Year: 1867

maHders Of the Districts in Which these
states are comprised have asked your Instructions
The provision upon this subject is 20 be found the


f section Of the original act and declares the qnaea-
be held for deeeaes to the proposed Constitutional Con,
yenon each State and for tie election TO be held for


the ratification OF the Constitution that may be ramed
by such convention That section provides that dele
gates to such convention shall be elected by the male
citizens Of such States q years old aud upward OF what
race, color previous condition, who have been
resident IN said state oneyear previous tS the dSy or
participation in the Rebellion for felony at
election of the delegates snail also be required upon the
election for ratification The proviso to this section also,
yenon every person excluded from the privilege of hold


ing Office by an amendment to the Constitution Of she
United staes proposed by the XXXIXth Congress- and'


The sixth section provides THAT until the people OF
tOn in the Congress Of the United states, any civil Gov
which may exist therein snal bs deemed pro-
ysoal only. ana all respects subject to the paramount
authority OF the United s2tes at any time % abolish.
modify control or suspend the same; and in all elections
to any Office under such provisional Government all per-
shall be entitled 10 vote and Others who
entitled vote under the provisions of the 5th section OF
this act and no person shall be eligible 10 any Office under
any such provisional Governments who would be dis
qualified from holding Office under the provisions of tho
third article Of said section OF said ConutiOual amend


voter by the 5th section limited to the election OF.
delegates to the Convention and to the question whether
such Convention shall shall not be held and that
qualification is declared for delegates to be elected;
but by the 9th section the qualifications voter
are required in all elections amy office under the exist


ing provisional Governments during their continuance,
and as 20 their eligibility such elections certain classes


The first section of the supplemental act provides


That the Commanding General in each District shall
cause registration made OF the male citizens Of the
United states, 81 years Of age aud upward resident n
each county parish in the state or states included ia
his District which registration shall include only those
persons who are qualified to vote ior deegates Dy tno
original act the person Offering himself Tor regstIatonl
Is also required to take 0atn which, for convenience II
now divide into paragraphs or sections presGryns a.
may be the language OF the act He must s"ea,
or affirm follows That he is citizen OF the state, ana


the day When he takes the oat and that he now resides
in the County of - in the said state Of Ihat Re ~
paTticipaton in any rebellion civil against the
United felony commit against the awsoh
any state of the United states That he has never been
any State legislature nor held any executive
or judicial Gee or ~ heon & soanSt the irnted Sfates
or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof that no
has never taken an oath member OF the Congress OF


be limited states or as an officer Of the United states or
as member Of any State Legislature, or as an executive
or judicial officer OF any state to support the C9nstitn
srrecton rebellion against the United states or gwen


faithfully support Constitution, and obey the laws %
the United States and WILL TO the best OF his ability en-
The second section Of this act provides after the


ast thirty days public notice OF the time and places
which the Commanding General shall appoint ana direct


an election shall be held for delegates TO Convention
and rule is given to fix the number OF the delegates 20
be elected and the apportonment OF these deeSssfs III
the proper subdivisions giving TO eacn suDNi'isi"h
representation in the ratio Of the registered voters


eeaes registered voters shall vote for or against tne


The fourth section provides fort election to ray the
@ & 10 yote t at TIL S gmea ~ he ' e


The sixth section provides that elections in the States
! mentioned in the said original act shal during tI'
onoration of such act be by ballot and all officers man


he said REGISTRATION of voters and conducting sueh
tons shall before entering upon the discharge yr q ~
duties take OATH prescribed BY Ihe acs OF July D. ~
entitled AN act 10 prescribe an oath OF Orice.


The first consideration that requires my attention upon


the question to the right to vote arises upon the s
qualification is fixed by the registration Nop9yer y
given any other b0aT or any cscr authority ste He
pcgons whose IS e aed to are


titled vote subject to the limitation hereinafter men
toned aud others This registration must be e2p-
pleted before the first day or SEPTEMBER 1851;
The q1fG6s cannot the be Extended beyond a
fixed time but after that the duties which remain to be
performed by the officers composing tins Board are limited
To holding and experimenting the elections and making
the proper returns TO the Commanding General lhs
Tegstrationl First As to citizenship and residence. No
person entitled to vote who shall not be resident m the
necessary that this previous residence for year should
exist at the time the person APPLIES ~ Tor o "a
registration, although he has not at that time pee1


gnpemena act that the oath as to residence does not
require the applicant to swear that he has then been


number Of months Of his residence contemplating


period less than as well as fu term OF twelve ~ nons
at any election subsequently to De heid tnat tne
does not cover entire year. he cannot vote at such
eectonfor this supplemental act does not as 70 resi-
explicitly provided BY it, registration that it shall


include only those who are are 2%%ea 70 yGe % Py & e n IE ab
rSpect as to residence the Boards Registration should
has not extended to full term the time of his
residence. As TO citizenship the quacatlon stated ia


rst clause OF the first section the supplemental
the registration is to he made of the male citizens OF tho
United states and TO the oath the applicant only
required that he is citizen of the state am
OF opinion that the phrase citizen of The State, as used IN
m sO sTs Citizens of the United States and citizens Of
the state and that an alien who has not been
take the OATH but as the Boards OF Registration
have only authority to administer the prescribed
oath they cannot require further oath or PROOF as 10
citizenship, and if alien not made citizen of the
United States takes this oath ne takes u AZ ms peril anu
no one Is entitled 20 registration who IL not at east
years of age on the day that ne sppes i0T % rp h
In tms respect qualification as to age differs IRON ,s
qualification to residence ana the fact tha miQolp
day of the subsegnsnt election Third; Next as to dis
franchsemen shall consider the various clauses on as
franchsement according to the order ana dNson n,V
sections hereinafter stated and first ~ the general
clause declaring dsfranchisement' -, a. ,,..


The fifth section Of the original act denies he gnt 70
vote TO such a. may dsfranchised for IN
the rebellion, felony at common LAW as WIs e yeen
rebellion tho supplemental act enarges tne asaus


caton requires ths applicant 60 swear SC % s mas
or civil war against tho Unted states, nor for felony
SGm%tGd mi Dss s'ss ssse. the what " then uSrs
csement under these provisions Est
GsS SSSsdeT 'S' or felony Sc
OF such participation orof the OF feonous
must he ascertsned by the judgment ofa court.
IHgisistive act passed by competent authority Dsfran
% sste or the United States consequent on eonc
Hon in the courts either Of the United States Of
,,nder these acts am not aware Of any law Of tho
United states which works dlssnchisement % ths


follow from the conviction for treason
conspiracy to % OF Sr any ether act 81
OF Che United states does not declare what shall be s
Congress with the limitation that corruption Of blood
shall not follow as consequence, or any iorsre h e