The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-20
Suffrage in the District of Columb ia .

Suffrage in the District of Columbia.
The following is the bill what recently
passed Congress comforting the right of suf-
frage on the colored people of the District of
Columbia
BE it enacted bg the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the Lnit@l States Of Imeri-
Gu IN Congress assembled, That from and alter
the passage OF this act each and every male
person} excepting pauperS and persons under
guardianship, OF the age of twenty one wears
and upwards, who has not been convicted
of any Infamous crime or offence, and eXccp-
ting persons who may have voluntarily Civ
en- aid and comfort to the rebels in the late
rebellion, and who was born in the United
States, or naturalized and who shall have
resided in the said District for the period of
twelve months next preceding to any cleo
ton therein. shall be entitled to the elective
franchise. and shall he deemed an eector and
entitled TO vote at any election in said Dis
trict, without any distinction on account OF
color or race.
"SEc. :. And be 1t FURTHER enacted, That
any person whose duty it shall be to receive
votes at any election within the District of
Columbia, who shall wilfuly refuse to re-
ceiye, or who shall wiltully reject. the vote of
any person entitled to such right under this
act shall be liable to an action OF tort by the
person injured, and shall be liable, ON the
indictment and conviction, if such act was
done knowingly, to a fine not exceeding five
thousand dollars, or to both Imprisonment
for term not exceeding one year in the Jail
of said District.
SEC. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That if
any person or persons shall wiltully interrupt
or disturb any such elector in the exercise of
such franchise, he or they shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on conviction
thereof, shall he fined in any sum not to ex-
coed one thousand dollars or to be impris-
oned in the Jail in said District for period
not to exceed thirty days, or both, at the dis
erection of said court.
Sec 4. Ind be 1t further enacted, That it
shall be the duty Of the several courts hay
ing criminal jurisdiction in said District to
give this act in special charge to the grand
jury at the commencement of each term of
the court next preceding the holding of any
general or city election.
g SEC. ). Ind lie 1t further enacted That
the mayors and aldermen of the cities of
Washington and Georgetown, respectively,
on or before the first day of March in each
year, shall prepare list of the persons they
judge to be qualified to vote in the several
wards of said cities in any election and
said mayors and aldermen shall be in open
session to receive evidence of the qualiica-
ton of persons claiming the ri ght to vote in
any election therein, and for correcting said
list, on two days in each year, not exceeding
five days prior to the annual election for the
choice of city officers, giving previous notice
of the time and place of each session in some
newspaper printed in said district.
SEC 6. Ind be it further enacted, That
on or before the first day of March the May
ors and aldermen of said cities shall post up
a 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. 7. and be 1T further enacted, That
the officers presiding at any election shall
keep and use the check list herein required
at the polls during the election of all officers,
and no vote shall be received unless deliver
ed by the voter in person, and not until the
presiding officer has had opportunity to be
satisfied of his identify, and shall find his
name on the list, and mark it, 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 a
fine not exceeding $4,000, or Imprisonment
not exceeding two years, and any person &C
cepting such bride shall be punished by i'm
prisonment not less than one year, and be
perpetually DISTINGUISHED.
'sSEC. 8. Ind be 1t. further enacted, That
all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with
this act be and the same are hereby repeal
ed"
We should not be surprised if the provis
ions of the. first section of this act should be
applied to all the insurgent States. ..