Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-20
,, ANNAPOLIS, Oct. 10, 1865.
70 us EcceLleacg 4. " E.n.Lio.d,

~ u. ". if"'yDI',
GorerHor oj MalyLtad.
SIR: In compliance with your request of -dav I
nave examined the act of the last session rcotinr
70 tne registration of the voters Of the State in or
Ter to ascertain what duties are thereby rcuiirod ia
ne performed by the Registers during the last two
WaS M G ther sessions. and now proceed 10 give you
These duties are set forth in that part of the clcy
clth necton which declares that the REGISTERS shall
Eve NOtlcc Tor all persons interested to appear be
orcthc ut the place and during the hours of regis
'ralion on The tuesday and Wednesday next prcrc-
or s u the tuesday after the first Monday OF Noycm-
per- 10 snow any omissions other errors in the said
list, at which time the list of qualified voters Shall he
corrected and finally closed
:, These words do not authorize, in my opini ~ the
hceisteis 10 near and admit any applicants for
registration who had neglected or failed to appear
before them during the many days specially set apart
~ Il i"rhicr section Tor that purpose and thus to
tered voters-but they merely authorize onixsiosg or
MI,n ,,n 70 be shown IN these lists for the purpose
ol having them corrected and finally closed. These
words assume that the lists are made, though there
nay tbn pc MOT crGols in thc-that they closed
IhG ninth section had previously set apart days to
me hcsIStcl$ Tor the purpose Of diSchargug their
duties as officers of Registration according 10 The
provisions ol TINS act, after which the alphabetical
list Of registered voters is to be made printed and
published before the meeting Of the Registers in these
last Two days II the names OF other voters could he
registered on these lists during these last two day.
then the public could have 10 such notice of thcir
registration rs TINS section evidently intended should
oe furnished bcj"ie these last two days.
This view Is confirmed also by the different Ian
%uii%cc used IN the fourteenth section, which docs
make provision Tor the correction Of said lists of
qualified voters after the first general election by the
addition OF the names and persons having come to are
acquired legal residence, been naturalizcd or other
wise, Ec This fourteenth section evidently contcin-
plated ha new appicatOns furTcgiSratiOn were to be
entertained and voters registered and hence the Ian
gage OF tins section referred to the correction of these
is snOt Vi any omlss other errors but by the
'ltlon OF names am persons thereto. This duty of
correcting these errors in these lists also it appears to
me authorizes the Registers to strike off from these
printed and published lists during the last two sessions
the names olany persons who may then appear them
L. have been Illegally registered As qualified voters
Inc preparation printing and publishing Of these lists
Tor the purpose OF Informing the public OF the per
sons whose names are thereon and all persons inter
eScd are notified to appear before the Registers
during these last days of their session To show any
omissions or other errors therein that the same MAY
be corrected and the list finally c0scua of which
would be useless ii the information thuS elected
could not be used to correct the lists by the exclusion
thereffom Of disqualified voters
This duty of the Registers carefully to exclude
from being registered all disqualified persons Is pro-
mlncntly set forth in the Constitution as well rs in
this law, and these the last session, when all the
Information is supposed TO be before the Registers
and they are required to finally conclude their duties
From these views conclude that the Registers nj
their last two sessions have authority to do more
than correct omissions other errors in the said lists
and finally close them.
Respectfully, L am your obct scrv't,
4. EANuALL,
Attorney General Of Maryland.