Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-11-09
See the card ofMr. 8. Hess.
Powers aud Duties of Supcrvi-
sors Of Election.


r. A. Wolfey, Esq, United States
chief supervisor of elections, recently
addressed request to District Attor.
ney Beckwith for his opinion of thep pro.
per construction of the act OF Congress
relative to the conduct of elections,
aud received the answer here append
cd, subsequently, the attention OF At.
torney General Belden was called to
tho same subject, and shown Mr.,
Heekwllb's aote 10 Mr.. Woldey, in
which he eoneurs,
The penalty for violating tho pro,
Visions 0f this law, either by inteifer.
ing with tho supervisors or refusing 10
give them access u the books, ballot.
boxes or returns Of the election Ia llne
and imprisonment for three years In
the Penitentiafy. We hope there viii
be- no necessity for the interpretation 81
active authority on the part of the
Federal authorities, but we can assure
all concerned that heavy hand will
be laid upon any one, high or low,
who attempts to practice any kind Of
fraud upon the voters. 1t will be
found there Ii vast difference be.
tween setting a State law at defiance
and disobeying Federal law. Ger
tain wicked men i'm North Carolina are
able to tell something about this diff
ference. But as criminal laws are
made to restrain the wicked we hope
there will not be case under the
Federal enforcement act in Louisiana.
For there is positive determination
on the part of those charged with this
duty to see that there is n perfectly
fair election, and those who attempt
to cheat will be promptly dealt with.
IN. D. Republican.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE,
District of Louisiana,
New Orleans, October 30, 1872.
| SIR--In reply to your request, that give
my opinion as TO the extent Of the duties re-.
quired Of the supervisors of election appnnt-
ed under the provisions of the act Of Con-
| grcss, approved February %. 1S71, entitled
- An act 10 amend to act to enforce the rights
ofcitizens of the United States to vote in ths
several States of tbs Union, and for Other
purposes" and the act Of Congress extending
the provisions of the act, and whether ut the
impending election 10 is the right and duty OF
such supervisors TO be present and In attn-
dance at the polls, and to remain wic7a tht
ballot boxes are kept, at all times after thu
| polls are open until all the votes cast AZ said
election are counted and the required return
and certificate are made, have the honor 10
state that the Acts Of Congress referred to are
enacted to carry ont the fifteenth amendment
OF the constitution Of the United States, and
that the fifth section of the net OF February
% ISL, is perfectly clear and nnambiguous in
US deduction of the duties Of supervisors Of
election. They are ITO be and remain where
tbs ballot boxes arc kept, at all times after
the polls are open, until each and every vote
cast ut said time and place shall be tast, shah
he counted, and the canvass of all votes pnll,d
he wholly completed, and the proper and re-.
q,usite certificate or return made whether
said certificate ~ return be required unles
any law of the United States, or any S.at,a
territorial OF municipal law"
Ii can not be doubted that the daiy ~ I'M
supervisors extends to the inspection Of It'd
entire election from its commencement untii
the decision Of it results II the United STATES
statutes were less explicit there still could H..
no dcillt of the duty ana authority OF tho
supervisor to inspect aud canvass every vote
cast for each and every candidatrr< State
parochial and federal, as the law of the State
neither provides nor allows any separation o.
the election for Representatives in Congress
ETC., from the election Of State and parish off
GERS. The election is in law q single election
and tie power OF inspection vested By law IN
the supervisors appointed by the court ex
tends to the entire election, full kpowledg,
OF which may well become necessary to defca,
fraud.
remain, respectfully,
} j. II. BECKWITIf,
United States Attorney.
To T, \. Wolfey, ESQ.,, Chief Supervisor.