It is always a delight to me to come to St. Mary's City, this birth-
place of our State so richly endowed by geography and history. More
than three centuries ago, Father White, the Jesuit Priest who landed
here with the first settlers from England, described it as "a spot so
charming in its situation that Europe can scarcely show one to sur-
pass it. " We are pleased that the beauty and the charm which Father
White saw has remained undiminished over the passing years. This
indeed is a hallowed spot — a place which quickens the heartbeat of
Marylanders as they contemplate the noble and heroic chapters of
history which were written here.

Father White described the landing of the first settlers on this
shore with these words:

"We took upon our shoulders a great cross which we 'had hewn out
of a tree, and advancing in order to the appointed place, with the
assistance of the Governor, and his associates and the other Catholics,
we erected a trophy to Christ the Savior, humbly reciting on our
bended knees the litanies of the sacred cross with great emotion. "

It has here more than three hundred years ago that the foundation
of Maryland was laid. It was here that the first laws to govern the
colony were passed. It was here that Margaret Brent stood before the
General Assembly to petition her right to vote, becoming the first
American woman to demand the right of suffrage. It was here that
the first American law was passed acclaiming the freedom of religion.
May I say to you students of St. Mary's that you enjoy a rare privilege
in being able to pursue your studies in such a noble environment.

Just briefly this afternoon, I want to discuss with you some of the
plans your state government has for expanding and enriching the
educational opportunities of the youth of Maryland. One of the most
rewarding experiences of my career as Governor is to have proposed
and initiated a program for the enlargement and improvement of
our system of public higher education. St. Mary's Seminary Junior
College is very much a part of these plans. In fact, it may be said
that your college enjoys a unique role in our scheme. The plan ad-
vanced by the Commission for the expansion of public higher edu-
action ( The Curlett Commission), and put into action by the General
Assembly and me, has been referred to as the "tripartite" program
of higher education. It would perhaps be more accurate to call it a
quadripartite, or four-part, program because of the unique condition
of St. Mary's Seminary Junior College.

The three parts of the program are these:

1. The continued expansion of the University of Maryland, in-

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