Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-03-24

VI PtSStuSty ods cuIH fttuTD and
der of a new election shall not interfere with
the assembling Of the Convention as herein
provided; provided however that at least sixty
Eve members shall be elected according to the
provisions Of this act, before said Convention
shall organize, and proceed to busi-
ness /; provided further that fifty men,
bers at least shall be necessary to constitute
a 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 be cbal-
lenged on the ground that such person has
served in the rebel army, or has either d.
rectly or Indirectly given aid, comfort or on.
couragement to those in armed rebellion
against the Government of the United States,
or IS Tor any other reason not legal voter
in the manner and form provided BY section
twenty-one OF article thirty-ive of the Code
of Public General Laws, relating TO cleo
tions and judge or judges of election
failing to comply with the provisions of this
act, shall be liable to the same penalties a,
he or they would be by the non-con plisnce
with the existing election laws of this State.
Section 9. And be il enacted, That as
soon az the Governor shall receive the re-
turn OF the number Of ballots cast in this
State or against Convention, and the
blank ballots cast, 1t shall be the duty of the
Governor to count aud cast up the same,
and If, upon casting up and counting said re-
turns 30 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 a Convention than
have been cast against the call of Conven-
ton, then 1t shall be- the duty of the Cover
nor to issue his proclamation for the holding
and assembling If said Convention, and OF
the delegates duly elected thereto, at the
time and place hereinafter specified.
Section 8. And be il enacted, That In
case 8 majority Of the ballots cast shall be
in favor of the call of a Convention as
aforesaid, then the said Convention shall
meet at the city Of Annapolis, on the last
Wednesday of April, in the year of eigh-
'een hundred and si1ty>fonr, and shall con-
tinue in session frcm day to day until the
business for which said Convention shall
have been assembled shall be fully COM
plotted and finished, and said Convention
shall have full power and authority to de-
termine on the validity of the election and
qualification of it's members; and the COM
pensation of the delegates to said Conven-
ton shall be five dollars per day, and tho
mileage allowed to members of the General
Assembly Of this State and the said Con.
ven,ion shall have power to appoint such
clerks and other officers az may be deemed
necessary to facilitate the trausac tions of the
business of the Convention, and to fix their
compensation, 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, spch COM
pensation as the Convention shall allow !;
provided, it shall be the duty of the Speaker
of tho House Of Delegates, and of the Pre-
sident Of the Senate, to provide reporter
Of the debates and proceedings of said Con-
veution, who mall act until the said Con-
vention shall provide its own officers.
Section 4. and be IL enacted, That be-
inrc any member or officer of said Cunven-
ton shall enter upon the discharge of his
duties, he shall take and subscribe before
the Governor Of this State, who is hereby
authorized to administer the same, the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation II do swear or
affirm that l will. to the best of my skill
and Judgment, diligently and faithfully,
without Partially or pr ju1ce, discharge the
duties Of member Of ths Convention to frame
a new Constitution and form of government;
that will support the Constitution of the
United States, and will he faithful aud bear
true allegiance to tho State Of Marylan,, and
the Government Of the United States, any
law OF ordinance of any State to the contrary
notwithstanding aud that have never
either directly or indirectly, by word, act or
deed, given any aid, comfort or encourage
ment TO those in rebellion against the Gov
ernmcnt Of the United States and this I
swear Voluntarily, without any mental ro-
servation or qualification whatever 80 help
me God" and that the Governor shall trans
nit to the said Convention, as soon after the
organization thereof NJ may be practicable
II list Of the members and officers who shall
have taken and subscribed the oath IN afore
said; and that no person elected az delegate
to said Convention shall be authorized or
deemed qualified to enter npon the discharge
Of his duties Ms such until he shall have
taken and subscribed the oath as aforesaid !;
and that any Senator or Delegate may DO
eligible to seat in said Convention, but
that no Senator or Representative in the
Congress of the United States, or Judge Of
any Circuit Court. Superior Court, Court of
Common Pleas. or Criminal Court of the
city of Baltimore, Clerks OF said Courts,
Register of Wills, or Sheriff, shall be eligible
to said Convention.
Section s. And be II enacted, That II any
vacancy or vacancies occur by death, re-
oth r,r;, L. al. - A. Ill
cations herein before provided for, either be-
lore or after the qualification of said dele
gates, the sheriff of the county or city OF
Baltimore. in whose delegation such vaca ICY
may occur. shall, upon information Thereof
10y said delegation. by the President of said
Convention, or by the Governor Of the State,
Immediately issue public notice for a special
election to DO held at the usual places of
holding elections in said county or city, not
less than five or more than ten days after
said notice. for the purpose Of supplying
such vacancy.
tSecton 8. And be IL enact d. That the
Constitution and form Of Government adopt
ed by the said Convention, as aforesaid, shall
he submitted TO the legal and qualified voters
of the State, for their adoption or rejection,
at such time, in such manner, and subject to
such rules and regulations as said Ccnven-
ton may prescribe; and the provisions here
inbefore contained. for the qualification OF
voters, and the holding of the elections pro-
vided in the previous sections of this act.
shall be applicable to the election to DO held
under this section.
Section I. And be II enacted, That In
case of any refusal or neglect of any of tho
judges of election, or Of any clerks Of the
court, or Of any sheriff of any county or
Baltimore city, to make any Of the returns,
or perform any Of he duties required of
them respectively by the provisions Of this
act. such judge, Gle or sheriif, sd refusing
or neglecting, shal be Liable. to indictment
for such offence, and upon, conviction there
Of. shall be deemed gnI.s ola misdemeanor.
and be sentenced to.a fee OF not less than
five hundred dohan, and toimprisonment in
tn Jail of ths city or county, where such
offence may have been committed, for. .
term Of not lcss than six months.
Section, s. And be ii enacted, That when
Al - fv.-....p,v sLalI pacaiua the ratrrn Of th0