Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-03-03
Convention Bill.


Section /. BE il enacted by The Genera
assembly of Maryland, That on the frs
Wednesday in April next, at the same places
where the polls are by law held in the sew.
eral counties and the city of Baltimore fol
the election of delegates to the General As.
sembly, every person entitled to vote for
delegates to the General Assembly shall vote
upon the question Of call of Convention
to frame new Constitution and form oil
Government, by expressing In writing, or In
printed form, on the same ballot be may
cast for delegates to raid Convention, the
words "Fur Convention" or "Agairs. a
Convention" as the case may be; and in
case there should be any ballots cas-. without
the designation hereinbefore prescribed the
same shall not be counted either for or
against Convention, but a seperate return
shall be made Of the same by the judges of
election as aforesaid and tina. at the same
election the legal voters Of this State shall,
by ballot, elect delegates to the said Conven-
ton whose qualifications shall be the same
as those now required for seat in the House
Of Delegates, and each county and tho city
Of Baltimore shall be entitled to elect the
same number Of delegates TO tho said Con-
vention as they row have respectively in
both Houses of the General Assembly of
Maryland; and it shall be the duty of the
shcrlTs Of the several counties and of the
city eli Baltimore TO give notice of said
electiUn, in the came manner and for the
same length Of time as 10 now required in
the election of delegates to the General s.
sembly of this State, and that the several
Judges of election of this State shall receive,
accurately count and duly return, the num-
Der Of ballots so cast, to the several clerks OF
the Circuit Court OF this State, and to the
clerk of the Superior Court Of Baltimore
city, respectively. who shall, within ten
days after said election, make due return
to the Governor, Of the number of ballots
cast for and against the call of Conyen-
ton, and OF the number of blank ballots
cast, and also the number Of ballots cast for
the several persons voted for as delegates to
said Convention and in csse any organized
military or armed iorce of the United States
shall appear at the places where tue polls
shall he held, and shall Interfere with said
election, unle:s such military or armed force
shall be called out by the judges of election
or other civil authority charged with the
preservation OF the peace, the said Judges OF
election shall, under oath, certify 70 the
Governor such unwarranted military inter
ference with said election in such election
district or precinct, and the Governor shall
Immediately thereupon order new election
for delegates to said Convention, after ten
days notice, to be given by the sheriff as
aforesaid, in such election district or precinct
and such pew election shall be held and con.
Quoted in the manner aud form herein pro-
II In al, Ill
election fer delegates from time to time, as
often as such Illegal military or armed in.
reference with the election shall bs certified
to him ss aforesaid but such order or or.
ders for such new election or elections shall
not interfere with, hinder or delay the as
sembling Of said Convention as herein pro-
vided, if it shall appear from the count that
majority of all the votes cast in the cleo
ton districts or precincts, where no such H.
legal military OF armed interference shall be
certified to have taken place are in favor of the
call Of such Convention under this act, the
said judges in the said return shall Gel .ify
that no organized military or other armed
force had appeared at the place where the
polls had been held and interfered with said
election, unless such military force shall be
called for by the said judges of election, or
by other civil authority charged with the
preservation of the peace, and in case OF
such military interference within any cleo
ton district of this counties, or precinct in
the city OF Baltimore, to be certified by the
judges of election under oath, 1t shall be the
duty of the Governor to order new cleo
ton, after ten days notice in said election
district or precinct, but such return and or
der of O new slectinn sholt not interferu With
the assembling of the Convention as herein
provided; provided however that at least sixty
five menber shall be elected according to the
provisions of this act, before said Convention
shall organize, and proceed to bust
ness provided further tint fifty mem
bers at least shall be necessary to constitute
n quorum after organization and the Judges
of election shall at said election administer
the oath or affirmation to every person
Offering to vote, whose vote shall DO chal-
lenged on the ground that such person has
served in the rebel army, or has either di-
rectly or indirectly given aid, comfort or en-
to those in armed rebellion
against the Government Of the United States,
or is for any other reason not legal voter
in the manner and form provided by section
twentyfone of article thirty five of the Code
of Public General Laws, relating to cleo
tons; and a judge OF judges of election
failing to comply with the provisions Of this
act, shall be liable to the same Penalties as
he or they would DO by the non-con pliance
with the existing election laws of this State
Section 9. And be IL enacted, That as
soon as the Governor shall receive the re-
turn of the number of ballots cast in this
State or against Convention, and the
blank ballots cast, it shall be the duty of the
Governor to count and cast up the same,
and if, upon casting up and counting said re.
turns so as aforesaid made to him, it shall
appear to the Governor that more votes
have been cast by the legal voters of this
State in favor Of call of Convention than
have been cast against the call of Conven-
tion, then it shall DO the duty Of the Cover
nor to issue his proclamation for the holding
u. id assembling Of said Convention, and Of
the delegates u,ply elected thereto, at the
time and place hereinafter specified.
Section 8. and be ii enacted, I,int in
case a majority Of the ballots cast shall be
in favor of the call Of Convention as
then the said Convention shall
meet at the city Of Annapolis, on the last
Wednesday of April, in the year Of eigh-
teen hundred and sixty>four, and shall con-
tnue in session from day to day until the
business for which said Convention shall
have been assembled shall be fully COM
plcted and finished, and said Convention
shall have full power and authority to de-
termine on the validity of the election and
qualification of its members; and the COM
pensation of the delegates to said Conven-
ton shall be five dollars per day, and the
mileage allowed to members Of the General
Assembly of this State; and the said Con.
vention shall have power to appoint such
clerks and other officers as may be deemed
necessary to facilitate the transactions of the
business Of the Convention, and to FIX their
and the Treasurer of the
State of Maryland shall, upon the order Of
the President of said Convention, pay to
each member thereof their per diem and
mileage as hereinbefore provided, and shall
also pay to the officers of said Convention,
upon the order of the President, such COM
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