New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-17
THE REGISTRY QUESTION.

The Republican party Of our State, in preparing
for our last Election, held State Convention and
put forth platform of principles on which they
sought to be ibtrusted with power for the ensuing
year. One plank Of that platform distinctly, EN-
phsticaly affirmed the propriety and necessity of a
Registration of the Legal Voters residing in each
Election District of our State. Not one voice was
raised against this most righteous propOstiOn-not
whisper of dissent from it was uttered in any Rs-
publican quarter. If there was any point on which
the Republicans of our State seemed united and
earnest in our late canvass it was in affirming the
justice and desirsbility of Registry Law.
Such q law must Of course be passed BY the
Legislature; and the People Of our State gave the
Republicans full power in choosing their present
Assembly. Out of the l28 Members who compose
that body, only 30 were chosen in defiance Of the
Republican vote, and one Of these (Mr. Law,
Amercan) is firm supporter of Registration.
And now Mr.. Morris of Yates, Mr.. LOOMS Of
Oneida, and we suppose some Others, who were
elected a. Republicans giving no public notice that
they dssented from the platform OF their party on
this subject openly and unequivocay oppose, not
some particular bill or feature of BILL but Regis
tration in general, ard seem desperately bent on
defeating the measure 1t seems TO US that, being
thus hostile to the most prominent measure pro-
posed to be enacted at this Session, these gentle
men ought not to have been candidates for the
Legislature, or should have been candidates on the
other side.
But the reasoning of these gentlemen seems to
us as Himsy ard incOnsequent as their attitude is
Inconsistent with good faith. Mr.. Morris objects
to Registry Of Votes that the mere enactment Of
law will rot prevent fraud. Certainly not. No
law ever did that The general object of law is to
discourage and diminish frauds BY in:erposins i'm.
pediments to their sue .essful and safe commission
and denouncing penalties against their perpetrators.
If Mr. Morriss logic is sound, he should insist on
the immediate repeal especially Of all acts requiring
the registration of Title Deeds and Mortgages and
generally of all restraining acts whatever.
Al to voters Right Of Suffrage being infrinsed
by Registry Law, our Albany correspondent hiss
well said that it is just clearly infrnged BY chal
lenge and the requirement Of an oath that he is
legal voter. In either case, the recognition AID
enjoyment Of his right depend on the establish.
ment of that right BY testimony. The point in
controversy is just this" Shall each citizens
" claim to be legal voter be investigated and de-
"cided amid the hurry, strife and excitement of
"an Election or shall it be established and ad.
Judged some days previously so that not merely
"those who chance to be watching him when he
" offers his ballot, but ell the legal voters of bis
precinct may lave full and fair opportunity to
" challenge his claim to be voter and time to
" make that challenge geodl Which is fairssL
(Which most eaective-ttat only those who are
within full view Of an alleged voter when he sees
" fit to offer his ballot shall be afforded chance to
" challenge him, or that every legal voter of bis
ELECTION District be enabled to do sol" This
being the real matter in dispute, we urge every
intelligent, upright citizen TO pass upon it and act
on his conclusion.
1t is possible, We know, to make Registration
of Legal Voters an annoying and expensive pro-
cess; but this il not at al necessary. There are
probably some twenty FIVE hundred to three thou.
SAID Election Districts in our State, in st least
seven ishths of which tAs Inspectors vine held
the last Fall Election couli set larc a-y Lay csxs