The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-31
CONSTITUTIONAL CoAVENTIoy.
Proposed Amendments Of the Registry
Law.

ALBANY, N. Y, July So 1851
The Constitutional Convention reassembed Al eleven
O'Clock This morning. Mr. Charles J. Folger. President
pro tenn, In the chair.
ruB REGISTRY
The CHAIR announced the pending question to DO on
the amendment OF Mr. Champain to strike out the
fourth section relating the Registry law and substitute
the folowing:-
Laws shall be made for sscertanins when The citizen
entitled to the right Of suffrage hereby established.
Mr. KINNEY, trep) Of rioga moved to amend by striking
out the clause which provides that Registry laws shall be
uniform In their requirements throughout the State.
Mr. LIVINGSTON, dem, OF Kings hoped that II any
Registry law to be provided for II would be made
general in it's provisions. He had heard much here
about the equal rights of citizens, and privileges had
been extended 10 coored upon that ground but the
present Registry law did rights the cities
with those living in the country.
Mr. LAPHAM, ,rep) OF Ontario was surprised at the
position taken by the gentleman from Allegheny mr.
Champain. His proposition was 10 do away with all
tlomen from that side OF the had pretended TO be
in favor OF whatever means were desirable to purify
the ballot box Experience had shown that Registry
laws were among the most important auxiiaries to
secure that end, and now gentlemen come forward
and propose to wipe them all oai. He wanted TO see
whether these gentlemen were in earnest 10 their pro-
fessions TO purify elections.
MIR. HERMAN (dem OF Oneida, thought that such In
sinualb0nS were not at all )ustaDle IN body Ike his
1t might answer on the husngs or In party manage
ment but this certainly not the place to Charge
gentlemen who might differ IN opinion with the majority
here with dishonest motives He was in favor Of fair
Registry law but opposed TO that onerous
and oppressive Such law should be general, as had
been reported by the Committee on Suffrage.
Mr.. ALvoRD (rep.) Of onondaga, said he would leave
the matter 10 the Legislature Ibis clause was simply
snrpnsage. There was difference between the sur
roundngs Of those living the cities and those living
IN tho rural districts. What would the people in
cities nothing would be oppressive TO those in the
country. II was evident why the opposition here
wanted TO impose tho law upon the country that
imposed upon the cities II was because demo.
lcan majorities in the country It was time for the
majority OF this Convention to take the responsibility
which belonged 10 them. These amendments we're
bubbles. The pretensons for harmonious action
the part of the opposition bad resulted in dispos
ton to take partisan advantage In every instance 1t
time, therefore. for the majority to ass lne the
responsibility t1a belonged To them, aud for which they
would be held TO account
The then taken the motion to strike out
the clause making the Registry uniform throughout
the State, and it was adopted-yeas IL, nays 49,
Mr.. BANKER, trep) of Chauaugue moved to amend SO
as TO make new registry necessary only at general
election Notion carried
Mr. YEEpEg, rep.) of Kings moved 10 amend the
section that IL shall read oliowsLaws shall be
made for ascertanng by proper proofs the citizens who
shall be entitled to the right OF suffrage hereby estab
lished."
Mr.. A. J. PARKER (dem.) Of Albany, deeply regretted
that party appeal had been sounded here distinctly
by the gentleman from 0nondaga tMr Alvord) He re-
PEELED the nsnuations OF that gentleman that the mi
norty here only sought Tor party advantage They
perfectly powerless here and in voting to make all
Registry laws uniform throughout the state they had
sought sustain the committee tha. reported IT,
and which Stood politically, five to one. But
the party cry had been raised by the dstin-
guished gentleman, and he had called upon
his followers to vote down the proposition OF
the minority II tina, was to be done the minority must
submit, for they had other resource present. but
they should attempt TO do their duty here to improve
tho organic law and If they failed there was higher
tribunal 90 which they would appeal.
Mr.. RArHBUS frep OF Cayuga, thought no harm would
from what his friend Oar. Alvord) mad said He
conc further than proper under the
There was difference between the city and country
and what would be oppressive in the country would not
Mr.. veeders motion was lost by vote Of 81 to 70.
