The Hillsborough recorder., 1867-09-04
MAR YL.AND.
1.-THE WORK OF THE CONVENTION.


submitted to the vote OF the people on
"Wednesday. the 18th Of September. and,
il ratified, will 20 into eject on Saturday
the 5th oil October. The general elections
will take place, as usual. on the first We'd
nesday after the first Tuesday in Nosem'
Der.
Among the Important features which
have heretofore had no place in the organic
law of that State are: The provision ~.
serted in the legislative article that no
person shall be deemed incompetent as q
witness on account Of race or color. except
hereafter So declared by act Of the General
Assembly !" the absence OF any religious
test. except belief in The existence OF God,
moral accountability 10 Hum. and = condl-
lion Of reward Or punishment in this or The
world to come in The qualifications tor
witnesses. jurors, or the holding OF ofiee
and The prohibition against retrospective Or
expurgaiorial oaths ul any nature whatever.
in The declaration af rights the following
important clause il inserted:
Art. A, That the provisions ol the Con-
stitution Of the United States and OF inls
State apply as well in time ot war as 70
tine Of peace, and any departure thereirom.
ar violation thereof, under the plea OF
necessity, or any olLer plea, is subsers'se
ii good government. and tends to anarchy
and despotism.
Itis further provided, that under no car
eumstances shall the Legislature pass any
Law suspending the privilege OF the writ VI
habeas corpus.
The Convention fully recognizing the de-
struction OF slavery, has inserted in the de-
claration OF rights the following article:
Slavery shall not be re-establlshed in
this State. but, having been sbolished un-
der the policy aud authority OF the United
States, compensation, in consideration
thereof. is due from the United States"
In accordance with. this view il is prosi-
ded that the Legislature "shail take snch
steps as mar be deemed necessary 10 urge
upon the United States such aid in compen-
sation for emancipation IN this State as vas
pledged BY The joint resolution passed By
the Congress OF the United States. April
10, 1861, and shall pass such laws as may
be necessary for the distribution OF such
aid as NAV be received from the United
States Tor that purpose.
The only material changes In the Execu-
tive Department are the conierlng Of the
veto pouer on the Governor, and the aboll-
iion Of the Office OF Lieutenant Governor.
The Legislative article restricts the rega-
lar sessions OF The Legislature 10 20 days.
and The extra sessions 10 80 days. The DIS
ability of ministers Of the Gospel 10 become
members Of the General Assembly, which
was left out in the Constitution Of 1864. y
restored. The State is forever prohibited
from lending Us credit TO works OF inIernai
Improvement.
The basis Of representation Is reckoned
On the whole population. instead oi the
whites only. as in the present Constitution.
The provisions 10 regard to The elective
franchise do not differ materially from the
article in the present Constitution, exeep.
ting the exporging ol the test oath. every
white male citizen being entitled 10 vote
who has the usual qualifications. The Leg.
isiature il 10 provide for registration, and
the registry 10 be conclusive esidesce OF
the right to vote, the present lss TO con.
f,aue m lurce until smother shall lie enact
ea. except ., fsr a. il may be inconsistent
with the provisions ofthe new Constitutions.
An oath Of oiice is prescribed, in which =
4 pledge By the holder nj 70 receive ;he
profits. ar any part II the profits. oi any
other Office daring his tern.
The entire body of ahe present State Of.
fee-hoIder., with The single exception oi
che Governor. who will serve sntil the end
af the term for which he was elected. slll
be displaced on the adoption n The Consii.
tutien, and Inc election and gssIibcstic1 ol
Their ssccessors q. provided Toe therein.
The Rank OF EagIand. whenever coan.