Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Howard County, Mo.) 1866-1869, 1866-09-07

qualifications OF party applying TO vote. Ac-
cordlng to Mr.. Drake; he is an inquistor, armed
with power which in free government cannot
with safety be plsced in tie hands Of any one,
however exalted, much less in the hands OF
obscure and irresponsible parties, many OF whom
are totally ignorant Of our whole system oil goY-
eminent, and irresponsible in character, reputation
and purse. By the constitution any one taking
The oath Of loyalty is primd fdcie entitled 10 be
registered as a voter; but the taking this oath
shall not be deemed conclusive, but such right,
the Constitution says, may be dlsproved. The
word disproved is the converse Of prove. The
meaning Of these works are known TO everybody.
1t will be observed that no power is given TO the
register in the Constitution to act from his own
knowledge; he is 10 hear proof, the same as
Judge on the bench, and after hearing such proof
he (the register) decides, whether the party ap-
plying shall be registered or rejected. The pro-
ceeding is a sort Of judicial investigation, and
! ms dectston stands as judgment from which
the party has the right TO appeal. Although this
appealis farce-for it is an appeal from Caesar
TO Ceasar-yet II would be an insufTerable farce
II 1t was an appeal from the decision based on
his own private knowledge Of facts, and which
facts were known to no one else. Nor is there
any where in this Constitution any power given
TO the register 10 examine the party Offering to
vote--he is required 10 take proof. Nor is il
true that the examination is to take place be-
fore the oath is ADMINISTRATION the contrary,
the reverse is plainly the recruitment Of the Con-
shtution and the law. According 10 my views
OF both of them, the party applying 10 be regis-
tered first takes the oath, and his right to be reg
istered follows as matter of course, unless this
right be disproved. The construction of Mr..
Drake is in conflict in my opinion, both with the
Constitution and the law. And is 1norever q
deadly stab at the great and fundamental rrinci-
pies of self-government-for there can be no self,
or free government, If power is given to any one
man, or set Of men. to say who shall or shall not
exercise the elective franchise. To vote is both
duty aad right, and no free government can be
sustained where this duty is not faithfully dis
charged, and this right strictly exercised.
Desiring 70 make this communication brief,
will not at this time say what will be the consd-
Iuence to The peace Of the State if majority of
lis citizens be deprived Of the right of aef-soveru
ment. To be worthy Of freedom the responsible
Ties attendant upon its enjoyment cannot and should
not be disregarled
In conc lusion, will say that it is the duty OF
every good man 10 obey the law of his country,
however bad he may believe this law TO be, pro-
vided the means OF repeating or modifying it, arc
not taken away from the majority Of the people,
pat Il ms power OF changing or amending bad
laws Is arbitrarily taken from them, the question
what will they do may arise. My advice. and
the advice Of my friends, is to comply with the
law, and the Constitution, but am not prepared
10 say mat we are willing to comply with forced
constructions of this1aw, and we ask our friends
to go before the registers in their respective pre-
cncts throughout the State take the oath OF loyalty
as most OF you can conscientously do, as required
by the law, and ask to he registered as legal vo-
ters. This claim TO be thus registered cannot be
denied you, unless your right be dsproved as re-
quired BY the Constitution. By this complying
with the law, you will ha ,c done all your country
ask OF you; and if you are after this deprived
o. S your r,sas 20 Y0se se ss wong W an. ssye @
| consequences must res with lL--I.
I If majority of the eoPleo 6. Is Stat be 4.
u Is way Geprtyrs - 'tsr rtghi allsr rhayira l..
ise- al the rsqurepeits Of lz,.
wi IN them to provide remedy. ia my opinion,
ong rule majority. Very respectfully,
LEWIS V. BOGY