The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-02-02

bic to his wishes. The people of
parrish cannot enjoy even the meage
comfort of having their votes counte
and the returns made by one of tliei
r own citizens. While implicit an
o unlimited confidence is placed by thi
t bill in the Governor and his agent
It evcrysparagraph breatles distrust @
: the people. The bill is full of guards
: checks and cautions against the PEG
pie, while the Governor is endowe,
0 with unlimited authority, without tn
e slightest pledge or guarantee of Iii
5 fidelity and good will. The theory o
e the bill is that an election il a con
f spiracy against Justice by malignant
! fraudulent and treacherous voters, ant
| that the Governor and his coadjutor
e are the imperial guardians of the State
) to shield it from damage.
, 3. In its .1ffy-sereath section, the bill
attempts to torestall aud defeat The con
3 sfitutional right of tie Senate and Kous,
Of Representatives Of the General Assem-
oy to Judge Of the election and Qualifca
: tons Of its members. BY the operation
; OF this section the Governor and his
returning officers are enabled to with,
: hold certificates of the election to the
General Assembly whenever. in his
discretion, he may see fit, in al cases
where fraud, violence, bribery or other
lrregularity may be reported. The
election will occur Oh the seventh OF
November. On the seventeenth the
Governor and returning officers will
meet to canvass and compile the state
ments of the Governors Parish super
visors. They will compile first the
returns from precincts where no dis
turhances or irregulality is reported
Then the returns from disturbed pre-
cincts are to be taken mp, and the re-
turning officers are to investigate the
reports of fraud and violence, lntimida-
ton and corruption from such pre-
clncts. After such investigation, it is
left ut their discretion to count the
votes and make returns, OF to reject
according to the extent and influence
which they may see fit to impute to the
disturbing occurrences. They have
the power to send for persons and pa-
pers; and may proloDg the investiga-
ton indefinitely. All their work should
be completed before the time fixed tor
the meeting Of the General Assembly,
a period Of only fifty days from the
time when the returning officers meet.
Lhe practical operation of the bill is
easy to predict. Defeated candidates
| will, in almost every instance, procure
reports If violence, intimidation, armed
disturbance, bribery or corrupt influ-
ence to be made to the returning off.
GERS upon the slightest pretexts. Such
reports, whether true or false, must
bring their cases before the Governor
and his returning officers. The cleo
ton OF every member of either House
OF the General Assembly, whose politi-
Cal creed differs from that which the
Governor and his officers hold, will
thus be held in allegiance for investiga-
ton and left to their arbitrary discre-
ton. With the best intentions and
with the most impartial purpose. the
Governor would not have time for
full, fair investigation before the meet
ing Of the General Assembly; yet in
undisputed cases tho returns will be
made to the Secretary of State, and
the names of the Senators and Repre-
sentatives elect only must be Inscribed
Oh the rolls of their respective houses.
But the Constitution of this State,
and of all others, make each House
the sole and final judge of the election
and qualifications of its own members.
Even in monarchies legislative bodies
exercise this necessary right. An at
tempt by the Queen and Ministry of
Great Britain to sift the election re-
turns, and to declare Whose names
should be recorded on the roll of the
Commons, wonld endanger her. crown.
This is an authority which Napoleon
does not assume in imperial France.-
Where this power is exercised by the
Executive of any Government, repre-
sentative freedom and republican indie
pendence have ceased to exist. The
result of this bill will be Legislature
representing not the majority of the
people, but the party of the Governor
and his adherents. Should the Gene
raj Assembly of 1871 meet and organ
ize under the provisions of this bill,
the Governor will return as elected all
whose elections are not contested, with
holding CT conceding certificates in
contested cases in such a manner rs to
secure a working majority for his
friends and party adherents. Once
having such controlling majority, we
are taught by the experience Of the
past two years how the dominant par
ty will proceed to strengthen and pro-
long it. The bill is intended to per-
petuate the rule of the party to which
the Governor belongs, in spite of the
will of the people.
We would respectfully suggest that
the law adopted in 1868 in reference to
registration is amply sufficient, and by
simply enforcing the present laws in
reference to elections as they now
stand, they will be found ample and
sufficient to secure fair and impair
tial vote, and thus save the State from
a large expenditure Of money in carry
ing out the provisions of this act. The
idea advanced by the Republican par
ty that fair and impartial election
cannot be held in the State, except
through the extraordinary means sug-
gested in this act, is altogether incor-
rect, for we believe that every citizen
of the State, without regard to race,
color or political opinions, can, at the |
next election, cast his vote free of mo-
lestation for whatever person or party |
he may choose. ''' 80 - III"
In conclusion, we sincerely hope that
the Senate will refuse to adopt the re-
port of the majority of the committee,
and prevent the passage of measure
that will destroy the great principles of
our Government and the rights of the
DeUple 70 select their own rulers