The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-08-14
Registration of Voters.

Registration OF voters
The work of registering the voters in this
Estate will begin on the 18th instant. 1t
must be finished by the first of October;
after which the lists of voters must be re-
turned to the commanding General at
Charleston, to be revised by him. ThisW will
REQUIRE some two weeks, after which we may
expect an order for an election of delegates
10 constitutional Convention. The number
of delegates will be 12O The election will
probably be ordered about the first of De
cember, and we may expect the Convention
Ito meet about the first of January. A Con-
|stitution can be framed by the first OF Feb
wary, and by the middle of March it can be
submitted to the people for approval or re-
lection. The Convention can provide that
| the people may vote ON the same day for
Governor, members of the Legislature, and
seven members of Congress. If the Consti-
tuition is ratified by the people, it will then
be laid before Congress. That body can
approve it by the middle of April, and the
members of Congress, being in Washington,
can be admitted to their seats; and then the
new State Government, under an ordinance of
The Convention previously passed, can beput
lt once in operation.
+ As Congress has made rules, probably with
rs much clearness as possible, prescribing
J The qualifications of voters, and as much
discretion is given by the law to the Regis
nrs, the commanding General did not deem
b his duty to give any specific instructions
|bn the subject. The oath required would
eem to be plain. No person who held any
firH office before the rebellion, said Office
having been "created by law for the admin
stration of justice" and who afterwards en-
gagged in instruction or rebellion, or gave
Rid or comfort to the Confederate ea ..:ssec can
Register his name as a voter 1t makes no
difference whether he took an oath or not,
fhe held the office. Persons who held mil
ftary offices before the rebellion are not ex-
[Euded Persons who held no civil office be-
fore the rebellion, as above described, are en-
itled to register and vote, though they may
have fought the United States throughout
The war, and though they may now be as
hostile to it in feeling as they were while
lighting it.
. oix "a, b., l..x l.
created by law" 1t must have been exer-
fsed "for the administration of the general
aw Of the State, or for the administration
bf justice" under that law. The general
aw of the State" is the common and statute
law, operating alike upon the whole State
Consequently, Judges, Governors, heads of
Departments, Justices of the Peace, Sheriff.,
Cerks of Courts, Constables, and other per-
FOnS, who held similar civil offices before the
rebellion, or who held Office under the gov
Eminent Of the United States, and after
yards engaged in the rebellion, are excluded
rom registering. What must person have
lone, to have engaged in the rebellion 2"
4 Aye, there's the rub" This depends largely
Pm the intent Of the person, as we'll as on the
Pets performed. As the oath itself is de-
Jared by the law not to be conclusive, so no
Pnere act can be conclusive.
1t seems to US, therefore, that man who
was forced into the army against his will, or
Eho accepted some Office to avoid fighting
against the United States-who can prove
mat, during the rebellion, he assailed
and embarrassed the Confederate govern
nent, expressed affection for the Union and
Fhe flag, and desired the triumph of the
rational government in the conflict, and is
now well-afected towards the government,
IAN not be said to have engaged in the re-
peihOn, and ought not to be excluded So
alSo OF those who ministered in charity to
"hlederate soldiers or their families. In a
"Ofd the question of intent runs more or
US through the whole matter.
Ns important that competent persons
NC present at every preclnt to chal-
'Hse such as may not have clear right to
oyster. The instructions of the command.
~ General have wisely provided that this
uall be done. No injury to any can result
.Ou IT, but on the contrary good can be eff
'''ed' by securing the enrolment of persons
4'uy entitled to if, and excluding those
~ are not entitled. A mans best judges
e his immediate neighbors. They know
no engaged, and who did not engage in
Pc rebellion.
Az are many points in this business
"a must be decided by the good sense
'gment of the Boards of Registers.
bs;. are to construe the law literally, but
a discretion should be inside the law
.s;' s ~0 clearly gives man the right to
,n. '''' they will have no right for any
~ VI from any feeling they may have, to