Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-07-28
An Act o Liinls Che Eicctive Frqnehise.

OF the Declaration OF Rights in the Constitution OF
the State of Tennessee declares--"That ali power
is inherent in the people, and all free governments
founded on their authority and instituted for
their peace, safety and happiness; for the advance
ment of these ends they have at all times an ina
1ienableand ndefensible right To alter, reform
abolish the governrnent in such manner as they
may think proper; and vhercds, large and respec-l
table convention Of the free and loyal people of the
State Of Tennessee met I'M the city Of Nashville on
the the 9th day Of January, 1866, and proposed
certain alterations and amendments to the Consti-
taiion of the State of Tennessee for rejection OF
ratification by the loyal people on the 22dof Feb
rtiary following; and sghersds, said amendment
aud schedule were solemnly ratified with great
ananimity by the authoritative voices OF the people,
and leheTeds the sth section of saidschedue provi-
ded for the election of h Governor and members of
the EPgislsture on the 4th day Of March, s65, and
Sko, ia accordance therewith were elected by The
ballots of the loyal people; and iohereds, the same
authoritative voice in section 9th of the schedules
delegated to the general assembly, meeting first
ander this amended Constitution, the right to fly
the qualification Of voters and the Limitation of the
elective franchise; therefore acting faithfully under
and in accordance with this delegation Of supreme
power:
SEC. /. Be IL enacted By The General Assembly Of
TIE State Of Te1h6Sses,t That the following persons
to-wit: LIST. Every white man twenty-one years
of age, citizen of the United States and citizen
OF the county wherein he may offer his vote, six
months next preceding the day of election, and
publicly known to have entertained unconditional
Union sentiments, from the outbreak of the rebel
lion until the present time and 3D. Every white
man, a citizen of the United States and a citizen
of the county wherein lie may offer his vote, six
months next proceeding the day of election, having
arrived at the age of tweny-one years, since March
4th, 1865, provided he has not been engaged in
armed rebellion, against ths authority of the Uni
ted States, voluntarilyian 81. Every white man
of lawful age coming from another State and being
citizen of the United States, on proof of loyalty
to the United States, and being a citizen Of the
county wherein he may offer his vote six months
next preceding the day of election and Attn, Eve
ry white man, citizen'of the United States cit
iSenof this State who has served rs soldier in
the army of the United States and has been or
may be hereafter honorably discharged therefrom /;
and 9TH Every white man. of lawful age, citizen
of the United States, and citizen Of the county
wherein he may offer his vote, six months apreee-
ding the day of election, who was conscripted by
.koFcefinto the so called Confederate army and was
known to be Union man ION proof of loyalty to
the United States, established by the testimony OF
two voters under the previous clauses of thissec-
ton; and 6th Every white man who voted in this
State at the Presidential election in November,
1864 or voted on the 22d Of February, 1865, or
voted on the 4th of March, 1865, in this State,
and all others who had taken the HOath of
Allegiance" 10 the United States, and may, be
known by the Judges Of Elections to have been
true friends to the Government of the United
States, and would have voted in said previously
mentioned elections, if the same had been holden
within their REACH shall be entitled to the privilege
Of the elective franchise. - 81 .ff
SIC. H. Bot further enacted, That all persons
who or shall have been civil or diplomatic Off
GERS or diplomatic agents in the so-called Confede
rate States Of Am1rica, or who have left judicial
stations under the United States or the State Of
Tennessee to aid in any way in the existing re-
cent rebellion against the authority of the United
States, or who are or shall have been military or
naval officers of the so-caled Confederate States
above the rank of captain in the army lieutenant
in the navy, Or who have left seats in the United
States Congress- or seats in the Legislature of the
State of Tennessee, to aid said rebellion, or have
resigned commissions in the army or navy of the
United States, and afterwards given voluntary aid
to said rebellion or persons who have engaged in
any way treating otherwise than lawfully as pris-
oners of war persons found in the United States
service as officers soldiers seamen or in other Ca
pacities, or persons who have been absentees
from the United States for the purpose of aiding
the rebellion or persons who held pretended offices
under the government of States in instruction
against the United States or persons who left their
homes within the jurisdiction and protection, or
fled before the approach of the National forces and
passed beyond the Federal military lines into the
so-called Confederate States for the term of fifteen
years. from and after the passage of this act.
SEC. Ill BE II further enacted That all other
persons except those mentioned in Section of this
actnre hereby and henceforth excluded and denied
the exercise of the elective franchise in this State
for the term of five years from and after the passage
of this at. r F l..-a.EE S-
SIC. ". Be IL further enacted, That all persons
embraced in section III of this act after the expi-
ration of said five years, may be readmited to the
privilege Of the elective franchise by petition to the
Circuit or Chancery Court, on proof Of loyalty to
the United States in open Court upon the testimo-
ny of two or more loyal citizens Of the United
States. ...,..
SIC. V. Be il further enacted That so long as any
Of the white citizens of the State of Tennessee
who, by this act entitled to exercise the elective
franchise, shall be connected with the army of the
United States, or with the militia force of this
State in actual service, the Governor shall issue
writs of election othe commanding officers of such
brigades regiments or attachments of Tennessee
soldiers, wherever located, who shall open and hold
the election and receive the votes of their respec-
tive commands, and return the same to the Secre-
tary of State, and which shall be counted in the
same way and manner as if said votes had been
cast in any 6f the counties of the State to which
the soldiers belonged. .a rssst.. .s
Sec. vi. BE IL further enacted That it shall be
the duty of the County Court Clerk in each county
to open and keep registration ofvoters and before
whom proof under oath, that the voter falls with
in the provisions of Article of this Act shall be
sentiments shall be required to make oath in doing
the same, and said Clerk shall receive such COM
pensation as the County Court in each county may
deem proper; and also said Clerk shall issue to all
said persons certificate of registration and one
shall be permitted by the Judges of Elections to
vote, unless so registered I'll ID Be- G
SEC. Wills Ind De IL further enacted That any vo-
ter may be challenged by admitted voter of Sec
ton l. of this Act on offering his vote and there
upon the Judges of Elec ions shall peremptorily
administer to the persons challenged, before per-
uniting him to vote, the following oath, said oath
also to be taken byan Judges of Elections and can
didates for office:
81 solemnly swear that viii henceforth support
theConstitutioH OF the United States, and defend
against the assaults of all its enemies, that am an
active friend of the Government of the United
States that | will heartily aid and assist the
loyal people in whatever measures may be adopted
under the Constitution of the United States and
under all laws and proclamations made in pursu-