Introduction. xvii

and then made a speech to both houses, the purport of which will be referred
to later (pp. xviii, 3.5).

After returning to the lower chamber the delegates chose John Allen Thomas
of Talbot County as Clerk of the House, who, after the Governor had approved
his selection, was escorted to the Upper House where he qualified as Clerk
by taking the same oaths as the delegates had taken and a special oath of
office (p. 70). Captain Robert Saunders was chosen Sergeant-at-Arms, and
Andrew Buchanan, the Annapolis inn-keeper, was chosen Doorkeeper of the
House. Richard Tilghman, Jr. and Richard Tilghman, 111, were selected as
clerks of Lower House committees. Dr. George Steuart of the Lower House
then administered to them all the several oaths mentioned above and also the
respective oaths of their several offices (pp. 70-71). A day or two later
William Wilkins was also appointed one of the clerks of committees (p. 79).

Rule's of order and procedure identical with those that had been used at
preceding sessions were adopted (pp. 71.72), and the hours of sitting were
decided upon (p. 74). The "Reverend Mr. Cain" [Samuel Keene], who offi-
ciated as curate of St. Anne's Annapolis, was selected to read prayers at the
opening and dusing of the daily sessions (p. 74). He had acted in the same
capacity at the April-May, 1761, session.

The house then unanimously adopted a series of resolves, that were identical
with similar resolves embodying the attitude of the Lower House on
sundry political questions in controversy, which had been adopted at previous
sessions for many years. These resolves seem to have the character of a Bill
of Rights for the people and of a Declaration of Independence against Pro-
prietary aggressions. In these resolves vigilance was urged upon the Committee
of Grievances and Courts of Justice of the house to see to it that no changes
be made in the form of the oaths of office taken by judges which would lessen
their obligations to hear and determine all cases according to the laws of
England and of the Province of Maryland, nor were they to be influenced in
any way in their judgments by directions or orders from King or Lord Pro-
prietary. The resolves further affirmed the rights of the inhabitants as free
citizens of a free English colony (and not as inhabitants of a conquered
country) to enjoy and have the benefit of all English laws and liberties. The
resolves also declared that the collection by the Proprietary of an export duty
of twelve pence on every hogshead of tobacco sent out of the Province was not
warranted by law under the Act of 1704 as asserted by the Proprietary, but
that even if that Act were held to be valid, three pence of the twelve pence
should go towards the defense of the Province, and not, like the remainder of
that duty, into the pocket of the Proprietary (pp. 72.74). These resolves have
been more fully discussed in the preceding volume of the Archives (LVI;
xv-xvi).

The house then proceeded to appoint the members of various standing com-
mittees. Those first mentioned apparently acted as chairmen and were in most
cases leaders of the anti-Proprietary majority in the house. The appointment
of committees was apparently made by the house itself and not by the Speaker.
The standing committees of the Lower House were: (i) Committee of Elec-