26 MARYLAND MANUAL.

ART. 5. That the Inhabitants of Maryland are entitled to
the Common Law of England, and the trial by jury, accord-
ing to the course of that law, and to the benefit of such of the
English Statutes as existed on the Fourth day of July, seven-
teeii hundred and seventy-six; and which, by experience,
have been found applicable to their local and other circum-
stances, and have been introduced, used and practiced by the
Courts of Law or Equity; and also of all Acts of Assembly in
force on the first day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-
seven; except such as may have since expired, or may be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, subject
nevertheless, to the revision of, and amendment or repeal by,
the Legislature of this State. And the Inhabitants of Mary-
land are also entitled to all property derived to them from, or
under the Charter granted by his Majesty Charles the First,
to Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Baltimore.

ART. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative or
Executive powers of Government are Trustees of the Public,
and as such, accountable for their conduct: Wherefore,
whenever the ends of Government are perverted, and public
liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means are
ineffectual, the People may, and of right ought, to reform
the old or establish a new Government; the doctrine of
non-resistance against arbitrary power and oppression is
absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and happiness of
mankind.

ART. 7. That the right of the people to participate in the
Legislature is the best security of liberty and the foundation
of all free Government; for this purpose, elections ought to
be free and frequent, and every *male citizen, having the
qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have
the right of suffrage.

ART. 8. That the Legislative, Executive and Judicial
powers of Government ought to be forever separate and.
distinct from each other; and no person exercising the
functions of one of said Departments shall assume or dis-
charge the duties of any other.

ART. 9. That no power of suspending Laws or the execu-
tion of Laws, unless by or derived from the Legislature,
ought to be exercised or allowed.

ART. 10. That freedom of speech and debate or proceed-
ings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any
Court of Judicature.

*The word "white" omitted under the 15th Amendment to the Con--
stitution of the United States.