Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-09-29
NBW CONSTITUTION
STATEOF MARYLAND
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION AT
ANNAPOLIS, SEPT. 6, 1864, AND TO
BE SUBMITTED TO THE PEOPLE
l2rH AND l3Tu OF OCT, 1864.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

to our serious consideration the bes
means of establishing good Constitution
in this State. for the sure foundation and
more permanent security thereof, declare
Article That we hold it to be self
evident that all men are created equally
free; that they are endowed by their Gre
ator with certain unalienable rights among
which are life, liberty. the enjoyment Of
the proceeds of their own labor and the
pursuit of happiness
Article 2.-That all government Of
right originates from the people, is founded
in compact only, and instituted solely for
the good of the whole; and they have at
ull times the unalenablc right to alter,
reform or abolish their form of govern
ment in such manner as they may deem
expedicnt.
Article 3.--That the people of this
State ought to have the sole and exclusive
right of regulating the internal govern
ment and police thereof.
Article THAT the inhabitants oi
Maryland are entitled to the common law
of England, and the trial by jury accord.
ing to the course of that law. and to the
benefit of such of the English statutes as
existed on the fourth day Of July, seven
teen hundred and seveuty-six. and which,
by experience, have been found applica-
bic to their loca! and other circumstances
and have been introduced, used and prac-
tised BY the courts of law or equity, and
also of all Acts of Assembly in force ON
the first day of June, eighteen hundred
and sixty-f,ur. except such AZ may have
since expired or NAV be Inconsistent with
the provisions of this Constitution. sub
ject, nevertheless, to the revision of and
amendment or repeal by the Legislature
of this State; and the inhabitants Of
MARYLAND are also entitled t, all propcrty
derived to them from or under III charter
granted by his majesty Charles the First,
to Ceciius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore
Article 5.-Thc Constitution of the
,Uaitcd States and the laws made in Bur
.suance thereof being the supreme law of
the land, every citizen OF this State owes
paramount allegiance to the Constitution
and Government of the United States.
and is not bound by any Law or ordinance
Of ahis State i. contravcrtien or subyer-
sion thereof
Article 6.-That all persons invested
with the Legislative or Executive powers
of &, wernment are the trsstecs of the
public. uBd rs such accountable for their
conduct: r!tereJ,ye whenever the ends
4.f Government nrc pcrver,ed. and pulic
liberty m,n;festlv enJanpercd. and all
other mcons of redress nre Intellectual
the people may and of right ought to re-
form the old or establish A new Govern
ment. The doctrine of non-rcsstancc
AGAINST arbitrary power and oppression is
absurd. slayish and destructive of the
p,od and honniucss of mankind.
Article That the right of the pco-
ple To par;icipste ia the Legislature il the
best security of liberty and the founda-
ton of free government for this purpose
elections ought to be free and frequent.
and every free white male citizen, having
the qualifications prescribed by the Con.
stitution, ought to have the right of suf-
frape.
Article S.-That the Legislative, Ex-
scut;v, aud JuJ;ci,l rowers Of govern.
ment ought to be forever separate and
distinct from each other. and no person
exercising the functions Of one Of said
d,nartm.nts shall assume or discharge
the duties Of anv other.
Article 9-That no power of suspend-
inc law. or the execution Of laws unless
bv or derived from the Legislature ought
~ be excrcisel or allowcd
Article 10. That freedom Of sneecb
and debate. or proceedings in the Legis-
9ature. ought not to be inpeached in anv
,oourt Of ;ndicature.
Article ~ That Annano,;s he the
o,,o, FIR tba m msst;ng of I.eo,slature. and
the Legislature ought not to be convened
nv b,lJ a, onr o,her nl,ce bu, for evident
,n.ness;,v
Ar+;oj. ID Tho, for thu redrsss of
.:;a,..nn.s .nJ g.. .mand;n. .,rann,h
esn;3, anJ nrasarv;n,, ,ho l,ws tho i,eo.
;a,a,n.o ourh, 30 ho fran,on,l,, convenea
A r,;a,o "a IT,. orarn ,n.n ha,h a
~;cLt - ,o,;,;on ,ha Iaa;:,. &c for th0
.;a,,.o. .o.hIa .nJ
ana nr',sr,v manner f' ''
"" 4 % rt;.Jo "a "TIa. M a., oh.rr. ,.x
..-.,,nn =. Co. onrL. 20 ao r.tad os
us'" aaU ,n ~ @ nra,ouec w;.bor. I .ha =, onuson, ru
.1 %n. :P, '''
u "a. L 1S IT,. .h. l,uv;n of ,.o.
-. ~ ~ a.,i : ar;oro,. aud onnrsss;vs
~ 'nu IT,, =. eso.;h;,od. ,hat n.u,,ar,
anu ousu' " " p.ou pana"S g.. .ho pnpo,, p"np"r,
os S ,Io NV Mn. ~ ~ ass'i hm. avarv ",hsr per
':o ~ 'S."'s' S."." Das ho,S;n 30, r
@ son III sno o'as, =. pe,sDn "..;hn.a ] Z. ps"
ro1t;on sea of nob;s 70 for the sunnort % Of