New Orleans Republican., 1877-02-17
REGULAR SESSION OF 1877.
AN ACT

AN ACT
FOrbiddiug 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 a 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
ard 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
ganize or maintain any military Organizl-
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
gsnizations 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 Ito1 require and to command the dis.
baDdmenG and dispersal of any military or
ganization, body or company existing or
organized in violation of the provisions of
this act whenever he sbail deem the exist
enoe or formation of such organization,
body or company to endaDger the public
peace or to be organized tor any unlawful
purpose
SEC 3 Be il 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 theTeupOn disbaDd, the
Governor shall issue his proclamation, com
mandlng 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 so
disband such Illegal organization. II any
such person or persons SO 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 or
body, he or they, shall be deemed
guilty OF a misdemeanOr, and upon con-
viction shall be fined and imprisoned at
the discretion of the court. Any person or
persons who shall thereafter act with or
drill with, or who shall appear upon any
public highway with arms in company with
any such illegal body, company or Organi.
z4tion, OF as members of such as a military
body, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
mesnOr, and upon conviction shall be pun
ished with fine and imprisonment in the
discretion nf the cOnrt.
SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
if it shall become necessary the Governor
may direct the law officers of the State to
institute any civil suit or process to enforce
the disbandment of any illegal Organiza-
N "a nj ~
of this act, and he, the Governor, may, if
it shall become necessary, use the militia OF
the State to enforce aDy order or process Of
court in the premises.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
if any illegal military body, company or
organic alton, within the meaning Of this
act, shall appear upon any public streets or
highways, or in any public place, after hay
ing been commanded to disband by the
Governor as herelnbefOre provided, such
illegal military body, company or orgauiza-
tion and the members thereof shall be
deemed a riotous and unlawful assem-
blage, and NAV be dispersed under the pro-
visions of act No. z OF lS73 approved Jan
uary 4, 1873, and entitled an act to suppress
riotous and unlawful assemblies, etc.
SEC. 6. Be it further enacted. etc, That
all laws conflicting herewith be and are
hereby repealed, ana this act shall take
effect from and after its passage.
tSigned) MICHAEL HAHN,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(Signed) c. G. ANTOINE,
Lieutenant Governor and President of the
Senate.
Approved January 6, 1877.
lSignedl WM. P. KELLOGG,
Governor OF the State of Louisiana,
A true copy:
p. G.. DEsLoNDE,
Secretary of State.