XVI.  That the said electors of the senate meet at
the city of Annapolis, or such other place as shall be
appointed for convening the legislature, on the third
Monday in September, seventeen hundred and ninety-six,
and on the same day in every fifth year for ever
thereafter, and they, or any twenty-four of them so
met, shall proceed to elect, by ballot, either out of
their own body, or the people at large, fifteen tenators,
(nine of whom to be residents on the western,
and six to be residents on the eastern shore,) men of
the most wisdom, experience and virtue, above twenty-five
years of age, actually and bonâ fide residents of
the state above three whole years next preceding the
election.

    XVII.  That the senators shall be balloted for at
one and the same time, and out of the gentlemen, residents
as aforesaid of the western shore, who shall be
proposed as senators, the nine who shall, on striking
the ballots, appear to have the greatest numbers in their
favour, shall be accordingly declared and returned duly
elected; and out of the gentlemen, residents as aforesaid
of the eastern shore, who shall be proposed as senators,
the six who shall, on striking the ballots, appear
to have the greatest numbers in their favour, shall
be accordingly declared and returned duly elected;
and if two or more on the same shore shall have an
equal number of ballots in their favour, by which the
choice shall not be determined on the first ballot, then
the electors shall again ballot before they separate, in
which they shall be confined to the persons who on
the first ballot shall have had an equal number; and
they who shall have the greatest number in their favour
on the second ballot, shall be accordingly declared
and returned duly elected; and if the whole