New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-03
Republics, Their Vital Principle - The
Right and Duty Of Sunrnge-Our Elec-

Republics, Their Vital Principle The
Right and Duty Of sunrage-Our Elec-
lions.
To he Editor Of The n. Y. Trbun.
SIR: / will not enter at any length upon the
subjects embraced in the caption Of this communca
ton Neither your space my time at present VIII
permit it. will confne myself to sons suggestions OF
practical character in reference TO them.
Under political system such ours it is Of vital
necessity that every citizen should faithfully perform
hi. part in its administration. With U.s. the People in
their primary capacity. possess all political power
They part with d portion Of II, for certain limited
nc-ods 10 he exercised by few for the general vel
fare more effectively and conveniently than 1t couu De
exercised by whole unwiedy community. ms ces-
sion Is made through the process and forms OF eeton
which IL the primary. ii il. In It's character. tue
highest and most important exercise Of that popular
so,ereignty-,hc sovereignty Of the individual cizch
which we acknowledge and proclaim IN III our hnsu,u
lions Everything in the soci, and political body ue'
pends more OF less upon this life giving electoral power
IN il is faithfully exercised public and private happiness
is promoted But unhappny We have experience thlt
il is NOT 50 exercised and hence We are daily threat
cned with all manner Of danger 10 the state au W 'c
individual -,
There is no duty which the citizen can render TO ;ls
State more necessary than this fundamental one And
Vet every other service which the state requires Is MODE
compulsory upon the citizen. while this one Is not ne
for this exemption may be nm exceeding reseI
snce for the high character OF the duty 10 d. peioreu
or il may he belief that II j. attractive dut! tal
II needs compulsion to insure MS performance hu'
experience proves this latter supporonto D. hntlSe
The duty Is wofuly neglected and that by men VINO
nos.ess the best means for enabling them 10 discharge
II wisely For whole generation, our ears have b,e'
afflicted with lamcnis that through the inacuon hi
want 81 public spirit Of nnineGOb inteigeht pu, lhuo
ent aud selfish citizens. bad men have succeeded IN
obtaining possession Of tie powers OF tie state ana
have welded them for their bad ends. These IN
f.fa pfte elf
electoral power. have been. year after year. entrntsd
demonstrated with dcnouncod-but all to no use. livery
one rs in the declaration that this neglect To unite III
this udis pensablr fundamental act OF popular govern
inent is gross dcrcetion Of duty. public wrong "a
crime; and that il should be corrected OF prevented
But howf
Jlaye become convinced and believe every reflect.
i've man who considers II viii ccome convinced thn'
nothing but the cOmpuision OF IA" can eiect reneu!,
can nuickcn the dead patriotism OF those VINO 40 NOT
seem 10 think that they any duty 10 their country!
and who without remOrseul Thought turn over ine
uublc veal to the mercy OF class who traiic WIN
bubble rights as with marketable article. lher u
nnrneroils md incroasing body Of men, We now Know
vho will no perform electoral uhty lh'h ihc! WIZ
nilitia duty unless compelled by ieghi cHhcthehlS
Government with all its safeguards Tor socIety eanhoS
be- maintained without n treasury. Ana yet INC llcn
who are protected by that Go'cr1meht WIZ 10y ~!
taxes except upon compusion' and they ore e9mieu
and 50 IA is through the whole range Of clyl opgh'oha
In mo- Department Of life il there virtue enough III man
TO Justify society in dispensing with me coercion o..
Law. ...
Rejecting upon this matter. Lave eoteluded to pre-.
sent IL To You for the consideration Of tie people ana
our lc.s OTs; and in order 10 BRING the propose.
remedy and the whole subject at once in the most ae
tica form before the public have prepared the follow
ing draft OF "a law which ! submit IN connection with
/ the suggcsfOns have made;
/ An ACI-Io PROVIDE FOR .HH prH E1EHcsH on I'M
RIGHT on SUFFRAGE.
