The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-11-04
$500. For the Union
The Registry Law.
Opinion Of Col. Philpot, senator from Bal
fimnra CnnnfYa


tim0re County.
do not, for moment, imagine that | can
SaddsAny thing to the weight of the very lucid
Souini0n IL tile law officer of the State, already
spread before the public, by any thing can say
Interference to the proper construction of the
Registry law, passed by the last Legislature of
isftates Butas wasa member of one OF the
Branches Of that body and took considerable in
lerest in that iltw, trust it will not be consid
cred intrusive in me briefly to express my views
upon that subject, in answer to communication
published in the Baltimore american, over the
signature of Ei,iiraim +. Anderson, whom re-
cogniZe with pleasure as member Of the House
Of Delegates from Washington county, and for
WHOM apd- whose opinions generally, | entertain
the highest respect 10
- II is said, and fully endorse the declaration,
that the design or intent Of the law gver, is the
law But itemust be remarked that ordinarily
il is difficult to arrive at correct understand
ing of what that design or intent is simply from
the impressions or declaration of one or two menl-
bers of the body from whence that law emanates.
am frank to say in this connection, that so far
as know there was no doubt expressed or implied
in the Senate in reference to the construction of
the Registry law as whole, or in any Of its
parts. Indeed, il gives me peasuee to say, that
it came FROM the other House, so well matnrcd in
everyspart aud so explicit in all its provisions,
that we found no difficulty in giving it our sane
ton, almost entirely without debate. But my
friendsayers, and no doubt correctly that u diff
fcultcjoccured to his Inind, as regards the pro-
vision Of the law defining the powers and duties
of The Registers ON thetwo last days, and was
about to PROPOSE an amendment to counterfeit
the difficulty. but was prevented from doing IS
BY an explanation which was satisfactory to his
mind at the time, and which he seems to think
satisfactorily settled the matter as to the design
or intent of the Legislature in this particular.
Now | mnst beg leave 10 differ with the member $
both in relation to this last conclusion and also
asS regards his contemplated amendment.
quote--s Pending the passage of the Bill in the
House of Delegates, | called attention to the pro-
vision in. question, and proposed to commence
registeripg later in the mouth of August and
continuing Until the day of election, and thereby
provide certainty for those who might he sick or
absent from their place of voting &c'' How, lei
me enquire, wonid this proposition accomplish
the desired object? Is il more probable that vc-
ters would be in better health and more apt to he
at Home, later in August and SO on until the
election, thailthe would be between the same
spaces of time earlier, and as prescribed by the
law | cannot see how, unless it could be shown
that there was, something peculiar in those par
ticutsr days, jn0re conducive to health aud tend
ing specially 10. make home more dear. But
ktueTc Is duOtueT OOJtCtiOu W dIDCifuihtHl-
1t would have the effect of defeating the objec
Of the law, in preventing the officers of Registra-
ton from making out their lists and publishing
them so as to present them for public inspection
At least Ii would have this effect so far relates
to the thousands of citizens who might lie regis
tered as voters on the two last DAYS, and thus
rob the Registers of much important information
which they might require to aid them in coming
to alprOper jadgclnent as TO tie real qualification!
of the applicants for registration. entirely
agree with my friend in the declaration thai
''the law creating these Boards of Registration
vested them with certain powers, to be exerted
by themataH their sittings until they finally
close their Books - and it also with equal clear
ness and, precision, defines hov and aohcn these
pnwdrs ARE, to be thus exercised viz from q
specified day i'm. August, funtIl the third Wed
nesday in Sept; il is the duty of the Register:
to be present AT the places of holding their meet
ings and TO receive applications for Registration
examine and record them us voters or otherwise
rs the caseSriay We, and finally to make out their
lists, publish them, and submit them 10 public in
spectjpn, preparatory to the discharge OF their du
ties on the two last days, These duties are ex
planned III the eleventh section, which requires
the Registers 10 give "Notce for all persons in
terpsted, TO appear before them at The place and
during tile hours of registration, on the Tuesday
and Wednesday, next preceding the Tuesday af'
ter the first Monday of November, to show any
omissions or other errors in the said lists, al
which time the lists Of qualified voters shall be
corrected and finally closed" also take pleas
ure in agreeing with my friend in another posi-
ton assumed by him: That this Registry law
was 'never designed for the purpose ofexcluding
any citizen entitled under the Constitution, to
the elective franchise" On the contrary, |
think il exhibits singular liberality in this re-
spect, that instead of combining him TO single
day, as on the day of election from . o'clock A.
NJ to P. M.,iipives him six long weeks in
which to make application and have his name
recorded as a voter. so that if any fail to exer-
else This fnestimatiie privilege it will be because
of his own negleetlto embrace the liberal provi-
sion ofdhisy Law, or when inevitable circumsan-
cespineryene beyond the control of the law or
thex0terhimself.a ,nnotle-e.I H
Asa member of the Union Party, and as a
loyal man, would most gladly have every citi-
zen entitled, TO a Vote; TO enjoy the privilege Of
expressing his sentiments, 10y the exercise of the
elective ffauchise, but at the same time | should
Refrigerated in myown estimation, were capa-
BILE of perverting or tramrlng upon the law
for that or any other purpose.
| hhh 9iIja Respectfully &c