Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-09-28
The Registrations Controyers.
Decision OF United States Conn.,.
siOBer }. b. Weiler-The ~
thorffy OC the United States -
specsors ~ aintnis,ed-De cisien 81
q. s. COMMISSIONERS CoUnr.
DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

Registration, Sixth Ward, New ~
Jeans. charged with interfering r;s.
Eugene Staes, United States lnsOSs
tor. in the dis, barge of his duties
The facts as admitted, show tdst
enc OF the United States Inspec.ors
insisted that the Deputy Marsha,
Mouat, who had been stationed A.
that Registration Office TO dischare.
the duties imposed npon him by law.
was assisted by F. w. Nickoll, one a.
the State Inspectors, and heDce tka
prosecutions. 1t is claimed BY the
defense that the Deputy Marshal NJ
amere police officer, whose duty 4
was TO preserve order, protect tn
Supervisors and arrest disorderly NJ.
sons.' If these were the only dvtic.
imposed him, there could be mo- IA.
Guilty in deciding the question. n,
this same section declares that t.
Deputy Marshal shall at such polIs
"prevent fraudulent registration ana
fraudulent voting, etc.r 81
Where the Law imposes o duty a
u public officer it confars upon him n
the power necessary to the faithfI
performance of it. How can be pre.
vent fraudulent registrations unleia
he is permitted to occupy q position
where he can detect it'll 1t would T.
quite an easy matter to arrange t.
desks 40 that no one outside the rsiI.
ing could sc " hat was going on. r..
sides, the Inv making It his dusyu
protect the inspectors if be e pot
allowed to pass the railing. how Ca
he afford protection ! In this cese 4
was specially invoked by the Uuitei
States Inspector. The counsel for the
accused has said that there 10 no lac
limiting the numier of deputies. and
the Marshal might place Fifty of the
ON duty at one office. am bound In
assume that the United States Ma.
shall has no disposition to ptoy0ke :
collision with the Stale aufhoritiea
and hence 4 conclude tina. be would'
~ the exercise of a soniid discretioS
place but one deputy at each Of ths
Offices unless in case =
seriOus distui bance or resistance -
the laws of the United States or -
interference with Inspectors.
Ii greater number were placed AZ
duty in the office, il would probable
depending upon the particular facial
be hindering aud obstr,icting q reg.
lstratiOn Tor which the Law ampiy
provides. Ia the case supposed ~
the COUNSEL, iwould not hesitate. ut,on
. proper ';am,lavit, issuing warran8
10 arrest them.
Whilst it is the duty of the Depu6
to watch over the registration.
he has nothing. to do with the books
Or papers, nor can he challenge ANY
Teter applying Tor registry. II 10
'eesa voter about to be registered
Shsn :he believes, from information
'r personal knowledge. is disqualified.
h. should advise TIE United Sfstea
supervisor OF the fact, in order that
hey may make the challenge aud
rave the proper entries made. / wsS
'orry to hear the counsel Tor the dc.
ense, in his argument, declare that
1 the commissioners decided ia favor
II the prosecuting witness, he would
lot abide by it. lie also spoke Of
those deputies, IL they. At.
empteed to enter behind the railing,
~ ior,'e.
The time for forcible resistance 70
he laws OF the United States has
'assed by. The citizens of New Or.
cans are LOYAL and true To tue, Consti.
rfion aud laws Ut the Federal Govern.
nent, and they desire, above al
hlngs, an lnbest, quiet aud peace
'hie election. agree with the cour.
el taat lhele are provisions in this
dw wiich'are Unconstitutional. But
'p"n this question the higher courts
must pass. Until it is repealed By
congress on annsHed by the decisiod
u the Court of last resort, it must be
Executed. Forci5le resistance, win lead
o the most disastrous consciousness,
Or the authority of the Federal 0ov.x
rnInent must I've. maintained. -
GreatfOrbearance ia. required from
u parties in the present heated stata
I the public mind. It should be the
i,Ject of all to secure fair and
'gitinIite registration and an honest
lection.
II you can accomplish this, pubic
onndellce will be restored. and the
e'lceahly icquitscc, no matter what
nay he the result OF the contest. u
'r cannot preserve the purity Of the
aslot-box, aud secure to every voter
is own rights. then the election is Q
ace; aifd the sooner we obtain q
laster and another form of govern.
tent, the Better. There can DO no
liability IN The government, no securi.
ior either persons or property. nm
'ss our elections are fairly and justly
de who hampers with the
aiio' DOx commits the greatest Of
',iitica' crliI ies' and should be univcr-
'liy execrates.. Wy severe illness fos
ANY days past and present physical
prevent me trnm presenting
llIy nv x-fa,,,. 80. .L: -. = o.