Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-11-24
IConnlunicated,
CLINTON TP.. Nov. 18, 1869.

CLINTON TP.. Nop. Is, 1869.
Editor Democratic Enquirer:
Having read in your paper that
it is unlawful for a negro to vote,
and that a negro in Macarthur by
the name of Lucas voted after dark
at the late election, l wish you
would be kind enough to print the
law you have made mention of, in
your next paper, l am Republi-
can, and always voted that ticket
till this fall, when did not vote at
all; and I know Of many Republi-
cans who did not vote, because
they, like myself, are dissatisfied
with the presnt condition of affairs
both political and financial, By
printing that law you will do us a
favor, In this township there is
not a single negro, and fone should
happen to be in the township, and
l hope there may never be one, he
would not be permitted to vote, and
/ don't think the Trustees Of your
tow nship ought to have violated
their oaths and let the black barber
vote.
DISPLEAsED REPUBLICAN.
With the greatest Of pleasure, we
comply with the request of our
Clinton township correspondent,
and publish the law enacted at the
last session of the Ohio Legislature
"to preservethe purity of elections
1t is as follows:
AN ACT
Supplementary to the act entitled "An act to pre-
serve the purity Of elections" passed March
20, 1871, 70. L. vol. -, page ll.)
SECTION /. Be 1t enacted By the
General Assembly of the State Of
Ohio, That any person who shall
vote at any election held under the
laws Of this Stas, not being a white
male citizen Of the United States,
shall, on conviction thereof, be i'm
prisoncd in the penitentiary and
kept at hard labor not more than
FIVE years nor less than than one
year. =,
SEC. 2. Any person who shall
procure, aid, assist, council or ad'
wise any person not being a white
male citizen ofthe United States, to
vote at any election held under the
laws of this State, shall, on convict.
ion tn hereof, be imprisoned in the
county Jail of the proper county,
not more than six months nor less
than one month; and shall also be
liable to civil action for q penalty
in the sum ofonc thousand dollars,
which may be brought against him
by any elector of the county or dis
trict in which the vote was receiv-
ed, in the court of common pleas Of
any county where process can be
served upon him, provided that
there shal be but one recovery for
each violation ofthis act; and a fail
ure to prosecute or convict shallnot
in any manner affect the right to
proceed for the recovery Of such
penalty.
SEC. 3. IF any judge of the
election shall receive or sanction the
reception OF q vote from q person
not being q white male citizen 0
the United States, on conviction
thereof shall be imprisoned in the
! jail Of the proper county, not more
than six months nor less than three
months, and shall also be liable to
q civil action for a penalty in the
sum of one thousand dollars, which
may be brought against him by any
electOr of the county or district in
which the vote was received, in tho
court OF common pleas Of any coun.
ty where process can be served up
on him; provided, that there shall
be but one recovery for each viola
tion of this act, and a failure to pros
ecute or convict shall not in any
manner effect the right to proceed
for the recovery Of such penalty,
SEC. 4. All prosecutioes under
the provisions of this act shall be
by indictment before the court of
common pleas in the county where
the offense was committed; and this
act shall be given in charge to the
grand jury at each term Of the
court of common pleas, by the pre-
siding judge thereof
Sec, 5. This act shall be in force
from and after its passage.
f. W. THORNHILL,
Speaker Of tie House et RtpresOntdtives.
j, G. LEE,
President Of he Senate.