Year: 1868

covering OF Inlck paper, securely sealed
with wax. This covering will be preserved
until voting is resumed. The sealing and
opening of the boxes in the manner directed,
Will be done in public


The registrars VIII begin the election at
the most remote precincts, and proceed by


the most practicable route, from precinct TO
the county seat or other place where the re-


vision of the registration may have been
held, and upon the arrival theTeat of all the
commissioners of election they will at once
open one poll aud hold the election one day
Tor that precinct. at which poll, however,
any registered voter of the county who has
not previously voted NAV east his ballot


The voting at this poll will close the elec-


tlon for the county. Within twenty-four


hours after the closing of the election in
each county, the ballot-boxes will be opened


the ballots counted, and return of the cleo
ton made upon the blank forms prescribed
and furnished, and delivered to tue hands of
a registrar to be hereafter designated. who
Will at once bring them to these Headquar-
ters. Before the opening of the ballot boxes
the registrars Will invite at least one suita-


BILE person of each political party to be in
attendance during the counting of the bal
lots and the making up of the return. Such
persons will be afforded fair opportunity
OF seeing that no frauds are committed, but
IN no instance and under no pretence will
any return be made by the Commissioners
OF Election except in the manner above pre-
seribed. .A
". Judges and clerks of election will be
selected by registrars, preferably from among
the residents of their respective districts;
| but If they cannot be obtained therein
competent and qualified under the law then
| from among the residents of the county;
and If not obtainable in the county, then
from the State at large; they are required


to take and subscribe to the oath of office
prescribed by the act of Congress of July2,


IL I, i'll


the registrar. The oaths, properly sub
scribed. will be forwarded Immediately for
file in the office of the Acting Assistant Ad-
jutant General at these Headquarters.


The pay of these officers will be six (6)
dollars per dierd, for each day they are ac-
tually employed on their legitimate duties,
aud their actual expenses of transportation
within the county.


V. In accordance with the acts of Con
gress which became law March IL, 1865,
any person duly registered in the State of
Mississippi will be permitted to vote in the
election precinct where he offers to vote,
when he has resided therein ten days next
preceding the election, upon presentation OF
his certificate of registration, showing that
he had not voted at this election, and upon
making oath before the Commissioners that
he had resided in said precinct for the time
specified. All ballots received under the
provisions of this paragraph will be firmly





joined, transmitted with the rcturnsl and
other ballots to these Headquarters. Blank
oaths, for the use of voters under the prOvis-
ions hereof, will be furnished to the Commits
siOner of election from these Headquarters.


VI. The Commissioners of election will
prepare and forward withthe election return
a list of the registered electors in each pre-
cinct who have not voted at this election,
and list of all voters under the provisions
of the foregoing paragraph, who have voted
at the election. Such lists will show the
name of each person, whether white or col
ored, the number of his certificate of regis
tration and the precinct in which he is regis
tered.


VII. None but registered voters will be
permitted to challenge the right of others to
vote, and no challenge except as TO residence
ana identity VIII be entertained. While IT Is
the imperative duty of the Commissioners to
do their utmost to ensure the purity of the
election, care must be taken to prevent the
abuse of tho right to CHALLENGE 10y evil disposed
persons, who may desire to impede the cleo
uon.


VIII. The Sheriff of each county is made
responsible for the preservation of good order,
and the perfect freedom of the ballot at the va
rious election precincts in the county. To
this end he will appoint a deputy-who shall
be duly qualified under the laws OF the State
for each precinct in the county, who Will be
required to be present at the place of voting
during the whole time the election is being
held. 1he said deputies will promptly and
fully obey every demand made upon their ofii-
cial services in preserving the peace and good
order by the Commissioners Of feection. Sher-
ifs, i'll making their appointments, will eXer-
else great care to select men whom they know
:" be in every way able TO serve Deputies ap-
pointed in accordance with The foregoing. will
be paid five dollars for the days service on ac-
counts approved by the Registrar, out of the
reconstruction fund.


TX. AS an additional measure for secur-
ing the purity of the election, each registrar
f1de nd pla Is clio anA fth
| the functions of deputy sheriff or consta-
bic, and is empowered to make arrests, and
authorized to perform all duties appertain-
ing TO such officers under the laws of the


State, during the days of election.
y. AT every precinct on the days of elec
tion, ali public baT-rooms saloons, or other
places at which intoxicating or malt liquor
is sold at retail, viii be closed. Should any
| infraction in this respect come to the
knowledge of the G mmissioners of election,
OF the deputy sheriff in attendance, they
/ will Immediately cause the arrest of the
offending party, or parties, and the closing
OF his or their, place of business. All parties


so arrested will be placed under bonds, of


not less than one hundred dollars (Sl00 )to
appear for trial when required by proper
authority. OF in case of failure to give the
required bond, will be hell in arrest to


await the action of the General Commuding
AI. The carrying of fire arms or other
i


polls is positively prohibited under penalty


of forfeiture of the weapons, and of being
punished as prescribed by the Statutes of the
State forbiddiDg the exhibition of deadly
weapons in threatening manner. All arms


seized under this order will be turned in to


the nearest post commander, for shipment
to the Chief Ordinance officer of the Dis
! trict.


XII Should violence or fraud be perpe-
| trated at the election in any precinct, the
/ General Commanding will exercise TO the
! fullest extent the powers vested in him for


the purpose of allowing to all registered
electors an opportunity to vote freely and
/ fearlessly, and any provision in any contract


tending to abridge the right to vote is here


by declared utterly null and void.
! XIII. No registrar, judge clerk will be
| permitted to become a candidate for any
office N this State at this election, nor viii
/ they be permitted to exercise the functions


of any office or authority connected with the


election other than that received from these
| Headquarters.


| XIV. The evident intention of the law


under which this election is held being tn


obtain an expression of the will of the quail
! ified electors, it is ordered that all officers
| of the army and agents of the Bureau of