Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1867-05-29

treasury of the State the kum Of one hundred dol
lars, to be paid upon the warrant of the Ccmpfrol
Ter Of the State; and said Commissioner shall maxi
report to the County Court at each quarterly ses
sion thereof showing the number of voters regis
tered previous 70 said quarterly session.
SIC. 3. Be Il further enacted, That said Commits
sioner shall issue Certificates of Registration 70 ey
cry soldier who may have served in, and been hon
orably discharged from the army or navy Of thu
United States since the first day Of January, 1852
upon the production Of the proper certificate o.
such service and discharge, or legal IeEidenee Of
toe loss of such discharge. Said Commissioner
shall issue certificates of registration to all those
who voted in the said November, February and
March elections, upon the production OF the poll
books Of the election at which said voter voted, OF
q certified copy, under oath, OF such poH-Dooki II
| case the voter may have removed TO another coun-
ty or upon the affidavit Of two enfrsnchised citi-
Eens known to the Commissioner to have been un-
conditional Union men throughout the rebellion, IN
case said poll-books may be lost And he shall Is
sue certificates of registration TO those citizens Of
Tennessee who have been as aforesaid appointed to
Office by said military or civil Governors, upon the
production Of the commission showing such ap-
pointmenk or the proper certificate Of the Secretary
of State that such commission was issued, in case
Of loss. But every other person. claiming 70 be en-
titled TO the privilege of the elective franchise al
provided in this Act SHALL before he obtains GER
tifcate thereof prove, by the evidence Of two COM
petent persoas, personally known 70 the Commits
sioner TO have been themselves at al times, uncon-
ditonal Union men; that they are personally &C
quainted with thsperson claiming, and that they
verify believe that he has not been guilty Of any Of
the disqualihcations hereinbefore specially men,
tioned-which proof shall be taken upon affidavit
subscribed by said Witnesses and filed in said Office
Of said Commissioner; and said applicant shall also
take and subscribe the following oath before the
Commissioner of Registration
al do most solemnly swear that I have never
voluntarily borne arms against the Government OF
the United States, for the purpose with the in
tention of aiding the late rebellion, nor have 1,
with any such intention, at any time given aid,
comfort counsel or encouragement to said rebellion
or 70 any act of hostility to the Government Of the
United States 1 further swear that have never
sought or accepted any Office, either civil or militia
~, attempted TO exercise the functions Of any
Office, either civil military, under the authority
pretended authority Of the socslled Confederate
States of America OF any insurrectionaFy State,
hostile or opposed to the authority OF the United
States Government, with the intent and desire to
aid said rebellion; and that / have never given q
voluntary support TO any such government or au-
thority: So help me God"
Provided, That citizens personally known 10 said
Commissioner 10 have always been unconditional
Union men, never having sympathized with the
late rebellion or may be proven TO have been such
unconditional Union men, by the oath Of two wit
nesses, who shall be known to said Commissioner,
personally TO have been themselves, at all times,
such unconditional Union mon, shall not be re-
qured to take and subscribe any oath whatever, in
order TO obtain for themselves certificates Of their
right to the elective franchise.
SEC A. Be IL further enacted, That upon taking
and filing the proof and OATH required in section g.
of this Act the said Commissioner shall register the
name of said voter, and issue to him a certificate
therefor; Provided That nothing herein contained
shall prevent said Commissioner from hearing
proof from equally competent testimony, contrary
to and contravening the proof offered and taken in
behalf of said applicant; and said Commissioners
shall be the judge Of the weight Of the conflicting
testimony, far as the same may affect the iSsu-
anee Of certificates.
SEC. 5. Be it further enacted That no person
shall be entitled to vote at any State County Dis
trict or Municipal election, OF any other election
held under the laws of this State, unless he shall
have been registered, and shall have received GER
tifcate thereof as provided in this Act; and any
person swearing falsely to any Of the facts required
10 be swurB 70 by The provisions Of this Actshal hi
Of shall suffer ali the pains and penalties provided
BY law for such oense and this Act and all the pro-
visions thereof shall be strictly construed to prevent
any evasion thereof; and the Judges Of the Circuit
and Criminal Courts Of this State shall give this
Act specially in charge to the Grand Jury, at each
term Of such court.
