St. Mary's beacon., 1858-05-20
[BY AUTHORITY.1
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. !,
.7nnapoiis, .4pril 18Th 1853. {

passed at t1e January session. 1888. Ot the
General Assembly, chapter 255. the Govern
or directs the publication OF the same, which
IS entitled:
AN ACT to provide for taking the sense OF
the people upon the expediencv of calling
a Convention 10 frame New Constitution
and Form of Government for this State,
and tazzbN'ide for the election Of Delegates
TO said Convention.
WHEREAS, experience has demonstrated the
existence of many and serious defects in
the present CONSTITUTION Of this State, and
II is necessary tina; the people should have
speedy relief frum the inconvenience ariS
ing lhere'rom; Therefore,
SEcr.ox |. Be- II enacted by the General
assembly # .NaryiGnd, That for the purpose
OF aScerlaiuing the sense OF the people OF thus
State, AZ To the expediency OF calling a Con
vention of Delegates To be elected by the peo-
pie to frame a new Constitution and Form
OF Government. II is hereby provided that on
The fourth Wednesday OF Mas next, and at
the same places where civ and county cleo
TONS are now held by law for the election Of
Delegates 10 The House of Delegates. that ev-
cry person entitled TO vote IN the election of
Delegates TO the General Assembly. shaI! be-
entitled 10 vote with reference 10 the question
of Convention 10 frame a new Constitution
and Form OF Government, by expressing in
writing or In printed form on the ballot he
NAV east the words "For n Convention" or
the words Against a Convention" as the
case NAV be, and in ease there be anv blank
ballots cast at SAID election. the same shall
not be counted the sheriff OF the several
counties and the civ OF Baltimore, shall give
notice of the day on which By the provisions
of this act. the people are 10 vote for or against
the said Convention, in the same manner as
notice is now given Of the election Of Dele
gates 10 the General Assembly.
Sec 9 Ind be IL enacted, That it shall he
the duty o! the several judges OF election OF
this State, who shall be appointed in the same
manner as in cases of judges of election Tor
Delegates to the General Assembly, to re
ceIve, accurately count and duly re'uTn the
number of ballots SO cast or and against a
Convention. as the case may be. TO the clerks
OF the Circuit Courts. respectively. IN the Sey-
Pral counties OF this State. and 10 the clerk of
the Superior Court OF Baltimore CITY, as the
same are now required 10 be returned IN the
election of Delegates TO the House of Dele
gates; and the several Clerks aforesaid. shall
make return 10 the Governor. within twenty
days after said election, OF !he number of bal
lots given for and against the call OF a Con-
veniion, in the same manner as they return
the number Of ballots in the case Ui an cleo
ton for the Governor of this State; and the
laws regulating the return for The election Of
said Governor. shall regulate, govern and ap-
ply TO the vote taken by the provisions OF this
act.
Sec. 8. Ind be II enacted, That as soon as
the Governor shall receive the returns az
aforesaid, OF the number of ballots cast in this
State for and against Convention, II shall he
the duty OF said Governor TO count and cast
lp the same, and II upon counting ami cast
ing up The rrturnS made To him, il shall
appe apto the Governor that a majority OF the
ballots .aSt are in favor Ot a call OF COnven-
ton, the Governor shall issue his procianla-
lioa announcing the result 10 the people of
the State. and ordering an election To be held
in the several counties OF this State, and in
Baltimore city, on the second "Wednesday OF
October, eighteen hundred and fifty eight, for
Delegates 10 tie Convention 10 frame new
Constitution and Form OF Government.
Sec 4. fad be It enacted, Tha; at :he cleo
ton 10 be held for delegates 10 the Conven
ton as prescribed in the third section of this
act. the legal voters Shall. by ballot, elect Del
eIa,es 10 Convention and each county and
Baltimore city, shall be entitled TO the same
number OF Delegates 10 the Convention as
they now have respectively IN both Houses
oil the General Assembly of Maryland; and
the laws relating io the election of Delegates
TO the General Assembly, shall in all respects
govern and apply 10 the election OF Delegates
10 the SAID Convention. and the said COnven
ton shall determine on the validity of the
election and qualification uf ITS members and
any legal voler shall he eligible TO a seat in
SAID Convention.
Sec. 3. ind be Il enacted, That the Dele
gales elected TO sail Convention. shall meet
at the city oil Annapolis, on the frs, Wednes-
day OF january. eighteen hundred and fifty
nine, and shall commune IN session until the
business for which they were convened shall
be fully completed ard finished: and The com
pensaiion OF said Delegates 10 said COnven-
ton shall he four dollars per day during the
SESSION thereof. AMI the mileage now allowed
by law 10 members OF the House of DELEGATES;
and said Convention shall have power TO ap-
point such clerks and other officers as NAV
be necessary lo facilitate the business of said
Convention, and the compensation of said
clerks and other officers shall be the same as
is nov paid 10 similar clerks and officers Of
the House OF Delegates; I; and the said SUN OF
Tour dollars per day. and the mileage afore-
said TO each Delegate to said Convention, and
the pay aforesaid of the said clerks and other
officers of said Convention, shall be paid TO
them respectively. IN the same way and man
ner as tue per diem and mileage OF Delegates
TO, and pay of clerks aud other officers OF the
House Of Delegates are now paid.
Sec. 6. .4nd be Il enacted, That if any va
cancy o. vacancies occur by death. resigna-
ton or otherwise, N eltner Of the Delegations
hereinbeiore provided tor. either before or al
ter lhe qualification of said delegates. the sher-
III OF the eeunIv. or OF The CITY Ci Baltimore,
IN whose delegation The vacancy or vacancies
NAV occur, shall. upon the order Of the Gov
ernOr oil this State, IL Ihe Convention shall not
yet have assembled. or on the warrant OF the
President OF said Convention, if said Conven-
sion shall have assembled, immediately issue
=- . 80 s-- t.
gssF .&sI f.--h