Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-07-14
An. Act 20 Present. C,Dfcers6f he IrRfy
and Naryo and Other Persons Engaged IN
Military and Naeas Service of The Uni
ted States, from Interfering IN the Fec
tiOnS in The States. = 81 -.

Be il enacted By TIE Senate; and House of Repre-
ssntdtpes Of the United States in Congress assembled
That it shall not DO lawful for any military or navel
officer Of the United States, or other persons en-
gagged in tho civil military or naval services of the
United States, to order, bring keep or have under
his authority or control any troops or armed men
at the place where any general or special election
is held in any State of the United States of America
unless it shall be necessary to repel the armed enc
mics Of the United States or keep the peace ut the
polls And that it shall not be lawful for any
officer Of the army Or navy Of the United States,
to prescribe or fix by proclamation order, or other
wise the qualifications of voters in any State of the
United States of America, or in any manner 10 in
terfere with tho freedom of election in any State
or with,the exercise of the free right of suffrage
in any State of the United States. Any officer of
the army or navy Of the United States or other
person engaged in the civil or military service of
the United States, who violates this section Of this
net shall for every such ofense be liable to indict-
ment rs for q misdemeanOr and, on conviction
thereof shall pay fine not exceeding FIVE thous-
and dollars, and suffer Imprisonment in the peni-
Tertiary not less than three months nor more than
five years at the discretion of the Court trying the
same and any person convicted as foresaid shall
moreover be disqualified from holding any office OF
honor, profit or trust, under the United States
Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be
so construed ast to prevent any officers, soldiers
sailors, marines, from exercising the right OF
suffrage in any election district to which he,may
belong, if otherwise qualified, according to the
laws of the State in which he shall offer to vote.
SEC. g. Aud be it further enacted, that any officer
or person in the military or naval service of the
United States who shall order or advise, or who
shall directly or indirectly by force threat menace
intimidate, or Otherwise, prevent or attempt 10
prevent, any qualified voter of any State Of the
United States of America, from freely exercising
the right of suffrage at any general or special elec.
ton in any State Of the United States; or who
shall in like manner compel or attempt to
Ampel any officer OF an election in any
sue, State to receive a vote from per-
son 'Nt legally qualified to vote, or who shall inn
pose, o. attempt to impose, any rules regulations
LOT cohu'Sting said election different from those
prescribed ~ law, or interfere in any manner with
Sny oulcer Raid election in the di charge of his
nutleS shaIl iorpy such ofFonse be Liable to ndict-
Ich' "s TOT m's'emeanor, in any Court of the
oul'eu HVuteS un'lhA jurisdiction 10 hear and de-
tcrmine eases OF msdtncanor and on conviction
thereof, shall pay fine cot exceeding five thons.
and dollars aud suffer imprisonment in the peniteh-
tary not exceeding ivey the Discretion oftbo
Court trying the same; and ~, nors6n convic,cd
as aforesaid, shall moreover be IisnnoIifNd rrnr,
holding amy office of honor profit ar trnst pndrr
the Government Of the United States
Approved, Fob 30, 1893,