SEC. g. Be Il further enacted That the Secretary
of State shall provide at the expense of the State,
the necessary books for the registration Of voters,
and shall cause TO be printed the necessary blanks,
containing the necessary forms for the ohths, afi-
dav and certificates, as provided foT in this Act
which books and blanks shall be furnished to each
Commissioner appointed and qualified under this
Act; and tho expense Of supplying such books and
blanks, shall be audited by the Comptroller, and
paid by the Treasurer out of any money in the
State Treasury, not otherwise appropriated.
SEC. T. Be 4 further enacted That It shall be the
It, a. koror tofo oAh
general or special election to issue wrts of election
to commanding officers Of regiments, batteries, or
detachments Of officers and soldiers who may be at
the time III the service Of the State or of the Uni
! ted States Army citizens of Tennessee, wherever
located and it shall be the duty of the officer 10
whom such writ is directed, TO open and hold, or
cause 10 be opened and held, the election required
by said writ and make return thereof TO the Sec
rotary of State and the votes Of such officers and
soldiers shall be counted the as If such votes
had been cast in the counties in which said officers
and soldiers may reside; and the returns shall de-
signate the county in which said voters may reside
Provided that the Governor shall not be required
to issue such writs of election for county, district
or corporation officers but the same shall be at his
discretion.
SEC s. Be Il further enacted That All certificates
heretofore issued by Clerks of the County Courts
under the provisions of the Act passed June 5,
1865 are held null and void and shall not be used
at any future election in this State; Provided that
all certificates of registration, legally issued by
Commissioners Of Registration, by virtue of the
provisions Of the Act passed May g. 1866, shall be
| deemed good and valid 10 entitle each person 50
legally registered TO the privileges Of the elective
| franchise.
SEC Q. Be Il further enacted That all candidates
for any official position shall befose the day of cleo
ton be requiredto take and subscribe the oath pre-
scrbed in the third section Of this Act, which, in
case Of candidate for county Office shall be hed
/ ~ for ali
other Offices in the Office of the Secretary Of State;
and that judges Of election other officers, shall
reject and make no return whatever, of the votes
cast for any person who has not 30 taken and sub
scrded said oath; and the same oath shall be taken
and subscribed official oath, by all judges and
clerks of elections and all Shers their deputies
or deputies in any Of the Offices Of the State or
county Provided, that candidates who may have
strved in, and been honorably discharged from the
| army navy Of the United States, since the first
| dry of January, 1862, or who may have been ap.
pointed and commissioned to any office, by said
military civil Governor of Tennessee, as provi-
ded in section J. OF this Act shall be eligible 10 Of
dee, except political Offices, without taking said
cath.
SEC. 10. Be Il further enacted, That in case any
County Court shall fail refuse tofndHct into Office
any of the officers elected under this Act it shall be
lawful for the Commissioner of Registration, upon
orders from the Governor, TO perform that duty
AID TO administer all necessary oaths and 10 take and
approve all necessary official bonds, and the same
sball be valid and good in law The judges and
clerks OF all elections shall hereafter be selected and
appointed by the Commissioners Of Registration, il
each county, in the same manner, and governed oy
the "a me rules and laws heretofore provided by Law
confer ring the said selection and appointments 3,
Sherihs
e. N n, n fsttker enacted That il shall be 81
5.t of the Commissioner Of Registration to report
~ ovsrnsr. when be shsl have completed the rsgis
tration Of his couay; aud When said reports are All
from any county, district or circuit OK fo ~ - ~
stats M ha be he duty Of the Governor 70 issue ~
proclamation and writ Of election, anaouneing the cen
peton Of such registration and ordering elections . -
Al the vacant ofces Of the State counties CIRCUITS
! districts.
SEC II. ne e further enacted, That It shall be u
esy o. the Commissioner without delay, to procee