The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-03-05
Aatiunal Rspublitau.
toFFICIAL,l
HEADQ'Rs ForRrH MILITARY Disrnfcr, !
tMississIrPI Asp ARKANSAS ,


General Orders No T.
L. The Arkansas constitutional convention
convened at Little Rock, Ark, pursuant I
General Orders No. 81, series Of 1867, from thes
headquarters, having framed constitution an
civil government in compliance with the laws O
the United States known as the "Reconstruc
tion Acts" and having provided for the sub
hitting of said constitution to the registered
voters at an election to be ordered by the gen
eral commanding the district, said election IT,
by authority Of the above.stated laws, and ID
accordance with tho provisions Of the constitu
ton, hereby ordered to be held in Arkansas be.
ginning the 18th day Of March, 1868, and con.
tinuing until completed; at which election the
registered voters may vote for or against the
ratification Of the constitution herein mentioned.
II. Commencing fourteen days before the
election boards OF registrar, will, at the county
seat or the most accessible place, after having
given reasonable public notice Of the time and
place thereof revise for period Of Ave days the
registration lists, and upon being satisfied that
any person not entitled thereto has been regis.
tered will strike tho name Of such person from
the list, and such person shall not be allowed to
vote. The boards will also during the same
period add to tho registry the names Of all per-
sons who at that time possess the qualifications
required by law, and who have not been already
registered. All changes made In the lists Of
registered voters will DO Immediately reported
to these headquarters.
q full expression Of the voice of the people, the
election will be held at each precincts re.
quired by law-under the supervision of the
county boards Of registration. The method Of
conducting the election will be as follows: At
the meeting provided in the foregoing paragraph
each board Of registrars will divide the whole
number Of election precincts of their respective
counties into three portions as nearly equal in
number as possible, and assign one Of the
shares thus made to each registrar, who will be
responsible for the proper conduct Of the cleo.
ton therein. Thereupon each registrar will ap.
point judge and clerk Of election, who, with
himself will constitute the commissioners Of
election for all the precincts of his district.
Each registrar will provide himself with 4
ballot-box, with lock and key, and Of uiieient
size TO contain the votes Of all the registered
voters in the largest precinct Each registrar
will give full and timely notice throughout his
district of tho day Of election In each precinct,
50 that he, with his judge and clerk, can pro.
coed from precinct to precinct Of his district
and hold election on consecutive dsys-when
the distance between precincts will permit-with
a view to the early completion Of the voting.
The election will be by ballot, and will DO con.
Quoted, in all details not herein prescribed, &C.
eording to tho cuctoms heretofore In use 10 the
respective States. Each ballot will have written
or printed upon 1t; Constitution or Against
a Constitution Each voter, in Offering his
ballot, must exhibit his certificate Of registry,
across the face Of which the clerk will write
his name in red ink, to indicate that a vote has
been cast upon that certi6cate-at the same
time the registrar will check of the voters
name on the precinct book, serving a. . poll.
book The polls will be opened BY Q o'clock, |
0. m, at each precinct, and will be kept con.
tinuously open until sunset, at which time the
polls will DO closed, the ballot box opened, votes
counted by the commissioners, and . written re-
turn thereof, under oath of the com missionsrs
ed eli do IN D h. h.s l., L..
cate. The votes cast will then DO securely en- |
closed AID forwarded BY mail to the Acting As.
sistant Adjutaut General at these headquarters, |
with letter Of transmittal, setting forth the
number Of votes cast for and the number against
constitution, which letter will be witnessed
ey the deputy sheriff present in accordance
with tho requirements of paragraph Of this
order
". Judges and clerks Of election will BE- so.
leeted by registrars, preferably from among the
residents OF their respective districts, but II
they cannot be obtained therein. competent and
qualified under the law, then from among the
residents Of the county and If not attainsble
in the county, then from the State at large they
are required to take and subscribe to the oath
Of Office prescribed by the act of Congress Of
July 2 1862, which oath may be administered
by the registrar. The oaths, properly sub.
seribed, will be forwarded Immediately for ale
in the Office Of the acting assistant adjutant
general at these headquarters.
Tho pHy Of these officers will be six dollars
go per diem, for each day they are actually
employed in their legitimate duties, and their
actual expenses Of transportation piiAin their
district will be reimbursed.
V. The sheriff Of each county Is made re.
sponsble for the preservation Of good order,
and the perfect freedom Of the ballot at the
various election precincts In his county. To
this end he will appoint deputy, who shall be
duly qualified under the laws Of his State, for
each precinct in the county, who will be required
to be present at the place Of voting during tho
whole time the election is being held. The said
deputies will promptly and fully obey every dc.
maId made upon their official services in pre-
serving the peace and good order BY the commits.
sioners Of election. Sherifs In making their
appointments will exercise great care to select
men whom they know to be In every way able to
serve. Deputies appointed in accordance with
the foregoing, will be paid Eve dollars for tho
days service on accounts approved by the reg.
istrar out Of the recOnstruction fund.
VI. As an additions! measure for securing
the purity Of the election, each registrar, Judge
and clerk is hereby clothed with all the func.
tions Of a deputy sheriff or constable, and is
empowered TO make arrests, and authorized to
perform all duties appertaining to such officers
under the laws Of the State during the days Of
election.
VII At every precinct on the days Of cleo. |
ton all public bar.rOoms, saloons or other |
places OF which Intoxicating or malt liquor Ia |
sold at retail will be closed. Should any in.
fraction in this respect come to the knowledge
Of the commissioner Of elections, or the deputy
sheriff in attendance, they will immediately
cause the arrest Of the offending party or par.
ties and the closing OF his or their place of bust
ness. All parties so arrested will be placed
under bonds, Of not less than one hundred dol.
lara. (slOO) to appear for trial when required
by proper authority, or, in case of failure to give
tho required bond, will be held in arrest TO
await the action of the general commanding.
VIII Should violence or fraud be perpe
tated at the election in any precinct, the gen.
.ral commanding will exercise to the fullest ex.
tent the powers vested in him for the purpose Of
allowing to all registered electors an opportunity
to vote freely and fearlessly
TX. No registrar, judge, or clerk will be per.
mitted TO become a candidate for Office a. the
election for which no serves as commissioner
y, Such further oIders as may be deemed
necessary by the general commanding, upon
the subject If elections for State or other Off.
GERS as may have been provided for by the con.
Tention will, when the constitution or ordinances
Of the convention relating to the subject shall
have been received, be issued.
By command Of Brcvst Major General Alyan
y Gillem JoHS TYLER,
First Lieut.. i3l Infantry, Bvt. Maj. U s. Army
Acting Assistant Adjutant General. !