New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-29
VOLUME VINO. l73
FEDERAL PRoTECTIoN DO voTERs.
Provisions for those who have been Rea
fused RegIsfratinn.

Bf0YIslons f0F th0Se VINO nave been Rei
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, 60 be
used in all cases where necessary.
We have reports from several of che coup
try parishes to the effect that the col0red
people encounter obstacles in getting theit
registration papers. One day, tho registrar
is absent and the office closed, Another
and he is out of blanks. Again, there is q
rush of applicants and phe business OF
registration conducted so slowly that many
have to go away. AS a 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 shade in the laws
of Congress to protect che rights of all vic
tins OF any system Of tavoritlsm 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
every voter; but in the hands OF men 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 shalt 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, an case OF
need, to protect their interests:
An act to enforce the rights Of citizens of the
United States to vote in the several States of
the Union and for other purposes.
SEC. g. And be it further enacted, That when
ever by under the authority of the constitution
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 enttle 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 reason of The
wrongful act omission aforesaid 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 a per
fOfmance in law of such act; and he person so Oter
ing and failing as aforesaid, and beng otherwise
qualified, shall be entitled to vote IN the same man
and to the same extent 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,
report give effect to the vote of any such citi
zen who shall wTOngfully refuse omit to receive
count certify, register report or give effect to the
vote OF such cltlzen upon the presentauon py MN
of his affidavit stating such offer and the time and
place thereof ana Uile name OF IlG or person
whose duty it was TO act thereon, and that he was
wronGfullY prevented by such person or officer
from performing such act. shall, for every such
Otfense forfeit and pay the of $500 to the per
aggTieved thereby to be recovered by an action
the case with full costs, and such allowance for
counsel ices as the court NAV deem lust: and
shall also for every such 0ttense be guilty of a
mlsdemeanor, and shall on conviction thereof, be
fined not less than $50, or be imprisoned not less
than one month and not more than one year, or
both. at the discretion of the court.
SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the dis
triCt courts of the United States within their re-
spective districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and OtfeRses 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 as herein otherwise provided, and the jurs
dictiOn hereby conferred shall be exercised i'll
fornlty with the laws and practice governing
United States courts; and all crimes and Ofenses
committed against the provisions Of this act may
be prosecuted by the indictment of grand jury,
i'll OF crimes and Otfenses not infamous the
prosecution may either by Indictment or intOrma-
tion filed by the district attorney I'll court having
: 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 Pres
dent Vice President, Representative or Delegate
in Congress, or member of a State Legislature, by
reason of the denial to any citizen citizens who
shall offer to vote, of the right to vote, on account
of race color, or previous condition of servitude
his right to hold and enjoy such office and the
emoiuments thereof shall not be impaired by any
such deniai and such person may bring an appTO
pirate suit or proceeding to recover possession of
such office, and in cases where it shall appear that
the sole question touching the title to such Office
arises ont Of the denial Of the right te to cit
2ens who SO offered to vote on account of rate,
color previOns condition Of serVtude 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 resides. And said
circuit or district court shall bave cOncurrently
with the State courts, jurisdiction thereof far
to determine the rights of the parties to such Office
by reason of the denial of the right guaranteed by
the fifteenth article 9DdmpDt the cQnSitll-
ton of the United States, and secured by this act.
Approved May 81, 1870