"The Catholic colony of Maryland, organized under the auspices
of Lord Baltimore, was the first to establish the principle of
free toleration in religious worship on this continent.

"The Colony of Maryland afforded protection to _all_ persecuted
sects."

Now, in order to judge of Mr. Buchanan's "_perfect religious freedom and
equality_," and Mr. Stephens's "_principle of free toleration_," let us
examine an Act passed April 21, 1649, when Lord Baltimore was in the
zenith of his power:

"Denying the Holy _Trinity_ is to be punished with _death_, and
confiscation of land and goods to the Lord Proprietary (Lord
Baltimore himself!) Persons using any reproachful words
concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Holy Apostles or
Evangelists, to be fined L5, or in default of payment to be
publicly whipped and _imprisoned, at the pleasure of_ his
Lordship, (Lord Baltimore himself!) or of his
Lieutenant-General." _See Laws of Maryland at large, by T.
Bacon, A. D. 1765._ _16 and 17 Cecilius's Lord Baltimore_.

S. F. STREETER, Esq., of Baltimore, is the author of a work entitled
"_Maryland two hundred years ago_." In this work, at page 26, Mr.
Streeter says:

"The policy of Lord Baltimore, in regard to religious matters
in his colony, has, in some particulars at least, been
misapprehended and therefore misstated. The assertion has long
passed uncontradicted, that toleration was promised to the
colonists in the first conditions of plantation; that the
rights of conscience were recognized in a law passed by the
first assembly held in the colony; and that the principal
officers from the year 1636 or '37, bound themselves by on oath
not to molest on account of his religion any one professing to
believe in Jesus Christ. I can find _no authority_ for _any_ of
these statements. Lord Baltimore's first and earlier conditions
of plantation breathe not a word on the subject of religion: no
act recognizing the principle of toleration was passed in the
first or in any following assembly, until fifteen years after
the first settlement, at which time (1649) a Protestant had
been appointed Governor, and a majority of the Burgesses were
of the same faith; and when, _for the first time_, a clause
involving a promise not to molest any person professing to
believe in Jesus Chris