Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-02-28
Correspondence of The Baltimore Patriot
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1899.
Freedom of Elections-Speech
of Mr.. R;yae

Freedom of Elections-Speech
of Mr.. Rives.
The Senate to day, was again tn.
scene Of noble display Of high arqa.
mentative talent, and chaste and powers
full oratory.
Mr.. Rives spoke, at length, on Mr..
Crittenden's Bill to prevent the inter>
ference Of Federal Officers in Elections
and it is acknowledged. OH all hands
that the distinguished Virsiniau never
acquitted himself with greater credit |
give you sketch. 1t is necessarily in.
adequate. Your readers must look upon
these notices of his topics, merely as The
dry bones. which the accomplished and
eloquent speaker clothed with life, Wigs
our, aud beauty.
Mr.. Rives began with some very ,nst
and impressive remarks on the import,
ance OF the subject. He believed the
questions which had been raised were
OF greater moment to the liberties aud
constitution of the country than any that
had been presented 10 the Senate for
years, and notexceeded by any that had
been raised since the establishment OF
the Government. These questions con-
cerned the purity. freedom and indie
Pendence OF the American People in ex-
ercisiDg the elective franchise. Hia.
erto, whatever may have been the mad
ness OF party, this great Fundamental
right OF the People had been held sa
cred from all interference by Govern.
merit or its subol dinates. and from every
attempt to overawe. control, or influence
1t. But now we have a formal Repor,
from Regular Committee of the Senate
the judiciary Committee Too y de.
ciaring 1t to be the right and duiv Of
Government Officers to interfere in e.
lections, to enlighten the judgments Of
The voters, and direct and control the
people in the exercise of their SOVEREIGN
rights.
Mr.. Rives declared he had listened to
this REPORT with establishment and
modification and as the doctrines wer,
promulgated by the Chairman. he wa.
ready to exclaim "Whither has The dom
,nat'on Of party carried US? AMI il
America-Republican America-witt
Its Tree Constitution, ballowed b. the
memories of its Republican founders
or am in England, under the arbitrary
sway OF the Stewards or in imperia
Rome, under the despo!ism of Caesar
Nothing would fill his mind with So
much alarm and apprehension, as that
TINS Report should receive the sanction
OF either branch Of Congress. He did
not look on it as the work of all indiyid>
ual, but as the development of system
concerted by the leaders Of Party q
system which looks to the patronage Of
the Executive. and the influence i,
brings, to sustain its authors and support.
ers In power. The manner in which il
hau been received on its introduction
the applause which had been bestowe ed
upon 1.-THE order for printing an i'm.
mense number ofcopies to be distributes
all over the country, show the impor,
lance attached to il by "the Party ],
was the exposition OF formal scheme
most dangerous to the freedom and pub
lie virtue of the country. He referred
TO Waii's remarks, that he had never
Federalism enough to spoil his Demo.
crazy. Are we to understand that De.
moeracy will bear an infusion of FEEDER,
alism This Report has certainly 4
great infusion of Federalism but he did
not think it would pass current any
where for Democracy.
He referred TO the passages in which
otate tunct,onaries are spoken of along
WIN fuucuonaries of corporations OF as.
sociated wealth, officers Of banks, and IN
winch derogatory epithets are thrown
upon both classes. He asked if it wa.
DEMOCRATIC thus 30 decry State institu.
tons and State officers I'm the DAYS oil
Jefferson and Madison, Democracy i'm.
piled respect for State Rights aud State
Institutions. Now, no vever, we are to
abandon every thing to the Executive
and the tendency of modern Democra
c,y' is TO strengthen the Executive and
destroy the Legislative authority. II
democracy has taken TO such courses,
then he was not surprised that there was
nothing in the old Federalism of MIR.
Wall 10 spoil the Democracy with
which ii is mingled.
Mr. RIvEs then gave notice that il
was the doctrines of the Report pa.tlc-
ular!y, which lie intended to DISCUSS
Compared with the character of these
doctrines, important as was the bill. j,
was Gust in the balance. What are
those doctrines The Report is at once
an elaborate pindication Of the right OF
the federal Office holders to intermeddle
ID elections, and strong Indictment TO
such interference.
That is the whole scope and drift of
1t. How much of it is devoted TO the
constitutional question? Only one page |!
a III tho 1