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however, it was essential all over the State. They knew
the necessity of this thing in Baltimore, where they
had seen one ward give a larger majority than there were
voters in it. It might happen that the same designing
parties would again get temporary control in Baltimore,
and they might in the elections for Governor roll up again
such fraudulent majorities as would overcome the voice
of the whole State. It was best, then to have the regis-
tration thorough and complete throughout the whole
State.
Mr. Mitchell could not go home to his people if he did
not resist this thing with his might. The people of
Charles county had been so oppressed by the black re-
publican registers that they had no patience on the sub-
ject.
Mr. Denson was in favor of a registry law in Balti-
more city and county, and all other counties which wanted
it. He did not want to press it on the others, but to let
them have their own way. He intended hereafter to vote
for anything the counties wanted, which did not interfere
with the interests of Baltimore.
Mr. Gill had occasion once to prove in a court of justice
that a man had voted sixty times in the city of Balti-
more, and when there were only twenty voting places.
Mr. Barry said they wanted a registry law in Baltimore
county. If they had none, crowds of men would come out
from Baltimore city and overthrow the decision of the
regular resident voters of the county He was in favor of
a system of registration all over the State. It was failure
in the duties of a good citizen for a man to refuse to take
the small trouble of being registered. The Plug Ugly,
Rip Rap and other clubs of Baltimore had gone around
from poll to poll, voting at each place. From such evils
the registry law must deliver us.
Mr. Nelson had gone for everything which Baltimore
had asked. He had voted to increase the salary of the
State's Attorney for Baltimore city, at the risk, as one
of his colleagues told him, of getting Jesse. He was will-
ing now to give them what they wanted, but could not see
the necessity of the eloquent declamations against the
Plug-Uglies, the Rip-Raps, and having the Blood-Tubs
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