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as witnesses, jurors or judges, or other officers under the constitu
tion and laws of this State, any Atheist or other person who does
not believe in any accountability to the Supreme Being for his
acts ;"
Mr. Ridgely, accepted this amendment as a substitute for the
amendment offered by him.

The question then recurred upon the adoption of the amend
rnent;

Mr. Ridgely, moved the question be taken by yeas and nays,
and being ordered, appeared as follows

AFFIRMATIVE—Messrs. Morgan, Hopewell, Bell, Welch, Ridge
ly, Eccleston, Chambers, of Cecil, Miller, Bowie, McCubbin,
Thomas, Shriver, Gaither, Biser, Sappington, Gwinn, Brent, of
Balt, city, Fiery, John Newcomer, Michael Newcomer, Weber,
Parke, Ege, Shower and Cockey—25.

NEGATIVE—Messrs. Chapman, President, Lee, Chambers, of
Kent, MItchell, Donaldson, Dorsey, Wells, Randall, Kent, Sell
man, Weems, Dalrymple, Merrick, Buchanan, Chandler, Sher
wood, of Talbot, Colston, John Dennis, Crisfiel, Dashiell, Wil
liams, Phelps, McLane, Sprigg, George, McMaster, Fooks, Jacobs,
Stephenson, McHenry, Nelson, Carter, Stewart of Caroline, Har
bine, Davis, Anderson, Hollyday and Slicer—38.

So the amendment was rejected.

Mr. Biser, then moved to amend said 33rd article, by striking
out from the word "liberty'' w the 3rd line, to the end of said article,
and inserting in lieu thereof, the following;

"Therefore, no religious lest shall be required as a qualification
for any office of public trust, that the free exercise and enjoyment
of religious profession and worship without discrimination or prefer
ence shall ever be allowed in this State, and that no person shrill be
be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinion
on matters of religious belief, but the liberty of conscience hereby
secured, shall not be construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness,
or justily practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of this
State."

Mr. Dorsey, moved as a substitute for said amendment to add
at the end of said article, the following:

"Nor shall any person be deemed incompetent as a witness or
juror or disqualified to hold any office under the laws or constitu
tion of this State, except as hereinafter provided by the constitution
of this State, who believes in the existence of a God, and that
under his dispensation such person will be held morally account
able for his acts, and be rewarded or punished therefor, either in
this world or in the world to come:"

Which amendment Mr. Biser accepted.
ment.

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The question then recurred upon the adoption of the amend-

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ment.