Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-12-20
THE REGISTRATION LAW.

the retention of tho registration law, ~
modified form, On our statute books. We are
unable to see any advantage in registry law
in West Virginia, which is not completely
overbalauced by the disadvantages which must
attend the execution of any such law in this
State. 1t is said that registry law is useful
in preventing fraudulent voting, and, possibly,
in large cities, where the population is con-
tinually shifting, and where even neighbors
are strangers to each other, there may be some
necessity for registry of the voters in each
precinct or ward. But in State as sparsely
populated as West Virginia is, and where
every man in a township or election precinct
is personally acquainted with every other man
who has a right TO vote in that place, regis
tor is rsuperfuous aud unnecessary. 1t is
scarcely possible to find, anywhere in the
State, IN election board of three men who do
not know personally every voter in the pre-
cinct, where he lives, and how long he has
been there.
But, even if this were not the case, there
are other, cheaper and simpler means of pre-
law. Many of the larger and older States of
the Union have no registration laws and yet
guard well the purity of the ballot. In Ohio,
for instance, where some of the townships
have as many voters . are to be found in
whole counties in West Virginia, and where
one or two cities equal in population our entire
State, there is no registration of voters, and
yet we never hear any complaint from either
political party that fraudulent voting has been
extensively practiced. There was no com>
plant of fraudulent voting under the old sys
TEN in Virginia, and the change from the
vipa uoca manner to that of secret ballot does
not materially increase the chances for fraud,
at last, not in any respect that can be obviated
by registration.
1t is suggested by some of our Democratic
friends that, in counties and townships where
the Radicals have majority of the election
officers, they may, in the absence of registra-
ton law, refuse to receive the votes of Dem
ocrats who would be duly registered by q
Democratic board and entitled to vote by vir-
tue of such registration, if the law were re-
tanned in force But it should be remembered
that the supervisor or inspectors of election
who would violate one election law would also
violate another. If they reject the ballot of
any man legally entitled to vote in the absence
of the registration law, they would not scru-
pie to reject him even though his name had
been recorded by the registrar. For this kind
of violations of law, the voter will have his
remedy in the courts, and the legislature will
be grossly derelict in its duties if it fails to
destroy the immunity from punishment which
has heretofore shielded election officers in the
grosscst outrages upon the right of citizens to
vote. which their prejudice or their interests
melted them to commit.
Our present registration law is as odious
and unpopular measure as was ever forced
upon an unwilling people. Leaving out the
test oath with all its iniquity, the law would
still be in derogation OF the rights of the peo-
pie. The appointment of registrars by the
Governor would still remain fruitful source
of embarrassment to the Executive and of
complaint on the part of the people, for, let
him be as careful as he may, he will still be
liable to appoint some unworthy registrar and
such is the odium attached to the position that
in many counties it would be dificut to find
competent and acceptable men who would be
willing to serve. But, even if the registrars
were chosen By the people and were the very
best men to be found in the county, the law
would still be Objectionable on account of the
number of unnecessary offices its creates, the
expense attending its execution, and the in
convenience it occasions to the voter. The
people expect the Democracy to reduce the
administration of the State government to the
simplest, cheapest and most economical form
consistent with the ends in view. The aboli-
ton of our present system of registration will
be an important step in the way of reform
twill save the State annually several thousands
of dollars, for, no matter how the present law
may be modified, any system of registration
whatever will be attended with expense. The
Inconvenience to which the citizen is subjcc-
ted in leaving his business engagements to go
before the registrar and apply for registration,
and after the copying of the books, to go again
and see that his name has been properly tran.
scribed, is another, and not the least, argu-
ment in favor of wipiug out the whole system
and returning to a simpler, cheaper and more
convenient manner of voting.
We trust that the Legislature will, in its
wisdom, give us an election law that, while
securing the purity of the ballot, will be plain
and simple in its provisions and convenient in
execution.
THE VALLEY RAILRoAD.-We are graft
fide to announce TO our readers that during
the last week Mr. Robert Garrett, the newly