Proceedings of the Maryland Convention, 1775. 43

to pay due deference to such regulations as were thought
necessary for the public Interest and have contributed with
cheerfulness to the general service; they therefore feel with
the most poignant concern their late (and flatter themselves)
unmerited proscription.
They have however the consolation to declare, that if they
have erred, it was without consciousness of guilt, and hope
integrity of intention may not be imputed to them as wilful
disobedience. On this subject the discernment of their present
Judges renders prolixity of argument unnecessary, and to their
decision they submit with respectful acquiesence.
On what particular part of the Sixth Resolve the Committee
have thought proper to ground their sentence is not certainly
known; if conjecture is indulged the following words may be
supposed to comprise the accusation, "that no merchant or
other person ought toingross any goods, wares or merchandise
whatsoever." As laws should admonish before they condemn,
it is difficult to conceive with what propriety this restrictive
Rule could be applied to the case in question. Ingrossing is
a legal Idea, an unjust accumulation of property, with an intent
to sell it again which by enhancing the price tends to the public
injury. If the acquisition is lawful, one constituent part of the
Offence is wanting, and the term in the Resolve is not properly
applicable. To say that the word may have an extensive
import to comprehend what is not expressed would be to con-
found language, and entrap the unwary. With submission
permit us to observe that we ought not in these instances to
substitute artificial for real conviction and thereby give footing
to a Code of polity which may hereafter be turned to the
destruction of that manly Freedom for which we are now con-
tending. Who can be safe if we resort to subtle and criminal
construction as the Glossary of common Life.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the proceedings
of the committee may be re-considered. If they have erred let
concessions deprecate Resentment, it is however hoped that
rectitude of intention will shield them from imputed guilt.

At a meeting of the General Committee for the County of
S^t Marys held at the Court House in Leonard Town, on Tues-
day the Eighteenth day of July Anno Domini seventeen hun-
dred & Seventy five
M^r John Reeder (Jun^r) in the Chair.
Among other were the following proceedings (to wit) On
complaint made by Doctor Henry Reeder, against M^r Archi-
bald Campbell, Factor for John Glassford Esquire & Company,

at their Store in Leonard Town for refusing him goods for
ready money. And at the same time declaring, that he would
not sell his goods for cash but for Tobacco only.

C. J.²