ABSTRACT

In 1766 the colony of Maryland faced a problem that members of the Lower House believed could only be solved by a lottery. The Upper and Lower Houses in the colony rarely agreed on issues; the Lower House saw itself as representing the people, and believed the Upper House represented the Lieutenant Governor and the Proprietary interests of Frederick Calvert, Baron Baltimore. 1 The latest legislative dispute arose over the salary of the Upper House’s clerk, which the Lower House believed should be paid for by the Upper House and not the citizens of Maryland. The Upper House believed the salary should be levied by a tax, and vowed to refuse payment for a London agent chosen by the Lower House as long as their clerk’s salary was not raised.