Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-03-06
CONVENTIONAL REFORM BILL

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CONVENTIONAL REFORM BILL
An act to provide for taking the sense of the people
upon the expedency of calling a convention, to
frame a constitution and form of government
for this State, and to provide for the election of
delegates to such convention.
Sec., l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly
of Maryland, That for the purpose of ascertaining
the of the people of this State, to the eXpe
dency of calling convention of delegates to be e.
lected by the people to frame constitution
and form of government except SO far regards
the rights and relations existing between master
and slave established and sanctioned by the
constitution and form of government of this State,
is hereby recommended to the legal voters of this
state that on the second Wednesday in May next,
and at the same places where county and city cleo
tons held, that every person entitled to
vote in the election of delegates to the general
sembly, shall vote with reference to the questiHR
ton proposed by this act by expressing in writing
or in printed form, the ballot he may cast, the
words "For Convention,'' the words Against
Convention" as the case may be- and in case there
should be any ballots without the designation here
inbefore prescribed, the same shall not be counted
either for against convention, but separate
turn of the same shall be made by the Judges of
election aforesaid, and it is also provided that
the sherffs of the several countless of Howard Dis
of the day which under the provisions of this act,
the people are recommended to ASSEMBLE to vote
for or against the said convention in the same man
notice is given Of the election of dele
gates to the general assembly.
Sec 9 And be it enacted That it shall be the
duty of the several ud of election of this State
to receive, accurately count, and duly return the
number OF ballots cast to the several clerks of
the county courts of this State as the same
required TO be returned in the election of members to
the House of Delegates. and the several clerks
toreshid shall make return to the Governor with
in ten days after said election the number of ballots
given for against the call of a convention, and
the number Of blank ballots cast in the same man
they return the number of ballots for the
governor of this State, and the laws regulating
the returns for the said governor, shall regulate,
govern and apply to the vote recommended to
be taken by the provisions of this act, and Judge
or Judges of election failing to comply with the
provisions of this act shall be liable to the same
penalties as he or they would be by the non-com-
pliance with the existing election laws of this
State.
Sec. 8. And be it enacted, That as soon as the
governor shall receive the returns of the number
of ballots cast in this State, for against conven-
venton, and blank ballots cast, it shall be the duty
of the governor, the chancellor of this State, and
the chief judge Of the court of appeals, maj TO-
rity OF them to proceed to count and cast up the
same and if upon casting up the returns made to
him by the Judges of election as hereinbefore pre-
scribed, it shall appear to the governor chancellor
and chief judge of tho court of appeals, maj ri
ty of the said officers that aority Of legal voters
of the State in favor of call of convention,
the governor shall issue his proclamation ordering
an election to be held in the several counties and
city of Baltimore the first Wednesday of Sep.
TENDER, eighteen hundred and itiv for Delegates to
the convention to form new constitution and form
Of government in such manner and under such re-
gulatons hereinafter provided Provided,
That if the chancellor and chief judge shall refuse
to act then the governor shall alone proceed to dis
charge the duties specified in this section.
Sec. 4. And be it enacted, That at the election to
be held for delegates to the convention as prescrib
ed in the third section of this act the legal voters
shall proceed, by ballot, to elect delegates to the
convention, whose qualifications shall be the same
those now required for seat in the House of
Delegates, and each county and city of Baltimore
shall be entitled to the number of Delegates to
the convention, as they now have respectively in
both houses of the General Assembly of MARYLAND
and it is also provided, that the sheriff of each coun-
y, OF Howard District, and ofthe city of Baltimore
shall We notice that the vote is to be taken as to
convention as herenbefore provided for by publica-
ton, at least week for three weeks before the
period fixed by the provisions of this act for holding
of the same.
Sec. 5. And be it enacted, That the laws rela-
ting to the election of delegates to the General As
semby, shall in all respects govern and apply to the
election OF delegates to the said convention and the
said convention shall determine on the validity of
the election and qualification of its members.
Sec. 6. And be it enacted, That the convention
assembling in accordance with the call ofthe people,
and this act Of assembly, shall meet at the city of
Annapolis GU the first Monday of November eigh-
teen hundred and fifty, and the said convention shall
continue in session from day to day, until the bust
ness for which they have been convened, shall be
fully completed and finished, and the compensation
of the delegates to the said convention shall be four
dollars day, and the mileage now allowed by law
to members of the House of Delegates; and the said
convention shall have power to appoint such clerks
and other officers, as may be deemed necessary TO
facilitate the transaction Of the business of the con-
vention, and to fix their compensation and that the
Treasurer of the State of Mary land shall pay upon
the order of the President of said convention, to
each member thereof, the said sum of four dollars
per day, and the mileage allowed by law to
members of the House of Delegates, as herein pro-
vidcd and shall also pay to the said clerks or other
officers, upon the order of the said President such
compensation thes said convention shall determine
TO allow.
Sec. 7. And be it enacted, That if any vacancy
or vacancies occur by DEATH resignation or other
wise, in either of the delegations herenbefore pro-
vided for, either before after the qualification of
said delegates the sheriff of the county, Howard