The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-13
THE REGISTRATION LAW.

We publish in this mornings CRESCENT the
registration law as recently passed by the Lee
| gislature. We commend it to the attention of
our readers, because every person desiring to
vote at the next election will be subject to its
provisions, and be compelled to take one or
other of the afidavits which it prescribes.
The large majority of applicants will have to
make an affidavit, the form of which is given
in the law, and which we reproduce here
| - do solsmnly swear Tor affirm, as the
case uey bc,1 thut am rwenty2o years or age,
was born Tor naturslized, as the case may be,) in
the United States, and am subject to the jurisiic-
tlon thereof, and have been resident of the State
OF Louisiana since the - day of - and a
resident OF this parish since the - day Of -,
and that am not disfranchised for any of the
causes stated in the first paragraph of article
pinety'nine of the Constitution of this State.
And do further sOlemnly swear Tor affirm as
the case may be,) that did not hold any ofice
civil or military, for one year or more, under the
organization styled the Confederate States of
America" that never registered myself as an
enemy Of the United States; that / never acted
as leader OF guerrilla bands during the late rebel
lien that never, in the advocacy of treason,
wrote or published newspaper articles or preached
sermons during the late rebellion; that never
vo'td for and signed an ordinance of secession in
any State.
The acknowledgements referred to in the
first paragraph of the above affidavit are
those worked by Introduction, or by convic-
ton of any felonious offense. The last para
graph is dispensed with in the case of persons
who file certificate of recantation with the
secretary Of state, and have the same published
in the official journal.
Those who desire to relieve themselves
under the proyiso of Art 80 of the Constitu-
ton may do so by making and subscribing
the following affidavit:
/, -, do solemnly swear Tor affirm, as the
case may bel that prior TO tine first of January,
eighteen hundred and sixty eight, | favored the
execution OF the laws of the United States popu.
larly known as the reconstruction acts of Con. |
gress, and openly and actively assisted the loyal
men Of the State in their efforts to restore Lousi.
ana to her position in the Union. |
Behind this affidavit, or behind the certif- |
cate filed with the secretary of state, the |
supervisors, or registrars, are not permitted
to inquire. AS to all other affidavits-that is
to say those which establish the general right
of the voter to register-the registrars are
invested with quasi Judicial functions. They
may refuse registration in spite of such affi-
davits at their own discretion, provided thew
can show, by other testimony, that he is not
qualified; but they are not invested with the
right of cross-examining the applicant him
self This point should be carefully consid-
cred by the registrars on the one hand, and
by citizens on the other-the affidavit of
the applicant can be invalidated only
by testimony; that testimony must be given
by other persons; and the registrars have no
right to cross-examine the applicant Never
theless this power is dangerous implement
IN the hands of violent or unpri cipled parti-
sans. 1t may be used in such manner as
seriously to embarrass the voter, and may be
20 abased as to effect practical suppression
If the voice of the majority. We trust, for
he benefit of all parties, that the registrars
will not lend themselves to any such projects
Those of our people who are qualified under
he Constitution are determined to vote at this
lection if possible, and it will be difficult to 1
'revent them from securing and maintaining
heir rights.