Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-11
The Citv RegIstration Law.

The City Registration Law.
Yesterday morning we considered the
subject of the constitutionalitY of the
registration law of Chatham county,
taking the ground that such law was in
consistent with the spirit if not the let
ter of the Constitution, and that it ought
to be removed from the statute books,
and better law-as to the constitution
atty of which there could be no dispute
substituted in its stead. We learn that
the same opinion is being expressed in
regard to the special law passed by the
last Legislature providing for the regis
tration of voters in this city who desire
to vote at our municipal elections.
The position of these two laws are by
no means identical, and the course of
reasoning against the constitutionality of
the county law cannot be used against
that intended 10 apply solely to the city.
The one provides for the registration of
electors who are to vote for county and
State officers, and no law should remain
Of force which, under such circum-
stances, throws limitations around the
privileges of any citizens of the State. In
other words, no class of citizens should
be deprived of any rights of suffrage en.
joyed by any other citizen of the State,
or any county thereof, when general
State and county officersare to be CHI
sen. This our county law does. 1t
virtually declares, for instance, that
in Chatham county no citi-
/. zen who is not of lawful age on or
before the first Monday in June preced-
I ing the election at which he desires to
vote shall exercise the elective franchise,
though in every other county of the State
every citizen who may become of age the
/ day before the election disqualified to
vote for State and county officers. This
/ is manifestly inequitabe and unjust, aud
besides, is directly contrary to the spirit
Of the constitution when it declares that
protection to person and property of all
! citizens of the commonwealth shall be
impartial and complete. No such regis
tratioa law which thus discriminates
against citizens as citizens of the State
ought to stand.
When we come to consider the case of
citizens as citizens only of a city, how
ever, and who desire to vote only at
municipal elections, then the governing
circumstances are very different. Cities
are merely the creatures of a State.
They are incorporated by the State, and
their charters and privileges are granted
by the State Legislature. They are
artifi cisl persons just as are all corpora
tions, and are directly, and at all times,
under the supervision of the State.
Their charters can be abolished altogether
| if the State sees fit, and they can be COZ
verted into mere taxing districts under
the government of State officers. This
has been done only in the past few years
in the case of the former city of Mem
phis, Tenn, and it can be done in any
instance where the Legislature chooses
to exercise its power.
1t is clear, then, that the Legislature
of any State has a perfect right TO regu-
late the election of officers and rulers of
the various cities within the territory of
such State, and, therefore, regulations
aud laws to govern such elections-pro-
vided they do not discriminate against
any special class of the citizens of those
cities-are constitutional and binding.
The last Legislature saw fit to pass such
law for this city. This law regulates
the appointment of registration and
election managers, and defines the
manner of registration and the
qualifications of voters at elections
| for Mayor and Aldermen of the city of
Savannah. 1t provides that the Judge
Of the Superior Court of the county, the
Judge of the City Court of Savannah,
and the Ordinary of Chatham county,
shall appoint three freehOldeTs, residing
in each militia district in the city, who
shall constitute a Board of Registration
and Election Managers, and that such
appointment shall be made not less than
two months before the date set apart for
the election of said May or aud Aldermen.
This board shall have full che-ge of
registration in the city, and shall take
all steps necessary for a fair and full reg
istration of all persons whO-possessing
the qualifications required by the
constitution of el ctOrs-may be resi-
dents of the city and desire to vote at
the municipal elections, the registration
books to be kept open for the two weeks
Immediately preceding the election.
There is nothing whatever in this law
which initiates against the rights and
privileges of any citizen, or' which dis
eliminates against any class or individual
resident in the city. 1t is fair, honest
aud just, and is clearly within the con-
siitutlonal province of the Legislature.
1t is necessary to prevent fraud and
secure us a capable city government,
which will afford ample protection 10 all,
have the public welfare at heart, and
prove conducive to the best interests Of
society.
/