The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-04-03
THE MACHINERY OF RECON
STRUCTpNI


ry Bill is to cause o registration of all
the male inhabitants over the age Of
twenty-one years who are qualified to
vote for delegates to the Convention
This will include all persons not pro-
hibited from holding office by the fol
lowing section of the new Constitu-
tional Amendment:
SEC. 3. No person shall be a senator OF
representative in Congress, or elector Of
President and Vice President, or hold any
office, civil or military, under the United
States or under any State, who, having
previously taken an oath as a member OF
| Congress, or as an officer of the United
States, or as a member Of any State legisla-
ture, or as an executive or judicial officer Of
any State, to support the Constitution Of
the United States, shall have engaged in
Instruction or rebellion against tie same
or given aid and comfort to the enemies
thereof But Congress may, bya vote oil
two-thirds of each house, remove such dis.
ability.
1t is pretended by the Radicals that
the object of this section was to dis
qualify those who had taken an oath to
support the Constitution of the United
States and then broke it Gas they say
by participation in the rebellion. But
a moments reflection will satisfy any
one that it is not the taking Of the oath
but the holding Of Office which works
the disqualification. Lawyers took the
oath, and are not disqualified. Mem
bers of the Virginia Legislature have
not taken the oath since 1949, and yet
they are disqualified by the supple
mentary bill. The object of the law
was to strike at all the distinguished
public men at the South.
Discarding, then, the idea Of the oath
from the mind, one can readily under
stand whether he is entitled to vote by
rejecting what kind of an Office, if any,
he has ever filed.
In the first place he cannot vote ifhe
ever held before the war, any office Of
the United States schateuer, and then
gave 'aid and comfort" to the Southern
cause. Mr.. Conrad. who was a member
of the Cabinet, Mr.. Sandidge, who was
a member of Congress, Judge Boyce,
who was U. S. Judge, Mr.. Hunter, who
was U. S. Marshal, General Bragg, who
was member of the old army, all
postmasters, and all others similarly
situated, are therefore disfranchised.
In the next place every member of a
State Legislature, or executive or jul
dicial officer of any State before the
war, who sided with the Confederates,
is disqualified and, therefore, cannot
vote. BY the word executive officer"
is meant the Governor of a State, and
among "judicial officers" are numbered
justices Of the peace. It is evident,
therefore, that there are many State
officers, who, though they took the
oath of allegiance, are not disqualified.
Of this number are members Of the
State Cabinet ii. e. Auditor, Treasurer
&c.) sheriffs, Clerks, Recorders, Dis
trict Attorneys, Police Jurors, NUM-
cipal officers, Clerks Of the Senate and
House, and many others. Governor
Moore, who was an executive, Judge
VOORHEES,, of the old Supreme Court,
Judge Cullom, of the District Court, Mr..
Ryan, who was member of the SEN
ate, and Mr.. Sanford, who was mem
Der Of the House Of Representatives,
and many others in the same category,
are therefore DISTINGUISHED. On the
other hand, General Hays, who was
of the Constitutional Conyen-
ton of 1852, Mr.. Heron, who was Sec
rotary of State, Mr.. Stith, who was
Mayor of New Orleans, and all other
offices not Executive, legislative or ju-
dieial," are not DISTINGUISHED.
1t will be observed that it is impossi-
BILE to disfranchise a black man under
the Act, no matter how rebellious he
may have been, for the reason that no
black man ever held State or Federal
office. AS no man ever held office be-
ore he was twenty-one years old, and
Is it has been six years since the war
commenced, no man under twenty sew
N years of age is DISTINGUISHED. No
natter how high an office, civil or mill
airy, one may have held under the
jonfederacy that would not disfran-
hise him. General Forrest, who was
j Lieutenant General, and General G..
". Randolph, who was Secretary of
Var, are not DISTINGUISHED.
There are many who held the pro-
ibited offices, but who, though they
we're firm adherents to the Confederate
ause, never actually took up arms
hey are evidently among those who ,
ave "aid and comfort to the enemy"
very ex-member of the Legislature,
therefore,, who gave a cup Of water to
confederate soldier, and all other such
Ulcers, are DISTINGUISHED as well as
hose who fought in the field. 4
Voters must be twenty-one years 0
Id, must be residents OF the State for
ne year previous to the day of cleo
on, and may be black or white.
On offering himself for registry the Il
oter is to take an oath. The oath !,
in the bill which first passed te
e House was as follows: Sc
|, -, Of in the county, or u
irish of -, in the State of -, do "
rnbt, ca ,,n,,I,, ,,on, H. :. Dl