Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-04-21
AN ACT TO SECURE THE FREEDOM OF
ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.

WHEREAS the Constitution Of this state declares that
ali elections shall be FRI and equal - and whereas the
freedom of elections and tue ce enjoyment Of the right
Of suffrage acco dug to the Constitution and laws Of the
81 te essential To the enjoyment CT public liberty:
and wheeas evil disposed persons dd cause armed sol
aers To be- brought INTO the state and 10 lie present al
different voting places in the state day Of tue last
general election and ifov oeetun thereby preyent-
ed nnd whereas II Is proper that epett on of
aa offence aSsins the peace ana entity O the state shall
be preyentud Therefore,
SECTION l. bt 4 enocie4 By the Senate ant House N
Representatives. n ne Sac II Beilpdre N General A.
semby met, That il any person beins ezen inhaDi-
tant OF this state shall send Or cause to s sent bring or
cause to be brought into this state shall aid abet,
procure, advise, counsel in any In send
ing bfngin iuto this State any armed soldier sol
defs to he present At any voting place this State or
within Ave miles thereof the day Of any general sp
cia other election hereafter 10 be holden 10 this sav
or shall aid, abe preeure advise, council, or in any
manner Asss lhe presence or attendance OF any armed
soldier or soldiers at any such voting place, within
FIVE miles thereof any such election Gay, every
offending shall be guilty Of felony, and w conviction
thereof by indictment, shall forfeit and pay the state
line of not less IMAM one thousand dollars and not more
than ten Thousand uollAis, aud sha De imprisoned for
term not less than one nor more than five years and
SHAH forever thereafter be incapable If exercising te
right Ut suffrage ia this State
SECTION =. Bs il FURTHER enacted aforesaid That II
any person, being citizen or inhabaut Of this State,
shall aid abet, PROCURE advise COUNSEL Ut in any manner
assist or be guilty Of military Interference in ANY manner
with the freedom OF shy eueOn in this STATE every Der
~ 30 Offending sAa 10 gully OF felony and upon con-
vction thereof ny sdcreut shall tore and pay to the
Slate line Of MOI Lose than Thousand dollars
more than tea thousand dolats, aud shall he imprisoned
snail ofeyer Thereafter incapable II exercising The
RI ht Of suitral tins tate
sGoIloN And be Il f4rther eaacicdas dfsreiad That
II any Inspector, pss7d NJ officer dsr ct any eec-
tiun in TINS state any other person, shall administer,
to BIZ administered any legal this state
any oath affirmation not authorised by the Uonsilu-
ton laws of this state Tor that purpose prt-reQu
site condition of voting at any eertun in this safe,
except when such oath or affirmation shall be administer
ed In order to satisfy such Inspector presidng officer
Judge, that such vote Is legal vote according the
stuOn aud laws OF this state, such Inspector pesding
officer, Judge other person ending shalt be guilty
Of mlsdeineanor, ana upon conviction thereof, by in
dIctment shall for every such offence forfeit aud pa
the state fine OF not less than five hundred dol and
not than thousand dollars and shall to i'm
prisoned for term OF ten days.
John B. Pennington, Clerk of the House " Represeu
tatives OF the State of Delaware, being authorized by
Resolution OF said House 10 have the fore song act emit
tied An Act to secure the Freedom OF SELECTIONS ia thu
state" published in THE Journal and !Sa.ssgian'
. The DeldwGredR' and the Georgetown Messenger
for the period OF months, do hereby certify that thu
above aud foregoing is true copy OF said act passed
Dover, March 95th, 1868.
In witness whereof, have hereunlo set my hand u,
CLERK of the House Of Representatives, this 18th day
March, A, D., one thousand eight hundred aud sixty
three JOHN u, PENNINGTON,
ap S.2m. Clerk of the House Of Representatives.