The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-29
Registration In Memphis.

The number Of voters registered il
Memphis were, on the 2Sd inst, AS
the books having been opened but two
days. This is doing we'll
A letter from W. Wallace, Esq, At
tOrney General for the Memphis cir.
cult, is published in the Bulletin, in
which he gives his opinion Of the duties
of County Court Clerks and Judges Of
E ections, under the Franchise Law, as
follows:
The next, and as may say, more i'm
mediate subject Of inquiry is as to the
duty Of the clerk of the County Court
relative to the registration Of voters, pro
Tided for in the 9th section of said act,
which makes il the duty Of the county
clerk in each county to open and keep
q registration Of voters, and before
whom proof, under oath, that the voter
falls within the provisions of article lst
Of this act, shall be made; provided no
man Of publicly known Union senti-
ments shall be required to make oath
in doing the same, and said clerk shall
hsue to all said persons a certificate of
registration and no one shall be permit
tsd by the Judges Of elections to vote
unless 30 registered.
In determining the right of the
parties to registration, the clerk msy
PROFOUND the following, in addition TO
the ordinary statutory questions as TO
age, etc, TO all applicants, and in his
discretion may require an oath on sil
or any points about which he may have
do bt, viz:
L Have you taken the oath of ale
glance 10 the Government Of the United
States2
, Did you vote in the Presidential
election in November, lS642
3. Did You vote in the February cleo
ton, 1862
4. Did you vote in the March cleo
ton, 1862
3 Have you served in the army of
the United States and been honorably
discharged
6. Have you arrived ct the age OF
twenty-one years since the 4th day of
March, 1852
T. Having arrived at the age of TWEEN
iy-one years since. March 4th, 1865,
have you been in armed rebellion
against the authority of the United
States Voluntarily
8. Have you been conscripted into
the so>called Confederate army by
forcef
An affirmative answer TO the first FIVE
question will entitle the applicant TO
certificate Of registration.
An affirmative answer 10 the 9th and
8 negative answer to the 7th questions
will entitle the applicant to 8 certificate
Of registration.
An affirmative answer TO the 9Th cues
ton, where the party was known to be
Union man, with proof of 10, atty to the
United Stales established by he testi-
mony Of two voters publicly known to
have been unconditional Union men
from the outbreak of TIE rebellion to
the present time, will entitle to certi-
iicste of registration An affirmative
answer 10 the 9th question, with proof
of loyalty to the United States, will ca
title the applicant, il known 20 be q
Union man, 10 q certificate of registra, |
ton
The certificate of registration is an
prerequisite 10 the privi- |
lege of offering to vote, though its pos |
session does not constitute n right to /
vote free from the challenge as provid- |
ed for it in the 7th section of the act,
which provides that, ANY voter may be |
by an admitted voter Of /
section | Of this article, in offering his
vote, and thereupon the judges Of cleo
lion shall peremptorily administer to
he person SO challenged, before PER
hitting him 70 eote, the following oath,
sic
Whether the judges have any dis
sretiOn in rejecting the ballot offered
BY a party to whom they have admin
sterea the oath prescribed by the act,
doubt not would admit Of some cavil
ln principle, but according to legiti-
nate construction / think it clear that
here is no discretion left for the 1udg-
~, and that any person presenting
certificate Of registration and takes the
prescribed oath, is entitled 10 vote in
ihs future elections OF the State, sub.
ect 70 the pains and penalties provid
"a tor in the Sth section OF the said act /
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
W. WALLACE