New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-27
NEW ORLEANS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 1872
PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused Registration.

Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused Repatriation.
The officers Of the Republican clubs and
the executive committees throughout the
State should at once prepare blanks in &C
cordance with the following forms, to be
used in all cases where necessary.
We have reports from several If 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,
aud he is out Of blanks. Again, there is a
rush Of applicants, and the business Of
registration conducted SO slowly that many
have to 90 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 favorltlsm that may
be introduced into any State.
1t is to lie 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 tor 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:
An act to enforce the rights Of citizens Of the
United States to vote i'll the several States of
the Union and tor other purposes.
SIC. 3. and be it further enacted, That when
ever, by 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 prerequisite to qualify or 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 reason OF the
wrongful act omission aforesaid or of the person
or officer charged with the duty Of receiving or
permitting such performance or offer to perform,
action thereon be deemed and held as a per
fOrmance naw Of such act and the persen so offer
ing and failing as aforesaid and beng otherwise
qualified shall be entitled to vote in the same man
and to the extent as if he bad III fact per
formed such act; and any Judge, inspector or
other officer of election whose duty 1t 10 or
shall be to receive count, certify, register,
report or give effect to the vote Of any such clti
zen who shall wrongfuly retu. omit to receive,
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 OHicer or person
whose duty it was to act thereon, and that he was
wrOngfllly prevented by such person OF officer
from performing such act, shall, for every such
ofanse forfeit aud pay the sum Of & 500 to the per
son agg1ieved thereby to be recovered by action
on the case with full COSTS and such allowance for
counsel fees 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, be imprisoned not less
than one month and not more than one year, or
both, at the discretion OF the court.
SIC. s. And be it further enacted, That the dis
trct courts of the United States within their re-
spective districts shall have, exclusively of the
courts Of the several States c0gnizance of all
crimes and otfeHSes 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 III con-
fOrmlty 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,
in cases OF crimes and oenses not infamous, the
prosecution may either by Indictment or informa-
tiOn filed by the district attorney court having
SIC %. And be it further enacted, That when
ever any person shall be defeated or deprived OF
his election to any office, except elector of Presl
dent Vice President, Representative or Delegate
in Congress, or member of State Legislature by
reason of the denial to any citizen or 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
emoluments thereof shall not be impaired by any
such deniai and such person may bring an appro-
pirate suit 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 out Of the denial Of the right tc vee to cit
zens who offered to vote, on account of race,
color or p1evions condition Of servitude such suit
or proceeding may be instituted in the Circuit oS
District Court of the United States of the circuit
district in which such person resides. And said
circuit or district court shall have, concurrently
with the State courts jurisdiction thereof far
to determine the rights Of the parties to such office
by Of the denial of the right guaranteed by
the fifteenth article of amendment to the constitu-
ton Of the United States, and secured by this act
Approved May 81, 1870