The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1863-05-08
Congressional Elections in Ten


Congressional Elections in Ten
nessee.
The following Actto provide for hold
ing elections Tor Congress in the State Of
tennessee. has been passed by both
Houses Of the Confederate Congress and
approved by the President. Il is. there
fore, the law under which our Congress
sional elections IN tins State will be held
during the continuance of the war:
An ACT 10 provide for holding elections for
Representatives. IN The Congress Of The Don.
fedTats States, IN he State Of Tennessee.
SEC. |. The Congress of the Confeder-
ate States of America do enact, That in
the State OF Tennessee, elections for Rep
resentatives in the Congress of the Con.
federate States shall be by general ticket
for said State. and each voter shall be
entitled TO vote one ticket containing the
names of one person from each Congress
sional district in said State; and the per-
sons in each district receiving the great
est number OF votes OF the whole vote OF
the State, shall be commissioned as Rep
resentatives by the Governor OF said
State.
SEC. q Such elections shall be held in
said State on the first Thursday in Au
gust next, and in each secondly year there.
after during the war.
SEC. 3. Such elections shall be so held
by the officers, authorities or persons APP
pointed or provided by the laws of said
State for the purpose of holding such
election, and at the places so provided.
or, if no provision has been made there
for, then by the State authority, officers
or persons, who at the time. are authorl
zed 10 hold elections for members of the
most numerous branch. of the Legsla.
!ure.
SEC. 4. Such elections sfall be conduct
ed according TO the mode prescribed by
the laws of said State. except so far as
the same are modified by this act
Sec. 5. In such elections, every citizen
| of the Confederate States, who shall be
qualified to vote for member OF the
most numerous branch of the State Leg
stature of said State, shall be entitled to
vote at the place or places in his State,
at which he would be entitled 10 vote in
an election fer such member of such
/ Legislature.
| SEC 6. But in case such person shall be
in the military service of the Confeder-
ate States or in case he shall be driven
from his home by the occupation of his
country by the public enemy, or by the
movements of his troops or in case the
elections cannot be held at the usual
places of holding the same, by reason Of
such occupation or movements, then
said citizens shall be allowed TO vote at
any place of voting in said State, or in
the camps of the army, as hereinafter
provided.
SEC. 7. Such elections for Representa-
tiyes shall be held in the camps of the
army within said State, as follows: In
every army corps, division or command,
the Colonel of each regiment or other
officer in command thereof or the officer
in command of any less body on detach-
ed service. shall appoint twc judges and
three clerks to open and hold such cleo
ton. who shall hold the same, and make
out the poll-books and returns under the
same rules and Revolutionary if the same
we're opened and held a. the usual place
of holding the same in said State, and
shall allow all persons entitled to vote
! therein.
SEC 8. The returns Of such elections
in camps shall be forwarded by the sew.
eral commanding officers, appointing the
Judges and clerks as aforesaid, to the
highest officer in grade, and the senior
in grade from the State in the encamp'
ment or army in which the same is held
whose duty it shall be AZ once 10 forward
the same to the Governor of the State; OF
the same may be, if more convenient,
forwarded BY such commanding officer
directly to the Governor.
SEC. 9. In case the exigencies OF the
public service prevent the holding of the
election ID any camp, under this act or
under any State law passed forSiiiat pur-
pose at the time provided by law, the
same may be held any time within ten
days after the preventing cause may
cease; the time fpS holding the same to
be fixed by the officer authorized TO ap
point the Judges aud clerks.
SEC. 10. Such officer shall be authori-
sed to administer the proper oaths TO the
judges and clerks. or they may admins
ter the same to each other.
&Ec IL. Every person concerned in
holNing such election in any State or
camp, Shall take an oath to support the
Constitution OF the Confederate States,
and 20 discharged his duty in holding
such election faithfully and impartially.