JAMES THOMAS, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR.

1834.

passed by the General Assembly, for the purpose of enrol-
ling, organizing, disciplining and employing, or in any way
regulating the militia of this State or any part of said militia,

CHAP. 251.

shall be, and the same are hereby repealed; Provided always,
that all commissions heretofore issued until the same shall
be forfeited or revoked under the provisions of this act; and
all bonds taken under said laws or any of them, shall be and
remain of the same force and validity, and shall have the
same effect as if the said law or laws had not been hereby
repealed, and for each commission, issued under this act, the

Clerk of the Council may receive twenty five cents, to be
paid out of the funds received by the Treasurer of the
Western Shore, under the operation of this act.

Fee for commission

Sec. 59 And be it enacted, That from and after the pas-
sage of this act, all officers holding commissions in the staff
of the Maryland Militia, shall be entitled to rank in the line
as follows; — the Adjutant General shall rank as a Colonel
of Artillery in the line; officers composing the staff of a
division, shall take rank in the line as Majors of Infantry,
and those composing the Brigade staff, shall be entitled to
rank in the line as Captains of Infantry, and those officers
composing the staff of regiments, extra battalions or squad-
rons, shall take rank in the line as first Lieutenants in their
respective corps, and the said officers shall be entitled to

other officers of like grade in their respective corps.

Rank of the staff

Ami whereas, but little good, and much vexation and har-
rassing to the people, is to he expected from the operation
of a Militia law in time of peace, and a reorganization
would soon cease to be such, from the absence of that

Preamble

necessity which is essential for its existence, — Therefore:
Sec. 60. And be it further enacted, That this act shall
not go into operation and take effect, until the Governor, as
Commander in Chief of the Militia of the State, shall issue
his proclamation, fixing a day on which it shall go into ope-
ration; and when such proclamation shall be determined on,
the Governor shall immediately advertise to have this act
printed in pamphlet form with marginal notes, upon the must
reasonable terms, and when so printed, one copy thereof
shall forthwith be sent by mail, to each commissioned officer
of the State.

Proclaim [ ]

Sec. 61. And be it enacted, That so soon as the Governor
shall see cause to believe that there, is danger of war with
40

Governor authori-

ised to issue and

proclamation