New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-25
r,lII1T5 PROPOSED REGISTRY LAW.

On Saturday morning we published at length sena-
Tor Hyams' bill /" providing for8a registry OF the
names and residence Of all tie qualified electors OF the
cv IF New Orleans according to Article eleventh. of
The Constitution Of the State.h Being much pressed
for room we could only appreciate many Of the provi
sos of the BILL express fear that i was not suti-
centy stringent to meet the exgencies Of the case,
and to promise to refer to it hereafter.
This morning we redeem our promise, and propose
making a synoptic review of the bill, accompanied
by such comments and suggestions as we may deem
becoming. We enter upon the task willingly; for at
last step has been taken by the Legislature in the
right direction, which involves social moral legal and
political results of vast magnitude and which we most
heartily approve .ls
Before proceeding to examine the details Of tile BILL
however, we must be permitted tomake some general
observations. A Registry Law, ifhonesy framed and
enacted, canhaye but one simple, absolute object to
accomplish; one end to subserve one crime TO pre-
vent-the exclusion of fraudulent and Illegal votes
from the ballot-box. This should be the whole ann
and intent Of the law and if it falls short of complete
ly accomplishing its aims fits guards, requirements
and penalties are not amply stringent; and II loop
hole for fraud and corruption is left open, tile plain
shirt Of the organic law under which it is enacted be-
comes nuity, and to gfeateror less extent, crimes
mon the elective franchise will continue to be perpe
4 trated. ..vs5
No honest llan-no man who is legally entitled to
4 vote and only desires to vote once-can object to
1 rigid and arbitrary Registry Law, which, without
4 being oppressive, will absolutely preclude Illegal
+ double treble quadrupe and quintuple voting, Inc
vile and the vicious the scum filth andmora refuse
of the city, will object, for the yeg good to them)
reason that such statute would sadly curtail their
cherished privileges stop payment orperjures
| To he committed on election days-Would prevent
snirtuous and other refreshments free Of cost, from
being furnished in bountfu profusion several days
| anterior to the election-and would shut them from
the slightest sign recognition on the part Of respect
able people, no matter how animated the pending
canvass. These being facts, no wonder the g moral
black vomit objects ..-s<-
| Such objections, however, should have, and would
have, no weight with honest Legislators. Legislation
should be governed with view to the greatest good
of the greatest number Of respectable, intelligent,
virtuous and industrious citzens-not with eye to
the passage passa geof laws which confer upon
worllhouse habiues, regular customers of Recorders
courts constant inmates at intervals of District lock-
ups, Charity Hospital Migrants and Parish Prison
scoundres, greater privileges and imnunties than
the honorable voter possesses. The rascaties per-
uries and yllanies, which have dsgraced our polls
for many years, alone attributable to the class of
miserable beings referred to and, unfortunately for
law, order and the name Of Louisiana, the legislation
of the State so far this city is concerned, to
have been controlled with view to their encourage
ment and elevation, and to the Encouragement and
depression Of good and true citizens What has been
the consequence? Why, hundreds of our best people
altogether refuse to vote, while the "vomit " goes
from poll to poll and swers his vote in just as often
as he is paid for it, either in money or whisky.
This state Of affairs is wrong and must be remedied
or else our boosted freedom of suffrage is mockery
and farce-a delusion and snare-f1ir exteriolay,
Isbut full OF dangerous col1nptions and rottenness
wthn-a silver veil, like that of the Prophet of
i khorassan, concealing hdeous defornitv (which
when raised may disclose the features of the horld
monster Anarchy, artieulang to the people in fcndish
triumph:
/ 4. Ye cou!d be dupes and victims and ye are"
With these remarks, which trust will be received
in the spirit they written we shall proceed to
canvass the prominent features of the bill published
by us, and which is before the Senate, promising
that shall be just free and sincere in our con
'demnations as we shall be in our concentrations
Were any other rule observed, criticism would b.
! yalueless,
| The first section Of the bill contains an Objectionable
feature. 1t provides that the Governor and Senate
shall appoint Register for four years. Now we con-
tend that the Mayor and Common Council are more
competent to perform this duty than the Governor
and Senate if the people not to be consulted al
all in the matter. We would prefer that the voter
should select for themselves they have to pay thu
expenses and pass through the ordeal of registration
but if that is not practicable we respectfully submit
that the appointing power ought to be vested in thu
executive and legislature of the corporation. TIKI
justice of this must strike every impartial observer
and we cannot doubt that, upon reflection, Senator
Hyan1s will cheerfully make the alteration in his bill
as suggested above.
Then again. we suggest that there should be twt
Il Registers instead Of one-Cana street to lie the di
viding line,
The other provisions in several succeeding section
we regard as judicious. The duties of the Registe
are well defined in the first section. The second sec
ton orders that no shall be put the book
Original Registry Of Voters,'' save the names Q
such citizens as, by the constitution and laws nov
existing or which shall hereafter be enacted, may b
entitled to vote" Then follows directions to the Re
gister for the government of his official conduct
which we quote in full
The Registry Book shall opposite the resi-
the ss low long "s esidsG IN The sSas par
s is and precinct whether nGve naturaed citizen
- how, when and where natuaed, aud the signature Of
is elccor opposite the registry of his and tcht lie
= the constitution of the United niyiut
would have Epl his mark to be witnessed by the Register
The third section directs that natulalized citizens
when applying for registry shall produce their p;
pers, or make affidavit to account for the loss of til
Il same Here stringent provision guarding again
nc the improper Of dead men naturalization paper
II. should be inserted, Mr. Hyams. This is very impo
C. tant, and we surprised at the omission. Coz
- scenceless scoundrels, ignorant people, deludc
in and deceived vote on dead mems naturalization ce
~ tifcates at every election i If the naturalization HI
been consummated in New Orleans, the absence
Il the certificate may be supplied by the clerk of Il
g proper court The fourth section refers to matte
that do not often occur, and is praiseworthly const
vative.
IS The fifth section is 50 important that we republi
y. N it entire:
SEC Be further enacted stc., That Register sh
G. every citizen when his registered origin
certificate corresponding nnne residence number and
as with the original registry, and the presentation of snch cert
cate ii required by the Commissioner Of Election shall
ST. right the date of the granting Of such certiict
as where suC certificates issued naturazed cilizc
shall set forth besides the facts above mentioned The time
place OF naturalization and Court before which such natal
ur pors the certificate presented Reg
where naturalization resulted the the