Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-10-28
TI1ELAw oFsURsRAGE.

THE Law OF SUFFRAGE.
Union men everywhere should thoroughly
acquaint themselves with the law Of suffrage,
and be fully prepared to checkmate all at
tempts at illegal voting on the sth proximo.
II can hardly be deemed improper to fear
that men engaged in 50 mean cause as are
our peace sneak neighbors, will have natu-
raj tendency to extend their meanness to
corruption Of tho ballot box. The Constitu.
ton Of this State prescribcs the qualifications
Of voter. Article 2, Section J., is as fol-
lows: .-
Every white male citizen Of the United States Of the
nce of tven. years who shall have resident
Of the State for sic months next preceding the election
and Of The County in which he claims his sirtq days
shah be entitled to al elections which now
ar may be hereafter authorized by uw.See RECESSION
- 1860 paye e6O. aEs .r...a. a +
81 When vote is challenged, the party Of
fefirg to vote is required 10 swear that he is
arcsidcnt Of tie town or township in which
he ofrrs bis vote. A bona fae residence in
atownship is required but no particular
time is prescribed. Remaining within the
township viii, the purpose to leave as soon
as some temporary object (yoting, for in.
stancej is accomplished does not establish
residence. .#s ...-
The offering or giving Of a bride for the
purpose Of influencing vote, voting more
than once, voting when not qualified as re-
quired by law, counseling one to vote who
is not qualified, inducing one to vote ticket
by false representations as to the name or
names written or.printed thereon, preventing
or endeavoriag to prevent any elector from
giving his vote by force or threats, or pro-
curing votes by the same means, and the Of
iering or giving of brides to judges and 9TH
or officers of election, are all offences against
the criminal laws Of the State, and may and
should be vigorously punished. The making
Of false returns by the officers, refusing to
permit electors TO vote upon proof of the
qualification, and permitting them to vote
without such proof when demanded by chal.
lengc, failure TO return poll books in time,
&c, are also offences punishable by the same
law. See Chap. l72 (page 744) of the Re,
vision Of 1850. .-..
When vote is offered by one not legally
qualified to vote, it should be promptly chal
ienged. II the challenged party takes the
oath prescribed. by section 494 Of the Revis,
ion Of 1860, and the vote is received, he
should be Immediately arrested, if there is
reason to believe that the commission of any
one Of the above enumerated offenscs can be
established by the evidence The arrest may
be made BY a peace officer, or prirate per.
son, when the ofcnse is committed or at.
tempted to be committed in the presence Of
the person or officer who makes the arrest.
The arrested party should be immediately
taken before magistrate. See Chapter 1914
tpage 1881 Of the Revision of 1860.
Upon the purity of the ballot box in n
great degree depends the stability of Repub-
lcan Institutions. Every voter who does not
wish his ballot neu,raliz.d by fraud at the
polls, should he viglant to guard against any
and every attempt at illegal voting. Persons
not legally qualified, who design attempting
TO vote, should be closely watched and
promptly arrested as soon as the attempt is
made, and should be vigorously prosecuted
to conviction and punishment.
- -
HAVE YouR BALLOTS R!GHr.--The ticket
under editorial head this week is in accord.
ance with The model recommended by our
State Committee. Follow this model and
your tickets will agree with the requirements
Of our statute. There is no legal distinction
between Electors at Large" and District
Electors )" and there is no election Of Elect.
ors by Districts. On your tickets see that
the full names Of all the candidates for Pres
idential Electors and State officers are print,
cd and spelled as in the model alluded to-
Great care should also be exercised in order
= have the names Of all your Congressional,
Judicial and County candidates correct. The
tug of war comes on the ballots! See that
they are right; and then that they are rosed
- and all will be well. -...
JrpGE Chapman is engaged in stumping
out West. We should think he had the
wind for speech, as the Cops say he has,
We might consider, too, that he could use it
10 that purpose, had he not refused to accept
the challenge extended him by Judge Hub,
bard But, as he chose rather to appear
supported by John l.. Duncomb and John
II. Stockdale, we infer ne needed, not only
the full stump but strong props, and is there
fore altogether too big man to run against