Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-24
rnE WV FRANenssr nrrI.

THE NEW FRANCHISE BILL.
A Bill in lieu OF a Bin TO alter and amend an act
entitled 'An act to limit the elective franchise.
passed June 5th. 1855
SKc l. Be Il eaactesi ~ The Geaeraf AsseAsllg
/ Of the State of Te.ttessee That every white male
inhabitant Of this State of the age Of twenty one
/ years, citizen OF the United States. and resi-
/ dent OF the county whereE he may cher his vote
six months next preceding the day of eisetion
shall be entitled 10 the privilege of the elective
franchise. subject to the following exceptions to
/ wit:
1 against the Government OF the United States. for
the purpose OF aiding the late rebellion nor have
voluntarily given aid, comfort, conntenance. coun-
sell or encourasenent to any rebellion against the
authrity of the United States Government. nor
have aided. coantenanced or cneoarased acts OF
| hostility thereto.
or voluntarily accepted any Office, civil or mill
tary, attempted TO exercise the functions Of any
ofiec, civil or military, under the authority or
pretended authority OF the s0-called Confederate
States of America or of any nsurrectionary State
whatever, hostile or opposed to the authority Of
| the United States Government, with the intent
and desire to aid said rebellion or insurrecti0nary
authority.
| TAsrd. That said voter shall have never voIun-
| tarily supported any pretended government, pow
or authority hostile or nimeai to the authority
| of the United States, by contributions in money
| or property, by persuasion or influence or in any
other way whatever, frecsfe..s That the fore
| apply to any white citizen who may have served
| in and been honorably discharged from the army
or navy of the United States since the lst day Of
| January. 1862 nor to those who voted
| in the Presidential election in Noyember,
| 1864, voted in the election for ~Ratifica-
in the election held on An Of Marc @ Il the sse
year for Governor and members Of the isegisla-
/ ture, nor 10 those who have been appointed TO
any civil or military office by Andrew johnson,
| Military Governor, or WIN. G- Brownlow, Cover
nor of Tennessee, all of whom hereby de-
| clared TO be qualified voters upon their comply
| ing with the requirements OF this act. Procided
That this latter clause shall not Apply 10 any een-
mission issued upon any election which may have
been held.
SEC. 2. BE Il farfher enacted That the GovaI
nor ofthe State shall, within sixty days after the
passage of this ACT, appoint Commissioner OF
Registration for each and every county in the
State, who shall without delay enter upon the dis
charge of his duties, and who shall have full
power TO administer the necessary 0aths provided
by this act. The said commissioner before enter
ing upon the duties of his Office shall take and
subscribe an oath TO support the Constitution of
the United States and the Constitution of the
State Of Tennessee and to faithfully discharge the
the duties Of his Office and also the oath prescribed
in section of this act which oaths shall be filed
IN the ofsce of the Secretary Of State. The said
commissioner shall keep his office at the county
seat OF the county, aud it shall be his duty to take
the proof required BY this act and to register the
names of each and every qualified voter, and to
issue certificate that such voter is entitled to the
privilege OF the elective franchise, and he shall
preserve land keep the necessary records of his
Office. and shall receive from the treasury of the
State the sum OF ono hundred dollars to be paid
upon the warrant OF the Comptroller OF the State.
and said commissioner shall make report to the
County Court, at each quarterly session thereof
showing the number Of voters registered previous
to said quarterly session: provided that all sums
of money paid by said commissioner for United
States revenue stamps in the discharge of his
duty, shall be audited and paid out of the County
Treasury.
SIC. s. BE Il further enacted, That said Com
missioner shall issuesertiiicates of registration to
every, white soldier who may have seryed in, and
been honorably discharged from, the army or navy
of the United States since the said lst day of jan
uary, 1862 upon the production of the proper GER
eHSsncs 81 If sSe Se lose sryss " ala DISCHARGE T legal
missioner shallissue certificates of registration to
all those who voted in the said November, Feb
the poll books of the election at which said voter
voted, or q certified copy, under oath, of such
poll book in case the voter may have removed TO
another county, upon the affidavit OF two en-
have been unconditional Union men throughout
the rebellion, in case said poll books may be lost.
