Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-03-30
Who are Disfranchised by the Law
 of Congress

| A VI ScHSIo9o
 The I.ppisvific Courier says: From an examination of the tarieusA bills it appears that the follow ing .is tljbcondi- tioi, of the various classes mentioned ihthe various bills whifh have Already passed: W list. All persons who, before the war, were members of CongressOr officers of the United States, and took an oath 10 supporr the Constitution of the United States, and afterwards engaged in the rebellion.
 2d. All persons who, prior to the war, were executive, legislative, or ju- dicial efffeefs of the State, and took the like oath and engaged in the rebellion. This embraces Governors, members of the Legislature, and judiciat o1Rr rars, 1 from Judge of the Supreme Court, down to aJustice or tie Peace, who at any time held the office and took the oath, and afterwards engaged in the re- bellion. .ss-sa TIT
 aiWho then are not excluded ?g.,ly
 |, lst,. No one is excluded because he held an office under t1ie Confederate States from President town, if he does not fall within one ofnthc excluded classes labove specitied,;o Tho simple fact, that be, was. a Confederate General or a Confederate Senator, or that he took ali oath'to support the Constitul ton of the Confederate States, docs not exclude him. Iipeii ghojvpa ta,li n. Q 2d. No State or County officer is exr cluded on account of his having held that office and taken tic oath and en- gagged in the rcbellion,if he were not an executive, legislative or judicial0f- ficer; therefore, neither lawyer, tax collector, sheriff, clerk, receiver, coun- ty treasurer, surveyor. or constable. is excluded DIT .e''iiF e1i4i ifs
 Sd. As noa man under twenty-one iyefrs of age, when the war began, held any such office, is, disqualified, and as none, of them took the oath to support the Constitution of tho United States during the war, and as the war com menced six years ago, no man in Geor- gia, under twenty7scven, years of age, can be excluded.
 4th. No Militia officer can be ex- |cludcd.o oi 2i. DO 'l''itl1a Za3se3 'la'0i n 9th. The whole mass of our people who fall within none of the excluded classes above mentioned, are free from the disqualification. and may vote and 1lOiu Oiltt III lilC tItttiC " ItilVub to the part they took ill the late rebel tlionaY 9g,sis aiF .nfnJ iewo#aa ;.
 It is evident that these prescriptions will exclude a large proportion of our people. Every maii who has partici- pated in the rebellion, and has prior to that period takeir an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, is prescribed. No mattcrhow long be- { fore the war hc may have taken the oath to the Constitution, though it may haveibecn half a century. he is still ex- lcluded by that fact from all official po- sition. It is relentless and inhuman policy, unworthy of an enlightened people and free government, and yet there are men in the Southyiwho, for their own personal .bcneft, aud in, the ] apprehension of, measures still more se-
 were and exclusive, are willing to ac- 1.3pt the legislation now presented to them, and fix upon themselves and Iltleir posterity the badges of degrada- tion which have been provided by their | foes.
 We cannot believe that the mass of the Southern people arc vet ready to be guilty of this self-abasemcnt, and hope to see them rcpudiatc the blind anl selfish guides who arc leading them to disgrace.