American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-06-05

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clearly within the meaning of the law. Mu-
nicipal officers do not come within the pro-
vi.lons OF the act Subordinate officers OF a
legislature, who are not members, do mol
come wirhin is provisions. As to county.
rowrs n I presinct Office he reserves Ais
opiui IL whether all # them not all, while
classes of them come vi hin disqualification.
All uther executive or judicial officers ex-
cept county nfhcers, come within the mean
ing Uf these laws.
Persons who exercise special public
duties rather in the nature of occasional
employment, than general and continuing
Official duty, do not come within the law.
as boards of commissioners of public
works, directors of State sylums, visitors
OF State Universities, directors of State
penitentiarles, State directors of banks or
other corporatlOns.special commissioners,
&c. hut all persons who as executive or
judicial officers ot any State, have taken
the oath to support the Constitution of
the United Stat s, are clearly disfran.
chised. All persons, who, during the re-
hellon, acted iu au Official capacity, where
the duties of the office necessarily had
relation to the support of rebellion, such
as members OF the rebel Congress aud
rebel Conventions, diplomatic agents of
the rebel CunIeieracy, or such officials
whose duties more especially appertained
10 the support Of the rebel cause, come
within terms oil exclusion.
Officers in the rebel States, who du
ring the rebellion discharged official du
ties not incident to the war, but in the
preseru tion OF order and in the admins
istration OF the law, are not to be consid-
cred as thereby engaging in rebellion
The interests of humanity require the
performance OF such duties, and they can
never he considered as criminal.
Mr.. Staubery is satisfied the language
used in the act as to participation in the
rebellion carries the idea of voluntary
participation. aud that Congress used in
this sense the word engaged" Some
plain, direct overt act, done with intent
to further the rebellion. is necessary to
bring the party within the purview aud
meaning of the law Merely dlsloyal
sentiment, or expressions are not suf-
fcieut. The person applying for regis
tratou is not required to clear himself
from the taint of disioyalty. The mean
ing of Congress becomes yet more evident
when we look at the last clause of the
prescribed oath lie is required to swear
he will faithfully support the Constitution
aud obey the laws Of the United States,
and will to the best of his ability encour
age others to do So This provision looks
to the future and not to the past, and the
purpose is manifest to omit in the light
to vote the disqualification arising from
past disloytli;y, put in the test oath as
disqualification from holding off &C. mere
acts of common humanity aud charity
cannot be considered as involving the
party in participation in the rebellion. =
So, too, with forced contributions to the
rebel authorities, or compulsory pay
ment OF tnxe. in aid of rebel arms; but
whenever an act is done voluntarily in
aid OF the rebel cause, it would involve
the person and work GisquaI fication un-
der the law Voluntary contributions in
furtheran of the rebellion, or subscrip
tions, contributions of food or clothing
OF Necessary supplies. EXCEPT of a strictly
sanitary character, are to be elias, ed with
acts which disquality.
The duties and powers Of the Board of
Registration are diverted to. The ad-
lniulstration of any other oath than the
one provided in the act would be extra
judicial aud without sulhorlty, and false
swearing could not be assigned as perjury
upon such unauthorized oath. rhe oath
in the act is the sole and only test of the
qualifications OF the applicant; it he takes
1t, his name must 20 on the register
he Board cannot enter upon an inquiry
whether he has sworn truly or falsely
At the election the duty of the Board is
simply to receive the votes of registered
persous, and reject all others.