Description
Book SynopsisTheir Magistrates and Officials combines narrative, institutional study and biographical approaches to revise our understanding the mechanisms of colonial, imperial, and proprietary government in 18th century Maryland. From the restoration of the colony to the Calverts in 1715, until the Revolution in 1775, governors and their councilors played the dominant role in governance, both formal and informal. They faced a variety of practical and constitutional issues, having to balance local, proprietary and imperial interests. The personality of the governor proved as important as any legalities in dealing with economic, military, and political challenges. Several consistent issues recurred throughout the century - control over fees, the applicability of English statutes to Maryland, regulation of the tobacco trade, supervision of government officials and the clergy, and the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches. The fundamental conflict between Enlightenment ideas and the absolutist Charter of Maryland complicated the political scene, which was already a web of conflicting personal ambitions and personalities. Only a talented and personally popular governor could navigate the political maze to address the economic, military and political issues. Reliance on raw authority yielded mixed results at best. Proprietary and even imperial government appears weak at best. This view of personal and constitutional politics conflicts with earlier interpretations of parties, the rise of the Lower House, and the role of the governors in Maryland politics prior to the Revolution, going so far as to repave the apparent road to that event. Eventually, external factors made it impossible for the proprietary government to continue, even with the most talented leadership, as the colony joined the rebellion against the Crown and the proprietor.
Trade ReviewR. J. Rockefeller highlights the emergence of a strong executive presence in Maryland prior to 1776, and the reasons why the generation of Constitution writing revolutionaries did so much to qualify those powers in the early years of the Republic. This book is thoroughly researched and shows a thoughtful labor of many years. Rockefeller has taken the pioneering work of Frank White and moved it to a new level of scholarship and interpretation for which we are all grateful. R. J. Rockefeller provides a reference work of unquestioned value to the student of Maryland government in the Colonial era. It deserves to be available in every research library, and to be found among the private libraries of every scholar with an interest in Maryland law and society in the years prior to statehood.. -- Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents
R. J. Rockefeller highlights the emergence of a strong executive presence in Maryland prior to 1776, and the reasons why the generation of Constitution writing revolutionaries did so much to qualify those powers in the early years of the Republic. This book is thoroughly researched and shows a thoughtful labor of many years. Rockefeller has taken the pioneering work of Frank White and moved it to a new level of scholarship and interpretation for which we are all grateful. R. J. Rockefeller provides a reference work of unquestioned value to the student of Maryland government in the Colonial era. It deserves to be available in every research library, and to be found among the private libraries of every scholar with an interest in Maryland law and society in the years prior to statehood. -- Edward C. Papenfuse, State Archivist and Commissioner of Land Patents
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Chapter One: Their Magistrates and Officials Chapter 2 Chapter Two: "A Proper Attachment to His Lordship" The Formal Framework of Executive Government Chapter 3 Chapter Three: "You Can't Be Well Served Unless Your Governor Lives Somewhat Like One" - The Governor and Cultural Sources of Power Chapter 4 Chapter Four: "With The Consent of The Freemen"- Agreement on Laws Chapter 5 Chapter Five: "Feuds And Animosities"- Recurrent Issues in Proprietary Maryland Politics Chapter 6 Chapter Six: "The Management of The Assembly"- Executive Devices in The Legislature Chapter 7 Chapter Seven: "That Turbulent and Malevolent Spirit in The Lower House" - Contested Legislation and Perpetual Issues Chapter 8 Chapter Eight: "Make And Constitute Fit and Wholesome Ordinances" - Executive Efforts In Times of Peace Chapter 9 Chapter Nine: "Hold Rudder and Steer Ship"- Executive Action On Times of War Chapter 10 Chapter Ten: "Preserve Some Hold on The Helm Of Government"- Executive Authority in The Face of Revolution Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven: "Private Grudges Gave Rise to Public Measures"- Personalities and Personality Conflicts Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve "Cannot Not Expect All Sunshine" - Evaluation
