The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16
THE ELIGIBILITY BILL

| The following is synopsis of the " eligibility
bill" which yesterday passed the House, and
which now goes to the governor for his sigma.
ture
The first section provides that all persons elect
ed or appointed to any office shall be required by
the governor, before commission is issued, to
take the oath provided in the third section Of the
Duh es secODs seGfSa grH bSaas6 or mnpicUs
VINO 90 not require commission from the Cover.
nor shall, before taking their seats take the
oath prescribed in the third section.
The third section sets forth the following oath 10
! De subscribed to by all offce-hOders: ." A r.
90 solemnly swear Tor affirm. as the case may be j
! mat have not been convicted Of treason ner
Jury, forgery, bribery other crime punisha Die
III The penltentiary; that did not hold Office.
clvl or military, for one year or more, under the
oIgsnlzauon styled The Confederate States of
america; that did not register myself as an en-
envy TO the United States; that did not act as A
leader OF guerilla bands during the late rebellion
thSt IN the advocacy of treason did not write or
pu publish newspaper articles, or preach sermons
curing the late rebellion, and that did not vote for
ara sign the ordinance Of secession in any State .
Any Person included in the above Catalogue Of
voters, who has in due form taken the "recanta.
ton oath" shall be exempted from taking tbis
oath; or any person who has prior to the frat
cay oil January. eighteen hundred and sixty
eight, favored the execution of the laws Of
me United States, popularity known as the
ae e5 acts OF Congress, and openly
state in their efforts to restore Louisiana
to her position in the Union" NAV hold Office on
making oath TO that effect, except he has zen.
gagged IN any insuTection or rebellion apainst the
United states, or gwen aid and comfort to the
enemies thereof, after having taken an oath as
ember OF Congress- as an officer of the Unite5
states, or rs member Of any state legislature.
or as an executive judicial officer of snv STATE
10 support the Constitution Of the United State.
The section provides further that anv person die
fTanchis ed by the fourteenth amendment 10 the
CONSTITUTION OF the United States, who has been |
renewed ty act Of Congress from such disabilItv
may hold Office on taking oath to that effect.
Secuon fourth ordans that any of the above |
oaths must be taken within thirty days after the |
elecuon; II the oaths are not duly subscribed 10 |
before competent authority in that time thew
shall have no effect.
Section fifth provides an Imprisonment al hard
IsDor ID the Penltentiary for not less than five
years BOT more Than ten years, as the unIshment
LOT any false taking Of the above oaths
Secuon sixth enacts that the taking of the
above oaths shall not invahdate the right Of con.
testing on the ground of inelgibility Of the cleo
ton OF The persons taking the oaths
, Section seventh providesl that all persons now
hcldlng tihce tball, within thirty days, comply
WIN every provision OF the foregoing sections on |
pam, IN case OF failure so to do, of having their
OHlces declared vacant |
Section eighth provides that the official acts Of
those persons who fail to fill the oaths required in
the time specified SHALL after the expiration of
that GATE be null and void. and further ordains
tnst ms salary shall cease from that time and that
if his election be successfully contested he shall
pay TO The person declared elected all salaries |
ices, etc, received since the commencement of |
his holding OF the Office, and that any fees paid |
10 such ineligible person shall not disch irge the
party paying them from paying them again TO |
the proper officer"
Section nine enacts that the punishment for a
failure OF the person declared ineligible to de. |
lyer over at once to the party declared elected |
an books, papers, archives, ETC. pertaining 10 the
once OF the attempt OF any such oustei party
10 interfere with bis successor in the disebsrgs
II his duties, shall be punished with fine of not
ets than 500 nor more than $1,000, and with i'm. /
,rlsonment in the common jail for not lees than I
bree months nor more than one year !
Section ten is the usual repeating clause.
section eleven provides that the act shall 90
lto effect from and after its passage.