On a second reading of the Representation from the Committee for Caroline County, relative to John Williams,

Resolved, That the Committee for Caroline County take from John Williams sufficient security as to his future behaviour, and discharge him from further confinement, upon his paying the expenses of his imprisonment, to be ascertained by the said Committee, and that in case of his future misbehaviour, they proceed with him according to the Resolves of this Convention.

The Petition of Alexander Ogg, of Calvert County, was read a second time, and granted.

Convention adjourns till Monday morning, seven o’clock.

Monday, August 14, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That the Rules and Regulations established by the Continental Congress for the government of the Continental Army, be published with the Proceedings of this Convention.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen appointed to receive Moneys for the purchase of Arms and Ammunition, return a list thereof to the Treasurer of each Shore.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of each Shore pay the sums of Money advanced agreeable to such list, to the residents of their respective Shores.

Ordered, That out of the publick Arms in possession of Colonels Joshua Beall, Richard Lloyd, Edward Lloyd, and Henry Hooper, a quantity of Arms with a proportion of Lead and Ammunition sufficient for a Company, be by them delivered to such Captain of Minute-men, as the Council of Safety shall direct.

The Committee appointed to inquire into the practicability of establishing a Manufactory of Arms in this Province, and the expense and best mode to carry the same into execution, brought in their Report, which was read a first and second time, and referred for consideration to the next Provincial Convention. (No. 12.)

Resolved unanimously, That the following Association be signed by the Members of this Convention, and by all other the Freemen of this Province. (No. 13.)

Association of the Freemen of MARYLAND, JULY 26, 1775.

The long premeditated, and now avowed design of the British Government to raise a revenue from the property of the Colonists, without their consent, on the gift, grant, and disposition of the Commons of Great Britain; the arbitrary and vindictive statutes passed under colour of punishing a riot, to subdue by military force and by famine the Massachusetts-Bay; the unlimited power assumed by Parliament to alter the Charter of that Province, and the Constitutions of all the Colonies, thereby destroying the essential securities of the lives, liberties and properties of the Colonists; the commencement of hostilities by the Ministerial forces, and the cruel prosecution of the war against the people of the Massachusetts-Bay, followed by General Gage’s Proclamation, declaring almost the whole of the inhabitants of the United Colonies, by name or description, rebels and traitors; are sufficient causes to arm a free People in defence of their liberty, and to justify resistance, no longer dictated by prudence merely, but by necessity, and leave no alternative but base submission, or manly opposition to uncontrollable tyranny. The Congress chose the latter; and for the express purpose of securing and defending the United Colonies, and preserving them in safety against all attempts to carry the above mentioned Acts into execution by force of arms, resolved that the said Colonies be immediately put into a state of defence; and now support, at the joint expense, an Army to restrain the further violence, and repel the future attacks, of a disappointed and exasperated enemy.

We, therefore, inhabitants of the Province of Maryland, firmly persuaded that it is necessary and justifiable to repel force by force, do approve of the opposition by arms to the British Troops employed to enforce obedience to the late acts and statutes of the British Parliament, for raising a revenue in America, and altering and changing the Charter and Constitution of the Massachusetts-Bay, and for destroying the essential securities for the lives, liberties and properties of the subjects in the United Colonies. And we do unite and associate as one band, and firmly and solemnly engage and pledge ourselves to each other, and to America, that we will, to the utmost of our power, promote and support the present opposition carrying on, as well by arms, as by the Continental Association, restraining our commerce.

And as in these times of publick danger, and until a reconciliation with Great Britain on constitutional principles is effected, (an event we most ardently wish may soon take place,) the energy of Government may be greatly impaired, so that even zeal unrestrained may be productive of anarchy and confusion; we do, in like manner, unite, associate and solemnly engage in maintenance of good order and the publick peace, to support the civil power in the due execution of the laws, so far as may be consistent with the present plan of opposition, and to defend with our utmost power all persons from every species of outrage to themselves or their property, and to prevent any punishment from being inflicted on any offenders, other than such as shall be adjudged by the Civil Magistrate, the Continental Congress, our Convention, Council of Safety, or Committees of Observation.

Resolved, That the Committees of Observation in every County, as soon as conveniently may be, appoint persons in each Parish or Hundred to offer or carry the said Association to all freemen resident within their County, (the household of his Excellency the Governour excepted,) and require their subscription to the same; which Associations, when subscribed, shall be returned by the Committees to the Convention. And incase any freeman within their County shall not subscribe, upon application or within ten days thereafter, his name shall be returned by the said Committee to the next Convention, to the end that the Convention may take order therein.

The Convention resumed the consideration of the Report read on Wednesday last, which was debated by paragraphs, several amendments made, and the following parts agreed to.

Resolved, That there be forty Companies of Minute-Men enrolled in this Province as soon as may be, each of which Companies to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Sergeants, four Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer, and sixtyeight Privates; and that the said forty Companies be enrolled in the Counties and proportions following, to wit:

In Worcester one, Somerset one, Dorchester two, Talbot one, Caroline one, Queen Anne’s two, Kent one, Cecil two, St. Mary’s two, Calvert one, Charles three, Prince George’s three, Anne Arundel four, Baltimore five, Harford three, Frederick eight—40.

And that for the enrolment of every such Company, a proper person be appointed by the Committee of each respective County, to enlist a sufficient number of men who shall voluntarily offer themselves, to make up the Non-commissioned Officers and Privates of each of the said Companies, for their respective County; in the enrolment of whom care shall be had that the men be strong and effective, and live as convenient as may be for their frequent and ready assembling and exercising together.

That the form of the enrolment of Minute-Men be as follows, to wit: “We, whose names are subscribed, do hereby enrol ourselves into a Company of Minute-Men for. . . . . . County, agreeable to the Resolutions of the Provincial Convention held at Annapolis the 26th day of July, 1775, to continue such until the 1st day of March next, and engage that we will respectively march to such places, either in this or the neighbouring Colonies, and at such times as we shall be commanded by the Convention, or the Council of Safety of this Province, or by our Officers in pursuance of the orders of the said Convention or Council; and that we will respectively fight with and employ the arms wherewith we are entrusted for the preservation of American liberty, against whomsoever we shall be commanded, by such authority as aforesaid, with our whole power. Witness our hands this. . . . . day of . . . . . 1775.”

That each Company as soon as enrolled and reviewed and allowed by the Committee of their County, or by such person or persons as shall be appointed by such Committee