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chanics, the actual manufacturers of the 178Q's, in these soci-
eties for promoting manufacturing. In some cities, however,
they did have separate societies. Although the mechanics in
Baltimore had no formal organization, they were said to have
been very active in promotional measures.63
Many newspaper essayists advised artisans and manufactur-
ers that they should secure aid and protection from the state.
One who addressed himself " to the Tradesmen and Manufac-
turers of Baltimore-Town " could not understand why the
manufacturers " should not be as worthy of the notice of the
legislature " as the farmers and merchants and why " laws
should not be passed for our own manufacturers as well as
agriculture and commerce." 5¢ A case of the " manifest negli-
gence " with which the manufacturers had been treated was
cited by one writer. The Baltimore County delegation to the
General Assembly had promised to act upon the 1785 petition
of the Baltimore Association of Tradesmen and Manufactur-
ers but had not kept their promise." The only remedy that
these writers could prescribe was that the voters of Baltimore
County, where most of Maryland's manufacturing was carried
on, should refuse to elect to the House of Delegates farmers
who objected to the occupations of the merchant or mechan-
ic.sB Continuing failure awaited the manufacturing interests
unless they chose " lovers of their country, of industry, econ-
omy, and frugality " 57 to represent them.
At the end of the Revolution, sectionally differentiated as
the state was, Maryland essayists sought to promote the wel-
fare of the whole state by pointing out the desirability or the
necessity for improvements in agriculture and commerce and
especially the introduction and protection of manufacturing.
For the encouragement of manufacturing after the war, one
would have to give some of the credit to private citizens and
s° Ibid., pp. 225, 227.
s~ B. Md. Gaz., Aug. 15, 1786. He continued ". . , as the father of a family
would . . not . . provide for only two-thirds-of-his family and leave the
other third to shift for themselves, perhaps to perish, so by a parity of
reason,
I conclude, that when our political fathers wholly neglect one class . . and
bestow all their attention to the other two, they are equally censurable."
ss Ibid.
s° Ibid, July 18, 1787, " A Friend to Equal Justice."
s° Ibid, Aug. 15, 1786.
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