which, by experience, have been found
applicable to their local and other cir-
cumstances, and have been introduced,
used and practised by the courts of law
or equity, and also of all acts of Assem-
bly in force on the first Monday of
November, eighteen hundred and fifty,
except such as may have since expired,
or may be altered by this Constitution,
subject, nevertheless, to the revision of,
and amendment or repeal by the Legis-
lature of this State; and the inhabitants
of Maryland are also entitled to all prop-
erty derived to them from or under the
charter granted by his Majesty Charles
the First, to Caecilius Calvert, Baron of
Baltimore.
Art. 4. That all persons invested with
the Legislative or Executive powers of
government, are the trustees of the pub-
lic, and as such accountable for their
conduct; wherefore, whenever the ends
of government are perverted, and public
liberty manifestly endangered, and all
other means of redress are ineffectual,
the people may, and of right ought to
reform the old or establish a new gov-
ernment. The doctrine of non-resistance
against arbitrary power and oppression
is absurd, slavish and destructive of the
good and happiness of mankind.
Art. 5. That the right of the people
to participate in the Legislature is the
best security of liberty, and the founda-
tion of all free government; for this pur-
pose elections ought to be free and fre-
quent, and every free white male citizen
having the qualifications prescribed by
the Constitution, ought to have the right
of suffrage.
Art. 6. That the legislative, executive
and judicial powers of government
ought to be forever separate and distinct
from each other; and no person exercis-
ing the functions of one of said depart-
414
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ments, shall assume or discharge the
duties of any other.
Art. 7. That no power of suspending
laws, or the execution of laws, unless by
or derived from the Legislature, ought
to be exercised or allowed.
Art. 8. That freedom of speech and
debate or proceedings in the Legislature,
ought not to be impeached in any court
of judicature.
Art. 9. That Annapolis be the place
for the meeting of the Legislature; and
the Legislature ought not to be con-
vened or held at any other place but
from evident necessity.
Art. 10. That for the redress of
grievances, and for amending, strength-
ening and preserving the laws, the Leg-
islature ought to be frequently convened.
Art. 11. That every man hath a right
to petition the Legislature for the re-
dress of grievances in a peaceable and
orderly manner.
Art. 12. That no aid, charge, tax,
burthen, or fees, ought to be rated or
levied, under any pretence, without the
consent of the Legislature.
Art. 13. That the levying of taxes by
the poll is grievous and oppressive, and
ought to be abolished; that paupers
ought not to be assessed for the support
of Government, but every other person
in the State, or person holding prop-
erty therein, ought to contribute his pro-
portion of public taxes, for the support
of Government, according to his actual
worth in real or personal property; yet
fines, duties, or taxes may properly and
justly be imposed or laid, on persons
or property, with a political view, for
the good government and benefit of the
community.
Art. 14. That sanguinary laws ought
to be avoided as far as is consistent
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