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Constitutional Revision Study Documents of the Constitutional Convention Commission, 1968
Volume 138, Page 369   View pdf image (33K)
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XI
The Constitution of 1776
The declaration of Rights,
and the
Constitution and Form of Government
ESTABLISHED BY THE CONVENTION OF MARYLAND
HELD AT THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS, ON WEDNESDAY
THE 14-TH AUGUST, ANNO DOMINI 1776.
THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.1
The parliament of Great-Britain, by a declaratory act, having assumed a right to
make laws to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever, and in pursuance of such
claim endeavored by force of arms to subjugate the United Colonies to an uncon-
ditional submission to their will and power, and having at length constrained them
to declare themselves independent states, and to assume government under the
authority of the people, therefore, We, the delegates of Maryland, in free and full
Convention assembled, taking into our most serious consideration the best means
of establishing a good constitution in this state, for the sure foundation, and more
permanent security thereof, declare,

1. That all government of right orig-
inates from the people, is founded in
1 This is a verbatim reprint of the first
recorded printed edition of the Maryland
Declaration of Rights and Constitution. It was
printed in Annapolis in 1776 by Frederick
Green. The punctuation and capitalization
is that originally used. The copy of the 1776
edition from which this reprint was prepared
is owned by the Maryland Historical Society,
Baltimore. The Convention's handwritten
draft is on file at the Hall of Records, Annap-
olis. With the adoption of this Declaration of
Rights and Constitution, republican govern-
ment was established in Maryland.
compact only, and instituted solely for
the good of the whole.
2. That the people of this State ought
to have the sole and exclusive right of
regulating the internal government and
police thereof.
3. That the inhabitants of Maryland
are entitled to the common law of
England, and the trial by jury, according
to the course of that law, and to the
benefit of such of the English statutes,
as existed at the time of their first
emigration, and which by experience
have been found applicable to their
369

 

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Constitutional Revision Study Documents of the Constitutional Convention Commission, 1968
Volume 138, Page 369   View pdf image (33K)
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