of the Council of Maryland. 89

supplied. The Recommendation of Congress to restore the Flour,
has been received; but that cannot give us Authority to do it; because,
at the same Time, we were informed by them that the Wants of the
Army were pressing and require immediate Relief. No Inconveni-
encies have, as yet, we apprehend, have arisen from the Seizure and
as the Obstruction to the Navigation still remains, we flatter our-
selves it will be in our Power to obviate any; to that End, as well as
with a View of removing every Cause of Uneasiness or Disgust, we
have called a Meeting of the General Assembly the second Day of
March next in Order to Submit to their Consideration your Excel-
lency's Letters and the whole Proceedings of the Commissioners and
we have no Doubt but that the Result of their Deliberations will be
highly satisfactory to your Excellency. We cannot refrain from
expressing our Disapprobation of the Conduct of M^r Smith, in re-
sisting the Officers appointed to carry the Law into Execution.
Whatever his Sentiments might be respecting the Propriety of it, we
think, an Attempt in any Individual to trample on the Authority of
the state and to frustrate its Acts, ought not to escape without Re-
proff. It is not in our Power at this Time to point out any Species
of Misconduct in M^r Smith, or others employed under him in the
Purchase of Flour and Wheat, but as soon as we make any Discovery
of male Practices, we shall impart them that your Excellency may
take proper Precautions to prevent a Repetition

[Council to The Delegates from Maryland in Congress.]

Gentlemen In the Execution of the Law to procure an immediate
Supply &^ca we have been embarrassed, but nothing has given us more
Uneasiness than the Idea that the Conduct of our State, in seizing
the French Flour, may, possibly be imputed to some Motive different
from that of relieving the alarming Distresses of the Army, which
has rendered us the more desirous that you should converse with the
Minister of France and explain the Whole of this Business. We
would have him convinced of our firm Attachment to the Alliance,
our Desire to promote the Interest of France and facilitate the Opera-
tion of their Fleets and Armies, and to supply them with the Means
of Subsistence, and that Nothing but the most urgent and pressing
Necessity could have constrained us to subject the French Flour to
Seizure; that we wish to have, from Congress, or the^: General, that
the Army is supplied, on which Event, we shall not hesitate to order

Liber C C

No. 22

Restitution of the Flour and Wheat, lawfully purchased. We request

vou to explain the Nature of our Power, that we act in a Subordinate
Capacity and cannot make, repeal or suspend the Execution of any
Law. The Minister informs us that he has imparted to M^r Plater,
some fatal Consequences which will result from our not restoring
the Flour besides the Inconveniences suggested to us; we cannot
conjecture what they are. We have not yet been furnished with Re-

p. 68