Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-30
ABSTRACT OF rzfE PROPOSED NEW
FRANCHISE LAW.

The Select Committee on Franchise. (dr- Ar
nell Chairman report that they have given 70
this subject the most careful and serious consider
alton, and have been inpelled alone by desire
for the good Of the State and the country and are
Of opinion. considering the unsettled condition OF
the State, that true b5esdship and '0valty 70 ne
Government u fhe Uails6 Satss u the proper tas's
Of suffrage. They have no desire or wish 70 ex-
sclade any truly loyal man from the ballot box"
They append 10 this report Bin TO alter and
amend "a Act entitled Act 70 limit the eiee'ife
franchise. passed June 9Th. 1855.
Section frs, enscts that every wairE male IN
hsbaat e the STATE t gat ss' Il 1G months
resident Of the county in which be may oiicr MS
vote shall be entitled % the privilege Of the cleo
tiye franchise r9s.sl iaI e aas neses %
voluntarily given aid, comfort counsel, or encou-
ragemenf 10 aag rebellion or hostility thereto; Or
never songht OF accepted any once o. any KIND.
aoyerngnent under The style Of the so-caled Con
Tolerate States OF any insurrectlonary stale, with
intent TO aid rebellos and that sad yqler shall
have never yielded voluntary support 70 any
pretended government or authority hostile 10 the
Government OF the United States.
.Sccond section eaacts that the Governor shall
appoint Registrati0n Commissioner IN each
county in the State, 70 administer Che oaths pro-
vided for in the act, who shall FIRST take an oath
supporting the Constitution Of the United States,
and q ne state, and the Data ~ tnls AZ; anu
who shall take all proofs 10 qualifications pre-
scTlped ana register names itst 9o4k ~ DC Kept
in his Office At the county seat and shall reeeiyea
compensation between TWO ana nke nunn e1, aoi7
lars Tor ms services ana shaii make guar,eTy re-
ports; ana tnat the county Hnaii pay TOT the fcfe
nue. stamps on certificates which he may issue.
~ VIII DC Observed tpat tnis seciloh eteales new
distrust of the officers elected by the people, and
imposing an additionai burden on tne otats treas
ury.
Secflon nard enacts that any person claiming
the privilege Of tins act snali prove by TWO com.
petent voters under ihis aet' Una. ne = not
subject 70 the disqualsheatlons mentioned IN the
first section-the proof to be m the form q
an afidaylt with the .proxs0 mat honorablg
Discharged soldiers or seainen o. the United
States service may Obtain lnen eefuicates ny pre-
senting theirpaPers OF diseharge,
Scflon fourth enacis that Tor al persons, except
the soldiers or sailors above menuonea, IN add
ton 70 toe proof the Commissioner shall rcqnire,
the following oath;
: l solemnly swear Tor afhrinl that have never
voluntarily borne arms against ine united states
Goyernment with an intent ana aeslrc 70 forward
and aid the late rebellioni that have never vol
ment to any rebellion against the authority there
Of, or aided. countenaneed OF enconraged acts Of
cepted any Office civil or military. or attempted TO
exercise the functions OF any once whatever under
the authority OF the so-callea Coniederate
states q Anerlea' Or o. any ihshIrreeu0hhary
ity Of the United states 6oysrnment with
intent and desire 70 ala ana ierward tne
late rebelllon' tnat nave never 5ieioed voiuh-
tary support 70 any pretended government,
power or anthorlty nesuie OF mlnlcas 10 the
authority OF the united states UoVernmenti tnai
1 will support the constitution OF tine United
States. and defend IL against Ire Assaults OF an It's
enemies that am an active Irlend 81 the voy,
eminent OF tne OnlteI states ana that VIII
heartily ald anu assist tne Ioysd peopIe IN wha!-
ever measures may De aaopteo 9hoer the Oonsu
tutlOn OF tne Oniteu StaAeh, ana unuer the JAWS
and Prociamations made IN pursuance thereof. 70
establish and MAINTAIN the national auther;ty
over all the people OF every state embraced IN the
natonai Cnlen tnAt nay eneset ueslreu AZ heart
the success OF inc 50 cahe9 SOnieuefhSy, Out nave
az all TIMES rel3leel at II aeeat anu 'ne success 9i
the armies Oh the ohlteu Hnatesi mat VIII ~ th
times render paramount arrogance 70 inc OoVern-
ment OF the Dnited plates IN preference 70 any
state OF the eeerai Hillon, anu VIII suppoIt ana
deiend the Nau9hal YerhnlS ~, against tne Gu
eroaehments, and attacks. OF all foreign powers
that viii iallniuliy anu neaItly suIport anu
defend the constitution q tne State o. tennessee
and the amendments ana sehed1ie lhereunto ap-
pended and adopted by the people on me "a day
Assembly IN accordance therewltn; mat 4 take
tins oatn freely anu voluntarily ,Nithout
equiyoca:ion or mental reservation, 90 help me
tod. Ihis oath is 10 DC taken py all cahdidates
Tor ONCE. -,
Section nm cnacts that after the proof OF section
I'd, and the Oath OF section 4th, the Commissioner
shall register the name and issue the ceruhcate OF
franchise, but gives hm the power 70 receive PROOF
contrayentng ihe Oatn ana amuaNlt' ana cohstl-
tutes him the Judge OF the right oithe appncantto
vote. This conndes 70 me u1vernor ana 1ls ap-