The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-16
Governor CIark's Veto OF the New Regisfr,

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Governor Clark's Veto OF the New Registry
To TIE ASSEMBLY -
return with my objections the bill entitled An act
to prevent illegal voting in the city of New York.
Article H. OF the Constitution presents the qualca-
ton Of voters at elections IN this State and presents
the only restrictions upon the exercise Of the elective
franchise any person enjoying the qualifications pre-
scbed in the Constitution 10 entitled to the exercise of
that right and cannot without the Infringement OF such
constitutional privileges be deprived thereof II the
power 10 aordee that right exists at ali in the Lssla
tuIe must be found in express provision Of the
Constitution The legislative power Is the crestioo OF
tie to carry out and protect the
rights and privileges guaranteed by the Constitution
not to abIidge them
ing power 70 the legislature to res!rcs !.s saf
frase is that contained la section article and That
only authorizes the Legislature pass MS excludos
nous crime and for preventing persons IN
wager uron the result Of election from voting at
election section OF article authorizes the pa sage
shall be entitled 20 the right Of suffrage established i'm
such Constitution but does not give any authority TO
restrict 1T provide any additional requirement for its
exercise.
This bill, If justified at ALL is to be sustained bv tho
provsiors OF and its intention Is provide for
ss Of TRe Tno Il entitled n a. TO the
ercise Of that power, is bound 90 10 exercise IL
as rot to sbridge the right of the citizen, or
the Constitution The provisions of the bill Ia effec
dis anchse all citizens who able but neglect to
attend before The ,esisterns officers, on the day
specified before the election, to have their names regis
tered 1t makes no Proyisins for supplying suca
omissions on the day OF election out prohibits all,
whose names are not registered from voting IN,
The provisions q the bill are of auch character In
relation to the addition to the registry Of any electors
who shall have neglected to have his name re-
sstered at the first registration unless he shall prove
that 81 arose from inability. Thus negligence 70
exercise right at the time Of the rst election,
punished by the disrsncs, ment not only at that
future elections Htt
This bill in section 6, also requires proof ola quslf
cation OF sx months residence in the Country whsreas
the consultation requires only four months IL also re-
quires melta rsdence Of the voter In the election
district nj the time while the constitution requires
addition that he shall have been resident for thirty
days nextpreceoiag the election
However important may DO the protection Of the cleo
tive franchise from abuse and the exercise Of the power
TO ascertain the czens right Of sufrAge By regsterng
or othsrvise Il must be done In such manner not to
restrict TIE exercise Of constitute1a right or pto
hbit any Individual who, by the rrovfsous OF the con-
stituton il entitled 10 vote and vbo may present him
self on the day Of election and demand his right
slector. from exercising the privilege guaranteed 70 him
By tbs Const.ution. hY20N q CLARK.
ALsAsr, APtl ", lsss.