The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-26
ManYLASp-THr WORK Accoarr 1surn 7

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ny TIE CoNvENTIoN.--The Maryland Con-
sututional Convention has adjourned, and
has adopted Constitution for that State
which is to he submitted to the vote Of tho
| people on Wednesday the 18th of Septem-
Der, and, if ratified, will so into effect on
Saturday the 9th Of October. The gene
raj elections will take place, as usual, on
the first Wednesday after the first Tues
day in November.
! Among the important features which
have heretofore had no place in the orpa-
mic law of that State arc: The provision
inserted in the legislative article "that no
person shall be deemed incompetent as a
witness on account Of race or color. except
hereafter so declared by act Of the Gene
raj Assembly" the absence of any rcli-
giouS test, except belief ia the existence
of God, moral accountability to him, and
condition Of reward or punishment in this
or the world to come, in the qualifications
for witnesses, jurors, or the holding of Of
flee, and the prohibition against retrospect
tive or cxpurgatorial oaths of any nature
whatever.
In the Declaration Of Rights the follow
ing important clause is inserted:
ARTICLE A. That the provisions of the
Constitution Of the United States and Of
this State apply as we'll in time of war as in
time of peace, aud any departure there
from, or any violation thereof, under the
plea OF necessity, OF any other plea, is
subverSive of good government, and tends
to anarchy and dcspotsm.
1t is further provided that under no cir
cumstances shall the Legislature pass any
law suspending the privilege of the writ of
kdbeGS corpus.
The Convention, fully recognizing the
destruction Of slavery, has inserted in the
Declaration of Rights the following article:
"S!avery shall not be reestabliShcd in
this State, but, having been abolished
under the policy and authority of the
United States, compensation in cOnsdera-
ton thereof is due from the United
States.'
In accordance with this view it is pro-
vidcd tina: the Legislature 4" shall take
such steps as may be deemed necessary to
urge upon the United States such aid in
compensation for emancipation in this
State as was pledged by the joint resolu
ton passed by the Congress of the United
States April 10, 1862, and shall pass such
ton Of such aid as may be received from
the United States for that purpose"
The only material changes in the Execu
tive Department are the comforting Of the
veto power on the governor, and the abo-
ltion Of the Office Of Acknowledgements.
| The legislative article restricts the ses-
sions of the Legislature to ninety days
and the extra session to thirty days.
| The disability of ministers of the gospel to
become members Of the General Assem-
bly,, which was left out in the Constitution
of 1864, is restored. The State is forever
prohibited from loaning its credit to works
of internal improvement.
The basis of representation is reckoned
on the whole population, instead of the
whites only, as in the present Constitution.
The provisions in regard to the elective
| franchise do not differ materially from the
article in the present Constitution, except
ing the expurgiDg Of the test-oath, every
white male citizen being entitled to vote
who has the usual qualifications. The Le-
gslature is to provide for registration, and
the registry is to be conclusive evidence
of the right to vote, the present law to
continue in force until another shall be
enacted, except so far as it may be incon-
sistcnt with the provisions Of the new Con-
stitution. An oath Of Office is prescribed,
in which is a pledge by the holder not to
receive the profits, or any part of the pro-
fits, of any other Office during his term.
The entire body of the present State
olliceholders, with the single exception of
the Governor, who will serve until the end
of the term for which he was elected, will
be displaced on the adoption of the Con-
sttution, and the election and qualica-
ton of their successors as provided for
! therein.