, 1879-03-30

should be on the side which will strengthen the
hands Of those trying to sustain the flece4on
law or those irving to destroy 1t.
In the Presidential election Of le6s zen. Giant
came from the country towns ana cues u ~"
York with $4,000 majority. Notwithstandins
this he was beaten il, tie whole State BY TO- Co.,
that is, the City OF New York, under the e4oance
NJ nnn Samuel J. 1iiden, who was the Demo
cratic manager OF that city elecuon lor Mr:
Seymour, produced q Democratic majority Of
I'D more majority than the CITY ever gave be-
fore or since, and investigation showed that IL
,nanv nreciucts aud votin, places the t,a1oEit1es
were larger than the whole yote cast before or
since. Congress investigated the facts, and the
result was the passage Of law for the preTen~
tion OF such frauds, and that Ia" Is Inc one
now sought to be repealed.
II NAV be asked, How can Congress control q
State election! The READY answer is, that at the
Presidential and Congressional election votes
are cast for officers OF the Unlteo States, ana
that Government is worth very little which,
based upon popular elections, has not the power
to keep the peace and prevent ballot stufting at
t}e rolls, The recent action Of CONGRESS las
..,iciLed such interest in this general Elecnon
law as to render it desirable that 1t be correctly
Mr. Lincoln once said that when thing In
this country got into party politics 1.-THE truth
stood no chance" And so much 1nlsrcprcsenta-
ton prevails in reference TO the provisions ot
This law that have deemed it proper to take
lie United States Statutes and dictate to
shorthand writer the substance Of each section,
in order that / might represent correctly the
PROVISIONS and restrictions Of the entire act It
IS found on page 353 Of the United States Re-
v:sed Statutes
TEE FIRST TWO SECTIONS
provide that no military officer shall bring
the polls-" Nor shall any officer: in any man.
ncr. prescribe any qualifications TO voters:
Secs. 5.52S, 5,529. $3.50, and 553e Of Chap. I,
entitled sCrimes against the elective iran
ch;sc.'' etc, provide that every military
officer, who shall bring troops to the Dolls
shall be fined not exceeding 5000 and suffer
Imprisonment at hdrd labor not less than three
months nor more than five years. Also. II nc
shall exercise any intimidation or threats. or
prescribe any qualifications to voters, similar
punishment shall be inflicted, and such officer
shall thereafter be deprived OF his citizenship.
Set 2,ON provides thai all citizens OF fhe
United States. without distinction OF race or
color shall be permitted to rctc- :,
Ser. zoos is to the effect that Wnen prefeQui-
as registration prior to the election, equal op-
pcrtunty shall be given to all persons to COM
Div with such prerequisites.
and the next section provides that, If anr off
Ger under, the act having duties to perform
shall net give to every person an equal opportu-
u4tt, EAGA4 l'NA gu tA1ef
S50J and his lawyers fees in collecting that sum-
Sec. 4Do7 provides that where any act is re-
Qured to be done as. prerequisite TO voting.
SUCH for instance, as registration: the otler Of
the party to perform such . az snsl nS eanara
lent the performance ITSELF and shall entttie
hin tu vote And the next section provides
that II any ofhccr whose outy1S Is % MAKE t''e
registration is FURNISHED Win an amaaS1t tnat
such person oiiereA to comply ~lth Inc pre-
requisite: such as Offering 10 re@1ster us Fole'
rof,1S n n1[Aw Z E11rh
afidl't shall pay Si00 and lawyers lees 10 the
parts injured.
Sec 2oj9 is TO the eEe2I ulal II any o1ucer
created BY the act shall VI threats or oy unla"-
1ul means hinder or. prevent any person from
voting, the person SO hsndered 1n3y recover
$500 and lawyers fees from the officer
Sec 2,010 is to tile efect that any candidate
is defeated because persons legally author1zed
10 vote ale prevented from voting, suco canal
date NAV bring an action to recover the once
uoon proof of TACT emitting him to do so shall
receive the Office and It's enolumeIts.
Sec 2,0l1 provides that in any city or town
Of orer ~, QUO inhabitants two citizens, or in a
Congressional District ten citizens, legal voters,
mar prior TO any Congressional election petition
The next section provides that the Judge OF
The United States Court shall, upon such petit
ton, appoint two citizens Of different political
partities to be Supervisors OF Election at given
pFEt1NEl6 Ut municipalities
Ser. 2,013 is that the court may be kept open
for the purpose Of carrying out the provisions
of this act.
Sec. 22,0i4 is that wherever the Circuit Court
cannot perform this duty may be discharged
by 1hc Judge OF the District Court
Sec. e,015 is that the preceding sections shall
be so construed as TO give power to the
Judge Of the Circuit Court to appoint District
Judge to discharge the duties under this act in
his district
Sec 2,01G is to the effect that the Supervisors
thus appointed shall be authorized to attend at
the place fixed Tor registration, challenge any
person offering 10 register, and mark list OF
challenged voters, and generally perform such
duties ss will in their Judgment detect aud ex-
pose any fraud in relation to registration.
Sec 2,0l7 requires these Supervisors also to at
tend the election and challenge any person
whom either Supervisor shall think to be an il
legal voter; to remain where the ballot-bo1es
are kept until every vote Is cast; count and caI-
.yass all the Yotes when completed, and examine
antl pue in form the certificates attached thereto.
They are also required to serutinize the manner
In which voting is Gone aud see bow the regis
tty-lists, tallies, and cIcck-books are kent.
See 2,o16 provides thar these Supervisors
shall personally cauTass each ballot and make
report tn Chief Supervisor touching the accu-
rary. OF the registration and the fairness Of the
election aud canvass.
See. 2,01o is to the effect that these Superyjs-
ors Of The two opposite parties shall occupy
such convenient place at the registration and