Coffee County -- BYLAWS FOR COFFEE CO GUARDS Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 18:38:37 From: Tonia BYLAWS FOR COFFEE CO GUARDS Archivist: Richard White, white@hiwaay.net ====================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================== Taken from original documents on file at the Alabama Archives. Transcribed by Helen Bartlett March 1998. Spelling is true to the document. To contact e-mail toniab@worldisp1.net Roll, Constitution and By Laws of the Coffee County Guard Constitution and By Laws, of the Coffee County Guard, it being a vigilant company to continue twelve Months. Adopted December, 28th,1860. Preamble We the subscribed members of the Coffee County Guard Bind ourselves, to abide by and observe, the following Bylaws for the Government of the same, Article 1st Sec. 1st, Twenty members shall Constitute a Quorum to transact Business Sec. 2nd, This Company shall be composed of active and contributing members Sec 3rd, Any person proposing to become an active member, of this company, shall make application to the Sergeant, who shall report him to the Company, and if a Majority of the same agree, in favour of the application, he shall then be considered a member of the Company, by subscribing to these Bylaws, and appear at the next drill of the Company armed and Equiped, as the Bylaws require. Sec. 4th, Any person whose name may be subscribed as a member of this Company who does not appear at the next drill, or within thirty day after the adoption of these Bylaws, shall be fined, fifty cents for the first offence, and the fine to be doubled for every offence afterwards until he makes a lawful excuse. Article 2nd Sec. 1st, The Commanding Officers were Elected by Ballot and the Subaltirns by Acclimation, and all vacancies to be filled in the same way Sec. 2nd, It shall be the duty of the Captain to preside at all meetings of the Company, and have charge of the Company Roll, and furnish the first Sergeant with a copy of the same, and the Clerk shall have a copy of the same. In case of the absence of the Captain from any meeting of the Company, it shall be the duty of the next higher Officer to preside. Sec. 3rd, Every member of this Company shall immediately arm himself with a good gun, in good order, with at least twenty-four rounds of ammunition, on failing to do so, shall be fined, fifty cents for the first offence, and for the second offence, one dollar (unable to read ) the power to examine all persons, who may be engaged in circulating Incendiary documents, or movements, or avowing themselves Abolitionists or any, engaged in any manner, in working Insubordination or Insurriction among the Negro Slaves in this County, and to treat them with summary Punishment according, to the discretion of the company. Sec 4th, The Company shall meet once in each month, for drill, and all other business, and as much oftener as the Captain and officers shall deem it necessary Sec 5th, It Shall be the duty of the first Sergeant to issue by order of the Captain, all orders, for Parade, Meeting and Drill, and to call the Company, into line, and call the roll at each Meeting and Drill, and strictly mark absentees or deficiency of Equipment Sec 6th, If any of the Officers fail to fulfil their duty as required by the Bylaws of this Company, the Captain for the first offence not less than two dollars fine, and second offence, not less than four dollars fine, and third offence not less than Eight Dollars fine and for the fourth offence to be removed from Office, and for the 1st and 2nd and 3rd Lieutenants, for the first offence not less than one dollar fine, and for the second offence not less than two dollars fine, and third offence not less than four dollars fine, and the fourth offence to be removed from office, and the Ensign Sergeants and Corporals, for the first offence one dollar and for the second offence, one dolar and fifty cents and third offence two dollars and fourth offence to be removed from office, and privates for the first offence, fifty cents and second offence one dollar, and third offence, one dollar and five cents, and fourth offence to be put under guard, two hours and fined two dollars Sec 7th, It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a record of the Companys proceedings, and to enter the same in a Book to be kept for that purpose, he shall read the same to the Company at their regular meetings for their adoption or amendment under the penalty of one dollar for every neglect. Sec 8th, It shall be the (Treasurer) duty of the Treasurer to receive all money of the Company from the Secretary and give his receipt for the same, He shall keep a correct account of all monies received and expended, and shall pay no money with out the order of the Captain, he shall make detailed reports, to the Company at the regular meeting of the Company, of all monies received and expended together with a general exposition of the financial