www Which Assembled at the City of Annapolis, May 8th, 1867, Submitted for Adoption or Rejection by the People, ON Wednesday, September 18th, 1867. PRINTED BY AUTHORITY. ANNAPOLIS: George Colton, Printer to the Convention. 1867. OFFICERS OF THE CONVENTION. PRESIDENT: Hon. RICHARD B. CARMICHAEL, OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY. Secretary-Milton Y. Kidd, of Cecil county. Assistant Secretary-Thomas H. Moore, of Baltimore county. Clerk of Revision and Compilation-Joseph H. Nicholson, of Anne Arundel county. Sergeant-at-Arms-Charles G. Griffith, of Baltimore city. Committee Clerks-John V. Posey, of St. Mary's county; Stephen P. Toadvine, of Somerset county; N. T. Meginnis, of Kent county, and John H. Woodward, of Baltimore city. Door Keepers-John Hagan, of Frederick county; Henry Dryden, of Worcester county. Postmaster-J. E. Bateman, of Harford county. Assistant Postmaster-John W. Patterson, of Allegany county. Hall Keeper--George W. Murdock, of Anne Arundel county. Folders David Barry, of Prince George's county; James Coon, of Washington county; Edward A. Marshall, of Dorchester county; T. G. Watkins, of Howard county. Pages John C. McCabe, of Anne Arundel county; Anthony M. Neale, of Charles county; Henry A. Sommers, of Montgomery county; J. J. Grindall, of Baltimore city; William Chapline, of Baltimore city. Lamp Lighter-John V. Lowe, of Talbot county. Keeper of Rotunda-Thos. A. Mitchell, of Anne Arundel county. Janitor of Committee Rooms Samuel Davis, of Anne Arundel county. Chaplains-Rev'ds: J. J. Henderson, S. V. Leech, J. P. Hammond, and Michael Burke. WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND, GRATEFUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR OUR CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND TAKING INTO OUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION THE BEST MEANS OF ESTABLISHING A GOOD CONSTITUTION IN THIS STATE FOR THE SURE FOUNDATION AND MORE PERMANENT SECURITY THEREOF-DECLARE ARTICLE 1. That all government of right originates from the people, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole; and they have at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their Form of Government, in such manner as they may deem expedient. ART. 2. The Constitution of the United States, and the Laws made, or which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, are, and shall be the Supreme Law of the State; and the Judges of this State, and all the People of this State, are, and shall be bound thereby; anything in the Constitution or Law of this State to the contrary, notwithstanding. ART. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution thereof, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the People thereof. ART. 4. That the People of this State have the sole and exclusive right of regulating the internal government and police thereof, as a free, sovereign and independent State. ART. 5. That the Inhabitants of Maryland are entitled to the Common Law of England, and the trial by jury, according to the course of that Law, and to the benefit of such of the English Statutes as existed on the Fourth day of July, seventeen hundred and seventy-six, and which, by experience, have been found applicable to their local and other circumstances, and have been introduced, used and practiced by the Courts of Law or Equity; and also of all Acts of Assembly in force on the first day of June, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-Seven; except such as may have since expired, or may be inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution; subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and amendment, or repeal by the Legislature of this State; and the Inhabitants of Maryland are also entitled to all property derived to them from, or under the Charter granted by his Majesty, Charles the First to Cæcilius Calvert, Baron, of Baltimore. ART. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative, or Executive powers of Government are the Trustees of the Public, and as such, accountable for their conduct: Wherefore, whenever the ends of Government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual, the People may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new Government; the doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind. ART. 7. That the right of the people to participate in the Legislature is the best security of liberty, and the foundation of all free Government; for this purpose, elections ought to be free and frequent; and every white male citizen, having the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage. ART. 8. That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial powers of Government ought to be forever separate and distinct from each other; and no person exercising the functions of one of said Departments, shall assume, or discharge the duties of any other. ART. 9. That no power of suspending Laws, or the execution of Laws unless by, or derived from the Legislature, ought to be exercised, or allowed. ART. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings in the Legislature ought not to be impeached in any Court of Judicature. 183508 |