SKETCH OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF
MARYLAND.

Our State was first settled by emigrants from England, Ire-
land, and in small numbers from Scotland, the national charac-
teristics of these settlers are still apparent, and in a very great
degree the excellencies of each without their defects, are to-day
well represented in the characteristics of the people of our

State.

The title to the aboriginal lands was procured by fair pur-
chase and at no time during the Colonial history of Mary-
land was there war or even serious difficulties with the Indi-
ans, except for a very brief period when they were instigated
to some deeds of violence by the wiles of Claiborne; these last-
ed but a short time, and had no recurrence. On the first
landing of the Pilgrims, the natives received them with dis-
trust but the Maryland settlers, mindful of the claims of
iustice, sought to conciliate the natives and acquire equitable
title to their lands. They purchased a defined district for
good consideration, but the crowning glory of our early set-
tlers was absolute freedom of religion, and the enunciation of
that doctrine by enactment of the Supreme authority of the

Province.

This is no the place to elaborate this subject, but we have
the privilege and just pride of being descendants of those who
acted fairly with the weak, who did not cower before the
strong of men, who did not arrogantly thrust themselves
between their fellow-men and their Creator; but left all free to
render homage to their God fully and freely an the mode
most congenial to the instincts of their own heart, the dic-
tates of their own reason, and the teachings of their own faith.

The heroism, bravery and self-sacrificing spirit of her peo-
ple were well illustrated in the war of the Revolution none
of the "old thirteen" have a prouder record, none can claim
to have made mere willing sacrifices, none with more freedom
from selfish views.

The partiality of sectional writers has not yet done justice
to the Revolutionary history of Maryland, and many have
blazoned forth actions as wonderfully meritorious which
when done by the colony of Maryland, have never been pro-