SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 105

SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND.

PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLIES.

The earliest Provincial legislative bodies were primary assemblies,
the Governor issuing personal writs of summons to the members of
the Council and a few others, as often as he thought wise. Some of
those thus summoned in. person, such as commanders of hundreds,
were directed to encourage the attendance of such persons as they saw
fit, and to gire all other freemen of the hundred the privilege to attend
in person or to choose delegates. As a result many proxies were given,,
and complaint arose that the Governor and Secretary were able to con-
trol the Assembly. Until 1650 the Proprietary claimed the sole right
of directing how the Assembly should be constituted, but in that year
and ever afterward each of the hundreds elected from one to three dele-
gates. Thus the representative system was inaugurated.

In the early years, all freemen, as well as freeholders, were not only
entitled to a seat in the Assembly, but were liable to fine for failure to-
attend in person or by proxy. A property qualification was imposed in.
1670 (Archiv. 5:77), and was required under the Constitution of 1776.
It was removed by an amendment to the Constitution, Act of 1801, ch.
go, confirmed by Act of 1802, ch. 20.

By ch. i of the Acts of 1650 the Assembly was divided into two-
houses—the Upper House to stand for the rights and interests of the
Proprietary, while the Lower House stood for the rights and interests
of the People.

The local unit of representation was the hundred until 1654, when,
the county became the unit and the writs of election summoned from
one to four delegates from each county.

Date. Place. Adjourned.
1634/5 St Mary's ......................No record.

1637/8 January 25th...........St. Mary's ......................March 24th.

1638/9 February 25th.........St. Mary's, adjourned

same day to St. John's....March 19th.

1640 October isth...........St. John's......................October 24th.

1641/2 March 21st..............St. Mary's.......................March 23d.

1641 August ad...............St. Mary's .....................August 12th.

1642 July 18th................St. Mary's .............. August ad.

September 5th.........St. Mary's...................... September 13th

1643²

1644/5 February 11th..........St. Mary's .....................February nth.

I644³

1646 December 29th........St. Inigoe's.....................Jan. 2d, 1646-7.

1647/8 January 7th............St. John's.......................March 4th.

It was declared by the House at this session that the House of Assembly may
not be adjourned or prorogued but by and with the consent of the House. (Arch-
ives, 1:117.)

²Proclamation issued for Assembly on February 3d, but It was recalled by later
proclamation. Another proclamation was issued for April 3d, but no record of
meeting exists. (Archives, 1:201.)

³proclamation for Assembly to be held on December 3d. No record of meeting.
(Archives, 1:201.)