New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-11-04
VOLUME XII.
Nen 0rleans 1ailp Grestent,
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 4, 1868.
THE ELECTION LAW,

The next election will be conducted under the
provisions of the act approved March 10, 1867
popularity known as the Army Bill" as all Other
elections have been since it first went into opera.
ton.
We have published and rc-published this law, in
enenso, on many occasions; and its general tenor
IL understood, or ought to be understood, by all
our citizens. We believe it is so understood save
on particular point, and that point we propose
to explain so clearly that misunderstanding will be
impossible with the intelligent, and next to i'm.
possible with the dullest.
Dignfied journals, and journals not so dignfed
intelligent men, and others not intelligent, have
on previous election occasions found fault with
the Police for not performing divers and sundry
duties on days of electon-forgetting that the
election law rendered them powerless for the time
being-in fact, temporarily disbanded them. 1t
is our opinion, as well as the opinion of many
good judges of law, that the Police cannot make a
legal arrest from the opening until the closing OF
the polls, and that, should they attempt it. the
person or persons interfered with would have the
inalienable right to treat them as highwaymen.
At given moment the whole city, and everybody
in it. pass under the control of the Superintendent
of Elections, his four Chief Deputies, and his Or
dlnarv ana EXTRAORDINARY Deputies.
The goth section authorizes the Superintendent
Of Elections to employ any number of persons
the Governor may think necessary as his deputies, ;,
ETC.; and the 10Th section prescribes the powers
and duties of said Superintendent and his Depu-
ties. These powers are comprehensive and auto
cratic in the extreme. We will now quote from
the 10th section to show that the powers of the
Superintendent are not confined to the polls, or
their immediate vicinity, but that they comprehend
and embrace the entire corporation, to the abso-
lutte exclusion Of all other authority, judicial, mu-
nicipal executive or otherwise. The 18th section
prescribcs That it shall be the duty of said Su-
perintendent of Elections to take charge of and
superntend, under the control of tile Central
Board of Commissioners, and to he erc1vsion Of
al oder persons, ALL ELECTIONS held in the parish
of Orleans and city of New Orleans" for every
description of elective officers.
The above is clear enough for our purpose. as
it shows the wide scope of the powers of the SUI
perintendent and proves that they are not con
fined to polling precincts or their immediate yicn
ity, but extend over the whole city. STILL to avoid
misconstructon, will quote further from the
same section. The section goes on to say that it
shall be the duty Of the Superintendent to pre-
tranquility and order during elections" This
demonstrates that his authority extends over the
metropolis, for to suppose the law means that he
shall preserve " tranquility" at the polls and al.
low disorder and riots to prevail everywhere else,
would be to suppose an unmtigated absurdity.
Further along the same section declares that it
shall be his duty " to prevent and suppress riots
tumut, violence, disorder and any other improper
practice tending TO the intimidation of voters or