Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-01-03
an n ACT 7 ,I'ljIi TTETHEE 70 FE5TECTTHE FREE

CHlsE.
Whereas the enjoyment Of civil liberty il Of
| the most vital Importance 20 any people claiming
to be free .4Hd WAereas no such enjoyment can
be had without the free and untrammelled exer.
else Of tho right 10 vote, which right should he
| protected, not only by penal sanctions but BY
the creation and use Of civil remedies therefore
! Sec. /. Be Il caacted by he Senate and Housr
f Representatives gf he Slie of D,i1wgre IN Gen.
eraI Asssrbty met, That if any person who is
duly qualified electOr Of this State according 10
the Constitution and Laws thereof, shall hereaf
ter be prevented from voting, or obslructed in
his effort to vote at any election, by reason of
any interference by any person or persons, or
military power, or other power, exercising, or
attempting to exercise force, intimidation. or
threats or requiring any qualifications or con.
dtions unknown to such Con ,ttution md Lava.
he shall he deemed and taken to have suffered
private damage and injury, and shall have civil
remedy therefor, in the Courts of this STATE. nv
action Of tresnass, or on tho case according 10
the nature of the interference, against nll and
every person OF persons who promote such inter.
ference, whether by active participation, or by
S'vlslng, eonnseling, or in any wise encouraging
!us ss."" and in any trial under this act, the
JuiyI y, 10 'ASir opinion the circumstances WIN
warrant ~ may gi'' exemplary damaRos.
[ Sec ., .ASd BE- Il JaftI..r ,,.1r,,J Tn..t
DC Tue iuiy OF every ciisen Vi this Sts,a IN,
| mas knowledge OF any design ou the ss.t ~ 49,,
other citizen or citizens Of this State 10 pG.,,n,'
interference with elections, either hy sohcitine
or advising the pfestnco of military force M
or near the place or places of holding such elec.
tions, or by the employment Of auy other organ
ized or unorganized body Of men, or by intimi.
dRtion. or threats, forthwith to make public dis,
closure OF such knowledge, stating Names by an
affidavit to be made before any ene of the Judo
es OF TINS State, aud hie the same in the Office OF
the Clerk OF the Peace Of the County where IN.
Judge resides, snd IT any such citizen, hqvins
such knoWledee, shall fail to make ouch affidavit
and cause the same y be filed as aforesaid. hs
shall BE- treated as promoter Of the iuterier
ence mentioned in the first section Of this net
and be liable as IL. therein provided
! Pec .. lind be Il further enacted That the lin.
'n1iou Of actions commenced under this act shall
be ten years from the time OF the nccruinc a.
the cause of action.
SEQ. a. And Be il FURTHER enacted, That the See.
rotary OF State shall Immediately cause n conv
Of this act, duty certified, TO be published IN
all the newspapers of the State; euoh publicntion
to continue for one month.
Passed at Dover, October 2s, 1864.
STATE oP DRLAwARE,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I
!, Samuel NJ, Harrington, Jr., Secr, tary uf
State OF Delawars Do hereby cert fly that the fofa
going is correct coFy o. an Act of tho General
Assembly entitled, I'm Act iufther 10 ptotect
the fre7 exercise Of tho Election Frauohise .
passed st Dover, oetSbHr 9s, 1854
- 10 iRstnnony wheltol have brreunto
i us st my hand and seal Of Uliioe at Dover
/ this Fourth day of November. A ID
! ~ eighteen hundred and slyty. four.
= Nov. s. l-n