The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-11-27


committee Of the state board of agriculture
power to stamp out the disease wherevei
it appears, by destroying all infected cattle,
aud TO prohibit or regulate the transportation
or movement Of stock within the state during
the prevalence of the disease. To 'he end
thps proper investigation may be had,
respectfully recommend that authority be
given to appoint five commissioners to at
tend meeting. of commissioners of other
states, to be held for the consideration Of
this subj ct at Springfield, Illinois, on the
FIRST of December next--said commissioners
TO report the results Of their investigation in
time for action by the present General As
sembly.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
submit to your consideration the import
aace OF providing for thorough and COM
grehensive geological survey of the state
Many years ago a partial survey was prose-
euted under many difficulties and emblrrass-
ments, which was fruitful of valuable results
1t is beyond doubt that such a work as it is
now practicable to carry out, will, by max
ing known the mining, manufacturing and
agricultural resources of the state, lead to
their development TO an extent which will,
within few years, amply reimburse the
state for its cost,
EXECUTIVE REPORTs.
The annual report Of pardOns granted and
the communications OF the sentences of con-
victs required by law; a statement in de
tail of the expenditure of the governors con-
tingent fund the semi annual report of the
commissioners of the sinking fund, for May;
copies of proclamaiions issued during the
last year, and an acknowledgment of the
pres sentation TO the state of several of the
portraits of former governors of Ohio, are
transmitted herewith,
ABUSES OF THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The most important subject of |. gislation
which, in my judgment, requires the atten-
ton Of the general assembly at its present
session, relates to the prevention of frauds
upon the elective franchise. Intelligent
men of all parties are persuaded that at the
recent important state aud national cleo
tions great abuses of the right of suffrage
we're prdciiced. l am not prepared TO ad-
NIT that the reports commonly circulated
and believed in regard to such abuses would,
so far as tie elections in Ohio are concerned,
be fully sustained by thorough investiga-
ton Of the facts. But it is not doubted that
even at the elections in our own state frauds
we're p,epetrsted to such an extent that all
good citizens earnestly desire that effective
measures may be adopted by you TO prevent
their repetition. No elaborate attempt to
portray the consequences of this evil is re-
quired. If it is allowed to increase, the
confidence of the people in the purity of
elections will be lost, and the exercise of the
right Of suffrage will be neglected. To cor
rupt the ballot box is to destroy our free in
stitutions. Let all good citizens, therefore,
unite in enacting and enforcing laws which
will secure honest elections.
RERREsEETATIoN OF 8fINoRITIEs IN ELECTION
BOARDS.
submit to your Judgment the propriety
of such amendments to the election laws as
will provide, first for the representation of
minorities IN the boards of the Judges and
clerks of the elections; and secuhd, for the
registration of all the lawful voters IN ach
township, ward and election precinct, prior
to the election.
That the boards Of elections ought to be so
constituted that minorities as we'll as major
ities will have fair representation in them,
is so plainly just that in some parts of the
state, even in times of the highest political
excitement, such representation has been
obtained, in the absence of law, by a.
rsngement between the committees of the
| rival political parties. 1t is not probable
that any mode Of selecting Judges and
clerks of elections en- be adopted which
will, in every case, accomplish this object.
! But in all cases where the strength of the
minority is half, or nearly half as great as
that of the majority, the desired representa-
tion of the majority may be insured with
sufficient certainty by several different
plans. For example, it may be provided
that at the election of the three Judges who
are to decide all questions al the polls, each
elector may be allowed to vote for two can
didstes only, and that the three candidates
having the highest number of votes shall be
declat ed elected and in like manner that at
the election of the two clerks of elections
each electOr may vote for one candidate only
and that the two candidates receiving the
highest number of votes shall be declared
elected.
l do not lay much stress on the particular
plan here suggested, but your attention is
invited to-the importance of fair represen-
tatiOn of The minority in all boards of elec-
tiOns, not doubling that your wisdom will
be able to devise suitable measure to ac-
complish it.
REGISTRY LAW.
All parts of the state Of Ohio are now so
closely connected with each other, and with
other states, by lines of railway, that great
and constantly inc easing facilities are af-
forded for the preparation of the class of
frauds, on the elective franchise, commonly
known as ''coloniziug." In the cities, men
called "rePcsters, it is said, are paid wages
according to the number of unlawful votes
they succeed in casting at the same election.
The increase of population adds to the diff
ficulty Of detecting and preventing fraudu-
lent voting, IN whatever mode it may be
practiced 1t is msnifeslly impossible, amid
the hurry and excitemt Mt Of an election, that
the legal right to vote, of every person who
may offer his ballot, should be fully and
fairly investigated aud decided. The ex-
perience of many of the older states has
proved that this can best be done at some
period prior to the election, so as to give to
every legal voter, in an election precinct en-
opportunity TO chal laDge the claim Of every
person whose right is deemed questionab be.
Laws to accom- lish this have BEEN in force
in several other states for many years, and
have been carried out successfully and with
the general approval Of the people. Belev-
ing that an act providing fer the registra-
ton of al legsl votersis the most effective
remedy yet devised for the prevention of
frauds On-the sacred right of suffrage, and
that a registry Law can be so framed that it
will deprive no citizen, either native born or
naturslzed, of bis Just rights, | respectfully
!