Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-26
of their official oath, the oath to Support Ii
Con Institution of the, limited States.

of their official oath, the oath to Support the
Constitution of the limited States.
l3. Persons exercised mere agencies
or ennp!sogyrnnents unlel the State authority,
are not disqualified; .sIIchsas commissioners
qto lay. out roads, commits siopefas of public
works, Visitorssof Statb institutions, directors
|;of State3banks or othsrS State institutions,
5examiners ofbanks, nataries public, commis-
Esioners 70 take Judgements of deeds
and lawyers.
ENGAGING IN.REBELLIoN.
,.. Having specified what Offices held by any
one prior to the rebellion, come within the
meaning Of the law, it is necessary next to
set forth what subsequent. conduct fixes upon
such person the offence OF engaging in rebel
lion. I repeat, that two things must exist as
to any person, to disqualify him from voting; !;
first the office held prior to the rebellion, and
afterwards, participation in the rebellion.
IA. An act to fix upon a person the offence
of engaging in rebellion under this law, must
be an overt and voluntary. act, done with an
intent Of aiding Or furtaering the. common un-
lawful purpose. A.p,rson forced into the
rebel service by conscraption, OR under a para
mount authority which he could not safely
disobey, and who would not have entered
such service if left 10 the free exercise Of his
own will, cannot be feld 10 be disqualified
from voting. = - s7
Is. Mere ACTS of charity, where the intent
is to relieve tie wants OF the object Of SUCH
charity, and not done in aid of th' cause in
which he may have been engaged, do not dis.
qualify. But. organized contributions Of food
and clothing for the general relief'of persons
engaged in the rebellion, and not of q merely
sanitary character, but contributed to enable
them to perform their unlawful object, may
be classed with acts Which do disqualify.
Forced contributions to the rebei-cause, in
the form of taxes or military assessments,
which q person may be; compelled to pay or
contribute, do not disqlalify. But voluntary.
contributions to the rebel cause, even such in
direct contributions as arise from the volun-
tary loan of money, t. rebel authorities, or
purchase of bonds or SECURITIES created to af-
ford the means of carrying on the rebellion,
will work disqualification;
lG. All those who, il legislative or other
official capacity, we're engaged in the further.
ance of the common unlawful purpose; where
the duties of the Office necessarily had rela-
ton to the support Of the rebellion, such as
members ofthe rebel conventions, congresses,
and legislatures, diplomatic agents of the
rebel confederacy, and other officials whose
Offices were created for the purpose of more
effectually carrying on hostilities, or whose
duties appertained to the support Of the rebel
cause, must be held to be disqualified.
But officers who, during the rebellion, dis
charged official duties not incident to war.
but only such duties az belong even to state
Of peace; and were necessary to the preserva.
ton of order and the administration of law,
are not to be considered as thereby engaged
in rebellion or as disqualified. Disoyal sen
timents, opinions or synpathies would not
disqualify, but where person has by speech
or writing, ihcited Others to engage in rebel
lion, he must come unde the disqualification.
II. THE duties Of tie board appointed to
superintend the elections.
This board. having The custody of the list
of registered voters in the district for which
it is constituted, mast see that the ;iame OF
the person Offering to 7ote is found upon the
registration list, and if such proves to be the
fact, it's the duty of the board to receive his
vote. They cannot receive the vote of any
person whose name is not upon the list, though
he may be ready to take the registration oath,
and although. he may satisfy them that he
was unable to have his name registered at the
proper time, in consequence of absence, sick
ness, or other cause.
The board cannot enter into any enquiry
as to the qualifications of any person whose
name is not on the liss, or as to- the quali6-
cations of any person whose name is on the
list.
Is. The mode of .oting is provided in the
Act to be by ballot The board will keep
record and poll-book Of the election, the votes,
list of voters, and the persons elected by a
plurality of the votes rast at the election, and
make returns of these to the commanding
general of the district.
10. The board appointed for registration
and for experimenting the elections, must
take the oath prescribed by the Act Of Con
gress, approved July g, 1862, entitled, Gan
Act to prescribe an oath Of Office"
/ have the honor to be, with great respect,
HENRY STANBERY,.
Attorney General.
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