The Messenger. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1858-18??, 1863-04-08
q M ACT TO SECURE THE
l. FREEDOM on ELECTIONS
IN THIS STATE.

WHEREAS the Constitution OF
this State declares that call elections
shall be free and equal" and whereas
the freedom of elections and the free en-
joymsnt d tho right Of suffrage, accord
ing to the Constitution and laws Of the
State, are essential to the enjoyment Of
public liberty; and whereas evil dispes-
ed persons did cause armed soldiers to
be brought into this State and to be press
emit at different voting places in the State |
on the day Of the last general election,
and free elsclion was thereby prevent
ed: and whereas ii is proper that rep
stition Of 30 grave an offence against the
peace and dignity Of the State shall be
prevented; Therefore,
SEcTIoN /. BE it enacted by the Sem
aci and House of Representatives. Of the
State Of Delaacare in Gensrq| assembly
met, That il any person being citizen
OF inbea;tspt Of this Ssate shall send or
casse TO Be sent, bring or cause to be
brought into this State, or shall Ald,
abet, procure, advise, seunsel, or in sny
manner assist in sending or bringing in
10 this State any armed soldier or sol
dlsrs to be present II any voting place
in this State or within five miles thereof,
on the day Of any general, special, or
other election hereafter to be holden in
Ibis State, or shall aid, abet, procure,
advise, counsel, or in any manner assist
the presence or attendance Of any armed
soldier or soldiers at any such voting
place, OF within Eve miles thereof on
any such election day, every person SO
offending shall be guilty Of felony. and
upon conviction thereof, by indictment,
shall forfeit and pay to the State inc
of not less than one thousand dollars
and not moro than TEN thousand dollars,
ami shall be imprisoned for term not
less than one nor more than five years,
and shall forever thereafter be incapa-
bic Of exercising the right of suffrage in
fhis State.
SECTION 2. Be ii further enacted as
aforesaid, That if any person, oeing a
citizen or inhabitant of this State, shall
aid, abet, procure, advise, counsel, or in
any manner assist, Or be guilty Of milf
tary interference in any manner with
the freedom Of any election ~ tais State,
every person so offending shall be guilty
of felony and upon conviction thereof,
BY Indictment, shall forfeit and pay to
ths State 6ne Of not less than one
thousand dollars nor more than ten thous-
and dollars, and shall be Imprisoned fcr
p tsrm not less than one nor more thar
6xs years, and shall forever thereafter
be incapable Of exercising the right Of
suffrage IN this State.
SEcT5oN 8. find be it further enact
sd as aforesaid, That if any Inspector
prerdiEg officer or Judge of any election
in this State, or any other person, shall
administer. or cause to oe administered
to any legal voter in this State any oatl
or affirmation not authorized by the Con.
stitution or laws Of this State for tina
purpose as q prerequisite or condition
Of voting at any election in this State
except when such oath or affirmation
shall be administered in order to saiisf,
such Inspector, presiding officer or judge
that such vote is legal vote according
to thu Constitution and laws of this State
such Inspector, presiding officer, Judge
,er other person 50 offending shall b
guilty Of ! misdsmsanor, and upon con
Siotion thereof, BY indictment, shall. 70
every such ofenee, forfeit and pay t.
the State a ane Of not less than fv
hundred dollars and not more than on
thousAnd dollars and shall be imprisone'
FOR > term n ten days.
], Jphp 3. Pennington, Clerk of tn
House Of Representatives Of the Stat
Of Delaware, being authorized BY Res
olution Of said House to have the fore
going act, entitled San ACT TO secur
the Freedom Of Elections 10 this State,
published in .ss7'hs journal and States
ssan,n "Tks Delapareqn," and To
!"Gsorgeiown .Msssengsr," for the perio
of two months, do hereby certify ttba
the above and foregoing is true cop
Of said act, passed at Dover, March 25st
1863.
In witness whereof, / have bereuns
set my hand as Clerk Of the House {
Representatives, this 26th day of Marc
AID, ono thousand eight hundred an
si1ty-thrse.
JOHN B. PENNINGTON,
Clerk Of the House Of Representatives