1776.] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 31$

disorderly or riotous behaviour, or by threats to, or abuse of, their
members, or by any obstruction to their proceedings; they may
also punish, by imprisonment, any person who shall be guilty of a
breach of privilege, by arresting on civil process, or by assaulting
any of their members, during their sitting, or on their way to or re-
turn from the house of delegates) or by any assault of, or obstruction
to their officers, in the execution of any order or process, or by as-
saulting or obstructing any witness, or any other person, attending
on, or oh their way to or from, the house, or by rescuing any person
committed by the house; and the senate may exercise the same
power in similar cases.

13. "That the treasurers (one for the western and another for the
eastern shore) and the commissioners of the loan office may be ap-
pointed by the house of delegates during their pleasure, and in
case of refusal, death, resignations, disqualification, or removal out
of the state of any of the said commissioners or treasurers, in the
recess of the general assembly, the governor, with the advice of the
Council, may appoint and commission a fit and proper person to
such vacant office, to hold the same until the meeting of the next
general assembly.

14. " That the senate be chosen in the following manner: All
persons, qualified as aforesaid to vote for county delegates, shall
on the first Monday of September, 1781, and on the same day in
every fifth year forever thereafter, elect viva voce, by a majority of
votes, two persons for their respective counties, qualified as afore-
said to be elected county delegates to be electors of the senate; and
the sheriff of each county or in case of sickness his deputy (sum-
moning two justices of the county who are required to attend for
the preservation of the peace) shall hold and be judge of the said
election, and make return thereof as aforesaid.

15. " That the said electors of the senate meet at the city of
Annapolis, or such other place as shall be appointed for convening
the legislature on the third Monday in September, 1781, and on the
same day in every fifth year forever thereafter, and they, or any
twenty-four of them so met, shall proceed to elect, by ballot, either
out of their own body, or the people at large, fifteen senators, (nine
of whom to be residents on the western, and six to be residents on
the eastern shore) men of the most wisdom, experience and virtue
above twenty-five years of age, residents of the state above three
whole years next preceding the election, and having therein real
and personal property above the value of one thousand pounds
current money.

16. " That the senators shall balloted for at one and the same
41