New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-01-12
MEMoRlN

E m Observation-Disclosures NOAN 49, a.
-T,,n nP THE BOARDS OF REGISTRARS
AZ MILITARY BILL, PASSED MARCH
~ 800 hND THE BILL SUPPLEMENTARY
y s- vt,
,prson who has acted as United
stat, or or representative
n have acted as electors and
or vice-president.
,erson who held any posltlon In
navy of the United States.
sons who held any position
-uitcd States in which they were
take an oath before they en-
Is, , the duties of office: such as OH
. cusromhouse, postofice, mint,
ip do, all officers of the United States
% - "a. led States marsbals, and deputies
no have been governor oil the
tate senator or representative, secre-
state. treasurer, and all officers pro-
3, Dr in the constitutions of the state,
nj 1873 and 1852 including judges Of
Justices of peace clerks OF courts
ana Duties, sheriffs and deputies, cohsta'
bies and deputies, tax collectors aasos3oTs'
coroners, police jurors, auctioneers, pliots,
harbor masters, recorders oil convey auoe
and mortgages, parish recorders, notaries
public, aud all commissioned officers IN the
state militia. Every person VINO mas aCteu
as MAYOR of the city, treasurer, confoller'
recorder, alderman assistant alderman, as
SCISSOR, tax collector administrator Oh the
Charity hospital, a member OF the ooaru OF
health, a commissioner of elections and his
clerks. chief of police, lieutenant of police,
and ali who have served on the police force
Wardens and under wardens OF the parish
prison and WorkhOuse, board Of school d.
rectors, city surgeons and deputies, street
commissioner and deputies, city attorney
and assistant attorney, superintendent OF
public schools, inspectors OF TOBACCO, nour'
beef, and pork and weights and measures,
managers of the asylums for the deaf and
dumb and blind, and sections of cemeteries.
All who in 1862 and 1864 registered them
selves as aliens, OF who obtained protection
papers from the representatives OF foreign
powers.
ANY person who at any time held any of
the above offices, and who afterward en-
gagged in rebellion against the United States,
or gave aid and comfort to the enemies
thereof, are disqualified from voting.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY PERSONS PRO
POSING TO REGISTER.
I. Have you been United States senator,
representative, OF elector of president or
vice,president at any time before January
II. Did you hold any office under the
United States government OF any kind what
soever before January &c, 1861!
III, Did you hold any office under the
government of this state Of any kind what
soever to which you were elected or ap-
pointed prior to January rs, 1861
". Did you hold any Office under the city
government of any kind whatsoever, to
which you were elected or appointed, PRIOR
to January rs, 1861
v. Did you in 1862 or 1864, register your
self as an alien, or did you obtain protection
papers from the representatives OF any for
eign power?
In case any ofthe preceding questions are
answered yes or should you know they
oughtto be so answered, it would be proper
to ask the following:
vi. Were YOU in the Confederate service,
military, naval, or civil, or did you give aid
and comfort to those engaged in hostility to
the United Statesl If answered yes" or
ifyou know it to be so, they must not be
registered.
Grave differences of opinion exist among
the best informed and most conscientious
citizens Of the Uaited States, and the high.
est functionaries of the national govern
ment as to the proper construction to be
given to the acts of congress prescribing
the qualifications emitting persons to be
registered as voters ana to exercise the right
of suffrage at the elections to be holden
under the act entitled "An act to provide
for the more efficient government of the |
rebel states,n and the acts supplementary
thereto Such differences of opinion are
necessary Incidents to the imperfection of
human language when employed in the
work Of legislation.
Upon examining those acts the command
ing general finds himself constrained TO dis
sent from the construction given to them in
the memorandap referred to. This con.
struciion would Of course necessarily OK
clude all officers holding offices created under
special acts of the state legislatures, includ.
ing all officers of municipal corporations,
and of institutions organized for the dis
pensation of charity, under the authority of
such special laws. Such construction, in
the opinion Of the major general command
ing, has no support in the language of the
acts Of Congress passed on the I'd and the
73d of March, 1867, which were the only
acts in existence when these " memorandav
were distributed. Since that time, however,
Whist was before, in the opinion Of the com
mAndlng general, only an error OF construc-
ton, would now be CONFIRMATION Of the
law, as amended aud defined in the act of
July 10, 1867.
The major general commanding also dis
ssnts from various other points in the con
struction given to the disquslifyiug clauses
Of the acts In question, as shown BY the
',memorandaH referred to, but he will add
nothing further 70 what he has already said
on the subject, because his individual opin-
ions can not rightfully have, and ought not
tshave, any influence upon the boards Of
registration ia the discharge Of duties ex.
preslly imposed upon and intrusted to them
By these acts OF congress IS they nov stand.
The boaria Of registration are bodies ere
ated By lay With certain limited bat well
defined Judicial powers. It is made their
especial iuty 70 ascertain npon such facts
as they can obt4ln whether any person ap.
plying is entitled % DO registered under
the acts. Their doeiaione upon the cases Of
individual applicants are dnai as to the
right, unless appeals are taken in the proper
form. asd carried before competent superior
authority for revision; and Ike he membera
Of Ordinary courts. engaged IL the exercise
OF iudicsal functions. II Is the bounden duty
Of the members OF the boards Of fegiatrasion
y decide upon the questions as to Tie fight
b any applicant on the facts bslole them,
And "a obedience % the proylsia1s III the iaS.
9ince lhe passage q the ees Ct July y.
1861, i j. nos only TIE ris5k bat .Ae soleu.h