The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-07-05
CORRESPONDENCE of THE SUNDAY HERALD.


Leonard Calvert, the first colonial Governor
of the State, has turned the eyes of all Mary
land once more to this spot, so sacred in the
annals of its early days and deeds, and the
patriotism suggested by the occasion has
brought back to these old shores many
wanderer from scenes and associations of
other days. 1t is hard to look around upon
this almost houseless plain and realize the
record of history-that upon this spot where |
now stand two towns have risen, have filled
the measure of their destiny, and have passed
away. Yet 1t Is so. Here upon the banks of
the fair St. Mary's stood the considerable
Indian town. Yoacomico, when, on the 9th
OF March, 1854, the Ark and the Dove, bear
ing LORD Baltimore's colony of ttwo hundred
Catholic gentlemen" came to their moorings
In the fine harbor before me; and here, around
the cross of tue Maryland pilgrims, arose the
thrifty little city of st. Marys. the pioneer
town of the State and its colonial capital.
Not even their ruins are here to-day so alb
soiute has been the work of destroying time.
Now, where once were streets, and where the
blue smoke, curling upward from hundreds of
Wigwams of the Yoacomcos, guided the weary
voyagers to the spot that was to hold for them
ell future endearments of home, there stands
Q female seminary, erected about 1915, an
Episcopal Church, built of the old State-house
are the bones of many of the original colony.
The old place is full of traditions and remin-
iscences of the early days of Maryland, and
dead as 1t seems to the glories of its past, the
antiquarian comes, here, upon many link that
carries him back to other days.
1t is here that religious liberation, an abso-
lutte freedom OF conscience in religion, had it's
birth in this great Western World. lncom-
prehensible as 1t may seem, those whom ntol-
erance and persecution had driven from the
comforts of the Old World to the wilds of the
New, with the single exception of the Mary
land colony, transplanted in the virgin soil of
their adopted homes the bitter spirit that had
made them wanderers from the land of their
birth. Ostracized themselves ON the north
and on the south, denied even the common
hospitality that the ties of blood and kindred
might have held out to them, and with penal
laws awaiting them should they pass the bor-
ders of their own dominions, the st. Maryans
welcomed 10 their midst all who professed
simply the belief in the Saviour, regardless of
sect or nationality; and hither to this hospita-
bic shore came Puritan and Epscopalian,
Friend and Catholic, with equal protection of
the law. The "Toleration actn was passed by
the Assembly of l649. Under it not only was
entire freedom of conscience guaranteed to all
Christians, but penalties were enacted against
all who should stigmatize his fellow-man
as 'heretic, schismatic, idolater, Puritan, Pa
pist, Calyinst Roundhead, Papist priest,
Jesuited Papist, or by any other name or term
in reproachful manner relating TO matter
of religion" Even before the passage of this
act, and, indeed, from the very inception of
the colony, the oath of Office of the Govern or
and other officers of the Government was
guarantee Of the entire freedom of conscience
and exemption from intolerance of any kind.
1t concluded as follows "And do further
swear that will not myself, or by any other
person. directly or indirectly, trouble, molest
or discountenance any person whatsoever pro-
Tossing to believe in Jesus Christ, # II nor
VIII make any difference of persons in confer
ring offices, rewards, Or favors for or in respect
to his religion, 81 81 and if any other
officer or person wbosoever shall modest or
disturb any person protesting to believe in
Jesus Christ in respect to his religion or in
the free exercise thereof, upon notice or COM
plant therof made to him, | will apply my
power and authority to release any person so
molested; whereby he may have right done to
him" Thus were even the feelings of the
Maryland settlers protected by the humane
laws enacted here; land here' says Bancroft,
religious liberty found home, the only one
In the wide world, at the humble village that
bore the name of st. Mary's." But a
change came, Years afterwards, when the
hospitality OF the colony had attracted many
to this Land of the Sanctuary" and the
Catholic settlers had become a minority, the
"Bue law spirit began to operate: Catholics
were disfranchtsed and debarred from hold
Ing any office in the province; the Episcopal
Church was established by law, and it was
made penal offence for a priest to exercise
Catholic charity had erected an asylum to
which the oppressed of all creeds could fee
so poor thing is human justice! AT a session
OF The Assembly In which no Catholics was
allowed to sit, another ''Act concerning re-
ligion" was passed, which began thus: 'EIt is
hereby enacted and declared that none who
profess and exercise the Papish commonly
called the Roman Cathoic) religion can be
protected on this province by the laws of
England formerly established and yet unre-
pealed, ~ but (are) to be restrained
from the exercise thereof. 1t ended as follows:
"Provided such liberty be not extended to
Popcry or papacy, nor to such as above the
profession of Christ, hold forth and practice
licentiousness," Thus was intolerance sub
stituted for the humane spirit of Lord Balti-
more's colony.
st. Mary's continued to be the capital for
about sixty years. Meanwhile the colony had
extended considerably northward, and the
Puritans OF that section were anxious that the
seat of government should be transferred to
their vicinity. In 1854 Bennett and Claiborne
commissioners of Parliament, who had sue
eeeded in oYeIturning the proprietary govern
ment, and establishing one under the authority
of the commonWt alth transferred the session
of the Assembly to the house of Richard Pres
ton, some miles away on the PatuXent. There
meetings continued to be held till 1859, when
st. Mary's was again restored to favor. In
1858 the determination to force desertioD of
the old capital again showed itself, and the
Offices of the government were transferred to
''The Ridge, A" Anne Arundel County. Finding
the accommodations there insufficient, the
Assembly adjourned to Battle Creek, on the
PatuXent, and thence, after three days ses-
sion. hack a After the PrDfpstaut