PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor                             Ch. 583

[5-212.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Part III of Title 4, Subtitle 4 of the State Finance
and Procurement Article, and subject to the availability of funds and in accordance with
other provisions of this subtitle regarding the Historic St. Mary's City Commission, the
Commission, with the concurrence of the Secretary, may enter into agreements with
preservation land trusts, foundations, and other entities for the purpose of acquiring title
to or an interest in property in Historic St. Mary's City that is owned by such an entity or
on which the entity holds an option or a contract to purchase.]

Article - Education

SUBTITLE 5. HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY COMMISSION.
PART I. ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY COMMISSION.
24-501.

THERE IS A HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY COMMISSION.

24-502.

(A) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DECLARATIONS AND

FINDINGS:

(1) ST. MARY'S CITY IS THE BIRTHPLACE AND FIRST CAPITAL OF
MARYLAND AND OCCUPIES A UNIQUE PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHICH
DESERVES HONOR AND RESPECT. ST. MARY'S CITY IS THE POINT OF ORIGIN OF
MANY OF THE SEMINAL AND VITAL SOCIAL, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AND HUMANE
PRECEPTS OF OUR NATION AS LATER CAME TO BE REFLECTED IN THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION AND BILL OF RIGHTS. ST. MARY'S CITY SHOULD BE
PROTECTED AND DEVELOPED AS A MEMORIAL TO MARYLAND'S HISTORICAL
BEGINNINGS AND HER EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS NATION.

(2) (I) MANY MARYLAND AND NATIONAL "FIRSTS" OCCURRED AT ST.
MARY'S CITY. ST. MARY'S CITY WAS THE PLACE WHERE:

1. THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE WAS FIRST
PRACTICED IN THE UNITED STATES STARTING IN 1634;

2. MATHIAS DE SOUSA WAS THE FIRST MAN OF AFRICAN
DESCENT TO VOTE IN A LEGISLATURE IN 1645;

3. THE FIRST WOMEN'S REQUEST FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE
WAS VOICED BY MARGARET BRENT IN 1647; AND

4. THE FIRST RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE ACT WAS ADOPTED IN

1649.

(II) IN ADDITION, HISTORIC ST. MARY'S CITY IS ONE OF THE
OLDEST AND BEST PRESERVED EARLY COLONIAL TOWN SITES REMAINING IN
AMERICA. THE FIRST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL IN THE ENGLISH COLONIES WAS

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