Year: 1869




in which their just dues from the United,
States Government were collected and
transmitted to them free Of charge. In
August after the agency ceased to exist,
there still remained considerable unm-
Der ofunsettled claims, aud as no one knew
more about their condition, or could pos
sibly obtain an earlier settlement of them
than the late agent, Col. Cook, l premit-
ted him, upon his own offer, to close up
the business of the Office, and to transact
any other business for the soldiers of
Pennsylvania at one halt the fees that are
charged by any other private agency in
Washington City. This arrangement
has thus far been carried out, and [ am,
pleased to add, with very general salts
faction. All the books and papers of the
agency will be transferred to the Office Of
the Adjutant General.


REGISTRY LAW.


At the last session of the Legislature
an act was passed know as the "Registry
Law" the intention Of which was to pro-
tect the ballot box against corruption and
fraudulent voting, to which it has for
many years been disgracofully exposed.
This law seems to have been so defective
in some Of its provisions as to have re-
ceived the condemnation Of a majority Of
the Supreme Court, By which it was pro-
nounced ''incongruous and uaconstitutio-
nal" At the election Immediately after
this decision, it is alleged that frauds were
pcrpetrated, surprising in magnitude,
perhaps, any that have been consummated-
heretofore in the history of the Common
wealth These frauds have demonstrated
the necessity of the passage of some law,
or laws, that will accomplish the desired.
object, without being subject to the
exceptionable features pointed out by the
learned gentlemen who pronounced the
opinion of the Supreme Bench.


There is no subject of such vital i'm
portance to the whole country as the
sanctity Of the ballot box, and the protec-
tion Of all citizens in their right to tae,
elective franchise. This right is our
proudest boast. 1t endows the American
citizen with freedom and power not
possessed by the subject of any other gov
ernment. 1t makes him the peer of his
fellow man, whatever may be his rank
station, or position in life. To be dcpriv-
ed of it by any means whatever, his boas-
ted freedom becomes sham-his especial
and exalted prerogative mockery and a
farce. What avails it to the citizen that
he is entitled to vote, if that vote is to
be nullifed by fraud Such guards, then,
should be thrown around the polls as will
effectually, if possible, preserve them from,
the taint of single illegal vote. Not
only should false voting be severely pun
ished, but false swearing to obtain vote,
be visited with the pains and penalties of
perjury and with perpetual disfranchise-
ment.


The people must be perfectly free to
regulate their public business in their
own way, aud when the voice of the
majority is fairly and clearly expressed
all shonld bow to il as to the voice Of God.
They are the sovereign rulers, and their
will must be the law Of the land. Cor
rupton of suffrage in republican govern
ment is the deadhest crime that can be
perpetrated it is assassination of the
sovereignty ofthe people, and will be fol-
lowed by despotism, the motive power
of which will be money and perjury
And if this privilege be tampered with,
sooner or later the sure and indignant
popular condemnation will be rendered
and condign punishment administered -
All Good citizens, of whatever political
opinion, should lend their aid for the ac-
complishment of any and every measure
that may tend to secure to each voter, not
only his right to the elective franchise,
but the assurance that his vote will not
be rendered valueless by illcgality, cor
ruption or fraud.


Every proper facility for the naturaliza-
ton of citizens of foreign birth should be
afforded but the Legislature, in its COM
bined wisdom, can surely enact some mode
to prevent the possibility of a single vate
being cast upon spurious naturalization
papers, and thus fully secure the purity
: of the elective franchises.


REVISION OF THE CIVIL CODE
t The commissioners appointed to codify
! the statute laws of tue State have diligeu-
tly prosecuted the work assigned them
aud with every prospect that it will bo


fully completed within the time prescri-
. bed by the legislative resolutions of April
8, 1868; and in further compliance with
them, they will cause to be laid before
J each branch of the General Assembly, at
} its present session, various titles Of bills,
with brief abstracts OF the several sectipns
t of each, which have heer= sla.agod.