The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-01-29
Freedom of the Ballot -Box-A New Re-
striction Proposed.

1t l. not un kelly thar our legislature
will -nact new !estrsin, upon The free
dom of The ballot in the shape Of regis
trv law. Such ia The ,endeuee Of the
tiuuer especially Of tn. dominant political
party. While permitting Wisconsin cleo
tions to be held in Tennessee ard Loui.
lana. where no Law can reach fraud or
punish the otfander against the purity of
the elective franchise, we are 10 have the
nal!ot box At home graciously projected
bv iron pickets and the voters must 60 10
the polls with pokes on.
bv reference to the statutes and the
ordinary proceedings At elections "a now
conducted. it is easlY ascertsined bow
much necessity there is for this new and
odions form Of restriction upon the cleo
tive franchise As the law now is, . free
man approaches the poi.-perhap. y day
lahorer returning home just ss nigh, vi,h
| his dinner-psil on his arm: or perhaps .
German elector no, fully familiar with the
srcen, of the kings English A dozen
ickas pe|dlers mea, him az he nears the
sacred machinery which i. 4" :;:s =; voice to
,he popular will II anv doubt exists a.
to his identity or political preferences. he
is piled with questions, crammed wnh Ar
gunents and stuffed with ,ickats Before
he reaches the goal Of hi. hope. . chsl
lsnging committee tskes him in hand, dc
maLd~ hiA name. searches . partisan poll
Ii-' and challenges hia light 20 dsposi, his
ballot. H.. Is next ne, bv IN imposing
array of clerks Ard iu-psrtors. All .wo.n
10 prevent illegs! votiAg, by ~h"m the
eIector i. snhj-r'ed to y sy.'.m Of cross
examination, prescribed bv ono Of our ra-
rrnr republican legislatures and prov'ds
f,r hv esveral pages Of the revised stsru'es.
The affairs Of the mana family and OF his
friends and Of al his wife's relations are
'ninutev inquired into The board pake
him disclose where he came from where
he lives where he h1a livad wha,a he eX
necfs 10 live where hi. wife lives. whsr~
he works whx. he works IT. ~hat his hn.
sines. is when he goes out ~ town. y ,srs
he sleeps and where he sr'a his shvs
W.. h@d 1fths p-r-ecntad fraem.n lives
through this ordeAl keeps up good rour-
sr. and does not lose his vote hv the ~
rival Of the time 30 tnrE tho bsl ~t-hox
h. !. then r~qnir.d TO holt up h. hand
and. with an inv"r~'ion to God, made to
swesr 10 hi. Quail tirs'ions xith al the
y'nC m. horrors of criu'iDsl cour'A aud the
state priSou before him =. ,h~ pspai,y tol
pp' inrs. This i. not an ex +2gers.e3 pic.
tura Of the trials which kore.t men are
frequently rau..l to endure ., os, e|@'..
'inns and Which may hs irnno>-i np"U
any a'a,tor vho il su.pertel "f . d.s'..n tc
vn'. Illegally. nv his verv prnc-.- ,aou
sand. IT legal water. are in fact every
wear deferred from approaching 'hs n.ll-.
The registry law "A opsr.,-d in Ns.-~.
chusens as1 -ls-sh-r., instead nf pro-
'er'ion 70 'h~ hsN"r box il .innly an A.
>ault upon VI. riyh:- 81 eiectnr. Is "b
i,rf Is 10 hodge he ballot box Ahrs, vi'i
oiiou. and anuovinv r~.'rir,inns r-ndsr
NO the exercise Of 'h> right of suH sga
20 venian. IA 'hp mtss of the paop'..
q partially 70 the humber cix<-e. Where
one illagal vote = prevented bv it hon
and legal votes ave excluded Nevpr'l. =,
less. since his ia the rea nn,pn.e Of the
project. and ponu'a ar sniff AZ. il annoying
I" men who . / c,nfi!anca in tie people
An sr' Of 'he kind NAV be pushed through
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