42 CONSTITUTION OF THE [ART. 3.

Cession of Terri-
tory to this State.

SEC 48. The General Assembly shall have power to

accept the cession of any territory contiguous to this State,

from the States of Virginia and West Virginia, or from the

"United States, with the consent of Congress, and of the

inhabitants of such ceded territory, and in case of such

cessions the General Assembly may divide such territory

into counties, and shall provide for the representation of

the same in the General Assembly, on the basis fixed by

this Constitution, and may for that purpose increase the

number of Senators and Delegates, and the General Assem-

Extension of Con-
stitution, &c, over

bly shall enact such laws as may be required to extend the

the same

Constitution and laws of this State over such territory, and

may create courts conformably to the Constitution for such

territory, and may for that purpose increase the number of

Judges of the Court of Appeals.

Registration of

SEC. 49. The General Assembly shall provide bylaw for

Births, Marriages,
aad Deaths

the registration of births, marriages and deaths, and shall

pass laws providing for the celebration of marriage between

any persons legally competent to contract marriage, and

shall provide that any persons prevented b; conscientious

scruples from being married by any of the existing pro-

Marriages by

visions of law, may be married by any Judge or Clerk of

Judge

any Court of Record, or any Mayor of any incorporated

city in this State.

Rate of Interest

SEC 50. The rate of interest in this State shall not

13 Md 203.

exceed six per centum per annum, and DO higher rate shall

be taken or demanded, and the General Assembly shall

provide by law, all necessary forfeitures and penalties

against usury.

Corporations to be

SEC. 51. Corporations may be formed under general

formed ander Gen-
eral Laws

laws, but shall not be created by special act, except for

1852, ch 231

municipal purposes and in cases where, in the judgment of

1853. ch 320
1354, ch 147

the General Assembly, the object of the corporation can-

not be attained under general laws. All laws and special

acts, pursuant to this section, may be altered from time to

time, or repealed; Provided, nothing herein contained

shall be construed to alter, change or amend, in any man-

ner, the section in relation to banks.