Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-11
who Cam Vote.

who Can Vote. -=..Fre
The impression is prevalent, we are in
formed, in some portions of the State,
that those persons who were DISTINGUISHED
under the Reconstruction Acts are still dis
qualified from voting. This is paipably
erroneous. North Carohua having been
officially declared to be in the Union, and
her representatives to Congress having
been admitted to seats, these Acts are no
longer operative within this State. Nor
is there any other law of Congress or clause
of the Constitution of the United States
which establish these or any other d1sa-
bi!ities restraining the citizens OF this
State from the exercise of the elective fran
chise. The disabilities of the so-eailed
Fourteenth Amendment, known as the
Howard Amendment, have reference to
Office holding and not to voting. We
must, therefore, look to the SO called Con-
stitution Of North Carolina and the laws
passed in pursuance thereof.
Article six, Section one, of this Constl.
tuition reads as follows
every male person born in the United States
and every male person who has been natural:zed
twenty-o one years old or upward, who shall have
resided in this State twelve months next prece-
ding the election. and thirty days in the county
in which he offers to vote, shall be deemed an
elector."
So it will be seen every one of sufficient
age and residence, without regard to color,
race or former condition, shall he entitled
to vote. The acts in regard to Registra-
ton, which we published yesterday and
shall republish frequently before the cleo
ton, contain the following sections in re-
gard to the persons entitled to register and
vote J.:
SEC 6. Every male person born IL the United
States, and any male person who has been natu-
raliZed twenty-oue years old or upward, who
shall have resided in the State twelve months pre-
ceding the election, and thirty days Ill tn county
in " hich be offers 10 vote, shall b. deemed All
electOr and shall be entitled 10 registration upon
application.
SEC T. Except in cases provided for in section
eleven of this sct no person shall be allowed to
vote at any election, unless his name shall be
found upon the registration books of the precinct
in which he offers to vote, unless he shall take
and subscribe the following oath I" /, -, do
solemnly swear Tor atfirm) that will support and
maintain the Constitution and laws of the United
States and the Constitution and laws of North
Carolina not inconsistent herewith that have
been resident in the State Ct North Carolina for
twelve months, and in the county OF - for
thirty days, and that have neither registered
nor voted during this election i'll any other pre-
cinct" Such person having taken this oath shall
IhereupOn be registered.
So there can be no doubt upon this
question. Every male person who has OBJ
tanned residence and is of age is entitled
to register, and after registration there
can be no challenge, as the applicant for
registration, and not the voter, can be chal-
lenged.
Therefore no disabilities exist by any
real or pretended authority, and citizens
are no longer excluded from the privilege
of voting, and it is the duty of such per-
sons to register their names and cast their
votes at the coming election for President
and Vice-President.
It may be we'll to add that all former
registrations are now of no effect. In order
to secure the right to vote there must be a
new registration. Persons heretofore re-
gistered cannot vote unless they register
anew. For this purpose time is given from
the 18th of October until the election, and
in certain cases On the day of election, to
register. We suppose the officers appoint
ed for this purpose will give ample and
sufficient notice of the times and places
Should this not be done, the political
clubs and the public press will do all in
their power to give the proper informa-
ton. Nothing will be left undone by the
Democratic party to secure fair election,
and we hope that no means will be spared
to bring to punishment such as may violate
the registration laws whether they be Off
GERS to execute them, or applicants for
registration.