The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-10-14
Orr First Dirty.

sonsle Grounds account for the etiiargy which many
of our citizens manifest on this SUBJECT nat means
all these manifestations such tofehsht professions,
banner presentations and public speeches. II they are
not to terminate in registration? What aVas all your
enthusiasm for Seymour and Blair ii you do not pre-
pare Yourselves to vote for them What avais your
birthstone, spread eagle speeches il you neglect 10
register and vote? To us it would look like boys
play and would much better become the Minors
than the grown up enthusiast IF you fail to register
thi,lk how ridiculous will become your enthusiastic
shouts and cheers, with banners flying and music play
ing during the canvass. Think of it Some would
be patriot saws we will vote any how, registry or no
registry. This is all sheer nonsense where the doors
of registration are thrown open wide enough for all to
enter and cast their votes where they will have some
effect There Is no impeachment whatever to resisra
ton the constitution and the laws alone governing
our registrars U.dcr what is commonly known as
the reconstruction atdayt' there is not a person.
in the parish who cannot register This is not sim
ply our assertion but it is the deliberate opinion Of
the best legal minds of the State This "reconstFuc
ton affidavit requires the applicant for registration
who NAV be DISTINGUISHED for political causes by art
Gle 90 to that prior to- the ls OF January 1868
he favored the execution Of the reconstruction laws
aud openly and actively assisted the loyal men of the
State in their efforts to restore Louisiana to her posi-
ton in the Union" Here we have it in nut she'll
What constitutes favored the execution" and "openy
aided and assisted" SC? The legal Interpretation Of
it is that every man who did Illegally oppose the
| law favored it. There is no middle ground i'll the
/ a 4 ,b oDIC
vote on the convention after you had accepted the al
tentative of the laws and registered tried to regis
ter Then every person who registered and voted and
very person who tried to register openly aided and
| assisted the loyal men,, &c In. taking this affidavit
| you do not assume hat you favored the Radical P!a1
Of bringing the State back into the Union, for yor
have much right--yea,'a great deal more so-tc
the claim of loyal men, in the sense of tie word
as the Radicals. The Senate Of this State has deci
| ded i'll ii contested case, that member who regis
tered under the reconstruction laws though he voteG
against Il convention, openly aided and assisted, NC
and that he entitled his seat and they gave il
| to him by large oiority John Ray the lead
ing spirit of the occasion aud made an able argumen
the question. Should any Of our readers still have
any hesitation about taking this affidavit, we beg o
them to consult with any Of our lawyers the sub
| ect We would not have any man do violence tt
his conscience, but We would have him every eff
| fort to dsabuse his l.ind of an error which woult
work evil to himself and his country.
We call upon the officers of the clubs throug hou
the parish see that every member registers. What
is the of having clubs if they cannot be put tt
practical Now is the time if ever, to prov,
their utility. Now is the time 10 make the arges
/ turnout Of the campnign. All others insignificant
in comparison with this. Don't delay in this matter
but act at aud lave il done with. OnIy ten day
more remain before the books are closed. Will ou
! friends make good of that time? We shall see
se.--------
QUALIFICATIONS FOR REalsrRy-The sum total o
the registry laws, SAYS the New Orleans Bee can be
well said to be this That any naturalized citizen OF
native born, aged upwards of twentyoue years, who
has resided twelve months in the State and ten DAYS
i'll the parish in which he proposes vote, is entitled
to registry.
If DISTINGUISHED by any of the causes set forth
in article 90 of tie Constitution he may consider him
self relieved" from disability ifhc favored the execution
of the Reconstruction laws and has aided i'll the reso
ration OF Louisiana to her ris hts, prior to January
| 1868. If the party has not relieved himself or il
the Supervisors decline receiving lis oath as evidence
that he did and decline registering him. he must choose
between recanting land certainly odium can no"
attach to the signing Of the recantaon certfcae) Oh
taking out mandamus to cousra1 the Supervisors Il
performance Of their duties.
It is therefore clearly perceived that any native cit
izen of ge nnturnzed who has had the necessary
residence, has it in hs power to register whatever be
the disqualification under which he may once have Ia
bored.