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ness and concerns of that province was assuming and arro-
gant. I really conceive Sir, that when the safety or very being
of the whole community appears at stake, the part I have acted
in this affair cannot with justice be esteemed arrogance. I did
not presume authoritatively to order but as one servant of the
Public earnestly to entreat and consider another servant who
alone appeared to me to have the means in his hands, to take
a certain step of the best importance to the public cause.
I must repeat sir, that my reason for addressing myself to Mr
Purviance at Baltimore proceeded entirely from my ignorance
of there being any troops at Annapolis, and not (as I have
been told has been thrown out) from any diffidence in your
virtue and decision. I suppose the Committee of Safety here
viewed it in the same light, for I read my letter to them and it
was approved of. In times like these Sir, I conceive, that
when we have received sufficient evidences of any treason-
able practices being carried on, and that when it appears to
us that the immediate seizure of a particular traitors person
may lead to discoveries on which the salvation of the state may
depend that when the utmost secrecy and expedition are nec-
essary to the seizure of his person, it is the duty of a good
citizen not to delay a single instant, if a single instants delay
may prevent the execution, this was the manner I thought it
my duty to proceed in the case of Mr Wormley. On the dis-
covery of his correspondence with the Enemy, I gave orders
for the security of his person and papers and then refered the
affair to the proper tribunal, the Committee of Safety, the
measure was so far from giving umbrage or creating jealousy
that it met with their unanimous approbation if this method is
proscribed, at a juncture like the present, the great check on
dangerous correspondence and conspiracies will be taken off
if councils are to be held previously to the seizure of any
traitors person or papers, notwithstanding the strongest
evidences against him I am much mistaken if every traitor
does not slip through your hands. I must now, Sir, conclude
with assuring you, and the respectable Body over which you
preside, that if they suppose me capable of aiming or wishing
to extend the military authority, or trespass on the civil,
They do me the most cruel injustice, altho I was bred in the
army I thank God, the spirit and principles of the citizen were
ever predominant, and I solemnly declare that if I thought it
possible I should ever be so far intoxicated by military com-
mand, as to harbour a wish injurious to the civil supremacy
in all things, I would now whilst I retain my senses beg
leave to divest myself of my present office and serve as a
volunteer in the glorious cause in which I have embarked my
person fortune and reputation. What I did in this affair, I did
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