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52
Mr. Jones, Chairman of the Committee to consider and re-
port upon the Declaration of Rights, made the following
report:
THE DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
We, the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to Al-
mighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking
into our serious consideration the best means of establishing
a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and
permanent security thereof, declare:
ARTICLE 1. That all government of right originates from
the people, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely
for the good of the whole, and they have at all times, the in-
alienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their form of
government, in such manner as they may deem expedient.
Art. 2. The Constitution of the United States and the laws
made, or which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all
treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority
of the United States are and shall be the supreme law of the
State; and the Judges of this State, and all the people of this
State are and shall be bound thereby, anything in the Consti-
tution or law of this State to the contrary notwithstanding.
Art. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution thereof nor prohibited by it to the State, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people thereof.
Art. 4. That the people of this State ought to have the sole
and exclusive right of regulating the internal government
and police thereof.
Art. 5. 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 on the fourth day of July, seven-
teen hundred and seventy-six, and which by experience have
been found applicable to their local and other circumstances,
and have been introduced, used and practiced by the courts
of law or equity, and also all Acts of Assembly in force on the
first day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, 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 enti-
tled 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. 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,
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