North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-10-04
From the Philadelp hia Age Of Sep. %, 1865.
AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
The Right of Suffrage.


are of general applicability. The subject
discussed is of deep inte rest land we com
mend the circular to the attention ofall,
ever ywhere> who have on interest 10 the
elective franchise. The action OF the Dis
trict Alto rney OF Columbia county is worthy
of all commentator, and of limitation by law
ofic rs throughout the Commonwealth:
To the Officers Of Election and Citizens Of Column
bia County:
As Dis Attorney for this county, charged as
such with the duty of prosecuting in its courts en
ders against the laws of the Commonwealth think
it timely and proper to call your attention to a
question concerning the right of voting at the ap-
rroaehlng election; t. the end that the laws may
be kept AMI the legal rights of election maintained
The qualifc .tions of eIector (beside naturali-
cation in oftoreign birth) are few in number,
and plainly set forth in the Constitution of the
State; and so long that Constitution remains un-
changed 10 power whatever can add to or subtract
from them They are recited in the general election
laws, and these laws are thus made to present the
only questions which arise the electoral quail
6catioDs of our people.
1t has been alleged recently that non-reportng
pers ons under the United States drafts, and others
who lett their districts avoid beng drafted are
not entitled to vote at State elections, and that
boards Of election should reject their votes. But
election boards have right 10 reject the votes of
such persons. and no power to try determine ,he
question whether they in fault or not under
United State laws. The absurdity Of stopping elsc
lons to try draft questions is manifest first blush;
and there is no law comforting such power on eec-
tion officers, regulating its exercise. On the
trary, there is express law with penalties, to
prevent any such departure from official duty by
them
By the 1854 section of the General Election Law
of 81 j, ly, 1889 it is provided, that
"If any inspector judge of an election shall
knowingly reject the vote of any qualified citizen
each Of the persons SO offending shall on
conviction, be punished in the prescribed in
the 10th section of this act, Il. G. by fine of not
less than $50 nor than s200)
By the 67th section of the same law, it is provided
that
Every person qualified aforesaid and who
shall make due proof (f required) Of his residence
and pa 7ment of take aforesaid, be admitted to
rOte in the township, ward or district in which he
shall reside
And by the 18th section of the same law. an In
spectors oath prescribed, which is in part as fol-
lows 4" and that | will not receive
any ticket vote from any person other than such
as shall firmly believe to be ACCORDING to the pro-
risions Of the Constitution and Laus Of this Com
monreaL entitled to vote at such election without
requiring such vilence of the ri hit to vote as is di-
rected by law nor uM I Irer1tiousLy delay or re-
fuse to receire any rote from any person irho
shall beliere to be entitled to uote as aforesaid" &C.
II appears, that the vote of person qualified
der the State Constitution and laws must be recered
that its rejection is indictable ofense and that
the Inspectors EXPIRE esly not t. reject such
vo'e, nor even to reratiOusly delay the voter in
giving it.
There is also ample provision of law to protect the
voter from annoyance intimidation violence from
any person whatever in the exercise of his right to
vote By section 10th of the Election Law above
mentioned. it is pr vided that
"If any person shall use or practice
any intimidation threats, force or violence, with de-
sign to influence unduly overawe any e'ector, or
to prevent him from voting to restrain the free
dom of choice, such person. convict on, shall be
fined in any not exceeding $500 and be impris-
oned for any time not less than more than
twelve months.''
By this section severe punishment can be infiict-
ed on any person who attempts to deter elector
fom voting by threatening him with prosecution
or arrest, using any other intimidation or any
force with such object.
The pretense that Congress has prohibited non-re-
porting men from voting at State elections is not
true in pon of fact, and such prohibition could have
no effect if 1t uere enacted Congr. IS cannot de-
termine who shall shall not vote at State cleo
ton, simply because the question is wholly outside
of its jurisdiction and hevond its powers. 1t has no
power in connection with or relating to State suf-
frage citizenship, except The power con ferred up
il ty the State, to pass unifor laws of natura-
IiOn for persons born abroad Each Safe fxes ex-
clusiyey AMI conclusivey by its own Constitution
the qualifications OF suffrage at elections within its
borders.
have thus called the attention of election officers
and citizens to this subject Introductory to the
notice which now give, that for any violations of
the laws securing the full and complete exercise of
the right Of suffrage TO the electors of this county
prosecutions will be promptly instituted and due
punishment inflicted Neither the rejection of leg
votes intimidation of voters will be permitted to
60 unpunished. The laws are in force in Columbia
county, and they shall be executed.
E. H LITTLE,
District Attorney of Columbia County
Bloomsbury, Sept 27, 1865.
NoTE.-Snc the above has been in type,
We find in be same paper cf the ID inst. a
very thorough ard able exposition O! the law
up"n this important subject, by the Hon C..
r BUcKALEw, our present U. S. Spnat,r r
Sena tor BuckaIew fully sustains the position
of Di~tricr Attorney Little, by an argument
which il conclusive and unanswerable.- ED.
Let every Democrat GO to WORK and