Year: 1872

Provisions for those who have been Re-
fused Registration.


The officers of the Republican clubs and
the executive committees throughout the
State should at once prepare blanks in ac-
cordance with the following. forms, to be
used in all cases where necessary.


We have reports from sever al of the eoun-
try parishes to the effect that the colored
people encounter obstacles in getting their
registration papers. One day, the registrar
is absent and the office closed. Another,
and he is out Of blanks. Again, there is a
rush of applicants, and the business of
registration conducted so slowly that many
have to go away. As a rule, those thus sent
away are not white men. Under our State
laws, registration is absolutely necessary as
a prerequisite to voting; but, fortunately,
ample provision has been made in the laws
of Congress to protect the rights of all vic
tins of any system of favOritism that may
be introduced into any State.


1t is TO be regretted that any necessity for
an appeal from our own laws should be
even deemed possible. A fair and impair
tial administration of our registration and
election statutes will secure the rights of
every voter; but in tie hands of men who
permit their partisan zeal to outweigh their
sworn obligations, these laws may be ade
an engine of wrong and oppression. We
simply desire that every voter shall have
fair chance, without restriction, hindrance,
or annoyance of any sort, to vote for the
candidates of his choice. To that end we
give the federal law bearing on the subject,
that.O clubs may be ready, III case of
need, to protect their interests:


An act to enforce the rights of citizens of the


United States to vote III the several States of


the Union and for other purposes,


SEQ. 8. And be it further enacted, That when
ever, by under the authority of the constitution
or laws of any state, or the laws of any Territory,
any act is shall be required to (be) done by any
citizen prerequisite to qualify or entitle him
to vote, the offer of any such citizen to perform
the act required to be done as aforesaid shall, if
1t fail to be carried into execution by of he
wrongful act or omission aforesaid of the person
or officer charged with the duty of receiving OF
permitting such performance offer to perform,
or action thereon, be deemed and held as per
formance inlaW of such act; and lhe person so offer
ing and failing as aforesaid and beng otherwise
qualified shall be entitled to vote IN the same man
and to the same extent if he had in fact per
formed such aeT; and any judge inspector or
other officer of election whose duty it is
shall be to receive count, certify, register,
report, give effect to the vote of any such citi
zen who shall ngfuly refuse or omit to receive
count, certify, register report or give effect to the
vote Of such citizen upon the presentation by him
of his affidavit stating such offer and the time and





whose duty it was to act thereon, and that he was
wrOngfully prevented by such person officer
from performing such act, shall, for every such
Offense forfeit and pay the sum of 500 to the per
aggrieved thereby, to be recovered by action
the case, with full COSTS and such allowance for
counsel tees as the court may deem just; and
shall also for every such Otfense be guilty of q
misdemeanOr, and shall, on conviction thereof, be
fined not less than IS o. be priBoned not less
than one month and not more than one year, or
both, at the discretion Of the court.


SEC. 8. And bB it further enacted, That the dis
f,ptR ptg of tha wifi niT
spective districts, shall have, exclusively of the
courts of the several States, cognizance of all
crimes and 0fieases committed against the pro-
visions of this act, and also eoncurrently with
the circuit courts of the United States, of all
causes civil and criminal, arising under this act,
except as herein otherwise provided, and the juris-
dicJon hereby conferred shall be exercised in con
formity with the laws ard practice governing
United States couftsi and all crimes and otfenses
committed against the provisions of this act may
be prosecuted by the Indictment Of a grand jury,
or in cases of crimes and offenses not infamous the
prosecution msy either by Indictment or informa-
ton fled by the district attorney in court having
jurisdiction.


ever any person shall be defeated or deprived of
his election to any office except eleCtor Of Presi
in Congress, or member OF a State Legislature, by
reason of the denial to any citizen citizens who
shall offer to VOTE of the right to vote, on account
of race, Color previous condition of servitude,
his right to hold and enjoy such office, and the
thereof shall not be impaired by any
such denial; and such person may bring an apprO-
pirate suit or proceeding to recover possession of
such Office and in where it shall appear that
the sole question touching the title to such office
arises out of the denial Of the right tc vote to cit
zens who SO offered to vote, on account of race,
color pre7Ops cOnditiO@ of servitude, such suit
or proceeding may be instituted in the Circuit sr
District Count Of the United States of the circuit
district in which such person resides. And said
circuit or district court shall have, concurrenty
with the State courts jurisdiction thereof far
to determine the rights of the parties to such Office
by OF the denial Of the right guaranteed by
the fifteenth article Of amendment to the conBtitu.
ton Of the United States and secured by this act
Approved May 81 1870.