POLITICAL CHARACTER. 21

the state, nor soiled the fair pages of her history
with the blood of martyrs.

The first General Assembly of Maryland
was convened in Feb. 1634—5, a few months
after the landing of the first settlers. It was
composed of the whole body of the freemen.—
A sense of their rights and privileges as such,
seems to have been infused into their acts,
which were probably not approved by the Pro-
prietor, who transmitted in turn, for their con-
sideration, a codt of laws prepared by himself.
This code was laid before an assembly, sum-
moned to meet in January, 1637—8, which re-
jected it without hesitation, and immediately
prepared a body of regulations adapted to their
own situation.

From this early period of the colony, a spirit-
ed contest was maintained between the people
of the state and the authorities that governed
them, respecting the extent and construction of
their respective prerogatives, serving to fan the
flame of freedom, and to prepare the people to
resist the more formidable encroachments of
royalty itself.

From the date of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, July the 4th 1 776, this, as will as the other
states of the then confederation, became AN IN-

DEPENDENT STATE.

Gratitude is justly due to the worthy indivi-
duals who composed the Patriot Congress of that
period. What an assemblage of wonderful men!
Each name has been deeply engraved upon a