The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-29
The Insirnnfinns

sIR-At the election for which you
have been appointed aud commits
stoned one Of the supervisors, you are
by the laws of the United States
authorized and required to attend and
remain on the day of election at the
place of holding the election in your
voting precinct, from the time the
polls are opened at 8 o'clock q. M,
until they are closed at 4 o'clock p. M,
and also to remain with tAs ballot box
until the counting of the votes is fully
completed.
1t ia your duty under the law to
challenge any vote offsred by any per-
son whose legal qualifications to vote
you may doub. and TO be and remain
where the ballot box is kept at all
times after the polls are opened on
election day until every vote cast at
the election in your voting precinct
has been counted and until the can
vass OF all the votes then and there
polled is fully completed, and until all
the proper requisite certificates snd
returns are fully made cut and signed,
no matter under what law such GER
tifcstes and returns are required.
You are required by law to person.
ally inspect and scrutinize, from time
10 time and at all times on the day of
election, the manner in which the
voting is done and the way and meth
cd in which the poll books are kept.
To the end that each candidate for
the Office Of Representative in Con-
grees may obtain the benefit of every
vote cast for him, you are under the
law required to personally scrutinize,
count and canvass each ballot cast in
your election district or voting pre-
Cinct, whatever may be the indorse-
ment upon the ballot, or in whatever
box 1t may have been placed or
found, and to make and attach TO any
certificate, statement or return, bv
whatever law required to be made,
any statement touching the truth or
fairness Of the election and canvass
you may desire to make or attach, or
which should properly or honestly be
made or attached IN order that the
facts may become known.
The better to enable you to dis.
charge your du'ies, you ara by the
laws of the United States authorized
and directed on the day of election in
your election district or voting pre-
CinCt, to take, occupy and remain in
such position, from time to time,
whether before or behind the ballot
box, as will in your judgment best en-
able you to see each and every person
offering to vote, and as will best con-
duce to your scrutiniziDg the manner
in which the voting ia being conduct
ed; and at the closing of the polls for
the reception of votes you are re-
quired to place yourself in such posi-
ton in relation to the ballot box, for
the purpose of engaging in the work |
OF caavassing the ballots, as will en-
able you fully TO perform all the
duties in respect to the canvass en-
joined upon you as supervisor of |
election, and it is further your duty
under the law 10 remain in such po-
sition in relation to the ballot box,
and in relation to the ballots cast, un-
til every duty in respect to such can
vass, certificates S, returns and state
ments has been wholly completed.
If in the election district or voting
precinct for which you have bsen APP
pointed supervisor you are not allowed
to exercise and discharge fully and
freely, and without bribery, solicits-
Jion, interference, hindrance, moles a.
lion, violence or threats thereof, on
The part of any person, all the duties,
and powers conferred upon
you by law, you will make prompt re-
port under oath to me, within ten
lays after the day of election, of the
manner and mearsby which you were
not so allowed to fully and freely ex.
'rcise and discharge the duties and
required and imposed upon
Tou as such supervisor of election.
Under the laws of Tennessee every
person entitled to vote at the coming
election for member of Congress must
% q years Of age, a citizen of the
United States and of the State of Ten
lessee, resident of the State for
welve months and of the county
wherein he may offer his vote for six
months next preceding the day of
election; and oil voters are required to
yote in the civil district or ward in
which they may reside, except officers
holding elections, who may vote where
hey are SO engaged.
The election laws of Tennessee are
UGH as to enable you, without diff
ulty, to personally scrutiniBs, count
md canvass each ballot cast in your
lection district or voting precinct.
hey provide that the counting of the
-otes shall not commence until the
oils have been closed, and that when
he election is finished the returning
fficer and judges shall, in the pres.
nee of such of the electors as may
hoose to attend, open the box and
cad aloud the names of the persons
7hich shall appear in each ballot, and
hat the clerks at the same time shall
lumber the ballots, each clerk sepa.
atsly.
The only object of the law
nder which your appointment
8 supervisor has been made, is
} secure fair and honest election for
lember of Congress, without regard
, party or candidate; and it is ex-
ected that in the performance of
ne duties Of this Office, your whole
purse and conduct will be marked by
spirit of consideration and respect
'r the rights Of everyone, and by an
and fearless devotion to
le important duties devolving by law
pom you.
FRANCIS PENTRESs,
hief Supervisor of Election for the West
ern District Of Tennessee.