Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-05-12

state when and where the tax claimed
TO be paid by the afiiant was assessed,
and when, where and to whom paid
and the tax receipt therefor shall be
produced for examination, unless the
afiiant shall state in his affidavit that
It has been lost or destroyed, or that
he never received any; but if the per-
son so claiming the right TO vote shall
take aud subscribe an affidavit, that
he is native born citizen of the Uni
ted States, (or if born elsewhere, shall
state that fact in his affidavit, and shall
produce evidence that he has been
naturalized, or that he is entitled TO
citizenship by reason Of his fathers
naturalization } and shall further state
ia his affidavit that he is, at the time
of taking the affidavit, between the
ages of twenty-one and twenty-five
years; that he has resided in the State
one year and in the election district
ten days next preceding such election,
he shall be entitled to vote, although
he shall not have paid taxes the said
afiidavits OF all persons making such
claims, and the affidavits of the wit
nesses TO their residence, shall be pre-
served by the election board, and at
the close of the election they shall be
enclosed with the list Of voters, tally
list and other papers required by law
to be filed by the return judge with
the prothonotary, and shall remain on
file herewith in the prothonotary's
office, subject to examination, as other
election papers are if the election
officers.shall find that the applicants
possess all the legal qualifications Of
voters, he or they shall be permitted
TO vote, and the name or names shall
be added to the list Of taxables by tho
election officers"
We would entertain hearty admi-
ration for the man who would take
the pains TO get mp an affidavit of that
kind for the blessed privilege Of voting
under difficulties.
Then, in addition, he is subjected
to the right Of challenge by anybody
who chooses TO exercise that right,
and must furnish the same proof as is
now required Of voter when chal-
lenged. And the naturalizcd citizen
must produce his certificate unless be
has been for ten years consecutivclya
voter in that particular district, and
when he votes, the officers must write
or stamp tho word "yoted" on his
certificate.
Heavy penalties ARE attached for
violations Of the law.
Two overseers are TO be appointed
on the petition of FIVE citizens swear
ing that they believe frauds will be
practiced. If the officers refuse to
allow them TO be present, or if they
are driven away from the polls, then,
in a contested election, the iohole boz
is 10 be Mrocn out. What a convent
ent arrangement for the unscrupulous
to defeat the will of the majority.
How easy to get up fight and intim-
idate these peaceful overseers. What
an arrant humbug this law is. In
stead of guarding the elective fran
chise and insuring its pure exercise,
1t affords excellent opportunities and
devises convenient ways and means
to thwart the will of the people and
make the ballotboX, more than ever,
serve the purposes Of unprincipled
politicians. We will, doubtless, have
occasion to refer TO this law again.
For the present, we have neither
space nor time to say more Valley
Spirit.