Journal of the State Council, 1784-1789. 123

Ordered That the following Proclamation issue, and that a Copy
under Seal be sent to the Sheriff of Charles County, with directions
to publish the same by reading it in the most public places in said
County.

By his Excellency William Smallwood Esquire Governor of Maryland

A Proclamation

Whereas it has been represented that a considerable
number of disorderly Persons lately assembled at Port Tobacco in
Charles County, and during the sitting of the Court for the said
County, entered the Court House in a riotous and tumultuous Man-
ner and obliged Mr. John Alien Thomas one of the Attornies of the
said Court to strike off several Actions which he had brought for
the recovery of British Debts: And Whereas it is of the highest Im-
portance to Government that Right and Justice be duly Administered
in all Cases and that the Judicial Authority of the State be Protected
in the free exercise of all its Powers And Whereas such riotous Pro-
ceedings are highly Criminal and punishable with severe Pains and
Penalties,

I have therefore thought proper by and with the advice of the
Council to issue this my Proclamation requiring all Persons to re-
frain from committing such Violences and Outrages and I do hereby
warn them of the Pains and Penalties which the Law inflicts for
such Offences and of the necessity which Government will be reduced
to of enforcing the Law in the severest Manner; and I do also require
and enjoin all Justices, Sheriffs and other Officers of the Peace to be
vigilant and active in suppressing such disorderly and tumultuous
Assemblies and Meetings and do exhort the good People of this State
to be aiding and assisting the [p 150] said Justices and
Officers in the Execution of their Duty.

Given at Annapolis this Thirteenth Day of July in the Year of
our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Eighty six.

W. Smallwood

By his Excellency's Command.
T. Johnson Jr. Sec'y.

God Save the State.
The Council adjourned 'till tomorrow morning 11 o'clock.

Friday 14th. July 1786

The Council met.

Present His Excellency William Smallwood Esquire.

The Honorable James Brice

John Kilty

William Paca Esquires.