cumstances, and have been introduced,
used and practiced by the courts of law
or equity, and also of all Acts of Assem-
bly in force on the first day of June,
eighteen hundred and sixty-four, except
such as may have since expired, or may
be inconsistent with the provisions of
this Constitution, subject, nevertheless,
to the revision of, and amendment or
repeal by the Legislature of this State;
and the inhabitants of Maryland are
also entitled to all property derived to
them from or under the charter granted
by his Majesty Charles the First, to
Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.
Art. 5. The Constitution of the United
States, and the laws made in pursuance
thereof, being the supreme law of the
land, every citizen of this State owes
paramount allegiance to the Constitu-
tion and Government of the United
States, and is not bound by any law or
ordinance of this State in contravention
or subversion thereof.
Art. 6. That all persons invested with
the Legislative or Executive powers of
government, are the trustees of the pub-
lic, and as such accountable for their
conduct; wherefore, whenever the ends
of government are perverted, and public
liberty manifestly endangered, and all
other means of redress are ineffectual,
the people may, and of right ought to
reform the old or establish a new gov-
ernment. The doctrine of non-resistance
against arbitrary power and oppression
is absurd, slavish and destructive of the
good and happiness of mankind.
Art. 7. That the right of the people
to participate in the Legislature is the
best security of liberty, and the founda-
tion of all free government; for this pur-
pose elections ought to be free and fre-
quent, and every free white male citizen
having the qualifications prescribed by
446
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the Constitution, ought to have the
right of suffrage.
Art. 8. That the legislative, executive
and judicial powers of government
ought to be forever separate and dis-
tinct from each other; and no person
exercising the functions of one of said
departments, shall assume or discharge
the duties of any other.
Art. 9. That no power of suspending
laws, or the execution of laws, unless by
or derived from the Legislature, ought
to be exercised or allowed.
Art. 10. That freedom of speech and
debate or proceedings in the Legislature,
ought not to be impeached in any court
of judicature.
Art. 11. That Annapolis be the place
for the meeting of the Legislature; and
the Legislature ought not to be con-
vened or held at any other place but
from evident necessity.
Art. 12. That for the redress of griev-
ances, and for amending, strengthening
and preserving the laws, the Legislature
ought to be frequently convened.
Art. 13. That every man hath a right
to petition the Legislature for the re-
dress of grievances in a peaceable and
orderly manner.
Art. 14. That no aid, charge, tax,
burthen, or fees, ought to be rated or
levied, under any pretence, without the
consent of the Legislature.
Art. 15. That the levying of taxes by
the poll is grievous and oppressive, and
ought to be prohibited; that paupers
ought not to be assessed for the support
of the Government, but every other per-
son in the State, or person holding prop-
erty therein, ought to contribute his pro-
portion of public taxes, for the support
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