The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-15
The Question of Disfranehisement.

We expressed the opinion in last issue, that We
would be able to-day to give the Attorney Generals
construction upon the question of disIanchisement;
but we were over confident and have been disappointed
We have waited until going to press, in the hope Of
furnishing this very important document aud, at
the last moment, reprint the following extract from
the New Orleans Times the next best thing we can
do As as the opinion Of the Attorney General is
received we will give it to our readers in an extra
and meantime repeat the advice already given to
our voters register without loss of time, question
Of time register as matter Of duty register because
it is your right and allow dscouragements to pre-
| vent you.
Our special correspondent at Washington in letter
dated the LIST inst writes as follows in reference to
the opinion Of the Attorney General on the subject OF
disfranchisemen under the recent acts of Congress-
| The opinion of the Atty Gen' will doubtless have
been teegraphed to the Times by its vigant telegraph
ic correspondent here long before this will reach New
/ Orleans. | cannot, however, refrain from remarking
that some of the "oyalists" in your city must be
surprised to learn that the words "giving aid and
comfort to the enemies of the United States" where
they occur in the Constitution, and consequently in
any law of Congress, have no meaning whatever
where the enemies rebels but apply exclusively to
foreign and to alien public enemies; and that all
authority, English and American, without exception, is
to that effect Unless, therefore, there are persons
who in 1872 to the British later to the Mexicans,
gave g aid O. comfort only monsrous perversion
of these words in the could occasion any dis
reimbursement under this head. So also the words
engaging in the rebellion" only apply to acts of
participation indctable under the law.
Neither the term State officers be legally applied
to military officers, policemen, taxgatherers, assistant
deputy street commissioners, constables, notaries,
public school directors, commissioners of courts to
take deposons of the poor, inspectors Of
commodities, weighers, gsngers, and the numberless
petty and nconsequen posts of counties cities towns
and parishes. In short, the regular officers of the
State are to be Disseminated from officers of any
chartered municipality within and under the State.
Whether the charter be general special. e., by
of State law erecting, etc, with vested powers,
OF of speci.l franchise vested in the people of
particular locality for particular public purpose.
As to officers of States who have" taken an oath
support the Constitution of the United States this
must be taken to mean where that oath qualif-
cation for office By force of the National Constitution
But the latter requires only the oath from legislative
executive aud judicial officers of the States and when
taken by any official of State not Of one Of these
thee classes, by officer of private corporation,
it part of his qualification, and, therefore,
could with proprety be said to be taken by him as
&C an officer
The Attorney General, in lis opinion, takes the
ground that every doubt must 20 in favor of the ct
zen. His Interpretation, which General Grant will or
der the Generals in command of military districts to
be guided by, will put stop to the unprecedented
prescriptions justly complained Of