The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-30

to- TUESDAY, September %, 1883. (
The Senate met at noon.
REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Braughn. from the special committee, to in-
quire into the Instructions of the Board of Regis
uaton to the Supervisors and other actions OF the
board, reported that the Board of Registrars, OF
which William Baker is chairman, has given in
strucuons to the various boards Of supervisors
throughout the State that are unwsrranted in
theory, and entirely beyond the law of registra-
iion. :.
The following is the report in full:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE To INVESTIGATE THE ACTION
OF BOARD OF REGISTRATION.
To the Honorable the Senate of Louisians:
The special committee appointed in conformity
to the annexed resolution beg leave to report that
II has discharged its duty and beg leave to submit
the following report, viz:
After the examination of various supervisors
from the First, Second, Sixth and Tenth Wards,
your committee is forced to the conclusion that
the Board of Registrars of which William Baker
is chairman, has given instructions to the various
boards of supervisors throughout the state that
are unwarrsnted In theory and entirely beyond
the law of registration. The Board of Registra-
ton argues that the only persons who can take
the cath known by the printed instructions as
form No. 3, are those who favored and voted for
a convention to revise the Constitution Of this
State at the election held on September u and %,
1857. end ihat those who did not favor said con-
venton cannot avail themselves OF said a11iisVit.
(See page A.
The Board of Registration has further instructed
citizens who have been naturalized by the Third,
Fourth, Fifth Sixth and Seventh District Courts 10
contending that those courts while in vacation,
had no legal right to naturalize-(see page 81
This is clearly wrong--the certificates Issued by
courts or competent jurisdiction, acting under and
in obedience TO law of Congress, have all the
favor and the power of judgments, and must be
so regaId ed and respected by all persons.
The Board of Registration has furthermore in
structed the various Boards of Supervisors, that
all persons who held office, civil military, for
one year or more under the Confederate States
all who registered themselves as enemies of ths
United States, lesders,of guerrilla bands, those
who wrote or published treason in newspapers
and those who voted for and signed an ordinance
of secession in any State, cannot be registered,
except they produce the certificate of the score.
tary Of the state, showing that they have filed
their recantstoD, and that it has been published
in the official journal (see page 6) These IN
suucuons deprive persons of the benefit of the
provso in article 80 of the Constitution, which de-
privaon isnOt only unjust but clearly against the
Constitution.
Your committee is clearly of the opinion that
a person who is ready and willing to take one of
the three afidsvits, if any evidence is demanded
by tie supervisors, the same should be taken
condtionally with the applicant
Your committee is further of the opinion tn 4t
the supplemental act permitting the Board of
Registration to form regulations is entirely super
faction and trouble. The law is plain and
sufficiently comprehensive. and if carried out,
will accomplish everything required.
Your committee accompanies its report with a
printed copy of the instructions issued by the
Board of Registration, a minute of the proceed
ings had and the evidence adduced, all Of which
is annexed for your supervision.
With view Of settling, in a definite form, the
difference IN the construction of the law of regis.
tration, your committee submits an act to repeal
section one of an act entitled q" An act to define
more fully the powers and duties Of the Board OF
Legislation and Supervisors thereof for the regis
uation OF the qualified voters of the State"
All OF which is respectfully submitted by the
committee. GEO. 81. BRAUGHS, Chairman,
JNO. Ray,
GEO. z. KELSO.
The report was adopted on motion Of Mr.,
Brsughn.
Mr.. Thompson introduced an act TO quiet the
title to public lands sold during the war Read
twice under suspension of the rules. and refer.
Mr.. BraUg6n asks for a suspension of the rules
to take up an act to repeal section one of an
act entitled an act to define more fnllv the nnwars
ana cuues OF the Board of Registration and
Supervisors thereof, for the registration Of the
quaIhed voters of the State" approved Sspten-
Der 10, 1868, introduced as part of the report Of
The committee. Granted, and bin made order for
Wednesday. -0'
The remainder Of Campben's bill. relative tn
elections was then adopted, the eighth section
beipg made the special order for 10 day,
Ihe 81 nate then adjourned.