The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-05-05
THE TOWN ELECTION.

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aldsonyllIe will assemble at the usual poll
ing places and cast their ballots for the can
didates of their choice. TIE privilege viii
no doubt be exercised under a peculiar
condition of affairs and attended by un
usual difficulties, because theofficials whose
duty it is to provide proper facilities for the
conduct OF such elections have neglected
and refused to discharge that duty; but
nevertheless, the right to vote which is
guaranteed to the citizen by the constitu
ton and laws will be exercised, and those
persons who receive q majority OF the bal
lots cast will be declared elected to the re,
spectiye municipal offices for the ensuing
year.
The State law teens with declarations to
the effect that informalities in the conduct
of elections and the failure Of officers to do
the things in connection Herewith which
they are directed to do, shall not 1itiate an
election unless it be proved in :. contest
that the iaformalities and derelictions de-
prived sufficient number of electors of
their votes to have changed the result.
Even though the Mayor neglects to issue Il
proclamation as the law commands him to
do; though the Mayor and Council may
fail, in whole or in part, to provide for the
appointment Of Commissioners, Clerks and
Constabies of election, and to furnish ballot
boxes poll lists and the necessary blanks
for recording the names of voters and mak-
ing out the returns, the constitutional and
legal right Of the people to choose their
public servants remains uuimpaired. II no
Commissioners appear, the persons at the
poll may hold a meeting aud elect them;
the Commissioners so elected may appoint
Constables and proceed to hold the election
as nearly as possible in conformity with the
methods prescribed by law, and even
though they are without registration lists,
regulation ballot boxes and prepared blanks
for tally sheets and statements Of votes.
Though :o-day's election promises to be
characterized 10y numerous informalities,
for which our present officers are RESPONSE
bic, we believe its results will be recognized
and vindicated by the courts should re-
sort to their arbitration become necessary.
Whether the Governor of the State can be
induced to disregard the popular preroga-
tive and issue commissions to persons who
have not been elected, remains to be seen.
Parties supposed to be in possession of his
private ear, SO far as Ascension matters are
concerned, have directly or indirectly op-
posed the holding OF an election; others,
just as Jealous, capable and influential
members of the party to which the Gov
ernor belongs, but who may not be quite as
near the gubernatorial auricle, stand reso-
lutely for the execution of the laws and
the conservation Of the rights of the people.
The pretense given for the attempt to let
the town election go by default is fear
that particular man or set of men may be
elected who lack the capacity and principle
to administer the municipal government
properly and honestly. As we said last
week, it is better to risk tile success of such
than to establish the pernicious
Of trampling the laws under foo
and denying the qualified voters the p1ivi-
legc of choosing their officers. The statutes
furnish the proper remedies for checking
official improyidence and dishonesty. and
that they can be successfully invoked
when occasion demands, is susceptible of
easy demonstration in the light of past ct
perience. If the subterfugo of ignoring the
light of election be allowed to succeed this
year, what is to hinder its success next
year, and the year after, and so on ud libi-
I'm And what guarantee can be given
hat it will always be invoked to serve a
rood purpose, Il. is claimed in the pending
Instance! The precedent is dangerous and
residential, and we have yet to hear an ar
,ument in. its favor.
The course of the obstructiunists has done
more to strengthen the candidates they op-
'ose than these candidates could have done
II their own behalf. Men who had no in
ention of voting the Martinez ticket few
weeks ago will not hesitate to do SO now, if
My i'll vindication of their right to cast i.
'aliot and Il desire to lisavow their sym pa
ny with unfairness and persecution.
1t there is but one ticket in the ii ED to-
ay, as we arc assured will be the ease,
nd if its candidates obtain possession of
lie town government, as they have lawful |
light to do if they receive !. majo rity of the
agal votes cast, the officials and their adj
Users who have sought to prevent the hold
1g of al election can blame only themselves
or the result |
The marble columns intended for TIE iutc.
Or of the new Catholic Church at this place
rrived at New Orleans last week in the
.ustrian brig Plol, commanded by Can't.
arabochio, and will be transferred to one