Proceedings of the Maryland Convention, 1775. 15

Henry Hooper, a quantity of Arms with a proportion of Lead
and Ammunition sufficient for a Company, be by them deliv-
ered to such Captain of Minute-Men, as the Council of Safety
shall direct.
The Committee appointed to enquire into the practicability
of establishing a manufactory of Arms in this Province, and
the Expense and best mode to carry the same into Execution,
bring in their Report, which was read a first and second time
and referred for Consideration to the next Provincial Conven-
tion (N^o 12.)
The Convention resumed the consideration of the Report
which was read on Wednesday last, which was debated by
paragraphs, several amendments made and the following parts
agreed to.
Resolved unanimously, That the following Association be
signed by the Members of this Convention, and by all other
the Freemen of this Province (N^o 13.)

Association of the Freemen of Maryland 26^th July 1775.
The long premeditated, and now avowed Design of the
British Government, to raise a Revenue from the property of
the Colonists without their consent, on the gift, grant and dis-
position of the Commons of Great Britain, the arbitrary and
vindictive statutes passed under colour of punishing a Riot, to
subdue by Military force, and by Famine, the Massachusetts
Bay; the unlimited power assumed by Parliament to alter the
Charter of that Province, and the Constitution of all the
Colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the
Lives, Liberties and properties of the Colonists; the Com-
mencement of hostilities by the Ministerial Forces, and the
cruel prosecution of the War against the people of the Massa-
chusetts Bay, followed by General Gage's proclamation, de-
claring almost the whole of the Inhabitants of the United
Colonies, by name, or description, Rebels and Traitors, are
sufficient causes to arm a free people in defence of their Lib-
erty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence
merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base
submission or manly opposition to uncontroulable Tyranny.
The Congress chose the latter, and for the express purpose of
securing & defending the United Colonies and preserving
them in Safety, against all attempts to carry the above men-
tioned Acts into Execution by Force of Arms, Resolved, that
the said Colonies be immediately put into a State of Defence,
and now supports at the joint expense, an army to restrain the
further violence and repel the future attacks of a disappointed
and exasperated Enemy. — We therefore, Inhabitants of the
Province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and

C. J.