1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 185

of age, owing a whole lot of land in the said city of Annapolis,
or having a visible estat eof £20 sterling at the least, within this pro-
vince, or having served five years to any trade within the said city
and being a house-keeper, and no others, be admitted to vote for re-
presentatives to serve in the said convention for the said city, pro-
vided such person shall have resided in the county, district, city,
or town, where he shall offer to vote, one whole year next preced-
ing the election.

That all elections of the said representatives be free, and that
the same be made viva voce in the manner heretofore used in this

colony, without any regard to any act of parliament or other quali-
fications than before mentioned. And to prevent any violence or
force being used at the said elections, no person shall come armed
to any of them, and that no muster of the militia be made on the
day on which any of the said elections shall be held, nor shall any
battalion or company of the militia, or any ten men thereof, give
in their votes immediately succeeding each other, if any other voter
who offers to vote objects thereto; nor shall any soldiers in the pay
of this province be suffered to collect at the time and place of hold-
ing any of the said elections, so as in any manner to impede the
freely and convenient carrying on such elections.

Resolved, That no person holding a commission or office in the
regular forces of this province, shall during the time of his holding
the same, be eligible as a representative aforesaid; nor shall any
person who shall hereafter accept of any commission or office in
the land or sea service, or shall enlist in the regular forces raised
or to be raised for the continental service, or the service of this or
or any other colony, be eligible as a representative as aforesaid, or
hold any office or place in the civil department, or have a right to
vote at any election, during the time he shall hold such commission
or office in the military forces, or being therein enlisted as aforesaid.

That any person qualified as aforesaid to vote, may be elected a
member of the intended convention, provided he be above 21 years
of age, and shall have resided in the colony one whole year pre-
ceding the election.

That no person who has been published by any committee of ob-
servation, or the council of safety of this colony, as an enemy to
the liberties of America, and has not been restored to the favour of
his country, shall be permitted to vote at the election of members
for the said convention.

That the intended elections for all the said counties and districts,
be made on Thursday the first day of August next, but if any of
them should not be finished on that day, then the judges of such
24