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Lexington Rifles "Our Laws, The Commands of Our Captain"
Constitution & By-Laws
Background
Music: ARTICLE
I. Establishment . SECTION I. Authority The
good people of this organization, who in aggregate shall constitute the Company
and bear equal responsibility for managing its civil affairs, have the full
power of Impeachment and to enact By-laws, levy War, contract Alliances,
establish Commerce, and to do all other acts and things in its own interest
which an independent organization may of right do.
A.
The
powers not delegated to the Company by these By-laws, nor prohibited by them,
are reserved to the good people of this organization. . SECTION II. Mission The objective of this organization is to portray Company A of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers during the War for Southern Independence. This organization shall also be devoted to honoring the memory of all those brave Confederates who sacrificed for the cause of liberty by reenacting their struggle in a manner and style that is authentic, professional, educational, safe, and enjoyable.. . SECTION III. Name Whereas,
a
militia company of infantry named the Lexington Rifles was raised and
established at Lexington, Kentucky in 1857 by its commander, capt
John Hunt Morgan, and Whereas, the Lexington Rifles was mustered as Morgan’s Company into the cavalry service of the Confederate States at Woodsonville, Kentucky on the Twenty-seventh Day of October 1861 by maj William Preston Johnston, and Whereas, Morgan's Company was designated as Company A of Morgan's Cavalry Squadron upon organization of that command at Bowling Green, Kentucky on the Fifth Day of November 1861 by brig-gen Simon Bolivar Bucker, and Whereas,
Morgan’s
Squadron, having
gained renown under the sobriquet of “Morgan's Raiders”,
became the nucleus for formation of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry upon
organization of that regiment at Chattanooga,
Tennessee in June 1862 by col
John Hunt Morgan and lt-col
Basil Duke, and Whereas, in
response to the tyrannical usurpations by the federal government of the United
States against the people of Kentucky, Morgan and his men committed themselves
to fight in defense of liberty against despotism and the enemies of freedom,
thereby establishing a reputation as a formidable force that became famous in
the annals of warfare for cunning, gallantry, and valor, Now, Therefore, Be
it resolved, the good people of this
organization hereby proclaim that this Company shall henceforth be known as the “Lexington
Rifles”, and that it may also be referred to as
“Morgan's Company”
or as “Company A, 2nd Cavalry
Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers”. . SECTION IV. Motto Whereas,
Brig-Gen Basil Wilson Duke, who served as 1st Lieutenant of
Morgan’s Company, and as Colonel of the 2nd Kentucky Cavalry, was a noted
postbellum author and historian, and Whereas, the book “History of Morgan's Cavalry”, written by Duke and first published in 1867, is recognized as being a historically accurate and reliable account of the subject, and Whereas, Chapter V of Duke’s book refers to the motto – “Our Laws, the Commands of Our Captain” – that was prominently displayed at the entrance to the Lexington Rifles Armory, located at Main and Upper Streets in Lexington, Kentucky, Now, Therefore, Be it resolved, the good people of this organization hereby proclaim that those words and that sentiment shall henceforth be retained as the official motto of this Company. . . .
ARTICLE
II. Administration . SECTION I. Board of Directors An
elected Board of Directors shall hold their offices during good behavior and
have the power and the duty to conduct the civil affairs of the Company. Any
officer of the Board may be impeached and removed from office for dereliction of
duty or for violation of the Company By-laws and/or Special Orders.
Unilateral decisions by an officer of the Board on behalf of the Company
may be overridden by vote. The
description and responsibilities
of these offices are as follows: A. Chief of
Staff 1.) The Chief of Staff shall preside over civil meetings of the Company, and is responsible for preparing an agenda for all such proceedings. 2.) The Chief of Staff is empowered to authorize payment of any bill not exceeding $50 United States currency, or $850 Confederate States currency. 3.) The Chief of Staff may appoint committee members and temporarily fill vacant civil offices until proper elections take place in accordance with these By-laws. B. Adjutant 1.) The Adjutant shall assume all responsibilities of the Chief of Staff in cases of his inability to discharge the duties of his office. 2.)
The
Adjutant is empowered to cast a deciding vote in all cases of a tie. C. Company
Clerk 1.) The Company Clerk shall notify members of the time, place, and proposed agenda of all meetings of the Company, and shall keep the minutes of all such proceedings. 2.) The Company Clerk shall register the Company for attendance at scheduled events. 3.) The Company Clerk shall act as elections judge by conducting all elections; certifying the number of points accrued by each member; and tallying election results. D. Paymaster 1.) The Paymaster is responsible for the deposit of U.S. and C.S. currency, script, gold and other valuable in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. 2.) The Paymaster is empowered to disburse Treasury funds for the payment of any bill that is owed by the Company, and to collect any debt that is owed to it. 3.) The Paymaster is responsible for preparing the operating budget of the Company, which shall estimate expected revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year. 4.) The Paymaster shall investigate revenue evasion, counterfeiting, forgery, smuggling, and the distillation of illicit spirits. . SECTION II. Committees Committees,
consisting of a minimum of three members, may be appointed to examine important
issues and to make recommendations. They may also take responsibility for
certain services and functions of the Company. A. Committees
shall have an advisory role only and shall be disbanded once their duties have
been fulfilled. All decisions
pertaining to their recommendations rest solely with the Company.
