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tention of the Convention to a letter from him contained in a
newspaper, which accompanied his communication.
Which was read and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.
On motion of Mr. Parke, it was
Ordered, That it be entered upon the Journal, that the absence
of Mr. Ege, from the Convention, is occasioned by the serious
illness of a member of his family.
On motion of Mr. Chandler, it was
Resolved, That the unanimous thanks of this Convention, be
tnedered to the Hon. Alexander Randall, for the very satisfactory
manner in which he has discharged the duties of the Chair,
during the absence of the President.
On motion of Mr. Sprigg, it was
Ordered, That the committee on the Executive Department
inquire into the expediency of incorporating into the constitution
the following articles
SECTION 1. The Supreme Executive power of this State shall
ye vested in a Chief Magistrate who shall be styled the Governor
of the State of Maryland.
SEC. 2. The first election for Governor, in pursuance of this
Constitmtion,shall beheld at the same time and J)laces of electing
electors of President and Vice President of the United States in
the year eighteen hundred and fifty-two, and at the same time and
places in every fourth year thereafter; and every free white male
citizen, possessing the legal qualifications of electors of this State,
shall be entitled to vote for Governor.
Sec. 3. The returns of every election for Governor, until other
wise provided by Law, shall be made out, sealed up, and ttansmitted
to the seat of Government, and directed to the Speaker of the
House of Delegates, who shall, during the first week of the next
session of the Legislature thereafter, open and publish them in the
presence of both Houses of the Legislature; and the person having
the highest number of legal votes, and being constitutionally eligi
ble, shall be declared by the Speaker, under the direction of the
Legislature, to be Governor; but if two or more persons shall have
the highest, and an equal number of votes, one of them shall be
immediately chosen Governor by joint vote of both Houses of the
Legislature. Contested elections for Governor shall be determin
ed by both Houses of the Legislature.
Sec. 4. The Governor shall hold his office for the term of four
years from the first Monday of January eighteen hundred and fifty
three, and for the same term, and from the same day, in every
fourth year thereafter, and until his successor shall be duly quali
fied.
SEC. 5. No person who shall be hereafter elected Governor of this
State, in pursuance of the provisions of this Constitution, and shall
act as such, shall be ngain eligible until, and after the expiration of
the next succeeding six yeats; he shall be, at least, thirty years of
age, a native born citizen of the United States, a citizen of this
State for ten consecutive years and an actual resident of the Guber