Year: 1865

Iuo io'IOWiuS are tHc pIONisIOHs VI tuc p'i'
recently passed by Congress to prevent off,
GERS of the army and navy, and other per-
sons engaged in the military and naval SER
vice Of the United States, from interfering
10 elections in the States: s.a u5il ISL


BE it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled, That it
shall not be lawful for any military or naval
officer of the United States, or other persons
engaged in the civil, military, or naval SER
vice of the United States, to order, bring,
keep, or have under his authority or control,
any troops or armed men at the place where
any general or special election is held in any
State of the United States of America, UNI
less it shall be necessary to repel the armed
enemies of the United States, or to keep the
peace at the polls. And that it shall not be
lawful for any officer of the army or navy of
the United States\to prescribe or fix by pro,
clamation, der, or otherwise, the qualihca,
tons for voters in any State of the United
States of America, or in any manner to in,
terfere with the freedom Of any election in
any State, or with the exercise of the free
right of suffrage in any State of the United
States. Any officer of the army or navy of
the United States, or other person engaged
in the civil military, or naval service of the
United States, who violates this section of
this act, shall, for every such offence, be liable
to Indictment as for a nsdemeanor in any
Court of the United States having jurisdic'
ton to hear, try, and determine cases OF
misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall
pay fine not exceeding five thousand dollars,
an1c cut1o in
not less than three months nor more than
five years, at the discretion of the Court
trying the same; and any person convicted
as aforesaid shall, moreover, be disqualified
from holding any Office of honor, profit, or
trust, under the government OF the United
States; Provided, That nothing herein con-
tained shall be so construed as to prevent
any officers, soldiers, Sailors or marines, from
exercising the right OF suffrage in any cleo
tion district to which he may belong, if
otherwise qualified, according to the laws of
the State in which he shall offer to vote


Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That
any officer or person in the military or naval
service OF the United States, who shall order
or advise, or who shall directly or indirectly,
by force, threat or menace, intimidation or
otherwise, prevent or attempt to prevent
any qualified voter of any State of the United
States, of America from freely exercising the
right of suffrage at any general or special
election in any State of the United States,
or who shall in like manner compel, or at.
tempt to compel any officer of any election
in any such State to receive vote from
person not legally qualified to vote or shall
impose, or attempt to impose, any rules or
regulations for conducting such election diff
ferent from those prescribed by law, or in


terfere in any manner with any officer of
said election in the discharge of bis duties,
shall for any such offence be liable TO indict


ment as for misdemeanor, in any Court of
the United States having jurisdiction to
hear, try and determine cases of mis(kmean-
or, and on conviction thereof shall pay a fine
of not exceeding five thousand dollars and
suffer imprisonment in the penitentiary not
exceeding five years, at the discretion Of the
Court trying the same, and any person con


victed as aforesaid shall, moreover, be dis
qualified from holding any Office Of honor,
profit, or trust, under the government of the
United States. ai eoqe o4a eH


Approved Feb. 25 1885, 'ao3