The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-21
The Alexandria Constitution-An At
,aupt 10 Intimidate Voters.

tempt 10 ulllUllSldIe NOlSIS.
Our local columns contain the particu-
lars of a most extraordinary proceeding on
the part of JOHN A. HICKS and Of Mr..
GEORGE CuAuooS, a commissioner Of Judge
Typyswoop's court. Hicks had no more
sense. than to swear that MARK DowNEY
had been guilty of "pcrjury," and the
learned commissioner knew so little of his
own business as to administer an oath that
pnts his friend HICKs's person in danger
for if MARX DowNEY has not committed
"pcriury," as We shall soon prove that he
has not, then HICKS has sworn to lie, and
is himself guilty of what he calls "per-
Jury" Every lawyer will tell Mr.. HICKS
that even if DowNEY had sworn falsely on
the occasion alluded to, he is not guilty of
"periury." The act of Congress does not
call such On offence perjury, but simply
makes the punishment the same as for per-
Jury. But this point is not material one :;
we only wished to remark in passing that
HICKS has himself been guilty OF the very
ofIence-false swearing-that he charges
upon DowNEY and to remind Mr.. CHA
uooS that he had 10 moral right to ad-
minister such an oath to HICKS. He ought
10 have sworn him as to the facts, and left
the offence to be determined in court.
Mr.. Hicks not only believes but is will
ing to swear that the Alexandria Consti-
tuition has disfranchised every man in Iir-
gipia worthy of the right of suffrage-that
is. every "rebel." He evidently values
his word but little; and lest some good
people might be operated upon by this
outrageous attempt to intimidate and keep
from the polls the whole white voting
population of the State, we proceed to
show that Congress never intended that
the reconstruction acts should bear any
such construction. The first evidence that
we shall offer is the following letter from
Senator WILSON
=. Mr. WILSON LETTBR.-J. w. H"shkorn
EAy. Ny Dear Sir,-ln reply TO your ques-
lion Does the law as il now exists diSiran-
chisr the rank and file OF the soldiers who had
hon of the United States, have 10 say that
IL does not disfrauchise them.
1.-THE constitutional amendment disqualifles
from holding office certain persons who nave
taken IN oath 10 support the Constitution OF
The United States and then engaged i'll the re-
bellion or gave aid or comfort 10 it.. This
class Of persons are DISTINGUISHED, and all
other persons are entitled 10 vote.
These persons are mentioned III The consti-
tutiomal amendment. so that all persons will
know who are DISC uaiiiied and DISTINGUISHED.
Yours, truly, Henry WILsoS.'
This letter was written directly after the
passage Of the reconstruction acts. No one
knew better than Mr.. WILSON the meaning
of the language employed in these acts, or
the intentions Of Congress. And he says
emphatically that call other persons are
entitled to vote " except those disqualified
by the constitutional amendment. Mr..
HICKS, however, swears that Mr.. WILSON
lies, and that the Alexandria Constitution
has DISTINGUISHED Mr.. DowNEY. Here Is
the language Of the constitutional amend
ment:
"SRcTIoy 3. No person shall be senator OF
representative in Congress OF eiee s oi Tca
u ',, anu NV under the United States, OIL
under any State, who, having Ple'lo"siy I'd
ken an oath as member Oh Congress, vi as q,
onicer of the United States, or as member u
.n, State legislature, or as an executive Oh
iudicial officer of any state, 10 support ths
Sonstitution of the United States, shall have
engaged In insnrrection or rebellion against th'
so,ne or given aid and comfort 10 the enemie:
thereof. But Congress may, by vote OF two
thirds of each House, remove such disability
This, is will be observed, only prohibits
certain men from holding office. But the
Sherman law goes further. 1t provide.
that the same classes of persons shall mo-
be allowed to vote 50 long as we refuse t.
organize a State government under it
operation. The sixth section Of that ac
says:
"In all elections TO any office under such
provisional governments all persons shall be
entitled 10 vote, and none other, who are emit
tied TO vote under the provisions or the fith
section Of this act; and no person shall be eli
gible TO any Office under any such provisional
governments who would be disqualified from
holding Office under the provisions of the third
article OF said constitutional amendment"
"All persons shall be entitled to vote
"and none other, who are entitled to vote
"under the provisions Of the fifth section u
Of the Sherman law. Now, what are the
provisions Of the fifth section They de.
scribe the qualifications Of voters as fol-
lows:
"The male citizens Of said State
twenty one years old and upward, of what
ever race, color, or previous condition, who
have been resident in said State for one year
previous 10 the day Of such election, except
such asmay be disfranchised for participat ton
In the rebellion, or for felony at common law
Pr0rided, That no person excluded
from the privilege OF holding office by said
proposed amendment to the Constitution OF
The United States shall be eligible TO election
az member Of the conven ton 10 frame g
constitution for any Of said rebel States, MOI
snail any such person vote for members OF said
convention
In order to know who Is meant by the
language "such as may be DISTINGUISHED
LOT participation in the rebellion it Is ne.
cesssry TO recur to the constitutional
amendment. That amendment is intended
OF course, TO operate upon all the States
and 1t contains the following provision
Whenever the right 10 vote nj any cleo
lion for elector of President and Vice Presl
ueht Oh the United States, Represents tiyes n
congress, executive and judicial officars n,
tne members Of the Legislature thsreof. /,
S Ssnted 10 any OF the male inhabitants Of smell
asas OF ge TX tMrsnay one years Of age. and cit
DraEed' except for participation In rebellion
otnsr crime, the basis OF reprssenta ito,
'Asssln shall b reduced" etc.