The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-09-24

! ~ C.UtCeTS or heytStTOttOH, JOT ueT IHJOTMu
tion in Revising the Lists Of Voters.
HEADo'Rs I'd MILITARY DISTRICT,
| Charleston, S. c., August q, 1867.
| CIRCULAR
| [. All citizens are entitled to be registered
unless disqualified for the acts and offences Sc
forth in the rules aud regulations for Registra
ton, published in General Orders No. IS.
No citizen is disqualified unless, having helG
Office under the United States, or having beer
| a member of the Legislature of any State, D
having held some executive or judicial offic,
under a general law of the State, be afterward
engaged in the rebellion, or gave aid and com
fort to persons so engaged or, unless, by the
decree of competent judicial tribunal, or by
ar act of Congress, or law of State, he has
been disfranchised for rebellion against the
United States, or for felony.
example:
1st. Any person not twenty one years of age
I'd Any person who has not acquired resi-.
dence in the State.
Sd. Any person otherwise qualified by age
and residence, who, having held Office under the
United States, afterwards engaged in rebellion
or gave aid and comfort to their enemies.
4th Any person otherwise qualified by resi-
dence and age, who, having been a member of a
legislature, or having held executive or judicial
Office under general law of State, afterwards
engaged in rebellion against the United States,
or gave aid and comfort to their enemies.
5th. Any person otherwise qualified by resi-
dence and age, who has been disfranchised by the
sentence of competent judicial tribunal for
felony.
9th. Any person otherwise qualified by resi-
dence and age, who has been disfranchised by
law; for example, a citizen of Tennessee, dis
franchised by the constitution and laws of that
State, for participation in the rebellion, who has
become resident of North or South Carolina
II. A citizen, not included within either Of
the above specified classes, although he may
have voluntarily taken part in the rebellion, is
qualified; so a citizen included within the Sd or
4th class, whose acts 10 aid Of rebellion were not
voluntary, is qualified.
In general, officers of mere municipalities,
towns or villages are not embraced 10 the Sd and
4th classes of paragraph I for example a
policeman or member of town guard, ap-
pointed by town or city authorities; local health
officers, wei ighers, measurers and inspectors of
merchandise and produce; persons holding depu-
ations from civil officers, such as deputy sherifs,
and the like; clerks and assistants appointed or
employed by civil officers; pound masters, jsilors
appointed by sherifs, etc; these are not Offices
created by law for the administration of general
Jaw of State or for the administration of justice
There are, however, certain municipal or town
officers within the intent and meaning of the
Acts of Congress, and who by subsequent acts
in aid of the rebellion, would be disqualified.
For example, mayor of city, or intendant of
a town, who may have been, by virtue of his
Office, magistrate, having authority by law to
hear and determine complaints for petty offences,
and to impose punishment by fne and imprison-
ment upon offenders; or to arrest, commit or
hold to bail persons charged with crime
Municipal or town officers, having authority to
force local ordinances in the nature Of po-
lice regulations, for the preservation of ORDER the
regulation of trade, and the abatement of nui-
sances, or other strictly corporate matters are not
within the disfranchisiDg provisions of the Act.
The circumstance, nevertheless, that the
duties of an officer were performed within pre-.
scrbed locality, as for instance, either District,
County, Parish, City or Town, does not screen
him from the operation Of the disqualifying
clauses, provided, his duties had been prescribed
by general law; for example, Sheriffs Of Coun-
ties, and Constables of Towns, ELL Offices created
by law for th heeadministraton of general laws of
the State
Nor is every employment, although held by
a salary fixed by law, and raised by general
tax, an Office; for example, teacher in Public
School, or College supported or endowed by the
State; physicians and attendants employed in
State Asylums for the Deaf and Dumb or for
Luuatics, do not hold Offices, although these
persous are in the public service.
Officers of Militia, employed in the execution
of the Patrol Laws, or other laws having rela-
ion to the domestic order Of the State and the
Pslo Il A.
who afterwards engaged in the rebellion, are
such Offices, although military in
1ame, are civil and executive in their duties
Certain employments, licensed by authority
IF State laws, having relation to the admiDistra-
ton of justice, are not Offices within the mean
ng o. the acts; for example, lawyers.
All Offices auxiliary to Courts, such as Clerks
IF Courts, Masters in Equity, etc, etc., created
oy general laws, for the administration of justice,
ire within the meaning Of the Acts of Congress.
A Notary Public, being mere ministerial
'fficer, and performing no executive or judicial
luties, is not within the disqualifying clauses of
he Acts of Congress
Local officers, having executive powers and
luties defined by general laws, and embraced
sltEin the civil polity of the State, although
chosen or appointed by the people of. the vicin
ge, are disqualified, it, after holding such Offices,
hey voluntarily engaged in the rebellion, or
lforded aid ard comfort to persons SO engaged;
or example: overseers of highways, land COM
nissloners, ovefseers of the poor, captains of
,eat companies.
Naturalized citizens, having abjured allegi-
nce TO all sovereignty other than that of the
United States, and having taken upon them
elves the obligations and duties belonging to
'itizens, and acquired thereby the rights and
privileges OF citizenship, who afterwards re-
louneed voluntarily their allegiance to the
United States, and acknowledged allegiance to