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er and with divers persons (to these orators as yet un-
known) to appoint certain persons (to your orators un-
known) to be judges and clerks of election at and for the
general election in this State, and are now doing divers
acts and things towards and for the purpose of the hold-
ing of the said election, &c. And your orators further
charge that the said pretended law and the amendment
thereto, passed by the General Assembly of this State, and
hereinbefore set forth, are in manifest violation of the
now constitution of this State and of the laws of the same,
to wit, of the 45th article of the Declaration of Rights,
wherein the "people of the State of Maryland, for the sure
foundation and more permanent security of the existing
Constitution of this State, " declare as follows: "That the
Legislature shall pass no law providing for an alteration,
change or abolishment of this constitution, (meaning the
constitution whereunto said declaration is prefixed, ex-
cept in the manner therein prescribed and directed, and
of the 11th article of said constitution, entitled "Amend-
ments of the constitution, sections 2 and 3. "
[Here sections 2 and 3, &c., of article 11 of the constitu-
tion are quoted. ]
The bill further alleges that the said, violation, is espe-
cially clear and patent in these respects. First, the said
pretended law (and the amendment thereto) prescribes
that the citizens of this State shall vote on the question of
a call of a convention to frame a new constitution and form
of government on the second Wednesday of April, in the
current year, whereas the Constitution of this State pro-
vides that the citizens shall vote in that behalf only at the
regular biennial election for members of the General As-
sembly next following the passage of a law by two-thirds
of each branch of the General Assembly providing for so
voting. Secondly, said pretended law (with the amend-
ments thereto) prescribes that at the said self same elec-
tion, on the second Wednesday of April, the citizens, quali-
fied to vote shall vote for and elect delegates to the said
convention; whereas the Constitution provides that if a
majority of all the electors voting at the regular biennial
election aforesaid shall have voted "for a convention, "
then the General Assembly shall at their next session pro-
vide by law for calling the said convention. The memorial
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