New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-23
FEDERAL PROTECTION TO VOTERS.
Provisions for those who have been Re.
fused Registration.

IHSeQ he&IStfaIIOnS
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 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 a
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 favOriUism that may
be introduced into any State.
1t IS to be regretted that any necessity Tor
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
pei lIllJ U1ClI pdIII5du LC0l W OuU"GlSIl Iu6LE
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, hind rance,
or annoyance Of any sort, to vote iOr the
candidates of IFS choice. 70 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. 3. And be it further enacted ThaS whom
ever, by under the authority of the constitution
laws of any State, the laws of any Territory,
any act is shall be required to tbe) done by any
citizen prereq to qualify or antitl6 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
permitting such PerfoTmaBo or 9ner 10 perform,
action thereon, be deerIed and held as a per
fOTmaEce nlaw of such act; and the person offer
ing and tali1ng as aforesaid, ana being OtherNlse
qualified shah be entitled to vote i'll the man
and to the extent as if he had in facs per
formed such act; and any judge, inspector or
other officer of election whose duty it is or
shall he to receive, count certify, register,
rep0ra or give effect to the vote OF any such Gti-
zen who shall ongtully Tetuee omit OTeceive,
count certify register report Or give effect 60 the
vote of such citizen upon the present elton by him
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 he was
wrOnTtully prevented DJ SuGn person OF 0I1c6F
from performing such scS, shall, brewery such
Ofen5e forfeit and pay the gum of 800 to the per
aggrieved thereby 70 be recovered by an action
the case, with full COSTS and such allowance for
counsel fees as the court may deem just; and
shall also for every such Stfense 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 gear, oB
both, at the discretion OF the court.
SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, Thar the dis
trict courts of the United States within their re-
spective districts, shall have exclusively OF the
courts of the several States, cognlzance OF oil
crimes and OtfeBses committed against She 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,
eoan+ as herein otherwise provided and the iurs-
dictiOn hereby conferred shall be exercised in CON
fOrmty With the laws ard practice governing
United States courts; and all crimes and otenseS
committed against the provisions OF this act may
be prosecuted by the indictment of grand jury,
or in cases of crimes and Otenses nOe infamous the
prosecution my either by Indictment or intOrma-
tiOn filed by the district 8tto9l@y an court having
jurisdiction.
ever any person shall be defeated or deprived Of
his election to any office, except @eCtOr Ot PleSl-
dent or Vice President REPRESENTATIVE or Delegate
in Congress or member OF a State Legislature, Hy
reason of the denial TO any STlzen or citizens VINO
shall offer to vote, of the right 70 vote, on account
of race, color previous condition OF serFltude,
his right to hold and enjoy such office, and the
emoluments thereof shall not 90 impaired by any
such denial; and such person may bring an aPpI0-
pirate suit proceeding to recover possession SI
such Office and i'll where it shall appear tnat
the sole question touching the title TO such once
arises out of the denial OF the fSht &c VOie 70 clJ-
zens who offered to vote, ON account o. race,
color or pIeviOus condition St seTFlTude, snCh sulS
or proceeding may be instituted III the Circuit or
District Court of the United States of tho circuit
district i'll which such pcrsen resides and s9ld
circuit district court shab nave, concurrentY
with the State courts jurisdiction thereof so far as
to determine the rights of the parties to such Oce
by of the denial Of the right guaranteed oy
the fifteenth article Of amendment to the conStltu'
ton of the United States, and secured by abs act.
Approved May 81, 1870.