B. Multiple committees dealing with identical issues are allowed, provided they each have the required sponsorship. C. The
Company will maintain the following standing committees: 1.) Authenticity 2.) Recruiting 3.) Attendance D. Nothing
in this section is meant to discourage or prohibit any member from proposing
suggestions to the Company for consideration. . SECTION III. Meetings The
Company shall meet at a time and place that is convenient to its members, and an
agenda will be published for the purpose thereof with no other business being
conducted unless by consent of a majority in attendance. A quorum is met
by a simple majority of members, excluding those who are on furloughed leave,
but the lack of a quorum will not affect the proceedings unless a point of order
is raised. “Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised”
shall
govern the procedure of these meetings. A. Annual
Convention B. Special Meeting C. Council
of War D. Order
of Business 1.) Call to Order 2.) Minutes 3.) Official Reports 4.) Old Business 5.) 6.) 7.) Adjournment . SECTION IV. Financial Affairs The
Company shall operate on an approved budget during the fiscal year, which will
run concurrently with each calendar year.
No dues, imposts, or fees are to be levied without authorization by the
members. A.
Dues B. Imposts C.
Commutation Fees . SECTION V. Special Orders Regulations and procedures for governing the efficient operation of the Company may be written in the form of Special Orders, which may be adopted, changed, or deleted by simple majority. . SECTION VI. Discipline In
the interest of preserving civil order and maintaining discipline, a judicial
system will be used to enforce Company laws and to administer justice fairly.
No member shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy, nor
shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. A. Order
of Procedure 1.)
Indictment 2.)
Hearing 3.)
Verdict 4.)
Sentencing B.
Nothing
in this Section shall preclude the military staff from invoking and/or imposing
martial law in accordance with the “Regulations
for the Army of the Confederate States of America”. .. SECTION VII. Dissolution The
organization may dissolve and terminate its affairs at a properly convened
meeting of the Company, assembled, by unanimous ratification of a resolution
proposing such action. . . ..
ARTICLE
III. Suffrage
SECTION I. Voting Members
shall have the right to vote in deciding civil matters of Company business at
any properly convened meeting. Deliberative
issues, other than elections and the scheduling of events, shall be decided
either by voice, by a show of hands, or by a non-weighted secret ballot at the
discretion of the presiding officer. With
the exception of the two-thirds majority that is required for amending
these By-laws, all issues will be decided by a simple majority. A. Eligibility . SECTION II. Elections Based
upon the belief that members should have a voice that is proportional to the
level of their individual participation, office elections and the selection of
an event schedule shall be conducted by weighted secret ballot.
A. Weighted
Ballots B. Voting
Points 1.) The total number of points that are accrued by a member will be available for use only during the subsequent calendar year and will not be accumulated from year to year. 2.)
One
(1) point will be earned for participation each day during a Company event. 3.)
One
(1) bonus point will be added for participation at each of the following,
respectively: the
annual convention; any fund raising event; and attendance on consecutive
days of a multi-day Company event. C. Elected
Offices D. Event
Schedule E. Proxies . . ..
ARTICLE
IV. Membership . SECTION I. Types There are two types of membership as herein described: Inducted and Honorary. A. Inducted 1.)
Active Duty 2.)
Furloughed B. Honorary . SECTION II. Eligibility Except
for the restrictions as noted herein, all free persons who subscribe to the
By-laws and Special
Orders
of this organization are eligible to apply for membership. Those under the
age of 18 must have the consent of a parent, guardian, or master. Each
prospective member should also be effective, able-bodied, and sober, free from
disease, of good character and habits, and possess a competent knowledge of the
English language. A. Males B. Females 1.) Nothing in this section is meant to preclude or to discourage the association of unmarried female re-enactors with this organization. However, unmarried women are not eligible for inducted membership status. . SECTION III. Requirements Membership
status is decided by the Company, which may consider an applicant’s petition
for enlistment following fulfillment of all the requirements listed in this
section. In cases of successful application for membership, the oath of
enlistment will be administered in a timely manner thereafter. A. Each
member must be able to demonstrate a level of personal integrity, competence,
authenticity, knowledge, skill, and safety in their historical portrayal that
would assist the Company in satisfying its mission statement. B. A
recruit must earn a minimum of 12 points within 12 consecutive months in order
to be considered for induction. This
requirement may be waived in considering reinstatement of a former member.
