Year: 1869

I
eighteen pages, whereas the State
Constitution disposcs Of the same in
ten lines These eighteen pages con.
tain forty-three sections, the first
twenty sections of which apply
to the State at large, and the last
twenty-three to Philadelphia in par.
ticular.


The Constitution prcscribes certain
qualifications of which the citizen be-
ing possessed is entitled TO vote. II
is questionable whether the Legisla.
ture has the right TO prescribe any
additional qualifications. But the
Legislature which could assume 70
act for the people of the State in the
ratification Of the article proposed as
the fifteenth amendment TO the Con.
stitution of the United States, is not
TO be wondered at in seeking to hedge
the citizen around with unconstitu-
ticnal restrictions. II is a character.
istic OF the Radical party leaders that
while they are anxious for an exten.
sion Of the right of suffrage to black
men, they are equally anxious to cur
tail the number Of white voters They
are discriminating in their legislation
constantly in favor of the negro and
against the men Of their own race
Negromania has taken absolute pos
session of them, and they take no in
terest in anything which does not
look to the bettering of the condition
of the "free American citizen Of Afri.
can descent"


Thus, whilst the door is thrown
open wide for the negro 20 deposit his
vote in the ballot-box, innumerable
difficulties are thrown in the path oi
the white man when he seeks TO exer-
else the same privilege. This Regis.
try law seems TO have been framed
with view TO make voting as difficult
as possible. Each Assessor is to com
menco a revision of the transcript be
receives from the County Commission,
ers, on the first Monday in June in
each year, by striking therefrom the
name Of qualified voters who have
died in or removed from the district
and adding those who have moved
into the same, and also those who
shall make claim TO him to be qualified
voters therein. He must then visit
every dwelling house in his district tc
see whether or not his list is perfect
aud If not, to make it so. Whenever
name is added to the list, a tax mus
be assessed against the person. Then
he must make out list "of the white
freemen claiming to be qualified voter.
in the ward, borough, township OF
district Of which he is the assessor
aud opposite each of said names state
whether said freeman is or is not 4
housekeeper and il he is, the number
of his residence in towns where tht
same are numbered, with the street
alley or court in which situated anC
if in a town whore there are nc
numbers, TIE name of the street, alley
or court on which said house fronts
also, the occupation of the person
and where he is not housekeepcr
the occupation, place of boarding anC
with whom, and Il porkiag for another
the name OF the employer, and Writ
opposite each of said names the wore
voter where any person claims L
vote by reason Of naturalization, hC
shall exhibit his certificate thereof tC
the Assessor, unless he has been fol
five consecutive years next preceding
a voter in said district" When thes,
duties arc completed, the Assessor
must make out separate list Of al
new assessments, and the amounts
assessed upon each, and furnish th'
same 10 the County Commissioners.


The Commissioners must then caus,
duplicate copies of the same to b
made, noting the different observa
tions and explanations, The Assess
or, prior to the first Of August of eaci
year, put one copy on the house whore
in the election is to be held, and keeJ
the other for the inspection of any
resident ofthe district Persons claim
ing the right to vote can have theil
names added on personal application
and the Assessor will mark the ta'
and note the observations applicabl,
to each, opposite his name. The as
sessments must be completed on th'
tenth day preceding the second Tues
day of October of each year, and oi
the Monday following the Assesso
must make return TO the County Com
missioners OF the extra assessment
The same must then be added TO th,
other return, and a copy of tho whole
together with the necessary blanks
TO the election officers, on OF befor
six o'clock on the morning OF th,
second Tuesday OF October; and n,
man shall be permitted to vote who's
name is not on that list, unless h
shall make proof of his right TO vot
as required further on in this act.


A claimant TO vote whose name !
not on tho list must produce at leas
one qualified voter of tho district as
witness to the fact Of his residence i
that particular district at least tel
days next preceding the election, an,
this witness must take and subscrib
written or printed affidavit to Oh
facts stated by him "and the perso
SO claiming the right to vote shall ais
take and subscribe a written, or partl.
written and partly printed affidavit
stating, TO the best Of his knowledg
and belief, where and when he wa
born that he is a citizen Of the Com
monwcalth of Pennsylvania and Of th
United States that he has resided i


the Commonwealth ono year, or
formerly a citizen therein aud ha
moved therefrom, that be has reside


therein six months next precedini
said election; that he has not move
into the district for the purpose q
voting therein; that he has paid
State or county tax within two years
which was assessed at least ten day
before said election and, if n natura
lied citizen, shall also state whcr
where and by what court ho was nai
J uralized, and shall also produce hi
loo.t,6,ato - ,,oturo ttvof,np for oxau