The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-08-26

citizen he must, in addition to the fore
going proofs, state in his affidavit
when, where, and by what court he
was naturalized, and produce his cer-.
tificate Of Naturalization.
4. Every person, claiming to be a
naturalized citizen, whether on the reg
istry list, or producing affidavits as
aforesaid, shall be required TO produce
his naturalization certificate at the e.
lection before voting, except where he
has been for ten years consecutively
voter in the district where he offers to
vote; and on the vote of such person
being received, the election officers are
to write or stamp the word "votedn on
his certificate with the month and
year, and no other vote can be cast
that day in virtue of said certificate,
except where sons are entitlad to vote
upon the naturalization Of their faith
er.
8. If the person claiming TO vote
who is not registered shall make an af-
fidavit that he is native born citizen
OF the United States, or, if born else
where, shall produce evidence of his
naturalization, or that he is entitled to
citizenship by reason of his fathers
naturalization, and further, that he is
between q and p years of age, and
has resided in the State one year, and
in the election district ten days next
preceding the election, heshall be en-
titled to vote though he shall not have
paid taxes.
~. AS to the voters. /. Any quail
flied citizen of the district has right
to challenge any voter, though his name
be on the registry list, and the election
board are required to receive the proofs
publicly, and to admit or reject the
vote according to evidence.
| 2. On the petition of five or more cit
liens of the county, stating under oath
that they believe that frauds will be
practiced at the election about to be
held in any district, it shall be the du-
| ty of the court of common pleas, or of
a judge thereof, to appoint two judi
cious, sober and intelligent citizens to
| act as Overseers of said election, who
are to belong to different parties, ex-
cept where both inspectors belong to
the same political party, and then the
overSeers are to be taken from the op-
posite political party, and then the o.
verseers are to have the right to be
present with the officers of elections,
to keep list of voters, to challenge
voters, and generally to perform the
same duties as inspectors.
The act is full of penalties and for
FIXTURES; but as these are to be enforc-
ed by courts of justice, it is not neces-
sary to set them forth for the guidance
of assessors, election officers and yo-
ters. A popular election will be very
difficult ifall the provisions of the law
be strictly enforced. Indeed, it is not
easy to see how election officers are to
find time to receive the ballots of the
qualified voters in some precincts, il
they investigate thoroughly all the is
sues that may be brought before them;
and when it is considered that all the
elections are to be thrown upon the
general election, and that seperate
tickets are to be voted for State, coun-
ty, township and municipal officers
at the same time that judicial ques-
tions are to be investigated and decid-
ed, it is apparent that many citizens
will be liable to lose their chance to
vote unless they are vigiIant and vote
early.
Every man should see for himself
that he is registered, taxed, and if he
is naturalized foreigner, that he is
provided with his proper papers. The
law will bear, as it designed to do,
very heavily on naturalized citizens.
1t creates all possible distractions to
their exercise of the right of Suffrage,
and nothing but vigilance and perse.
verance on their parts can secure thei.
rights. "The price of liberty is eter-
nal vigilance "-Luzerne Union