The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-09-03

D formly been neglected, aud that, too, upon
5 the opinion of former Attorney General
that it was not essential that residences be
, given. The constitution provides for a
uniform registry law. One requiring res
licences of voters to be given in Baltimore
! and not in the counties, We take it, would
not be uniform law, and consequently
, not constitutional. Therefore the require
ment must be null and void In the
"trials," too, it was eonclusiyely shown
that, BY reason Of the frequent changes of
residence, to undertake to locate voters
would be a source of trouble and annoy
ance aud would be productive of eonteu-
tions on election days. The trainers Of
the law did not intend the placing of the
residences Of voters opposite their names
to be a necessary prerequisite to voting,
or an essential duty Of the registers,
for the law only requires it to be done
sckere The residence Of the Uoter IS ka0ica.
Although there was 20 cause for removal,
or attempted removal, for the registers had
no idea of vacating their Offices at the IN
warranted dietation Of Governor Hamilton,
il is expected that the Governor viii rem
der an opinion 10 the cases he has been
investigating. If that opinion does not
falls exoaerate the registers from inteu-
tional wrong aud fully yiadieate the purity
I Of the registration as far as the testimony
showed, then the Governor viii not have
done his duty either to his State or the
party that directs its affairs. He has been
instrumental in circulating the charges
and he should use the information he ellie
I tied to refute them.
This, however, the Governor will not
do. He has conceived the idea that fraud
is practiced 10 Baltimore, and though he
/ failed to prove il, it is not probable be
will give the registers the advantage Of
proper acknowledgement Of the fact. Aay
Governor should rejoice at the opportuBi-
y Of proclaimiog that investigation proved
the honesty aud capacity Of aEy State
officials against whom contrary allegations
had been laid, and any good party man
would be pleased tha, il vas is bis power
TO yindieate his party from false accuse
lions. Gov Hamilton, however, seems
determined upon one thing solely-:he
breaking down of the Democratic leaders.
His idea has been that the registers we're
perpetrating fraud whereby the leaders
could sustain themselves and the party,
and it vas against the party leaders that
he was chiefly operating in the recent
''trialsp He has never let an opportunity
pass to stab them, and in stsbbing them
he has stabbed his party also, The wound,
though, is not ''as vide as door nor as deep
as well, and the party aud It's leaderswil |
live ia public esteem and confidence long
after the Governor retires into oblivion.
Since the above was written the Cover
sors opinion has been received. The /
Governor afirms his power to remove for
cause, and argues the point at length. A
hasiy glance at the opinion shows that
there is a defect 10 the law in regard /
to removing Incompetent officers, but it
does not prove that the Executive has
the power to remove. The law, it
seems, does not provide any mode for rid.
ding Offices Of unqualified off eials
Such an omission might lead to serious
complications. and the opinion touches
upon this point with considerable force.
The Governor confines himself strictly,
in giving his opinion, TO the only charge
against the registers-that of neglectingto
add residences of voters opposite their
names-and argues that it is a require
ment of the Law that registers ought to
obey. But, 10 concluding, he does not
feel justified ia exercising the power of
removal, because the predecessors of the
registers under investigation had not per,
formed that alleged duty, and that no in
territorial wrougo iucompeteucy was proven
against them. Ii
The opinion will not meet with popular S
approval, in that, chiefly, that it does not
more explicitly, and in language plain and
rorcible, fully exonerate the accused regis
,ers. The Governor does not give the I
,ther aud more serious charges against the /
registers, and state that they were aban- 5
Toned for want proof, but simply remarks :
hat there were several specifications of J;
wrong in the complaint, but during the o
Investigation they we're reduced to single \
ssue. In not stating the abandoned b
harges, and commenting upon their fail = !.
re as a credit to the registers, the State Il
nd the party, looks as though he were A
orry that he had no cause for removal. d
70 word of eradication at the vindication II
{ the States officers is to be found 10 the =
hole document, and it is probable that n
he Governor is not gratifed at the vindi- "
alton. L
-- b
The Century Co., publishers of Serb &c
er's Monthly (to be known as THE Cen ia
ny Nagasiae" after October viii soon o. y
sue a portrait of DR.. J. G. Holland,
hich is said to be remarkably fine like 70
+. :. IL .Ltas..o,b ,f n J;fo s;,o | ,,a