And he shall issue certificates of registration to
those citizens of Tennessee who have been ap-
pointed 10 Office by the said military or civil Gov
ernors. upon the production Of the commission
showing such appointment, or the proper certiti-
cate of the Secretary of State, that such commits
sion was issued, in case of loss. But every
other person claiming TO be entitled to the
privileges Of the elective franchise, as pro-
certificate thereof. prove by the evidence of two
competent witnesses known TO the Commissioner
to have been themselves at all times unconditional
Union men. that they are personally acquainted
with the person so claiming, and that they verify
believe that lie has not been guilty Of any of the
disqualiheations herein before specially men
toned; which proof shall be taken upon affidavit,
subscribed by said Witnesses and filed in said otliee
of said commissioners and such applicant shall !
also take and sobscribe the following oath before
the commissioner of registration:
/ do solemnly swear that have never volunta- |
rily borne arms against the Government of |
the United States for the purpose or with the in
tention of aiding the late rebellion, have L |
with any such intention ut any time given aid, |
comfort, counsel or announcement to said |
ernment of the United States. / further swear |
that have neTer sought or accepted any office, /
either civil or military, under she authority or |
States of America, or of any insurrccti0nary |
state, hostile or opposed TO the authority OF the
United States Government, with the intent and |
desire to aid said rebellion; and that have never
given voluntary support to any such Govern |
ment or authority. So help me God
PfoUidsd, That citizens known to sad com, |
missioner to have always been unconditional |
Union men, never having synpathzed with the |
late rebellion, or who may be proven to have |
been such unconditional Union men by the oath |
of two witnesses who shall be known to said COM
missioner to have been themselves, at all times. |
such unconditional Union men, shall not take and
subscribe any oath whatever In order 10 obtain |
elective franchise
SEC 4. Be Il further enacted, That upon the |
TAXING ming Tue pfOOl anu Odtu Teqlilftu III
section Sd of this act the said commissioner shall
register the name Of said voter and issue to him /
his certificate therefor. Provided, That nothing |
herein contained shall prevent said commissioner
from hearing proof from equally competent tes- /
timony contrary TO and cOntravening the proof |
offered and taken in behalfof said applicant; and
the said commissioner shall be the judge of the Il
weight of the conflicting testimony so far as the /
same may effect the issuance Of certificates.
SEC; 5. BE q further enacted, That no person
shall be entitled 10 vote at any State. county or
district, municipal election, or any other cleo
tion held under the laws of this State, unless he
shall have been registered and shall haye received
a certificate thereof as provided IN this act and
any person swearing falsely to any Of the facts re-
quired to be sworn to by the provisions of this
conviction thereof shall suffer all the pains and
penalties provided by law for such offense and
this act and all the provisions thereof shall be
tE udgss Il ~ cren md crmna cae
charge to the Grand Jury at each term Of said
Court
SEC. 6. BE Il further enacted. That the Seere-
tary of State shall provide, at the expense OF the
State, the necessary books for the registration If
votes, and shall cause TO be printed the necessary
oaths, afndavits and certificates, as provided for |
in this act, which books and blanks shall be fur
nished to each commissioner appointed and quail
ifed under this act, and the expense Of supplying
such books and blanks shall be audited by the
Comptroller and paid by the Treasurer out Of the
money IN the state Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated.
SIC. 7. BE 4 further enacted. That it shall be
the duty of the Governor, before any state or
other general or special election to issue writs Of
election to commanding efhcers Of fregiments. bat
talions or detachments Of officers and soldiers who
may be at the time in the service Of the State, or
Of the United States army, wherever located. and
It shall be the duty OF the officer to whom such
writ is directed 70 open and hold, or cause TO be
opened and held. the election required by said
writ, and make returns thereof to the Secretary |
Of State, and the votes Of such officers and sol
iiers shall be counted the same as II such votes
had been east in the counties in which said voters
may reside, and the RETURNS shall designate the
county in which said veterinary reside; Provided |
That the Governor shall not be required to issue
such wrts Of election for county, district cor
p0ration officers.
SEQ. s. BE Il further eaacfed That all certificates
heretofore issued under the provisions Of the act
TO which this y amendatory, are hereby annnlled
and shall not be used at any future election in this
State from and after the passage OF this act. e1-
cept at the election for county officers. to be held
on the first Saturday in March, 1866
SIC. 9. Be u further enacted. That oil eandi-
dates for any official position shall, before tho
day Of election, be required 10 take and subscribe
The oath prescribed in third section Of this act,
which, in ease of aendidate for county ofice.
shalI be Eled in the Office Of the County Court |