The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-09-17
The New Constitution.

The oath Article of the Bill of Rights to
the New Constitution abolishes slavery in
the State of Maryland. The Constitution
provides for the registration of the names Of
voters.
Section fourth deprives of the right of
suffrage any person who has been in SER
vice in the Confederate States or ar
any aid, comfort &C., to those in rebellion
against the United States, or in any way adj
hered to their enemies, or unlawfully sent
within the lines of such enemies, money or
goods, or letters or information, or who has
advised any person to enter the rebel ser
vice, or who by any deed or word, declared
his adhesion to the rebel cause, or desire
for their triumph over the armies of the
United States. And the Judges of Election
at the first election held under this Consti-
tuition shat, and at any subsequent election
may administer to voters the following
oath 81 do swear, or affirm, that am IA
citizen Of the United States, that | have
never given any aid, countenance or support
to those in armed hostility to the United
States and support the Constitution and laws
thereof as the supreme law of the land, any
law or ordinance of any State to the con-
trary thereof Notwithstanding, &c.
| The white population alone are to consti-
| tute the basis of representation in the House
of Delegates. The negro population will
not form any part of the basis as at present.
Cecil county will be entitled to four Dele
gates and one Senator.
The sessions of the Legislature are not
| limited to certain number of days, as un-
der the present Constitution, but the length
of the sessions is left to the discretion OF
the Legislature, except extra sessions, which
| shall not be longer than thirty days. The
pay of members is fixed at five dollars per
day, but the pay for the session is limited to
| four hundred dollars and no member shall
receive pay when absent, unless on account
Of sickness.
Section SO provides that the Legislature
shall pass no law, nor make any appropria.
ton to compensate the masters of slaves
cmancipated by the new Constitution.
The General Assembly shall provide by
law for the registration of births, marriages
and deaths and also any Judge or Clerk
of any Court of Record, or any Mayor of a
city in the State are empowered to marry
persons so desiring to be married
Judges of the Circuit Courts hold their
offices for fifteen years. Cecil and Hartford
counties are to constitute the Ninth judicial
District of the State. AT present Baltimore
county is in this Judicial District.
The Orphans Court will be composed OF
three Judges as at present, but the term OF
office is six years, so arranged that Il new
member shall be elected every two years
two of the old members holding over.
Justices of the Peace will be appointed
by the Executive Of the State, and Consta
bles and Road Supervisors by the County
Commissioners. Sheriifs are to be elected
as at present, and hold Office for two years
No change is made in the mode of electing
or term of office, of States Attorneys.
The term of office of County Commits
soner is extended to four years. with one
half of the Board, as near as possible, to be
elected every two years.
A general system of Education is prov
ded for by the new Constitution.
The election for the adoption or rejection
of the Constitution will be held on the 12tl
and l"th of October next, the polls to be
opened at Z o clock, A. NJ, and closed at
p. VI. he customary hours for holding
elections are from 9 o'clock a. NJ, to {
o clock =. N.
These are some Of the provisions Of tn,
new Constitution. having the most local in
tcrcSt to our readers.