The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-01
Reformation Of tho Election Laws.

Governor Hendricks urges the reforma-
ton, of the election laws of Indiana
which are made as pervious to fraud as a
seive is to water. He suggests that all
political parties be represented on the
T foard OF election officers; that voting
places be made numerous and the pre-
cincts small that reasonable residence
be required 10 qualify voter, and that
some steps be taken to prevent the use OF
money to influence elections. "If in The
contest for power" says Governor Hen.
dricks, money shall become stronger
than the people, we will have the Worst
government possible" He recon. lends
as tending to further the purity q cleo
tions, that the time Of holding them be
changed to the Tuesday after the second
Monday in November. Such step will
depsise shs De..ahss eleesiossa "a Id sig
GiiCanCs.
It is of the utmost importance that the
election laws should be reformed, and
that such legal safeguards and guarantees
should be thrown around the ballot box
as will not only effectually preserve it's
purity, but will inspire the confidence
and respect of the people. Any attempt,
however, 10 reform the present defective
system that does not provide uniform
AMI fair method of counting the votes
and establishing definitely and beyond
the suspicion OF. fraud. the result Of the
POLLING viii DC deficient. 7'i''''i' :,
1t would be we'll if the several States
of the Union would adopt-for the gov.
ernment of Federal elections at least-a
uniform election law, 80 framed that un-
der its provisions the people would be
enabled to give certain and irreversble
expression TO their sovereign will through
the ballot box. To accomplish this end
the law should provide for the appoint
ment Of trustworthy and responsible citi.
zens. equally representing both political
parties, who should be amply protected
by the local civil authorities in conduct
ing the election in o fair and. orderly
mannet. AZ the tldse Of the ipoils il
should be the duty of the managers to
proceed at once to count the votes ID
presence of representatives of both par.
ties, and the counting should be
continued without intermission, by
reliefs if necessary-the ballot box no,
being removed from public view-until
all the votes are counted. On the com.
lpletion of the counting the result should
be properly certified by the managers OF
the election, and publicly proclaimed and
an official certificate of the result, giving
the vote pblled for each candidate, posted
in some conspicuous place at each polling
place, The result Of the sbqllotipg thus
officially ye.tified, publicly proclaimed
and conspicuously posted should be de.
clsred by Law Ito ibe at1tltentid, valid Ind
final, and should be subjected to no after
| revision or manipulation by any other
tribunal than the managers of the cleo
aion under whose supervision the vote:
were cast. 's''' 'e. "a
The official result thus made public
could not afterwards be falsified or sup
pressed. The law should make provision
] for the adjudication, on the spot, of al
questions of LEGALITY, anu siioaid
n uniform system of registration; alst
the manner of conducting the election
and of certifying the returns, which being
strictly complied with, should render thu
official return of the managers conclusive
| aud irreversible.
Such regulations properly enforced
would insure fair elections and prey,e.n I.
fraud or the suspicion olfraud; would d.
and returning boards, that are bringing
contempt and put an eEd To contested
i elections and the strifes faction which
/ thrcatensith the destruction ofthe republic
j The purity of the ballot box should b.
held sacred, but the purity Of: the ballO
box is not to be preserved through th
means of corrupt and Irresponsible re
! turning boards. The ballot box 10 tn
! SSes.ee cf free, popular government, ati'
/ lift is tn continue to EXPRESS the popuia
will, .ths closer it is kept in hand by th
4 people the surer will it snbserve the ppy
4 bose for which 1t was Instituted.
| - Vanderbilt. the great railroad mo
nopolist, bnqueathed some money to
Granger-the widow of Gen. Go.dol
\ Granger. ~ ha
| - "We've got to economize. or thi
/ county is ruined" was tho solilo9uy of ;