The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-07-07

Us, Our HERES, and Successors, doe
grant free, full and absolute power,
by vertue of these Presents, to him
and his heires, for the good and happy
government of the said Province, to
ordaine, make, enact, and under his
and their scales to publish any Lawes
whatsoever, appertaining either unto
the publick State of the said Province
or unto the Private utility of particu-
lar Persons, according unto their best
discretions, of and with the advise, as
sent and appreciation of the Freemen
of the said Province, or the greater
part of them, or of their delegates or
deputies, whom for the enacting of
the said Lawes, when, and as often as
needle shall require, We will that the
said now Lord Baltemore, and his
heires, shall assemble in such sort
and forme, as to him or them shall
SCENE best.
The Charter provided for "the es-
tablish of Courts and Tribunals, APP
pointments of Judges, Justices, etc."
and arranged for the defense Of the
Province by fortifying it with Cas-
ties, Forts and other places of
strength for the public and their own
private defense at the Appointment of
the said now Lord Baltimore" The
King decreed that all English sub
jects who should go to the Province
"shall remain liege people of us and
that their children born in Maryland
shall be the same. Furthermore"
the Charter provides:
That the way to honors and digni-
ties, may not SCENE to be altogether
borne, and such as shall prepare them
sleeves unto this present Plantation,
and shall desire to deserve we'll OF US,
and Our Kingdomes, both in peace
and war, in so fare distant and re-
mote a Countrey: Therefore Wee,
for Us, Our HERES and Successors,
doe give free, and absolute power,
unto t said now Lord Baltemore, his
heires md assignes, to conferre fav-
ours, words, and honors, upon such
inhab. nts with in the Province
azores d, as shall deserve the same;
and t invest them, with what titles
and di mites soever, as he shall thinke
fit $50 as they do not such as are now
in England).
License was also given to Lord Bal
timore and his heirs
to erect any PARCELS of land within
the Province aforesaid, into Manors
and in every of the said Manors, to
have, and to hold Court Baron, with
all things whatsoever, which to a
Court Baron doe belong, and to have
and hold We've of Franck- pledge (fOr
the conservation of the peace, and the
better government of those Parts,)
by themselves or their stewards, or by
the Lords for the time being of other
Manors, to bee deputed when they
shall bee erected: and in the same, to
use all things belonging to View of
Franck-Pledge.
The document specifically relin-
quishes all rights of the King to col
lect taxes in the Province and adds
the valuable injunction that "the said
Province of Maryland, its tenants
and inhabitants shall not from hence
forth be held or reputed as a member
or part of the land of Virginia or of
any other Colony whatsoever"
The final evidence of the Kings
faith in and devotion to Lord Balti-
more is found in the concluding pro-
vision of the Charter:
And if perchance hereafter it should
happen, that any doubts or questions
should arise, concerning the true sence
and understanding of any word, clause
or sentence contained in Our present
Charter, Wee will, ordaine and COM
mand, that at all times, and in all
things such Interpretation bee made
thereof, and allowed in any of Our
Courts whatsoever, so shall be judged
most advantageous, and favourable
unto the said now Lord Baltemore,
his heires and assignes. Provided, al
wages, that no Interpretation bee ad-
mitted thereof, by which Gods Holy
and Truely Christian Religion, or the
allegiance que uItO Us, OuI 1lSlICo
and Successors, may in any thing suf-
fer any prejudice, or diminution.
***
Mr.. Griswold's copy of the Mary
land Charter may be regarded as one
of the most valuable records of the
States early history known to be in
existence today. Even should the
original be discovered-a possibility
that becomes more remote as the
years pass-its value scarcely will be
diminished. Maryland historians ex-
press the hope that some day Ito
gether with DR.. Young's collection of
Calvert papers and several other
known collections of documents of the
early period) it may be placed in COM
pany with the States own historical
treasures in the new Maryland Hall
of Records, which is planned as sub
stantial contribution by the State to
the Tercentenary of 1884.
MT. LAKE PARK