New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-13
TIE RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN A WILL
Thu p,e,,,,,,e formulated the following

as a maxim
The people have property in their votes.
of which they can no: be deprived without
due process Of law.
Without stopping 20 except to the form
of expression, we approve the idea en-
bodied in the sentence. 4 man certainly
has, under our system of government. the
same right of control over his vote that be
has over anything that is his. We do not
understand the P;cay,sne to say that this
right of property is legally transferable
for direct money consideration. for such
a transaction is forbidden By law. Con-
cedinc, therefore. with this modification.
that man has right Of property in his
vote. we must admit his right to deposit it In
the ballot-box and have it made effective
for the purpose intended. Pursuing the
smile little further. we may suppose the
polling place to be the market to which
this vote must be taken before its owner
can realize anything from it. Does not
the same law which protects one voter
protect all others? Are not all entitled to
safe conduct to and from. the polls: But
suppose this law is disreGarded, and the
local majority, it may be. band together to
keep all bu. their political friends from
coming to market. What becomes OF the
right to vote when permission to do SO is
denied by force Of one kind or another?
Are those who commit this wrong to have
their votes counted Just the same as
though they had net stood on the high
way and stopped others? According to
the Ptcayune, no: because they would thus
prof. by their own wrong, which is con-
trary to a wholesome maxim Of the law"
We charge that in De Soto, Bienville.
Sabine and numerous other parishes this
right Of property in votes has been denied
to the Republicans. It makes no differ
ence what means Of intimidation were EN-.
ployed. OF whether actual force was used.
II it was generally published to the peo-
pie that all who voted the Republican
ticket would be punished in any manner.
either by death on the spot or discharge
from employment: subsequently,. and
voters were thereby deferred from voting.
it amounted to absolute highway rob-
berry. and nothing better can be made Of
It. It makes no sort Of difference whether
this robbery was committed on the first or
last mile Of the journey to the bsllot-box.
What we insist upon now is that those
who have thus monopolized the business
Of voting by keeping political opponents
away shall not be permitted to retain the
stolen property. OF the effects which they
expected to come from their acts. There are
no doubt cases here and there Of local cam
didates being elected without opposition.
But that there were no more than two men
in Sabine parish who preferred Mr. Dubu.
clet to Mr.. Moncure. and none at all in
Bienville and De Soto. does not stand to
reason. and the reputed returns from
those parishes ought to be taken as prina
facie evidences that outrageous frauds
were committed. It certainly seems to
US tina! grave liberties with the rights Of
property in votes have been taken, and
the P;casgne is insisting that the Return
ing Board shall permit those who have
committed the wrong to profit by il.
The FEES OF THE ASSISTANT CITY At
TORNEY.
The E,ti.e:;a reminds Us that the Re-
PUBLICAN was III error in saying that the
fees Of two and q half per cent for COL
lecting delinquent taxes is paid by the
delinquents. This was the old rule under
former Democratic administrations. but
It seems the present Coun Gil has changed
it. The city will pay for the collection,
thus adding nothing to the burdens Of
the taxpayers Oh that account.
We may. perhaps. aocep: this arrange.
ment as an equitable one. upon the plea
that the plan adopted is the only feasible
one to bring money into the TIE asury. 1t
is certainly worth two and a half per cent
to the city to have the pas: due money
paid in. Exact justice woald require !
that those who have rendered the addi-
tionat expense necessary sho uld bear it,
but justice is sometimes burdensome to |
weak and ;mprovident people. and no |
doubt very excellent reasons can be urged
for the plan agreed TO. We concur with
the Bulletin in the high character it gives |
to Mr.. Miller. the assistant city attorney.
and can assure linn that the REPUBLICAN,
will sustain him and all other officers in |
promp. and fair discharge Of official !
duties. Let rs hope. too. that when the |
tug Of war comes between the officer Of |
the corporation and some rich concern
that has refused to pay. the traditional.
imaginary widow and several children
will not be thrown across his way like
barricade. This "poor widow" has ena-
bled many a SLOW taxpayer to retain
money due the city, and loan it to poor
policemen. laborers and school teachers
at from two and a half to four per cent
month.
DARE TO DO RIGHT.
TIE Democratic papers and politicians,
all and singular, are bristling with threats
against those officials who shall dare to
do right. unless such action promote the
so-called ''cause Of the people" Threats