The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-04-06
Convention Act.

"A N ACT to provide for the ia
king the sense Of the people
upon the expediency Of calling
a Convention to frame a new
Constitution and form of Gov
eminent Tor this State, and to
provide for the election oil DEL
egates to such Convention.
Sec. l. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly OF Maryland, That for the
purpose of ascsrtaing the sense OF the
people OF this State, as 10 the oIpcdiencv
OF calling a convention Of delegates to
be elected by the people to frame new
constitution and form OF government. eX
c"Pt so far as as regards the rights and re-
latlons existing between master and slave
as now established and sanctioned by the
constitution and form Of government OF
this State, it is hereby recommended TO
the legal voters OF the State that on the
second Wednesday in May next. and at
the same places where county and civ
elections are now held. that every per
son entitled to vote in the election Of del
egatcs to the General Assembly, shall
vote with reference to the question pro.
posed by this act. by expressing in wri-
ting or printed form, on the ballot he
may cast the word ssFora Convention.
or the words "Against Conventron,'
as the case may be, and in case there
should be any ballots without the desig-
nation heGeinbelore prescribed. the same
shall not be counted either for or against
a Convention, bu, separate return of
the same shall be made by the Judges OF
election as aforesaid, and it ii also provi-
ded that the shrrifls of the several coun-
ties, OF Howard District, and OF the City
Of Baltimore, shall give notice OF the
day on which under the provisions OF
this act, the people ale recommended TO
assemble to vote for or against the said
Convention in the same manner as nntice
is now given OF the election of delegates
to the General Assembly.
Sec. . Aud he ii enacted, That il shall be
the duty Of tho several Judges ofnlectien of this
state 10 receive, accurately count, ana duly re-
turn the number ofb aIlo,s so cast to the sevrra
Clerks OF the county Courts ofthis state as the
same are row required TO be returned in the
election oi members to the House Of DeIr,airs
and the several Clerks aE,rcs, ii shall m,Ha ~
tnrn TO the Governor within ten dnvs nj, ar c,,d
election, the number of ballots given for or a.
gain Il tho call Of Convention = nd tie number
Ut blank ballots caat, in the sllne manner US
they return the number Of ballots for the Gov
ernoI Of this State, and the laws r,pnl,ticr tho
= E,rg /
yeru and apulv IN In, y,,,. ,.,.,n,,,'7ad ;, H.
taken by the provisions f,i,is act, ard ind,,e
or res Of lhe election tailup to cu,ruIv viii
with the provisions % this act, shall he liahIs ia
the same penalties us he or thew would h.. nv
the noncompliance with the existing eIeciion
laws of this state.
See. 3. And be it enacted. That os 500, No
the Governor shah receive the returns or,hs
number o ballots cast in this Stale f1 or ,r,iu,t
"a convention, and blank LalIo,s cast i, sL, no
the duty Of the Governor. the Chancellor II mis-
staia, and the chef iudyc The cour, IF Au,e,ls
or majority of them, To- proceed 10 count md
my up the returns as made To HIM bv The JuGye,
OF election as horelnbefore prescribed, and i.
shall uppaar 10 the Guycrnur (hauceIlor and
Chief Judge Of the Cour, of AppeaIs ora u,-
iority of the lid officers, that a majority of ie-
gal voters Of the State are IN favor Ola call CT
convention, the Governor shall issue his prvsia.
nation ordering an eIeation t. he held IN the
several counties aud city Of Baltimore on the
first " ednesday of September, eighteen hundred
and fifty, for Delegates TO the convention to
frame new constl, Jtlun and form Of yuyersm, n,
in such manner and under such equations as
are hereinafter provided; Provided, That iflha
Chancellor and Clsef Judge shall refuse to oct
ihsn the Governor shall dlnne proceed to dis
charge the duties specified in this section.
Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That al tho cleo
ton to be held for deega ties TO the convention
prrscr ihcd in the third section of lids act TIE
legal voters shall proceed, by ballot, to elect
delegates 10 the convention, whose qualifications
shall be tie same as those now required for sea,
in the House Of Delegates, and each county and
city Of Baltimore. 81, all be entitled to the ia ne
number Of Delegates TO the convrnliouas they
now have respectively IN both Houses Of the
General Assembly of MARYLAND; and ii is also