Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-16
Tup1AsT ACT OF usuRpATIoN.


Yesterday in the House of Represen'
tatives at Washington, the Radical ma
;ority mace another remove, advanced
another mile toward Capitalization, and
halted under the shadow of a great
wrong to contemplate the majesty Of
its proportions. The bill to enforce the
right of citizens of the United States to
vote under the Fifteenth Amendment
was passed by nearly party vote. II
is one, the last, of series Of measures
providing for the extinction of the au-
thority of the States, and the concentra-
ton of unlimited power in the Federal
government.
II provides for the appointment by
limited States Circuit Judges, of super.
visors of election at different polls in
different cities and towns Of over 10000
inhabitants, and prescribes powers and
duties; also authorizes the United
States Marshal to appoint special
Deputy Marshal assistant as supervisor
of election, and prescFibes powers and
duties, and authorizes them to call to
their aid bystanders or a posse comatdfus
in the district; also provides for the ap-
pointment in each judicial district OF a
chief supervisor of elections, and pre-
scribes his powers and duties; extends
the Jurisdiction of the United States
Circuit Court in all cases OF law or
equity arising under the act; also pro-
yides: hereafter all elections for repre-
sentatiyes to Congres-to which cleo
tions the whole bill is confined
shall be by ballot, written or printed,
anything in the laws of any State
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
If any one proposition in respect to
the theory of our system is susceptible
more than another Of demonstration, 1t
is that the States make the general Gov
eminent, not the general Government
the States. This is exactly reversed by
the usurpations of the Radical party.
The States send members to form Con-
gress, and the very men who thus strike
down State authority owe their positions
and powers to the States. After being
elected by the laws of the States they
assume to annul those laws, and by
their own acts provide for their cleo
ton. So the matter stands thus: Con-
gress assumes to provide for the election
of its own members, and to render itseli
independent Of the States. This most
infamous bill provoked strong language
from the Democratic side of the House;
Mr.. Eldridge, member Of the Judici-
ary Committee, denounced the bill as
the most unwarrantable and unjusti.
fable measure yet proposed BY Con
gress. 1t was absolutely atrocious. II
had no warrant in the Constitution, and
no precedent except in the act to which
1t was amendatory. 1t was the browning
act Of Capitalization and consolidation:
1t brushed away at once and hnally all
State machinery and local authority
and substituted in their places Federal
bayonets; created host of needy offices
before unknown, and filled the land with
spies and infurmers. 1t sought to over
awe free American citizens and cOntro
their votes by the menace Of the SWORD
and the presence at the voting precincts
Of soldiers Of the army. 1t had Its orlglr
in the interest of an interruptions anC
desperate party. Its very title was
false pretense, il not lie. 1t was bill
TO prevent, hinder and delay citizen
from voting. 1t would bring war ent
bloodshed. 1t was intended to avg her
and States, and to drive them fro thu
polls, and theywould not submit withou
a struggle. Many law-abiding citizen
would feel more ike firing bullets thai
casting their ballots through paid sp.
and informer, which this bill would plac'
before and behind the ballot-box. Thi
hypocritical cry, "Let us have peace,
would not avail in the face Of sucl
measures.
Mr.. Cox gave notice that the Legisla
ture Of New York State would enforc
its own election laws for the election o
its own officers, by having the day Q
election on different one from that 70
the election of members Of Congress;
would meet the Federal power fairly an
squarely with the State power agains
usurpations in Congress.
Mr.. VOORHEES, said the bill provides 70
army officials all over the land as thic
as locusts, and as mean as the lice {
Egypt and authorized arrest, withou
a warrant Of, Union citizens.
The people should hold meetings i
all the States and denounce this mos
wicked measure. The principle it estal
fishes should, as it will, constitute th
best campaign thunder that an unscrI
pulous set of,men ever forged for the
own destruction. The suggestion of NJ
Cox is deserving Of especial attention
II the States can do no better, let the
separate the State elections from Il
Congressional elections. And then
Congress conclude to enact that Sta
and Federal elections shall take place
the same time, the country will then Sc
some othei mode Of protection.