Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-02-15

registered voters of the town wher,
 the applicant resides. a
 4th. All those who are idiots or in.
 sane. SEC. III. No soldiers, seamen, or ma. ! rines, in tho army or navy of the Uni. ted States shall be deemed a resident
 of this state, in consequence of being stationed within the same.
 ~, SEC. ". For the purpose of voting Hno person shall be deemed to have lost Ia residence by reason ofshis absccnce fwhiIc employed in the servire-of the United States, nor while a student ot amy seminary of learning.
 SEC. V. In all elections by the peo- pie tho electors shall vote by ballot. l SEC. VI. All persons before register ing must take and subscribe the fol- lowing oatl: M aa l I, -, do solemnly swear, or-atiirm, hthatsI will support and maintain the constitution and laws of the United States. and the constitution and laws of the state of Arkansas; that 1 am not excluded from registering by any of the clausessof section II, article =, of the constitution of the state of Ar kaiisas; that l will never ceuntenance or aid in the secession of this state from tlie United States that l accept the civil and political equality of all men before the law; agree not to de- Iprive any person, or persons, on ac- count of race, color, or previous condi- ton ofany political or civil right, priv hilige, or immunity enjoyed By any oth- Fer clAss of men provided, that if any person shall knowingly and falsely take any oath in tliis constitution, such person so offending, and being duty convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties and disabilities which by law are provided for the crime ofwill- fnl and-corrupt perjury.
 SEc.sVH. Electors shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest aud civil process during their attend sancc at elections, and ip going to and returning from the same.
 SEC. VIII. Every person who, by the provisions this article, shall be entitled to vote at any election, shall be eligible To any office which now is, or may hereafter be, elective by the people, except IS otherwise provided in this constitution and laws of the United States. Nc person who has openly advocated or voted for the re- construction proposed by congress, and accepts the equality of all men be- fore the law, shall be deemed disquali- fled as al elector. M
 SEcs IA. No person who ever vol nutarily aided or ahetted the rebellion against the United States, shall ever be eligible to fill the office of either gov .come United States senator or member of congress: provided, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed asto prevent any person who has been honorably discharged from the United States service. never thereafter parlie- ipating in the rebellion against the Uutted states, from voting or holding office.
 Mir. Cypert submittedsthe following as minority report from himself:
 Io Me President end members of he ! Conshitatioaqt toaeention of tae .State
 of Arl,ansas.
 The undersigned, member of the committee on elective franchise, begs leave to dissent from the conclusions arrived. at by q majority of said com niittec, and submits the following mi- nority report;
 s lst. The article reportedNby the said majority of your committee, proposes to disfranchisesa large class of citizens ot the United States andof the state of Arkansas, who have heretofore been invested with dhc sacred right of suf- fragc. The article reported by ma jority of said committee, effects said disfranchisement in manner unknown to all the established principles oi our govern nent, in this:
 That it presumos that the class pro- posed to be deprived of the elective franchise, has been guilty of disloyalty or treason against the constitution and government of the United States. It is a, well established principle of our laws and government that all are pre- sumed innocent, till their guilt is shown before some judicial tribunal having cognizance of the crime. In spitesof this ac acknowledged right of the meanest criminal, a majority of your committee pronounce large number oftheir fellow-citizens guilty ofcrimes, without trial or conviction, and essay to strip him ofvested and indisputabie franchises. To so monstrous propo- sition the undersigned can never as- sent. tNsh wEN
 2d. The majority of said committee propose to require of every person be- fore he can exercise the privilege of voting, to purge himself from certain crimes and misdemeanors, and to &C., cept for the future the civil and politi- cal equality of all races of men
 The undersigned sincerely believes said oath to be not only wicked but futile. Posterity has never been bound by the oaths of it's ancestors. and a change of ofcircumstances always affords, not only pretexts, but justifiabie excu- ses. for violating obligations reluctant 1 ly and unwillingly taken to avert q