The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-10-19

ILLEGAL VoTlNe-PuRlTy OF TIE BAL
LOT Box AT every election in our city
for years past, both parties have COM
planned Of illegal voting; and indeed the
facilities for perpetlating frauds upon the
ballot box are so great that the unscruPu-
lous may enter upon that work almost
with IMMUNITY and with certainty ofsuc
cess.
The evil calls for remedy that shall
be radical and conclusive. We are
about to have an amended Constitution
for the State, and it Is altogether proba-
BILE that the number of elective officers
will be considerably increased. II IT Is
the will ofthe people that this should be
so, very well. But in such case it will
become mort important than ever that the
real Voice of the majority should be fair
1y expressed through it. The CRIME OF
treason Is seldom head Of in this country
but if there be an offence which carries
with it the essential characteristics oftrea
son it is this very crime Of fraud upon
the right of suffrage. The sovereignty
os the people IS invaded by it, and the
governing power attacked in its first ele-
nents.
II will be for the Convention to take
up this subject, nor do We know any more
important matter that is likely 10 engage
the attention of that body. If We are to
go to the people directly forthe appoint
ment of officers the first thing to be secu-
red is that the power so appealed to shall
not be defrauded of its prerogative. But
the experience Of every year in this city
shows that the laws which regulate the
right of suffrage afford no safeguard
against constant and systematized fraud.
The remedy must begin with the be-
ginning. The day of the election when
the polls are crowded and there is much
excitement, is no time to examine and de
termine upon the right OF q ,nsn TO vote.
That should be settled beforehand. Let
every voter be registered in the ward or
distsict where he resides and where he is
entitled 10 vote, so that when the day OF
election comes the record will speak for
him and secure to hun his right without
further questions. In this way. and we
believe in no other way, can the purity
ofthe ballot box be assured and preserv.
ed.
There was a great deal OF complaint
against the Registry law which was in
force III this city some years ago, but the
Chief ground of complaint, if we mistake
not, was the partial nature OF the law,
which was confined in its application to
the city alone. The distinction was
thought TO be invidious. But the Reform
Convention can make the law general
throughout the State, and can give it by
The sanction and the permanence ola con
s.i;u,Ionai provision. We sincerely trust
that this will be done. 1t is a provision
which ought to rest at the foundation Of
our political system-since upon the right
of suffrage the system itself rests. That
right, the prerogative OF sovereignty, can
not be too carefully guarded.
1t would be but very slight trouble
to every voter TO have himself registered |
"a small tax indeed for the safe and sure
exercise Of his right as freeman and for
The prevention oftrauds upon it. We
are at loss to perceive single reaSona-
BILE objection to sucll provision No
ooe entitled to vote suffers injury or the
risk OF injury for there is not the slight |
est danger that any except those who /
ought to be excluded, will be kept from
the exercise Of his privilege as a voter.
We commend the subject TO the consid-
Grafton OF the gentlemen who are soon to
assemble in Convention, and bespeak for
it also the favorable regard OF the COM
munlty a, large [Balt. American.