The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1861-06-08
AN ORDINANCE
To organize and establish Pat
rolls for the police Of Slaves in
the Parish Of St. Landry.

ll1C i Ill lsIl Va GCs A1GtlNl
ART. LIST. The Police Jury of the Parish of st.
Landry ordains as follows:
ART. 2. Every free white male person. having ut.
tanned the age OF Ii years aud not above the age OF
go years, who shall reside in the State of Louisiana
and Parish OF st. Landry, shall be bound to do patrol
duty within the limits u the Patrol District in which
lie resides.
ART. 3. 1t shall be the duty Of the Parish Superin-
tendent Of Roads aud patrols. in addition to any
other duties that may be imposed on him by existing
laws:
lst. To divide the Parish into as many Patrol Dis.
same whenever it may be necessary.
I'd. To appoint and commission in each Patrol Dis
trict, a fit and proper person, as Captain OF Patrol,
aud to ill all vacancies.
3D.. To dismiss any Captain of Patrol. and. to &C
cent their designations, and to demand and receive
from any Captain of Patrnl, who may leave the
bounds Of the District FIR which he was appointed,
or who may resign, or who may lie dismissed, or
spspendcd his commission as Captain OF Patrol.
4th. TO issue such orders, or instructions, to the
CAPTAINS Of Patrol, the leaders of Patrol, or tile pat.
rol, relative to tine respective duties, as he may deem
e~xpedient or necessary for the good OF the service.
5th. To paw attention that the Captain Of Patrol
perform the duties enjoiued on them by law. ard to
cause ct he prosecuted such as fail to perform any OF
their dnties.
9th. 10 keep a list or rel of the persons appointed
as CAPTAINS or leaders Of Patrols, ard the number Of
men under each leader. noting the dates of their
several appointments, aud Of all changes. and TO
keep a copy Of all orders or instructions by him
issued.
18th. To form any settlement of free person of color,
into a Patrol District, on the p"etition Of q majority
Of such ter.ons being ireehqlders, should he deera it
e4ped:eut, ard to ra1se all free rersons Of color re-
siding in ss,ch District, between the age Of eighteen
ard ~torty-tire years. to he enrolled ard dn duty as a
patrol, in the limits of such District only. in the
| same manner and under the same responsibilities,
| penalties and forfeitures, as the other Patrols in this
Parish, P7uuidfd. That the patrols off.ee persons of
color, shall not patrol hut of such district. or patrol
on the plantations Of any white person. unless spc.
cially requested in writing SO to do. And also pro
riaed, That the patrols of white persons shall pat
rol in such district, the sane as il it had not been
erected into q patrol district, and the patrols of free
persons Of color shall at all times, and under every
circumstance, lie olcd;ent and subordinate, to all
Captains, leaders, or patrols, Of white persons when
on daty.
stl. TO file with the. Clerk of the Police Jury of
this Parish, the boundaries of the Patrol District
nlat's by him, as well as all changes thereof. To de.
liver to the said Clerk. a certified list Of the Cap
tains and leaders OF patrol. with the number Of the
district or ward for which they have been appointed
Whenever thereunto requested by the said Clerk or
the Police Jury of the Parish, and notifying to said
Clerk. all changes in any appointment.
9Th. To report to the Police Jury of this Parish
on the Sd Monday of February in every year. OF
oftener if required by said Jury, the manner il
which the laws relatives to the Patrols have beer
executed, ard suggesting such alterations in, OF
amendments to said laws, as experience may have
ahown 70 he necessary or proper. I'll ,
10th. To counsel and give advice to alt Captain:
and leaders Of patrol, whenever requested. relative
to the duties enjoined on them by law, and to ait
aad assist them in making out their reports aud nc
turns, by furnishing them with blatk forms therefor
and showing the manner in which they are to b.
filled in.
18th. At the expence of the Parish, to cause al
such Books, Blanks. papers, Laws, DC. to he pro
cured or printed, as may be deemed necessary TO
the Information and government of the Patrols.
ART. 4th. In case the said Parish Superintendent
should at airy tine be unable to act, or should re
sign, or be dism!sscd Or be absent, his duties will b.
performed by the President of the Police Jisry, unit
he the Superintendent liz able to resume his duties
or n person is appointcdin his place as the case ma,
be.
ART. S The persons to be appointed as Captains Q
Patrol, shall lie bound to serve two years in ever
five years, but may each retain his commission, an
act under the same, until he resigns, or is suIcrcede,
by the Parish Superintendent, and any person VIII
refuses to serve as Captain of Patrol, shall forGci
and pay Fine Of not less than twenty-five dollars
nor more than five hundred dollars.
ART; 9Th: 1t shall be the duty OF every person al
pointed a Captain of Patrol
lst. 10 cause to be made, and always &c keep,
10 list or luii of all persons in his District subjectt
patrol duty, and to causcto he enrolled, from tim
to time, every person 70 liable, who shall arrive q
the age OF sixteen years, or who shall come to resid
in his District, which list or roll, he shall keep in
book, agreeably to the form to be furnished BIZ til
Superintendent of Patrol and deliver the same, an
all books and papers, belonging to the Office af Ca,
tain OF Patrol, to his successor in office, Or to til
said Superintendent.
I'd. He shall divide the persons so enrolled, int
such number of squads, as he may deem necessary
in such manner that there shall not lie less tha
three persons to each squad, to each Of which squad
he shall appoint a fit person as leader.
Sd. He shall cause patrols to be made in his di
trict, III such manner, that his whole district, sha
be patrolled, at least once in every week, and a
much oftener as he may deem it cXptdient.
4th. He shall pay attention, that all patrols orie
cd take place, and make return of all delinquel
leaders OF patrol, or members Of q patrol, tn th
netrest acting Justice Of the Peace, within twent,
four hours after any delinquency shall have come t
his knowledge.
9Th. To take, (at such time rs he NAV deem it @,
pedlent,) command OF any squad or squads, tllq
may either lie out, or that he may order out. AN
patrol Herewith, in which case he shall report
the superintendent OF Patrol, stating fully the re;
, sols that induced MN to assume the ommand
9Th. 10 make returns of the state OF his diStric
to the Superintendent Of Patrol, in the manner n
quired, and ~agreeably to the forms to be furnishe,
On the first day OF March, June, SEPTEMBER and ID
cember IN every year. He shall deliver to eac
leader of patrol, a commission of his appointment
stating therein the number Of his squad, and q
darsilg thereon the leaders Of patrols in the di
trict, aud the names Of the persons COMPOSING II
squad. which will be sufficient authority for hi
to command such persons to patrol.
, eth. To have power to dismiss any leader of Pa
roi, accept their :esignations, aud hi all vacanci,
that may occur, and
tions, issued by the Parish Superintendent Of Ryat
and Patrol.
9th. ANY Captain Of Patrol who shall fail to M
form any o! the duties inlpo-ed u, hin, by this =.