Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-31
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON RECON
STRUCTICN.


| pared and published an elaborate opinion with
regard to the qualifications Of voIers under the
Reconstruction Acts, deferring his opinion ms
to tho powers anj duties of the Generals to I'M
other oc.usion. We have only time and space
for brief reference to the leading points pre-
sen,ed, which are very sunmariIy indicated in
the following division by paragraphs OF the
registry oatl to Le taken by the voter. lie
must ewcar:
lst. That he is n citizen Of the State and ha.
resided in snl State tor - months n xt pre-
ceeding the day when he takes Ihe oath. and
that ho now resides in the county of -, in
said State.
2I. That he is twenty years .ld.
3d. That he has not been disfranchised for
any participation IN any rebellion or civil war
against the United States. nor for felony COM
mi,ted against the laws Of any State or of the
United States.
4lh. Tha, lie has never been a member Of
any State Legislature. nor held my executive
or Judicial Office in any State. and afterwards
engaged in insurrecton or rebellion against
the United States. or given mid or comfort to
the enemies thereof
5th. That he has never taken an oath as n
member of Congress Of the United States, or
as an officer Of III. Emitted States. or As . mem.
tive or judIci,l officer Of any State, to suppor,
the Constitution Of the United States. and af-
forwards engaged in insurreetion or rebellion
against the United States, or given aid and
comfort to the enemies thereof
9th. That he will faithfully support the Con-
stituton >eul obey. the laws OF the United
States, and will. 10 the best, Of his ability On.
courage others to do 30.
lst With regard to citizen.hip. he holds
that the voter must be not only citizen Of
The State, but also Of the United Ststes and
as to residence, that though the voter may reg
Is,er lie cannot vote, unless he In, been one
year resident Of the Slate.
I'd. That it is necessary that the voter be
twenty.one, as we'll at the time Of res sistratiun,
as Of voting.
81. with iregard To- 'disfrauchsemcnt for
participation iu any rebellion or civil war
against the United States. he remarks: "Whrth-
er We consider this disability as arising ou, of
participation in a rebellion or the commission
OF felony, the m-re fact Of such participation
or commission Of felonous offence does not
of itself work disfranch iscinent. Il must be
ascertained by the judgement Of a court or by
alcgis!ative act passed by competent authority.
Disfranchisement for felony committed against
the laws OF the State or the Uoiled States con-
sequ-nt on conviction in tho courts either Of
the United States or Of State, tr declared Ly
the laws Of either. would be fatal under these
acts. am not aware Of any law Of the Uni
ted States which works disfrsnchisement as 10
the right Of suffrage by force of the ac. itself
nor does such consequence follow from a con-
conviction for trenson, or conspiracy to commit
treason, or for any other act for participation
in rebellion.
4th. With regard TO the disqn.lfi cations of
this paragraph. lie holds thut members OF q
State Convention are equally disqualified with
those Of State Legislature-that with regard
10 what Executive or judicial Office shall
dsqualify. it is easy to determine what tie
words embrace, but not what they exclude
that they do not apply to a military Office
whether or MOTTO the civil Offices Of the eouu-
ty. he is not yet prepared to give an explicit
opinion. On this point he remarks Il have
said that, in addition 10 the class Of officers who
come clearly within the terms Of tie Act az iu-
d'eia' ahd executive officers, and 10 those
classes which comprehend militia officers and
municipal officers. who clearly do not come
within the Act. there remsus . vast BODY of
officers whose status is in some way 10 be de.
fined. These are known in popular language
by such terms of description as county. town.
ship and precinct officers" Their nsme is ,s-
gion. Their functions ard duties sre for tie
most part strictly local. Some Of them, such
as sherffs and justices Of the county courts,
have Jurisdiction over tho entire county; 9TH
ers arc restricted u the smallest sub divisions.
have directed abstrspts 10 be prepared for
each OF these States, which win exhibit sll ..of
those Offices, and the duties which sppsrlAju to
them' aud the form of oath required. I must
reserve for future reconsideration, after the ab :.
'srscts arc make, the qusssion, whether all Of
thsua' or. not sll. what. GLASSES. Of tbess odi,
GERS, come within the di.quslia cation. Al, To
al other executive or judicial officers who are
not in popatar language. ehalaeteris.d ..
county ofiosra iueiins ID esrsidsr them ss
coming undss'she deseHptioa, ,vf sxssativs sud
Judicial oaissrs at saSts, within .,ha ,mssuiuv,
| Of hese laws 49,.
RxeisraArloN.-ws had The plsasass sdursop
IL MAJ l.