New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-25
FEDERAL PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused ReRfstratiOn.

fused Registration.
The officers of the Republican clubs and
the executive committees throughout the
State should at once prepare blanks in ac-
eordance 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
is absent and the Office closed. Another,
and he is out of blanks Again, there is q
rush Of applicants and the 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 made in the laws
Of Congress to protect the rights of all vic
! TINS of any system of fav0ritism 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 shall have
1alr 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 seadys in case OF
need, to protect their interests:
An act to enforce the rights OF citizens of the
limited n III he StsFa Of
the Union and for other purposes.
SEC. B. And be it further enacted, That when
ever by or under the authority of the constitution
or laws Of any State or 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 aforesaid shall, if
it fail to be carried into execution by of the
wrongful act or omission aforesaid or of the person
or officer charged with the duty Of receiving or
permitting such performance or offer to perform,
or action thereon, be deemed AID held as per-
tormauce i'll law of such act and the person offer
ing and failing as aforesaid, and beng otherwise
qualified, shall be entitled 10 vote in the same
and to the extent as if he had III fact per
formed such act; ana any Judge inspector or
other officer of election whose duty it is or
shall be to receive, count, certify, register,
repOr or give effect TO the vote of any such citj
zen, who shall wrOngfuily retUae omit tOreceve,
count certify register report or give effect to the
vote of such citizen upon the presentation by him
Of his affidavit stating such offer and the time and
place thereof, and the name OF the officer 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
Otense, forfeit and pay the sum of $500 to the per
aggFieved thereby, to be recovered by action
the case, with fun COSTS and such allowance for
counsel fees as the court may deem Just; and
shall also for every such ottense be guilty of q
mlsdemeanoT, and shall, on conviction thereof ba
fined not less than 500 or be imprisoned not less
than one month and not more than year, OF
both. at the discretion of the court
SEC. g. And be 1t further enacted, That the dis
trict courts Of the United States within their re-
courts OF Ii5 several States. cD9ulHancH or all
crimes and offeRses committed against the pro-
visions Of this act, and also, COncurrently with
the circuit courts Of the United States, Of all
causes, civil and criminal, arising under this act
except as herein otherwise provided and the juris
dictiOn hereby conferred shall be exercised in
T0rlnIty with the laws aLd practice governing |
United States courts and all crimes and otfenses
committed against the provisions of this act may |
be prosecuted by the Indictment of a grand Jury |
or IN cases of crimes and 0tfenses not infamous the
prosecution my either BY Indictment or informa- !
tion filed by the district attOTneyln In court having
Jurisdiction.
SEC. 3D. and be it further enacted, That when |
ever any person shall be defeated deprived of |
rs eLeC4oI 70 "L5 o1!4CSt eAC0Pt !eCIoI u Le9i-
dent or Vice President, Representative or Delegate
in Congress, member Of a State Legislature, by !
reason of the denial to any citizen citizens who
shall offer to vote, OF the gAt 70 VOTE on account
OF race, color previous condition of servitude,
his right TO hold and enjoy such Office, and the |
en0uIuents thereof shai, not be impaired by auy |
such denial; and such person may bring AN apprO-
pirate slit or proceeding t0i recover possession of
such Office and in wh$Te il shall appsar that
the sole question touching the title 10 such office
arises out of the denial ct e right tc vote to cit-
Zel5 who offered vote, account of race,
color or pIevions co1dtiOD Of serFitude, sucn suit
OF proceeding may be instituted IN the Circuit O.
District Count of the United States of the circuit
district in which such person resides And said
GEC ait or district court shall have, COnCurTent(T
With the state courts, Jurisdiction thereof SO far as
% determine the rights of the parties to such Office
bv Of the denial OF the right guaranteed by
tie fifteenth article of am 7nGment to the COnstitu
ton OF the United States and secured by this act
Approved May 81, 1870