Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-11
PROTECTION FOR THE TO7ER.

The act passed by Congress to enforce
| the Fifteenth Amendment, thereby afford
| ing protection to the colored men of the
country and the white men of New York
and elsewhere that 'repeaters" and other
frauds upon honest voters are found, is
meeting with violent opposition from
the democracy. "Gentlemen" said a
thief caught in the act of stealing
and arrested, II protest against this in
vaslon of my rights and abridgement of
my freedom, and would have you to UNI
derstand that this free country" 1t is
only those who practice cheating and vii
lainy that complain of laws to curtail them.
This law is SO important that we give an
extended abstract so that its provisions may
be understood.
All citizens of the United States otherwise
qualified are allowed to vote at all popular
elections, without distinction of race, color,
or previous condition of servitude.
Persons required by any State law or con-
stitution to furnish electors facilities to per-
form prerequisite duties, to qualify them to
become voters, as to register their names,
for instance, and who shall refuse to furnish
those facilities and shall prevent qualified
voters from voting, shall pay the party ag-
grieyed 5000, and be fined not less than
$4,000, or Imprisonment not less than one
month or more than year.
Where the laws Or constitution of State
require anything to be done before a party
can vote, and he has been prevented by
threats or intmidations, he shall be entitled
to vote the same as if he had done what is re-
quired. The parties preventing are punished
as in the former case.
Penalties are provided expressly against
those who hinder one who is doing an act to
qualify him to vote, or obstructing one who
has the right to vote under the Fifteenth
Amendment; and a conspiracy of two or
more persons to violate the provisions of the
act, is published as indicated in the first sec
ton.
Bribery, intimidation or threats against any
one entitled to vote; such as ejecting them
from rented houses discharging them from
employment, threats of violence to family,
&C., to influence their votes, is punishable as
above.
Persons who band together or go in dis
guise on the public highway or premises OF
another and violate the provisions of this
act are declared guilty of a felony, and may
on conviction be fined $1,000 and imprison-
ed not to exceed ten years, and are declared
ineligible to hold any office of honor, profit
or trust created by the laws or constitution OF
the United States.
United States District and Circuit Courts
have exclusive jurisdiction of their case.
District Attorneys, United States Marshals
and Court Commissioners are authorized and
required to institute proceedings, and en-
Iaxr md tho rpfi1 sal nf "a Marshal
or Deputy to execute warrant duly issued
under the law subjects him to penalty of a
fine of 81 900. He may call on by-standers
to assist him, or on the land or naval forces
of the United States. An attempt to rescue
prisoner or to obstruct an officer is punish
ed by fine of 81 900, or imprisonment for
not more than six months.
District Attorneys may proceed by quo
cGTTdHto against any one, except members Of
Congress or of the State Legislature, who
are holding Office contrary to the provision of
the third section of the Fourteenth Amend
ment, and such persons are made amenable to
fine and imprisonment.
The right of all persons to make and en-
force contracts is set forth in strong lam
guage, and protected by stringent penalties.
No tax shall be imposed on any foreigners
from one country not imposed on immigrants
nese in California. An attempt to enforce
any State law in violation of this act and
making distinction on account of such per-
sons being aliens, or because of race or color,
is punishable by fine of 81 900, or imprison-
ment not to exceed one or year, both. The
Civll Rights bill of April 8, 1866 is re-enacted.
= Fraudulent voting and repeating" per-
sonating Others at the polls; intimidation or
bribery OF electors forging of papers or GER
tifcates knowingly receiving fraudulent
: votes, or refusing to receive votes of qualified
[ electors, subject offenders to $500 fine, OF
Imprisonment not to exceed three years
There is the same punishment for those guilt,
OF fradulently registering or refusing to al
+, low, OF attempting to prevent, the registering
S OF voter. Officers who violate any dut,
!, imposed by this law, and neglect to perform
= these duties, are to be punished as above, OF
q conviction.
/. 1t is further provided that any person de
Ipriyed of an election Except electors of Pres
ident, Vice President, member of Congress
7 or les'slatue,) by reason Of the denial Of hi