Year: 1870

of this bill would materially change the
old law in regard TO registration. Sc
, far as he could see the bill proposed
contained no Objectionable features. In
his region of country many grave wrongs
upon the election franchise had been
committed. He wanted to have them
remedied, and while be believed the pro-
posed bill afforded the proper guarantees
of fairness, he was not so welded 10 II
not that he would support any measure
which would secure the same end more
surely aud speedily. If amendments
calculated to give further protection to
tie voters were proposed, he woulu
give them his support.


Coming to the Legislature as liberal
Republican, and The Republican Con-
vention of his Senatorial District hav-
ing adopted a platform, one plank OF
which declared in favor of modifica-
tion of the registration law, he Intended
to stand by the policy to which he was
pledged, the platform on which be was
elected, aud for this reason he gave his
earnest support to the reforms propos-
ed. He knew the desires of the people
of his section upon this subject, aud he
INTENDED TO respect tRGn.


Mr.. FARNSWORTH said he also was
elected as a liberal Republican. He be-
lieved the wishes of his constituents
would be carried out by the adoption of
q substitute which he submitted for the
action of the House. The substitute
reads as follows:


l. At the general election to be held
on the fourth Thursday of October,
1870, aud in every subsequent year,
there shall be elected by the voters of
every county a Board of Registration
for such cosnty, to consist Of three
members.


2. The election for members of the
board shall be subject to the same regu
lations as elections for other county
officers, except that of the members to
be elected no voter shall vote for more
than two, and if any vote be given for
more than two, it shall not be counted
as to the said Office. Nevertheless the
three persons receiving the highest
number of lawful votes in the county
for the said office, after rejecting the
votes which are not to be counted,
shall, if duly qualified, be thereby
elected.


3. The term of Office of the members
to be elected as aforesaid, on the fourth
Thursday of October, 1870, shall begin
as soon after the result Of the election
has been ascertained and declared, as
they shall take the oaths of office pre-.
scribed by law and organize themselves
as Board of registration; but if they
be not so organized within fourteen
| IL, fFar al Ia, n
Supervisors may regard the office vacant.
The term of Office of the members there
after 20 be elected shall begin on the
first day of January succeeding their
election. In each case tho members of
the Board shall continue in office until
their Successors are elected and quail
fled.


4. When there is vacancy in the
Board of registration, the Governor
shall fill the same by the appointment
thereto, for tho uneXpired term, of
some suitable voter of the county.


Mr.. JACKSON, opposing the adoption
of the substitute, said it had omitted the
most material points of the original
bill. No new provision was made for
selecting registrars for thecurrent year.
Their selection was to be left in the
hands of the Governor as at present.
At the same time, the substitute, by
providing for the election of the regis.
trars for the next year, acknowledged
that it was wise and proper to take the
power OF appointment from the Execu-
tive.


The power of the Governor to choose
the registrars was one of the most glar-
ing objections to the present system. He
could appoint or remove at pleasure.
If he were so disposed he could manipu.
late the Boards to secure such political
results as he might choose. If one set
failed to do his work he could select an
ether who would. Tennessee afforded q
case in point. by the exercise of the
very same power over registration that
is vested in the Governor of this State,
the Governor of Tennessee had entirely
changed the political situation Of the
State. He charged no such purpose on
the Governor of this State, but he in
stanCed the case to show the abuses to
which this enormous power was liable.
He could seo no reason to make an
exception in favor of the Governor for
the coming election. Was the mover





officers that had been chosen from the
very bedy of the peoplei For his par
he was willing to take this power away
from the Executive, who, if be were 50
disposed, could us3 it for his own ag-
grandisement.


Although copying part Of the original
bill, the gentleman had left out the
remaining sections that were needed to
give fairness and efficiency to the Law.
At present the registrar was judicial
officer aud could pass upon the tight Of
any man TO vote, dlsfrancbising at his
own pleasure. Was this power that
should be vested in one mans hands 7
The township registrars should be re-
quired to register every man who could
take the Te-t Oath, leaving the Boards
to disfrapchise upon proof. The reg
istrar should should not be the accuser,
trier and executionsr


As the law now stands the Boards can
require a man to prove his own inno-
cence, violating all the known rales Of
common law. Why not give him notice
to appear before them, assigning q time
when the case will be heardi Why not
furnish him with list of the charges
against him and confront him with his
accusersf Why not give him as much
chance as is given a man who has five
dollars worth of property at stake in q
lawsuit


The bill under consideration did not
90 as far as he would like it to 20. But
it was rendered by the liberal Republi-
cans, and he was willing to meet them
upon it. Among those who voted for
him were large number of liberal Re.
pubhcans, and out of respect to their
wishes and because of the spirit in
which this bill was rendered, he gave it
bis support. As far as it went, il must
commend itself to the judgment of
every man who wants to see his neigh.
Dor protected in his rights.


Mr. LAMB said he presumed most of
the members bad made up their minds
IS to how they would vote, and he
merely desired TO explain the provis.
g . h. T.