The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-01-11
to this subject early and favorable atten-

ton.
All agree that Republican Govern
ment will fail unless the purity of cleo
tions Is preserved. Convinced that great
abuses of the elective franchise can not
be prevented under existing legislation,
/ have heretofore recommended the en-
actment of registry law, and also of
some appropriate measure to secure to
the minority, as far as practicable,N u rep
resentation upon all boards of elections
There is much opposition to the enact
ment of q registry law. Without yield
ing my own settled convictions in favor
of such law, | content myself, in this
communication, with urging upon your
attention a measure of reform in the
manner of conducting elections, the i'm
portance and justice of which no one
ventures to deny. The conduct of the
officers whose duty at elections it is to
receive and count the ballots, and to
make returns of the result, ought to be
above suspicion. This can rarely be the
case where they all belong to the same
political party. A fair representation of
the minority will go far, not only to pre-
vent fraud, but, what is almost of equal
importance, remove the suspicion of
fraud. | do not express any preference
for any particular plan of securing mi
nority representation in the boards of
judges and clerks of elections. Yari-
GUS modes have been suggested, and it
will not be difficult to adopt means of
attaining the desired result which will
harmonic with our system of election
laws
The re-enactment of the law securing
to the disabled volunteer soldiers, who
are inmates of the National Asylum near
Dayton, the right of suffrage in the
county and tnowship N which said Asy
lum is located, which was repealed April
II, 1868, and the repeal of the legisla-
ton of the last General Assembly, impo-
sing restrictions upon the exercise oil
the right of suffrage by students and by
citizens having visible admixture OF
African blood, are measures so clearly
demanded by impartial justice and pub
lie sentiment, that no argument in theil
support is deemed necessary.
l transmit herewith the report required
by law of the pardons granted during
the year ending November Is, 1869, &
report of the expenditures of the Gov
ernor's Contingent Fund, copies of pro
clamations issued during the year, ant
several communications accompanying
gifts to the State of portraits of former
Governors. s.
| The most important measure which i
will be your duty to consider at you
present session, is the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States l do not feel called upon to dis
cuss its merits. The great body of tina
part of the people of Ohio who sustain
| the laws for the reconstruction of tn,
, States lately in rebellion believe that tn
, Fifteenth Amendment is just and wise
Many other citizens who would not sup
! port tie amendment if it was presented
as the Inauguration of a new policy, il
view of the fact that impartial sufrag
is already established in the States mos
f largely interested in the question, nov
: regard the amendment as the best mod
OF getting rid of controversy whicl
| ought no longer to remain unsettled
t Believing that the measure is right, an,
that the people of Ohio approve it.
7 earnestly recommend the ratification 0
the Fifteenth Amendment to the Consti
1 tuition of the United States.
E JANUARY 3, 1870. r. B. HAYES.