The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-10-27
A Word to the People.
From the Raleigh Sentinel.

We have heretofore, intimated, upon the
strength ofcommon rumor that the State authorl-
ties had instructed the Registrars, Poll-keepers,
&C., to have the tickets printed on one ballot
for Electors Members of Congress and Members
Of the Legislature oil to be voted in one box.
This plan Is contrary 10 The tar, and we now
learn from good authority that the State auth9rl-
ties have issued such order, and will not do So
The following opinion, from several legal gen.
tlemen in this city, ought to satisfy eueFy one
that it is illegal to put all the names in box.
and that such course will vitiate the election.
We therefore call upon the people, Registrars,
Poll-holders, &C., to hold the election according
to law. Nobody has right to order any other
course than the law points out. There should
be box for Electoral tickets, one for members
Of Congress and one for members of Legislature.
For convenience, the printers may print
them together and they will cost less, but every
voter can easily cut them apart. Read the fol-
lowing:
RALEIGH, n. c., Oct. 10Th, 1868.
In our view there is nothing in the Ordinan-
ces of the late Convention or in the acts of the
last session of the General Assembly, that
peas the provisions of law heretofore in force as
regards the number Of boxes required in case
candidates for different offices are voted for
the same place and On the day.
we are tHtSefOiS III tIiat ID ilc dp-
preaching election the candidates for Congress,
for Electors of PreRidcnt, and for such vacancies
in the General Assembly as may exist, should
be voted for in separate boxes,-one box Or one
Set of boxes for each Office.
ED. GRAHAM HAYWOOD,
DANIEL G.. FoWLE
SAML +. PHILLIPS,
Il. T. Moore,
THOMAS BRAGG.
Since putting the above in type we find the
following in the Raleigh Standard. There is
material conflict Of opinion:
TO His E1cellency, ". w. Hol1e". ,.
have carefully considered the ordinances of
the late Convention, and the acts of the last
session of the General Assembly, and | ain clearly
of the opinion that at the approaching election
the candidates for Congress for Electors of Pres-
dent, and for such vacancies in the General AS
semby may exist, should be voted for on the
same slip Of paper aud in the same ballet box.
VIM. Al. COLEMAN, Attorney General
The Standard says (neorrectly we think that
this settles the question.
The Sentinel makes the following remarks
concerning Mr. Colenan's opinion .
"Now We undertake to say that this "opinion'
OF Coleman does not settle the question" nor
has the Governor any right to interfere in this
matter to defeat the plain intent of tho law The
fap "settles the question, and the tGnr hereto
fore in existence, and not repealed by any ord;-
nance of Convention Act OF Assembly, is plain
and explicit that voting for different offices must
be on separate ballots and in distinct boxes. We
warn Inspectors of election that, by permitting
different mode of voting, not only will the cleo
ton be vitiated, but they viii render themselves
liable to Indictment Let the SGEcitOrs-mcD
s,nosn TO do their duty--look to this matter