accusation against him; to have a copy of the indictment or charge, in due time (if required) to prepare for his defence; to be allowed counsel; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have process for his witnesses; to examine the witnesses for and against him on oath; and to a speedy trial by an impartial jury, without whose unanimous consent he ought not to be found guilty. oneself. ART. 20. That no man ought to be com- Evidence against pelled to give evidence against himself in a court of common law, or in any other court, but in such cases as have been usually practised in this State, or may hereafter be directed by the Legislature. be imprisoned, ART. 21. That no free man ought to be Freemen not to taken or imprisoned, or disseized of his free- &c., but by Law. hold, liberties or privileges, or outlawed, or 2 Md. 429. exiled, or in any manner destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land; provided, that nothing in this article shall be so construed as to prevent the Legislature from passing all such laws for the government, regulation and disposition of the free colored Colored Populapopulation of this State as they may deem necessary. tion. ART. 22. That excessive bail ought not to Bail, Fines, &c. be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel or unusual punishment inflicted by the courts of law. rants. ART. 23. That all warrants, without oath, or Search Waraffirmation, to search suspected places, or to seize any person or property, are grievous and oppressive; and all general warrants to search Corruption of Militia. Standing Armies. Military subject to Civil Power. Quartering of Martial Law. Judges. suspected places, or to apprehend suspected persons, without naming or describing the place, or the person in special, are illegal, and ought not to be granted. ART. 24. That no conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate. ART. 25. That a well regulated militia is the proper and natural defence of a free gov ernment. ART. 26. That standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised or kept up without the consent of the Legislature. ART. 27. That in all cases and at all times the military ought to be under strict subordination to, and control of, the civil power. ART. 28. That no soldier ought to be quartered in any house in time of peace without the consent of the owner, and in time of war in such manner only as the Legislature shall direct. ART. 29. That no person, except regular soldiers, mariners, and marines, in the service of this State, or militia when in actual service, ought in any case be subject to, or punishable by, martial law. ART. 30. That the independency and uprightness of Judges are essential to the impartial administration of justice, and a great security to the rights and liberties of the people; wherefore the Judges shall not be removed, except for misbehaviour, on conviction in a court of law, or by the Governor, upon the address of the General Assembly; provided, that two-thirds of all the members of each. House concur in such address. No Judge shall hold any other office, civil or military, or or receive fees or perquisites of any kind for fices. ART. 31. That a long continuance in the Rotation in Of executive departments of power or trust is dangerous to liberty; a rotation, therefore, in those departments is one of the best securities of permanent freedom. ART. 32. That no person ought to hold at Holding Offices. the same time more than one office of profit, created by the Constitution or Laws of this State; nor ought any person in public trust to receive any present from any Foreign Prince, Presents. or State, or from the United States, or any of them, without the approbation of this State. ART. 33. That as it is the duty of every man Religious Liberty to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty, wherefore, no person ought, by any law, to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion or profession, or for his religious practice, unless under the color of religion any man shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any place of worship or any ministry; nor shall any person be deemed incompetent as a witness or juror who believes in the exist Oaths of Office. Disqualification of Ministers and from holding certain property. 3 Md. 119. ence of a God, and that under his dispensation such person will be held morally accountable for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor, either in this world or the world to come. ART. 34. That no other test or qualification ought to be required, on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of office as may be prescribed by this Constitution, or by the laws of the State, and a declaration of belief in the Christian religion; and if the party shall profess to be a Jew, the declaration shall be of his belief in a future state of rewards and punishments. ART. 35. That every gift, sale or devise of Religious bodies land, to any minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for any minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, and every gift or sale of goods or chattels to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, to or for such support, use or benefit; and, also, every devise of goods or chattels, to or for the support, use or benefit of any minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel, as such; or any religious sect, order or denomination, without the leave of the Legislature, shall be void; except always, any sale, gift, lease or devise of any quantity of land, not exceeding five acres, for a church, meeting house or other house of worship, or parsonage, or for a burying ground, which shall be improved, en joyed or used only for such purpose; or such sale, gift, lease or devise shall be void. Oaths. ART. 36. That the manner of administering Administering of an oath or affirmation to any person, ought to be such as those of the religious persuasion, profession or denomination, of which he is a member, generally esteem the most effectual confirmation by the attestation of the Divine Being. of Annapolis. ART. 37. That the city of Annapolis ought Rights of the City to have all its rights, privileges and benefits, agreeably to its charter, and the acts of Assembly confirming and regulating the same; subject to such alterations as have been or as may be made by the Legislature. Press. ART. 38. That the liberty of the press ought Liberty of the to be inviolably preserved. ART. 39. That monopolies are odious, con- Monopolies. trary to the spirit of a free government and the principles of commerce, and ought not to be suffered. &c. Legislature. ART. 40. That no title of nobility or heredi- Titles of Nobility, tary honors ought to be granted in this State. ART. 41. That the Legislature ought to en- Duties of the courage the diffusion of knowledge and virtue, the promotion of literature, the arts, sciences, agriculture, commerce and manufactures, and the general melioration of the condition of the people. People. ART. 42. This enumeration of rights shall Rights of the not be construed to impair or deny others retained by the people. ART. 43. That this Constitution shall not be Alteration of the altered, changed, or abolished, except in the manner therein prescribed and directed. 3 Constitution. |