Manuscript, possibly an address, written in support of the Federalist candidates for the Maryland legislature, and against the candidacy of the Democrat Samuel Smith (1752-1839) for the United States Senate.

The present manuscript also deals extensively with Church - State issues, especially with what was termed the "Church Bill." This was an effort to make changes in the laws dealing with corporations in the State of Maryland which would provide some benefit to churches and religious institutions. The Democratic Party apparently seized upon this issue and strove to portray it as an effort by the Federalists to provide advantages to the Protestant Episcopal Church, in an effort to steer away attention from an alleged financial impropriety of Smith.

"...they have seized hold of what they call the Church Bill and are laboring by the foulest deceit to make Religion itself an instrument of party politics, in a manner disgraceful to themselves and disgusting to all good Christians. A handbill upon this subject whose author has had the impudence to insult a respectable religious society by signing the honest name of "a Federal Methodist" to his own indecent falsehoods... the charge is that a Federal House of Delegates have passed a bill giving superior privileges and power to the convention of the Protestant Episcopal church, and that it was designed to exalt that Church above every Religious denomination in the State..."

The author goes on to refute these charges in a well reasoned and methodical fashion. He points out the fact that the Church Bill was supported and voted upon by members of every party and religious denomination. He also supports the constitutional right of religious freedom and liberty in no uncertain terms.

The present manuscript either intended as a speech or address does not appear to have ever been printed either in pamphlet, or broadside form.

An interesting look at the rough and tumble world of politics in the early republic and an early instance of the continuing Church - State debate.