THOMAS] Maryland's policy toward the Indians 56!) 



south of the I'otomac. But this bouudary liiiti was not suflicieiit to 

 ariest the westward progress of Euglish settlemeut, for it was not long 

 before hardy pioneers had located themselves west of the dividing 

 ridge. This, as a natural conse(|uence, angered the Indians, and col- 

 lisions ensued. 



However, on .Inly 31, 1743, a treaty of peace was concluded at Lan- 

 caster, Pennsylvania, between Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania 

 on the one hand and the Six jS'ations on the other, in which, among 

 other agreements, was oue by which these Indians, for the considera- 

 tion of four hundred pounds, reluctantly relinquished the country lying 

 westward from the frontier of Virginia to Ohio river. 



MARYLAND 



The charter granted June 20, 1632, by Charles II to Cecilius Cal- 

 vert, Baron of Baltimore, contains no reference to the Indians. By 

 section IS, however, full and absolute power is given to the Baron of 

 Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, to — 



. . . nssign, iilieu, gniut, demise or enfeoff' such .aud jiroiiortiouate parts and par- 

 cels of the premises, to any person or persons willing to i)nrchase the same as they 

 shall think convenient, to have and to hold to the same person or persons williu"- to 

 take or purchase the same, and his and their heirs and assigns in fee simple, or fee- 

 tail, or for term of life, lives or years; to hold of the aforesaid now Baron of Balti- 

 more, his heirs and assigns, by so many, such and so great services, customs and 

 rents of this kind, as to the same now Baron of Baltimore, his heirs and assigns, 

 shall seem fit and agreeable, and not immediately of us our heirs or successors. 



The King's right of granting lands in the province being thereby 

 fully and completely transferred to Lord Baltimore, his heirs and 

 assigns, without any reservation or exception in regard to the natives, 

 gave him full authority to deal with them in his own way in reference 

 to their title to and possession of the lands. 



The policy to be pursued was made evident first by action, several 

 years having elapsed after the first settlement before it was announced 

 in an oflflcial manner or enacted into a law. 



The first settlers under Leonard Calvert, brotlier of the Baron, as 

 leader and governor, landed on the 27th of March, 1634, on the north 

 bank of the Potomac and planted themselves in the Indian town of 

 Yodmaco (probably Wicomoco), which they named St Mary's. This was 

 done, however, with the consent of and by agreement with the Indians. 

 In order to pave the way to a peaceable admission into the country, the 

 governor presented to the chief and principal men of the Yoamacoes 

 " some English cloth, axes, hoes, and knives,'' which they accepted with 

 pleasure. They also agreed to leave the whole town to the English as 

 soon as their corn was gathered, which agreement was faithfully carried 

 out. It is sui)i)o.sed that this agreement was facilitated Cy an antici- 

 pated attack by the Susijuehanocks, whom they feared. 



That this was considered a purchase is asserted by Chalmers,' who 



