The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-04-12
the grand jury for failure 70 list his

the grand jury for failure 70 list his
poll.
Before remarking upon this mas
terpiece of infamy, due homage
ought first to be paid to this al
mighty Registrar, before whom ev-
cry knee must bow, and every
tongue make confession. The func-
tioas OF this office are judicial, and
over the sovereign right OF the
citizen his Jurisdiction Is at once
original and final. From his de-
cisions, however wrongful, no ap-
peal can be taken. No pains or
penalties are denounced against
him for the grossest abuse OF his
power. Should his delinquincies
amount to what has been delicate
ly defined as offensive partisan
Ship" or" pernicious activity" no
notice Of them can be taken,
except by those to whom
he owes his place, and who
are equally partisan as himself.
And while contemplating him In
his judicial capacity, one is struck
with the fact, that no test OF fitness
of any kind Is applied to him, who
Is to pass upon the qualifications OF
all others And while he is admin
istering oaths to all who approach
him, it is no less singular that this
Law has neglected to lay the weight
of any official oath upon his own
conscience. In a word, this auto
crat of the precinct is selected with
out regard to qualification, he is
subjected to no oath, and he is ex-
empt from all punishment. But
although placed beyond the reach
Of punishment himself, his Office lie
to be turned into an Inquisition for
the punishment Of others, and Its
partisan records are to be flied away
as evidence upon which better men
may afterwards be convicted Of in.
famous crimes.
Treating registration as II 1t were
an attempt to commit a felony,
rather than the exercise Of the com
mon right Of the citizen, this Sim
mons Election Law greatly multi
plies and enlarges the constitu.
tfonal qualifications Of the elector
by compelling the applicant for reg
istratiOn to prove: Cd His identity
~ His age; (0 His place Of birth
az The number or location of his
residence 60 The ownership of resi-
dence; (6) Length of residence; CO
His avocation ;(S) His place of bust
ness; (9) By whom employed; QO)
Where employed; QD If a new.
conner whence he came ;(12) Former
post-office address; Q3) Whether
disqualified by judgment; QD By
what court reinstated Q5) Whether
he has listed his poll for current
and preceding years; Q6 And any
other matter regarded as material,
as for instance Whether the appli-
can't has ever had measles? or How
often has he had the piles?
And in addition to the oath of
the applicant, the Registrar may
in his discretion, require that all
the facts in respect to identity, or
age, or residence, shall be proven
by the oaths of at least two other
electors, who having been duly
catechized, land confirmed, have been
received int his communion. The
question of age therefore-the time
and place and circumstance of ones
birth-must be established by reg.
istered voters only. The testimony
OF women, who are the usual at.
PENDANTS on such occasions, is posi-.
lively excluded. Neither mother
nurse, nor midwife, can be a wit
ness in such a case, and as for at.
tending physicians there must have
been at least two Of them.
Before the face of this omnipotent
Registrar, no fear has been set ex-
cept that Of righteous public opin.
ion. But of this let him beware
For the measure he meets to 9TH
ers, will be measured back to him
Or should he be insensible to fear
he need not also be insensible to
shame. For absolved as he is from
all legal accountability, he must
nevertheless feel that he has been
put upon his personal honor. That
pledge is implied in any case, and
If he is an honorable man, it will
govern him in this. And il he is
also an Intelligent one he can not
possibly 60 astray. For turning
with loathing and disgust from the
mean and disreputable service to
which this Election Law would de
grade him, he will look to the Con.
stitution of the State as his guide.
He will there find all the qualifica-
tions Of an elector, defined and sum.
married. in the following terms:
Art. vi. Sec l. Every male person
born in the United States, and every
male person who has been naturalized,
al years old and upward, who shall
have resided in the State IL months
and 80 days in the county in which he
offers to vote, shall be deemed an cleo.
tor. But no person who upon convic-
ton, or confession in open court, shall
be adjudged guilty Of felony or other
crime infamous by the laws OF the
State, and hereafter committed, shall
be deemed an elector, unless such per.
500 shall be restored to fine rights OF
citizenship in manner prescribed by
law.
Acting within this constitutional
provision, the only questions which
the Registrar is authorized to ask
are: Cd Is the applicant q native or
naturalized citizen? (2) Is he 81
years old? (3) Has he resided in