REVISED CODE OF MARYLAND.
Declaration of Rights
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We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil
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Preamble
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and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means
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28 Md 244, 23
Md 512
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of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and
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more permanent security thereof, declare:
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Origin and
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ARTICLE 1. That all government of right originates from the people, is
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foundation of
government
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founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole; and
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Eight of re-
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they have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform, or abolish their
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form
3 Bl 95, 7 Md
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form of government, in such manner as they may deem expedient.
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147, 1861, res 14
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ART 2 The Constitution of the United States, and the laws made, or which
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Constitution of
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shall be made, in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be
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U S
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made, under the authority of the United States, are, and shall be, the supreme
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Supreme law
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law of the State; and the judges of this State, and all the people of this State,
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6H & J 203, 4
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are, and shall be, bound thereby; anything in the Constitution or law of this
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G & J 1, 3 G
14, 5 G 56, 426,
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State to the contrary notwithstanding
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6 G 200, 2 Md
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ART. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution
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437
Powers
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thereof, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respec-
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reserved
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tively, or to the people thereof.
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ART 4 That the people of this State have the sole and exclusive right of
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State's rights
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regulating the internal government and police thereof, as a free, sovereign,
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and independent State
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ART 5. That the inhabitants of Maryland are entitled to the common law
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Common law
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of England, and the trial by jury, according to the course of that law, and to
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Trial by jury
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the benefit of such of the English statutes as existed on the fourth day of July,
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English
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seventeen hundred and seventy-six; and which, by experience, have been found
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statutes
28 Md 370.
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applicable to their local and other circumstances, and have been introduced,
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used, and practiced by the courts of law or equity; and also of all acts of As-
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Acts of Assem-
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sembly in force on the first day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven;
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bly
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except such as may have since expired, or may be inconsistent with the pro-
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Charter of the
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visions of this Constitution, subject, nevertheless, to the revision of, and amend-
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State
5 H & J 401, 2
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ment or repeal by, the legislature of this State. And the inhabitants of Mary-
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G & J 254, 6 G
& J 205, 5 G 45,
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land are also entitled to all property derived to them from, or under the charter
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2 Md 429, 7 Md
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granted by His Majesty Charles the First to Caecilius Calvert, Baron of Balti-
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165, 416, 500, 16
Md 549, 539, 15
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more.
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Md 648, 1852, c.
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ART. 6. That all persons invested with the legislative or executive powers of
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60, 275, 1856, c
220
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government are the trustees of the public, and, as such, accountable for their
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Right of
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conduct: Wherefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and pub-
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reform.
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2
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