WHEREAS persons conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath labour under
many and great inconveniencies, owing to their not being admitted to make their
solemn affirmation as witnesses in all cases instead of an oath; therefore,
    2.  BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, that the people
called Quakers, those called Nicolites or New Quakers, those called Tunkers,
and those called Menonists, holding it unlawful to take an oat on any occasion,
shall be allowed to make their solemn affirmation as witnesses, in the manner
that quakers have been heretofore allowed to affirm, which affirmation
shall be of the same avail as an oath, to all intents and purposes whatever.
    3.  AND BE IT ENACTED, That before any of the persons aforesaid shall be
admitted as a witness in any court of justice in this state, the court shall be
satisfied, by such testimony as they may require, that uch person is one of
those who profess to be conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath.
    4.  AND BE IT ENACTED, That if this act shall be confirmed by the general
assembly, after the next election of delegates, in the first session after such new
election, as the constitution and form of government directs, that in such case
this act, and the alterations and amendment of the constitution and form of government
therein contained, shall be taken and considered, and shall constitute
and be valid, as part of the said constitution and form of government, to all intents
and purposes, any thing in the said declaration of rights, constitution and
form of government contained, to the contrary notwithstanding.
    5.  AND BE IT ENACTED, That the several clauses and sections of the declaration
of rights, constitution and form of government, contrary to the provisions
of this act, so far as they respect either of the sects or societies aforesaid,
shall be and are hereby declared to be repealed and annulled, on the confirmation
hereof.

An Act (h) to confirm an act, entitled, An act to alter such parts of the Declaration
    of Rights, the Constitution and Form of Government, as prevent persons conscientiously
    scrupulous of taking an Oath from being Witnesses in all cases.  Lib,
    JG No. 8, fol. 163.
                                            (h)  1798, ch. 83.

    BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That an act passed
at November sessions, seventeen hundred and ninety-seven, entitled, An act to
alter such parts of the declaration of rights, the constitution and form of government,
as prevent persons conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath from being
witnesses in all cases, shall be and the same is hereby confirmed.

                                                _____

An Act (i) to alter, abolish and repeal, certain parts of the Constitution and Form of
    Government of this State as are therein mentioned.  Lib. JG. No. 8. fol. 235.
                                                        (i)  1798, ch. 115.

    WHEREAS the holding elections at any one place in each county of this state
is attended with great inconvenience to all citizens remote from said place, and
operates to deprive may persons entitled to suffrage from the exercise of that
right; and as it is desirable that the full, free and fair voice of the people
should be expressed in their choice of the functionaries of government.
    2.  BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the several
counties of this state, for the purpose of holding all future elections for delegates,
electors of the senate, and sheriffs of the several counties, shall be divided
into separate districts in the manner herein after directed, viz.  Saint-Mary's
county shall be divided and laid off into three (k) separate districts,
Kent county shall be divided and laid off into three separate districts, Charles county

    (k)  See 1806, ch. 29.