The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-08-29
AN ORDINANCE
To establish and regulate Town Guard.

1. Be it Ordained by the Intendant and War
dens of the Town of Camden, now met and sitting
in Council, That four persons shall be elected BY
the Council, who shall constitute and be the Town
Guard, in and for the said Town, in lieu and
place of the patrol of said Town, who shall per-
form all the duties required Of the patrol, by Laws
of the said State and Town now of force, or here
after to be passed, and shall be subject to all the
penalties, and shall have all the rights and autho-
the patrol, contained in the Laws of the said Town
and State now of force, hereafter to be enacted.
Q. Be it further enacted by the authority afore.
said, That the Council shall designate two of the
said four Guardmen, who stall be sergeants Of
the Guard, and shall be responsible for the con.
tinuance on duty, and the due performance
duty, of the man on duty with him, and shal
report to the Recorded, at the end of each calsn
der, month, all absences from, and neglect
duty, by the man of his squad, and Of the seTgean
of the other squad, and all violations Of the proVi-
sons of this Ordinance by them, or either OF them,
and the Recorder shall report the same to the Coun-
Gil at their first meeting thereafter
In the absence OF any one Of the sergeants, the
man of his squad shall perform all the duties and
be subject to all the penalties Of his sergeant.
8. Be it further ordained by tho authority afore.
said, That it shall be the duty of said four guard.
men, to assemble every night, at The ringing OF
shall be the south room Of the second story of the
Market House, and while not on duty, shall re.
main in the said guardroom until day light. IL
shall be the duty Of the said two sergeants to diVioe
the night into equal watches, and if they cannot
agree thereon, then to decide bylot, which OF SAID
watches shall be performed by each sergeant ana
the man of his squad respectively. 1t shall be the
duty of one of said sergeants, at nine o'clock
every night, together with the man Of his squad,
10 forfh huifh IN frnl etrpets
Town, according to the laws Of the said State and
Town, as are now of force, or may hereafter be
passed. and the sergeant shall take one rart Of said
Town, and the man ofthis squad, the other part,
which the sergeant shall designate, in which they
shall respectivel, perform duty, and the sergeant
shall appoint certain places and times at wiicn ne
shall meet the man Of his squad, dnring the said
watch. But the sergeant on duty may require the
man of his squadto accompany him to any part OF
aaid Town, If be shall deem the same necessary
in the performance OF his duty. And SO soon Us
the term of watch Of the squad on duty shall e!-
pire the sergeaton duty shall return TO the guard
room and wake up the relief guard, who shall be
the other sergeant and man, and who shall proceed
forthwith to perform the same duties required above
of the relieved squad.
For each violation, Of any OF the provisions
this scction tho guardman offending, shall De hnea
not more than five dollars, at the discretion OF the
Council. '%st
4. Be it further ordained by the authority afore
said, That the sergeant Of the squad which shall
aptu,e any free white person for violation OF
the laws of the State OF Town, shall commit such
prisoner to jail and give notice 10 tho lntendant
and confine all slaves or free negroes captured 10
being without alegal permit, in The stocks at ID
suard room, until next morning eight O'CLOCK un
less sooner discharged by the other provisions !
this clause, and the guardman who made the
siezure. shall give notice to the owner Of such
slave before eight o'clock, and if one dollar shall
then be paid to the said guardman, such slave or
free negro shall be set at liberty, but it the said
sum of one dollar be not then paid to the SAID
puardman, such free negro or slave, sh'f forth;
with whipped by said guardman, accord law
md the sergeant of the squad " hich slia 'eany
free negro or slave for any other vlolah :. OF the
laws of the said Town or State, shall forthwith
commit such prisoner to Jail, and give notice to the
next morning. 5$5.a..
( s. Be it further ordained by the authority afore.
aid That on each and every Snnday, one squad
81 said guard, shall perform duty from o'clock
IN the morning, till such time before nine o'clock
At night, as the Council may direct by Resolution,
eachsmen1ber of which squad shall be on dut? one
half Of said period; and all slaves ana Iree
seized on Sunday shall be dealt with according %
law.
g. Be it further ordained by the authority afotesl
said That each member of said guard shall be fur.
pished by the Council with stout stick and rattle,
leather belt with scabbard attached theret6s and
, bayonet and the sticks shall be so made that the
bayonet NAV fas,en thereon, which articles the said
yIard shall wear while en- duty, under the penalty
IF one dollar tor each offence therein: and the said
ruard shall be further armed with musket andt
sufficient powder aud balls when SO directed by the
Intendant or Council: And in case any one OF
he said guard on duty should need assistance in
,erformance of the duties of his watch, he shall
,pfing his. rattle, when The whole guard both,
hose orssdaty and those at the guard room5 shall
,romptiy repair to his assistance:
-. Be il further ordained by the authority afoIe-
aid, That in case Of fire occurring at night, the
;re bell shall be rung by the guard. and the whole
L the guard shall turn out and pa:rol tor he re-
nainder of the night, in all arts OF the aow9: