost importance, tend to cool that mutual affection and confidence, which we wish to prevail among Americans, I would beg your candid attention to a few remarks upon the subject.
The British ministry say with great propriety, “Break the union subsisting between the Colonies, and we shall reduce them.” They see the advantage so clearly which would arise from a frenzy in the Americans productive of it, that they ardently wish it to take place, and have employed their agents here, in order to obtain so desirable an end. The real friends of America, with equal propriety, say “Let us be united and we shall certainly disappoint our enemies in their evil designs formed against our common rights.” The force of these reasonings on either side is obvious. The maintaining perfect harmony and union therefore is a grand object every and each province should have in view so as never to lose sight of. The moment that object is lost, a thousand alarming and dreadful prospects offer themselves of general concern; but the dreadful consequences are most of all to be fear'd by the people of that province which loses sight of the above granted object. The Colony dissenting from the general sense of the provinces, or from a very great majority of them, seem apparently to manifest a more friendly disposition towards Great Britain than the interest of the united colonies will consistently admit of. A negative to such a case, is a tacit invitation to British troops into such a province, and points it out as the seat of war, devastation and misery, as such a conduct may be considered a proof of the existence of a ministerial faction there. Note, Virginia and North Carolina, and you'll see the consequences of such factions in each place. Armies immediately sent to act in each place in conjunction with the tories, to the prejudice of the general interests, but more especially to the particular provinces. The Virginians will never repent but once, their negligence and remissness in not securing their governor, Dunmore, who was suffered to escape shortly to turn upon them, to execute his vengeful displeasure, and prosecute the measures adapted for enslaving us.
Behold New England! see their towns laid waste by rapine, fire and sword, their people inhumanly slaughtered! Behold the helpless women, and yet more helpless children, inhumanely driven from the friendly shade of their former peaceful habitations into the woods, there to perish! Hear the bitter doleful shrinks and cries of the widow and the orphan, made so by the relentless hand of ministerial tyranny. Cast your eyes on the other side, and there also survey the melancholy vestages of sword and fire. Say ye virtuous Sons of Liberty, in Maryland, can you expect better treatment, should this province be the theatre of war (if you fall within the power of the enemy) which possibly it may be by its dissent, from eleven provinces out of thirteen? Nay its state must be much more deplorable and affecting, affecting indeed, even to think upon; when we consider, that if it should continue to dissent from so great a majority of the other provinces, it must of course bring their united fury against it, as well as excite internal war amongst ourselves; supposing there were found among the people at large any considerable number in favour of such measures as tend to break the general union; but this I believe is not the case, as seven eights of the people, so far as I can find, are resolved to concur with the majority of the provinces in Congress. Let us one moment suppose the case of internal war; how melancholy must the scene appear, neighbour rising against neighbour, mutually intent upon each others destruction, while the common enemy taking the pleasing opportunity, subjugates both to the unnatural burden, slavery, if not released by the bravery of the sister colonies. If we read the History of intestine wars in other countries, the calamities and distresses attending them, will warn us to take care, lest we split upon the same fatal rock. For this purpose I would direct your thoughts to the melancholy transactions of Great Britain and Ireland, when involved therein, where rapine and murder invaded the most peaceful habitations; men, women and children falling a prey to the merciless inhuman ruffian, perished. Forbid it Heaven, that we should experience similar distresses.
What thinking man, upon that serious reflection which is now necessary, can cease to be alarmed? Who can remain free from disturbing jealousies and fears, when the silken cord of union is threatened to be broken? I shudder at the consequences. But what less can we expect, while our public affairs run in the same channel, bearing such a friendly aspect to Britain and British agents amongst us.
I intimated above, that ministerial agents were employed to scatter the seeds of discord among us. Such I say there are, I don't say in our convention, or council of safety. But if such should be found in either of these grand Councils, diffusing their poison under the very specious name of moderation, it is the duty of the people at large to mark such, and point them out as the first sacrifice to Liberty in the province. The Idea of moderation changes as circumstances alter; hence that which was esteemed moderate, six or eight months ago, is now by the alteration of circumstances and things, become spiritless, cold, and inimical to America. For instance, a few months ago, when even faint hopes of reconciliation with Great Britain existed, the idea of disunion from her was generally conceived as rash and precipitate; but we have since received such incontrovertible proofs of the determined intention of the British ministry to enslave us, so as to admit of no other alternative, but manly resistance or a base submission to these hard task-masters, that the notion of reconciliation must vanish, consequently that which was moderation then dont by any means fall under that idea now; we must therefore adjust our ideas of moderation and moderate men by the particular circumstances we are in.
Our honorable convention have supposed their constitutional right of instructing the Delegates in Congress, from this Province. The Delegates have attended to the instructions as faithful servants.
Querie,
Did the electors in the several counties instruct their representatives in Provincial Convention of December last, to charge the Delegates to dissent upon the point of independence from a majority of the Colonies in Congress? Or, were the deputies of the people in convention authorised by their constituents, to repeat their instructions the last convention to their Delegates in Congress, at a time so extremely critical and alarming, upon a point so delicate and important as to involve the ruin, or rending the colonies? They did not in general, nor can I learn they did in any particular county in the province.
The people are now loudly called upon to exercise their right of instructing their deputies in convention, in this very important matter, remembering, that discord in America, only can enslave it, and that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Let the people in the respective counties meet and draw up suitable instructions, for the careful observance of which, let their honor be pledged. It might, in the instructions, be proper to desire them to use their interest to obtain a Resolve, that the yeas and nays individually, upon every question proper to be made public, shall be published in the Journal of the Convention; and that upon the determination of questions, prudentially not published, they may nevertheless, be entered. These crude hints are offered to your consideration, by a sincere friend to America.
A COUNTRYMAN.
Baltimore County, May 28, 1776.