DEDICATION TO GENERAL WILLIAM SMALLWOOD 227

General Washington and lie was given a vote of thanks by Congress
in 1780 for his later heroism at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina.

He remained in the Army until November 15, 1783. William Paca
was then serving as the third Governor of Maryland.

On his return to civilian life, like some other military heroes of the
day, he was the people's choice for elective office. He was elected to
Congress in 1785, but before he could begin his duties in that office
he was chosen in November of that same year to be Governor of
Maryland.

General Smallwood served three consecutive one-year terms as
Governor. We probably remember less about his accomplishments be-
cause, at that period in its history, the new and fledgling republic had
reached its low water mark as an independent nation. The colonies
had granted very small power to its central government, and the
country was generally in a chaotic state.

It was during the Smallwood Administration that the Constitution
of the United States was ratified by Maryland — on April 28, 1788.

Governor Smallwood's Administration also witnessed the beginning
of the work to improve the navigation of the Potomac River, the
settlement of the claims of British creditors and the devising of
methods of paying the national debt. I am sure he would find in-
credible the national debt today.

He was succeeded in office in 1788 by General John Eager Howard,
also of Revolutionary War fame, and retired to his estate here in
Southern Maryland. He died at Mattawoman less than four years later
at the age of 60, still unmarried.

He was a dedicated patriot and a conscientious and able public
servant. It is fitting that we recognize him as such in this ceremony
today, and that you preserve in bronze for future generations the
memory that here lived a great Marylander.