The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-22
IFOr the New Orleans Crescent.
Increase OF white Voters.

Colonel J. o. Nixon:
In case it is deemed advisable to attempt TO
defeat the adoption of the obnoxious constitution
that WILL in all probability, be submitted to a
vote of the people of this State, an Increase in
the number Of registered white voters will be
matter Of the first importance. How Is this
increase to be effected, is ne question. 10 con-
sidering it, / have been led TO conclude that the
persistent efforts Of Gen. Imboden, of Virginia. in
demanding and securing the privilege of register
ing as voter under the provisions of the So
called reconstruciion acts, afford q satisfactory
solution. 9f-
1t is well known that Gen. Imboden was an off,
Ger in the Confederate service, aud figured con-
spieuously in some OF the important events of the
late war. This being the case, he was clearly aud
unquestionably debarred from the privilege of
registering as voter under the provisions of the
said act above named. Still he claimed the priyi-
lege on the ground that he had been pardoned by
the president which remitted all the pains and
penalties imposed by said acts Of Congress- and
restored him TO all his former political rights aud
privileges as citizen OF the United states aud of
the State Of Virginia. The registers did not view
the matter in that light, and denied him the privi-
lege OF registering. He appealed to Gen. Scho-
field, who sustained the action Of the Board Of
Registers. The matter was then carried before
Judge Underwood, Of the United States District
Court, who granted writ OF mandamus ordering
the registry Of Gen. lmboden's name as a voter OF
Virginia. At least this is my recollection of the
matter as reported by the telegraph at the time
Judge Underwood being a radical, cannot be
suspected OF having been actuated by any par
tiality for or prejudice in favor of Gen. Imbode1.
On the contrary, he must have based his action
upon the ground that the presidents pardon was
paramount TO the acts Of Congress; that 1t was a
forgiveness" !" "remission Of penaltyv for
offenses committed against the government.
As there are many in this aud other Southern
States similarly situated, desire to instit lte the
very imp portant inquiry, whether the presidents
pardon is less potent 10 Louisiana than Ia VrgiDial
And if it ia not, whether the same course here
will not produce the same effect il did thereg I
would further inquire whether there is any prac-
teal difference between the effects Of a special
and general pardon, the one being. according to
Webster, a remission Of penalty" the other,
"an amnesty-a general pardon of offences
against the government" .
If special pardon and general amnesty are
one and the same in effect, and Congress cannot
abrdee the rights and privileges they restore, is
not the object 10 be attained Of sofie eient impor-
tance to warrant the testing OF the matter before
the proper tTibunalg II all in this State who have
been pardoned either by special or general pro-
clsmation, secure the privilege of registering
voters, and will avail themselves Of il, the
number Of white voters will be SO increased as to
give them controlling voice 10 decidiog the
character OF our State government. Here IN the
city il would add from eight TO ten thousand TO
the list Of white voters. trust this hastily writ
ten article will attract the attention Of more able
minds 10 the consideration Of the inquiries have
instituted. A WORKIsG MAN.