JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

lar channels to the Commander-in-chief, and if the Com-
mander-in-chief shall adjudge a person unqualified for the
office to which he has been elected or nominated, as aforesaid,
another person shall, within twenty days after due notice of
such adverse decision, be elected or nominated, and in default

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of such election or nomination the vacancy may be filled by
the Commander-in-chief. All officers whose election or
nomination, as set forth in this Article, shall be approved by
the Governor and Commander-in-chief shall be duly commis-
sioned by him.

Approval by
Governor.

15. Every commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and
private, before he enters upon his duties or exercises any
command, shall take and subscribe in such manner and before
such person as the Commander-in-chief may direct, the fol-
lowing-oath or affirmation, viz: "In the presence of Almighty
God, I ———— , do solemnly promise (or declare) that I will
bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland and will sup-

All officers
shall make
oath, etc.

port the Constitution thereof. " "In the presence of Almighty
God, I, ———— , do solemnly promise (or declare) that I will
faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent
upon me, according to the best of my ability and understand-
ing, agreeably to the Constitution and laws of the State of
Maryland." "In the presence of Almighty God, I, ———— ,
do solemnly promise (or declare) that I will support the Con-
stitution of the United States and the laws made in pursu-
ance thereof. " Which oath or affirmation shall be duly cer-
tified by the person before whom the same is made, and said
certificate, together with the surgeon's certificate provided for
by this Article, shall be forwarded to the Commander-in-
chief through the proper channels.

Form of oath

16. All persons who shall have successfully passed the
required examinations and have made the oath or affirmation
prescribed by the preceding section, shall be deemed to be
enlisted and mustered into the Maryland National Guard,
commissioned officers until their commissions shall have been
duly vacated, and non-commissioned officers and privates for
the period of three years from the date of such enlistments,
unless sooner discharged by proper authority.

Terms of com-
mission and
enlistment.

20. The First Brigade shall be inspected under orders and
conditions to be prescribed by the brigade commander not less
than twice a year, and oftener if authorized by the Com-
mander-in-chief; and the Naval Brigade shall be inspected
by some officer designated by the Commander-in-chief, and
under orders and conditions prescribed by him, as often as he
may think necessary, but not less than once a year.

Inspection of
Brigades.