Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-28

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LIS. tho State to be affixed ut the Department
l--j in Nashville, this l3th day Of June, 1865,
BY the Governor W. g. BRowYLow,
. A. j, FLETCHER, Secretary of State
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE BILL AS N PASSED
BorH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE
WHEREAS Tho 6rst article and the first section of the
declaration Of Rights in the Constitution of the State OF
Tennessee declares" That all power Is inherent IN the
people and all free governments arc founded on their
authority and instituted for their peace safety and hap,
pness for the advancement Of these ends they have at all
times naenabo and indeeasable right to aol, re-
form or abolish the government In such manner as ihey
may think proper; aud rherods large and respectable
convention Of the free and loyal people of tho State OF
Tennessee in the city of Nashville, on the 9TH day
of January 1855, and proposed cerean alterations and
amendments TO the Constitution OF the State OF Tenness
see, for rejection ratification by the loyal people on the
?2d of February following oud ehgeas said amend
and schedule solemny ratified with great una
nimity by the authoritative voice Of the people and
eeo the sth Section of said schedule provided for the
election of Governor and membcrsof the Legislature on
the ih day of March, 1863 and who in accordance there
with elected by the ballots of the loyal people od
Whcrcd the authoritative voice in section 9Th OF the
schedule, delegated the General Assembly meeting l|
under the amended constitution the right to x the quah
cation of voters and the Limitation of the elective fran
chse therefore acting faithfully under and in accord
ance with the delegation of the supreme power
| Section l. Be Il enacted by The General AsscnJty "
t State Of Tennessee, That the following persons to wit
ltt, Livery twenty -Vuc ychls VI sbp wv
zcn of the United States, and a czed of the county
wherein he may offer his vote, six months next proceed
ing the day of election and publicly known to have en-
tertaned unconditional Union sentiments, from the out
break Of the rebellion until the present time and I'd
Every white man, citizen of the United States, and
citizen Of the county wherein he may offer his vote six
months preceding the day OF election, having arr
we'd at the age o twenty years since March 4th 1852
provided that he has not been engaged in armed rebel
lion against the authority of the United States vonia
ry; and Sd. Every white man Of lawful age coming
from another State and being citizen of the United
States. and being citizen Of the United satos on proof
of loyalty the United States, and being citizen of the
county wherein he may offer his vote six months next pre-
cedng the day Of election and 4th. Every white man
citizen of this State, and citizen of the United
States who has served soldier in the army of the
United States, and has been hereafter may be hon
orably discharged thcretrom and 9Th. Every white
man, of lawful age, and citizen OF the United
States, anda citizen of the county wherein he may
offer hs vote, six months next preceding the day OF
election, who was conscripted by frco into the So
called Confederate army, and was known to be Union
man proof of loyalty to the United ates, establish
cd by the testimony Of two voters under the previous
clauses of this section; and 9th Every white man who
voted in this State a the Presidential election in NoNem
BEL 1854 voted on tho 22d of February, 1868,
ted the 4h of March, 1885, in this State, and all 9th
ters who had taken the Oath of Allegiance TO the Uni
ted States and may be known by the Judges OF the eec
tions to have been friends to the Government of the
United States and would have voted in said previously
mentioned elections if the had been holden within
their reach shall be entitled to the privileges of the cleo
tive franchise.
Sec II. Be further enacted, That all persons who
are or shall have civil or diplomatic officers agents of
the ocalled Confederate States who have left judicial
stations under the United States the State of Tonnes
see to aid in any way in the existing recent rebellion
against tho authority of tho United States who are or
shall have been military naval officers of the socaed
Confederate States above the rank of Captain in the
my, Lieutenant in the navy who have left seats in
the United States Congress- in the Legislature of
the State OF Tennessee to aid said rebellion, have
signed commissions in the army navy of the Uuited
States and aiteward have voluntarily given aid to said
rebellion, persons who have engaged in any way in
treating otherwise than lawfully prisoners OF persons
found in the United States service officers, soldiers
seamen, in any other capacities persons who have
been abscntees from the United States for the pur
pose of aiding the rebellion persons who held prcten
ded Offices under the government of States in instruction
against the United States persons who left their homes
within the jurisdiction and protection of the United States
fed before the approach of the national forces, and
passed beyond the Federal military lines into the social
cd Confederate States for the purpose of aiding tho rebel
lion, shall be denied aud refused the privilege of the cleo
tive franchise in this State for the term of fifteen years
from and after the passage Of this act
Sec I'LL Be il further enacted That all other persons
except those mentioned in section of this act here
by ami hereafter excluded and denied oxeocise of the
privilege of the elective franchise in this State for the
term of five years from the passage of this act.
Sec. ". Be il hJmthr enacted, That all persons en- |
braced in section ILL., Of this act after the expiration Of
said five years, may be eadmcd to the privilege of the
elective franchise, by petition to the Circuit or Chancery
Court proof of loyalty to the United States, in open
Couru testimony of two loyal citizens of the
United States.
Sec V. BE il futhor enacted, That 50 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 with the
militia force Of this State in actual SERVICE the Governor
shall issue writs of election to the commanding officers
such brigades, regiments detachmeus of Tennessee
soldiers wherever located who shall open and hold the
election, and receive the votes of their respective
mands and return the TO the Secretary OF State
and which shall be counted in the same way and manner
said had been any of the counties of
the State to which the soldiers belonged.
Sec. VI BE further enacted, That it shall be the
duty of the County Court Clerk III each county to open
and keep registration of voters and before whom proof
under OATH that the voter falls within the provisions of
article l. Of this act shall be made: Procided No
of publicly known Union sentiments shall be required to
make oath in doing the same and said Clerk shall re-
ceve such compensation as the County Court in each
county may deem proper and also said clerk shall issue
to all said persons certificate of registration and
shall be permitted by the judges of elections to vote
less registered.
Sec. VII. And be Il ftrtier enacted That any voter
may be challenged by admitted voter of Section Of
this act offering his VOTE and thereupon the judges of
elections shall peremporly to the person challenged
before permitting him to VOTE administer the following
oath said oath be taken by all judges of elections and
candidsiasdT Office:
al solenn.. wear that will henceforh support the
Constitution of u United States, and defend it against
the assaults oil az It's enemies that am an active friend
of the Government of the United States; that will
heartily aid and assist the loyal people in whatever
may be adopted under the Constitution of the United
States and under all laws and procamations made in
pursuance thereof to establish the National authority
all the people of every State and Territory embraced
in the National Union; and that will faithfully and
most heartily support and defend the Constitution of the
State of Tennessee and the amendments and schedule
hereuno appended and adopted by the people the 22d
day of February 1885, and also all Acts of the General
Assembly, assembled in accordance berewth and that
take this oath freely, voluntarily and without any
tai reservation. So help me Cod"
Sec. VIII AHd Be hJrrth,r enacted, That any person
taking this oath falsely shall be guilty Of perjury and
shall suffer all the pains and penalties attached to that
crime.
Sec. 1X. And BE- ir further enacied That the power is
reserved to alter, amend change the provisions Of this
act at any time when in tho opinion of The General As
sembly of the State IL is right and proper.
Sec " This to take effect from and after its pas
sac WILLIAM HEISKEII.