.

14 DECLARATION OP RIGHTS.

seventeen 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

Acts of Assembly
16 Md. 639.

the courts of law or equity, and also of all Acts of Assem-
bly in force on the first day of June, eighteen hundred and
sixty-four, 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

1853. ch. 60.
do. 275
1856. ch 220

Charter of the
State

repeal by the Legislature of this State ; and the inhabitants
of Maryland 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 Balti-
more.
ART. 5. The Constitution of the United States, and the
laws made in pursuance thereof, being the supreme law of

Allegiance to the
United States.

•

the land, every citizen of this State owes paramount alle-
giance to the Constitution and Government of the United
States, and is not bound by any law or ordinance of this
State in contravention or subversion thereof.

Right of Reform.

ART. 6. That all persons invested with the Legislative
or Executive powers of government, are the trustees of the
public, and as such accountable for their conduct ; where-
fore, 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 government. The
doctrine of non-resistance against arbitrary power and op-
pression is absurd, slavish and destructive of the good and
happiness of mankind.

Right of Suffrage.
13 Md, 479.

ART. t. That the right of the people to participate in
the Legislature is the best security of liberty, and the foun-
dation of all free government ; for this purpose elections
ought to be free and frequent, and every free white male
citizen having the qualifications prescribed by the Consti-
tution, ought to have the right of suffrage.

Separation of tile
Departments of
Government.

2 Md 341

do. 429.

ART. 8. That the legislative, executive and judicial pow-
ers of government ought to be forever separate and distinct
from each other ; and no person exercising the functions of