Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-26
HOUSE OF REPRESEN7.a7ITES-.Nreae ..
SPEECH OF MR.. DODDRlDGE, OF VA,
On The coniexfed E,leciio., G-..., =


Mr.. Speaker: l will ask the indulgence of tho
House to add few words to what has been said in
support OF the sitting member
had thought the argument of the honorable gen
tenan from New York mir. Spencerj sufficient to
produce universal conviction, and will not subject
myself to the task of repeating what has been SO
much better said by him than Icoud have any pre-
tensions to say.
My honorable colleapuo {3Ir Rarbourl who has
Just taken his seot, has INSISTED that henevcr it is
necessary to supply words in statute. in order to
give effect to the known, apparent will of the less-
iaturc, the words Necessary may be supplied; and
tia III the case under discussion all the election laws
ut Vlrgnin<as other statues, nude tn oori idfertc,
arc to be construed together
ag<ce with my colleague perfectly.
Toe laws, then, for choosing electors of President
fu vice-Presiden o.; the United States for elccting
members of Congress from Virsnic and the general
election law of that State for members of the Senate
and House of Delegates to be expounded togeth-
cf az one law; and the question is, whether, from
fair examination of these laws, power can DO in
ferred III the Mayor of City, or town corporate, to
adjourn continue the poll at an election for Con-
grcss or for members of the Stale Legislature.
maintain that Mayor has no such power, aud that
Until our towns and cities shah vastly increase their
population, it would he unwise to confef it.
The reason for allowing the polls be continued
III the counties, does not exist in cities and towns.
In the latter the people at home, and are not
liable TO lose their votes on account of Grains rise
nf the only contingencies deemed sui
iIcicnt for On adjournment iii tho counties. The
power in question not given the Mayor erpressy;
and If it to be supplied by construction it should
only be supplied give effect to the Eno,cu anna
rent will OF the Legislature.
II will be conceded that frir,iess in elections is
great and controlling desiderntum with the legisla-
tufe and people, and the desire to promote it is mani
fest throughout legislation the subject. That
all those qualified should vote, is indeed very deeira-
bio; and it is to effect this object that Adjournment
Of the poll is permitted under any circumstances.
The general election law enacted in l785. II
has, Ike the other laws pari material gone through
several rcvisons unchanged except by that of Isie
( When this law Was first made in 1885, Norfolk was
small place rising from its ruins. Richmond was
but begun; and Williamsburg, perhaps, never con-
tanned mere thun one hundred votes; and these we're
then tho only towns entitled to separate representa-
ton. To these fourth, Petersburg, has since been
added. Who can suppose thnt in 1885 sinnIe MEM
Der would have thought of the necessity of uuthor
Zng Mayor to adjourn the poll in these small towns
On account of Grains rise of water-courses." In
17S5 we had counties in which"vo had to travel
more than hundred miles to exercise their rights
Counties hundred and fifty miles sguax and con-
tanning than river, and more than one
mountain to cross, and if it was I'LL admit an OBJ
Ject with the General Assembly to afford opportuni-
ties to all 1t was necessary to authorize continuance
of the poll under certain contingencies. One of nv
honorable colleagues has spoken of Richmond as
city divided bya rapid stream. Towns 80 divided are
apt to erect bridges over streams within them; and
the small creek in Richmond is SO bridred that the
traveller does not know when he passes it. In towns
ii an adjournment were permitted many
would he afforded for tampcring with yoters--for in
triguc and management by candidates and their
friends: lwhen men could be found base enough 20
employ unfair means) to prevent fair and honest
expression of the public will. The voters are at home
and can be assailed while in the counties they are
iindered from assembling by the very causes which
authorize continuance of tho polls. Should the
Norfolk election be overturned, precedent will be
established by which unfair practices will be sane
toned. few friends Of either candidate may re-
main at home engaged in their town or city pursuits
or even lettering in the streets but who appearing
on che sunsetting, may require continuance of the
q hat,
practices of elecsioneering effect. The prece-
dent we may be about to establish will TEEN with
evils you little think of.
My Hon. colleague has snd that in our State
candidates are in the habit OF addressing the people,
and the people of hearing them, and that if an
odcer should venture to open the poll before this
is done he would incur the censufes of those co.
whose benefit the election law was made
1 agree with my colleague that these public ad-
drsses to the people, with the upa ooce vote are
great securities against Islander and misrepresen
tation. In large countless however, it ia customary
TO open the polls at the time before the candidates
taSe their stands to address the people. There are
many who come to the election with their minds
made up, and who wish to give their votes and
return to their homes; and there are many in towns
who care nothing about the aeeches of candidates.
These can be voting while candidates or their a
gents are speaking, and have seen the largest
counties in the district I represent, vote in 3ay,
and finish some time before sunset.
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague loudly extols
the free hold suffrage and viva voce vote SO much
50, thit aul ailIioSl led TO nope he will concur
with in rejecting the constitution we have lately
proposed to the people of Virginia, though for DIFF
ierent reasons.
While my colleague thus extols freehold suffrage
and the viva voce vote, he cannot forget that the
statesmen of I785 borrowed both from the laws and
customs of the land their foreathers and he ought
not to forget that with the right of suffrage and the
manner of giving the vote, they borrowed also the
method of taking it. AS in England, they made the
Sheris of counties, and the Mayors of cities and bo
roughs, tue returning officers and judges of elections;
and that, as in Englsnd, they authorized Shers, in
certain cases. TO continue their polls and further
that, in Englcnd, they gave such power to the
Mayor of a city or town.
have no doubt that that has long been known to
the Hon. Speaker, which | never knew until this
morning, that, notwithstanding the immense popula-
ton Of the city Of London for several centuries back
It was not until since the accession of the present
Royal Family to the throne of England, that the
Mayor ofthat great Metropolis was authorized to