been out of that office. The governor is assisted by a council of five members,who are chosen annually by a joint ballot of the senate and house of delegates.
The general assembly meets annually (at Annapolis ) on the last Monday inDecember. The council of the governor is elected on the first Tuesday in Jan-uary ; the governor nominates to office, and the council appoints.
The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every free white male citizen,above 21 years of age, having resided twelve months within the state, and sixmonths in the county, or in the city of Annapolis or Baltimore , next precedingthe election at which he offers to vote.
The chancellor and judges are nominated by the governor, and appointed bythe council; and they hold their offices during good behavior.
The executive council, consisting of five members, are elected annually onthe first Tuesday in January ; and in case of the demise of the governor duringhis term of office, the first named of the council, for the time being, becomesthe governor of the state, till the next meeting of the general assembly. Inappointing officers under the state, the governor has the right of nomination,and the council the right of appointment. The governor does not possess thepower of a veto on the acts of the general assembly.
The house of delegates is composed of 80 members, elected annually, fourfrom each of the 19 counties, and two from each of the cities of Annapolis andBaltimore . The senate consists of 15 members, elected for five years, by anelectoral college of 40 members, two from each of the counties, and one fromeach of the cities of Annapolis and Baltimore . The electors are chosen on thefirst Monday in September every 5th year, and they elect the senators on thosucceeding 3d Monday in September.
One of the peculiarities of the declaration of rights of the state is the sectionwhich declares, “ That every gift, sale, or devise of lands, to any minister,public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or to any religious sect, order,or denomination, or to or for the support, use, or benefit of, or in trust for, anyminister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religioussect, order, or denomination; and every gift or sale of goods or chattels to goin succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or donor, or to or forsuch support, use, or benefit, and also every devise of goods or chattels to orfor the support, use, or benefit ol any minister, public teacher, or preacher ofthe gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order, or denomination, without theleave of the legislature, shall be void ; except always 'any sale, gift, lease, ordevise, of any quantity of land not exceeding two acres for a church, meeting,or other house of worship and for a burying ground, which shall be improved,enjoyed, or used only for such purposes, or such sale, gift, lease, or deviseshall be void.”
The governor’s annual salary is $2,666$.
This state sends eight representatives to congress.