christian religion are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty, wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate on account of his religious persuasion or profes sion, or for his religious practice, unless under color of religion any man shall disturb the good order, peace, or safety of the state, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil, or religious rights; nor ought any person to be compelled to frequent or maintain, or contribute, unless on contract, to maintain any place of worship, or ministry; but the churches, chapels, glebes, and all other property now belonging to the church of England, ought to remain to the church of England for ever. And all acts of assembly lately passed for collecting monies for building or repairing particular churches or chapels of ease, shall continue in force and be executed, unless the legislature shall by act supercede or repeal the same; but no county court shall assess any quantity of tobacco or sum of money hereafter, on the application of any vestryman or church wardens; and every incumbent of the church of England who hath remained in his parish and performed his duty shall be entitled to receive the provision and support established by the act entiled, "An act for the support of the clergy of the church of England in this province," till the next November court to be held for the county in which his parish shall lie, or partly lie, or for such time as he hath remained in his parish and performed his duty.

"35. That every gift, sale, or devise of lands to any minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, or to or for the support, use or benefit of, or in trust for, any minister, public teacher or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination; and every gift or sale of goods or chattels, to go in succession, or to take place after the death of the seller or doner, to or for such support, use or benefit; and also every devise of goods or chattels to, or to or for the support, use, or benefit of, any minister, public teacher, or preacher of the gospel, as such, or any religious sect, order or denomination, without the leave of the legislature, shall be void; except always any sale, gift, lease or devise 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 purpose, or such sale, gift, lease, or devise shall be void.

"36. That no other test or qualification ought to be required on admission to any office of trust or profit, than such oath of support and fidelity to this state, and such oath of office as shall be direct

ed by this convention or the legislature of this state, and a declaration of a belief in the christian religion.

"37. That city of Annapolis ought to have all its rights, privileges and benefits, agreeable to its charter and the acts of assembly confirming and regulating the same; subject nevertheless to such alterations as may be made by this convention or any future legislature.

"38. That the liberty of the press ought to be inviolably preserved.

"39. That monopolies are odious, contrary to the spirit of a free government, and the principles of commerce, and ought not to be suffered.

"40. That no title of nobility or hereditary honors ought to be granted in this state.

"41. That the subsisting resolves of this and the several conventions held in this colony ought to be in force as laws, unless altered by this convention or the legislature of this state.

"42. That this declaration of rights, or the form of government to be established by this convention, or any part of either of them. ought not to be altered, changed or abolished, by the legislature of this state, but in such manner as this convention shall prescribe and direct."

In progression on reading the declaration of rights, the question was put, That the third article thereof be concurred with? Resolved in the affirmative.

In progression on reading the declaration of rights, on motion of Mr. S. Chase, the question was put, that instead of the 6th article the following be substituted, "That the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government, or any two of them, ought not to be vested in the same man or body of men?" Carried in the negative. The question was then put, that the sixth article be concur red with? Resolved in the affirmative.

In progression on reading the declaration of rights, on motion of Mr. Fitzhugh, the question was put, That the latter part of the thirteenth article, which follows in these words, "yet fines, duties, or taxes, may properly and justly be imposed or laid with a political view, for the good government and benefit of the community," be struck out? Carried in the negative.

Convention met.

Mr. Murray has leave of absence on account of the sickness of his family.

In progression on reading the declaration of rights, on motion of Mr. Earle, the question was put, That in the nineteenth article the words "or affirmation" be inserted afte the word "oath?" Carried in the negative.

Mr. Gust. Scott,

Mr. Grahame,

B. Hall,

Sprigg,
Marbury,

J. Hall,
Worthington,

Mr. Stull,

J. T. Chase,

D. Smith,

Ringgold,

T. Wright,

Kent,

Geo. Scott,

Horsey,

Chaille,

Mitchell.

The order of the day, that the convention will resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider further of the form of government for this state, being read, the same was referred till to

morrow.

Convention adjourns till to-morrow morning, 9 o'clock.

FRIDAY, November 1, 1776.

Convention met. All members present as on yesterday, except Mr. Murray. The proceedings of yesterday were read. Mr. Sheredine has leave of absence for a few days. Mr. Bowie appeared in the house.

The convention being informed, that Mr. Robert Peter and Mr. Thomas Richardson were attending, in consequence of an order of the twenty-fourth of October last, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take the deposition of John House, relating to the facts contained in their letter of the 16th of October to Mr. Johnson, and by him communicated to this house; and that Mr. Gust. Scott, Mr. J. T. Chase, and Mr. Wright be appointed a comImittee for that purpose.

The convention resumed the consideration of the declaration of rights, and on motion of Mr. Paca, that in the thirteenth article, the words, "removable only for misbehaviour on conviction in a court of law, or by a vote of the legislature," be struck out, and the following inserted, "and the said chancellor and judges shall be removed for misbehaviour, on conviction in a court of law, and may be removed by the governor upon the address of the general assembly," an amendment was proposed by Mr. Ewing, that the word "shall" be inserted instead of the word "may;" on which amendment the question was put, and carried in the negative.