The national Republican., 1867-05-11

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~ REaIsrRArfos- WRITs OF MAsDAMus
MADE REruRSABLB ON MONDAY Nsxr.-In the
District Supreme Court yesterday morning
Messrs. Jos. H. Bradley, r. 7. Morrick, and W.
Y. Fendali, counsel for Messrs! Geo. T. langley,
James r. Clayton, and James Il Turton hled
regular petitions In that court In behalf
Of the aforementioned petitioners, George 7.
Langley, J. r. Clayton, and J. L Turton, for
writs Of nldndamns to Issue against the judges Of
registration, to compel them to reopen the regis
tration books to allow the petitioners and others
an opportunity TO register therein legal voters
Of this District.
The court directed rule TO be served upon tho
| judges Of registration, to show cause why writ
| OF DIdnddmnS should not issue as prayed for, to
be returnable on Monday next, the 18th instant.
As far as argument Is concerned, II will be o
| hotly contested case pro et con.
| Mr.. William A. Cook is counsel for the re-
| spondents.
Tho following Is the petition Of Mr.. Clayton,
the only one we have room for; those Of Messrs.
Langley and Turton are precisely tho same, mt
tati, nntandis, with regard TO name, date, 30. I:
The petition Of James r. Clayton respectfully
shows unto your honors that he 10 q natiye-born
citizen Of the United States that ho has resided
in tho District Of Columbia for the period Of more
than one year from the Sd Of May last, and has
been for n period Of moro than one year from that
date q resident of the Second ward Of the city Of
Washington, in said District, and purposed At
said date and still purposes 10 continue to reside
In said ward and said city; that he Is male per,
son, not pauper, and not under guardianshipi
that he has not been convicted Of any crime or
| infamous offence, and has not voluntarily given
aid and comfort to the rebels In the late rebel.
lioui and that he Is qualified voter, entitled to
vote at the election in the said city under the
laws Of the United Statesi and that for the Eve
years past preceding the date Of this petition he
bas been a Taxpayer and qualified voter under
the said laws Of the United States. and from time
| to time he has openly voted at the elections In
tho said city Of Washington.
And your petitioner further showetb your hon
ors that by an act Of Congress to putSh illegal
voting in the District Of Columbia, and for other
purposes, approved February S, 1867, 1t |, pro.
vided, THAT there shall bo i've judges Of cleo.
tion within and for the city Of Washington, and
three within and for the city Of Georgetown, tho
same to be appointed by the Supreme Court Of
the District Of Columbia whose duty 1t shall be,
biennialy and prior to each election, 70 prepare
list Of the persons qualified to vote in the sov.
ernl wards Of said cities in any election; and
said judges shall DO In open session In their re-
spective Cities to roseiye evidence Of the quuliG.
cation Of persons claiming the right to vote in
any ell oton therein, and for correcting said lists
on two days biennially, not exceeding Eve days
prior TO each election for the ohoice Of officers,
giving prior notice Of the time and place Of each
session in some noUspaper;" that Sayles j
| It
G. Robbins and George II. Plant were appointed
by the Supreme Court on the 33d Of February
last, aud they accepted such office and entered
on tho duties thereof.
And your petitioner further shows that on the
said Sd day Of May, and while the said. named
judges Of the elections were sitting for tho pur
pose Of discharging tho duties devolved upon
them by the said act of Congress, and pre- pairing
or pretending to prepare list ofthe persons quail
fled to vote in said city Of Washington, YOU
petitioner presented himself in person to sale
Sudges, and demanded that his name bo placed
on the registry or list Of persons qualified to vot
in the Second ward Of said city OF Washington
representing that he possessed the qualification
Of legal voter, particularly set forth in tho fol
lowing notice:
"Mssus. Sayiss J. BOper, George H. Plant
Leteis CLsphame, ZsnaS c. Robins, and Pete
+. Boeon Judges of Election for tho City @
Washington Gentlemcn-You will please tax
notice that /, -, am 4 citizen Of the Unite
States, have resided in the District Of Columb
for more than the period of ono year pre-
ceding this date, and in the - ward Of th
city Of Washington for three months proceed
ing said date; and that am neither paupe
nor person under guardianship that l am up
wards Of twenty.ons years of age that have
not voluntarily given aid and comfort TO the
rebels in the late rebellion and AN a qualified
voter under the laws Of tho United States and
being informed that my name has been omitted
by you In making up the registry for the said
ward, demand that said omission be corrected
and my name entered upon said registry accord
ing to law and II this Is not done within five
days after the dating OF this notice, l shall ap
! ply to the Supreme Court Of the District OF Co
lumbia for a mandamus to compel you to plac'
my name on said register
and n duplicate Of which he then and Their
handed to tho judges Of elections. And you
petitioner sheweth unto your honors that th
said judges of elections did then and there 70
fuse to enter the name Of your petitioner upol
the registry or list of persons qualified to vote II
said city, and still refuse so to enter the same
] by which refusal Of said judges Of the election
: to perform their duty under said act Of Congress
your petitioners right to the exercise Of tn
elective franchise as resident Of said city an
District Is seriously embarrassed, II not dofeato
altogether, and he will, as he has been advised
bo prevented from voting at the coming electio
1 Of said city Of Washington, to wit: on the fri
!. Monday of June next, at which last.mentione
II date an election is to be held for the election
:. municipal officers Of said city, and in whic
election your petitioner Is interested.
= And your petitioner further showsth that
= Is entirely remediless at and by the ordinar
o rules Of law, and that proceeding by writ
y aandamnS, hereinafter prayed for, is the onl
u remedy whereby your petitioner can obtain ads
that writ of manddmns may be awarded b
+ your honors, directed to said judges, (giyin
! their names,) commanding them forthwith an
4 without delay to enter the name Of your pet
TONER upon the list of persons qualified to vot
! In said Second ward of said city Of Whshingto
as a qualified voter in said ward and city at th
Q coming election to be held as aforesaid on th
first Monday Of June next. As in duty bound
, 10.
(sigued) J. R. CLAYTON.
It Is very generally understood that in tn
private conference held yesterday morning be
tween the justices Of the Supreme Court and tn
judges Of registration the, justices advised th
latter to reopen the registration books, but tn
, registers preferred that the cases should tax
the regular course Of decision by the Suprem
Court, SO as to bo on the safe side upon tn
' moOted question, "open books or shut books 2
a PLAsTERERs' MEETING.-The journeymel
, Plasterers Of this city held a meeting at SheI
z herds Hall, corner Of Louisiana avenue an
. Seventh street, on Thursday evening, with
s view to organizing protective association. Th
/, following named persons were chosen as officers
1 Mr.. Murphy presidents Mr.. Columbus, vic
PRESIDENT b. Edmondston, secretary Josep
Rosenberg, financial secretary.
On motion, the society adopted tho name
1 "Journeymsn Plasterer's Association Of Wash
8 ingtOn City," and about 40 persons signed tn