Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-05

1t establishes the office OF commissioner
Of registration for each and every county,
to be appointed by or before July Sd, 1866,
by the Governor, who is required to keep
his office al the county seat and to superin-
tend and enforce strictly the provisions of
certificates Of registration for the privilege
to vote to every white soldier who may have
served in, and been honorably discharged
from the army or navy of the United States
since the said LIST of January, 1862, upon
the production of the proper certificate of
such service and discharge; or legal evil
dence of the loss of such discharge !;
10 all those who voted in the said Novem-
Der, February and March elections, upon
production of the poll books at the elections
at which said voter voted, or a certified
copy, under oath, of such poll book in case
the voter may have removed to another
county, or upon the affidavit of two enfran-
chised citizens, known to the commissioner
10 have been unconditional Union men
throughout the rebellion, in case said poll
books may be lost; Also to those citizens of
Tennessee who have been appointed to of
flee by either the military or civil Cover
nor, upon the production of the commission
showing such appointment, or the proper
certificate of the Secretary of State, that
such commission was issued in case of loss.
Every other person claiming to be enti-
tied 10 the privilege of the elective fran
chise, as provided in this act, shall, before
he obtains a certificate thereof, prove by the
evidence of two competent witnesses, known
selves at all times unconditional Union men,
that they are personally acquainted with the
person so claiming and that they verify be-
lieve that he has not been guilty of any of
the disqualification herein before specially
mentioned; which proof shall be taken upon
affidavit, subscribed by said witnesses, and
filed in said office of said commissioner; and
such applicant shall also take and subscribe
the following oath before the commissioner
of registration:
q" do so.emnly swear that l have never
voluntarily borne arms against the Govern
ment of the United States for the purpose or
with the intention of aiding the late rebel
lion, nor have | with any such intention at
any time given aid, comfort, counsel or en-
enlargement to said rebellion, or to any act
of hostility to the Government Of the United
States | further swear that | have never
sought or accepted any Office either civil or
military, or attempted to exercise Che func-
tions of any Office, either civil or military,
under the authority or pretended authority
of the so-called Confederate States of Amer
lea, or of any insurrectionary State hostile
or opposed to the authority Of the United
States Government, with the intent and de-
sire to aid said rebellion; and that | have
never given a voluntary support to any such
Government or authority. So help me
God"
The commissioner is directed to issue
certificates to all citizens known to said COM
missioner to have always been unconditional
Union men, never having sympathized
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 commissioner to
have been themselves, at all times, such
unconditional Union men; and the law
provides that they shall not be re-
CURED to take and subscribe any oath
in order to obtain for themselves GER
tifcates of their right to the elective fran
chise; but he is empowered to hear and
take proof from equally competent testi-
mony" contrary TO and contravening the
proof offered and taken in behalf of any APP
plicant under this law, whether he be a dis
charged soldier, a voter at the election in
1860. a commissioned officer of the State,
by Governor johnson or Brownlow, or
an unconditional Union man; and the
said commissioner Is made the judge of
the weight of the conflicting testimony 50
far as the same may effect the issuance of
certificates.
This certificate Of registration is made
necessary in all State, county, distric! and
municipal elections, and the courts are
directed to construe rigidly its provisions
for the pains and penalties of violation, and
also that the grand juries Of the State shall
be so charged and instructed by the courts.
The law requires the Governor, previous
to general or special elections, except for
county, district, or municipal officers, toissue
writs Of election to the commanders of
detachments Of troops, and provides for the
counting of such votes by the Secretary of
State
All certificates issued under the &C, Of
June 3, 1865, are annulled, and declared
void as to the voting privilege after the pas
sage of this law. May Srd, Gel
Candidates for county offices are required
to take, subscribe and file in the Office Of the
County Court Clerk the oath above recited-
all other candidates to file thesame oath in the
Office of the Secretary of State. Discharged
soldiers of the United States army, or COM
missioned civil officers by the military or
civil Governoy of this Stale who may be
candidates are not required to take this
oath.
In the event of the refusal Of the County
Court 10 induct candidate into office elected
under this law, the Governor may order the
Commissioner TO do so.
No elections are to be held until the re-
gistration is complete. The Commissioner