Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-10
The Franchise Law.

AN ACT to alter and amend an
Act, entitled An "Act to Limit
the Elective Franchise" passed
June 5, 1865.
Section /. Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State
|of Tennessee, That every white
male inhabitant of this State, of
the age of twenty-one years, a cit
izen of the United States and q
resident of the county wherein he
may offer his vote, six months
next preceding the day of cleo
ton, shall be entitled to the privi-
lego of the elective franchise, SUBJ
.ject to the following exceptions
and disqualifications, to wit:
First, Said voter shall have
never borne arms against the Gov
eminent of the United States for
the purpose of aiding the late
rebellion, nor have voluntarily
given aid, comfort, countenance,
counsel, or encouragement to any
rebellion against the authority of
the United States Government,
nor aided, countenanced or eneour-
aged acts of hostility thereto.
Second, That said voter shall
have never sought, or voluntarily
accepted any office, civil or militia
ry, 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 Amer
lea, or of any insurrectionary
State whatever, hostile or OPP
posed to the authority of the Uni
ted States Government, with the
intent and desire to aid said re-
bellion or insurrectionary authori-
ty.
Third, That said voter shall
have never voluntarily supported
any pretended government, power
or authority hostile or inimical to
the authority of the United States,
by contributions in money or prop.
erty, by persuasion or influence,
or in any other way whatever
Provided, That the foregoing re-
strictions and disqualification
shall not apply to any white citi:
zen who may have served in and
been honorably discharged from
the army or navy of the United
States since the LIST day of Janua-
Try, 1862, nor to those who voted
in the Presidential election in No
vember, 1864, or voted in the cleo
ton for Ratification or Rejection
in February, 1865, or voted in the
election held on the 4th day of
March of the same year for Gov
ernor and members of the Legisla-
ture, nor to those who have been
appointed to any civil or military
office by Andrew johnson, Militia
ry 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 latter clause
shall not apply to any commission
issued upon any election which
may have been held.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted,
That the Governor of the State
shall, within sixty days after the
passage Of this act, appoint Com
missioner of Registration for each
and every county in the State,
who shall, without delay, enter
upon the discharge of his duties,
and who shall have full power to
administer the necessary oaths
provided by this act. The said
Commissioner, before entering up
on the duties of his Office, shall
take and subscribe an oath to sup
port the Constitution of the Uni
ted States and the Constitution of
the State Of Tennessee, and to
faithfully discharge the duties of |
his office, and also the oath pre-
scribed in Sec. 8 of this act, which
oaths shall be filed in the Office Of |
the Secretary of State.
The said Commissioners shall
keep his Office at the county seat
of the county, and tshall 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 a certificate that each
and every qualified voter is enti-
lied to the Elective Franchise, and
he shall preserve and keep the nee
sssary records of his Office, and
shall receive from the Treasury