The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-08-15
SOME HISTORICAL FACTS.
Prominent Parts Taken by
Western Maryland II the
Days Of the Revolutionary
War.
BY DIR. BERNARD STEINER. Phi. D
Courtesy Johns Hopkins Press

The Lower District IMontgOm-
cry county has left US but little
more information as TO its acts.
The minnie book is apparently
lost. but the one action of this
committee known TO Us is more
famous than any act of the other
three committees. The occasion
was dramatic independence
hung in the balance. In May.
l77G. the Provincial Convention
had voted that ii was not eXpe-
dent to break away from the
mother country. Should this
vote stand as the expression Of
the opinion Of the people Of Mary
land. Samuel Chase and Charles
Carroll of Carrollton said nay,
and travelled from county to coun-
~ to arouse the people. In this
thy succeeded. and in one part Of
the province after another. reso.
lutions were adopted iavoring &C
tion with the other colonies to-
wards declaring independence.
We shall see that the Upper Dis
trict took action; the Middle Dis
trict. singularly enough. seems TO
have held her peace. while the
Lower District. through its Com
mittee Of Observation, made
bold proclamation Of its views on
June i. Catching with Joy at
this sign Of popular support,
Chase wrote TO john Adams on
the 21st. Read the papers and
be assured Frederick speaks the
+ sense OF many counties" So did
She. aud seven days later the
province resolved to be indepen-
dent. These were the resolutions
which were so unanimously passed
bv the committee: "Our sole and
primary intention in appointing
delegates to meet in convention
was 10 regulate the mode Of OPP
position. ueces sary TO be made by
Us internally against the arbl-
iIary Vaccinations of the British
ministry and TO appoint delegates
10 meet our sister colonies III Con-
greSs. to recommend such meas
ures as, by sense OF the major
ity Of tile colonies. would best Sc
cure the natural and Inherent
rights Of the people" The reso-
lutiouS were 10 less il favor Of
union. ~ hat may he recon-.
meuded by a majority of the Con,
gress. equally delegated 10y the
people Of the United Colonies. We
will, at tie hazard Of our lives
and fortunes. support and main
tain and that every resolution Of
convention, tending 10 separate
this province from majority of
the colonies witnout~the consent
Of the people Is destructive to our
( interest and safety and big with
public ruin
Complaint was made that the
proceedings of the convention had
been secret. and the Lower Dis
trlct states that "a knowledge Of
the conduS Of the representative
Is the constituents only principal
and permanent security" There
fore they "claim the right Of be-
ing fully informed therein, unless
in the secret operations Of war. y
and shall ever hold the Repre-.
sentative amenable to that body,
from which he derives his au-
tboIity."
The desire for new and per
manent constitution aud the dis
trust Of the convention caused the
committee to urge the necessity
OF the separation Of the powers of
government and TO state that,
in all counties where the power TO
make laws and the power to en-
force such laws is vested in one
man or in one body of men, ty-
ranny is established" In fine.
the committees theory of the
government is ''that all Just and
legal government was instituted
for the ease and convenience OF
the people and that the people
E have the indubitable right to re-
form or abolish a government,
which may appear to them insult
tcient for the exigency Of their
affairs"
When men spoke thus, the final
rapture from England was at
hand. The Committee of Obser.
yatlon for the Upper District was
also chosen, on September u.
1715, and organized two days
later, electing John Stull presi-
dent and Samuel Hughes secre
tary. 1t served until November
%, 1176, when a new committee
was chosen. The second commit.
tee was composed of much the
/ same men as the first and con
, tinued 10 exist until March 3
1171, when the State government
being fully organized. the com
mittee 'adjourned fOrever
Amen" as the record has it. The
: record book, now in the posses
sion Of the MARYLAND Historical