Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-12-05

public lands would become virtually mort
gagged to foreigners who would immediate
Iy feel an interest in the sale and disposition
of said lands, adverse to the interest OF the
people, and would use their influence in
Congress to procure the same to be sold for
the highest possible price, and to prevent all
equitable reduction of price, and also all
donations and prescriptions to actual set
tiers.
s. That it is unconstitutional, degrading
to the character of the states, tending to
consolidation and involving corrupt practl-
ces on the part of foreigners for Congress
to engage in any schemes to sustain State
credit in Europe.
9. That copy of these resolutions and
of the two letters to which they refer be
furnished TO the Missouri delegation in Con-
gress, and that the same be spread on the
journals of this House.
Mr.. Doniphan said he wished to have
time to reflect on the resolutions. He
might support some of the resolu,ions 9TH
ers he was opposed to. He moved, there
fore, to lay them on the table and have
them printed. 5000 copies were ordered
to be printed.
AS soon as this matter was disposed Of,
Gen. Hans Smith offered the following res.
olution:
Resolved by the House of Representa-
tives, That the Committee of Criminal Ju-
risprudence be instructed 10 report bill to
prevent frauds at elections, with the follow
ing notifications:
/. To fine any person who votes at a.
ny election IN the State Of Missouri who
has not been one year in the State, and
three months in the county or district.
Q. To fine any minor who votes at any
election, and if the fine be not paid, it is to
remain as a judgement against said minor
until he be q years ofage, and that it shall
be the duty OF the clerk then TO issue an ex-
ecution against said voter, and the sheriff
shall collect the same, if the voter reside in
the county,
8. To punish by fine or imprisonment,
or by both fine and imprisonment, any per.
son who knowingly gives printed or writ
ten ticket to an cector who cannot read,
contrary to his known politics.
a. To punish with fine any person or
persons who cause to DO printed and circu-
lated any false or fraudulent tickets. which
from their face appear designed as fraud
on voters.
5. To punish with Imprisonment in the
Penitentiary any person or persons who Ell
Their give or receive bribe, either directly
or indirectly, in voting at any election in
the State of Missouri.
6. To punish by Imprisonment in the
Penitentlary any person or persons engaged
in, or endeavoring to bring into the State OF
Missouri, voters from other States, with the
design of controlling the elections OF the
State Of Missouri against the will of the ma.
jority of the voters, and in violation of the
provisioos of the Constitution of our State.
Mr.. Smith said that he proposed these
changes in the existing laws, because he
wanted to guard against frauds in elections
as far as it was possible for the Legislature
to do so. On this question he hoped that
party feeling would be disregarded-
should certainly lay it aside himself. In
other countries overt acts to revolutionize
the government were punished with death.
In our country similar acts of fraud and vi
olence, to subvert the will of the majority,
should be severely punished. The prac-
tice has crept in upon US Of transferring
voters from State to State to control cleo
tons where they have no right to VOTE
This was making the minority govern, not
the majority. He was one of those who
believed that the people are capable of self
government-he thought they had the in
telligence, the virtue and the patriotism to
hold the sovereign power in their own
hands, and WELD it wisely and safely. He
deemed it their power to be in danger
And at the proper time he should be pre-
nor tn eho,., he
ces IN which elections have been lately
controlled by fraud, the absolute necessity
laws to maintain the purity of the
elective franchise and the sovereignty of
the people.
The resolution was adopted.
The following resolution, offered by Mr..
Hunt of Galloway, was likewise adopted:
Resolved, by the House of Representa-
tives, that the President of the Bank of
Missouri furnish to this House a list of the
names of the directors Of the Bank of the
State Of Missouri, to correspond with the
l, =, 3, &C., contained in the re-
port Of the examining committee, if it be in
the power OF the President to do so. Ifthe
President cannot furnish such names, that
he be instructed to lay before the House, so
soon as practicable, the names and liabilities
Of the Directors of the Bank of Missouri.
Mr.. H. Smith explained that the Pres-
dent was not able to give the information:
when he was directed by the House to
write to the Cashier and obtain the infor.
nation required.
The LAW OF NEwsPApERs.-We learn
rom the Boston Courier, that Judge vii.
lams in late case before the Common