The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-23
The Registration Law.

Inc registration Law.
From the New Orleans Crescent.E v
We publish in this mornings Crescent the regstra-
ton law as recently passed by the Legislature We
commend it to the attention of readers, because
every person desiring to vote at the next election will
be subject to its provisions and be compelled to take
one the other Of the afdavits which it prescrbes.
The large majority of applicants will have to make an
affidavit the form of which is given in the law, and
which we reproducehere:
], do solemnIv swear or affirm, as the case
may be- that twentyone years of age, was born
Tor naturaliZed as the case may be- in the United
States and am subject to the jurisdiction thereof, and
have been resident of the State of Louisiana since
the - day of -, and a resident OF this parish
since the - day of -, and that am not disfran-
chised for any of the causes stated in the first para
graph of article nineynine of the constitution of this
State. -
AndI do further soemny swear Tor affirm as the
case may be that did not hold any Office civil or
military for year or more under the organization
STYLED sthe Confederate States of America" that
never registered myself as an enemy of the United
States that acted leader of guerrilla bands
during the late rebeon that never in the advocacy
of treason wrote published newspaper articles or
preached sermons during the late rebellion; that
never voted for and signed ordinance of secession
| in any State.
graph Of the above affidavit those worked by in
terdction or by conviction Of any fclonous ofcnse.
The last aragraph is dispensed with in the case OF
persons who file certificate Of recantation with the
Secretary Of State and have the same published in the
official journal.
Those who desire to relieve themselves under the
proviso Of Art. 80 Of the Constitution may do SO by
making and subscribing the following affidavit: ~
t., do solemnly swear Tor affirm, as the case
may BEL that prior to the first Of January, eighteen
hundred and sixty eight favored the execution of
the laws of the United States popularity known the
reconstruction acts of Congress- and openly ard active
y assisted the loyal men of the State in their efforts
TO restore Louisiana to her position in the Union.
Behind this affidavit or behind the certificate filed
with the Secretary Of State the supervisors, or regis
trass are not permitted to inquire AS to all other af
fdavs-tbat is to say those which establish the gen
eral right Of the to regsterthe registrars are
invested with quasi judicial functions. They may re-
fuse registration in spite Of such adaVits at their own
discretion provided they show by other testimony,
that he is not qualified but they not invested with
the right Of ossexamining the applicant himself.
This point should be carefully considered by the reg
strars on the hand and by citizens on the other
By testimony that testimony must be given by other
persons and the registrars have right to crossex
anime the applicant. Nevertheless this poweris dam
eerous implement in the hands Of violent unprinc
pied partisans. It may be used in such manner as
seriously to embarrass the voter and may be SO abused
effect practical suppression of the voice Of the
majority We trust for the benefit of all parties, that
the registrars will not lend themselves to any such
projects. Those Of our people who are qualified under
tie Constitution determined to vote at this election
if possible and it viii be difficult to prevent them from
securing and maintaining their rights
THE BOARD OF REGIsTsAT1os.-The Picayune of the
10th inst speaks as follows Of the antecedents Of the
new board of registration
We announced in our morning edition the appoint /
ment and confirmation of Messrs. VIM. Baker, Q. Ii.
Ferguson and Geo A. Fosdick as Registrars for the
State The latter is conservative Democrat, man
i intelligence good and sound Judgment wen known
devotion to the commercial and industrial Interests
,ur State and city and is identified with US IN all our
inns and hopes He was a consistent Union man IN
he past, and was therefore, of class from whom the
Governor could best selecta Democratic member OF
he board and the Governor has justly allotted to the
Democratic party voice IN Its deilDefatons Tor WINCH
re tender him our thanks
The selection of Baker is one which we cannot ap-
in view of the anecedents Of that person. not
ny as to his conduct as individual and as Street
but By reason OF his excessive partisan
hip in the performance OF the duties and powers OF
be same Office of registrar when he acted under Sher
dan But the reason Of his appointment nov i said
have been his experience in the registry and the
hortness of time now left for the enrolling Of voters
The other registrar Capt. c. T. Ferguson, Of Match
toches vas ct one time proposed as an independent
republican candidate for Congress last spring
sainst Vidal, but declined the canvass yet he re-