The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-11-26

a partial survey was prosecuted under
many difficulties and embarrassments
which was fruitful of valuable results.
Il is, beyond doubt, that such a work
as il is now practicable to carry out,
will, by making known the mining,
manufacturing aud agricultural re
sources Of the State, lead to their de
velopmont to an extent which will.
within a few years, amply reimburse
the State for its cost.
EXECUTIVE REPORTS.
The annual report of pardons grant.
ed aud the combinations of the sen.
tonoes Of cOnvicts required by law; a
statement in detail of the expendi
turc of the Governors Contingent
Fund; the scmi-annual report Of the
Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund,
for May copies of proclamations is.
sued during the last year; aud an
Acknowledgements Of the presentation
to the State of several Of the portraits
Of former Governors of Ohio, are
transmitted herewith.
ABUSES OF TUE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE.
The most important subject of leg-
islation which, in my Judgment re-
quires the attention of the General
Assembly at its present session, re
lntes to the prevention Of frauds up
on the elective franchise. Intelligent
men of all partiess are persuaded
that at the recent inportout State
and National elections great abuses
of the right Of suffrage were prac
ticed. | am not prepared to admit
that the reports commonly circulated
and believed in regard to such
abuses, would, so far as tho elections
in Ohio arc concerned, be fully sus.
tanned by thorough investigation of
the facts. But it is not doubted that
even at the elections in our own
State frauds were perpetrnted to such
an extent that all good citizens
earnestly desire that effective mcus-
ures may be adopted by you to pre-.
vent their repetition. No elaborate
attempt to portray the consequences
Of this evil is required. Ii il is al
lowed to increase, the confidence of
the people in the purity of elections
will be lost, aud tho exercise of tho
right of suffrage will be neglected.
To corrupt tho ballot box is to de-
stroy our free institutions. Let all
good citizens, therefore, unite in en-
acting aud enforcing laws which will
secure honest elections.
REPRESENTATION OF MrNoRIrIEs IN
ELECTION BOARDS.
l submit to your Judgment tho
propriety Of such amendments to the
election laws as will provide, first, for
the representation of minorities in the
boards of the judges aud clerks of
the elections; and second, for the reg.
istration Of all the lawful voters ia
each township, ward and ele.tiou pre-
ciucts prior TO the election.
Tat the boards OF elections ought
to be so constituted that minorities as
we'll as majorities will have fair
representation in them, Is so plainly
Just that in somo parts Of the State,
even in times of the highest political
excitement, such representation has
been obtained, in the absence of law
by arrangement between the commit-
tees of the riva political parties, 1t
is not probable that any mode ofse-
loctiug judges aud clerks Of elections
can bo 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 de-
sired representation of the minority
may be Insured with sufficient cer-
tainty by several different plaus.-
For example, IT may be provided that
at the election of the three Judges
6ho are to decide all questions at the
polls, each elector may be allowed tC
vote for two candidates only, ans
that the three candidates having the
highest number Of votes shall be de-
clared elected, aud in like manner
that AZ the election of the two clerk;
Of election each olector may vote foi
one candidate only, and that the two
candidates receiving the highest mum
Der of votes shall be declared elected
/ do not lay much stress on tho
particular plan here suggested, but
YOUR attention is invited 10 the i'm
portauce of fair representation o
the minority in all boards of elections
not doubling that your wisdom will
be able to devise suitable measur,
to accomplish it,
REGISTRY LAW.
An parts Of the State Of Ohio ar,
now so closely connected with eacl
other, and with other states, by line
Of railway, that great and CONSTANT,
Increasing facilities are afforded 70
the perpetsation OF the class of fraud
on the elective franchise, eommonl,
known as 'oolonizing," In the cities
men called "repeaters,' itissaid, ar
paid wages according to the numbe
of unlawful votes they succeed i
casting at the same election. Tn
Increase Of population adds TO th