Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-18
me Tennessee Miiitia Bm.
A BILL To be entitie An act to Eafor ce
the Ld,cg of the Stale.


the Lodcs Of The Stale.
WHEREAS, There exists in this State law
less bands and desperadoes, who are setting
at defiance civil law, and by their threat 3
! and acts of violence are forcing many of GU
citizens to leave their homes aud
WHEREAS, In certain localities it is en-
tirely impossible for the civil officers of the
State to enforce the laws thereof, in order
that the supremacy of the law may be main
tained, and that peace and order may pre-
vail therefore,
SECTION |. BE II enacted by the General
assembly Of the State Of Tennessee, That the
| Governor be, and is hereby, authorized and
empowered to organize, equip.and call into
active service, at his discretion, a volunteer
force TO be known as the "Tennessee State
Guards" to be composed Of one or more
regiments from each Congro ssioual District
of the State; prOUidcd, dliCGyS, that said
Tennessee State Guards shall be composed
Of loyal mon, who shall take and subscribe
an oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, and the Constitution of the
State of Tennessee.
SEC. II. BE it further enacted That the
State Guards organized under the provisions
of this act shall be governed and regulated
in all respects by the Revised Rules and
Regulations of the Army of the United
States.
SEC. III. BE il further enacted, That the
Comptroller of the State shall issue his
warrant upon the Treasurer, payable to the
order of the Governor, for any amount, in
the opinion of the Governor, actually neces-
sary for the organization, equipment, trans
portation and support of said State Guards,
not TO exceed the snm of fifty thousand dol
lars at any one time and the same shall be
paid out of any funds in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated; the amount so
drawn from the Treasury to be replaced as
hereinafter provided.
SEC. ". BE II further enacted, That the
Governor be, aud he is hereby, empowered
to declare martial law in any county or
counties of this State, for the protection ald
safety of the citizens thereof, and to quarter
said troops within any county or counties
so de eclared under martial law, in such num-
bers as may be necessary for the preserya-
tion Of the peace, aud the protection Of the
lives Of the citizens thereof; and further
more, as it is right and proper that good,
pelceable and law abiding citizens of the
State should not be held responsible, or
suffer loss for the violent acts OF such tur-
bulent communities, it shall be the duty of
the Governor TO assess and collect suiii
cient amount for the fun payment of said
State Guards, so employed, out Of said
county or counties so declared under martial
law, as provided for in Sections III and w,
of an Act passed February lst, 1868, Chap.
80, entitled "An Act to amend An Act for
the protection of Sherffs," etc.
SEC. V. BE 4 further enacted, That no
member Of the State Guard called into SER
vice under this Act shall be deprived Of his
right to vote 10 any and all elections in
which he shall be entitled to vote and that
it shall be the duty of officers commanding
regiments, battalions OF companies, 10 open
and hold elections in their camps, in the
same manner as is now done by Commis-
soners of Registrations, and report the
same to the Secretary of State
SEC. vi. BE il further enacted, That all
laws and parts of laws in conflict with
this Act are hereby repealed and this Act
shall take effect and be in force from and
slter its passage.
This bin passed the House of Represen-
tatiyes on its third reading by the following
vote viz:
Ayes-Messrs. Agee, Allen, Anderson,
Baker, Bowles, eagle, Dame, Dyer, Faulk-
ner, Galbreath, Griffith, Giimer, Hale,
Hodges, Hamilton Of Shelby, Hamilton Of
Lincoln, Marshall and Giles, Hammer, Hunt,
Hacker, Inman Of Knox and Sewer, Jordan,
Lillard, Medlin, Mckinley, Morris, Murry,
Mynatt, Moore, Poston, Pickett, Porter,
Prosser, Prestwood, Pitts, Reeves, Single
tary, Shepherd, Smith, Sparkmau, Stone,
Taylor Of Perry and Decatur, Thornburg of
Granger, Thornburg of Jefferson, White,
Welsh, Walker and Speaker Richards-47.
Noes-Messrs. Brown, Bosson, Brewer,
Casou, Dowdy, johnson, Kerchiyal, McFall,
Reed, Robinson, Ryder, Roach, Thompson,
Turner Woodward and Wines.