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I. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION
2. The petition from Baltimore approving the Constitution and recommending that the
legislature call a convention was received by the state Senate on 1 December (RCS:Md.,
97-98n).
Henry Hollingsworth to Levi Hollingsworth
Elkton, 15 October 1787 (excerpt)'
Dear Brother
... our new Assembly are all Federal the question was put at the
Election not only in this County but almost over the State, Sam. Chase
& Luther Martin are against it but I believe it will be accepted with us,
the Sinod will be for it....
1. RC, Hollingsworth Family Papers, PHi. Henry Hollingsworth (1737-1803), an Elk-
ton, Md., merchant, mill owner, manufacturer, and farmer, was a lieutenant-colonel in
the Cecil County militia, 1776, and a colonel, 1779-81. He represented Cecil County in
the House of Delegates, 1789-94, and was a justice for the county, 1789-1803. In the
state Convention in April 1788, Hollingsworth voted to ratify the Constitution. His brother
Levi (1739-1824) was a wealthy Philadelphia merchant who was aligned with Robert
Morris, a Federalist who had opposed the 1776 Pennsylvania constitution for being too
democratic.
Caution
Baltimore Maryland Gazette, 16 October 17871
To the Editor of the Maryland Gazette, &c.
It has been well observed that disputes more frequently arise from
the parties misunderstanding one another, than from any difference in
opinion concerning the subject in dispute. The writer is led to this
observation by what has lately happened to himself.
When the new system of Federal Government was submitted to the
public, it was highly applauded by all ranks of people, even before I
thought they had time to read it; and when I endeavoured to check
this unreasonable ardour, I was charged with entertaining sentiments
inimical to the continental system. When I tried to refute this charge,
by declaring that I had not fully considered the subject, nor made up
my own mind upon it, I was charged with concealing my real senti-
ments. When I dissuaded men from signing a petition to the General
Assembly in favour of the new Constitution,2 I was charged with attempt-
ing to deprive my fellow citizens of the privilege of petitioning the Leg-
islature, and of sowing discord amongst them, by exciting groundless
suspicions of the rectitude of each others conduct and intentions.
And, now when I have duly studied the system of Government, pro-
posed for the United States, and candidly declare my approbation of
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