. SECTION IV. Allegiance Based
on a mutual bond of trust and fidelity that is considered to exist between
members of this organization, the duty of allegiance to the Company is expected.
Members, therefore, are prohibited from engaging in conduct that would be
considered a treasonous breach of their oath, or in conflict with the interests
of this organization. A. Conflict of interest is defined as: 1.)
Treasonous service to the United
States government during any sessions of the Provisional, the First, or the
Second Congresses of the Confederate States of America, a practice commonly
referred to as "galvanizing". 2.) Unauthorized service to another organization at a Company event. 3.)
Membership
in, or affiliation with, any organization that would impugn or denigrate the
good name and reputation of either the Company or the Confederate States of
America. B. Treason
shall consist of levying war against forces of the Confederate States. No
person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to
the same overt act, or on confession in open court. No attainder of
treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of
the person attainted. C. Nothing in this section is meant to prohibit service to the United States government that would not constitute a conflict of interest as herein defined, or to prohibit service to another organization under circumstances whereby the Company is militarily unviable. . SECTION V. Suspension A
member’s rights and privileges may be suspended as is herein provided in this
Section. A. Suspension will occur automatically when debt to the Company is in arrears. Reinstatement in such cases will not occur unless the payment is made or the obligation is forgiven. B. Suspension
may occur through action by the Company as a consequence of conviction in a
disciplinary hearing. SECTION VI. Termination Membership
may be terminated as is herein provided
in this
Section. A. A member may resign by tendering notice to any member of the Board of Directors. B. A
member may be cashiered through action by the Company as a consequence of
conviction in a disciplinary hearing. . . ....
ARTICLE
V. Military Affairs . SECTION I. Regulations “Regulations
for the Army of the Confederate States”,
adopted by the Confederate War Department on 28 January 1863, will govern the
military affairs of this organization and nothing contrary to them will be
enjoined or permitted. . SECTION II. Rank The
military ranks of the Company will be limited to males over the conscription age
of 16, and will be determined according to standards that are set forth in the
Special Orders
of this organization.
The ranks that are allowed, and the descriptions and responsibilities of
each, are as follows: A. Commissioned
Officers 1.) Captain 2.) Lieutenant B. Enlisted
Personnel 1.) Sergeant 2.) Corporal 3.) Private . . ..
ARTICLE
VI. Ratification & Amendments . SECTION I. Ratification WE, the petitioners in convention, assembled, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God for the rectitude of our intentions, and by authority of the good people of this organization, do ordain and hereby establish these By-laws for the Lexington Rifles – Company A, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers. In doing so, the petitioners solemnly publish and declare that this Company is free and independent, and is absolved from all allegiance to any other organization except the Confederate States of America. DONE in convention by the unanimous consent of the petitioners present at Wauconda, Illinois on the First Day of April, Anno Domini MM. In
Witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our
names. . SECTION II. Amendments These
By-laws may be amended upon ratification by two-thirds of Company members.
Any amendment adopting or deleting any provision thereof shall revise the
main body of the original text; and the date, place, and roll of those attending
the ratification shall be recorded. 1st
Revision Roll: B.
Fisher, J. Knight, T. Knight, A. Petrusky, L. Petrusky, C. Pierce, C. Sanderson,
R. Sanderson, S. Sonnon. 2d
Revision Roll: J. Knight, T. Knight, A.
Petrusky, L. Petrusky, C. Pierce, C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson, D. Sauter, J.
Sauter, A. Stenger, J. Wilson. 3d
Revision Roll: G. Bristow, J. Bristow, C.
Eaton, J. Eaton, M. Eaton, S. Glandon, T. Glandon, C. Hensel, J. Knight, T.
Knight, A. Petrusky, C. Pierce, C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson, D. Sauter, J.
Sauter, J. Wilson. 4th
Revision Roll: G. Bristow, J. Bristow,
M. Eaton, S. Glandon, T. Herrmann, J. Knight, T. Knight, A. Petrusky, C. Pierce,
C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson, D. Sauter, J. Sauter, M. Wright.
5th
Revision Roll: G. Bristow, J. Bristow,
S. Glandon, T. Glandon, A. Petrusky, B. Sanderson, C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson,
J. Wilson. 6th
Revision Roll: G. Bristow, J. Bristow,
S. Glandon, T. Glandon, A. Petrusky, B. Sanderson, C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson,
A. Wilson, J. Wilson.
7th
Revision Roll: S.
Glandon, T. Glandon, A. Petrusky, B. Sanderson, C. Sanderson, R. Sanderson, P.
Truitt.
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