The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-06-26

this prescribed oath ; nor to administer
any oath to any other person touching
the qualifications of the applicant, 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 en-
tering upon any trial or investigation OF
his qualifications, either by witnesses or
any other form Of proof.
8. 1s to citizenship and residence.
The applicant for registration must be
a citizen of the State and of the United
States, and must be resident of Coun-
ty included in the election district. He
may be registered if he has been such cit
izcn for period less than twelve months
at the time he applies for registration,
but he cannot vote at any election unless
his citizenship has then extended to the
full term of one year. AS to such per
son, the exact length of his citizenship
should be noted opposite his name on the
list, so that it may appear on the day OF
election, upon reference to the list, wheth-
er the full term has then been accom-
plished.
4. An unnaturalized person cannot take
this oath, but an alien who has been nat
uralized can take it, and no other proof
of naturalization 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 attained 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 rebellion,
or the actual commission of felony, does
not amount to disfranchisement. The
sort of distranchisement here meant is
that which is declared 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 de-
cared the penalty Of disflstnchisemcnt for
participation in the rebellion alone. Nor
is IL known that any such law exists in
either of these ten States, except, per-
haps, Virginia, as to which State special
instructions will be given.
T. As. to dist1ancltiSe0lent- arising from
having held office tolloaced By participation
in rebellion.
This is the most important part of the
oath, and requires strict attention TO ar
rive at its meaning deem it proper to
give tho exact words. The applicant
must swear or affirm as follows:
;.That have never been u member OF
any State Legislature, nor held any exec
utive or judicial office in any State, and
afterwards engaged in an insurrection or
rebellion against the United States, or
given aid or comfort to the enemies there
Of; that have never taken an oath as
member of Congress of the United States,
or as member of any State Legislature,
or as an officer of the United States, or
as an executive or judicial officer of any
State, to support the Constitution OF the
United States, and afterwards engaged in
insurrcction or rebellion against the Uni
ted States, or given aid or comfort to the
enemies thereof"
Two clements must concur in order to
disqualify person under these clauses
First, the office and official oath to sup
port the Constitution 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 not afterwards en-
gagged in rebellion, is not disqualified. SO,
too, a person who has engaged i'll rebel
lion, but has not heretofore held an office
and taken that oath, is not disqualified.
s. Officers Of the United States.
AS to these, the language is without
limitation. The person who has at any
time prior to the rebellion held any office,
civil or military, under the United States,
and has taken an official oath to support
the Constitution Of the United States, is
subject to disqualification.
9. Military officers Of any State, prior
10 the rebellion, are not subject to dis
qualification.
Municipal oficers-that is 10 say, off
GERS of Incorporated cities, towns and
villages, such as mayors, aldermen, town
council, police and other city or town Off
ccrs-arc not subject to disqualification.
IL. Persons who have, prior to the re-
bellion, been members OF the Congress Of
the United States, or members of Il State
Legislature, are subject to disqualification.
But those who have been members OF con-
ventions framing OF amending the consti-
tuition of State, prior to the rebellion,
are not subject to disqualification.
II. All the executive or judicial officers
of any State who took an oath to support
the Constitution of the United States, are
subject to disqualification, and in these |
include county officers as to whom
made reservation in the opinion hereto
70 7