of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 309

sent) was read, and he was informed by the Chairman that the
Committee would hear any thing he had to say in Negation or
Mitigation of said Offence; the said M^r Robert Gassaway
acknowledged the Allegations to be substantially true, and
offered nothing in Mitigation of the Charge."
" The Committee then taking into Consideration the Charge
exhibited and proved against M^r Robert Gassaway by his own
Confession, and being of Opinion that his Offence is of a high
and dangerous nature, and that his Behaviour tended as far as
his Influence would extend, to disunite the Inhabitants of this
Province in their present Opposition."
" Resolved That the said Robert Gassaway be immediately
sent to the Council of Safety at Annapolis under a Guard of
four men, and that Cap^t Philip Smith and three men to be
procured by him, be a Guard for that Purpose."
" p^r Order John Hanson j^r Chairman "

The following is the Charge exhibited against him. —
" On the twenty sixth Day of February One thousand seven
hundred and seventy six, at a meeting of Capt. Valentine
Creagar and Philip Smith's Companies of Militia, the said
Robert Gassaway when at Exercise as a private man in Cap^t
Smith's Company, stepped out of his Rank, and publicly and
loudly declared before the aforesaid two Companies, and in
the Presence of several other Spectators, that it was better for
the Poor People to lay down their Arms, and pay the Duties
and Taxes laid upon them by the King and Parliament, than
to be brought into Slavery and to be commanded and ordered
about as they were, he was asked who he meant had brought
the People into [slavery, he said it] was a Parcel of great men.
That at first, they destroyed the Tea at Boston, and then
knowing they had done wrong, did not know what they should
do to save themselves, therefore ordered all America to be
brought under Arms, and say now my brave Boys fight away
(clapping his Hand to his neck) for Fear their necks should be
stretched, That this is as only done to save themselves, when
they had done wrong, and were in Fear of suffering for it.
M^r Gassaway was told, that this was only his own Opinion
and that he had better keep it to himself. He Gassaway said
he was satisfied he was right, and further said, the best way
was for the People to lay down their Arms, and petition the
Congress to petition the King and Parliament, and if the Con-
gress would not do it, then the People ought to petition the
King and Parliament themselves, letting them know that they
had laid down their Arms; that this was the best Method of
having a Reconciliation.
And further said that he wished the Eyes of the Multitude

C. S. J.