affairs of the Company when called for by a majority of the Company under the Penalty of one dollar for every neglect Article 3rd Sec. 1st, There shall be a committee of five members of the Company to be chosen by the chair from those present, at any regular meeting and to be composed as follows: One Commanding Officer, One Sergeant, one Corporal, and two privates whose duty and power It shall be to hear all Excuses offered by dellinquents, and to impose or mitigate all fines incured by breach of these Bylaws Sec. 2nd, For leaving a meeting, Drill or Parade, without permission of the Commanding Officer, one dollar fine Sec. 3rd, For laughing, Talking, or Swearing while on Parade, one dollar fine Sec. 4th, If any officer should appear in ranks intoxicated, or neglect his duty, by means of intoxication he shall be fined for the first offence three Dollars, and for the second offence, five dollars and for the third offence, a removal from his office and privates appearing in ranks Intoxicated, or neglecting their duty by means of Intoxication shall be fined one dollar for the first offence, and two dollars for the second offence, and for the third offence four dollars Sec. 5th All fines imposed upon the members of this Company shall be collected by the Clerk if not paid within thirty days, He , the clerk shall issue an Execution to be collected by a baliff. Article 4th Sec. 1st, All alterations proposed to these Bylaws must be submitted in writing at one of the regular Stated meetings of the Company, and to be acted on at the next regular meeting and then no alteration shall be made unless by a vote of two thirds of the Members present. Sec 2nd, This Constitution and Bylaws shall be in force from their passage. A Supplement to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Coffee County Guard Article 5th Whereas the Deputies of the Sovereign and Independent Sates of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, have in behalf of these States, Ordained, and Established a Constitution for the Provisional Government of the same, to continue one year from the Inaugeration of the President, or until a permanent Constitution or Confederation between the said States, shall be put in opperation which so ever shall first occur, Sec. 1st Therefore be it Ordained by this Company, that their Constitution and Bylaws have under the same by readoption, on this the 16th day of March, 1861 Sec. 2nd, that this Company always act on the defensive of the rights of the Southern Confederacy Sec. 3rd, that the members of this company will not support by their free sufferage, any man for any office who is not a warm supporter of the Southern Confederacy, and the Constitution of this State Sec. 4th, that this company will defend and protect the rights and property of the citizens of this county who are or may be warm supporters of the Southern Confederacy, in case of an invasion Sec. 5th, In all cases of complaint of invasion, made to the Captain, Officer and advisory Committee of the Company, the complainant or complainants shall be bound to defray the contingent expences of the company provided they have not sufficient proof to convict, so that the company can take imediate action against such invadors. Archivist: Richard White, white@hiwaay.net ====================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================== Taken from original documents on file at the Alabama Archives. Transcribed by Helen Bartlett March 1998. Spelling is true to the document. To contact e-mail toniab@worldisp1.net Coffee County Guards Ethel TUCKER Captain Quillen HALL First Lieutenant A. RUSSELL 2nd Lieutenant E. WINSLOW 3rd Lieutenant J.P. ROBISON Ensign Wm. J. STPEHENS 1st Sergeant Wm. H. MATHENY 2nd sergeant Warren MILLS 3rd Sergeant Mathew M. MADDOX 4th Sergeant E. BARNES 1st Corporal Z.G. BISHOP 2nd Corporal Wm. HARRIS 3rd Corporal F.B. JOHNSTON 4th Corporal Wm. A. BOUDOIN Clerk Wm. L. BISHOP Assistant Clerk Nathaniel MATHENY Treasurer Wm. L. BARLEY D. W. WARD E. H. DANIEL E. KILPATRICK T.C. MATHEWS D. M. BRASWELL N.B. CARDWELL W.H. CARDWELL H. B. DAVIS Seaborn JACKSON Jacob BOWDOIN Thomas CARROLL Joshua GEOGHAGEN W.W. KILPATRICK Green B. KNOWLES Samuel KNOWLES Henry ANDERSON J.G. HEATH Wm. DISMUKES Joseph N. MATHENY Wm. A. HEATH B. HEATH Wm. T. DYESS W. J. SIMMONS James M. DYESS Wm. D. SMITH W.J. McNEAL John B. MADDOX Daniel HALL W. W. MILLS C. FREEMAN W. McCARDWELL H. M. HAMMON Jas. H. H. MADDOX John GOODSON John T. LOVELESS Jessee M. ROWE John BARTLETT C.M. HEATH James DUNCAN M. CARMICHAEL James ROBISON Pinkney BRANSON M. L. MORGAN Jacob POWELL Hez- WATERS James F. McCULLOUGH Calvin GINWRIGHT Thomas McCULLOUGH James MORRIS L. J. WINN G. W. CARROLL Dennis BRIGHT Joseph TAYLOR C. H. KYSER Wm. H. SMITH Benjamin AMASON John BOWDOIN Mathew CHANCY Archivist: Richard White, white@hiwaay.net ====================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ======================================