Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-01-17
The Convention Bill.

ment for the Stnte of MARYLAND.
Section I. B. IL rnacted by me GensrR Assda-
biy Of Maryland. That on the second Wednes-
dav OF April next, at the same placeslwhere coun-
ty and city elections are now by law held for
the election Of delegates TO the General Assembly
every person entitled TO vote for delegates to the
General Assembly shall vote on the question ola
call Of a convention to frame q new constitution
and form Of government, BY expressing in writ
ing or by printed form the words ''for a eonyen-
ton" or against u convention, - as the case NAV
b": anil in case there shall be any ballots with
out the designation 30 prescribed, the sams shall
hot be counted for or against convention, but
e,arats retarn thereof shall be made by the
judges OF election. N.
Section Q. dad be IL enacted That at the said
election the registered voters of the State shall
elect by ballot delegates to said convention,
whose qualifications shall he the same as those
row required for members OF the House of Dele
gates, and each county and the city OF Baltimore
shall be entitled TO elect the same number of del
egates, respectively, TO the said convention MS
they were allowed in tile late convention which
framed the existing constitutions; aud it is here
nv provided that the sheriffs of the several coun-
tics and Baltimore city shall gixe nstice of the
day above designated for hOlding said election
FIR . call Of convention, and for members there
OF, 10 the same manner, and for the same lime as
required for notice sfthe election Of members of
the General Assembly. ''5
Ffoc. .. ana 90 enJctcd, Inat tSnall Oe the
duty of the several judges OF election Of this State
10 receive, accurately count, and dulyHreurn the
Number of ballots so cast TO the several clerks of
the Circuit Courts of this State and to the clerk
OF the Superior Court of Baltimore city, as the
same are now required to be returned for the
election of members TO the House of Delegates;
and the several clerks shall return to the Gov
ernor, within ten days after date of election the
number of ballots cast for-and against the call of
convention, the numbered blank ballots, and
The number of ballots CASTOR the several persons
voted for as delegates to the said convention.
See. 4. And be IL enacted, That as soon as the
Governor shall receive the return Of the number
OF ballots cast at the said election for and against
a convention, and the blank balots cast, and the
ballots cast for delegates to said convention, it
shall be the duty of the Governor to count and
cast up the same; and thereupon, if it appear to
the Governor that MORE vStes have been cast in
favor OF the call Of q conpen tion than have been
east against the call of a. convention ii shall be
the duty OF the Governor to issue his proclama-
ton declaring the persons having the majority
in tue several counties andthe city of Baltimore
respectively, to be electedto said convention, and
for the assembling ofthe members thereof at the
time and place to- be hereafter appointed. .
Sec. s, And be il enacted That before any
member elect or officer of said convention shaili.
enter upon his duties, he shall take the The oath
to;discharge said duties in the form prescribed by
law for members of the House of Delegates Of the
State Ssutatis muandis, except the Speaker or
president elect of said convention, who shall take
the same oath inthe presence of said convention,
before some Judge or Justice of the peace Of this
State.
Sec. 6. find Be Il enacted, That in case a ma
lority of the ballots cast for and against a con-
vention shall be in favor of the call of conven
tion, then the said convention shall meet at the
city of Annapolis, on the second Wednesday of
May, 1857, and shall continue in session from
day TO day until the duties for which the said
convention was called shall he fully discharged
and new constitution and form of government
completely framed; and the said conven ton shall
have full power to>decide upon the validity of the
election and upon the requisite qualification of
its members; and the compensation of the mem
bers shah he mileage and five dollars per dav:
and the said convention shall have full power to
appoint such clerks and other officers as may he
deemsd necessary to facilitate the transaction of
the business ofthe convention, and to determine
the COMPENSATION of the president and other Off
efrs: and the president OF said convention lie
hereby authorized to order the payment of the
compensation above provided for the members
and officers thereof, and the treasurer required
TO pay said compensation in conformity with said
order.
Sec. 7. And be 1t enacted, That II any vacancy
or vacancies occnr by death, resignston'or 9th
cfwfse, in any delegation hereir before provided
for, either before or after the qualification, of DEL
cgatcs to the said convention, the sheriff of the
county,, or the sheriff of the city of Baltimore.
In whose delegation such vacancy may occur,
shsllnponai by the delegati on n
which such vacancy may occur. by the Ssresdent
OF said convention, or by the Governor of the
State, give immediate public notice for a special
election te be held at the usual. places of hold
ing elections In said county orcity not less than
1--WE nor more than ten days after said.notice, for
the purpose of supplying such vacancy.
Section 8. And be IL enacted That the consti-
tuition and form Of government adopted bv said
convention shall be submitted to the legal and
Qualified voters of the State for their adoption or
rejection, mt such time, in such manner anil sub.
ject to such rules and regulations as the said con-
ventIon may prescribe, and the provisions here
inbefore contained for the qualification of voters
and the holding reflections provided in the pre-
vlods sections of this act shall be applicable to
the election to he held under this section
Sec. o. And be Il enacted, That in case of the
refusal or neglect of any Judge of election or of
any c1ert Of tffe courts or Of any sheriff of any
county or the sheriff of Baltimore city, to make
any OF the returns or to perform any of the du-
ties required OF them, respectively nv the bro
visions of this act, such Judge, clerk or sheriff
90 refusing or neglecting shall be liable To in
hietment for such ofiense, and, upon conviction
thereof SHALL DO deemed guilty of a misdemean-
Or, and shall he sentenced to pay fine of not less
than on. thousand dollars, and to Imprisonment
in the Jail Of the county or city where such Of.
sense may have been committed for term of not
less than six months.
Sec. 10. And be ii enacted, That no Senator
Or Representative in the Congress of the United
States nor any Judge of tho Circuit Conrt, of the
Superior Court Court of Common Pleas or
Crimlnal Court Of the city Of Baltimore: no Clerk
oiany Court, nh Register of Wills nor any Shcr-
Id. shall DO eligible to said convention.
i sec. H., And De 1t enacted, That when the
Governor shall receive the returns Of the number
Of votes cast in this State on the adoption or re-
lection of the constitution submitted by the con-
ttsntion to the people, II, upon counting up and
casting up the returns made up to him as here
inbeforc prescribed, it shall appear that q major
~ Of the votes cast at said election are in favor
81 The adoption of said constitution, he shall issue
his proclamation TO the people of the State de.
rlarlhg the fact, and shall take such measures
rs shall be- required by said constitution to carry
the same into effect, and to supersede the old
constitution.
Sec. IL. Anl be IL enacted, Tint in case of The
death, resignation or omission of the Governor
to issue the proclamation herenbefnre required
the President of the Senate, or in case of his