Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-05-14
Kansas Convention Law.

egates to a convention to frame a con-
stitution preparatory to its admission
into the Union of States is Just now the
subject of discussion. The Republicans
allege that under the law authorizing
the convention, the free state men are
in effect excluded from voting, and that
therefore, they will remain away from
the polls and refuse to participate in
the election. The New York Journal
Of Commerce publishes the convention
law and its provisions entire, which We
have examined, and must confess that
we can discover nothing for any such
allegations. There is no doubt of the
law having some defects, but they are
not of such a character as to justify the
free state men in remaining away from
the election.
The journal Of Commerce says: so
far as relates to fraudulent voting, or
intimidation or obstruction of the bal
lot-boxes, it is all that could be asked
or desired. Preparatory to the election
of delegates, sixty in, number, who are
to frame asState Consultation, this law
provides that between the first of March
and the first of April of the; present
year, a census shall be taken of t all the
free male inhabitants, citizens of the
United States, over twenty4one years, of
age, and all other white persons actually
residing" in the Territory. When the
census has been taken and returned to
the Governor, he will divide the aggre-
gate number of voters by sixty, and this
will give the number of votes for each
delegate, which will be apportioned to
each county according to the number
of qualified voters. A registry of all
the voters names is to be madea and filed
in the Office of the Probate Judge, where
it will be kept open for inspection and
correction for thirty days; and none are
allowed to vote except those whose
names are registered. None but bona
fde citizens can vote, and if they do,
the registry is the best means to detect
illegal and fraudent voting. All outside
interference in the election, whether
from the North or South, is especially
guarded against.
The election is to be held on the third
Monday in June next. Every bona
fde inhabitant of the Territory" on
that day, +" being a citizen of the United
States, over the age of twenty-one years,
and who shall have resided three months
next before said election, in the county
in which he offers to vote, and no other
person., whatever, shall be entitled to
vote at said election" None therefore,
can vote who were not bona Jfde inhabi-
tants of the Territory on the 18th ult..
and who shall not continue to reside in
the same county, until the election.
This three months residence has been
much complained of at the East, and
doubtless it will prevent many Yankees
from going there to vote, who otherwise
would have gone. On the other hand,
it will prevent many Missourians from
rushing in, for a day or a week prior to
the election, who cannot afford to reside
there three months, in the same county,
for the sake of voting. A good many
probably have gone in, both from Miss
ouri and Iowa, and also from Illinois
and Wisconsin, for the sake of voting,
but far less than if this three months
residence had not been required. Force
or intimidation to prevent any legal
| voter from voting is forbidden under
heavy penalties, and so also is every at
tempt at illegal voting, and all fraud oil
| the part of election officers"
That portion of the law which pro-
hibits improper voting or interference
with legal voters, is contained in the
18th, 14th and 10Th sections of the act
which we here insert, and in all sincerity
think it is all that can be asked. Every
qualified citizen can vote under its pro-
visions:
SECTION 13. If any person by men
ace, threats or force, or by any other
UNLAWFUL MeduS, SndlI ulICCGly VI luu
rectly attempt to influence any qualified
voter in giving his vote OF deter him
from going to the poll, or distubrb or
hinder him in the free exercise of his
right of suffrage at said election, the
person so offending shall be ~adjudged
guilty of a misdemeanor, and punished
by fine not less than five hundred dol
lars, or by Imprisonment not less than
three months, nor more than six, or by
both. @
Sec. II. That every person, not be-
ing a qualified voter according to the
provisions of this act, who shall vote at
any election within said Territory,
knowing that he is not entitled to vote,
and every person who, at the same cleo
ton, shall vote more than once, whether
at the same or a different place, be ad-
judged guilty of a mi>demeanor. and be
punished by a fine of not less than one
hundred dollars, nor exceeding two
hundred, or by imprisonment not less
than three months, nor exceeding six,
or both.
Sec. Is. Any person, whatsoever.
who may be charged with holding the