The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1867-03-28
THE CONVENTION BILL.

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| The.following 10 correct copy Of the
convention bill, which is now alaw:
An act to provide for calling conven.
tiou to frame new constitution and
form Of government for The State Of
I Maryland.
Section /. BE Il enacted By the Gen.
erai assembly Of Maryland. that on the
second Wednesday Of April next, at the
Same place where county and city elec.
tons are now, by law. hall for the cleo
ton Of delegates 10 the General Assem-
bly,, every person entitled to vote for
delegates TO the General Assembly shall
vote on the question Of a call Of con-
ventioa 10 frame new constitution aud
form of government, with aclause there
ia prohibiting tho Legislature from
making any law providing for payment
by this State for persons heretofore
held as slaves, by expressing in writing
or by printed form, the words "For a
Convention, or against Convention,
as the ease may be; and in case there
shall be any ballots without the dcsig-
nation so prescribed, the same shall not
be counted for or against convention,
but separate return thereof shall be
made by the judges Of election.
Sec. 2. And b. Il enacted, That at
the said election the registered voters
of the State shall elect, by ballot, dele
gates to tho said convention, whose
qualifications shall DO tho same as those
now required for members Of the House
of Delegates, and each county aud the
city Of Baltimore shall be entitled to
elect, respectively, the number Of dele,
gates to said convention herein provi-
ded, namely: ST. Mary's county, three
delegates; Kent county, four delegat IS
Calvert county, three delegates: Charles
county, three delegates; Baltimore eoun-
~, seven delegates; Talbot county, four
delegates; Somerset county, Eve dele
gates; Dorchester county, four delegates
Cecil county, Eve delegates; Prince
Georges county. four delegates: Queen
Anne's county, four delegates; Worces-
ter county, Eve delegates; Frederick
county, seven delegates; Hartford coun.
ty, FIVE delegates; Caroline county. four
delegates; Baltimore city, twenty.oue
delegates; Montgomery county, four
delegates; Allegany county, six dele.
gates; Carroll county, six delegates;
Howard county, four delegates; Anne
Arundel county, four delegates, and
Washington county, six delegates: and
it is hereby provided that the shcriffs Of
the several counties and the sheriff Of
Baltimore city, shall give notice Of the
time designated for holding said cleo
ton for call of convention, and for
members thereof, ia the same manner
and for the same time as required for
notice of the election Of members Of the
General Assembly
See. g. 4ad Be q enacted, That it
shall be the duty Of the several judges
Of election Of this State 10 receive, ac-
curately count aud duly return the mum.
Der of ballots SO east, 10 the several
clerks Of the Circuit Courts Of this
State, aud to the clerk Of the Superior
Court of Baltimore city, as the same are
now required 10 be returned for the
election Of members to the House Of
Delegates; and the several clerks afore-
said shall return TO the Governor, within
ten days after the said election, the
nu,aber Of ballots cast for and against
the call Of convention, and the nun.
Der Of blank ballots and the number Of
ballots cast for the several persons voted
for as delegates to the said convention.
See. 4. Aad be IL enacted, That MS
soon as the Governor shall receive the
return Of the number Of ballots cast at
the said election for and against con-
vention, aud the blank ballots east,
and the ballots cast for delegates to said
convention, it shall be tho duty Of the
Governor TO count andc cast up the same,
aud th.reupon, it ii appear TO the Gov
eruor that more votes have been cast iu
favor Of the call Of a convention than
have been cast against the call ola con.
ventieu, II shall be the duty Of the
Governor to issue his proclamation de-
claring the persons having the majority
in the several counties aud the city Of
Baltimore, respectively, TO be elected to
said convention, and for the assembling
Of the members thereof, at the time aud
place to be hereinafter appointed.
(. Sec. 8. Aadbe q enacted, That before
any member elect or officer Of said cop.
venticn shall eutsr upon his duties, he
shall take the oath 70 discharge said
duties in the form prescribed BY law
for members Of the House Of Delegates
Of this States, mxtatis p.atandis, except
the speaker or president elect of said
convention, who shall take the same
oath, in the presence Of said conven.
ton, before some Judge or justice Of the
peace Of this State.
Sec. 6. And Be Il enacted, That in
case majority Of the ballots cast for
and against n convention shall be in
favor If the cali Of a convention, then
the said convention shall meet at the
city Of Annapolis on the secoud Wed.
uesday Of May, 1867, snd shall continue
In session FROM day 70 day, until the
duties for which tho said convention
was called shall b fully discharged, and
new constitution and form Of govern.
ment completely framed; and the said
convention shall hare full power to de-
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