4

It is deemed unnecessary to refer to the circumstances
Which induced His Excellency, the Governor, to remove the
late Board. Accompanying his annual message will be found
a detailed statement. The present Board, therefore, confine
their report to the day on which their commission is dated—
not being aware of what had transpired during the period
the office was occupied by their predecessors, except the fi-
nancial statement, which embraces the whole year.

At two o'clock P. M.j on the same day, the new Commis-
sioners qualified before his honor, R. N. Martin, Judge of
the Superior Court, by subscribing the following oath :

"I, James Young, do swear that I will support the Consti-
tution of the United States, and that I will be faithful and
bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland and support
the Constitution and the laws thereof, and that I will to the
best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully with-
out partiality or prejudice, execute the office of Commission-
er of the Board of Police of the city of Baltimore, according
to the Constitution and laws of this State, and that since the
adoption of the present Constitution, I have not in any man-
ner violated the provisions thereof in relation to bribery of
voters, or preventing legal or procuring illegal votes to be
given; I do further swear that in any and every appointment
or removal to be by me made to or from the police force cre-
ated under Article (4) four of the Code of Public Local Laws,
sections 806 to 822, inclusive, and the amendments thereto, I
will in no case and under no pretext, appoint or remove any
policeman or officer of police, or other person under them,
for or on account of the political opinion of such policeman
or officer or other person, or for any cause or reason than the
fitness or unfitness of such person in my best judgment for
the place to which he shall be appointed, or from which he
shall be removed.

I do further solemnly swear that I will support, protect and
defend the Constitution and Government of the United States
against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign, and that I
will bear true faith, allegiance and loyalty to the same, any
ordinance, resolution or law of any State Convention or Leg-
islature to the contrary notwithstanding; and further, that I
do this with a full determination, pledge and purpose, with-
out any mental reservation or evasion whatsoever, so help me
God.

I do further swear that I will to the best of my skill and
judgment, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office
of Commissioner of the Board of Police of the city of Balti-
more according to the Constitution and laws of the State, and
that since the fourth day of July, in the year eighteen hun-
dred and fifty-one, I have not in any manner violated the
provisions of the present or of the late Constitution in relation