Year: 1866


tration to those citizens of Tennessee who
have been appointed to Office by the said
military or civil Governors upon the pro-
duction of the commission showing such
appointment or the proper certificate of the
Secretary of State, that such commission
was issued, in case of loss. But every
other person claiming to be entitled to the
privilege of the elective franchise, as pro-
vided in this act, shall, before be obtains
certificate thereof, prove by the evidence of
two competent witnesses known to the COM
missioners to have been themselves at all.
times unconditional Union men, that they
are personally acquainted With the person
So claiming. and that they verify believe
shat he has not been guilty eff any OF the
disquaHfcations hereinbefore specially men
tioned, which proof shall be taken upon afi-
dayit, subscribed by said witness and fled
in said Office of said commissioner; and said
applicant shall also take and subscribe the
following oath before the commissioners of
registration.


do sOlemnly swear that have never
voluntarily borne arms against the Govern
ment of the United States for the purpose
or with the intention Of aiding the late re-
bellion, nor have I, with any such inten
tion at any time, given aid, counsel, or en-
coura cement to said rebellion, or to any act
of hostility to the Government of the United
States. I further swear that have never
sought or accepted any Office. either civil
or military, or attempted to exercise the
functions of any Office, either civil or mill
tary, under the authority or pretended au
thority of the so-called Confederate States
of America, or Of any insurrectonary State,
hostile or opposed to the authority of the
United States Government, with the intent
and desire to aid said rebellion; and that
have never given voluntary support to
any such Government or authority. So
help me God.


Provided, That citizens known to said
! commissioner to have always been uncon-
ditioual Union men, never having sympa-
thized with the late rebellion, or who may
be proven to have.been such unconditional
Union men by the oath of two witnesses
who shall be known to said commissioners to
have been themselves, at all times, such un-
conditional Union men, shall not be requir-
ed to take and subscribe any oath whatever
in order to obtain for themselves certificates
of their right to the elevated franchise.


Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That upon
the taking and the fling the proof and cath
required in the Sd section of this act, the
said Commissioner shall register the name
of said voter, and issue to him his certif-
cate therefor; Provided, That nothing here
in contained shall prevent said Commission
er from hearing proof from equally cempe-
tent testimony contrary to contravening the
proof offered and taken in behalf of said
applicant; and the said Commissioner shall
be the Judge of the weight of the conflicting
testimony so far as the same may effect the
issuance Of certificates.


| Sec. 5. Be it further enacted. That no
! person shall be entitled to vote at any State,
! County, District, OF Municipal election, or
any other election held under the laws of
this State, unless he shall have been regis
/ tered and shall have received a certificate
thereof as provided in this act, and any per-
son swearing falsely to any of the facts re-
| quired to be sworn to by the provisions of
this act, shall be deemed guilty of perjury.
and upon conviction thereof shall suffer all
the pains and penalties provided by law for
such offence, and this act and all the pro-
visions thereof shall be strictly construed
to prevent evasion thereof, and the Judges
of all the Circuit and Criminal Courts of
this State shall give this act specially in
charge to the Grand Jury at each term of
such Court.


Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That the
Secretary of State shall provide, at the ex-
pense of the State, the necessary books for
the registration of voters, and shall cause
! to be printed the necessary blanks contain
ing the necessary forms for the oaths, afi-
davits aud certificates, as provided fol ID
this act, which books and blanks shall be
furnished to each Commissioner appointed
and qualified under this act, and the ex-
pense of supplying such books and blanks
shall be audited by the Comptroller and
paid by the Treasurer out of any money IN
the State Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated


Sec. Z. Be it further enacted, That II
shall be the duty of the Governor, before
any State or other general or special cleo
ton. to issue writs of election to command
ing officers of regiments, batteries or de-
taobments of officers and soldiers, who may
be at the time in the service Of the State OF
of the United States Army, wherever To-
Gated, and it shall be the duty Of the officer
to whom such writ is directed to open and
hold, or cause to be opened and held the
election required by said writ, and make
returns thereof to the Secretary OF State
and the votes of such officers and soldiers