Mr. NJ ]. townsend, lrepl OF Rensselaer,, moved 70
reconsider the striking out the clause making
Registry laws uniform throughout the State. Tabled
Mr.. BIcKrosp, rsp.l Of Jefferson, moved TO amend
the purpose Of town meetings. Lost
Mr. BARro, tdem) OF Tompk rs. moved 10 amend
'that the oath OF the applicant for registry to his
citizenship shall be deemed sufficient.
Mr. KEENAN, said the object Of this amendment, TO
prevent trouble the part Of the
CITIZEN II he falsely he subject to the pans
Mr. RArHBus thought It would not be very onerous
for saturazed citizen 10 take bis naturalization papers
Mr.. DrvErx. tdcm.) Of New York. said in many cases
these papers lost By fire other means In such
CAGES the oath all that should be required We In
ved foreigners here to aid build railroads
and canals and TO perform our housework, and
sought to place every possible obstacle in Their way
There vas reason why the amendment should be
adopted.
Mr.. HurcHISs (rep) Of New York. said the Registry
law in the cities. There were places Of
registry i've minutes walk rom the residence of any
voter, and the registrars kept open doors until nine
O'Clock IN the evening There was plenty time for
registration, as was shown at the last election. when
there were sixteen thousand more names registered than
votes cast and why was its
Mr. DEvELIv-Because they hadn't time.
Mr. HurcnTNs-No, sir IL because they were
spotted and dare not present themselves at the polls
II had been found that infants two years old aud whole
ianil had been registered and when tncy got through
nit tha hAg pitfz
mails OF tue household That was why the votes cast
sixteen thousand short OF the names the regis
try. An examination OF tue registry lists showed that
twelve thousand Of The sixteen thousand raudu
lently enrolled
Mr. Bartos amendment vas lost by a vote OF IS TO Is
MI. DEvELIS moved 10 amend ''hat distinction
shall be made in any such laws between naiige born
and nalnraiized citizen Lost by AZ to IS.
Mr. HARRIS, trep OF Albany moved 10 strike on, ths
provision that voter snail be registered SIX
days before election Lost.
Dir. sCrrEAKER, ideml Of Kings, moved TO amend
And the Legislature shall pass laws preventing the
e'ec upon the presentation of proper proofs, from
ton" lie offered this because there we're cases
where voters wcro prevented from exercising
the elective franchise because they we're prevented from
registering their names IN person IL man SICK
or could not from other causes appear in person aud
register bis name he should not be deprived Of his
Lost
Mr. Bell lrep.l Of Jefferson thought too much time
was spent here In discussing details All agreed as to
the necessity OF Registry law let provide for that
and leave the details for the Legislature.
Mr. T. Brooks, tdem.l Of Richmond, would favor a
Registry law, but he would have u uniform throu
the Stale. Why this discrimination against the cites2
On Friday last this Convention refused to strike
clause making the Registry law uniform but to-day This
decision has been reversed and the clause had been
stricken out by vote of II 10 40 He could only
for this change The ground that the gentleman
rom onondaga tMr Alvordl had sounded the party APP
peal and called upon the majority to assert their power
sr PRoSsER. rep) OF Ere moved TO amend so as to
make the Registry a~ uniform in all the cities and In
orporated villages
Mr. CHAxriArs, (dem) OF Allegheny, was convinced |
hat kind OF Registry law needed There Is
much corruption under such law there was without
l. II cost the people vast sums OF money 70 no pur-
ose. Make The penalty OF fraudulent voting felony
instead OF misdcneanor, and the trouble would be
emedied. The instance cited by the gentleman from
Few York tNr. Hutcbnsl In which sixteen thousand /
ra udulent names placed the lists, was
troneer argument against the system than he could
uggest
Nj. GREELEY, (rep) OF Westchester said there were
many hundred miles OF border around state and
could In and vote at elections unless
re had a registry. such cases bad actually occurred
Registry law would prevent such frauds
Mr. Prossers amendment was lost
Mr. Cougar, dem Of Rockand. moved to amend as
the Legislature shall not establish any