St. Mary's beacon., 1858-04-22
From the annapolis Gdzette.
Reform Convention.

Reform Convention.
The question of the expediency of voting
for" or against Convention to frame a new
Constitution and Form of Government for this
State, now occupying a considerable share of
public attention, we subNin synopsis of the
Law as PASSED at the late session of the Cen
eral Assembly:
Section |, provides that on the fourth We'd
nes'iay of May next, for the purpose of taking
the sense of the people of the State as to the
cXpediency OF calling Convention Of Delegates
to frame new Constitution and form Of Gov
ernment. an election shall he held at the same
places where city and county elections are now
held by law for the election of Delegates and
that every person entitled to vote for Delegates
to the General Assembly shall bc entitled to
vote with reference to the question Of a Con-
venti"n to frame a new Constitution. by ex-
pressing III writing, or in printed form, on the
ballot he may cast, the words For Convcn-
ton, or Against Convention as the case
may be; and III case there be any blank bal
lots cast. the same shall not be counted The
Sheriff of the several counties and the CITY of
Baltimore are required to give notice of the lay
on which the people are to vote for against the
said Convention, in the same manner as notice
is now given of the election Of Delegates to the
General Assembly.
Section 2, directs the Judges of the Election
twho are to be appointed in the same manner
as Judges are now appointed for the election of
Delegates to the General Assembly, to receive.
accurately count. and duly return the number
of ballots cast for and against Convention, to
the clerks of the Circuit Courts of the several
counties and to the clerk of the Superior Court
OF Baltimore city, as the same are now required
k1l ~. Al Il. II
the House of Delegates Ard the said clerks
are required to make returns of the number of
ballOtS, cast for and against the call of Con-
ventlon. to the Governor. within. twenty days
after said election; and .he laws regulating the
returns for the election Of the Governor shall
apply to the votes cast for and against a Con-
vention.
Section 8, directs the Governor to count and
cast up the ballots as returned to him and if
it shall appear to him that a majority of the
ballots cast are in favor Of a call of a Convcn-
ton, he shall issue his proclamation announ-
cling the result. and ordering an election Of Del
egatcs to the said Convention to be held on the
second Wednesday of October next.
Section 4, provides that each county and the
city of Baltimore shall bc entitled TO the same
number Of Delegates to the Convention as they
now have, respectively, in the Senate and House
of Delegates And the laws relating to the
election of Delegates to the General Assembly
shall. III all respects, govern and apply to the
election of Delegates To said Convention. And
the Convention is empowered to Judge of the
election and qualification of its members. Anv
legal voter is eligible to a scat in said Conven-
ton.
Section 5, requires the Delegates to he elected
to meet in Annapolis on the first "Wednesday
of January, 1859; and to continue in session
until they complete the business for which thev
are to be elected. The per diem of the mem
bers is fixed at four dollars with the usual mile
age: and it is authorized to select such clerks
and other officers as may he necessary to facil-
tatc the business Of the Convention and said
clerks and other officers shall receive the same
compensation as is how paid to similar officers
of the House of Delegates.
Section 6, provides that in case of vacancies
in any of the delegations, before qualifying, the
Shcriffs shall, upon tie order of the Governor,
or, after qualifying, upon the warrant Of the
President Of the Convention, issue notice for
holding a special election, within ten davs at
ter such notice, for the purpose Of filling such
vacancy.
Section =, subjects the judges Of election, the
shcriiis, and the clerks Of courts, to a fine Of
:JOo, and u imprisonment IN pll TOR not less
than six months, for refusal or neglect to COM
ply with the provisions Of said Act.
Section s, requires the Convention to first
pass upon a Constitution and Foan Of Govern
ment, by Articles and Sections, and then to
pass upon the same as whole instrument; and
said Constitution shall not be considered passed
unless it receive, as 4 whole instrument a ma
iority Of the votes of the whole number Of Del
cgateS TO said Convention.
Section 9, requires the Constitution, if adop-
tel by the Convention, 20 be submitted to the
legal voters for adoption or rejection, on the
first Wednesday Of November, 1859; who shall
express their assent or dissent by writing or
printing upon th.ir ballots the words. "For the
New. C. Constitution OF Against the New Con-
stitGtion' The returns Of which expression
If the voters shal! be given 10 the clerks Of the
courts before named, within five days after the
election, and BY said clerks transmitted to the
Governor within fifteen days after the election
Se,tinn 10, requires the Governor 20 cast up
tlc rct;;rns - made ~ him; and il he find that
Il nlaf af.rity "f the votes cast he for the new Con-
stitu;ion, ne shall issue proclamation N that
effect. and shall take such steps as NAV be re-
Quired by the said new Constitution to cause
the same 10 60 ia.n effect
Section II, requires the Governor 70 publish
this Act ouce week for three successive weeks,
before the fourth WednraiAy Of Mag rext, !