New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-10
EMILE HONoRE,
1aarakarv Of gtata
REGULAR SESSION OF 1871.

AN ACT
FOrbidding the organization and main
tenance of any military organization,
company or body not mustered into the
militia Of the State; defining such illegal
bodies as riotous and unlawful assemblies
in certain cases; making it misdemeanOr
to violate this act, and prescribing pun
ishment therefor, and providing for the
disbandment of such illegal bodies.
SECTION |. Be it enacted by the Senate
and House of Representatives of the State
of Louisiana in General Assembly con-
vened, That all military organizations with
In the State shall be organized and main
tanned under the militia laws thereuntO
providing, and it shall be unlawful to Or
gani1e or maintain any military organiza-
ton or body, except it shall be mustered
into the State militia under the militia laws
existing or which may be hereafter enacted.
All bodies, combinations, associations or
companies which have provided themselves
or which may provide themselves With
military arms, shall be deemed military or.
CARNATIONS within the meaning of this act.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc., That
| it shall be the duty of the Governor of the
| State [tO1 require and to command the dis
bandment and dispersal of any military or
\ ganization, body or company existing or
| this act whenever he shall deem the exist
ence or formation of such organisation,
| body or company to endanger the public
peace or to be organized for any unlawful
| purpose.
SEC. 3 Be it further enacted, etc, That
/ whenever the Governor shall deem it his
| duty under section two of this act to dis
band any organization existing or formed
in violation Of this act he shall give official
notice to such organization to disband.
Such notice may be served by any militia
officer of the State upon any officer or mem
Der of such illegal organization, body or
company. If such illegal organization, body
or company shall not thereupon disbaDd, the
Governor shall issue his proclamation, com
handing such organization to disband. In
such proclamation the Governor may name
any officer or officers, member or members Of
such illegal organization. company or body
specially commanding him or them to SC
disband such illegal organization. u any
such person or persons 80 named in such
proclamation of the Governor shall neglect
or refuse to obey such proclamation
and shall neglect or refuse to so dis
band, such organization, company oil
body, he or they, shall be deemed
guilty OF q misdemeanOr, and upon con
VictiOn shall be fined and imprisoned 81
the discretion of the court. Any person Of
persons who shall thereafter act with Of
drill with, or who shall appear upon any
public highway with arms in company witt
any such illegal body, company or organi
cation, or as members of such as a military
body, shall be deemed guilty OF a misde
meanOr, and upon conviction shall be pun
ished with fine and imprisonment in thu
discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, etc., Tha
If it shall become necessary the GovernO
may direct the law officers of the State Il
institute any civil suit or process to enforc
the diabandment of any illegal organiza
ton, company or body within the meaning
of this act, and he, the Governor, may,
it shall become necessary, use the militia o
the State to enforce any order or process o
court in the premises.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted. etc., Tha
if any illegal military body, company o
organization, within the meaning of thi
act, shall appear upon any public streets o
highways, or in any public place, after hav
ing been commanded to disband by tn
Governor as herelnbefore provided, sucl
illegal military body, company or organiza
ton and the members thereof shall b
deemed q riotous and unlawful Assem-
blage, and may be dispersed under the pro
visions of act No. 7 of 1873, approved Jan
uary A, 1873, and entitled an act to suppress
riOtous and unlawful assemblies, etc.
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted, ETC., Tha
all laws conflicting here with be and ar
hereby repealed, and this act shall tax
effect from and after its passage.
(Signedl MICHAEL HAHN,
Speaker Of the House of Representatives
(Signedl c. G. ANTOINE,
Lieutenant Governor and President of tn
Approved January 8 1877; ,ro,o
Governor of the State of Louisians
A true copy:
p. g. DEsLoEDE,
Secretary of State.