The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-01
a3asllrille 4lniou.
WIN. CAxERos 4 o.. Publishers.
THuRsDAY. FEBRUARY J. lsss.
Abstract Of ,hs Proposed New Fran

= nave gwen 70 lnls Euolect the mos
careful and seFiols consideration, anC
have been impelled alone by desire fo
the good of the State and the country
and are of opinion, considering the IN
settled condition OF the State, that tru,
friendship and loyalty to the Govern
ment of the United States isths Q rope
basis Of suffrage. They have = desirt
or wish to exclude any trulyl1yI. mar
from the ballot-box" TIE a5.e -r
They append to this report Bill tC
alter and amend an Act entitled an Ac
to limit the elective franchise, passed
June 5th, 1865
Section first enacts that every WHIT
male inhabitant of the State, twenty
one years old, and citizen of the
United States, and 3 ak months resi-
dent Of the county in which he may
offer his vote, shall be entitled to the
privilege Of the elective franchise; pro
gidsd that he has never voluntarily
borne arms against the Government
nor voluntarily given aid, comfort, coun.
sci, or encouragement to any rebellion
or hostility thereto; or never sought, or
accepted any office of any kind, or ex-
ercised the functions of any Office OF
any government, under the style of the
so-called Confederate States, or any in
surrectionary State, with intent to aid
rebellion; and that said voter shall
have never yielded voluntary support
to any pretended government or au-
thority hostile to the Government of
the United States.
Second section enacts that the Govern
or shall appoint Registration Commis-
aioner in each county in the State, to
administer the osths provided for in
the act who shall first take an oath
supporting the Constitution of the
United States and of the State, and the
oath in this act; and who shall take all
proofs as to qualifications prescribed,
and register names in book to be
kept in his Office at the county seat !:
and shall receive a compensation be-
tween two and FIVE hundred dollars for
his services, and shall make quarterly
reports and that the county snail pay
for the revenue stamps on certificates
which he may issue. 1t win be OBJ
served that this section creates q new
office to be filed by the Governor thus
showing distrust of the officers elected
by the people, and imposing an addi-
tional burden on the State treasury.
Secti01 third enacts that any person
claiming the privilege Of this act shall
prove by two competent voters under
this act that he is not subject to the
disquslifications mentioned in the first
secUion-the proof to be in the form of
an affidavit, with the proviso that hon
orably discharged soldiers or seamen of
the United States service may obtain
their certificates by presenting their
papers of discharge re-
Section fourth enacts that for all per
sons, except the soldiers or sailors above
mentioned, in addition to the proof the
Commissioner shall require the follow
ing oath:
/" l solemnly swear Cor affirm that l
have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States Government,
with an intent and desire to forward
and aid the late rebellion; that have
never voluntarily given aid, comfort,
counsel or encouragement TO any re-
bellion against the authority thereof,
/ or aided, countenGnced or encouraged
acts of hostility thereto; that have
never sought or accepted any Office,
civil or military, or attempted to exer-
else the functions of any office what
ever under the authority of the So
called Confederate States of America,
or of any insurrectionary State, hostile
or opposed to the authority of the
United States Government, with intent
and desire 70 aid and forward the late
rebellion; that have never yielded a
voluntary support to any pretended
government power, or authority, hos
tile or inimical to the authority of the
United states Government; that | will
support the Constitution of the United
States. and defend il against the as
saults of ell its enemies; that am an
active friend of the Government of the
United States, and that l will heartily
aid and assist the loyal people in Whist
ever measures may be adopted under
the Constitution of the United States,
and under the Laws and proclamations
made in pursuance thereof, to establish
and maIntsin the national authority
over All the people of every State EN-
braced in the National Union; that l
have never desired 81 heart the success
OF the so-called Confederscy, but have
st all times rejoiced st its defeat, and
the success OF the armies of the United
States that / will a. sll times render
paramount allegiance 10 the Govern
ment of the Q in preference TO any
state of the Federal Union, and Wlll
support and defend the National Gov
ernment against the encrOachmentsY
and attacks, of all foreign powers; that
will faithfully and heartily support
and defend the Constitution OF the
State of Tennessee, and the amend
ments and schedule thereunto sppen-
ded and adopted by the people on the
nd day of February, 1865, and all
acts of the General Assembly in accord
snce Herewith; that ! take this oath
freely and voluntarily without equivoca-
ton or mental reservation, so help me
Goo" This oath is to be taken BY all
candidates for Office H#.
| Section Jffsh enacts that after the proof
of section Sd, and the Oath of section
4th, the Commissioner shall register
the name and issue the certificate of
franchise, but gives him the power to
receive proof contrsVening the oath
and affidavit, and constitutes him the
Judge of the right OF the applicant to
vote. This con6des TO the Governor
and his appointees the power TO control
the rights Of every man in the State at
the baIlotbox.
Section sirth provides that this certih-
cate shall be necessary in all State,
County Town, Municipal and other
| tho panal-
ties Of the crime of perjury against
all who obtain certificate by false
swearing
Seesios segsztI enscts that the Secre-
tary Of State shall furnish books, snd
blanks, &c, &c, at the expense Of the
State, for the purpose Of carrying out
the provisions of this set.
iSection eigGk provides that election
warrants may be issued TO the com
uAnding officers of bodies of soldiers,
with the proviso that it shall not be i'm
perstive on the Governor 70 issue such
warrants for county or corporation
officers
iSscfioz AintE declares that al franchise
certificates heretofore issued are an
nulled- ...
| NtSt4oA ttltlN prOflues tnht 81 ShAaa-
dates shall take the prescribed oath,
and it is made the duty of judges 70
throw out votes esst for any candidate
who does not
SectioH eleventh provides that II the
county court fail to appoint election
officers under the act, the Commissioner
shall do so
Ssch0N h0sltA provides that no elec-
ton shall take place in this State until
the registration is complete in the
county, circuit, or distTict in which It Is
to be held, and the report made TO the
Governor
SeeiioN tiirtesH1A provides that when
the registration "a complete, the Cover
nor shall issue writs Of election.
Sse.i7a yoisytee,fk declares 8 Violztiou
Of this act 10 be misdenleAnOr, pun
ishable by = sne Of from ten 70 one
hundfed dollars. ana imPrisonmeat 81
the discretion Of the court
.Serflsss ftsr.fk and st<serzth repeal the
SCI Of Juas Sth, 1855, And declare thia