MARYLAND. One of the thirteen original states of the Union.
The territory of Maryland was included 'in the grants previously made to companies formed for the settlement of Virginia. Out of these Virginia grants Maryland was granted by Charles the First, on the 20th of June, 1632, to Cecilius Calvert, Bar on of Baltimore. The first settlement under the authority of Lord Baltimore was made on the 27th of March, 1634, in what is now St. Mary's county. Some settlements were previously made on Kent Island, under the authority of Virginia.
During its colonial period, Maryland was gov erned, with slight interruptions, by the lord pro prietary, under its charter.
In Cromwell's time the government of Maryland was assumed by commissioners acting under the commonwealth of England ; but in a few years Lord Baltimore was restored to his full powers, and re mained undisturbed until the revolution of 1688, when the government was seized by the crown, and not restored to the proprietary till 1715. From this period there was no interruption to the proprietary rule until the revolution.
The territorial limits of Maryland were some what obscurely described in the charter ; and long disputes arose about the boundaries, in the adjust ment of which this state was reduced to her present limits.
The lines dividing Maryland from Pennsylvania and Delaware were fixed under an agreement be tween Thomas and Richard Penn and Lord Balti more. See DELAWARE.
By this agreement, the rights of grantees under the respective proprietaries were saved, and pro vision made for confirming the titles by the govern ment in whose jurisdiction the lands granted were situnted. The boundary between Maryland and Virginia has never been finally settled. Maryland claimed to the south branch of the Potomac; but Virginia has held to the north branch, and exer cised jurisdiction up to that line. The rights of the citizens of the respective states to fish and navigate the waters which divide Maryland and Virginia were fixed by compact between the two states in 1785.
The first constitution of this state was adopted on the eighth day of November, 1776. Subsequent constitutions, were adopted in 1851 and 1864. The present constitution was adopted in 1867 and went into operations on the fifth of October in that year. An amendment adopted in 1912 authorized the legislature to abolish 'the punishment of voters who sell their votes, and to place the penalty on the vote buyer only.