CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND.

ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION

WHICH ASSEMBLED AT THE CITY OF ANNAPOLIS ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF
MAY, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN, AND ADJOURNED ON
THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND
SIXTY-SEVEN, AND RATIFIED BY THE PEOPLE ON THE
EIGHTEENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, EIGHTEEN
HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN, WITH AMEND-
MENTS.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

We, the people of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for
our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious considera-
tion the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State
for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare :

Article 1. That all Government of right orignates from the People,
is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the
whole; and they have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform
or abolish their form of Government in such manner as they may deem
expedient.

This article referred to In holding that the writ of mandamus might
Issue directing the Governor to issue a commission and administer the oath
to the candidate receiving the highest number of votes for attorney general.
Groome v. Gwinn, 43 Md. 636 (concurring opinion).

Art. 2. The Constitution of the United States, and the Laws made
or which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all Treaties made, or
which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, are and
shall be the Supreme Law of the State; and the Judges of this State,
and all the People of this State, are, and shall be bound thereby, any-
thing in the Constitution or Law of this State to the contrary notwith-
standing.

A construction of the Maryland constitution by the court of appeals of
Maryland will not be reversed by the United States supreme court, in the
absence of a federal question. Hannis Distilling Co. v. Baltimore, 216 U.
S. 285.

The decisions of the supreme court of the United States construing the
federal constitution and acts of the congress pursuant thereto, are conclu-
sive. Wilson v. Turpin, 5 Gill, 58; Howell v. State, 3 Gill, 14.

This article referred to in consitruing article 1, sections 1 to 5, of the
Md. constitution—see notes thereto. Anderson v. Baker, 23 Md. 606.

Art. 3. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Con-
stitution thereof, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the
States respectively, or to the People thereof.