Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-11-07
The Registration and Election
LawS-A Warming to All Whom
1t May Concern.

The n. Y. Hcrdtd contained quite
long article, which had so many goo(
points that we can not refrain from
giving extracts therefrom, regreting
that we have not room for the article
entire.
The HeraM says:-The present
Presidential campaign has been one
of deplorable personality, and has beer
productive of much ill-fecling among
those who take an active interest in
politics. Old parties have been brok-
en- up, and men who have for years
past been fighting on the same side
now find themselves for the first time
amayed against each other 1t has
been a season of evil war among the
politicians, and all the passions engen,
dered by internal strife have been call
ed into play to embltter and intensity
the contest. There has never been
an election since the formation Of OH!
government in which it was more de.
sirable that prudent citizens should dc
all in their power to calm the troubled
waters Of political contention and to
allay the popular excitement provoke /
by the struggle, The party organs
have been reckless in their attacks and
careless Of the result, their apparent
object being to fan the flame Of dis
cord and to increase the violence OF
factional hate. In this city the com
plication Of our local politics has add
ed to the natural irritation of the
Presidential issue, and some alarm has
been felt least the election should he
marred by disorder and Violence
Under these circumstances we regard
it as unfortunate that any difficulty
should lave arisen in regard to the re
gistration and election laws, now en-
forced for the first time in a President
ial contest, or that those charged with
their execution should have found it
necessary to put themselves offensive
ly in contact with thepeople.
The case Of Mr.. Heinrichs has al
ready been fully reported in the HER
AID. The citizen, German by birth,
was arrested on a warrant issued by
United States Commissioner Dayen-
port, who acts as Supervisor under the
national election law, charged with a
violation of the provisions OF that law.
A deputy appointed by the Supervisor
visited Mr.. IIeinnchs' house for the
purpose OF verifying the registration
list. 1t is charged that he acted in
solently and arbitrarily, that he endeav-
ored to force his way into the promises
and that Hcinrichs resisted his en-
trance. At all events a dispute arose;
resulting in the arrest Of Heinrichs,
and it is certain that in the subsequent
proceedings Commissioner Davenport,
before whom the accused was taxed.
evinced no spirit Of conliliation. Mr..
TIeinrichs was held to bail, and other
arrests on similar charges have sub
scquently been made. " n
On the other hand, it is contended
that the Supervisors Of Elections and
their deputies possess no such powers;
that the law authorizes them to 9 veri-
fy lists of persons who may register
or vote in elections for federal officers,
and to act as witnesses in the election
proceedings, the counting Of votes
and making returns. AS originally
passed the law posed some cb-
ectionable features, giving very
rbitrary powers to the deputies
but an amendatory law passed at the
last session of Congress expressly pro
vides that the supervisors ''shall have
no power or authority TO make arrest
or to Ierlorm other duties than to be
in the immediate presence Of the Off
GERS holding the elections, and to wit
ness all their proceedings, including
tAe counting Of the votes and the
q return thereof These are
the words Of the supplemental and
amendatory law, and it would seem
that they are distinct and plain enough.
But Commissioner Davenport falls
back on the plea that this clause does
not apply to the supervisors in cities
of over twenty thousand inhabitants,
and that the powers Of arrest given by
the original law--to wit, powers, equal
to those Of the sensus commissioners
are still in his hands This position we
believe to be untenable n
Apart from the letter Of the law, we
regard the course persued by Com
missioner Davenport as mwisc and
to the peace Of the city.
A statute such as he is called upon to
enforce is necessarily Of an objection
able character. 1t authorizes a sort Of
to which tie people are I'M
accustomed and which is naturally Of
lensive. A good registry law is ap-
proved by all honest citizens, and
scarcely reputable man would be
found unwilling to aid cheerfully in
its enforcement. But the clear oh
iect of such law should be to prevent
illegal voting and to facilitate the poll
inc Of every honest vote in the city.
There are two evils attendant upon
fraudulent voting at elections first,
that it misrepresents the popular will,
and next that it deprives qualified vot-
ers of the opportunity to deposit they
ballots. A fair registration law pro-
vides against both of these evils, it
renders it difficult, if not impossible,
to commit frauds upon the franchise,
and it clears the way to the polls for
honest electors.
Tho into,1oronno of tbo Ea1aro1