New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-10-26

ELBRIDGE G. BALDWIN.
FRAUDS AT ELEcrIoss.-' Pipe-Laying. The
general law of this State prescrbes the qualiiica-
tions Of Electors and allows every man who pleas
es to offer vote at Elections. If not challenged.
such vote is received into and ceuued out of the
BalIst-Boxes. If challenged, the voter mus, swear
himself legally qualified, and then his vote goes in.
The Inspectors refuse ii at their peril even when
they Know it to be fraudulent, and the ofierer not
entitled to vote. The false yoter may be punished
if pursued and convicted, but the false rote stands
good, and neutrazes that of the best man in the
city. But the heated partisan or hired instrument
that wishes vote Illegally may watch his time and
generally vote without challenge or suspicion. If
ne be so unlucky provoke chacrge and too
cautious or not sufficiently reckless to swear
through, he has only to back out say he is opposed
to swearing, and try some other poll
Such Is the law of the State; and no man can
fail to that it offers strong temptations to AID
facilities for illegal voting. The infatuated part-
san, the selfish aspirunt, the gambler who has
staked his thousands the triumph Of his party.
is constantly antalized with the suggestion Half
dozen votes may make or undo me. warrant
the other side is cheating Why shall not match
them, and serve nyselfand the Country at once
For years it has been esteemed by too many po-
liticians venia offence get in votes unfairly fsr
the right side. The consequences Of this state
of things are inevitable. In the thinly populated
town. where the inspectors and chGllengers know
pretty certainly who are and who are not entitled
TO vote, and tho former do faithfully their whole
duty, illegal voting is comparatively rare but il
tho large towns, the considerable villages, and the
cities, our Elections have for years been ,aine ed
more or less by Illegal voting and the evil has been
steadily increasing. Illegal voting has been open
" boosted of and gorcd in, until it has become al
most matter Of course for men to wink at it when
perpetra,ed in behalf Of their party. Under
such loose Election Laws, this wa. to have been
expected.
The evil in our City-whcrc it was probably
more systematic and formidable than elsewhere
early attracted public attention. In 1884, Van
Buren, Common Council unanimously came to the
conclusion that nothing short of thorough Re
gs,raton OF the Legal Voters could arrest it. In
this Judgment, the Wings concurred, and pledged
themselves accordingly. But our opponents
neglected to do what they had unanimously rcsoly
cd to be essential TO the purity OF the Elective
Franchise They would not do it ; had no
power. So ii passed on till 1897, the evil still
VIGOROUSLY existing and becoming systematic. In
1887 we revolutionzed the State, but the Senate
held out against for two years longer, and We
could do nothing. At last. in 1889, our third VIC
tory gave that branch also, and then pro-
eeeded in good faith and in compliance with our
pledges, to pass Registry Law.
Every effort was made 10 render this &C, as per-
feet, as little burrhensome AID as rigidly uneX-
ceptonabe possible. Th- Loco.Foco Assem-
bly-men from this City solicited TO cooperate
with the Wing Senators in rendering it as Impair
italy efficient, thoroughly faultess, as possible
They refused to do any thing whatever The
LocoFoco journals. after abusing Us as hypocrl,i.
cal and false, and proclaiming that never meant
to pas, and did not wish to have onc-thcv turned
square round when they found us in earnest, and
abused US on the other tack Now Registry
Law became a horrible iniqa;y-an odious irpo-
sit'on-a conspiracy against the Elective Fran
ohise it>elt-and men as gody as District Attorney
Butler could sand up in Tammany Hall and tell
their ignorant and crcdulous listeners that the
Registry WAS intended to restrict the Elective
Franchise, and would deprive many poor men of
the RICH, 10 vote
Ye, in the face OF deafening ou,cr3. binding
prejudice and the bases, misrepresentation. the
law was passed, and went into effect. We have
held two Elections under it, and are approaching
another Have no, the assertions of its enemies
been proved wanten eaumnies What poor man.
or other man, has been deprived of his Just Ugh,
TO vote What man has been pu, to half 40 much
Inconvenience a. in pressing through the s,rug-
Cling, fighting, drunken rnobs which formerly
blocked up the polls Who has feared TO so to
The Polls. or been there unable deposit his vote
Who has not witnessed with pleasure and pride
great improvement ia the temper and the sobrie,y
OF our Elections And who does not feel ard
know that, with tolerable vigilance and fidelity in
It's execution, this law renders fraud and ILLEGAL
voting morally impossible
Aud Yet thar party whose etfcial minister frs,