IeyeGs In Republic tho neglect Of tie citizen to exc
clse the sovereign night OF electoral surase nom with ~
political authority derived leads to nllnerenc, re'pce,s
81 evil declining men, and ends 10 National ee'rpo, ara
decay therefore The people % me state OF
SIC l. il hil be the duty Of every citizen entitled az any
election for oil officers that now axe OF h'fe'sr may
gc Every person entitled to vote Al any election who
shall neglect to vote tor oil or any OF e otef Is toe ow
hereafter may be elective by the peops ~ uc eecion
sha npon conviction thereof be adudsed gity % misic
cnor. aid shall be punished by hne W be gaaulea OF
Diet. IA, med ia amount as follows.
l. i Tie person adudscl gully slall rel or per.
sonal subject to taxation he shall be punished by me
equal 20 - per ceaan o. te a'ssi'ei 's.'0n % n
ut the next preceding the day Of sad election by
the other person persons authorized by law TO
SO, N value OF the taxable properly H. the town district
county in which the person negectg to vote sha reside
ii the person convicted OF n,siecns to ee shall o"s
no real Oh pei ona estate subject 20 TAXATION bu' shan possess
on be entitled To annual income geIs or profits exceed
in the sum Of LuAdTed doars. Tie person 20 convicted
ount o. such annual ome gain. profits and above
M, AID sr of sx Lundled dollars, and The amount Of such
nnra income g4us or profits may be a,ceraned by the ain
dat Of the person convicted II be tender the same or by
,cto shall be- had and which proofs be shall snmmary take
or h may be held to for which the person
convicted ascsscd az 1t sa appear that be Is asscssed)
under H OF this state or oil tie thed SA"s imposing
m income duty.
a If the person convicted Of negecig 10 vote sha1
no real or personal and shall poss, he entitled
10 any at income ain profits exceeding the su Of
6OO "a. siB be punished by bno not than -, nor
ctc,.iug %.
And In cases Of conviction under this act the peron
yictod shall be Imprisoned until tie h.e Imposed upon nm
Shall b. paid sa be- II duty Of the District Attorney upon
the trial aIy arising under Ills act TO produce upon
oil the proofs existing IN the both TO The NO
annual income gains and profits Of the thai
The abs.nc. If eoctor from ia. county
In which he l. entitled to VOTE aud s absolute naby !" re-
turn thereto tie day Of election and physical lnhy :"
such character to FENDER IL impossible Tor tie PisOh
afflicted Herewith to vote shall s-yeray be sufficient &c
nee When fully proved la any proceeding uhiri 's .e'
a.ain.t such riecOr Tor nesiecng OF
SIC Within two days succeeding any 'it'lYi, VIZ
lnsIs cOis Of Election la each OF the Erection
THE state shall let of all the persons "ho sha he.e
violated the proyons Of this by nrgectng 81 9htns 70
said election. and whose names aye OH '.e
Electors OF the District prepared BY saia =,
uct entitled " An act Tor ascrttaihs ny P'ol 49,.
the citizens who shall b. entitled 10 TIE ish u
10 prevent fraudulent voting" passed Apri 10 1907 me
said lit p.rson. who bad neglect ed 70 No's Ai 90
bcticay arranged according 10 their fssIe,'Ne ~
a. to show column tie name at fuii rhs,h an IA a
o.r n location oil the r.id.nc- yelling oi each person
n~ldng In riti ard Incorporated village the number Of
the dwelling II there BE- number, ana 'h' mum u .' "a
or other location Of dwellings and Tie said i
ner 10 .uch NJ u rtinca.e statement signed ny u-
and Getting - h. In Substance that H. l. true and &C. Ie.t ~
,,r ~ Ileaiof. of the District who had reglect"a or
omitted to vote az snch erection referring Z" ""
1e.,,ou Inv H. date and other opt aud Popei
iev shall make aud sieu two copies o. suc 80 he
crrhoatr and within i've dayr ai'ef .Ad er,ho sh''i "a"
W. vi sac cope- ia the olee % Jas C.tA oi - IesA -a