The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-09-04
Who Can Take Seats in the Approach.
ing State Convention.


in one or the other of the excepted class.
es of the Presidents proclamation, have
written to us and ask us whether one
who is prohibited from voting at the
election, can, if elected as a delegate,
take seat in the Convention Our
own opinion is very clear that he cannot;
for the reason that it was not intended
by the President Of the United States,
that any person tainted with treason to
the United States Government shall
take any part by voting or otherwise,
in recognizing or reconstructing the
Government until the taint has been re-
moved that the only way hy which the
taint can be removed from person
coming within either of the fourteen ex.
ccptions, is by a pardon from the Presi.
dent, and that no one is eligible to an
election even until pardon has first
been had and obtained. Hence, in or.
der to avoid trouble and disappoint.
mcnt, we advise our friends who may
be so fortunate rs not to have received
a pardon before the day of election, an,l
who may desire to be in the Convention,
MOTTO allow their names to be rrn for,
If elected, they cannot take their seats.
These are the opinions, III which we are
sustained by every one with whom we
have conversed, and common sense
teaches that it is the only sound opinion.
There are several of our warm personal
and political friends whom we would be
pleased to see in the Convention who
are to be parponcd and who have not
yet filed a petition. We hope they will
hasten and qualify themselves run and
be elected.
On the other hand, any person who
is loyal and who does not come within
the excluded classes of the Presidents
proclamation, but who, if he does, has
received pardon, can take seat in the
Convention, as it matters not how many
Offices he may hold, either State or Ma.
.onaf. Raloiyh Standard.
ELEcTToNs.-It is time that some
rule should be established or under
standing had in regard to the elections in
all the Southern States The pcople
desire to know whether the rules laid
down by the President for the elections
in those States recently in rebellion are
to be overridden by some subordinate a t
his own bidding. Unfortunately, Presi.
Johnson's health has been such that he
has not been able to give this question
the attention which the necessities ofthe
case seem to demand But the action
of General Palmer in Kentucky furnish.
es him an example which we have no
doubt he will thoroughly investigate,
and clear the whole question up. I'm.
der the proclamations Of the President in
reference to the reorganization of the
South he has wisely directed that the
laws regulating the elective franchise,
which existed prior to the rebellion,
shall be enforced, with the condition that
one and all shall take the oath OF allie,
glance before they can exercise that
right In addition to that, certain
classes are excluded from taking the
oath or voting until they have received
special pardon Now, all who take the
prescribed oath are, in the eye of tho
law, as loyal as any person in the North,
and are entitled to all the rights of citi.
zens, voting included, provided they
are not excluded by the provisions Of
the State laws. Neither the military
nor any other authority has a right to
interfere in the exercise of that priy;leoe
or set aside the result on the pretext
that those elected were once secession,
lists, or those who voted for them were
such. II is the duty of the military to
assist the civil officials in maintaining
order and in preventing any person not
qualified under the State laws, or who
has not taken the oath Of allegiance
from voting, and there their antbority
ends. Anything beyond that, whether
in South Carolina, Virginia, .Kenttelsyl