The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-10-01

HIGH-PREssURE SUFFRAGE.
Complete and Carefully Revised Abstract
Of tho Act to Enforce tho XVIII
Amendment


Of tho Act to Enforce tho XVIII
Amendment.
The following is complete and care
fully revised abstract of the bill to
enforce the Fifteenth Amendment as
passed by both Houses of Congress.
The bill is entitled:
An Act to enforce the right of citizens Of the
United States to vote in the several States
of this Union. and for other purposes
Sec /. Citizens who arc otherwise
qualified by law to vote at any cleo
ton in any State or Territory, shall be
entitled to vote at any such elections
without distinction of race, color or
previous condition of scrvitudc; any
constitution, law or regulation OF any
State or Territory to the contrary not
withstanding.
Sec. 2. Where any local law re-
quires any act as prerequisite to
voting, and makes it the duty Of any
persons to furnish citizens with an OPP
portunity to so qualify, it shall be the
duty of such persons to give such op-
portunity to all citizens without the
distinction mentioned in section one:
and any refusal or omission to give
full force to this section makes the de-
linquent liable to the party aggrievcd
in the sum of five hundred dollars
damages, full costs, and an attorneys
fee, and for such offensc such offenders
may be fined not less than five hun
dred dollars, or imprisoned not less
| than one month or more than one
year, or both, at the discretion OF the
court.
Sec. 8. When any prerequisite to
| voting is prevented by the wrongful
act or omission of the persons charged
by law with the duty of atfording an
opportunity to qualify, the offer to
qualify shall be deemed Il perform
ance in law Of such act as is required.
and the person so Offering shall, II
otherwise qualified, be entitled to vote.
such vote, on the presentation OF the
voters affidavit stating the facts, makes
the offender liable to the party .ag-
grievcd, and also liable to the punish
ment provided in section 2.
Sec. 4. If any person, by force,
bribery, threats, intimidation, or other
unlawful means, shall hinder, delay,
prevent, or obstruct any citizen from
doing any act required as IL prerequl-
site to voting, or shall combine with
others for this purpose, he shall be
liable, and may be punished as pro
vided in section 2.
OcC. d. Al pClSol HASsSite
hinder, control, or intimidate iron
voting any person to whom the righ
is secured by the Fifteenth Amend
: ment, or shall attempt the same b.
l means of bribery, threats, or threat
. of depriving them of employment o
f occupation, or ejecting them from
rented houses, lands, or other property
or by threats of refusing to reney
leases or contracts for labor, or b.
threats of violence to himself or family
such offender may be punished as pro
). vidcd in section 2.
Sec. 6. If two or more cOnspirc, O.
go in disguise upon the public high
way, or the premises of another, will
intent to violate any provision OF thi
= act, or to injure or intimidate an.
I citizen to prevent his free exercise o
any right secured to him by the Con
stitutiOn and laws of the United States
, or because he has exercised the same
such person is guilty of felony, ant
= may be fined not more than S5OO o
imprisoned not more than ten years
2 or both; and, thereafter, shall be ineli
: gible to office under the United States
:. Sec. 7. If, in the violation of the tw
: preceding sections, any other otfcns
is committed, it may be punished wit
- such punishment as is alta achcd to tn
OIclSc ny Illc liiWS VI GHC otdCC "AiSi SA
q committed.
r Sec. 8. Gives exclusive jurisdictio
o to the United States Courts of a.
T. criminal and civil cases arising undo
,. this act.
d Sec. 8. Directs the arrest and inst
~ tuition of proceedings against person
d violating this act, and authorizes tn
y appointment of additional commission
=, ers to facilitate the enforcement {
e the act.
Sec. 10. Provides for punishment {
Marshals who do not diligently exc
cute all warrants issued under this act
and authorizes the Commissioners
appoint persons to execute any wal
r rant they may issue, with power
j, persons so appointed to summon b,
'r ,r standers, or posse comitatus of count.
- or land or naval force of the Unite
States, or the militia to aid them, an
- to insure observance of the Fiftecnt
Amendment.
Sec. II. Any person who hinders {
prevents any officer or person lawful
aiding any officer from making ar
,n arrest, or makes or attempts 4 rescu
or aids or abets an escape, or harbo
or conceals any offender for whom
ID warrant is issued, may be fined n
d. more than $4,000, or imprisoned n
he more than six months, or both.
Sec. -. Provides for payment
IL fees to officers charged with the eX
gy cution of this act.
'al Sec. 13. Authorizes the President
y the United States to employ such pa
- | Of +ho land opl naval fprcns Of ri