Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1900-10-27
LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
Circular From the United States
District Attorney.

The following communication from
the Hon. h. d. Hill, United States Dis
trict Attorney for Kentucky, will serve
as a warning to all inclined to violate
the election laws. Mr.. Hill has been
very jealous in his prosecution Of such
cases of this nature as have come up in
the Federal Court, and has written this
letter to the Commissioners throughout
the whole state. 1t reads as follows:
",Sirs: Recently so many inquiries
have reached me from United States
Commissioners as to the laws OF the
United States that apply to elections
when no Congressman is elected, and to
elections when Congressman is elected,
that l have thought it best to respond
to all such inquiries by means of this
circular letter.
GIL Under section 55O7, Revised Stat
utes of the United States, 1t is made un-
lawful for any person to prevent, him
der or control Negro from exercising,
or in exercising, the right of suffrage
by means of bribery or intimidation.
This section applies to all elections,
state or Congressional.
"(2.) Under section $40 1t is made un-
lawful for two or more persons to con-
spire to commit an offense against the
laws of the United States; therefore if
two or more persons conspire to pre-
vent, hinder or control Negroes from
exercising the right of suffrage by
means of bribery or intimidation, and
one or more of such persons do any
act to effect the object of the conspir-
become liable to the penalties denounced
by the section.
"(3.) Under section sos of said Stat
utes, If two or more persons conspire
to injure, Cypress, threaten or intimi-
date any citizen, white or black, in the
free exercise or enjoyment of any right
or privilege secured to them by the
Constitution or laws of the United
States, they become liable to the very
heavy penalties denounced by that Sec
ton. Section 2004 of said Statutes was
enacted to enforce the fifteenth amend
ment of the Constitution, and grants to
all citizens white or black the right
not to be Disseminated against on ac-
count of race, color or previous condt-
ton of servitude-in all elections state
and National-which right was also
granted, as held by the Supreme Court
In a number of cases, by said amend
ment of its own force.
Therefore a conspiracy to discrimi-
nate against voter on account of his
color, in any election, is conspiracy
to prevent him from the exercise and
enjoyment of a right existing under
the Constitution and laws of the United
States.
"(4.) Another Constitutional right
that is granted to every citizen, white
or black, is the right to vote in cleo
tons for Congressman. When Con-
gresham is elected the Constitutional
right of the voter differs materially
from his Constitutional right when no
Congressman is elected. In the latter
case as above shown-in state elections
only-his right is that he shall not be
Disseminated against on account of
color; while in the former case his
right is to vote, free from intimidation
or hindrance, without regard to color,
and if two or more persons conspire to
injure, Cypress, threaten or intimidate
him in the free exercise and enjoyment
of that right, they subject themselves