230 Journal and Correspondence

C. C.

disapprove of his Conduct as stated by himself. We know
very well, that by the Laws and Constitution of this State, no
Man in it can be pressed into any Service, and we flatter our-
selves, that any supposition that the Congress will counte-
nance such a flagrant Violation of the Rights of the People
within this State, is as false as injurious to that Honorable
Body. We are very desirous that Congress will give imme-
diate Orders for the Discharge of every impressed Man, and
we submit to Consideration, whether the Gross Conduct of
Cap^t Nicholson, and the Contempt in which he holds the
executive Power of this State, does not make his Dismission
from the Service, not only proper, but, to preserve the Confi-
dence of this State, in the Justice of the Congress, and its
Regard for our internal Government, highly necessary.
We are Sir with the highest Respect
Your most obed^t humble Serv^t
To His Exc^y
The Presid^t of the Congress
Express.

39

[Council to Delegates in Congress.]

Annapolis 26^th Ap^l 1777.
Gent.
This accompanies our Letter to Congress, complaining of
Cap^t Nicholson's Conduct, we have inclosed you Copies of
that, as well as of a Letter we wrote to and answer we received
from him. We had, as we stated to Cap^t Nicholson, received
Information of his having pressed a Number of Men, which he
avows, and that many People bound to Baltimore by Water
hearing of it, turned back, and that even some of the back
People had declined going there with their Waggons for fear
of being pressed. Cap^t Nicholson seems to expect an Appro-
bation from Congress, we shall very reluctantly believe any
Countenance will be given by that Body to such tyranical
Proceedings, if there should, we have very little Business in
our present Stations, nor do we care how soon it is generally
known, if the Fact is that the Power of the Continental Officers
is universal and in no wise controulable by any internal Civil
Authority in the separate States. Cap^t Nicholson's Reason-
ing will as well prove his Right to press every Man in the
State, if he thinks it necessary, as any Man in it. If he saw
the Necessity of this Measure, he might have applied to the
Assembly, sitting at the Time he began this extraordinary
Business. It is much our Wish to have the Resolutions of
Congress as soon as possible, as it is likely, if there's any
Delay the Frigate will sail before the Result is known here.
The Hon^ble Delegates from We are Gent
Maryland, in Congress with great Esteem
Y^r most obed^t Serv^ts