tary duty in such manner, not incompatible
with the constitution and laws of the United
States, as may be prescribed by the general
assembly of Maryland, but persons whose
religious opinions and conscientious scruples
forbid them to bear arms, shall be relieved
from doing so on producing to the proper
authorities Satisfactory proof that they are
thus conscientious.
Sec. 2. The general assembly shall provide
at its first session after the adoption of this
constitution, and from time too time thereafter,
as the exigency maty require, for organizing,
equipping and disciplining the militia in
such manner, not incompatible with the laws
of the United States, as shall be most effec-
tive to repel invasion and suppress insurrec-
tion, and shall pass such laws as shall pro-
mote the formation of volunteer militia asso-
ciations ill the city of Baltimore and in every
county, and to secure them such privileges
or assistance as may afford them effectual en-
couragement.
Sec, 3. There shall be an adjutant general,
who shall be appointed by the governor, by
and with the advice and consent of the sen-
ate. He shall hold his office at the pleasure
of the governor; shall perform such duties,
and shall receive such compensation or emolu-
ments as are now or may be hereafter fixed
by law.
ARTICLE X.
COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIPS.
Section 1. The general assembly may pro-
vide tor organizing new counties, locating and
removing county seats and changing county
lines, but no new county shall be organized
without the consent of a majority of the
legal voters residing within the limits about
to form said county, nor shall the lines of
any county be changed without the consent
of a majority of the legal voters residing
within the limits of the lines proposed to be
changed, nor shall any new county contain
less than four hundred square miles nor less
than ten thousand white inhabitants, nor
shall any county be reduced below that
amount of square miles, nor below that
number of white inhabitants.
Sec. 2. The general assembly shall provide
by general law for dividing the counties into
townships or permanent municipal corpora-
tions, in place of the existing election dis-
tricts, prescribing their limits and confiding
to them all powers necessary for the management
of their public local concerns; and
whenever the organization of these town-
ship corporations shall be perfected, all offi-
cers provided for in this constitution, but
whose official functions shall have been su-
perseded by such organizations shall be dis-
pensed with, and the affairs of such town-
ships and of the counties as affected by the
action of such townships shall be transacted |
in such manner as the general assembly shall
direct.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Section 1. The general assembly may pro-
pose any amendment or amendments to this
constitution which shall be agreed to by three-ffths
of all the members elected to both
houses. Such proposed amendments amend-
ments with the yeas and nays thereon, shall
be entered on the journal of each house;
shall be printed with the laws passed at, the
same session, and shall be published by order
of the governor, in all the newspapers printed
in the different counties of this State, and ill
three newspapers printed in the city of Balti-
more (one of which shall be printed in the
German language,) for at least three months
preceding the next election for members of
the general assembly, at which election the
said proposed amendment or amendments
shall be submitted to the qualified electors of
the State for their confirmation or rejection ;
and if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the
governor, from the returns of the said elec-
tion made to him by the proper authorities,
that a majority of the qualified votes cast at
said election on the proposed amendment or
amendments, were in favor of the said pro-
posed amendment or amendments, he shall,
by proclamation, declare said amendment or
amendments to be part of the constitution of
this State, When two or more amendments
shall be submitted by the general assembly to
the qualified electors of the State at the same
election, they shall be submitted so that the
electors may vote for or against each amend-
ment separately.
Sec. 2. Whenever two-thirds of the mem-
bers elected to each branch of the general
assembly shall think it necessary to call a
convention to revise, amend or change this
constitution, they shall recommend to the
electors to vote at the next election for mem-
bers of the general assembly for or against a
convention; and if a majority of all the
electors voting at said election shall have
voted for a convention, the general assembly
shall, at their next session, provide by law
for calling the same.
The convention shall consist of as many
members as both houses of the general as-
sembly, who shall be chosen in the same
manner, and shall meet within three months
after their election for the purpose afora-
said.
Sec. 3. At the general election to be held
in the year one thousand eight hundred and
eighty-two, and ineach twentieth year there-
after, the question "Shall thereto a con-
vention to revise, alter or amend the consti-
tution," shall be submitted to the electors of
the State; and in case a majority of all the
electors voting at such election shall decide
in favor of a convention, the general assem- |
