JAS. BLACK GROOME, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. 115

corporation to issue such bank notes, if the Directors
should at any time deem it inadvisable.
SEC. 14. And be it enacted, That the President, each
Director and Cashier, before entering upon the duties
of his office, shall take the following oath or affir-
mation, as the case may be : "I, do solemnly swear,
(or affirm), that I will faithfully, impartially, dili-	Oath.
gently and honestly, execute the duties of ——— ,
agreeably to the provisions of the law, and the trust
reposed in me to the best of my skill and judgment."
said oath or affirmation to be taken before any justice
of the peace, or other person having authority under
the laws of this State to administer oaths ; and to be
made in writing, signed by the affiant, and filed
among the archives of the bank.
SEC, 15. And be it enacted, That the total amount
of the debts which the said corporation, shall at any
time owe, exclusive of its issues or notes, whether
by bill, bond, note, or contract, shall not exceed the
amount of the capital stock actually paid in; (pro-	Amount of debt
vided, that money deposited in the bank for safe
keeping shall not be considered as debts of the bank
within the provisions of this section), unless the con-
tracting of a greater debt shall have been previously
authorized by a law of this State, and in cases of ex-
cess, the Directors under whose administration it
shall happen, shall be liable for the same in their
natural and private capacities, and action may in such
cases be brought against them, or any of them, or
their heirs, executors, or administrators, in any court	Liability.
of record in this State, by any creditor or creditors
of said corporation, and may be prosecuted to judg-
ment and execution; any condition, covenant, or
agreement to the contrary notwithstanding; but
nothing herein contained shall be construed to ex-
empt the said corporation, or the lands, tenements,
goods and chatties of the same, from being also lia-
ble for and chargeable with the said excess, and such
of the Directors as may have been absent when the
said excess was created, or who may have dissented
from the resolution or act, whereby the same was
created, may respectively exonerate themselves from
being so liable by forthwith giving notice of the fact,
and of their absence, or dissent, to the Governor of