42 Constitution of the [Art. 8.

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
the same.

bly shall enact such laws as may be required to extend the
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
Births, Marriages,
and Deaths.

Sec. 49. The General Assembly shall provide by law for
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 by conscientious
scruples from being married by any of the existing pro-

Marriages by
Judge.

visions of law, may be married by any Judge or Clerk of
any Court of Record, or any Mayor of any incorporated
city in this State.

Rate of Interest.
13 Md. 202.

Sec. 50. The rate of interest in this State shall not
exceed six per centum per annum, and no 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
formed under Gen-
eral Laws.

1852, ch. 231.
1853, ch. 320.
1854, ch. 147.

Sec. 51. Corporations may be formed under general
laws, but shall not be created by special act, except for
municipal purposes and in cases where, in the judgment of
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time, or repealed; Provided, nothing herein contained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.