Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-14
The District Suffrage Bill.
The following is a copy of the District negr,
suffrage bill as il passed the Senate yesterhau

The following is a copy of the District negro
suffrage bill as il passed the Senate yesterday
"Be IL enacted by he Senate and House Of Repre-
sentdttres q the tRifed States Of Americd IN Con-
greSs assembled, That from and after the pas
sage of this act each and every male person
excepting paupers and persons under guar
dlanship, of the age of twenty. one years and
upwards, who has not been convicted OF any
Infamous crime or ofense, aud excepting per
sons who may have voluntarily gwen aid and
comfort to the rebels in the late rebellion, and
who was born in the United States or natur-
allied, and who shall have resided In the said
District for the period of twelve months next
preceding TO any election therein, shall be en-
u1ed 10 the elective franchise, and shall be
deemed an elector and entitled 10 vote at any
election IN said District, without any disunc-
uon on account of color or race.
"Sec. ,. And be IL further enacted, That any
person whose dnty IL shall be 10 receive votes
at any election within the District Of Columbia
who shall willfully refuse to receive, or who
shall willfully reject, the vote of any person
entitled TO such right under this act shall be
liable 10 an action Of tort by the person injured
and shall be liable, on Indictment and conyic-
ton, If such act was done knowingly, to a fine
not exceeding nve thousand dollars, or to i'm
prisonment for a term not exceeding one year
in the jail of said District. or to both
''Sec. B. And be u further enacted, That il any
person or persons shall wIlifully interrupt or
disturb any such elector in the exercise of such
franchise, he or they shall be deemed guilty of
mlseemeanor, and, on conviction thereof,
shaIl De lined in any sum not 10 exceed one
thousand dollars. or be imprisoned in the iail
In said District for a period not to exceed
thirty days, or both, at the discretion of the
court. ..-.
'.Sec. 4. And be iffwther. enacted. Tha, il
shall be the duty of the several courts having
criminal jurisdiction in said District to give
this act in special charge 10 the grand iurV AT
the commencement OF each term of the court
next preceding the holding of any general or
city election.
Sec 5. And be 1t further enacted That the
mayors and aldermen of the cities of Washing.
Ion and Georgetown, respectively, on or De.
lore the first day of March IN each wear shall
prepare list OF the persons they Judge to be
quailhed TO vote in the several wards of said
cities In any election; and said mayors and al
dermen shall be IN open session TO receive evil
dehce OF the qualification of persons claiming
tne rlght TO vote in any election therein, and
Tor correcting said list, one or two days in each
year, not exceeding five days prior to the an
nual election for the choice OF city officers
giving previous notice OF the time and place
said District.
Sec. 8. And be ii further enacted That on or
before the first day OF March the mayors and
aldermen Of said cities shall post up list of
voters thus prepared in one or more public
places in said cities, respectively at least ten
days prior TO said annual election
- Sec. Z. And be IL further enacted, That the
omcers presiding at any election shall keep and
use the checklist herein req uired at the polls
ouring the election Of all officers. and no vote
shall be received unless delivered by the voter
In person, and not until the presiding officer
mas had an opportunity to be satisfied OF his
identity, and shall find his name on the Inst
and mark IL. and ascertain that his vote is
single; and any person who shall attempt to
influence votes by purchase or bribe of any
KIND shall be punished by fine not exceeding
S2,UOO, or imprisonment not exceeding two
years, and any person accepting such bribe
shall be punished by imprisonment not less
chIsed.
'.Sec. 6. And be IL further enacted, That all
acts and parts of acts Inconsistent with this
act be, and the same are hereby, repealed"