SEC. 39. He shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of im-peachment, and in cases in which he is prohibited by other articles of this Constitution, and to remit fines and. forfeitures for offences against the State; but shall not remit the principal or interest of any debt due to the State, except in cases of fines and forfeitures; and before granting a nolle prosequi, or pardon. he shall give notice, in one or more newspapers, of the application made for it, and of the day on or after which his decision will be given; and in every case in which he exercises this power, he shall report to either branch of the legislature, whenever required, the petitions, recommendations and reasons which influence his decision. Sue. 20 The Governor shall reside at the seat of government, and shall receive for his services an annual salary of thirty-six hundred dollars. SEC. 21. When the public interest requires it, be shall have power to employ counsel, who shall be entitled to such compensation as the legislature may allow in each case after the services of such counsel shall have been performed. SEC. 22, A Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, who shall continue in office, unless sooner removed by the Governor, till the end of the official term of the Governor from whom he received his appointment, and shall receive an annual salary of one thousand dollars. SEC. 2.1. He shall carefully keep and preserve a record of all official acts and proceedings, (which may, at all times, be inspected by a committee of either branch of the legislature, ) and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, or as may properly belong to his office. ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. SECTION 1. The legislature shall consist of two distinct branches' a senate and a house of delegates, which shall be styled "The General Assembly of Maryland." SEC. 2. Every county of the State, and the city of Baltimore, shall be entitled to elect one senator, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of the counties and city of Baltimore, respectively, and who shall serve for four years from the day of their election. SEC. 3. The legislature at its first session after the returns of the national census of eighteen hundred and sixty are published, and in like manner after each subsequent census, shall apportion the members of the house of delegates among the several counties of the State, according to the population of each, and shall always allow to the city of Baltimore four more delegates than are allowed to the most populous county, but no county . shall be entitled to less than two members,
| nor shall the whole number of delegates ever exceed eighty, or be less than sixty-five; and until the apportionment is made under the census of eighteen hundred and sixty, St. Mary's county shall be entitled to two delegates; Kent, two; Anne Arundel, three; Calvert, two; Charles, two; Baltimore county, six; Talbot, two; Somerset, four; Dorchester, three; Cecil, three; Prince George's, three; Queen Anne's, two; Worcester, three; Fred-erick, six; Harford, three; Caroline, two; Baltimore city, ten; Washington, five; Montgomery, two; Allegany, four; Carroll, three, and Howard, two. SEC. 4. The members of the house of delegates shall be elected by the qualified voters of the counties and city of Baltimore respectively, to serve for two years from the day of their election. SEC. 5. The first election for delegates shall take place on the first Wednesday of November, eighteen hundred and fifty-one; and the elections for delegates, and for one-half of the senators, as nearly as practicable, shall be held on the same day in every second year thereafter, but an election for senators shall be held in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-one, in Howard county, and all those counties in which senators were elected in the year eighteen hundred and forty-six. SEC. 6. Immediately after the senate shall have convened after the first election under this Constitution, the senators shall be divided, by lot, into two classes, as nearly equal in number as may be—the senators of the first class shall go out of office at the expiration of two years, and senators shall be elected on the first Wednesday of November, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, for the term of four years, to supply their places; so that, after the first election, one-half of the senators may be chosen every second year; provided, that in no case shall any senator be placed in a class which shall entitle him to serve for a longer term than that for which he was elected. In case the number of senators be hereafter increased, such classification of the additional senators shall be made as to preserve aa nearly as may be an equal number in each class. SEC. 1. The general assembly shall meet on the first Wednesday of January, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, on the same day in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-three, and on the same day in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and on the same day in every second year thereafter, and at no other time unless convened by the proclamation of the Governor. SEO. 8. The general assembly may continue their first two sessions after the adoption of this Constitution, as long as, in the opinion of the two houses, the public interests may require it, but all subsequent regular sessions of the general assembly shall be closed on the tenth day of March next ensuing the time of
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