Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-08-26
. Suffrage, and who are Entitled.

AZ Suffrage, and who are Entitled.
As the elections approach, which involve
be rights and liberties Of our people, the
question naturally occurs as to who, under
he p ese' u condition of things, are entitled
% suffrage. 1t aill readily be seen thai no
more important question can be submitted.
And to tnis we propose clear and simple
II Swer.
We propose FIRST to consider this in the
light of the Acts of Congress, and then to
refer to the Constitution of this State, adopt.
ed under what are known as the Rcconstruc-
lon Acts
Secretary Seward has declared the Howard
Constitutional Amendment as adopted. As
words are important, we cite the very Ian
guage Of the third section:
SEC. 3. No person shall be Senator or
Representative IN Congress. or Elector of
President gud Vice resident, or hold any
office, civil OF military, under the United
States, or under any State, who, having pre-
viously taken an oath as member Of Con-
gress, or as an officer of the United States,
or as member of any State Legislature, or
as an Executive or Judicial officer of any
State, to support the Constitution Of the
United States, shall have engaged in insurrec
tiou or rebellion against the same. or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
Congress may by a vote of two thirds If each
House, remove such disabilities.
Two things, therefore, will be observed :;
First. That this amendment now declared to
be part of the Constitution of the United
States disquatifes only from oDice and not
from suffrage Secondly, that the Offices to
which all, who, either as members of Con
gress, or as officers of the United States, or
as members of any State Legislature, or as
the executive or judicial officers Of aly State,
and who participated, either By act, or in aid,
tie Confederate Statesf are disqualified from
holding enjoying office are:
l. Those of Senators and Representatives
in Congress.
2. Electors for President and Vice-Presi'
dent.
3. Any Office, civil or military, under the
United States, or under any State.
1t is apparent, therefore, that this amend
ment excludes a large and Intelligent portion
of our citizens FROM any Office, whether Fed
eral OF State. And this disability remains
until removed by two-thirds vote of each
House Of Congress.
But the important fact remains that under
this amendment no citizen is excluded from
suffrage Therefore, so faras this is concern
ed, there is no restriction upon the ballot,
although there is as to office.
Is there, then, anything in the now alleged
Constitution of the State which prohibits sut-
fragc for past political opinions?
I We again refer to the text:
ARTICLE vIIl.-EIcHr OF SUFFRAGE
SECTION 2. Every male citizen of the Unit.
ed States of the age Of twenty.one and up
wards, not laboring under the disabilities
named in this Constitution, without diStinc-
ton oil race, color or former condition, who
shall be & resident of this State at the time Of
tie adoption of this Constitution, or who
SHALL thereafter reside in this State one year,
and in the county fu which he offers to vote
sixty days next preceding any election, shall
be entitled to vote for all officers that are
now or hereafter may be elected by the pco
pie, aud upon all questions submitted to the
electors at any election; Prorided. that no
person shall be allowed to uote or hold office
who is now or hereafter may be disqualified
therefor by the Constitution of the United
States, until such disqualification shall be re-
moved by the Congress of the United States
Provided Jalrther. that no person, while kept
in any aims house or asylum, or of uusound
MUD, or confined in any public prison, shall
be allowed to vote or hold Office.
The words in which we are interested are
That no person shall be allowed to vote, OF
hold ffice, who is now or hereafter may be
disqualified therefor by the Constitution oi
he Umted Staes."
Now it has been seen that the Constitution
"f the United State, disqualyies no one from
suffrage, therefore tie State Constitution dis
qualities none.
1t follows, therefore, that whatever may
be the rule with regard 10 office, that in rela-
ton to suffrage, all male citizens Of the Unit
cd States of age, resident within The State for
one year. are entitled to uote, except;
~ Those kept in any aims house or
asylum.
(2) Those of uusound mind.
(3.) Those cou6ned in any public prison.
lhis ii seems To rs is Inc plain and inevita
Bile construction Of the law Charleston
Courier.