172 State Papers and Addresses

government for the formation of new States. This stand taken by farsighted
Marylanders was the basis for a national land policy which had an important
part in the nation's later expansion.

From today back 306 years to the founding of Maryland, the pages of
American history are filled with recitations of important contributions made
by the Free State and its citizens. But, in this age of world-wide strife, when
men are reflecting on the curtailment of individual rights throughout all parts
of the world, Maryland's greatest contribution to the American way of living
is easy to discern. She gave the New World freedom of thought and tolera-
tion, and this freedom is jealously cherished and protected along with the
liberty and democracy upon which Maryland, and the other States of this "more
perfect union, " built a government based on individual rights.

How little do our people realize" for instance, the magnitude of Maryland's
contribution to the naval and maritime development of our Nation.

This subject alone deserves volumes, and awaits the industry and enthusi-
asm of those who will some day write them. Merely to mention some of the
Maryland names will point the significance and the way—Nicholson, Wickes,
Decatur, Raphael Semmes.

In one of your nearby valleys there was born the brain from which sprang
the Anthem of our Nation. Another of our sons gave the world one of its
greatest battle songs. How full of significance and nurture for our pride and
our young, were the contributions of Key and Randall when they gave us the
"Star Spangled Banner" and "Maryland My Maryland. "

Such are merely a few scattered suggestions concerning the largely un-
worked field of Maryland history. Let us hope that through celebrations such
as this, and by other means, the pride of our State may be so stimulated, that
some of her own children, if no others, may yet be encouraged to tell somewhat
of her story, in a way it deserves—and has not yet been told.

This anniversary, devoted as it is to the founding of our State, is an oc-
casion on which we may justly express gratification that we are Marylanders.

The heritage of Maryland, by which we are endowed, should ever be re-
membered by our citizens. We do not commemorate merely a landing of Pil-
grims over three centuries ago. The exceptional fact, which Marylanders
throughout history shall always commemorate, is that these settlers had very
definite and avowed purposes underlying their expedition.

First, and foremost, they wished to establish a colony where freedom of
thought would prevail. This then constitutes our first debt to the Maryland
Pilgrims. Happily the following of one's principles is no longer a burning
issue in America, but we should ever remember that it is not an issue today
only because men and women like those landing in St. Mary's County took up
arms to kill it.

Moreover, there was an additional matter at stake. It concerned the whole
principle of freedom, and involved the broad question of self-determination.
The Maryland Pilgrims put forth their efforts for the dignity of the human race.
Theirs was a bold and dangerous proceeding because to pursue such a course
meant danger or death or of penal servitude.

In those days, unhappily, minorities right here in America had to fear for
their lives, for no other reason than that they were minorities. From the very
first, Maryland became the sanctuary of those unhappy exiles. But Maryland
went further than that. With the adoption of the Act of Toleration in 1649, our