Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-03-05
Who are Disqualified from Voting.


The Richmond Dispatch in its review of
the Sherman ShalIebarger bill answers the in
quiry thus: As we read the third section,
any man may be elected to the Leg stature.
But there S no other position ofhunor 10 which
the prescribed classes arc eligible The pro-
scribed classes of Richmond (and everywhere
else; we use Richmond for illustrutiGp) arc
all men who at any time previous TO the war,
no In itter how long before, did as officers OF
any sort, or members OF auy Legislative BODY
take an oath to support the cOnst tut Of tho
United Stltes, and who afterwards engaged
III rebellion, or gave laid and comfort to tho
cacmies" OF the United States. The taking
OF the oath to support the Constitution of tho
Confederate States, and the huidinl, Of Office
under the Confederate States go matter how
high the o'ice, create no disability to vote or
hold office under this section. Neither is any
man disqualified for O!icc by reason Of having
taken an oath to support the Constitution OF
the United States aud afterwards engaging ia
rebellion, &c., provided lie did not take said
oath as an cGicc', &c. Lawyers arc not DIS
qualified as such, although before the war
every one had to take that oatlI but only sucl,
of them are disqualified as had held Office
These XplanatOn arc made in answer to oucs-
items ProIoUudcd to US
All persons who were formerly justices OF
the peace, clerks, judges, assenblymen, &C.,
are disqualified.
Judge Lyons Office (Jud"e of court un-
der the municipal government Of r chmondJ
is rather municipal than State Office. He
may escape by tight squeeze" especially
Ii as some contend, his Office is not only ex
Unconstitutional bat unconstitutional.
The enfrdRchised cLIss consists of negroes.
The bill provides that whether we ratiiy tho
constitutional amendment or not. negroes
al,ail hara,ftar e.. e %
TIsioBai government, as our masters are pleas
ed to term our State government. Ne.roes.
however, are not eligible to Office
1t Is supposed there will be about tIou
BILE as many white as black voters in Vir-
ginia.
The Dispatch mey be correct in it concIu-
sious as to the ineIigbi!ity of negroes to Office,
but we can find no prohibiting clause to that
effect
The Richmond Wig cnumerates the dis
tranchised thus: GAN Coulcderates who
had ever taken the oath to support the Con-
stitu:ion of the United States as member of
Congress, or as an officer of the United States.
or as member of any State Legislature or as
an executive or judicial officer of any State.
This includes, besides members of Congress
and OF State Legislatures, postmassers. collec-
tors Of customs, officers of the United States
army and navy, judges and magistrates and
ex-g0VerDors.
1t does not include lawyers, clerks, .hcriFs,
constab!es, commissioners in chancery. com
mIssioncrs OF revenue, tax assessors, surveyors.
military othcers, sergeaBts. members Of coun-
cIl-, and perhaps others who have taken the
oath-tor these arc either not tficers at all,
or are merely ministerta. ofFiccrs. nor embraced
IN the term executive or judicial They
are therefore neither DISTINGUISHED nor render
ed Ineligible to Office.