New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-31
FEDERAL PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who hnve been Re-
fused Registration.

| 4AOfEA0Us AOF En0SG NVnB ufHVP 0eeD kS4
fHsed Registration.
The officers of the Republican clubs anc
| the executive committees throughout th
State should at once prepare blanks in ac
cordance with the following forms, TO b.
! used in all cases where necessary.
4 We have reports from several Of the couR
| try parishes to the effect that the coloreG
| people encounter obstacles in getting theil
regis ,ration papers. One day, the registrar
| is absent and the office closed. Another
! and he is out of blanks. Again, there il a
rush Of applicants, and the business o1
registration conducted SO slowly that many
| have to 90 away. AS fuIe, 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 80 protect the rights Of all vie
TINS Of any sysem of favoEjtism that may
be introduced intOany State.
DIT 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
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 ia case Of
need, to protect their interests
An act to enforce the rights Of citizens op the
United States to vote in the several States Of
the Union and for other purposes.
SEC. 3. And be ib further enacted, That when
ever BY under the authority of the constitution
any act is or shall be required to (be( done by any
citizen 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 he
wrongful act or omission aforesaid Of the person
or 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
formance in law Of such act and The persen offer.
ing and falling aforesaid, and beng otherwise
qualified, shall be entitled to vote in the 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 ia or
shall be to receive, count, certify, register,
repor3, give effect to the vote of any such cti-
zen, who shall wrongfully refuse omit to receive
count certify, register report or give effect to the
vote OF such citizen upon the presents alton by him
OF his afhdavt stating such offer and the time and
place thereof and the of the officer person
whose duty it was to act thereon, and that he
wrongfuIlY prevented by such person or officer
from performing such act shall for every such
oense, forfeit and pay the Of $500 to the per
son aggreved thereby TO be recovered by action
on the case with full costs and such allowance for
counsel tees as the court may deem Just; and
shall also for every such 0ttense be guilty of a
mlsdemeanOr and shall, 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. 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, CognZanCe of all |
crimes and ctfenses committed against the p,o-
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 con-
formlty with the laws ard practice governing |
United States COURTS and all crimes and otienses |
committed against the provisions Of this act may |
be prosecuted by the indictment of grand jury, |
or in cases OF crimes and 0fenses not infamous, the
mey either by Indictment informa- |
ton filed by the district attorney in court having
jurisdiction.
SEC. 49, 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
lent or Vice President, Representative or Delegate
n Congress, or member of a State Legislature, by
'eason of the denial to any citizen citizens vi no
shall offer to vote, Of the right to vote, account
# race color or previous condition Of servtude
lis right to hold and enjoy such office and the |
1mQluments thereof shall not be impaired by any
uch denial; and such person may bring an apprO- |
oriate snt or proceeding to recover possession Of
uch Office, and in where it shall appear that
he sole question touching the title to such Office
rises out Of the denial Of the right c vote to eiti
ems who offered to vote on account of race,
;olOr or previous condition Of servitude such suit
# proceeding may be instituted in the Circuit or
District Cout Of the United States of the circuit or
district in which such person resides. And said
ircuit district court shall have, cOncurrently
nth the State courts jurisdiction thereof far
o determine the rights of the parties to such Office
he fifteenth article of 9ndment to the constitu.
ion of the United States, and secured by this act.
Approved MAY 81, 1870