Page:The British invasion of Maryland, 1812-1815.djvu/12

 legislature, the measures of the administration with respect to Great Britain have been honorable, impartial and just; that in their negotiations they have evinced every disposition to terminate our differences on terms not incompatible with our national honor, and that they deserve the confidence and support of the nation :

" Resolved, That the measures of Great Britain have been, and still are destructive of our best and dearest rights, and being inconsistent with justice, with reason and with law, can be sup- ported only by force ; therefore if persisted in, by force should be resisted.

" Resolved, That the measures of the administration with respect to France we highly approve, they have been authorised by the law and the fact.

"Resolved, That the acts of injustice and violence committed on our neutral rights by France have excited all that indignation which a lawless exercise of power could not fail to do ; but having now ceased to violate our neutral rights, we trust that the period is not far distant, when by acts of ample justice, all cause of com- plaint will be removed.

"Resolved, That the President's message, moderate, impartial and decisive, deserves all our praise; it points out the best course to an honorable independence.

" Resolved, That the independence established by the aid and valor of our fathers, will not tamely be yielded by their sons ; the same spirit which led the Maryland regulars to battle, still exists in the state, and waits only for its country's call." These resolutions originated in the Senate, where they were unanimously adopted; but they were held up in the House for three weeks and after a number of ballots had been taken on pro- posed amendments thereto, were finally adopted by a vote of 34 to 23.

In addition to placing on record its views as to the justice of the impending conflict, this legislature passed two acts (chapters 182 and 213, Nov. sess. 181 1) for" regulating and governing the militia of the State." The first is a very long document of twenty-eight closely printed octavo pages, covering every contingency that could possibly arise, from the enlistment of men to details con- cerning courts martial. All white male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five were required to perform military duty ;