The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-02-13

GRAFTON of Geo. NOrbury Mackenzie, Esq
One hundred and fifteen years ago today
the first General Assembly of Maryland as
a sovereign State met in Annapolis. The
eve of the historic anniversary was cele'
brated spiritedly in the old capital. The
MARYLAND branch of the Society OF the
Sons of the American Revolution held a
public meeting in commemoratlon OF the
event in the hall of the House of Dele
Dates. which was filled with ladies, mem
bers of the present Legislature, naval Off
GERS and hundreds of other citizens IN
terested in the stirring deeds Of the State 5
early patriots. Lieut.. james c. Cresap,
United States Navy, who is chairman OF
the societys Annapolis branch, called the
meeting TO order and introduced Gen.
Bradley T. johnson, president of the State
organization. General johnson presented
Mr. George Norbury Mackenzie, of Balti-
more, historian of the society, who deliver
ed the Grafton of the evening, and related
in clear and interesting manner the de
yelopment of popular government in the
colony and State.
Mr. MAcKENzIE's GRAFTON.
Mr.. Mackenzie said The first settle
ment of Maryland was made at st. Mary 5
on the north bank of the Potomac river,
on the 9th day of March, 1854. \ little
band of Catholic gentlemen and their ser
wants. numbering in all 200 souls, consti-
tinted the first colony. Unable to enjoy
antrammeled in their native land their
birthright of civil and religious liberty,
they sought in the New World an asylum
from the persecution of tyrannical kings
and parliaments Attracted by the broad
and liberal lines upon which Lord Balti-
more had laid his plans for the settlement
of his princely domain on the shores Of the
noble Chesapeake, colonists were thus early
tempted to try their fortunes under the
benign government of Cecilius Calvert,
and, following the settlement at st. Mary 5,
were others by the Welsh, who composed
the great bulk of the early settlers on the
banks of the Severn and South rivers No
greater acquisition than this sturdy race
could have been bestowed upon land one
day to be called upon to defend its liber-
ties.
THE year following the settlement of
St Mary's an Assembly of the fFeemcn of
the province was held. This was in the
spring or winter of 1875. There are very
few of the records of this date in existence,
but from what were preserved we learn
that every freeman Of the province was
entitled to seat in the Assembly, and it
was in this Assembly that the first strug,
Gle for freemen's rights began. Lord
Baltimore, under his charter, was cmpow-
cred to make laws of and with the advice
assent and appreciation of the freemen OF
the Province of Maryland. The colonists
therefore, demanded this right Of making
their own laws, and the history Of the
Drovince from this point shows an inces
SAINT struggle between popular rights anC
prerogative. The second Assembly of Tho
province was called by Lord Baltimore
January %, 1887, o. S., to consider ;
code he had with great care prepared. l
was liberal and Just in itself, and secured
to the colonists their rights and property
beyond possible encroachments of any la.
or spiritual power. But this code had no
been prepared with the advice and apprc
baton of the freemen, and the assembl
therefore rejected it. Asserting thei
right to legislate for themselves, commit
tee was appointed to draft body of law
for the province This committee sui
mitted forty-two statutes, identical i
scope with the code prepared by the lor
proprietor These statues the Assembl
passed, but while never assented to by Lor
Baltimore, they seem to have been the la
for the colony. Thus second time di
the freemen of the colony assert thei
charter rights of self-legislation.
'gThe first Assembly after the remoy;
of the capital from St. Mary's was held :
Anne Arundel town, as Annapolis wa
then called, on February rs, 1884, o.
During the first half century of the settle
ment of the colony the struggles of til
lower house were with the lord proprieto
and his council In 1879 the Assembl
eonteuded with the lord proprietor for tn
principle, that taxes could not be lawful
imposed but by the consent Of the peopl,
and that the assent of the sembly mus
be first obtained before new offices and me-
fees could be created Twenty yeal
later, in 1857, English interference =,
ceiyed stern and practical rebuke durin
a controversy between Gov. Sharpe an
the Assembly. The militia of Marylan
had been ordered by Lord LoudOn, tn
English commander, to be sent 10 For
Cumberland to garrison that post. Thi
order Governor Sharpe had executed. SUP
plies were needed for the maintenance o
the troop while stationed there, and whe
applied for by the Governor the Assembl
fatty refused to make any appropriation
for this purpose, on the ground that as tn
troops had been raised and paid for by tn
colony without its consent neither tn