Art. 3.] State of Maryland. 41

voters, and by such other means as may be deemed ex-
pedient; and to make effective the provisions of the Con-
stitution disfranchising certain persons, or disqualifying
them from holding office.

Sec. 42. The General Assembly shall pass laws necessary
to protect the property of the wife, from the debts of the
husband during her life, and for securing the same to her
issue after her death.

Wife's property
protected.
1853, ch. 245 & 335,
12 Md. 294.
19 Md. 9.

Sec. 43. Laws shall be passed by the General Assembly
to protect from execution a reasonable amount of property
of a debtor, not exceeding in value the sum of five hundred
dollars.

Exemption Laws.

Sec. 44. The General Assembly shall provide a simple
and uniform system of charges in the offices of Clerks of
Courts and Registers of Wills, in the counties of this State
and the city of Baltimore, and for the collection thereof;
provided the amount of compensation to any of said officers
shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars a
year over and above office expenses, and compensation to
assistants; and provided further, that such compensation
of clerks, registers, assistants and office expenses, shall
always be paid out of the fees or receipts of the offices re-
spectively.

Compensation of
Clerks and Regis-

ters.

1852, ch. 308.

Sec. 45. The General Assembly shall have power to
receive from the United States any grant or donation of
land, money or securities, for any purpose designated by
the United States, and shall administer or distribute the
same according to the conditions of the said grant.

Legislature may
receive land. &c
from United
States.

Sec. 46. The General Assembly shall make provision
for all cases of contested elections of any of the officers not
herein provided for.

Contested Elec-
tions.
1853, ch. 244.
17 Md. 309.

Sec. 47. The General Assembly shall pass laws requiring
the president, directors, trustees, or agents of corporations
created or authorized by the laws of this State, teachers or
superintendents of the public schools, colleges, or other insti-
tutions of learning; attorneys-at-law, jurors, and such
other persons as the General Assembly shall from time to
time prescribe, to take the oath of allegiance to the United
States, set forth in the first article of this Constitution.

Oath to be taken
by certain persons.