New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-22
FEDERAL PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused Reaistratfon,

| TOsAShUMS 1OE AHOHD VINO nave DSEU G6Gs
fused Registration.
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 ooun
try parishes to the effect that the colored
people encounter obstacles in getting their
registration papers. One day, the registrar
is absent and the office closed. Another,
and he is out Of blanks. Again, there is a
rush of applicants, and the business OF
registration conducted so slowly that many
have to go away As rule, those thus sent
away are not white men. Under our State
laws, registration is absolutely necessary as
a prerequisite to voting but, fortunately,
ample provision has been made in the laws
of Congress to protect the rights of all vic
Tins Of any system of fayoritism that may
be introduced into any State.
1t is to be regretted that any necessity for
an appeal from our own laws should be
even deemed possible. A fair and impair
tial administration Of our registration and
election statutes will secure the rights of
ONCIF fOUCAJ puJ Ia uduGS VI ul6n WHO
permit their partisan zeal to outweigh their
sworn obligations, these laws may be made
an engine of wrong and oppression. We
simply desire that every voter shall have a
fair chance, without restriction, hindrance,
or annoyance of any sort, to vote for the
candidates of his choice. To that end we
give the federal law bearing on the subject,
that our clubs may be ready, in case of
need, to protect their interests;
United States to vote in the several States of
the Union and for other purposes.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That when
ever by under the authority of the constitution
or laws of any State, the laws of any Territory,
any act is shall be required to (be) done by any
citizen as prerequisite to qualify entitle him
to vote, the offer of any such citizen to perform
the act required to be done as aforesaid shall if
it fail to be carried into execution by of the
wrongful act or omission aforesaid or of the person
OF Omcer charged with the duty Of receiving or
permitting such performance or offer to perform,
OF action thereon, be deemed and held as a. per-
tormance nlaW OF such act and the person SO offer
ing and failing as aforesaid, and being otherwise
qualified shall be entitled to vote in the same man
ner and to the same extent as if he had in fact per-
formed such act; and any judge, inspector or
other officer of election whose duty it is or
shall be to receive, count, certify, register,
fepGrT, or give effect to the vote OF any such citi
zen who shall wrOngfuly refuse omit to receive,
count, certify, register, report give effect to the
VI ~ iI y upo Z IN q ~ I'm I'm
OF his affidavit stating such offer and the time and
place thereof and the name of the officer or person
whose duty it was to act thereon, and that h8
wrongfully prevented by such person or officer
from performing such act, shall, for every such
oHense, forfeit and pay the sum of $500 to the per
son aggrieyed thereby be recovered by an action
on the case, with full COSTS and such allowance for
counsel fees as the court may deem just; and
shall also for every such ottense be guilty of
misdemeanOr, and shall, on conviction thereof, be
fined not less than $50, OF be imprisoned not less
than one month and not more than one year or
both, at the discretion of the court.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted That the dis
trict courts of the United States, within their
spective districts, shall have, exclusively Of the
courts OF the several States, c0gnlzance of all
crimes and Ohepses committed against the pro-
visions of this act, and also, concurrently with
the circuit courts of the United States Of all
causes, civil and criminal arising under this act
except herein otherwise provided, and the urisa
diction hereby conferred shall be exercised in
f0rmity with the laws and practice governing
United States courts; and all crimes and otfenses
committed against the provisions Of this act may
be prosecuted by the Indictment of grand jury,
or in cases of crimes and otenses not infamous the
prosecution may either by Indictment or infOrma-
ton filed by the district attorney In court having
jurisdiction.
SEC. 23 And be it further enacted, That when
ever any person shall be defeated or deprived of
his election to any office, except elector of Presi-
dent Vice President, Representative or Delegate
in Congress, or member of a State Legislature, by
reason of the denial to any citizen or citizens who
shall offer to VOTE of the right to VOTE account
of race, color, previous condition of servitude,
his right to hold and enjoy such office, and the
emOluments thereof shall not be impaired by any
such denial; and such person may bring an appro-
pirate suit proceeding to recover possession CT
such ONCE and cases Wn6r6 IL snail appear tnaG
the sole question touching the title to such office
arises out of the denial of the right vote to ct
zens who SO offered to vote, on account of race,
color previons condition of servitude, such suit
or proceeding may, be instituted in the Circuit or
District Court of the United States of the circuit
district in which such person residee And said
circuit or district court shall have, concurrently
with the State courts jurisdiction thereof SO far
to determine the rights Of the parties to such office
by reason of the denial Of the right guaranteed by
the fifteenth article of amendment to the constitu
tion of the United States, and secured by this act
Approved May 81, 1870.