The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-24
Qualification of Voters.

BY the Territorial bill it is provided as follows
THAT every free white male inhabitant above
the age of twenty-one wears. who shall be an
actual resident of said Territory, and shall pos
seSs the qualifications hereinafter prescribed shall
be entitled To vote at the first election PT0gfded
That the right of suffrage and of holding Office
shall be exercised only by citizens of the United
States, and those who shall have declared on oath
their intention to become such. and shall have
taken Gl oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States and the provisions of sliis act: A7d
pTUrfded further That no officer. soldier seaman
or marine. or other person in the Army or Navy
of the United States. attached to troops in the
service of the United States shall be allowed to
vote or hold office in said Territory by reason OF
being On service therein"
BY. the term g white as used in this and other
laws of similar character. is meant pure uaHliS-
cd white blood. The man who has any mixture
from the darker races. however small the proper
ton, is not regarded IS a white man. This has
been repeatedly decided, and may be regarded as
settled. When q voter has cnly declared his in
ten!ion 70 become citizen. be must be sworn by
the Judges of election, or by Judge or Justice
of the Peace, 20 support the Constitution Of the
United States and the provisions of tbs act of
Congress passed May 50, 1854, 10 organize the
Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. Wiien so
sworn. the word oath +" should be marked oPpo-
site his name on the list of voters and votrr
who has had this oath once administered, viii
not. of course. be required to repeat it.
1t viii be seen that the act of Congress IS drawn
with much care To exclude non-Tcsidents from
the polls. 1t provides that a voter nlail DC an
= irllahitant" and :" an actual resident.n voter
must dwell here at the time OF Offering his vote
he must then have commenced an actnal inhabi-
fancy. which he actually intends TO ocontinuc per-
mancntly, and mnst have fnnde tlIa Territory his
dwelling place to the exclusion Of any other
home.
Srha ,,c.n;,v of tIo lat ,,ro.,;s, v.la,;,-a e..
the Army and Navy. l.. that the persons desig-
mated in it shall not vote If their inhabitancy in
the Territory Is referabie only TO the performance
of their duties. Like all other persons il i not
enough that they should be in the Territory but
they must dwell in itas kkeir permanent hsane:
and the officer or soldier who would vote must
have residence here. irrespective and iIdcpend-
ent Of his presence lIerc nnder onlers.
Every voter must vote in the election Precinct
hundred and forty-two voters, wiz constitute the
Fourth Council District, and elect two members
of Council.
The Sixth Esetien District, containing two
hundred and ifty-three voters. viii constitute
the Fifth Council District. and elect one member
where he resides. and not elsewhere. Experience
has demonstrated this to be q wise regulation,
and ii has been adopted in nearly all the States as
necessary provision against error, confusion,
and fraud.
Contested Elections.
In case any persons silan desire 70 esz:est the
election in any District Of TIA Territory. they
shall make written statement. directed 10 the
Governor setting forth the partieulaf freeInee OF
District they intend to contest; the eand'dAIeS
whose election they dispute and the specific causes
of complaint in the conduct or return Of the saa
eleetiar which complaint shah be signed by not
less than ten qualified voters Of the Territory
and with affidavit of one OF more such voters 70
tI.s fr,tb Tf the facts set forth therein Such
aritten statement must be presented 70 the Gov
ernor Al his Office on or before the fourth day Of
AMI 4, d. 1855: and if i, shall appear that the
refs,it Of election In any Council District might
be changed by said contest "a day viii be fxed
for hearing the same