REMARKS ON THE HISTORY OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FREDERICK

February 15, 1961

Our beloved State of Maryland has had, in all, three capitals, and in
each one of these three our legislative body has performed acts that have
affected the whole nation—St. Mary's City, Annapolis and Frederick.
It is impossible to follow the broad course of American history from
its beginnings to the present without mentioning those Maryland cities
for their contributions, made by acts of our General Assembly, to the
American system, which is now recognized to be the hoped-for system
of the whole free world.

We are a little State surrounded by large neighbors, yet I think our
name is written consistently through the long drama of our nation's
development. And the acts of our General Assembly down through the
years have done much of the writing, not, however, with flamboyance—
never ostentatiously. Our Assembly instead has followed a notably dis-
creet and matter-of-fact pattern throughout its history. It has concerned
itself always with three duties. First, it has conducted the business of the
State. Second, it has contributed, like a conscientious member of a proud
family, to the welfare of the whole nation, when such contributions were
needed. And third, it has firmly and courageously defended its own
rights and prerogatives.

In April of 1861 when it came to Frederick, the General Assembly, was
225 years old. The federal Congress, on the other hand, had existed only
73 years. The State's experience of self-government was older than the
nation's. I do not propose to describe the events which took place here
in your historic city. We saw this afternoon those events played out
dramatically with talent and taste—and I know we shall always
remember them. Let us instead look quickly at some of the events
preceding—high points along the road that led to the momentous
Frederick session.

In the first capital of Maryland, In St. Mary's City, our General
Assembly began its record by requiring the colonial proprietor to concede
it the right to initiate legislation. Thus early it laid down a most
American principle—that, if it were to be a representative body, it would
be a representative body. That was in 1635. Fourteen years later, in
1649, it protected by law the practice of religious toleration which had
been in effect in Maryland since the founding. As to how significant
this act was, I leave to you. There is simply no measurement of it.

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