The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-04
REGISTRATION IN TEXAS.

Below we give an important order, from
the headquarters of this military district, in
relation to the registration in Texas 1t will
be seen that an order is given for the publica-
ton of the revised lists of voters before the
election. This is an excellent idea. The
publication of the lists will have great effect
in circumventing the schemes of fraud which
had, no doubt been prepared in Texas, with
the view of suppressing all Of public opinion
that Congress and Gen. Sheridan had permit
ted to express itself through the registry.
One of the most potent instruments IN the
hands of the vagrant and mendicant conspira-
tors, in all these Southern elections, was the
mystery and secresy which the military
authorities threw around the results of
the registration. In some States even
the total number of registered voters
was not known until after the
elections had taken place. Such
was the case in Mississippi, in which State
it was, for some time, thought that the con-
vention was defeated for want of votes; but,
finally, military proclamation declared to
be carried. Nothing was easier than for a
votes, by striking white names off the registry
during the revision, and then waiting until
after the election to proclaim a judicious con-
currence between the number Of votes actually
cast, and the majority of registration ar
ranged to suit the purpose. Such a process
was only what the radicals demanded at the
hands of their military agents-an effective en-
forcement, not of the law, but of the intention
of Congress. 1t was on precisely this theory
that Gen. Sheridan issued his notorious Sc
cret instructions to the registrars, whereby he
achieved the Acknowledgement of half Of the
white voters of his district. 1t was on pre-
cisely this theory that the radicals out of
Congress, and their representatives IN Con-
gress so violently assailed Mr.. Stanbery for his
exposition of the true Interpretation and eff
feet q the reconstruction laws, as applied to
registration and suffrage In this State, after
the farce of revision was performed, under
Gen. Sheridan's orders, nobody knew whether
his name had been stricken from the registry
or not. 1t is supposed that $500 names Of
white voters in the city of New Orleans alone
were thus eliminated from tie lists, in order
cant necessities, and to conform to the gene
raj theory Of carrying out the intention of Con-
gress-that Of assuring to the "loyal ele-
ment the possession Of the State government
Perhaps it might occur to Gen. Hancock that
adjudication Of the registry lists of this State,
as they now stand, would be desirable
and judicious, not only for the information Of
10 Ir,k in,
may be afforded for the detection of the enor-
nous frauds which, undoubtedly, were COM
mitted by Gen. Sheridan's registrars.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT
Office Of Secretary for Civil Affairs,
New Orleans, La, Jan. 81, 1865.
[Circular No. 2
Immediately after the completion Of the revi
zion of registration in Texas-which ends to-day
the board of registrars of each county will pre-
pare and cause to be published once in the
county paper FIRST issued after the receipt of this
circular, whether before or after the election an
accurate list, giving the names Of all persons re-
gstered before and during the revision, and
whose names have rot been stricken from the
lists during said revision. Also, when il can be
done in time for general distribution throughout
the county before the election, this list will be
printed in The form nf haadbiiIs, no. 20 exceed
hfty (50) for each county, and distributed and
posted in the most pubic places in the county.
In counties, where there is no printing Office or
newspaper published. The board of registrars will
have tie bandbis printed at the nearest Office,
provided il can he done in sufficient tine for dis.
tributon before elect on. and in such counties the
list directed TO be published in the c1u .ty paper
viii lie scit for publication to the Official paper
Of the State, at Austin.
Tie expenses for printing, distribution. ots.,
du'y certified ard approved will be paid from the
reconstruction furd.
BY con mand Of Major Gen. Hancock.
ROBERT CHANDLER.
Captain, Assistant Secretary fJr civil AGairs