Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-06-20
QUALIF ICATIONs OF VOTERS.

in'hu0iS uiiuoi 'ie iate ACTS oI congress, IRON
which we copy the following summary as to
the qualifications of voters which will be read
with peculiar interest at this time:
WHO ARE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION.
l. The oath prescribed in the supplemental
act defines all the qualification required. and
every person who can take the oath is entitled
to have his name entered upon the list Of yot-
ers.
2. The board of Registration have no author
ity to administer any other oath to the person
applying for registration than this prescribed
DATA nor to administer any oath to any other
person touching the qualifications of the appli-
can't, or the falsity of the oath so taken by him.
The act, to guard against falsity in the OATH
provides that, if false, the person taking it
shall be tried and punished for perjury
No provision is made for challenging the
qualifications of the applicant, or entering up
on any trial or investigation of his qalifca-
tons, either by witnesses or any other form of
proof.
3. as to citizenship and residence
The applicant for registration must be cit
izen Of the State and of the United States. aud
must be resident Of a county included in the
election district. He may be registered if he
has been such citizen for period less than
twelve months at the time he applies for regis
tration, but he cannot vote at any election UNI
less his citizenship has then extended to the
full term of one year. AS to such person the
exact length of his citizenship should be noted
opposite his name the list, so that it
may appear on the day of election, upon refer
ence to The list, whether the term has then been
accomplished.
4. An unnaturalized person cannot take this
oath, but an alien who has been naturalized
can take it, and no other proof Of naturaliza-
ton can be required from him.
5. No one who is not twenty -one years of
age at the time of registration can take the
| oath, for he must swear that he has then at
tanned that age.
6. No one who has been disfranchised for
participation in any rebellion against the
United States, or for felony committed against
the laws of any State or of the United States.
can safely take this oath.
The actual participation in a rebellion, or
the actual commission of felony, does not
amount to disfranchsement. The sort of dis
franchisment here meant is that which is de-
clared by law passed by competent authority,
or which has been fixed upon the criminal by
the sentence Of the court which tried him for
the crime.
No law of the United States has declared the
penalty Of dsfranchisement for participation
in the rebellion alone. Nor is it known tina.
any such law exists in'either ofthese ten States.
except perhaps Virginia, as to which State
special instructions viii be given.
Z. As to Acknowledgement arising from hariaq
held office folloaced 5y participation in rebellion
This is the most important part ofthe oath and
requires strict attention to arrive at its mean
ing. | deem it proper to give the exact words.
The applicant must swear or affirm as fol-
lows:
| "a Vp hnnp q nam nr IF Tot
Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial
office in any State, afterwards engaged in any in
surrection or rebellion against the United States
or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof
that have never taken oath as a member of
Congress of the United States, or as a member of
any State Legislature, or an executive or Judi
cial officer of any State, to support the Constitu-
ton of the United States, and afterwards engaged
in insurrection rebellion against the United
States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof
Two elements must concur in order to dis
qualify person under these clauses: First the
Office and official oath to support the Constitu-
ton Of the United States; second, engaging
afterwards in rebellion. Both must exist to
work disqualification. and must happen in the
order Of time mentioned.
A person who has held an office and taken
the oath to support the Federal Constitution,
and has net afterwards engaged in rebellion.
is not disqualified So, too, a person who has
engaged in rebellion, but has not therefore
held an Office and taken that OATH is not dis
qualified.
8. Officers ofthe United States.
AS to these the language is without Iimta-
ton. The person who has at any time prior
to the rebellion held any office, civil or militia
ry, under the United States, and has taken an
official oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, is subject to disqualification.
8. Military officers of any State, prior to the
rebellion, are not subject to disqualification.
TO- Munlcipal o6fcers that is to say, officers
of Incorporated cities, towns, and villages, such
as mayors, aldermen. town council, police, and
other city or town officers, are subject to dis
qualification.
H. Persons who have, prior to the REBEL
ion. been members of the Congress of the Uni
ted States, or members of a State Legislature,
are subject to disqualification. But those who
have been members Of conventions framing or
amending the constitution Of a State, prior to
to the rebellion, are not subject to disqualif-
cation.
-. All the executive or judicial officers of
any State who took an oath to support the
Constitution of the United States subject
to disqualification, and in these include coun-
ty officers, as to whom | made reservation in
the opinion heretofore given. After full
SlderatIOn L have arrived at the conclusion
that they subject to disqualification ifthey
were required to take as part of their official
oath. the oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States.
49, Persons who exercised mere agencies or
employments under State authority are not dis
qualified ; such AS commissioners to lay out
roads, commissioners of public works, visitors
Of State institutions, directors of State banks or
other State institutions, examiners of banks
notaries public, commissioners tot take acknoNl-
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 that
subsequent conduct fixes upon such person the
offence of engaging i'll rebellion. repeat that
two things must exist as to any person.to dis
qualify him from voting first, the Office held
prior to he rebellion. and afterwards, partci
patton in the rebellion.
IA. An act to fix upon person the offence
of engaging in rebellion under this law must
be an overt and voluntary act, done with the
o. id;po frtI riu ha