516 MARYLAND MANUAL
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 Maryland are also en-
titled 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, when-
ever 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 Government, the doctrine of nonresist-
ance 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 white* 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 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 Legislature, ought, not to be impeached in any Court of
Judicature.
Art. II. 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 grievances, and for amending,
strengthening, and for preserving the laws, the Legislature
ought to be frequently convened.
* The word "white" omitted under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States.
** The word **male" became inoperative under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States.
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