New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-10
THE TINES AND THE REGISTRATION
LAW,

Is it malicious representation, or super
to 50 persistently mislead public opinion ?
On nearly every topic of Importance that
paper sets up a false condition Of things,
argues theretrom impossible results, and
on the strength Of these supoauitious fact,
INDUCES in vituperation and abuse, often
without knowing it is striking friend a,
well as foe.
Such Is the case in its editorial yestar-
day On the registration and election laws.
After declaring that the late Lieutenant
Governor was '.lonest, respected and dig
nitied," its anxiety to tisten opprobrium
| upon Governor Warm6tl causes it I'M
| consciously to charge Governor Dunn with
the gravest crimes against the leople of
Louisiana. 1t declares: 1t is the eXer-
else of (the Govtrnor's) dangerous and
powers OF manipulating the bal
lots, and correcting and certifying the re-
turns, which have produced the shameful
abuses against which the people Lave risen
in their might" Now, granting, to avoid
argument, that the people have arisen as
aforesaid, Why should their wrath fall espe-
cially upon Governor Warmoth? He has
not one jot Of power or privilege more
than had Nr. Dunn, or Senator Anderson.
ex-Secretarv Bovee or Senator Lynch.
Tl.,- 1-,-i,,n1 o,I carliEa1 tn W -.
under the law, as a board created for the
especial purpose, and if frauds were com
mitted al members were equally respon-
sible.
But there was no such manipulation Of
ballots at the State House as the Tires
wakes wroth about, for the very conyinc-
ing reason that the ballots were not sent
there. Tie various parish commissioners
and supervisors make out returns OF the
balloting9 at the several precincts within
their jurisdiction, i copy Of which they
forward to the Secretary of State, and the
other file III the Jerks Office Of their dis
trict court. md the examination and pro
mulgation Of these returns is all that the
Governor, thu "Lonest and dignitied
Dunn" or the other members Of the board
had or could have to do in the election
made especially the subject Of this Times
complaint.
We do not doubt that frauds were con-
mitted by ~ex-Speaker Carter and OtL-r
parish election officers in their own inter
est; that they cove their seats in the Leg
i5lature' 10 their own corrupt acts, but
the amendments to the law suggested by
the Governors message strike directly at
this evil. First, the registrar must be a
resident Of the parish, not a peripatetic
oficc-seeker, Ike Carter, Lynch and
others of the Gem Legislature; and,
secondly. he is ineligible tcr any other
Office Willie holding tbs. However, if
these notifications are insufficient to sat
iafy the Times. the lemedy is with it and
its friends. Let the coalition members
return to their sworn duties III the Legis-
lature, and cooperate with the Repub-
licans III preparing and passing avs on
the subjects OF elections and registrations,
which viii satisfy the people. The Times
claims for the Democratic members a
great preponleranc@ Of the talent in the
Legislature, and rs the registration Of
voters IN Louisiana Is peculiarly a pet
Democratic I4-aairc, It's coi,r,e would
-. =. .,.-lt -. A: -.AN-.t4.