Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-05

intent to further the rebellion Is necessary 70
bring the party within the provision anu
meaning Of this law. -.
Merely disloyal sentiments or expressions
are not sufficient. The person applying loEs OF
registration is not required to clear himseif
from the taint C 'isloyaltY. The meaning
of Congress here becomes yetmore eNdent,
when, in the last clause of the prescrioea
oath. he is required to swear that be WIT
faithfully suppcrtithe Constitution, obey tue
laws of the Un;te,l States, and will, to the
best of hi- ability, encourage others soto 90.
This part of the cath is not excuipatory, but
promissory. 1t looks to the future and not
to the past, and rhe purpose is here manifest
to omit as to the right to vote the disquaI-
fcation from the right 10 exercise once.
Mere acts of. common humanity and Charity
cannot be considered as involving the party
in participation in the rebellion. So, too,
are forced contributions by the rebel aulncf.
tiles, or the compulsory payment OF taxes
in aid of the rebel cause; it would involve
the person, and it must work disqualification
under this law. Voluntary contribution In
furtherance of the rebellion, or subscription
to the rebel loans, and even organized con-
tributons of fool or clothing, or necessary
supplies, except Of strictly sanitary char
acter, are to be classed with acts which DIS
qualify.
The original Act contains no provision as
to the manner and time for holding the elec-'
ton of delegates to the Convention, or ratl.
fication Of the Constitution framed by that
Convention. or for other PURPOSES.
TIE first section of the Supplemental Act
provides that registration ofrotcrs shall De
made before the first Of September, 1867.
The fourth and subsequent sections provide
for means By which this registration is 10 be
effected. The C,mmanding General is dl-
rected to appointEas many boards OF registra-
ton as may be necessary, consisting of three
loyal officers or persons to make complee
registration, superinteid tho election, and
make return to him of votes, list of voters
and of persons elected as delegates by q
plurality of the votes cast at said election;
and upon receiving the said returns shall
open the same, ascertain the persons esected
as delegates, according to returns of the OIL
GERS who conducted said election, and make
proclamation thereof: and if a majority OF
votes given on that question; shall be for q
Convention, the Commanding General, within
sixty days from date Of election, shall notify
the delegates to assenble in Convention at
lime and place t5 bs mentioned in the noti-
fca,ion: and sid Convention, when organ.
lied, sha! proceed to frame a Constitution
and Civil Government, according to The rro-
visions OF this. Ac: and. the. Act TO IS hich 1t is
Supplementary. When the same shall have
been so framed said resolrtiqns skali be Sub
lnitted by the Convention Identification TO
pc;soas registered under the provisions OF
this Act. at an election to be conducted by
officers or persons appoinedsor 10 De appqint.
ed b. the Commanding General as he Ell :
before provided, and to he held after the cX'
pira'ion oc thirty days from thea dase of the
notice thereof, to be given by said .Conye;-
ton, aud returns thereof sha ] be made. to
Ike Commanding General OF Inc District.s
ihe sixth section provides that all elec-
lions in the States mentioned i'll said Act 10
provide for The more ctlicient government c!s
the re5ci States, shall: during tie operations
CT said Act be BY ballot. and all officers maxi
ing said registration Ct voters and condact-
ine said election sb2il, before entering upon
tee discharge Of their duties. take aui :ub-
scribe to the oath prescribed By the Act ap-
proved July ., lS62 entitled. +" An Act 10
prescribe ar oath oi tiiice.: Provided, thas
if any person shall knowingly aud falsely
take AID subscribe to any oath in the Act
prescribed, such p rs9n so Ciicndirg. and he-
in. thereof Gully convicted, shall he subject
to Tie pains, penalties and liabilities wl>h,
by Law, are provided for tue punishment OF
wilsui and corrupt perjury. The oaths PIE
scr;bcd by this Ac. are the oa!hs to be taken
by the persoi applying for registration and
tie oath TO DC taken by the persons compos.
inr the Beard ol Registration. The 9hlies OF
tic Board a:c to maze and complete the reg
istrs:ion end srporintcnd the election.
The first question is rs 10 the duties and
nowlrs ct Ike Board in making and comp!ci-
no the registration: Tie first section pro-
vdss that the Commanding General, shall
cause registration to be made OF the cii-
zens of the United States twenty one years
of age andNupwavdS. resident in each county
Or parish IN the State or States ,ucluded in his
district, which re- .stralion shall include only
tsosc persons who are qualified TO vote ior
decsates.by the Act aforesaid, and who saait
have taken and subscribed to the following
oath or affirmation. BY inis oa,h tle person
:hpying tor registration must swear ot.at.
ii. IN to every qanlilicafinn provided for, hv
The original Aci. The icSi question wlica
arises here Isl w. tner any ether oath can De
required Of ihe persan applying tor registra-
ton, Or any OH can be administered TO anv
other r,rson Or persons touching the QualiGcl.
lion oflhe applicant by the Board ui Regis r..
tion. The last clause OF thi first section pro-
viGes as folio Us: Wh;ch.oalh or affirm q ion
may be administered by aryiegi e:ing otii-
cer' Thc.oath here referred 10 is the oath
10 be takcu b. the person applying for regis
.ratcn.
l have very carefully examined all the pro.
visions of this Act and can find no oauthor:
i;y for any oath to be taken by any one touch.
ing the qualifications of the applicant for
bit only this cath. lam. clearly
of opinion tila; any other touching the qeal-
ifcatoHs-of rhc applican. would be extrUu-
dciai and without authority, and that false
swearing cou'ii not he assigned as PERJURY
in provisio to the sixth section above quo-
ted which declares what false sw caring snail
amount TO pr'jury il expressly limited to,any
oath in this Act prescribed.
live read these words FOR themselves,
without regard to the other provisions Of the
Act The impression is made that two things
must concur 10 authorize the registration of
the app.icant First-that he. actually pos
sesses he qualification required by the orig
inal Act, and find that he is required by this
oath TO swear to every one of these qualif-
cations. and that no authority is anywhere
given to enter upon any other inquiry into
his qualification or to administer any other
oath to him or.any oath to any other person
touching his qualification, and that his oath
ard his oath aaone is punished with perjury.
1t is impossible to resist the concuson'that
the oath tselfis the sole and only test 9: tho
qualification of the applicant. When, tbere-t
fore, person applies TO the board for regis
tration, the power of the board is confined tos
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