execute the said office for the residue of the said four years, the
said person giving bond with security as aforesaid. No person
shall be eligible to the office of sheriff but a resident of such
county or city respectively, and who shall have been a citizen, of
this State at least five years preceeding his election, and above the
age of twenty-one years. The two candidates, properly qualified,
having the highest number of legal ballots, shall be declared duly
elected for the office of sheriff for such county or city, and return
to the Governor with a certificate of the number of ballots for each
of them.

Sec. 17. The General Assembly shall have power to tax
clerks of the District Couits, Registers of Wills and the clerk of
the court of Appeals; but all such taxes shall be in equal propor-
tion, as far as practicable, according to the actual value of said
office respectively.

Sec. 18. The Judges of the several county courts, Baltimore
city court and the Orphans' Court of the several counties, Justices
of the Peace, Registers of Wills and clerks of county courts of
the several counties and Baltimore city court who may be in office
at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall remain in
office, and continue to discharge the duties of their respective
offices, until the appointment or election and qualification of the
Judges, Justices of the Peace, Registers of Wills and Clerks, pro
vided for by this constitution and no longer; and the first ele ction
of Clerks, Registers, Justices of the Peace and Sheriffs, and all
other officers, whose election by the people is provided for in this
article of the constitution, shall take place throughout this State
on of in the year eighteen
hundred and fifty-two.
Sec. 19. TO facilitate the dispatch of business the Orphans'
courts of this State, the General Assembly shall by law, prescribe
rules of practice in the said courts; enlarge and define the powers
and duties of registers of wills, and authorise them to pass such
orders as may be necessary and proper, to bring any cause, suit or
business depending in the said courts to a final hearing, and de
termination; but no order, act or proceeding of the registers of
wills of a judicial nature, shall not be final and conclusive until
ratified, and confirmed by the court.