Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-22
THE FORCE BILL.

| ne COHcAuSAouS vi tue Iiea4ucbt anu
Cabinet in reference TO the Interpretation of
the military reconstruction laws are stated
in the following proceedings, which are
published by permission of the proper
authority:
| In CABINET, June 18.-Present: The
President, the Secretary of State, the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, the Secretary of War,
the Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster
General, the Attorney General, the Acting
Secretary of the Interior.
The President announced that he had
under consideration the two opinions from
the Attorney General on the legal questions
arising upon the acts of Congress commonly
known as the Reconstruction acts, and that
in view of the great magnitude of the sub
iect and of the various interests involved,
he deemed il proper to have it considered
fully in Cabinet, and to avail himself of
all the light which could be afforded by .he
opinions and advice of the members of the
Cabinet, to enable him to see that these
laws be faithfully executed, and to decide
what orders and instructions are necessary
and expedient to be given to the military
| commanders.
The President continued and said further,
that the branch of the subject which seemed
| TO him first in order of consideration was
as to the instructions to be sent to military
commanders for their guidance, and for the
guidance of persons offering for registration.
The instructions proposed by the Attorney
General, or set forth in the summary con-
tanned in his last opinion, will, therefore,
be now considered =
| IT., o,naraorv xuas thar, rood 81 lonofb
The reading of the summary having
then been concluded, each section was then
considered, discussed and voted upon as
follows
First: The oath prescribed in the sup
Elemental act defines the qualifications re-
quired, and every person who can take that
oath is entitled to have his name entered
upon the list of voters. All voted aye, ex-
cept the Secretary of War, who voted nay.
Second The Board of Registration have
no authority to administer any other oath
to the person applying for registration than
this prescribed oath, nor to administer any
other oath to any other person touching
the qualification of the applicant or the
falsity of the oath so taken by him. No
provision, is made for challenging the
/ qualification of the applicant, or entering
upon any trial or investigation Of his
qualification, either by witnesses or any
other form of proof. All vote aye, except
the Secretary of War, who votes nay.
Third Asto citizenship and residence,
the applicant for registration must be a
citizen of the State and of the United
States, and must be a resident. of the
county or parish 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
registration unless his citizenship has been
extended to the full term of one year. As
to such person the exact length of his
citizenship should be noted opposite his
name on the list, 80 that il may appear on
the day of election upon reference to the
! list whether the full term has thus been
accomplished. Coneurred in unanimously.
| Fourth: An unnaturaliged person can
not take the OATH but an alien who has
been naturalized can take it, and no other
| proof of naturalization can be required
from him. All vote aye, except the Sec
rotary of War, who votes nay.
| Fifth: No one who is not twenty-o
years of age at the time of registration can
take the oath, for he must swear that he
has then attained that age. Concurred
unanimously.
Sixth: No one who has been disfran-
chised 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 take this oath.
The actual participation in a rebellion, or
the actual commission of felony, does not
amount 10 Acknowledgement. The sort of
/ sfro IL anti sbo4 IL
| ia declared by law passed by competent
authority, or which has been fixed upon
| the criminal by sentence of the court which
| tried him for the crime No law of the
United States has declared the penalty of
Acknowledgement for participation in rebel
lion alone. Nor is it known that any such
law exist in either of these ten States ex-
cept perhaps Virginia, as TO which State
special instructions will be given All
vote aye, except the Secretary of War, who
dissents as to the second and third para
graphs. 81
Seventh: As to disfranchisement arising
from having held Office, followed by par
| ticipation in rebellion. This is the most
important part of the oath, and it requires
strict attention to arrive at its meaning
| The applicant must swear or affirm as fol-
lows That / have never been member
of any State Legislature, nor held any ex-
ecutive or judicial Office in any State, and
afterwards engaged in insurrection OF re-
bellion against the United States, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
| That have never taken an oath as a mem
Der of Congress of the United States, or as
an officer of the United States, or as a
member of any State Legislature, or as an
executive or judicial officer of any State
to support the constitution of the United
States and afterwards engaged in insurrec-
ton or rebellion against the United
States, oragiven aid or comfort to the enc
mics thereof" Two elements must concur
in order to disqualify a person under
these clauses, first, the Office and official
oath to support the constitution Of the
United States; second, engaging after
| ward in rebellion. Both must exist TO
work disqualification, and must happen in
| the order of time mentioned. A person
vino has held an Office and taken the oath
to support the Federal constitution, and
has not afterwards engaged in rebellion, is
not disqualified. So, too, a person who
has engaged in rebellion, but has not
| heretofore held an office and taken that
oath, is not disqualified. All vote aye,
except the Secretary Of War, who votes
nay.
Eighth Officers of the United States.
As to these the language is without hmits-
ton. 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. Concurred in unani-
mously. Military Offices of any State,
prior to the rebellion, are not subject to
disqualification. All vote aye, except the
Secretary of War, who votes nay.
Tenth: Municipal officers, that is to say
officers of incorporated cities, towns and
villages, such IS Mayors, Aldermen, Town
Council, Police and other city OF town Of
6cers, are not subject TO disqualification.
Concurred in unanimously.
Eleventh Persons who have, prior to
the rebellion been members OF the Congress
of the United States or members Of State
Legislature, are subject 10 disqualification,
but those who have been members Of con-
yentions framing or amending the consti-
tuition Of the State, prior TO the rebellion,
are not subiect % disqualification. Con-
CURED in unanimously.