The Washington bee., 1891-02-21
not have attained. eic.

not have attained, etc. places and manner OF
SEC. 4. The times, holding elections for
| places ard TANNER of senators and representa-
holding elections for tives s. all be prescribed
senators and representa- in each State by the leg
tives shall be prescribed i>aturc thereof subject 10
in each state by the leg The provisions Of this con
islature thereof but the itutiOH but the congrt
| congress may, at any may, at any time by law,
| time by law make or al make or alt such regu-
ter such regulations, lations, except as to the
cept as 10 the places of times aud plal of choos-
choosing senators, etc. ing senators, ETC.
There you will see that whatever
changes have been made have been to
make it plain that in these elections
accorded to the states in their manage
ment every electOr is an elector of the
confederate states and not otherwise, and
that whatever is accorded, in tt e primary
conduct of the election for representative
to the states is subject to those paramount
obligations to the confederate states.
They speak for themselves.
Mr. President, let me call the attention
of the senate to one of the regulations in,
l believe, now a good democratic state,
and that is New York, so far IS its osten-
sible presentation in the legislature and
in the executive is concerned, to show
what we think of finding out whether
false name is on the registry. For the
first time in reference to elections in the
state at large we, year ago, adopted
registry, to go all over the state, at every
polling place. Now, see what We thought
in New York of what was consistent with
public liberty to allow an exploration of
the registry. 1t is provided in that law
that
Every person dwelling in any building in city
shall truly all questions asked by any elecor
of the city intermediate the first meeting of the
hoard of registry therein for any elect IN and the
close of such election relating to the residence and
qualifications a voter of all persons dwelling in
such building and of all persons who appear upon
the list register Of voters made by such board as
residing at such building and any person who shall
willfuy violate any provision of tn section shall
be guilty of misdemeanor.
We do not think it was inconsistent
with the suffrage and liberty to allow by
authority of law, every elector to inquire
into any residence from which a name was
put on the registry, and made it a INSIDE
meanor to be punished by law when any
person thus accosted and thus inquired of
refused to answer. Yet the senator from
Delaware Mr.. Gray has thought other
where marshal or a deputy supervisor,
or whatever he mi ght have been in auth
ority, and with his badge of authority,
asked questions of this character, and in
this pursuit at the house from which a
registration was made in the name of one
Heinrich, and when upon the refusal of
Heinrich to answer the inquiry on the
first application of the lawful agent the
interrogation was repeated in the name of
the law, the answer of Heinrich was, 81
will knock your brains out if you do not
leave my HOUSE, ~the SSator from Della
ware [Mr@-eay1 thorsSt- tbs response
and ths/spirit Of Heinrich worthy or great
cof9Mendation, if we may judge from his
Expression, Good for HeinEfGhw
MIR. President, this it Rot matter of
Jest. If you are going 20 purge the reg
istry, purge if by seine means that are
appropriate and tiaiely. We have at any
rate authorized by law every elector to ask
at every house from which name appears
whether theman lives there and is voter.
Mr.. Cul4om. When was the law passed?
Mr.. warts. 1t was passed at the last ses-
sin OF the legislature, last year. That was
the first time the registry was extended
over the whole state.
Mr.. Frye. Was that act signed by Gov
ernor Hill?
Mr.. Evarts. 1 imagine it was signed by
Governor Hill. At any rate, it is law. L
have no doubt it was signed by him.
That is our law. If we are crushed by
it we do not know it. If anybody should
say to an elector who went to house IN
any city, village or hamlet and asked who
lives there and who were they, and should
L mill
out if YOU don't leave" this elector in our
| free state of New York would see that
bold defender of free suffrage put behind
the CRATES and bars of prison. We mean
these things. When our people see the
| law is behind them they obey it.
But, Mr. President, a good deal has been
! said of the house-tO-house canvass, which
was in tie bill as it came from the house
| of representatives and which the commit
tee on privileges and elections struck out.
| We had, however, a corresponding pro-
vision in the state of New York, but
applicable only to the city of New York:
When we had occasion to frame bill
here that was to cover the rural popula-
tions, north and south, we felt that 1t was
quite unnecessary and was quite capable OF
some perversion, or at least of impntatlon
against the officers engaged, and we struck
it out.
Now, in order that we may see what
according to the principles of liberty and OF
the right of inquiry, is regarded as suitable
in our great cities in New York state by
the legislatures of that state in the cleo
ton laws applicable only to those great
cities. will read section 1879 of the ac
passed in 1882 regulating elections in the
city and county of New York, as follows
SEC. 1879 Any inspector of election, poll clerk,
other officer of elections, or any challenger ap
pointed in compliance with the provisions OF thi
chapter or any person designated as provided Il
this chapter to be present at the canvass OF any oa
lot, shall at any time between the Tuesday fv
weeks preceding the day of any general or locs
election held in the city or county of New 1or
and ten days after the first official PRONUNCIATION
the board of county canvassers of the canvas
declaration, and certificate of the result OF an
suob a1action have full pOyer and authority