New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-18
FAIR PLAY AT TaE POLLS.
Geveruor Hahn Qsiees Coloael Paiton's
Uneasy ApDrehe1s1ons.

Gsveruer Hahn Qsisss Cslssel Paaten's
Unoasy ApDrehensions.
The following letter was received BY the
State Registrar of Voters on Saturday:
RooAs STATE CENTRAL Connr11n1.1
Democratic Conservative Perty. !
New Orls ans, october l3, 1876 }
Hon. Michael Hahn. Registrar, State Of Louisiana:
SlR-Many of the bona fde and genuine
voters Of the State are extremely uneasy
and spprehensive lest they may be de-
psived Of their sufrsges BY more subter-
fuge. and we have deemed it our duty to
appeal to you, in your capacity of Registrar,
to protect them. Intimations have been
thrown out that those holding certificates
of registration of 1874, marked "voted," >"
without date attached, would be refused
the privilege of voting on the seventh Of
November, ON tho ground that they had a.
ready voted. You are we'll aware that the
voter can not be held responsible for the
want of the date when he voted in 1874, the
wise on his certificate clearly referring to
that period. and that if he were deprived
of the vote in 1876 for this reason, it would
be an act of gross injustice and wrong.
We, therefore, beg you to inform us whether
you will adopt measures to prevent such
wrong, by giving public notice that per-
sons holding these certificates are legally
entitled to vote on the seventh of Novem-
Der, and shal1 not be excluded ON that
ground, or, if such course is not adopted
by you, give us timely and immediate no
tice of the remedy you propose. In this
difficulty could easily be removed by in
structiog the supervisors ct tho coming
election to receive all votes whose certi-
ficates rendered are not stamped "Voted
seventh November, 1876" and that the Ger.
ti6cates of persons voting ON the approach
ing election be 90 stamped in evidence of
their having voted on that date.
We very respectfully request your earliest
attention TO this matter and reply - soon
Yours, very respectfully.
l. W. PATTON,
President Democratic Conservative State
Central Committee.
The folio wing reply has since been trans
mitted:
Ohice State Registrar Of Voters.
New OTleans. October II, 1876
Colonel l. ". Patton, President Democratic State
SIR-Yeur communication of the thir-
teenth instant was duly received. Before
answering its material point, allow mo to
express my surprise ct your statement con-
cerning apprehensions ON the part Of ''bOna
fide and genuine voters" that "they may be
deprived Of their suffrages by nero subter-
fuge," etc. have not seen anything in the
conduct Of those at present charged with
the administr.tioo Of the registration
on the part Of the political com.
mittee opposed to yours, that would
justify such spprehensions. On the CON.
trary, every person with rare and insig.
niicant excepti0ne). invested with any
power in tbis matter, from the Governor
down, manifest but one anxiety, and that
ia to have Q free, fair and honest election.
1t is to be feared that the mere expires.
sion in Q public paper of such apprehen-
kions over your signature will tend to in
tensify the feeling already existing between
the party of which you are the official head
and tho opposite party, and be apt to fan
into flame the passions of thoughtless men,
now dormant and subject to the control OF
moro reasonable and less excitable individ.
usle. although such, am sure, was not
your intention.
Allow me to assure you that your
"appesp to me in my official capacity to
protect "bOns fide and genuine voters, y
will always receive an earnest and decided
response; but in the position I now occupy
l know no political party, and facts and
law are more priced than partisan rhetoric
But to end the particular matter now
called to my attention, and settle it finally
and in such manner ~ to leave no room
for doubt, have the pleasure of informing
you that the supervisors OF registration
througout the State have already been, and
will again be instructed from this Office,
that the certificates of registration of 1874
(if otherwise correct in form, and
the name of the elector presenting il
has not been erased for valid rea-
sons) will be accepted - valid,
and emitting the holder to vote at
any polling place within his parish OF
precinct, ct the coming election, unless
written upon or stamped "Voted November
Z. 1876" - provided by section nineteen Of
the election act, except in tho parish OF
Livingston, in which. by reason of the
destruction Of the registration records of
1874 by Dire, . new and complete registra-
tration was ordered, and in which parish
NO certifcates of registration but those
issued In 1876 will be recognized a. valid.
Special instructions will be issued to tho
supervisor of Livingston.
Trusting that this reply and tho express
sion of my determination in this matter
viii be satisfactory. en-, very respectfully,
MICHAEL HAHN,
State Registrar of Voters.