New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-02
FEDERAL PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused Registration.

AuSCA SAA SAAAOAs
The officers Of the Republican clubs and
the executive committees throughout the
State should at once prepare blanks in ac-
cordance with the following forms, to be
used in all cases where necessary.
We have reports from several of the coun-
try parishes to the effect that the colored
people encounter obstacles in getting their
registration papers. One day, the registrar
il abseqs and tLe Office closed. Another,
and he il out 81 blanks. Again, there is a
rush Of applicants. and the business of
registration conducted 50 Slowly that many
nave 80 90 away. As rule, those thus sent
away are not white men. Under our State
laws, registration is absolutely necessary as
d prerequisite 30 voting; but, fortunately,
ample provision has been made in the laws
Of Congress TO protect She rights of all vic
tins of any system Of taVOrltlsm that may
be introduced into any State.
1t is to be regretted that any necessity for
an appeal from cur own laws should be
even deemed possible a fair and impair
tial administration of cur registration and
election statutes viii secure the rights OF
every voter: but in the hands of men who
permit their partisan zeal 10 outweigh their
sworn obligations. these laws may be made
an engine OF wrong and oppression. We
simply desire that every voter shall have
fair chance, without restriction, hlndrance.
0r annoyance OF any sort, to vote tor the
candidates OF his choice. To that end we
give the federal law bearing on the subject,
that cur clubs may be ready. IN case OF
need, 20 protect their interests:
An act to enforce the rights of citizens of $he
United States to vote in the several States of
the Union and fOrother purposes.
SEC 5. And be il further enacted, That when
ever, by Uader the authority of the constitution
or Ia Us of any state OF the laws of any Territory
any act is or shall be required to (be) done by any
citizen a prerequisite to qualify or tnttle him
to vote, the offer Of any such citizen to perform
the act required to be done as aforesaid shall, II
it fail to be carried into execution by reason of he
wrongful act or omission aforesaid or of the person
officer charged with the duty Of receiving or
permitting such performance or offer to perform
or action thereon, be deemed and held as per
f0rmance nlaw of such act and thep person so ofer
ing and failing as aforesaid, ana beng ofherWi8e
qualified shall be entitled 70 vote i'll the salGe man
ner and to the extent as if he had in fact per
formed such act and any judge, inspector
other officer Of election whose duty 1t is or
shall be to receive, count certify, register,
Ieport give effect to the vote of any such clti-
zen, who shall wTOpgtuiY refuse or omit to receive
count celtlIE register, report or give eiect 10 me
vote Of such citizen upon the presentation by him
OF his ahdaYlt statlng sncA olfer ttla Ihe tne ana
place thereof and the name OF the ohcer or person
whose duty it was to act thereon and that he was
wTOugfullY prevented by such person or officer
FROM performing such act, ahaii, for every such
Otuse forfeit and pay the of S 800 to the per
aggrieved thereby 80 be recovered by an action
on the case with ft,i! costs and such allowance for
counsel tees the court may deem just; and
shaIl also for every such o:tenss be guilty of
;nsdemeanOr, aad sAsl!, on conviction thereof, be
than one month and not snOGe than one year, OF
both at the discretion Of the court.
SEC. 8. And b6 it FURTHER enacted, That the dis
sricc courts of tie United States, within their
spectye districts, shall have, exclusively OF the
courts of the several States, COgniHance of all
crimes and CtteAses committed against the pro
visions Of this act. and als@ COncunently with
Shc circuit courts Gt the Cnlted States, OF all
causes civil and Criminal arising under this act,
except as herein otherwise provided, and the juris-
dIGHOn hereby conferred snail be exercised i'll CON
formity with the laws aid practice governing
United States courts and ali crimes and OtenSe5
committed against tDe provisions OF thls aft may
be prosecuted by the Indictment OF grand jury,
or in cases of crimes and ofenses not Infamous the
prosecution Insy either by Indictment or lntOr1na-
ton filed by the di6trico attorney Ia court having
Jurisdiction.
SEC 23 And be y G1rtle, enacted That when
ever any person shall Oe defeated or deprived of
his election 10 any office except eIect0r 0t PTesl-
dent OF Vice President Representative or Delegate
in Congress, OF member Of a State Legislature, by
reason of +Ec denial 10 any Itizen or citizens he
shall offer to vOt" % the right to vote Oh account
hi" night TO Aoic ah'! enjoy s1cH oIhce' ana tile
smUlumtntS thereof sb4I not be impaired by any
such denial; and 'u"h person may bring an Applocc
pirate SUIT or proceeding 70 recover possession oI
such Office and in cases where i shall appear that
tie sole gucstiOl. touching the title to such office
arises out of te teElai o5 tie right tc vote TO ctl-
zens who offered 10 vote, on account Of race,
color PIeyiOn5 coniiton Of servitude, such suit
or proceeding may be instituted in the Circuit
District Court Of the United States Of the circuit
GistlicS in which such person resides. And said
GirGuiC or district court shall have, conCurrently
+ith the State courts jurisdiction thereof so far
determine the rights Of the parties TO such Office
by of the denial Of the right guaranteed by
sha fifteenth article OF amendment to the COnsttu
t.oa OF the United States, and secUre. by shis act.
approved May 81, 03H@