The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-01-30
IN REGISTRATION NECESSARY "A
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
DALLAs, January ~, 1870,


DALLAs, January 70, 1870,
10 the Editor Of the Dallas Herald
VIII II be necessary to register NJ the
approaching election for the adoption
OF the new constitution aud the elec'
ton of State officers There seems 10
be u difference of opinion, or ignorance
rather In the minds Of the people re-
garding lt-some Gontendlng that II h,
and Others that II h not necessary. ]
have heard that the ordinance of cleo
ton abolished registration, Is II 80 =?
VOTER.
The opinion OF the editor Of this pa-
per upon the point raised by "Voter"
can he stated very briefly, II was
within the power OF the Convention,
by an ordnance or 10y u provision in
corporated In the Constitution Itself, to
declare that that organic law which
they had framed Wds the Constitution
of the State OF Texas, and we hold that
II was unnecessary for that body to
submit their work TO the people for
ratification orrejectlon. That Conven-
ton saw 1T, however, to submit the
Constitution, but they likewise saw III
to pass certain ordinances which be-
come operative without the sanction Of
the people, and without such submis-
sion. One of these ordinances which
took effect without submission de-
clares-
Section 9. BE II further ordained,
That mt the same time I. g. on the
third Tuesday In February, A, ID. 1876
there shall be general election held
throughout the State, for State, dis
trict, county and precinct officers, Gre
ated and made elective by the new
constitution. The election rs far as
practicable shall be held and conduct.
ed as now provided bylaw; bit no reg
istrdtiOn OF UOtGrs shall 6orGquirGd, and
every elector shall vote In the precinct
Of his residence. The qualf-
cation of electors shall be defined in
the article regulating suffrage in the
new constitution.
THAT article regulating suffrage and
defining the qualification of voters, as
set forth in the constitution Is as fol-
lows:
Section 2. Every male person sub
ject to none of the foregoing disquali-
lications, that is, under twenty-ope
years of age, idiots, lunatics, etc, who
shall have attained the age of twenty
one wears 'anor VIZ. .Rfi'l he citizen
OF the United States, and who shall
have resided in the State one year next
preceding an election, and the last six
months within the district or county
in which he offers to vote, shall DO
deemed qualified elector; and every
male person of foreign birth, subject to
none of the foregoing disqualitications
who, at any time before an election
shall have declared his intention to
become citizen of the United States,
in accordance with the Federal natur-
alizaton laws, and shall have resided
in this State one year next preceding
such election, and the last six months
in the county In which he offers to
vote, shall also be deemed Il qualified
elector; and all electors shall vote in
the election precinct of their residence.
That ordinance which does away
with registration and submits the Con-
sttution to vote of the people was
itself. regulated by a subsequent ordi-
nance, which Is as follows:
No ordinance passed by this Conven-
ton and not submitted for the ratifica-
ton of the people, except that post
poning the election, and that submit
ting the Constitution to q Uote Of the qltui-
Jed electors, shall in any sense be
deemed operative, etc, unless the Con-
stitution shall be ratified by the quail
fled electors of the State of Texas.
Thus "Voter" will perceive that all
registration is abolished by valid or
dinance, and that all qualified electors
will be permitted to vote without reg
istration certificates in the February
election.
Voter" will note that the ordinance
doing away with registration. went
into effect without the ratification of
the people, and that all the depart
ments of the State Government rs
well as the most eminent jurists and
lawyers of Texas have acquiesced in
the opinion that it was within the
power of the Convention to pass the
ordinance named.