The weekly Columbian. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne Co., Cal.) 1856-1???, 1856-08-16
RefOrn-The Election Law.

regulating elections in California. Our GOV.
eminent being republican, it is certainly the
arst duty of our legislators to pass such laws as
alll prot' ct and keep pure the fountain of all
our rights and liberties. the ballot-box. mere
general statute regulating the matter is not suf-
iiclent There should be great care bestowed
upon all IFS provisions, and instead of being a
flrrago of absurdity and unintelligblity, it
ought to be clear in all its requirements and
prosperous in all its arrangements.
$40 law in the statute book is of such vast i'm
| portance as this same election law, and yet it
| has been patched up so often. and by so many
d ferent hands. that but few lawyers can be
| found who are learned enough to understand it
| and no courts we believv. who will venture tc
punish under it. For long tim in tn S cou ty
| it was even doubtful who had the appointment
of the election officers. and. if we remember
Alright. the two bodies claiming it Fl ally settled
the matter by appointing the SINE persons.
At present. the appo ntment is vested in the
hands of private individuals. a thing u.heard Of
in the art of legislation. and a refinement of
that scfenc discovered and introduce by that
model of all Legislatures tie first and last OF
its race, the late Know Nothing assemblage at
Sacramento. However, we have no quarrel
with the gentlemen appointed
| The Editor of the True Californian. erdulges
in little uncalled for and illiberal abuse in thu
few last lines of the above paragraph, as that
gentleman we'll knows! The members of the
! House passed a Registration Bill which was de-
ftated in the Democratic Senate. The above
mentioned appointments were the only precau-
| tionary restrictions on illegal voting that could
get any favor in the Senate, and this was only
effected through the popularity of the Consol.-
dation BILL With more liberality, in speaking
of the appointees, this article continues:
"They are worth million of such rum-house
plants as have her, toiore exercised those duties
in this comfy. The principle is a bad one. and
| at war with all our Institutions, and hence We
oppose it,
The remainder of this article is sensible ard
just, and we think will meet with the approba-
ton of a large portion Of our readers:
| But this is not The only nor the most impor
| tant defect in orr election law. There is no
clause in the statute which makes provis on for
| the punishment of such offence as stutIing the
balIot-hox with illegal votes. or substituting
| one ballot box for another The only provision
that by any possibility could be construct d 30
as to reach these offences. is the following being
| the 105th section of AN act to regulate cleo
tions,'' passed March 23d. 1850.
SEC. los. If the Secretary Of State, or any
Inspector. Judge, Board or Judges County
| Clerk. or clerk of an election. Or Clerk of the
District Court. on whom any duty is enioined
by this act. shall be guilty Of any wilthl neglect
| of such duty. or of any fraudulent or corrupt
conduct in the execution Of any such duty. he
or they so offending shall. on conviction there
| of he fined in any sua not exceeding ten thou
sand dollars to which may b. added imprson-
mpnt in the county Jail, not exceeding one
year"
Thus the statutes have offered II prem TN to
| all those scauDdrels. who are daring enouqH TO
vio'' Re pop' lar Sover ign Y. by striking IT the
| very root oFour GOV raIneat by either iiAjag no
penalty at all to the offences or Ise by maxim Y
it matt OF less moment than srnalna a mule
worth $50 For in tbs latter case. the /, lon
may ha 81 mt to The States prison for ten years.
or he may he punished with death, in the discre-
to1 Of The jury.
We Therefore advocate an entire re-organza-
ton of our election laws: we 20 or defining tn
various offences that may he commit tied against
tn purity OF the ell elton Franchise. and we co
for hanging the heartleSs scoundr | who Is 50
IL grateful TO the liberty he enjoys. as to en-
deavor to stfe is sacr,d voice, and trample is
bleed ne image IN the dust Let tn re he n,
benefit OF clergy extend to him. no pardoning
clemeucy after he is convict d. but lit h n
swing rs hi III a. Hanan, aud de Ike the trai
tor Judas.
4 great many causes have been assigned fol
The origin I'd existence OF the Vigilance Com
, N itee of San Francisco: Int ell of them may
h, traced back 10 the giolation of the purity o
elections. Even the death of Mr.. King oU.
ing to this cause. for had not Casey been IN of
fee. as County Supervisor, be would never
have been assaulted by the Bulletin. and the rev
out;on would not have occurred. The people
then owe it 10 thems, Ives 10 revise this election
law entirely. Let them begin by repeating, The
method of calling elections in the county: lei
the right be invested in some judicial oiic, +, to
appoint judges and inspee tors, or TIE response
| bility placed SOM where where II can be trnced
/ Above all. in our CITIES. give Us Peqstrp Lar
For two or three years the c.tzeI $ OF san ran
cisco have been ciamoring for this law, but they
have been headed of by the Broadr OK school,
of politicians. Bglerism rampant has always
been able to defeat the popular will, and keep
the masses in subsection. This we trust, and
believe and feel, will be so no longer The
people are in arms, calling in tones of thunder
| for the security of their rights. and political
tricksters can defraud and defeat them NO Ion
ger"
PLAN OF THE CAPTrAI.-The California Amer
icans of the 18th. says:
/ 1.-THE Commissioners OF the State Capitol hav-
! ing delberated upon the several plans submit
ted to them. decided yesterday in favor OF the
one presented by Reuben Clarke. of San Fran
cisco. The drawing represents building III
form of cross. and the estimated cost is about
100000. We nnd rstand that the plan IT Mr.
| Clarke is to be modified and altered so as to
come within the appropriation. which is $500.
O0a This will probably spoil the symmetry
and beauty of the whole design"
"MAsoN AND DIxov's LINE. In the 18th cen
tury. James H.. of England. then tn Duke o
| York. gave certain lands to Lord Baltimore and
/ William Penn and difficulty soon sprang up
i &c 70 tho nrnnnr nwner to these lands ON The