The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-03-15

AGREE o. OBTAIN TRUTHS AND
~b>D THFM 10 THE CAtCA>IA-.

They Agree with Dr. Thcnp~on's Able
Article. and Advance Some Additional
Ideas on the AIi-Absorbins >ubl-Ct.---
High Trsa-"n Against q. Monarch and a
Republic.
Special to TIE CAUgAslAN1
TAYLORsyILLE, y. g..
Feb. ZSth. 1894.
Let as applaud DR.. Thompson for
his courageous aud manly defense of
tn. ballot box in his contribution TO
your columns Of the Sth inst. He
richly deserves the thanks Of every
true man in the State. David Paul
Brown has left on record II rules
which he calls the Ethics Of the
bar, and which one recognized a.
,uch by ali honorable members Of
the Iegal profession. DR.. Ihomp-
sons production epitom'zed should
be cut with point of burning gold in
he hearts and intellect Of every
Carolinian. Here the very quaint eo-
,encc Of the ethics governing, or
which Shou { govern, the elector and
the ballot box officers, is clearly
pointed out. If this Republic, Of
which We boast, has an eye to see,
brains to think on, heart to feel, it
IS ali in the ballot box. TO strike
1t the life Of crowned monarch, is
high reason. The life Of our match
less Republic, is not represented in
the person of amy potentate. Our
President is only an honored servant
Of the people. To Kill even the la
mentcd Lincoln was only murder.
No estate of the cuIprit was forfeit
"d, and 40 blood tainted, as is the
case IN the crime Of high treason
And, MIR. Editor, why is this ? 1t is
simply because no official here can
De the embodiment Of national life
We have no sole representatives Of
power here. Every citizen is, in ID
serse, a little king. The idea at the
bottom Of our system is the equal
distribution Of power among all our
citizen electors. This national life
;an Cn1y be felt through the ballot
box. The ballot box should be as
sacred as the Ark of the Covenant.
t'he hand that touches it without
The sanction of law should be Wither-
1t by all the pains and penalties
which attaches to the crime Of high
treason. Yet in North Carolina we
have never heard Judge instruct "a
Grand jury on the subject at all.
The only cases in all the opinions Of
our Supreme Court in which the
characters of the act Of a failure of
Il Registrar or other officer at the
ballot box to perform his duty, is
noticed a5 all (W hich we can now re-
ralD is in the cases OF De Berry vs.
Nicholson, 102 n. G., and the dis
senting opinion Of Mr.. Justice Clarke
II Harris vs.. Suarboro, 10, \. G..
reports. The late lamented Chief
Justice Smith in the former, and
Justice Clarke in his dissenting opin-
ION, give lis the information that for
he wilful neglect Of their duties, the
officers holding an election may be
indicted. High treason Is the most
infamous Of all crimes: because it
strikes out the Nations life. In Il
fepubIjc, founded upon the popular
will, the most dangerous assaults
chat can be made upon It's National
ife is upon the ballot box. And yet
ia these opinions, valuable as they
are to the country, the negligence
and wilful refusal Of a Registrar or
other officer Ito perform duty is
only stated to be indictable, although
1t may result in depriying the elector
IF the right to contribute to the
popular will force that governs the
country. In these times Of startling
indifference to this great question, all
honor is due to the memory Of Chief
Justice Smith, and to Justice Clarke
IN his said dissenting opinion for
teaching US that such is crime at
all. Hear Judge Clarke in his own
language, 81 he Registrar is the Off
Ger of the law. lie is appointed to
make inquiries and set down the re-
plies. When in repose to the inqu-
rleS as to the place of birth, the
elector in good faith, and thinking
ne had complied with all shat was
required of him, responded North
Carolina, he was guilty of no dis
obediance of law or other aot which
i deprived him of his right to vote.
1t the response was not sufficiently
definite, the representative af the
law, the iseGistrar, duly appointed,
sworn and paid to perform the duty
II taking the registration, silould
nave asked the elector to respond
more particularly. Any
other view, it would seem, woull
make tao registration OF voters not
an impartial observance Of Tegula-
lions to protect the election fran.
Ichise and to prevent frauds upon it
out would furnish opportunities
whereby the trusting, the anweary
Che unsAllied Oh the ignorant wonlc
! be deprived of their constitutions
right OF exercising the right Of yot
ing" The guide book sent out by
our brethren, say brethren because
jefferson said eve are called by diff
ferent names brethren of the sam,
principle" called and known as The
simmons letter would have sent on
a much purer influence had it i'm
bibed more Of the spirit Of this dis
senting opinion OF Judge Clarke
The registration laws and the dutie
Of the Registrar thus constrained dC
indeed tend to the protection Of tn
. ballot box. But II nothing NOR
| ilA,1laraI 70 p,,-t,+,,,,