of their political partialities and prejudices, so
that when they come to act on the question,
which perhaps for weal or wo. may decide the
future happiness and prosperity of Maryland,
their judgment may be such as in after time, to
afford them consolation for the wisdom and dis-
cretion they displayed. I trust that in their ac-
tion here they may neither turn to the right
hand nor to the left, I mean not to inquire
whether the vote they intend to give, or the
sentiments they utter, is going to make the Whig
party, or the Democratic party, or to put one or
the other in the ascendency in Maryland. Sir,
I came here for no such purpose. I came here
intending to elevate myself above every thing
like party, and to endeavor to the utmost of my
capacity, to make a Constitution which should
redound to our and Maryland's honor. We may
very well conclude, when we look at the cum-
brous propositions which have been submitted to
the consideration of the Convention, that a most
unfortunate variety of differences exist. Sir, I do
hope and trust that ere we shall have separated,
we shall be enabled to settle down upon some
principle, which will do equal justice to all por-
tions of Maryland, and command the respect of
our respective constituencies. I come from the
mother of counties, and would to God I had the
power of doing justice to the constituency that 1
represent; but language is inadequate fairly to
portray their real character. Sir, from the first
setting of foot upon the soil of Maryland, in
1634, up to the 23d of March, 1851, when I ad-
dress this Convention, the world has never pro-
duced a people who can compare with advantage
with the people of St. Mary's. I mean no disparagement
to other portions of the State.
I say, sir, that the people of Maryland will
proudly compare will any people on the face of
the universe. My friend from Caroline, (Mr.
Stewart,) in the remarks which he had the hon-
or to submit to the Convention, and which, I am
sure, no man listened to with more satisfaction
and attention than myself—unintentionally, I
am sure, did, what I conceive to be, a great in-
justice to the people of Maryland, and particu-
larly that portion, which I have the honor to re-
present.
He never designed it; it is not in his heart to
do it, and he wilt rejoice with me and you, sir,
when I put him right. He said the pilgrim fathers
drove the Indians from our soil.
Now, sir, to the pride and honor of Maryland,
be it spoken, we did not drive them away. I re-
fer to history to sustain the correctness of the po-
sition I have here taken. I hold in my hand a
book written by one of the most distinguished
sons of Maryland—equally distinguished with
any other man in the nation
Sir, my friend was mistaken, and I am sure he
will be glad to know that he was mistaken on
that point. Permit me to read, if you please,
from McMahon's Historical view of the Gov-
ernment of Maryland. I shall only lead extracts
from it, pages 194-5:
"The emigrants consisted of about two hun-
dred persons, principally Roman Catholics, of |
whom, many are said to have been gentlemen of
family and fortune. They reached Point Com-
fort, Virginia, on the twenty-fourth of February
following; whence, after a short stay, they sail-
ed up the Potomac in search of a site for their
colony. After having taken formal possession of
the Province at an Island which they called St.
Clements,"—now known as Blakistone's Island.
That, sir, is within a mile or so of the place
where your humble speaker resides. No won-
der, then, that I, who came from the very spot
upon which the pilgrim fathers first planted their
feet, should feel an interest that their history
should be properly recorded. Sir, it goes on to
say, that they went up the Potomac, and finding
the situation inconvenient, they "deemed it pru-
dent to return, in search of a location, nearer to
the mouth of the river. His, (the Governor's,)
intercourse with the savages at Piscataway, al-
though he was kindly received by them, not
only there, but throughout his progress up the
river, had excited his apprehensions as to the lo-
cation of his colony at so high a point, where in
the event of attack, it might be cut off from re-
treat. Returning down the Potomac, they en-
tered one of its tributary rivers, running into it
from the north near to its mouth. This river,
upon which they bestowed the name of St.
George's river, is known at this day by the name
of St. Mary's river. It flows into the Potomac
between ten and twelve miles above its month;
and alike, most of the other rivers arising in (he
champaign country, adjacent to the bay, at its
mouth, and for several miles above it, it is a
bold, deep and wide stream. Sailing up this riv-
er about six or seven miles, they came to an In-
dian town on the eastern side of the river, called
Yaocomoco, situated immediately upon the river.
The site of this town, the improvements already
made around it, by the Indians, and the depth
and security of the navigation from the Potomac
to that point, presented every facility which the
Governor could desire for the settlement of his
colony."
Sir, it will be remembered that this was Leo-
nard Calvert, George Calvert having died, to
whom the charter was intended to be given, and
Leonard came over to preside over the colony.
He having been appointed by Cecilius Calvert.
"His first act was one of justice and humanity
towards the aborigines, which presents a striking
contrast to the first establishment of the other
colonies. What is now termed by some an act
of cruelty, was at that day considered an act of
almost unexampled humanity. He purchased the
town from the Indians, and established his colony
within it by their consent."
He purchased it. "in pursuance of his agree-
ment with the natives, the colony was disembark-
ed at the town of Yaocomoco, on the 27th of
March, 1634, (we are within five days of the
landing of the Pilgrims,) and took possession of
it by the name of St. Mary's. Then, and thus
landed the Pilgrims of Maryland, and then and
thus were laid the foundations of the old city of
St. Mary's, and of our present State,"
I read this for the purpose of correcting history
as stated by the gentleman from Caroline; and I |
