, 1870-04-07
PURITY OF ELECTIONS.

The following BILL entitled "a bill to PIE
vent and punish election frauds" was intro
dnced In the Senate OF the United States, Oh
the 18th Of March, bv Mr. Couklins, vho
leave to bring in the bill 1t WAS real twics,
1efeHed to the Committee on the Judiciary
and ordered to be printed.
10 it enacted by the Senate and Houss Of
Representatives Of the United States Of Amssi-
ca IN Congress assembled, That il at any elee-
Tcss Of the United Ststes, or for electoss OF
President and Vice President Of ths United |
atates, or for inspectorB, cAnvassers, po1lelsrks
or other election ofhceEs Who may or ahau bs |
or are chosen 10 act and serve, or whose term |
Of Office may or shall include Or cover the tins
Of any such election fo1 representative or delo-
gate IN the Congress Of the United States. or |
fcf electors Of Preeideut and Vice President |
Ut the United States, any pcraon
hlAan knowingly geEsonsso and vote or
sou, whether living, dead, or fictitious or Iote
more thAn onco At the a2me election for any
candidate for the Same Office, OF vote at place
where he may not be lawfully entitled to vote; !;
or vote without lawful right to vote; or do
my unlawful act to secure a right OF AZ opnor-
OF by force, threat, or monaco, intimidation,
bribery, reward, or offer or promise thereof. or
otherwise unlAwfu1ly prevent any qualified
voter Of any State Of the United States Of
freely exercising the right ot suffrage, or by
any such means induce any voter to refuse %
exercise guch right; or compel or induce, by
any such means or otherwise, any officer Of an
election, In my such State or Tar1itory, TO re-
ceire D vote from Persou not legally qualified
0: entitled To vote, or Interfere IN any manner
with any officer Of sAid elections in the dis
charge Of his duties; or by any Of such means
OF otherwise induce any officer OF An election
or officer whose duty II Is to ascertain, au-
nounce OF declare tho result OF any such
election, or givo or make any certificate, docu
late or rcfuse to comply with his duty Or any
law rtguhhnB tho eamei or, being IN officer
Of IN cleetion, neglect or refuse to perform
any duty required Of him By law, Of violAto
any duty imposed BY Law, or do any act unau-
thorizod by law relating 70 or affecting any
such election, or tho result thereof; OF aid,
counsel, procure or advise my such voter, per-
s,n or olAccr TO do any act hereby made \
crimo. OF TO omit to do any duty, the omission
Of which is hereby made a crime, OF attempt
to do go, every such person shall be doomed
guilty OF crime, And shall for such crime be
| liable to Indictment in any cou1 Of the United
| States Of competout Jurisdiction, and on con-
riction thereof gha1 be punished by fine not
exceeding $500, or by imprisonment for term
not exceeding throe years, or both, in the did
c1etion Of the court, and shal pay the costs Of
! prosecution.
SEC. . And be il further e1.acsed, That il any
| registration OF voters for An election for Repre-
| sentative or Delegate in the Congress Of the
urited States, or for Electors OF President and
Vice President Of the United States, OF for In
s1ectorr, Canva1sers, Poll Clerks, or other
election officerb WHO may, or shall be, or are
chosen TO act or ae1se, or whose tetn OF Office
NAV or ehAll include or cover tho time of any
such election for Representative or Delegate in
tho Congress OF the United States, or for Elect
ots Of President and Vice president Of The
United States, any person shall knowingly per
sonAte and register, or attempt to register, in
tie nA1ne OF any other person, whether living
dead, or fictitious or register. or attempt Il
register, At place where he shal! not bo law
! fully entitled to register; or register, OF At
tempt to register, not having ; lawful right
tration for himself OF any other person; or b.
force, threat, menace. intimidation, bribery
reward, or offer or promise thereof, or other
wiee, unlawfully prevent or hinder any pei
son having lawful right 70 register fFou
: daily exercising such right; OF compel, or in
iiuce, by any such means or otherwise, any off
Ger Of registration to admit to registration m
: person not legally entitled thereto, or intel
] fere in anv manner with any officer OF regit
tration in tho discharge of tia duties; or b
. any such means, OK otherwise, induce any off
Ger OF registration to vioaAte or refuse to cou
I ply with his duty, or my Law regulating Z
( samo; OF, being IN oficor OF registration, III
: gtect or refuse TO perform any duty require
5 Of him By Law, or violate any duty imposed +
y law, or do any act unauthorized by law, n
9 lating to, or affecting such registration ; I
!, hid, counsel, procure or advise any such vote
Il person, or officer to do my act hereby made
! crino, or TO advise any act, the commission
Z which il hereby made crime, every such pc
J. eou Rhall be deemed guilty Of = crme, Il
4 shall be liable TO indictment And punisbme
= therefor, as provided in the first section Of th
. sa, for persons guilty of any OF the Grim
herein stseCifled.
:, SEC 3. And be 4 further enacted, That il a,
d person shall. by force, threat, menace, intiu
Is cation, or otherwise, unlaxfully prevent a.
}. citizen OF citizens from assembling in pub
=. meeting to freely discuss, or hcar discusse
. the claims or merits Of any candidate for u
d Office Of President or Vice lrea.dent. or Elee
u OF thereof, or Representative or Delegate
't Congress, OF Of any officer Of the Gorcrnmc
= Of tie United States, or the laws or neasur
u Of Congress, OF any measure existing, pen
y ing, or proposed, Affecting tie Government
.d the United States, or any department. or otie
y y thereof, or If any person shall by any su
/ means break up, dispcr.c, or moleet any sd
70 AEsemblage, or moless any citizen in or Of su
10 assscnbiage. every person so offending sh
lB liable to indictment Anl punishment thel
as for Is provided in the first section OF this =
ID for pertons guilty Of any Of tho crimes the'
+ in specified.