Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-05-23
The Franchise Law.
The following Is the Law which has passed both
branches Of the Legislature:.

Section l. BE e enacted By the Genera. assembly
Of the STATE Of Tennessee That every white male in
habitans of this State of the age OF twenty-one
years citizen of the United States and resident
Of the county wherein he may offer his vote, SIX
months next preceding the day Of election, shall be
entitled to the privilege of the elective franchise,
subject the following exceptions and dsquali6ca-
tions, to wit:
First, Said voter shall have never borne arms
against the Government of the United States for the
purpose of aiding the late rebellion nor have vol
UNFAIRLY given aid comfort eountenance counsel or
encouragement to any rebellion against the author
ity of the United States Government, nor aided,
countensnced encouraged acts of hostility thereto
Second, That said voter shall have never sought,
or voluntarily accepted any Office, civil, military,
or attempted to exercise the functions of any Office
civil or military, under the authority or pretended
authority of the so-called Confederate States of
America or of any insurrectionary State whatever,
hostile or opposed to the authority of the United
States Government with the intent and desire to aid
said rebellion or insurrectionary authority.
Third, That said voter shall have never volunts-
rily supported any pretended government power
authority hostile inimica to the authority of the
United States, by contributions in money prop
erty, by persuasion or influence or in any other way
whstever. Provided. That the foregoing restric-
lions and disqualifcations shall not apply to any
white citizen who may have served in and been hon.
orably discharged from the army or navy of the
United States since the LIST day of January, 1862
nor to those who voted IN the Presidential election
in November, 1864, or voted in the election for
Ratification or Rejection" in February, 1866, or
voted in the election held on the 4th day of March
of the same year for Governor and members of the
Leg isature, to those who lave been appointed
to any civil or military Office by Andrew johnson,
Military Governor, or VIM. G. Brownlow, Governor
of Tennessee, all of whom are hereby declared to
be qualified voters upon their complying with the
requirements of this act. Provided That this lat.
ter clause shall not apply to any commission issued
upon any election which may have been held
Sec. 2. Be 1t further enacted That the Governor
of the State shall, within sixty days after the pas
sage of this act, appoint Commissioner of Regis
traton for each and every county in the State, who
SHALL without delay enter upon the discharge of his
iuties and who shall have full power to administer
the necessary oaths provided by this act. The said
Commissioner before entering upon the duties of bis
ufice shall take and subscribe oath to support
the Constitution Of the United States and the Const
tuition OF the State of Tennessee and to faithfully
discharge the duties of his Office and also the oath
prescribed in Sec of this act which oaths shall be
| filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.
The said Commissioner shall keep his Office at the
comfy seat of the county, and 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 is entitled to the
privilege of the Elective Franchise and he shall
preserve and keep the necessary records of his Office
-um of one hundred dollars to be paid upon the
warrant of the Comptroller of the State; and said
Commissioner shall make report 70 the County
Court 1t each quarterly session thereof showing the
number of voters registered previous to said quar-
tery session; provided that all sums of money paid
by said Commissioner for the United States Revenue
stamps in the discharge of his duty ahsll be credited
and paid out of tue County Treasury.
Sec 3. Be II further enacted, That said commits
eoner shall issue certificates Of registration to every
| white soldier who may have served in, and been
bonoraby discharged from the army or navy of the
| United States since the said lst day of January
1862, upon the production of the proper certificate
Of such service and discharge, legal evidence OF
The loss of such discharge. Said commissioner shall
Issue certificates of registration to all those who
voted in the said November, February and March
elections upon the production of the poll books Of
the election at which said voter voted certified
copy under OATH of such poll book in the voter
may have removed to another county, or upon the
4idxvit of two enfranchised citizens known TO the
commissioner to have been unconditional Union men
throughout the rebellion in case said poll book may
! % lost.
those ctizens of Tennessee who have been appoint
ed to Office by the said Military or Civil Governors
upon the production of the commission showing such
appointment or the proper certificate OF the Secre
Lary OF State, that such commission was Issued, In
case of loss. But every other person claiming to be
I
provided in this act, shall before he obtains
IIhcate thereof prove by the evidence of two COM
petent witnesses known "a the commissioner to have
| ueen themselves 1T all times unconditional Union
men, that they are personally acquainted with the
person so claiming and that they verify believe that
he has not been guilty of any of the Disqualification
herein before specially mentioned, which proof shall
! De taken upon affidavit subscribed by said witness
and filed in said Office of said commissioner; and
said applicant shall also take and subscribe the fol-
lowing oath before the commissioner of registration
Il do solemnly swear that have never volunta-
| rily borne arms against the Government of the
United States for the purpose or with the intention
| of aiding the late rebellion, have / with any
such intention at any time given aid, counsel,
couragement to said rebellion, or to any act of hos
| tility to the Gov eminent of the United States.
further swear tn at have never sought or accepted
any office either civil or military, attempted to
exercise the functions of any Office, either civil or
military, under the authority pretended authority
of the 8o-called Con federate States of America
If any inSurrectionary State, hostile opposed to
| the authority of the United States Government, with
the intent and desire to aid said rebellion and that
I have never given a voluntary support to any such
Government or authority. So help me God
! Provided, That citizens known to said Commits
sioner to have always been unconditional Union
men, never having sympathized with the late rebel
lion, or who may be proven to have been such un-
conditional Union by the oath of two witnesses
who shall be known to said Commissioner to have
been themselves at all times, such unconditional
Union men, shall not be required to take and sub
scribeany oath whatever in order to obtain for them
selves certificates of their right the elective fran
| chise
Sec 4. Be 1t further enacted, That upon the TAX
ing and fling the proof and oath required in the Sd
section Of this act the said Commissioner shall reg.
lister the 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 testimony
contrary TO contravening the proof offered and
taken in behalf of said applicant; and the said
Commissioner shall be the Judge of the weight OF
the conflicting testimony so far the same may ef
feet the issuance of the certificates
Sec ). Be Il further enacted, That no person shall
be entitled to vote at any State County, District OF
| Municipal election, any other election held I'M
der the laws of this State; unless he shall have been
registered and shall have received certificate there
of as provided in this act and any person swearing
falsely to any of the facts required be by
the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty OF
perjury and upon conviction thereof shall suffer all
the pains and penalties provided by law for such
Otfense, and this act and all the provisions thereof
shall be strictly construed to prevent evasion there
of, and the Judges of all the Circuit and Criminal
Courts of this State shall give this act specially in
charge to the Grand Jury at each term of such
Court
Sec 6. Be Il further enacted, That the Secretary
of State shall provide, at the expense of the State
the Necessary books for the registration of voters
and shall to be printed the necessary blanks
containing the necessary forms for the osths Aft
davts and certificates, provided for In this act
which books and blanks shall be furnished to each
commissioner appointed and qualified under this act,