The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-02
arelsrRAr1or THE rIRsr Duty.


We again call on all Democrats to register
That is their first duty. No matter how
enthusiastic they may be, no matter how
faithfully they may attend their club meet
ings, or how diligently they may walk in pro-
cessions, they will be impotent for any effect
i've good, unless they register. We are glad
to say that there is now, as far as we can
learn, no impeachment to registration. The
illegal rules prescribed by Baker are not re-
garded by the supervisors. The Constitution
and the laws alone are taken as the guide.
To whatever motive this change may be
owing-whether to the firm and resolute front
displayed by our people, to the prompt action
of the courts in deciding contested points. or
to a returning sense of propriety on the part
of the officials we shall not attempt to decide.
1t is sufficient for us to know that there is no
longer any impediment to registration in this
city, and that every qualified Uoter can avail
himself of the privilege. In this connection
we consider it necessary to call the attention
of our readers to the manner in which those
disfranchised for political causes by article
80 of the State Constitution, may relieve
themselves of disability. Two methods are
pointed out by the law-oneis public recanta-
ton, the other is taking the oath commonly
known as the Reconstruction affidavit. !"
The first method may be dismissed without
further consideration but the next is so
clearly available that it would be surprising
were any one to neglect to resort to it. The
reconstruction affidavit requires the appli-
cant for registration, who may be disfran-
chised for political causes by article 80, to
swear that, prior to the LIST of January, 1868,
he favored the execution of the reconstruction
laws, and openly and actively assisted the
loyal men of the State in their efforts to res
tore Louisiana to her position in the Union. 3"
Now every man in the State can conscien-
tiously take this oath if its legal interpreta-
ton be clearly understood. Every man that
did not oppose the law in an illegal manner,
favored its execution. The law granted to
every qualified voter the right to vote yea or
nay, on the calling of o convention, and on a
State constitution. Those who accepted the
alternatives of the law-who registered under
it and voted under it, or who tried to register
and vote under it, clearly aided in executing
it. Likewise every citizen that desired
Louisiana to be restored to her position
in the Union-and all citizens desired
that-openly and actively aided the "loyal
men," if they took any part in poll
tics at all. The affidavit does not assume
that only Radicals are loyal men. On
the contrary, it leaves to the affiant the right
of including himself in that class, without re-
gard to his politics. The Democrats claim to
be "loyal" in the true sense of the word
and, indeed, they think that they ae much
more "loyal" than the Radicals. 1t appears
that the Senate comedies in this view of the
law-but it is good law, whether the Senate
comedies or not.
The question of naturalization is now set
tied by the courts in accordance with the
rights claimed by the naturalized citizens, and
adversely to Bakers rulings. Thus the last
obstacle Tn reoistration is broken down. On,
people should go forward at once and avail
themselves of the opportunity now presented.
Let there be no delay--the time is short. Every
Democrat in New Orleans should make sure
that he is registered before the lists close.