|
|
L. H. J.
Liber No. 50
May 5
p. 175
|
and a sincere Regard for the People committed to my Care, will
always make me extremely cautious, and avoid every Step that might
give them just Cause of Discontent or Uneasiness, or tend to alienate
their Affections from his Lordship's Government; and I cannot
believe that any Governor in his Senses, would ever think of harrass-
ing the Militia of this Province in such a Manner or with such a
View, tho' he was intirely Independent and not answerable to any
Superiors for his Conduct.
If the March of those Militia was lawful and necessary, and I
hope you are by this Time clearly of Opinion it was both, the Im-
pressing Provisions for them in the Counties whence they marched,
was a Measure that could not be well avoided, notwithstanding the
Country was thereby put to some extraordinary Expence on Account
of the Carriage. That Provisions may be bought for ready Money
at a cheaper Rate in Frederick County than on the Eastern Side of
the Bay, is perhaps true; but what was that to me who had not ready
Money to purchase with. Suppose I should find myself obliged to
defend or protect this Country with Militia as long as it shall continue
in the Circumstances described in our Laws, Ought the People of
Frederick County alone to supply them gratis with Provisions ? Or,
in other Words, Should the Principal or almost the Whole Burthen
of such a Defensive War, fall upon those that are supposed to be the
least able to bear it? This, I am satisfied, was far from being the
Desire of the late Lower House of Assembly, when they told me in
their Address, that they were sensible the Impressing Provisions for
the Militia from the Frontier Inhabitants, might greatly distress
them, and when they made Provision for the immediate Payment of
any Persons that would engage to victual such Militia; if you con-
sider likewise the Difficulty a Press-master must meet with, as well
as the Time that must be spent in collecting any considerable Quantity
of Provisions, and the Loss any Officers of Militia would be at in a
County where they should neither be acquainted with the Press-
masters, nor any other Person; you will, I flatter myself, be recon-
ciled to all the Steps that have been taken, especially when the Gentle-
men of Calvert County have told you, that the principal, if not the
only, Reason, why the Company of Militia, commanded by Captain
Brome, delayed to march so long after he received my Orders, was,
that a sufficient Quantity of Provisions could not be collected for
them so soon as was expected, and that they were afraid of suffering
through Want of Food, after they should arrive at their Place of
Destination.
|
|
|
|
p. 176
|
I am obliged to you for believing, that I did not order the Militia
from Kent, Queen-Anne's and Calvert Counties now, or from Anne-
Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Frederick and Prince-George's Coun-
ties heretofore, with an Intention to disquiet and distress the good
People of any particular Parts of the Province. In this you do me
|
|
