Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-11
THE APPROACHING CITY
ELECTIONS.
The Demands Of tne Law ON the
Subject.

lhe Benmhnub Oh INC Law Oh sne
Subject.
Our new city charter, adopted in 1867,
requires an election to be held on the
first Thursday of each year for the cleo
ton of city officers. The clause in the
city charter thus sets forth the law on
the subject:
SRcrIos AZ. At least sixty days before
the election in January, 1868, the Mayor
shall appoint, by and with the consent Of
the Board of Aldermen, suitable person
as Registrar for each ward in the city,
who shall receive such per diem compen-
sation rs the Board OF Aldermen may
allow. He shall have an Office in some
suitable place in said ward, and shall
open books for the registration of all per-
sons allowed by existing laws 10 vote in
any municipal election, and who reside
in said ward and every voter in each
ward shall, before offering to vote, cause
himself to be registered in said books,
aud shall receive from the Registrar
certificate of registration, which shall be
numbered to correspond with the name
aud number on the books of the Regis
trar; and no person shall be suffered to
vote at any municipal election who shall
not have and produce to the judges
Of elections his certificate as aforesaid
and no voter shall be allowed to vote 10
any other ward than the one where he re-
sides and is registered.
SECTION Al. No man shall be quail
fed voter unless he be twenty.one years
of age, citizen of the United States and
Of the State of Tennessee, and shall
have been an actual bona tide resident
Of the city of Memphis six months and
of the Ward in which he offers his vote
thirty days next preceding the election
at which he offers the same. and shall
have registered as provided in section
| ~.
If the law be properly enforced, we
now stand in fair way Of having good,
intelligent and capable city government
once more 1t is well known that several
of the most ignorant aud corrupt of the
present city officials were elected sy
negro votes obtained from outside the
city limits. The law is ample in
its provisions = if strictly complied
with - to prevent further corrup-
ton in that quarter. Let an hon,
est and faithful registration of all
the several wards be begun at once.
Why should not Major Boughner, the
present efficient Registrar, be empowered
by the Board to make the registration in
all the wards. He has proven himself
honest and trustworthy, and would make
complete registry. The law does not
specifically require separate Registrar
for each ward, but leaves the appoint
ment at the option of the Board Of Mayor
and Aldermen. If the appointment of
Msjor Boughn0r be made, for instance,
at the next meeting Of the Board, he
would have ample time between this and
the election in January to make full and
complete registration of the whole city.
His experience and knowledge of the
subject would likewise give him great
advantages over those having never per-
formed the duties of the Office. We know
he would honestly and faithfully dis
charge the duties of the trust reposed in
him, and would see, in the management
Of the election, that there should be no
repetition of the former frauds that
foisted upon us such set of inoapables
as now fill many of the city and munich
pal Offices
Action should be taken at once by those
whose duty it is to move in the matter,
and if the interests of the tax.paying cit
liens weigh o feathers weight with 1.-THE
powers that be" every effort should be
made to secure an honest and fair cleo
ton once more. Such a result would
secure the triumphant election of honest
and capable men to all the city Offices.
Let the oallot-box be well and faithfully
guarded. Let the negroes and rif-raff
from the country and steamboats, be
plainly informed that the January cleo
ton is to be no affair of theirU. That
none will be registered or permitted to
vote that are not bona fde residents of
the city, and that cannot comply with
the strict letter of the law.
EPISCOPAL SERVICES AT OAK LAwy.