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Contempo-
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Pamphlet
Md.Hist.Soc.
p. 28
p. 29
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must appear, to the Eye of unprejudiced Reason, that the poor and
contemptible Figure this Province has made, in giving so little for
His Majesty's Service, is entirely imputable to that Branch. If the
Bill for the Establishment of an Agent in London had passed the
Upper House in the Beginning of the War, there can be no Doubt,
but that our unhappy Divisions would have long ago yielded to a
cordial Co-operation of Endeavours for the public Good, among the
several Branches of the Legislature; and I dare venture to affirm,
that no Colony in America would have exhibited a more active Zeal
for His Majesty's Service than the Province of Maryland, notwith-
standing the false Impressions which may have been received, by
Strangers to the true Reasons of our disunited State. The Charge
then of the Upper House against the Lower House, that they had
sent up the same Bill for His Majesty's Service nine Times, does,
in my Apprehension, retort strongly upon their Honours, because
it has been owing entirely to them, that the Disputes between the
two Houses were not settled long before this Time by His Majesty;
that the Breach between them is as wide now as it was several Years
ago; and the Prospect of an Agreement as remote as ever. So that
in the Language of the Upper House, "the second and third
Meetings in Assembly, for the like Purpose, influenced by the like
earnest Desire for His Majesty's Service, produced the like Bill in
the Lower House, which from the Upper House met with the like
Fate" — Let their Honours remember, that in the Beginning of the
War the Lower House sent them up a Bill for the Support of an
Agent in London, which they were pleased to reject, and that sundry
succeeding Meetings produced in the Lower House a like Bill, for
the like Purpose, which the Upper House, influenced by the like
earnest Desire to submit all Disputes to His Majesty, thought fit
to treat in the like Manner, and while their Honours continue to
entertain a like Confidence in the Goodness of their Cause, it is easy
to foresee, that all future Meetings will be attended with a like Fate.
I will just state the Case in two Words, and trouble the Reader no
farther upon this Point. The Lower House have sent up a Bill,
which they think a reasonable and equitable One. The Upper House
have rejected it, because they think it unjust and oppressive. Say
the Lower House, we will appeal to His Majesty, and let Him decide
between us. No, say the Upper House, we will submit to no such
Appeal.
In the same Paragraph is this remarkable Passage: "Why then,
when other Plans, more just and equal, less intricate in their Nature,
liable to fewer Objections, and infinitely less dangerous to the
undoubted Prerogatives of the Crown, and Rights and Liberties
of the People, than their Favourite Assessment Bill, were framed,
and proposed to those Houses, why were they no sooner proposed
than voted out; but that whatever were their Professions, they had
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