thereof, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States respec-
tively, or to the people thereof.
Art. 4. That the People of this State
have the sole and exclusive right of
regulating the internal government and
police thereof, as a free, sovereign and
independent State.
Art. 5. That the Inhabitants of Mary-
land are entitled to the Common Law
of England, and the trial by Jury, ac-
cording to the course of that Law, and
to the benefit of such of the English
Statutes as existed on the Fourth day of
July, seventeen hundred and seventy-
six; and which, by experience, have
been found applicable to their local and
other circumstances, and have been in-
troduced, used and praticed 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 consistent with
the provisions of this Constitution; sub-
ject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and
amendment or repeal by, the Legisla-
ture 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. 6. 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 pub-
lic liberty manifestly endangered, and
all other means of redress are ineffec-
tual, the People may, and of right ought,
to reform the old, or establish a new
Government: the doctrine of non-resist-
ance against arbitrary power and oppres-
512
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sion 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 founda-
tion of all free Government; for this pur-
pose, elections ought to be free and fre-
quent; and every white male citizen,
having the qualifications prescribed by
the Constitution, ought to have the right
of suffrage.
Art. 8. That the Legislative, Execu-
tive and Judicial powers of Government
ought to be forever separate and dis-
tinct from each other; and no person
exercising the functions of one of said
Departments shall assume or discharge
the duties of any other.
Art. 9. 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. 10. That freedom of speech and
debate, or proceedings in the Legisla-
ture, ought not to be impeached in any
Court of Judicature.
Art. 11. That Annapolis be the place
of meeting of the Legislature; and the
Legislature ought not to be convened,
or held at any other place but from
evident necessity.
Art. 12. That for redress of griev-
ances, and for amending, strengthening
and preserving the Laws, the Legislature
ought to be frequently convened.
Art. 13. That every man hath a right
to petition the Legislature for the re-
dress of grievances in a peaceable and
orderly manner.
Art. 14. That no aid, charge, tax,
burthen or fees ought to be rated or
levied, under any pretence, without the
consent of the Legislature.
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