The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-25


assembled at Annapolis has given rise 10 considerable
cassioa II we remember rightly, many OF the most
prominent members OF the wing party were opposed 10
REFORM and endeavored TO prevent the call Of
ton for that purpose On the other hand the democrats
with great ansnimity advocated REFORM and succeeded
after hard struggle in obtaining a convention Since
the convention has adjourned the old struggle seems to
be renewed large portion of the wing party Directing
TO the ratification of the new constitution
We have not the present constitution of MARYLAND be-
fore u.s. so as TO compare its provisions with those Of the
instrument now pending before the people Of Maryland
Indeed. the space at disposal would not permit us 10
undertake such a task The mos, we can do is 10 pre-
sent some OF the prominent features Of the new consiu
ton.
Inc elective franchise is conferred on every white
male person OF twenty one years of age who shall be
czcn Oh the United States, resident of the State for
one year next preceding the election and for six months
resident OF the city Of Baltimore or of the county in
which he may offer 10 vote
Inc executive authority OF the State is vested in gov
ernor, whose term OF Office is fixed at four years A
person TO be eligible to this Office must be thirty years OF
age and must have been five years citizen of the Uni
ted States and resident five years. next preceding his
election OF the State and three years of the district from
which ne Is chosen. The governor is to be elected by
the people and to that end the State is divided into three
districts from which that officer be chosen in regular
succession In case OF vacancy. the president Of the
senate acts as governor until the vacancy is filed The
governor, BY and with the advice and consent OF the
senate is empowered to designate the chief justice of
the court Of appeals the State treasurer and secretary of
State, and to fill certain vacancies temporarily
The legislature is divided into two branches-the SEN
ate and house OF delegates Each county as well as the
city Of Baltimore elects member OF the senate, whose
term of Office is fixed at four years The members Of the
house OF delegates hold Office for two years II is pro-
vided that
The legislature its first session after the returns OF
the national of eighteen hundred and sixty pub
lished, and in like after each subsequent census
shall apportion the members of the house OF delegates
among the several counties OF the Saie according 10 the
population of EACH and shall always allow the city Of
Baltimore four delegates than allowed
popuous county but county shall be entitled to less
than two members, shall the whole number of dele
gates ever exceed eighty or be less than sixty five"
The new constitution establishes of appeals and
circuit courts. The court of appeals will consist Of
chief justice and three associate justceone elected by
the people of each OF the four districts into which the
State is divided for that purpose The justices OF the
court of appeals hold their Offices for years. and may
be reelected; but their Offices vacated when they
seventy years Of age To establish the circuit courts
the State is divided into eight districts The people Of
each district, excsp, the fifth Baltimore cy.) elect
circuit Judge, who holds his Office for OF ten years.
removable for msdemeanors the conviction OF a court
of law, or BY the governor, the petition of two
thirds OF each house of the general assembly "court
OF common pleas" and superior court are provided
for the city OF Bamoeeach TO consist of Judge TO
be selected the same manner and for the same term as
circuit judges
The comptroller, Stale attorneys, sheris Justices OF
the peace, registers of Wills and, indeed nearly all civil
officers, TO be elected by the people.
Lotteries prohibited and the subject of divorce
placed under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts Of
law Imprisonment for debt is abolished The legisa-
ure is required 10 pass laws TO protect the property of
the wife from the debts OF the husband and 10 protect
from execution reasonable amount Of the property of
debtor, exceeding in value tive hundred dollars. The
egsature is inhibited from passing any law abolishing
the relation Of and slave il exists in the State
II permitted to form corporations under general laws; but
il cannot create corporations by special except
for municipal purposes. and in where the object
| cannot be attained by general law.
We have thus hastily skeched few OF the most promi.
neni points of the constitution pending before the
Maryland people. That instrument contains, however
Two provisions, which we present in full;
'Skc % No debt shall hereafter be co raciei by the
sature unless such debt shall be authorized by a law
providing for the collection OF ANIMAL suf
Gcient pay such debt falls due and
discharge the principal thereof, within fifteen years
fom the time OF contracting The same and the laid
for this purpose shall be repealed applied any
Other object until the said debt and the interest shall
be fully dscha rged and the of debts contracted
aiming unpaid shall exceed hundred thou
dollars The credit OF the State shall any
ner be given loaned in aid Of any individual
isiion, corr shall the general assembly
have the power any mode, TO involve the State In the
construction OF works OF internal improvement, any
enterprise which shall involve the faith credit OF the
STATE make any appropriations therefor. And they
shall appropriate the proceeds of the Internal
i'm provcment companies or OF the State levied
debt to any other OPPOSE, until The and debt
fully paid sinking fund shall be equal the
Of the debt but the egisatare may. without
laying a tar, borrow amount, to exceed fty
,honsard dollars. temporary deficiencies in the
trer.ury aud may debts amount that
be necessary for the defence Of the state
/
"rc. ~ The Legislature hereafter shall grant no char.
ter for banking pufpocs any banking corpora
,on now cxs-uee except upon the condition that the
s,oc holders and directors shall be liable the
eir respective share shares of stock In such banking
institution for all is debts aud liabilities upon note, BILL
otherwise, end upon the further condition that director
other officer Of said corporation shall borrow any money
from said corporation and il any director other officer
shall be upon indictment Of directly indrec y
violating this article, lac shall be punished by fine or i'm.
prsonmept the discretion Of the All banks shall
Ia a H.